N. Korea holds key party meeting to discuss 'important policy issues'

North Korea has held the first-day session of a previously announced meeting of the ruling Workers'Party to discuss "important policy issues for new victory in our revolution," state media said Sunday."Guided" by leader Kim Jong-un at the venue in Pyongyang on Saturday, it was to discuss important matters in "the building of the state and national defence," according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency in English. The plenary meeting of the party's Ce

Dec. 29, 2019

Japan notifies UN of suspected N. Korean transshipment in East China Sea

Japan has notified the United Nations of a suspected North Korean transshipment case, the country's 15th such UN notification since the start of last year, according to the Japanese foreign ministry. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a day earlier that the country has informed the Security Council Committee's Panel of Experts of the suspected North Korean transshipment the country detected.According to the ministry, a Japanese Self-Defense Forces patrol plane found a North

Dec. 28, 2019

Japan's NHK delivers erroneous North Korean 'Christmas gift'

TOKYO (Reuters) -- Japanese public broadcaster NHK on Friday sent a news bulletin that incorrectly reported North Korea had launched a missile that fell into waters east of the Japanese archipelago, issuing an apology explaining it was a media training alert.The news alert came as the United States and its East Asian allies have been on tenterhooks after Pyongyang's warning this month of a possible "Christmas gift" for Washington in what experts took to mean a possible long-range missi

Dec. 27, 2019

Unification minister proposes ‘tentative deal’ for NK nuclear impasse

Expressing regret over stalled inter-Korean relations, South Korean Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul stressed the need to seek “modus vivendi,” or a tentative deal, as a solution to break the impasse in the nuclear negotiations between the US and North Korea. “With North Korea’s looming deadline for negotiations, the situation on the Korean Peninsula hereafter is very uncertain. Concerned countries share the severity of the circumstances, and are undertaking variou

Dec. 27, 2019

UN Green Climate Fund approves 1st project for N. Korea

The UN Green Climate Fund has approved $752,000 in funding for North Korea to help Pyongyang deal with climate change, marking the first financing project by the UN fund for the reclusive nation. The fund will help North Korea improve its "readiness" to tackle climate change, the GCF said Thursday.  North Korea is a party to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and to the landmark Paris climate agreement. In January, North Korea registered a national designated authority

Dec. 27, 2019

NK stresses discipline on Constitution Day

The North Korean state media stressed discipline among senior officials as the country commemorated Constitution Day on Friday.The Rodong Sinmun, official newspaper of the North’s Workers’ Party, said in its editorial that preferential treatment and double standards by ranking officials must not be permitted. “There may be units or workers with important missions in our society, but they cannot be outside the law. … (Senior officials) should set an example for the people

Dec. 27, 2019

NK may consider timing of nuclear talks amid uncertainty in US politics: source

North Korea has reasons to keep up nuclear talks with the United States, but it may consider their timing based on its assessment of the political fortunes of US President Donald Trump, who faces an impeachment trial, a source said Thursday. Though the Senate trial is expected to result in Trump's acquittal on charges of obstruction of congress and abuse of power, the North could wait until the political footing of the Trump administration becomes firmer, the source said on condition of anonymit

Dec. 26, 2019

Christmas over but allies await NK’s ‘Christmas gift’

Christmas Day has passed without North Korea’s “gift” materializing, but Seoul and Washington are keeping a close eye on Pyongyang amid rising speculation about the regime’s next move. Seoul is said to have seen no unusual signs in North Korea, but the Ministry of National Defense and other concerned organizations remain on high alert.  “The Ministry of Defense is maintaining readiness for various military situations in close cooperation with the US,” Def

Dec. 26, 2019

N. Korea may launch 'maximum gray-zone' provocations for US concessions in 2020: expert

North Korea could launch maximum "gray-zone" provocations next year just short of an intercontinental ballistic missile launch to extract US concessions in their stalled nuclear talks, an expert said Thursday.Jun Bong-geun, professor at the state-run Korea National Diplomatic Academy, made the remarks amid speculation that the North could engage in provocative acts in a show of anger over the absence of US concessions by Pyongyang's self-imposed year-end deadline."Though strong pr

Dec. 26, 2019

Moon: Time for world to act to advance nuclear talks with N. Korea

South Korean President Moon Jae-in called on the international community Thursday to take reciprocal actions to maintain the momentum of talks with North Korea and facilitate the peace process."More action is needed to achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula," he said in his contribution to Project Syndicate, a global organization carrying op-ed commentaries by prominent figures. "The North Korean nuclear and missile issues have yet to be resolved, and the North is still cautious ab

Dec. 26, 2019

NK propaganda outlet denounces US surveillance operations

A North Korean propaganda outlet on Thursday denounced stepped-up surveillance by the United States and South Korea of military targets in the communist nation, saying the country is closely watching such "provocative" moves.The US and South Korea have been on high alert in recent days amid growing concerns that the North could conduct a major provocation, such as launching an intercontinental ballistic missile, in protest over stalled nuclear talks.Between Tuesday and Wednesday, the U

Dec. 26, 2019

US says it stands ready amid threat of NK 'Christmas gift'

WASHINGTON -- The United States and its allies stand ready to defend themselves even on Christmas day, a Pentagon spokesman said Wednesday, as officials remained on alert for a threatened "Christmas gift" from North Korea.The "gift" was widely expected to be an intercontinental ballistic missile launch after Pyongyang twice conducted apparent rocket engine tests at its western satellite launch site earlier this month.The US flew four surveillance planes over the Korean Penins

Dec. 26, 2019

Seoul, Washington on alert over NK’s ‘Christmas gift’

Seoul and Washington were on high alert Wednesday over North Korea’s “Christmas gift” and its year-end deadline for US-North Korea denuclearization dialogue. According to reports, Seoul’s presidential office and concerned governmental bodies including the unification and defense ministries were monitoring North Korea for any unusual activities.  The militaries of South Korea and the US are reported to have deployed surveillance assets in and around the Korean Peninsu

Dec. 25, 2019

[Newsmaker] Over 3,000 S. Koreans seeking reunions with separated relatives in NK died this year

Over 3,000 South Koreans who had applied for reunions with their long-lost relatives in North Korea have died this year without having their wishes fulfilled, according to government data.A total of 3,147 South Koreans, registered as members of separated families since 1988, died from January to November this year, an online system jointly run by the unification ministry and the Red Cross showed on Tuesday. Among the total of 133,365 South Koreans registered as members of separated families, onl

Dec. 25, 2019

China hosts Japan, South Korea with eyes on nuclear North

CHENGDU (AFP) -- China hosted the leaders of squabbling neighbours South Korea and Japan for their first official meeting in over a year on Tuesday, flexing its diplomatic muscle with America's two key Asian allies and seeking unity on how to deal with a belligerent North Korea.The gathering in the southwestern city of Chengdu was held with the clock ticking on a threatened "Christmas gift" from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that could reignite global tensions over its nuclear progra

Dec. 25, 2019

Trump says US will 'deal with' any NK Christmas surprise

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States will "deal with it very successfully" regardless of what North Korea sends as its threatened "Christmas gift."Concerns are mounting that North Korea could test a long-range missile in the coming days in protest of stalled denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang.Asked about the North's warning of an unwanted "Christmas gift," Trump said, "That's okay. We'll find out what

Dec. 25, 2019

N. Korea slams Japanese minister over criticism of weapons tests

North Korea's state media slammed Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono on Tuesday for his criticism of the North's weapons tests, which it said were aimed at enhancing the country's "self-defense" capability. Kono criticized North Korea last week over a series of weapons tests since May, saying the presumed launches of ballistic missiles represent an "imminent threat" to the security of Japan. North Korea has said that those tests were intended to improve its self-de

Dec. 24, 2019

New construction seen at missile-related site in North Korea

SEOUL (AP) -- A new satellite image of a factory where North Korea makes military equipment used to launch long-range missiles shows the construction of a new structure.The release of several images from Planet Labs comes amid concern that North Korea could launch a rocket or missile as it seeks concessions in stalled nuclear negotiations with the United States.North Korea has warned that what "Christmas gift" it gives the US depends on what action Washington takes. One of the sat

Dec. 24, 2019

Bolton says Trump's NK policy 'failing'

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump's policy on North Korea is "failing" and the communist nation poses an imminent threat to American troops and allies, one of his former national security advisers said Monday.John Bolton, who worked for Trump until September, made the remark in a tweet as tensions have risen over North Korea's threat to send an unwelcome "Christmas gift" to the United States in protest of their stalled denuclearization talks. "We say that it's unac

Dec. 24, 2019

S. Korea to contribute W2b to help N. Korea restore typhoon-hit regions

South Korea will provide some 2 billion won ($1.72 million) to the Korean Red Cross to help North Korean villages still reeling from the aftermath of typhoons that lashed the impoverished nation last summer, the unification ministry said Monday.The Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Promotion Council approved the expenditure plan to provide the money to help North Korea repair typhoon-hit facilities in Pyongan and Hamgyong provinces and conduct drills to beef up North Koreans' disaster prepar

Dec. 23, 2019