N. Korea tries to manage situation over killing of S. Korean official: defense ministry

North Korea's quick apology for its killing of a South Korean fisheries official last month was an indication that the regime attempted to "manage the situation" to avoid turning public opinion in the South against it, the defense ministry said Wednesday. On Sept. 22, the 47-year-old fisheries official was fatally shot by the North Korean military while being adrift in North Korean waters, according to the South Korean military. He went missing the previous day while on duty near the

Oct. 7, 2020

NK at final stage of preparations for military parade: defense ministry

North Korea is at the final stage of preparing for a military parade expected to be held in Pyongyang this weekend to mark the founding anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party, the defense ministry said Wednesday. The Oct. 10 anniversary of the party's founding 75 years ago has drawn attention as the North could showcase new strategic weapons on the occasion in what could be seen as messages to the United States, or South Korea, amid stalled denuclearization talks. In a report to the parliame

Oct. 7, 2020

N. Korea has no intention of giving up nuclear weapons: Bolton

WASHINGTON -- North Korea has never had any intention of giving up its nuclear weapons and the time to rid the communist state of its nuclear ambition may be running out, a former national security adviser to US President Donald Trump said Tuesday. John Bolton also argued the communist state has only used leader Kim Jong-un's relationship with Trump to buy time for perfecting its nuclear and missile capabilities. "They have not made any steps toward denuclearization. There has never been

Oct. 7, 2020

N. Korea kicks off celebrations for party founding anniversary

North Korea has kicked off a lighting festival and other celebratory events to mark this week's founding anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party even as the impoverished nation has been struggling to fend off the coronavirus and recover from typhoon and flood damage. Pyongyang has been trying to kick up a festive mood since early this week in an apparent display of toughness ahead of the 75th anniversary of the ruling party. This year's anniversary, one of the North's biggest national holidays

Oct. 7, 2020

N. Korea's SLBM to complicate denuclearization efforts: ex-defense official

WASHINGTON -- North Korea's acquisition of submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) capabilities will further complicate international efforts to denuclearize the communist state, a former US defense official said Tuesday, highlighting the need to address the issue in future negotiations aimed at denuclearizing the communist state. Peter Brookes, a former deputy assistance secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific affairs, notes North Korea's ballistic missile submarine (SSB) may also

Oct. 7, 2020

Ex-N. Korean envoy to Italy in S. Korea after disappearing in 2018: lawmaker

A former senior North Korean envoy to Italy is currently in South Korea, having disappeared from Rome in late 2018, a lawmaker here said Tuesday. "Former (acting) Ambassador Jo Song-gil was found to have entered South Korea in July last year and is under the protection of (government) authorities," Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the main opposition People Power Party wrote on his Facebook page. Multiple informed sources said later that it's true that Jo has arrived here, together with his wife

Oct. 7, 2020

Lawmaker’s intelligence disclosure causes concerns about national security

A lawmaker has given rise to debate by revealing classified information to the public regarding the recent killing of a South Korean civil servant by North Korean forces. The discussion centers on the proper balance between national security and the people’s right to know. The Ministry of Defense is considering legal action against lawmakers who “indiscreetly” disclosed details of the South Korean military’s intelligence on the death of the South Korean fisheries of

Oct. 6, 2020

NK’s Kim calls for ‘80-day campaign’ to boost economy

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for a nationwide “80-day campaign” in a bid to revive the country’s ailing economy and attain its goals before a congress next year, state media reported Tuesday. 　 Kim announced the decision during a politburo meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party held the previous day, according to the North’s official Korea Central News Agency. The key party meeting comes as the communist regime’s economic woes are believed to have be

Oct. 6, 2020

N. Korea 'ablaze with celebrations' ahead of party founding anniv.: state media

North Korea is trying to kick up a festive mood in the runup to this week's founding anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party in an apparent effort to strengthen internal unity despite economic difficulties and other challenges. The North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) carried a report saying that delegates participating in the celebrations for the 75th founding anniversary of the Workers' Party arrived in Pyongyang on Monday. "They were warmly greeted by Ri Il-hwan, vice-ch

Oct. 6, 2020

[Newsmaker] N. Korea likely to be last to reopen borders due to COVID-19: experts

WASHINGTON -- North Korea will likely be one of the last in the world to reopen its borders since an outbreak of the new coronavirus would spell an "absolute disaster" for the impoverished nation, experts said Monday. The communist state was one of the first to close its border following the outbreak of the new coronavirus in neighboring China and South Korea. "As we know that North Korea was the first country to totally close its borders and I think it will be probably the last

Oct. 6, 2020

NK leader oversees politburo meeting to launch 80-day campaign for economic development

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held a politburo meeting of the ruling Workers' Party and launched an "80-day campaign" to make a last-ditch push to achieve the country's economic and other objectives by year-end, state media reported Tuesday. In August, Kim acknowledged that his five-year economic development plan failed to achieve intended goals in the face of unexpected internal and external challenges, and pledged to unveil a new scheme at the party congress in January. "The

Oct. 6, 2020

[Newsmaker] N. Korea touts economic progress as party anniversary nears

North Korea on Monday celebrated its economic achievements as it geared up for the anniversary of the founding of its ruling Workers’ Party on Saturday, at a time when its economy is faltering under UN-led sanctions, the coronavirus pandemic and the aftereffects of recent floods. The North’s official Korean Central News Agency and its state newspaper released extensive coverage of what it called a “remarkable” recovery from the floods, saying hundreds of new homes and pu

Oct. 5, 2020

Unification ministry calls on NK to respond to joint probe on shooting incident

The unification ministry on Monday called on North Korea to respond to South Korea's calls for a joint probe into the recent killing of a South Korean fisheries official, as Pyongyang has remained unresponsive for over a week. In late September, South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae demanded North Korea agree to a joint probe into the North's killing of the 47-year-old fisheries official who went missing while on duty near the Yellow Sea border island of Yeonpyeong. "There has b

Oct. 5, 2020

N. Korean paper carries article on Iran's new weapons

North Korea's official newspaper on Monday ran an article on Iran's upgraded submarine-launched missile and other weapons systems amid speculation that Pyongyang could unveil its own "new strategic weapon" during a military parade to mark this week's key national anniversary. Quoting recent state media reports in Teheran, the Rodong Sinmun said that Iran succeeded in improving the range of Jask-II cruise missiles that can be launched from the Middle East country's homegrown Fateh subm

Oct. 5, 2020

NK media launch PR campaign to promote Kim's achievements ahead of key anniversary

North Korean state media launched a public relations campaign to promote what the country has achieved under leader Kim Jong-un, such as a remodeled factory and newly built houses, in an effort to rally public support ahead of this week's founding anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party. The North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) carried a report touting the successful reopening of the Myohyangsan Medical Appliances Factory in the country's northwestern province of Jagang after it

Oct. 5, 2020

NK paper lauds leader Kim's care for people ahead of party founding anniv.

North Korea's official newspaper lauded leader Kim Jong-un for putting people ahead of anything else, calling for loyalty to his people-oriented leadership ahead of this week's founding anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party. "The days and nights of the past nine years all boil down to the people," the Rodong Sinmun said in a commentary, referring to Kim's rule since late 2011. "The top priority and most important thing for our party is to safeguard the lives and homes of our

Oct. 5, 2020

[Newsmaker] N. Korea seen moving intercontinental ballistic missile: report

South Korean and US intelligence have spotted North Korea moving an intercontinental ballistic missile, along with four mobile launchers, at an auto plant on the outskirts of Pyongyang, a Seoul official told a local media outlet on Saturday. “The missile is larger than the one they fired in 2017 and we believe they will showcase that at a military parade on Oct. 10,” the official said. North Korea fired its first ICBM, Hwasong-15, in 2017 and appears set to stage a show of force on

Oct. 4, 2020

Will there be a Trump-Kim ‘October surprise’?

As the US presidential election approaches, North Korean watchers are looking out for an “October surprise,” a dramatic turn of events in Washington‘s relations with Pyongyang that will grab global headlines and swing the presidential race in favor of the incumbent President Donald Trump. 　 Some have suggested Trump could opt for another summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in a bid to salvage stalled nuclear talks with the North, which could give him a much-needed fore

Oct. 3, 2020

NK leader wishes Trump quick recovery from COVID-19

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a message to US President Donald Trump on Saturday, wishing him and first lady Melania Trump a quick recovery from COVID-19, state media reported. The message came a day after Trump tweeted that he and his wife tested positive for the virus. In the message, Kim said he "heard the sudden news" that Trump and his wife tested positive for the virus, the official Korean Central News Agency said. "He offered his sympathy to the president and the

Oct. 3, 2020

NK leader inspects flood recovery efforts together with sister

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a flood-hit border village to check recovery efforts, state media said Friday, along with his sister, Kim Yo-jong, who made her first public appearance in two months. Kim inspected the reconstruction site in the central border county of Kimhwa and learned in detail about damage to dwellings, farms, transportation, the power grid and telecommunications, and heard about progress in the recovery efforts, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

Oct. 2, 2020