[Newsmaker] President Moon cautious on North Korean leader's invitation to Pyongyang

South Korean President Moon Jae-in accepted North Korea’s invitation Saturday to visit Pyongyang, on condition that the circumstances that would allow for such a visit are established. According to Seoul’s presidential office, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s invitation to Moon was conveyed by his younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, during Moon’s meeting with the North Korean delegation at Cheong Wa Dae on Saturday. President Moon Jae-in poses with North Korea's Kim Yo-jong (left) and Kim Yong-nam (ri

Feb. 10, 2018

NK vows to step up nuclear posture against US

North Korea said Saturday that it will further reinforce its nuclear deterrence against the United States in response to Washington's renewed nuclear commitment to its allies.Pyongyang's Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, a state agency in charge of cross-border exchanges, issued a statement by its spokesperson, denouncing the US government's recent review of its nuclear posture as aimed at launching a preemptive nuclear attack on North Korea.The statement was reported by Korean Central Broadcasting

Feb. 10, 2018

NK leader Kim Jong-un invites Moon to Pyongyang

South Korean President Moon Jae-in accepted North Korea’s invitation Saturday to visit Pyongyang, on condition that the circumstances that would allow for such a visit are established. According to Seoul’s presidential office, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s invitation to Moon was conveyed by his younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, during Moon’s meeting with the North Korean delegation at Cheong Wa Dae on Saturday. Kim Yo-jong came to the South on Friday as a special envoy of the North Korean leader.

Feb. 10, 2018

Moon holds rare meeting with N. Korea's titular head of state, leader's sister

South Korean President Moon Jae-in held a meeting Saturday with a group of high-profile North Korean officials including the country's ceremonial head of state and a younger sister of true North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.   The rare and historic meeting began shortly after 11:00 a.m. at Seoul's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae. It was set to be followed by a lunch hosted by Moon.   The North Korean officials were first received by Moon's chief of staff, Im Jong-seok, who was standing outside of

Feb. 10, 2018

Moon holds historic meeting with NK delegation at Blue House

President Moon Jae-in on Saturday met with the North Korean delegation at the presidential office, as speculation rose about the historic talks. Led by Kim Yong-nam, the North’s nominal head of state, the delegation that arrived at Cheong Wa Dae at 11 a.m. is the highest level group to be hosted by Seoul’s presidential office.The delegation also includes Kim Yo-jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s sister, who has rapidly expanding influence within the North’s power structure. Kim Yo-jong is t

Feb. 10, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Two Koreas march together under single flag

PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province -- South and North Korean Olympic athletes marched together under a single flag at the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games Friday in one of the most visible signs of thawing ties. Select athletes and Olympic officials of the two Koreas enter the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium in PyeongChang, host city of South Korea`s first Winter Games, at the Olympics` opening ceremony on Feb. 9, 2018. (Yonhap)Tens of thousands of spectators cheered as over 100 s

Feb. 9, 2018

N.Korea rescinds fuel request for ferry

A North Korean ship, which carried its art troupe to the South, will return home over the weekend without Seoul's fuel supply, Seoul officials said Friday. North Korean ship Mangyongbong-92, which transported the North`s art troupe to South Korea for performances in the South. (Yonhap)The North rescinded its request that the South refuel the Mangyongbong-92, and the ferry will return home Saturday, Seoul's unification ministry said. The ship has been anchored at the South Korean eastern port of

Feb. 9, 2018

Moon meets Kim's sister, NK delegation at Olympics

President Moon Jae-in on Friday stressed that the PyeongChang Olympics represent an opportunity for peace at a presidential reception that brought together top officials from China, Japan and the US. South Korean President Moon Jae-in (left, front row), first lady Kim Jung-sook, North Korean ceremonial head of state Kim Yong-nam (second from right, back row) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un`s sister Kim Yo-jong (right, back row) attend the opening ceremony of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics in

Feb. 9, 2018

Moon makes first encounter with N. Korean leader's sister

South Korean President Moon Jae-in briefly encountered North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister on Friday at the opening of the Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang. South Korean President Moon Jae-in shakes hands with North Korean leader`s sister Kim Yo-jong in PyeongChang on Friday. (Yonhap)Moon and Kim Yo-jung shook hands at their first-ever encounter during the ceremony. Kim arrived in the country earlier Friday as part of a delegation led by the North's ceremonial head of state Kim Yong-nam.

Feb. 9, 2018

Two Koreas showcase joint taekwondo performance ahead of opening ceremony

PYEONGCHANG -- The two Koreas showcased a joint taekwondo performance here Friday ahead of the opening ceremony for the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games. Taekwondo practitioners from South Korea and North Korea perform together at the Olympic Stadium in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, ahead of the opening ceremony for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Friday. (Yonhap)The taekwondo demonstration teams, from the South Korea-based World Taekwondo and the North Korea-led International Taekwondo Fede

Feb. 9, 2018

Pence meets NK defectors, highlights NK regime’s brutality

US Vice President Mike Pence met with North Korean defectors and visited a memorial for South Korean sailors killed in a North Korean torpedo attack on Friday in an apparent move to highlight his country’s tough stance on the reclusive regime. US Vice President Mike Pence meets a North Korean defector on Friday. (Yonhap)Hours before the two Koreas were to march under one flag at the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Olympics, Pence met four North Korean defectors at a memorial for 46 South Kor

Feb. 9, 2018

Chief delegates of US, N. Korea meet briefly at Olympic reception

US Vice President Mike Pence briefly encountered North Korea's ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong-nam, Friday at a reception dinner hosted by South Korean President Moon Jae-in ahead of the opening of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. (Yonhap)The two, however, apparently tried to avoid directly facing each other, with Pence leaving the venue only after a five-minute stay, according to pool reports.Pence was originally scheduled to sit at the head table with the South Korean host and North Korea's

Feb. 9, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] South Koreans divided on ‘united flag’ march at PyeongChang Olympics

PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province -- At the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games Friday, a group of around 190 athletes from South Korea and North Korea will march together under the Korean Unification Flag symbolizing a “unified Korea.”　It’s the first time in 12 years that the two Koreas will be marching as one at an Olympics event. At PyeongChang, the South and North have also taken their relations up a notch by forming their first ever unified Olympics team in women’s ice hock

Feb. 9, 2018

Kim's sister, NK delegation visit PyeongChang for Olympics

North Korea’s high-ranking delegation arrived in South Korea on Friday to attend the PyeongChang Olympics’ opening ceremony. The delegation includes North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s sister Kim Yo-jong, in a move thought to be part of the communist nation’s Olympic peace offensive. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un`s sister, Kim Yo-jong, arrived at Incheon Airport in South Korea on Friday. (Yonhap)A North Korean private jet carrying the 23-member delegation for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics arri

Feb. 9, 2018

[Photo News] NK leader’s sister Kim Yo-jong all smiles upon arrival in Seoul

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s powerful younger sister Kim Yo-jong was all smiles as she met with South Korean officials upon touching down in South Korea on Friday.Striding confidently through Incheon Airport, Kim Yo-jong presented a contrasting image to the rigidity of the reclusive North Korean regime. South Koreans Unification Minister Cho Myung-kyun met with Kim Yo-jong in a special guest room at the airport. Kim Yo-jong, who wears multiple hats in the North Korean government, arrived he

Feb. 9, 2018

[Breaking] N. Korea's high-level Olympic delegation heads to PyeongChang

A North Korean delegation, including the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, arrived in South Korea on Friday for the opening of the Winter Olympic Games and a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. North Korean leader's sister Kim Yo-jong arrives in South Korea on Friday. (Yonhap) A North Korean special plane carrying its high-level delegation lands in Incheon Airport on Friday. (Yonhap)The high-level government delegation to the quadrennial event arrived at Incheon Internation

Feb. 9, 2018

N. Koreans decline Olympic phones: reports

North Korean athletes at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics refused to accept smartphones offered on condition they returned them after the Games, news reports said, as the IOC backed down over a similar demand for Iranians.The IOC is providing Galaxy Note 8 devices from Olympic sponsor Samsung to all athletes and officials at the Games, loaded with essential logistical and competition information. North Korean athletes attend the ceremony for team's entrance into athletes' village for Olympics thi

Feb. 9, 2018

German president calls for dialogue, pressure to build peace with N. Korea

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Friday that dialogue is the only way to ease tensions and seek peace and reunification between the two Koreas.In his speech at a forum held in Seoul, he also emphasized the importance of continued pressure and strong multilateral sanctions to bring the North to meaningful talks on its nuclear program."I am sure that North Korea will not come out to talks with sincerity without comprehensive political pressure and strong multilateral sanctions measure

Feb. 9, 2018

Pence still open to meeting with N. Koreans

WASHINGTON -- US Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday he would be open to meeting with North Korean officials in South Korea, although he would have to "wait and see."Pence was speaking to reporters before leaving Japan en route to South Korea, where he will lead the US official delegation to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics."There may be a possibility for any kind of an encounter with North Koreans, whether it be informal or whether it take the form of a meeting," the vice president said. "As

Feb. 9, 2018

UN clears NK official's visit to S. Korea

WASHINGTON -- A United Nations committee on Thursday cleared a blacklisted North Korean official to visit South Korea for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, according to diplomatic sources.Choe Hwi, chairman of the North's National Sports Guidance Committee, was temporarily exempted from a UN travel ban at the request of the South Korean government.The decision was made by a UN Security Council panel that monitors sanctions on North Korea with no objections raised by any of the 15 council members.

Feb. 9, 2018