US to review entire approach on NK: Secretary of State nominee Blinken

Antony Blinken, incoming US President Joe Biden’s nominee for secretary of state, said the North’s nuclear problem has “gotten worse” and that the new administration is planning a full review of Washington’s approach to Pyongyang. 　 “I think we have to review and we intend to review the entire approach and policy toward North Korea because this is a hard problem that has plagued administration after administration, and it is a problem that has not gotten bet

Jan. 20, 2021

N. Korea tightens antivirus campaign as party congress, military parade end

North Korea is stepping up antivirus efforts and tightening border control to ward off the new coronavirus, state media reported Wednesday, as major political events attended by thousands of delegates wrapped up last week in the capital city. Pyongyang concluded the eight-day congress of the Workers' Party and held a military parade last week, during which thousands of attendees, including North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, were seen without masks. Officials attending Sunday's meeting of the rub

Jan. 20, 2021

Soldiers, civilians stage joint rallies in N. Korea in support of party decisions

Soldiers and civilians staged joint rallies across North Korea, calling for nationwide cooperation to carry out new policies and decisions made during a recent rare party congress, state media reported Wednesday. North Korea held the eighth congress of the ruling Workers' Party that ended last week, unveiling a new five-year economic development plan focusing on self-reliance in the face of the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and global sanctions on its regime. "Joint rallies of soldi

Jan. 20, 2021

US defense nominee vows to quickly conclude cost-sharing talks with S. Korea

The nominee for US secretary of defense on Tuesday said he will seek to quickly conclude stalled negotiations with South Korea to set the latter's contribution toward maintaining US troops on the Korean Peninsula. Lloyd Austin said an early conclusion to the long-stalled negotiations would be part of efforts to enhance and modernize the US-South Korea alliance. "The US-Republic of Korea (ROK) Alliance is the linchpin of peace and security in the region. It is among the most combined, inte

Jan. 20, 2021

Blinken says US is 'better positioned' to deal with N. Korea when working with allies

Secretary of State-designate Antony Blinken on Tuesday vowed efforts to improve US relations with allies, saying the country is "far better positioned" to deal with threats from North Korea and other adversaries when it works with friendly nations. The former deputy secretary of state made the remarks at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "We can revitalize our core alliances -- force multipliers of our influence around the world," said

Jan. 20, 2021

US will review entire N. Korea policy, consider humanitarian aid: Blinken

The new US administration of Joe Biden plans to review the country's entire approach and policy toward North Korea, Biden's secretary of state nominee said Tuesday. Antony Blinken said the new administration may also try to find ways to get humanitarian assistance to the North to help lessen the suffering of North Korean people if necessary. "I think we have to review and we intend to review the entire approach and policy toward North Korea because this is a hard problem that has plagued

Jan. 20, 2021

Understanding N. Korean capabilities important part of intelligence: DNI nominee

Understanding North Korea's capabilities and true intentions is a critical role of US intelligence, the nominee for US director of national intelligence said Tuesday. Avril Haines also said, if confirmed, she will review existing intelligence on North Korea to discern what the regime's intentions are. "Understanding the capabilities and intentions of a country like North Korea is a critical responsibility of the intelligence community," Haines said in a written answer to questions fr

Jan. 20, 2021

S. Korea says it keeps family of killed fisheries official informed about probe progress

The government has provided as much information about its ongoing probe as possible to the family of a South Korean fisheries official killed by North Korea's military in the sea last year, a report to a UN body showed Tuesday. South Korea made the case in the report submitted last week to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in response to concerns that the authorities have not fully disclosed to the family the information related to the incident that took place in S

Jan. 19, 2021

N. Koreans doubt Kim’s plans for ‘self-sufficient’ economy: RFA

North Koreans are growing skeptical of the so-called “self-sufficient” economy that their leader Kim Jong-un champions, Radio Free Asia said Monday, citing anonymous sources there. North Koreans complained that they had yet to get their usual New Year’s gifts, calendars, and that put things in perspective. “For the first time, we celebrated the New Year without the calendar. As trivial as this looks, I think this is just evidence of how empty the economic plans are -- th

Jan. 19, 2021

Cabinet passes revision bill on inter-Korean exchanges aimed at facilitating cooperation

The government on Tuesday approved a proposal for the revision of its inter-Korean exchange act that will allow cross-border projects to receive financial support in case of their suspension, the unification ministry said. The revision to the South-North Exchange and Cooperation Act, passed in a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, also requires Cabinet approval when an exchange project is at risk of being suspended. The need for such support has been raised since Seoul decided in 2016 to abruptly halt

Jan. 19, 2021

S. Korea ready to talk any issues with N. Korea to ease tensions: defense ministry

South Korea is ready to discuss any issues with North Korea via military channels to ease cross-border tensions, the defense ministry said Tuesday. Ministry spokesperson Boo Seung-chan made the remark a day after President Moon Jae-in said that the two Koreas can discuss joint military exercises between Seoul and Washington if necessary through a joint military committee as agreed upon in 2018. "Our military can discuss any issues with North Korea through military talks, including the int

Jan. 19, 2021

Outgoing US envoy says hope alone won't resolve NK issue, calls for readiness

Outgoing US Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris said Tuesday that hope alone will not resolve the North Korea issue, highlighting the importance of combined exercises between Seoul and Washington amid the North's threat to continue developing its nuclear capabilities. Harris made the remark at a webinar in Seoul, one day after President Moon Jae-in said South and North Korea can discuss issues regarding the allies' combined military exercises, if necessary, in response to the North's repeate

Jan. 19, 2021

NK leader urges devotion from newly elected members of Cabinet, ruling party

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un urged the newly appointed members of the Cabinet and the ruling party to devote themselves to the country and serve the people like "God," as he held a photo session with them, state media said Tuesday. Last week, Pyongyang wrapped up the eight-day congress of the Workers' Party, during which it carried out a reshuffle of its ruling party leadership and laid out a five-year economic development plan. On Sunday, the North's rubber-stamp Supreme People's

Jan. 19, 2021

NK parliament reshuffles economic officials

North Korea’s rubber-stamp parliament gathered Sunday to pass decisions made by a recent ruling party congress and carried out a major reshuffle of officials in charge of economic affairs, state media said Monday.   　 The 14th Supreme People’s Assembly gathered for a fourth session in Pyongyang on Sunday, with delegates unanimously approving the five-year economic development plans unveiled at the Workers’ Party congress that ended last week, according to the North&rsquo

Jan. 18, 2021

‘Biden administration turning point’ for talks with North Korea

This is an excerpt from President Moon Jae-in’s New Year press conference. -- Ed.  Q. North Korea doesn’t appear likely to give up nuclear weapons. What is the starting point of restarting denuclearization talks, and is there a change in South Korea’s policy direction in light of Joe Biden’s inauguration? A. I think that the launch of the Biden administration is a turning point for beginning US-North Korea, inter-Korean talks anew. The talks should inherit and deve

Jan. 18, 2021

N. Korea convenes parliamentary meeting after party congress

North Korea convened a parliamentary session in Pyongyang over the weekend to discuss personnel, budget and other issues in a follow up on decisions made during a recent ruling party congress, state media said Monday. The North's rubber-stamp Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) meeting was held less than a week after Pyongyang wrapped up the eight-day congress of the ruling Workers' Party on Tuesday. On Sunday, the SPA unanimously decided on the implementation of its five-year economic plan set fo

Jan. 18, 2021

Experts split over NK’s nuclear missile threat

North Korea experts are divided over the seriousness of the threat posed by the missiles revealed Thursday at North Korea’s latest military parade attended by leader Kim Jong-un. North Korea showcased what appeared to be new ballistic missiles -- a submarine-launched missile, the Pukguksong-5-siot and a short-range missile akin to Russia’s Iskander, the KN-23. The Korean letter “siot” refers to it being sea-based, and the previous fourth version was displayed at a parade

Jan. 17, 2021

N. Korea set for Supreme People's Assembly session following party congress

North Korea is to kick off a parliamentary session in Pyongyang on Sunday in an apparent legislative step to follow up on the country's ruling party congress that recently ended. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Choe Ryong-hae, the president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), and parliamentary representatives offered flowers at the statues of former North Korean leaders at Pyongyang's Mansudae hill on Saturday, ahead of the fourth session of the 14th SPA

Jan. 17, 2021

N. Korea holds military parade, showcases new SLBM

North Korea staged a military parade Thursday evening in central Pyongyang, showing off its state-of-the-art weapons, including a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), state media reported Friday. The parade, held in Kim Il-sung Square, came after Pyongyang wrapped up its eight-day congress of the ruling Workers' Party on Tuesday, at which leader Kim Jong-un pledged to bolster the country's nuclear arsenal. North Korea appears to be aiming to up the ante ahead of next week's inaugurati

Jan. 15, 2021

N. Korea displays new submarine-launched ballistic missile during parade

North Korea showcased yet another new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) in just three months during a recent military parade, experts said Friday. During the parade held on Thursday night at Kim Il-sung square in Pyongyang, the North rolled out SLBMs on transporter erector launchers (TEL), which it labeled as the Pukguksong-5ㅅ, along with a new short-range ballistic missile and various other kinds of weaponry. The Korean letter "ㅅ" appears to indicate that it is a sea-based

Jan. 15, 2021