Spy agency says N. Korea's firing of projectiles "not provocative"

South Korea's spy agency said Monday it does not see North Korea's firing of short-range projectiles last week as provocative as they appear to have been "ground-to-ground" weapons.(Yonhap)The National Intelligence Service delivered an initial analysis of the North's projectiles fired into the sea off its east coast on Saturday in a briefing to Lee Hye-hoon, a representative of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party, at the National Assembly. The NIS didn't specify the type of the ground-to-grou

May 6, 2019

North Korea’s projectiles ploy to pressure US in negotiations: spy agency

North Korea’s recent launch of projectiles could have been a move to pressure rival states and may not be a signal that it wants to break off negotiations, South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers during a parliamentary briefing on Monday.Pyongyang also appears to be adjusting the intensity of the message it is sending to the US, Rep. Lee Hye-hoon, head of the intelligence committee, told reporters after a parliamentary session with the National Intelligence Service here. (Yonhap)North Korea fire

May 6, 2019

Seoul: N. Korea tests tactical guided weapons, multiple rocket launchers

"Unidentified projectiles" that North Korea fired this weekend were believed to have involved tactical guided weapons and multiple rocket launchers, the defense ministry here said Sunday.On Saturday, the communist country fired several short-range projectiles over the East Sea from its east coast town of Wonsan over a 20-minute period starting at 9:06 a.m., according to Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff.A photograph released by North Korea shows a projectile taking off (top), and a photograph of the

May 5, 2019

N. Korea says it tested multiple rocket launchers, tactical guided weapons

North Korea has conducted a "strike drill" for multiple rocket launchers and tactical guided weapons to test their performance, state media reported Sunday, a day after the communist nation fired unidentified short-range projectiles into the East Sea.North Korean leader Kim Jong-un supervised the "strike drill of defense units in the forefront area and on the eastern front which took place in the East Sea of Korea on Saturday," according to the Korean Central News Agency.North Korean leader Kim

May 5, 2019

Trump voices confidence in Kim despite NK's projectile launch

US President Donald Trump expressed confidence on Saturday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will keep his promise on denuclearization despite Pyongyang's firing of unidentified projectiles."Anything in this very interesting world is possible, but I believe that Kim Jong-un fully realizes the great economic potential of North Korea, & will do nothing to interfere or end it," Trump tweeted. "He also knows that I am with him & does not want to break his promise to me. Deal will happen!"US Presi

May 5, 2019

Cheong Wa Dae concerned about N. Korea's breach of inter-Korean military deal

South Korea's presidential office said Saturday that North Korea's firing of short-range projectiles is contrary to the purpose of inter-Korean military accords last year.It urged Pyongyang to stop acts of escalating military tensions on the Korean Peninsula, briefing media on the results of an emergency meeting of top security officials held hours after North Korea fired unidentified projectiles into the East Sea.Chung Eui-yong, director of Cheong Wa Dae's National Security Office, presided ove

May 4, 2019

Cheong Wa Dae holds emergency meeting over N. Korea's firing of projectiles

South Korea's presidential office convened an emergency meeting of top security officials Saturday after North Korea fired unidentified projectiles into the East Sea earlier in the day.Chung Eui-yong, director of Cheong Wa Dae's National Security Office, presided over the session, according to presidential spokesperson, Ko Min-jung.Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and National Intelligence Service chief Suh Hoon joined the meeting.The participants are "monitoring the current situation and close

May 4, 2019

Top diplomats of S. Korea, US agree to 'prudently' handle NK projectile launch

The top diplomats of South Korea and the United States agreed Saturday to "prudently" handle North Korea's launch of short-range projectiles during their telephone talks, Seoul's foreign ministry said.Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke by phone hours after the North fired the projectiles into the East Sea in an apparent show of growing impatience over stalled nuclear negotiations with Washington. (Yonhap)"Regarding today's launch, the two sides agreed to

May 4, 2019

US says it will continue to monitor situation after NK launch

The White House said Friday that it is aware of North Korea's launch of short-range projectiles and will keep tabs on the situation.The unidentified projectiles were fired off North Korea's east coast just after 9 a.m. (local time) and fell into the East Sea after flying some 70-200 kilometers, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.The firings appear to signal Pyongyang's frustration with Washington over stalemated negotiations on dismantling the North's nuclear weapons program in exc

May 4, 2019

N. Korea fires short-range projectiles into East Sea

North Korea fired a barrage of unidentified short-range projectiles into the East Sea on Saturday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, in apparent saber-rattling amid stalled nuclear talks with the United States.The JCS had earlier said the North fired multiple short-range "missiles" but later revised the announcement to portray what were fired only as "projectiles." The projectiles were fired from areas near the east coast town of Wonsan between 9:06 a.m. and 9:27 a.m., the JCS said

May 4, 2019

[Newsmaker] N. Korea chides THAAD training by USFK

North Korean state media on Friday chided a weeklong Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile defense drill by the US Forces Korea, calling on the South Korean government to “behave with discretion.”The exercise at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, focused on reloading inert munitions in launchers of a THAAD battery.(Yonhap)North Korea’s propaganda website Uriminzokkiri said in its commentary that the recent drill was a “military provocation that ruins the hard-won peace atmosp

May 3, 2019

North Korea seeks support amid worst food shortage in a decade: IFRC

Struck with a severe food shortage due to frequent droughts, North Korea is considering requesting emergency disaster relief, said a report released by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.The IFRC depicted North Korea’s food crisis in detail in a report titled “DPR Korea: Drought and Food Insecurity,” saying, “The DPRK Red Cross Society, with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, is considering a Disaster Relief Emer

May 1, 2019

[From the Scene] Civilian tours resume on southern side of JSA

PANMUNJOM -- Chatter and the sound of camera clicks broke the stillness at the Joint Security Area in the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom, as civilian tours at the southern side of the JSA resumed Wednesday. Some 81 visitors, consisting of the Unification Ministry’s civilian advisory committee and student reporters, entered the southern part of the JSA along with dozens of reporters from local and foreign news outlets.Visitors walk on a footbridge inside the Joint Security Area in the D

May 1, 2019

Pompeo says US is ready to continue talks with N. Korea

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that Washington remains ready to engage North Korea in nuclear disarmament talks, showing little concern for Pyongyang's latest attack on him.Pompeo's remark came after North Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui warned the US of an "undesired consequence" unless it changes its negotiating position by the end of the year, a deadline set by the regime's leader, Kim Jong-un.Choe also said in the interview with North Korean state media that P

May 1, 2019

N. Korea warns U.S. of "unwanted consequences"

A senior North Korean official on Tuesday warned of "unwanted consequences" if Washington does not shift its policy on the North's denuclearization within this year, deepening the nuclear standoff with the U.S. North Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui did not elaborate on what she meant by "unwanted consequences" that she said the U.S. does not want to see. North Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui. (Yonhap)"Our resolution on denuclearization remains unchanged and we wil

April 30, 2019

US should keep promise to pay NK $2 mln for detainee's care: ex-envoy

The former US envoy who flew to North Korea to secure the release of an American detainee in 2017 said Monday that he believes the Trump administration should honor its pledge to pay $2 million to the regime.Joseph Yun, then the US special representative for North Korea policy, made the remark in an interview on CNN, after confirming that he signed a letter of assurance on the payment before he brought home American college student Otto Warmbier. (Yonhap)Warmbier fell into a coma shortly after h

April 30, 2019

N. Korea's new premier inspects cement, tractor plants

North Korea's new premier, Kim Jae-ryong, has inspected a cement complex and a tractor factory, the North's state media reported Monday, marking his first known solo public activity since he was chosen for the post earlier this month. Kim was named premier of the North's cabinet at the first session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly on April 11, replacing Park Bong-ju. North Korea's new premier, Kim Jae-ryong (Yonhap)The Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim called for officials at th

April 29, 2019

Inter-Korean relations have a 'long way to go': unification minister

South Korea's unification minister, who is in charge of ties with North Korea, said Monday inter-Korean relations have a "long way to go," as Pyongyang has effectively shunned Seoul amid stalled diplomacy on the North's denuclearization. U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ended their second summit in February in Hanoi without an agreement, putting future diplomacy on the North's nuclear program into question.  Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul speaks at a meeting in

April 29, 2019