Cost of provocation will increase until N. Korea changes behavior: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- North Korea will continue to face increased consequences unless it changes its behavior, a state department spokesperson said Thursday, hours after Pyongyang potentially fired multiple ballistic missiles in its latest provocation. Ned Price said the US remains equally committed to the defense of its allies as it is to dialogue with the provocative North. "We are seeking with our partners around the world ... to make clear to the DPRK that the costs are going to continue to inc

March 10, 2023

N. Korean leader inspects tactical guided weapons test apparently targeting S. Korean military airport: state media

North Korea announced Friday its leader Kim Jong-un oversaw a "fire assault drill" of an artillery unit a day earlier as he stressed the need to "overwhelmingly respond" to any war preparations by its "enemy." Photos released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency also showed Kim's daughter Ju-ae attending the "field guidance." Kim inspected the "Hwasong artillery unit charged with important operational task of the Korean People&

March 10, 2023

Jordan, The Korea Herald to bridge gap

Jordan's new ambassador to Korea, Asal Al-Tal, and The Korea Herald CEO Choi Jin-young agreed to seek ways to expand bilateral exchanges between South Korea and Jordan during her visit to the company in Seoul on Wednesday. Al-Tal expressed optimism on fostering a positive image of Jordan among Koreans and of Korea among Jordanians. She pointed to increasing economic cooperation and interpersonal exchanges between the two countries as reasons for hope. The operations of Korean companies such

March 9, 2023

N. Korea likely to conduct nuclear test amid continued missile testing: US report

WASHINGTON -- North Korea is expected to conduct a nuclear test as it continues to develop its missile capabilities in an attempt to drive a wedge between the United States and South Korea, a US intelligence report said Wednesday. The 2023 Annual Threat Assessment also noted that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may have no intention to give up his nuclear weapons. "Kim almost certainly views nuclear weapons and ICBMs as the ultimate guarantor of his autocratic rule and has no intention of a

March 9, 2023

[Korean History] The short-lived inter-Korean detente during early '70s

The 1970s was apparently an embodiment of paradox. The world’s two superpowers were at fierce competition with one another while also engaging in detente diplomacy on the surface amid a proxy war in Vietnam dragging on through the first half of the decade. On the Korean Peninsula, the two Koreas -- separated by the 38th parallel -- agreed on their first-ever accord, only to be followed by the most volatile confrontations. The July 4 South-North Joint Statement, or Communique of 1972, was t

March 8, 2023

North Korea says women should have many children, support parents-in-law

North Korean women should fulfill their roles as wives, daughters-in-law and mothers to support their husbands and children in pushing forward the country's prosperity and development, its state-controlled media said in an editorial marking International Women’s Day on Wednesday. Stressing women’s traditional roles according to Confucianism, the editorial piece published by Rodong Sinmun also said that the women should have many children and raise them to contribute to the cou

March 8, 2023

NK leader's first child is son: National Intelligence Service

The first child of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is a son, while the gender of his third child has not been confirmed, South Korea's National Intelligence Service was quoted as saying Tuesday. The NIS also briefed the parliamentary intelligence committee that the North is expected to conduct large-scale military exercises in March and April that could possibly include the firing of a newly developed solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), according to Rep. Yun Kun-young of t

March 7, 2023

N.Korea escalates war of words as S. Korea, US gear up for annual exercises

North Korea warned of “swift and overwhelming” military action and “physical conflict” on the Korean Peninsula by issuing two statements on Tuesday, marking the latest salvo in the country’s belligerent rhetoric that has escalated in the run-up to annual military exercises between South Korea and the United States. North Korea’s continuing war of words shows its intent to lay the foundation for taking likely high-profile military action during the upcoming &ld

March 7, 2023

N. Korea set to take 'overwhelming' actions against US-S. Korea military drills, Kim Yo-jong says

Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, warned Tuesday the North is ready to take "overwhelming" actions against military activities by the United States and South Korea, as its rivals are staging joint military drills involving American strategic assets. Kim also warned the North will regard any US attempt to intercept a missile that it will fire as a "clear declaration of war" against the reclusive nation, according to the North's Korean Central New

March 7, 2023

N. Korea says high-thrust rocket engine offers 'sure guarantee' for satellite launch

North Korea's development of a high-thrust engine capable of carrying a rocket has provided a "sure guarantee" for the country to launch various satellites into orbit, according to state media Monday. Pak Kyong-su, vice director of the National Aerospace Development Administration, made the remarks amid speculation the North is likely to put a military spy satellite into orbit by April. In an interview by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Sunday on the occasion of the 14th anniv

March 6, 2023

Bulgaria marks National Day

The Bulgarian Embassy celebrated its National Day on March 3, marking the nation's liberation from the Ottoman Dominion. Bulgarian Embassy commemorated Bulgarian volunteers who fought and liberated Bulgaria during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, leading to the re-establishment of Bulgarian statehood. Delivering welcome remarks at the ceremony, Bulgarian Ambassador Petko Draganov recalled his country’s diplomatic relationship with Korea forged 33 years ago in acknowledgment o

March 3, 2023

N. Korean leader calls for attaining grain production goal amid reports of severe food shortages

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called on all farms across the country to focus on stepping up their grain production and meeting their goals for this year "without fail," wrapping up a four-day session of a key party meeting, Pyongyang's state media said Thursday. Kim urged its people to overcome the agricultural challenge for this year to achieve the future goals of development during the plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea hel

March 2, 2023

Amendment bill not enough to protect NK defectors from repatriation: NGOs

A South Korean Unification Ministry amendment bill on the protection of North Korean defectors does not adequately guarantee their protection from forcible repatriation, a group of human rights organizations has said. They said the proposed revision gives too much discretion to the unification minister, who is appointed by the president and therefore cannot be seen as politically independent. Eight nongovernmental organizations from South Korea, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom

Feb. 28, 2023

Slovakia eyes more battery, EV cooperation with Korea

Celebrating 30 years of diplomatic ties between South Korea and Slovakia, the European country's top envoy in Seoul said the country expects more cooperation in the field of battery and electric vehicle production in the near future. Noting the rapidly developing automotive industry in the country, Slovakia's Ambassador to Korea Jan Kuderjavy said Korean companies could take advantage of a regional financial incentive scheme and a preferential tax regime for research and development. &

Feb. 28, 2023

Kuwait recalls Korea’s support during Gulf War on 62nd National Day

Kuwait’s top envoy to Seoul recalled the firm stance of Korea to support Kuwait during the 1990-1991 Gulf War while celebrating his country’s 62nd National Day in Seoul last week. Korea supported Kuwait's rights during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990 by sending troops to Kuwait to help liberate the Gulf state. Kuwait’s national day, which falls on Feb. 25, marks the commemoration of the day Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah became the ruler of Kuwait in 1950. Al-Sabah

Feb. 28, 2023

N. Korean leader calls for 'radical change' in agricultural output within few years

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for a "radical change" in agricultural production within a few years, attending the second-day session of a key party meeting, Pyongyang's state media said Tuesday. The North's leader stressed the need to find ways for "stable and sustained development of agriculture" during the plenary meeting of the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea held the previous day, according to the Korean Central News Age

Feb. 28, 2023

[Newsmaker] Ju-ae not confirmed as Kim’s successor: minister

The South Korean unification minister on Monday said it is too early to conclude that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s daughter, Kim Ju-ae, has been appointed as the country’s next leader. But Unification Minister Kwon Young-se braced for the possibility of North Korea pursuing to position Kim Ju-ae as Kim Jong-un’s heir apparent in an interview with South Korean radio broadcaster CBS. Kwon answered that she is in a “gray zone” when asked whether he classifies her

Feb. 27, 2023

N. Korea opens key party meeting on agriculture amid food crisis

North Korea has convened a key party meeting to discuss agricultural issues, with its leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, Pyongyang's state media said Monday, as the country is grappling with severe food shortages. The North's leader Kim presided over the plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea on Sunday, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. The rare party meeting came as the North's food situation appears to have deterior

Feb. 27, 2023

N. Korean leader attends groundbreaking ceremony for new street in Pyongyang

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has attended a groundbreaking ceremony for a new street in Pyongyang, the country's state media reported Sunday. Kim attended the ceremony in Pyongyang's Sopho area Saturday, which is part of an ambitious project to build 4,100 homes in the capital city's northern area, the official Korean Central News Agency said. The project is different from another one for the construction of 10,000 new homes in Pyongyang's Hwasong district. Kim's daug

Feb. 26, 2023

N. Korea fires missiles as it warns US over drills

North Korea launched cruise missiles it said clearly demonstrated the country’s readiness for nuclear conflict, a day after South Korea and the US held their nuclear drills and three-way maritime exercises with Japan in response to the North’s separate ballistic missile test this week. According to the North Korean state-run Korean Central News Agency on Friday, the North fired off Thursday four Hwasal-2 strategic cruise missiles from North Hamgyong Province, Pyongyang’s northe

Feb. 24, 2023