US stresses sanctions on NK in regard to Moon’s New Year’s address

The US State Department stressed that South Korea is required to implement sanctions against North Korea in regard to President Moon Jae-in’s New Year’s address, in which he vowed efforts to expand inter-Korean cooperation, Voice of America reported Thursday.“All UN member states are required to implement UN Security Council sanctions resolutions, and we expect them all to continue doing so,” an official in the State Department spokesperson’s office said, according

Jan. 9, 2020

NK media slams Moon's peace diplomacy

A North Korean radio station on Wednesday slammed President Moon Jae-in's move to rally international support for Korean peace as a "bad habit of relying on external forces." "The South Korean official disgracefully begged the leader of another country to continue its efforts for the safety and peace of the Korean Peninsula while pleading for close cooperation in denuclearization and resuming negotiations between North Korea and the U.S in a so-called summit," the North's Pyo

Jan. 8, 2020

Pompeo: US hopeful about having conversation on achieving N. Korea's denuclearization

WASHINGTON -- The United States remains hopeful it can have a conversation with North Korea about its promise to dismantle its nuclear weapons program, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday.Pompeo's remarks come amid tensions with North Korea following leader Kim Jong-un's threat to showcase a "new strategic weapon" in protest of stalled nuclear talks with the US.Kim issued the message on New Year's Day after the US refused to offer concessions by the leader's self-imposed dea

Jan. 8, 2020

US remains committed to achieving NK denuclearization: deputy parliamentary speaker

WASHINGTON -- The United States remains committed to achieving North Korea's denuclearization and will never accept the regime as a nuclear weapons state, US officials were quoted as telling South Korean lawmakers Tuesday.The position was stated by US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Korea and Japan Marc Knapper during a meeting with a delegation of the conservative main opposition Liberty Korea Party, acco

Jan. 8, 2020

Trump reaffirms commitment to N. Korea's denuclearization

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to achieving North Korea's denuclearization in a letter to South Korea's new ambassador to Washington, the South Korean Embassy here said Tuesday.Trump wrote a note Monday in response to Amb. Lee Soo-hyuck's letter accompanying his credentials, the embassy said in a press release. Lee presented his credentials to the US president the same day. "President Trump said Amb. Lee's appointment demonstrates the resilience of the Sou

Jan. 8, 2020

[News Analysis] Moon seeks renewed role in inter-Korean relations amid nuclear deadlock

With denuclearization talks between the United States and North Korea showing no sign of progress, South Korean President Moon Jae-in is seeking a greater role, renewing a push for better inter-Korean ties, analysts said Tuesday. 　　In his New Year’s address earlier in the day, Moon emphasized the importance of inter-Korean exchanges, while expressing hope to see North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Seoul. 　He also expressed commitment for resuming two major inter-Korean projects that have be

Jan. 7, 2020

Defense chief reiterates military readiness for any NK provocation

Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo on Tuesday reiterated that South Korea stands fully prepared for any provocation by North Korea, amid growing speculation concerning Pyongyang’s “new strategic weapon.” Appearing on a radio channel operated by the ministry, he said the military is taking the situation seriously and is ensuring watertight military readiness for any emergency. “I’d say this with confidence that we are ready for whatever unfolds.” A week earl

Jan. 7, 2020

Moon’s security adviser to hold 3-way talks in US

President Moon Jae-in’s top security adviser is expected to arrive in Washington on Tuesday for three-way talks with his US and Japanese counterparts amid rising tensions over North Korea and Iran, diplomatic sources said Tuesday.Chung Eui-yong, director of Cheong Wa Dae’s national security office, is scheduled to meet with US national security adviser Robert O’Brien and Japan’s National Security Council chief Shigeru Kitamura on Wednesday.The three are likely to discuss

Jan. 7, 2020

N. Korean leader visits construction site in first 'field guidance' this year

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a fertilizer factory under construction in his first "field guidance" of 2020, state media said Tuesday, in an apparent move to highlight his drive for a "self-reliant" economy to overcome global sanctions.The visit to the "Sunchon Phosphatic Fertilizer Factory" under construction north of Pyongyang came five days after state media reported that Kim paid his respects at the mausoleum of his late grandfather and father to mark

Jan. 7, 2020

US needs to be more flexible in nuclear talks with N. Korea: Moon adviser

WASHINGTON -- A special security adviser to President Moon Jae-in said Monday that the United States needs to show flexibility to break the impasse in nuclear negotiations with North Korea.Moon Chung-in spoke at a public seminar in Washington, saying the ongoing stalemate may force South Korea to break from its alignment with the US and pursue an independent path toward inter-Korean economic cooperation."The United States needs to be more flexible and realistic," he said at the Center

Jan. 7, 2020

N. Korea may push for advanced missiles: Seoul lawmaker

North Korea's "new strategic weapon," touted by leader Kim Jong-un last week, may be new versions of long-range ballistic missiles, a South Korean lawmaker said Monday, citing intelligence authorities.Rep. Lee Eun-jae of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party also said Seoul's intelligence officials believe North Korea has decided not to engage in nuclear talks, which entail negotiations toward its abandonment of nuclear weapons in exchange with the lifting of international sanctions.

Jan. 6, 2020

New satellite images show N. Korea's hidden submarine capable of firing ballistic missiles

Recent satellite imagery revealed a hidden submarine capable of launching ballistic missiles at North Korea's Sinpo shipyard, a US monitoring website said, amid concerns that Pyongyang could test a submarine-launched ballistic missile as a threatened "new strategic weapon."Satellite imagery taken Jan. 1 "revealed the presence of the North Korean SINPO-class experimental ballistic missile submarine and its submersible test stand barge positioned beneath a recently constructed, dock

Jan. 6, 2020

N. Korea holds massive rally amid tensions with US

North Korea held a massive rally in Pyongyang on Sunday in the latest move to show its unity amid nuclear tensions with the United States.Hundreds of thousands of North Koreans marched at Kim Il-sung Square, with some of them holding pickets calling for unity, among other things. The participants, including Premier Kim Jae-ryong, pledged to thoroughly carry out tasks set forth at the recent crucial party meeting.North Korean officials "emphasized that they would bring about a rich harvest y

Jan. 6, 2020

NK museum in Cambodia closes as workers repatriated

Cambodia has confirmed the shutdown of seven North Korean businesses in the country, including a museum near the Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap, to comply with UN-led sanctions.According to Japan’s Kyodo News last week, which cited Cambodian government officials, Angkor Panorama Museum recently halted operations, along with six North Korean restaurants. Established in 2015 by the hermit state with a $24 million investment, the museum had been staffed by North Koreans. The closures add to a

Jan. 5, 2020

N. Korea again calls for self-reliance to fight sanctions

North Korea on Sunday said it will not wait for the lifting of international sanctions and called for self-reliant measures to overcome the situation.The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North's ruling Workers' Party, said in an editorial that Pyongyang must employ the strategy of "frontal breakthrough" as proposed by leader Kim Jong-un."There is no need to hesitate with any expectation of the lifting of sanctions, now that we know the real intention of the United Stat

Jan. 5, 2020

NK official newspaper calls for self-reliance amid int’l sanctions

North Korea‘s official newspaper said Saturday that the communist state will not maintain an attachment to seeking the lifting of international sanctions currently imposed against Pyongyang and will instead overcome hurdles through a self-reliant approach.The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North’s ruling party, reported that having an illusion of establishing peace with enemies will lead to self-destruction, and added the country will not have a lingering attachment to

Jan. 4, 2020

US will look at resuming military drills with S. Korea depending on NK move: Pentagon chief

WASHINGTON -- The United States will consider resuming military exercises with South Korea that have been suspended depending on North Korea‘s next move, the Pentagon chief has said.US Defense Secretary Mark Esper made the comment in an interview with MSNBC Thursday after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un threatened in a New Year’s message to soon showcase a “new strategic weapon.”Experts have said the strategic weapon could be an intercontinental ballistic missile intended

Jan. 4, 2020

Solid-fuel ICBM may be N. Korea’s new strategic weapon: report

The “new strategic weapon” North Korean leader Kim Jong-un mentioned could be an advanced intercontinental ballistic missile, Voice of America reported, citing multiple North Korea experts. “I think we could see something like solid fuel ICBM launch from North Korea. That doesn’t actually mean that they developed it by themselves,” Markus Schiller, who is an expert in mechanical and aerospace engineering, told VOA on Wednesday. Schiller said the North would go the

Jan. 3, 2020

NK media warn of immediate strike against threats

North Korea’s official newspaper warned Friday that any act infringing on the country’s dignity and survival will be met with an “immediate and powerful strike.”The Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of the North Korean Workers’ Party, followed up on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s remarks late last month that Pyongyang would soon show off a “new strategic weapon.” Accusing the US of dragging its feet in denuclearization talks for its own political in

Jan. 3, 2020

NK's official newspaper warns of immediate, powerful strike against threats

North Korea's official newspaper said Friday that any attempt to infringe upon the communist state's dignity and survival should be met by an "immediate and powerful" strike, calling for all-out efforts to build up its national defense capability.North Korean leader Kim Jong-un threatened at a key party meeting in late December that the world will soon witness a "new strategic weapon," and warned of a "shocking actual action," accusing the United States of stalling

Jan. 3, 2020