South Korean reporters excluded from Punggye-ri’s dismantling

South Korean journalists on Tuesday were excluded from the flight to North Korea as the regime took some 20 journalists from four countries to witness the dismantling of the Punggye-ri nuclear facility. 　 North Korea did not issue visas to South Korean journalists initially invited to cover the closing of the Punggye-ri nuclear site, which it said would happen between Wednesday and Friday, without elaborating on reasons. Fore

May 22, 2018

Moon, Trump to discuss NK in summit

President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump are set to meet for the fifth time on Wednesday, discussing North Korea and Trump’s scheduled meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. In the meeting, scheduled to be held in Washington DC in the early hours of Wednesday (Korea time), the two leaders will focus on the US-North Korea summit, and recent changes in Pyongyang’s tone. President Moon Jae-in and First Lady Kim Jung-sook arrives in the US on Tuesday. YonhapPyongyang has reverted t

May 22, 2018

S. Korea expresses regret over NK not allowing its journalists

South Korea on Tuesday expressed regret over North Korea not allowing its journalists to visit the country and witness the dismantling of a nuclear test site slated for this week.The Seoul government still took notice of the North seeking to hold an event to demolish the Punggye-ri site as scheduled, voicing hope that the measure could lead to a success in the much-anticipated June 12 summit between the North and the United States."We think it is disappointing and regrettable that (the South Kor

May 22, 2018

[Newsmaker] N. Korea-US summit will be held as scheduled despite tensions: Seoul official

WASHINGTON -- The upcoming summit between North Korea and the United States will go on as scheduled despite fresh tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Seoul's top security official said here Monday.Chung Eui-yong, chief of the presidential National Security Office, made the remarks aboard Air Force One bound for Washington, where President Moon Jae-in is to hold a summit with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday."We believe there is a 99.9 percent chance the North Korea-US summit (set for June 12 i

May 22, 2018

N. Korea declines to accept list of S. Korean journalists to cover nuke site dismantlement

North Korea declined to accept the list of South Korean journalists chosen to cover the dismantling of its nuclear test site Tuesday, making it technically hard for the South Korean media to join the event scheduled for this week."We tried to convey the list through the Panmunjom communication channel at 9 a.m. today, but the North declined to accept it," a unification ministry official said on condition of anonymity.As the North declined to accept the list, South Korean media is highly likely t

May 22, 2018

Pompeo says Kim meeting reflects commitment to diplomacy

WASHINGTON -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Monday that President Donald Trump's willingness to meet with the North Korean leader is a reflection of US commitment to diplomacy.Trump is set to meet with Kim Jong-un in Singapore June 12 after threatening last year to "totally destroy" the regime over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile tests."Our willingness to meet with Kim Jong-un underscores the Trump administration's commitment to diplomacy to help solve the greatest challenges,

May 22, 2018

Defense reform hijacked by Kim Jong-un‘s diplomatic overture

　With the diplomatic breakthrough between the two Koreas dominating most narratives in South Korea, concerns are growing that the inter-Korean detente may hinder the military’s efforts to overhaul its defensive posture. 　Originally expected to be announced earlier this month, the defense reform plan remains unannounced to the public since Defense Minister Song Young-moo briefed President Moon Jae-in on the scheme on May 11.The delay is feeding speculations whether the Moon administration, in par

May 21, 2018

[Newsmaker] Reporters face hurdle as they head for NK nuclear test site

North Korea’s dismantling of its major nuclear test site will likely go ahead as planned this week, but it was unclear as of Monday evening whether South Korean reporters would be able to cover the event.North Korea declined to accept a list of South Korean journalists assigned to cover the dismantling of the Punggyeri nuclear site, which the North said will happen sometime from Wednesday to Friday, the Unification Ministry said in a regular briefing on Monday. The Unification Ministry attempted

May 21, 2018

N. Korean paper warns against dependence on foreign nations for economic growth

North Korea's main newspaper on Monday warned against depending on foreign countries for economic growth ahead of its historic summit planned with the United States next month.The Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the Workers' Party, said the North's people are strongly determined to build a prosperous socialist country envied by the entire world no matter how the political situation changes."All countries and nations should cultivate and bolster their own strength and resolve everything with recourse

May 21, 2018

NK on top of agenda at Moon-Trump meeting

President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump are to meet Tuesday, as Seoul seeks to play the mediator between Pyongyang and Washington. The meeting comes amid Pyongyang threats to call off the summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, scheduled to be held in Singapore on June 12. President Moon Jae-in speaks with US President Donald Trump on Friday. YonhapMoon and Trump are expected to focus on the recent changes in Pyongyang’s tone and denuclearization plans for North Kor

May 21, 2018

Civic group planning joint summit events unable to visit NK due to no invitation

A civic group's planned visit to North Korea to discuss joint events marking the first inter-Korean summit in 2000 will not take place as the North has not sent an invitation, the group said Monday.The group was preparing to make a trip to the North from Wednesday to Friday to arrange diverse joint events to celebrate the declaration adopted by the leaders of the South and North during a summit on June 15, 2000."It has become technically difficult to leave for the North since the North's invitat

May 21, 2018

NK stays mum on proposed list of S. Korean journalists to cover nuclear site shutdown

North Korea has not accepted South Korea's proposed list of journalists chosen to cover a ceremony for the dismantlement of a nuclear test site planned for this week, the unification ministry said Monday.The ministry has tried to convey the list of the reporters selected to cover the shutdown of the Punggye-ri nuclear site through the communication channel at the truce village of Panmunjom, but the North has not responded on the matter, according to ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun.North Korea a

May 21, 2018

Four S. Korean reporters head to N. Korea's nuke-testing site

Four South Korean reporters departed for China en route to North Korea on Monday to cover the planned demolition of its nuclear test site.The North earlier announced that it would demolish the Punggye-ri facilities in its northeastern mountainous region, where it carried out six nuclear tests, with explosives to demonstrate its willingness for denuclearization. The move comes less than a month ahead of the North's summit talks with the United States to be held in Singapore. (Yonhap)The North has

May 21, 2018

US senator: Trump wants to end NK crisis in first term

US President Donald Trump wants to end the North Korean nuclear crisis during his current term, and will likely use military means if diplomacy fails, an American senator said Sunday.Sen. Lindsey Graham made the remark on Fox News, citing his conversation with the president three days earlier."He says he's going to end this conflict within his first term, that every other president has been played," Graham said. Trump's term ends in early 2021."President Trump told me three days ago that he want

May 21, 2018

NK shows signs of preparation for nuclear test site dismantlement

Signs that North Korea is preparing for the scheduled dismantlement of its key nuclear test site this week are growing, amid lingering doubts over whether the actual decommissioning will take place. Satellite imagery from May 15 shows North Korea making necessary preparations, such as building an observational stand for visitors for the dismantling of its Punggye-ri test site, according to 38 North, a US website monitoring the North, on Sunday.  (Yonhap)North Korea said last month that it would

May 20, 2018

Moon, Trump discuss views on 'various responses' by NK

　South Korean President Moon Jae-in and President Donald Trump Sunday held a phone conversation ahead of their meeting this week, pledging to maintain close coordination as North Korea ratcheted up harsh rhetoric ahead of its first summit with the US. 　During the phone call made between 11:30 a.m. and 11:55 a.m. the two leaders discussed their views on the “various responses” by North Korea, according to the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae. 　“The two leaders exchanged their opinions about Nort

May 20, 2018

[Newsmaker] Harry Harris: Top Navy commander with clear-eyed view on North Korea

With the nomination of Pacific Commander Adm. Harry Harris as the new US top envoy to South Korea last week, expectations are high about the role that he will play amid the fast-paced diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula. 　President Donald Trump on Friday nominated Harris as the new ambassador to South Korea, a post that has been vacant for 16 months since his predecessor Mark Lippert left the position in January last year. 　Harris had initially been nominated as US ambassador to Australia, but was

May 20, 2018

NK’s demand for repatriation of 12 restaurant workers poses obstacle to ties

Amid a mood for a thaw on the Korean Peninsula, complications surrounding the arrival of 12 North Korean restaurant workers in 2016 are emerging as an obstacle to inter-Korean ties. Two years ago, when inter-Korean relations were icy, 12 female North Korean defectors made headlines as they arrived in Seoul wearing masks that covered their nose and mouth, and colorful jackets. This file photo provided by the Ministry of Unification shows North Korean restaurant workers arriving in South Korea in

May 20, 2018

Moon, Trump vow continued effort to ensure successful US-NK summit

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and President Donald Trump spoke by phone on Sunday and exchanged views on making the upcoming US-North Korea summit a success, the presidential office said.The two leaders talked from 11:30 a.m. to 11:55 a.m. and agreed to work together closely on the historic meeting, Cheong Wa Dae said. Moon is scheduled to hold talks with the US chief executive on Tuesday in Washington.He will return home early Thursday after his two-day trip.(Yonhap)"The two leaders exchan

May 20, 2018

N. Korea installs observatory near nuclear test site: 38 North

Satellite imagery shows that North Korea is preparing to build a stand for visitors to observe the dismantling of its nuclear test site, a US website monitoring the reclusive regime said Sunday.According to 38 North, the imagery from May 15 indicates that steps are being taken to close down the Punggye-ri test site.North Korea said last month that it would close its nuclear test site and halt nuclear weapons and ballistic missile tests ahead of a planned meeting between its leader Kim Jong-un an

May 20, 2018