NK media urges thorough quarantine efforts amid 'very unstable' virus situation

A North Korean state broadcaster called Sunday for thorough quarantine efforts, pointing to the "very unstable" situation marked by the spread of COVID-19, seasonal flu and other contagious illnesses. The North's official Korean Central Television said the country's entire society should continue to maintain the antivirus campaign by blocking all virus transmission routes, including border and coastal areas, until the world's public health crisis ends. "Even into th

Feb. 12, 2023

Kim’s ‘respected’ daughter: Heir apparent or propaganda vehicle?

North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, placed his young daughter, Kim Ju-ae, front and center at high-profile events last week, rekindling the debate on whether North Korea carves out a path to position Ju-ae as Kim’s heir apparent. Some experts said North Korea has signaled that Ju-ae has been internally decided as the next leader, while others point out Ju-ae has been used as a propaganda vehicle to send a message that nuclear weapons can protect the safety of the younger generations and high

Feb. 12, 2023

S. Korea sanctions N. Korea over cybertheft for first time

South Korea has imposed sanctions on North Korean individuals and groups for stealing cryptocurrency assets and coordinating cyberattacks, the first independent steps to curb cybercrimes that Seoul says are linked to bankrolling Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs. Four North Korean computer programmers and seven entities associated with North Korea’s top military intelligence agency -- the Reconnaissance General Bureau -- face the ban, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said Friday

Feb. 10, 2023

Finnish minister visits Seoul to discuss technology cooperation with S. Korea

The Finnish minister of transport and communication visited Seoul to expand technological exchanges with South Korea in the fields of 6G, quantum computing and space, the Finnish Embassy in Seoul said Tuesday. Minister Timo Harakka, addressing the previous cooperation between the two countries on 5G network development at a roundtable held under the theme of "Building Digital Capability," said Finland has already taken steps toward 6G. The minister joined discussions with representativ

Feb. 9, 2023

N.Korea unveils likely new solid-fuel ICBM

North Korea unveiled an apparent new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, at a highly choreographed military parade as expected, without its leader Kim Jong-un delivering warning messages to South Korea and the US. But the event, displaying the largest-ever number of nuclear-capable long-range missiles, clearly shows North Korea’s intent to relentlessly develop and mass-produce powerful strategic weapons that can hit the US mainland, according to experts after photos of

Feb. 9, 2023

N. Korea's top diplomat sends condolence message to quake-hit Turkey

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui has sent a letter of condolence to her Turkish counterpart over a devastating earthquake that struck the nation, Pyongyang's state media reported Thursday. In the message sent to Mevlut Cavusoglu the previous day, Choe expressed her condolences for the victims and their families, and voiced hope for the country's speedy recovery from the quake, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. The message came a day after North Korean leader Kim Jon

Feb. 9, 2023

N. Korea holds military parade in Pyongyang to mark armed forces' founding anniv.: source

North Korea held a military parade in Pyongyang Wednesday to mark the 75th founding anniversary of its armed forces, an informed source said, in what was seen as a highly choreographed event to flaunt its military might and foster national unity. It took place at Kim Il Sung Square following a pre-parade event that started at 8:30 p.m., the source said, as the country celebrated the anniversary of the Korean People's Army. It was not immediately known whether North Korean leader Kim Jong-un atte

Feb. 8, 2023

N. Korean leader sends condolences to Syria over quake

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sent a message of condolences to his Syrian counterpart over the latest earthquake that has claimed more than 7,800 lives in Turkey and Syria, according to state media Wednesday. In the message sent to President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday, Kim voiced his condolences to victims of the powerful quake that struck the northern region of Syria, according to the state-run radio network Korean Central Broadcasting Station. "I am sure that under your leadership,

Feb. 8, 2023

N. Korean leader visits barracks with his daughter to mark army founding anniv.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited the barracks of the country's military officers together with his daughter to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the armed forces, according to state media Wednesday. In a speech at a banquet Tuesday following his visit, Kim praised the Korean People's Army as "the strongest troops in the world," according to the official Korean Central News Agency. He did not deliver any message targeting South Korea or the United States.

Feb. 8, 2023

N. Korea unveils ‘Missile General Bureau’

North Korea belatedly disclosed the establishment of the general bureau dedicated to missile development ahead of a widely expected military parade marking the founding anniversary of its armed forces. The choreographed move, Seoul-based experts said, shows the country’s intent to openly reaffirm its goal of perpetuating missile buildup based on institutionalized processes run by the bureau.North Korean state media on Tuesday released photos and a video showing the flag of the &l

Feb. 7, 2023

Embassies in Korea commemorate Holocaust victims

The German, Israeli and Italian embassies in Korea paid tribute Monday to victims of the Holocaust during World War II. To commemorate the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi concentration and extermination camps 78 years ago in 1945, the German and Israeli embassies co-hosted the International Holocaust Remembrance Day Ceremony in Memory of the victims of the Holocaust at the Goethe Institut Seoul in Yongsan-gu. Not only every German government but also every German citizen has the moral duty

Feb. 7, 2023

Georgia, Korea Herald discuss awareness building

New Georgian Ambassador to Korea, Tarash Papaskua, and The Korea Herald CEO, Choi Jin-young, discussed ways to enhance public awareness on the bilateral relationship between South Korea and Georgia on Tuesday. Highlighting the growing interests in Korean culture and music in Georgia, particularly with regards to the Korean language, Papaskua said he wishes to strengthen the economic and cultural relations of the two countries. He also said that The Korea Herald, South Korea's largest English new

Feb. 7, 2023

Argentina seeks stronger science, tech cooperation with S. Korea

Daniel Filmus, Argentina's minister of science, technology and innovation, emphasized the importance of expanding science and technology cooperation with South Korea on Friday. Filmus identified space, nuclear power, biotech, nanotech and lithium as key areas in which his country could work with Korea, citing his meeting with Korea's Science and ICT Minister Lee Jong-ho and the signing of a memorandum of understanding as a significant takeaway. The memorandum allows Argentina and Korea

Feb. 7, 2023

S. Korean ministry vows all policy means to resolve separated families issue

South Korea plans to mobilize all available policy means to resolve the issue of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War, prioritizing identifying whether their relatives in North Korea are alive, Seoul's unification ministry said Tuesday. Under the 2023-25 plan to deal with the long-pending issue, the ministry said it plans to focus on resuming exchanges of war-torn families and addressing issues stemming from the inter-Korean division, such as prisoners of war and South Koreans detai

Feb. 7, 2023

US closely watching N. Korea for upcoming military parade: State Dept.

WASHINGTON-- The United States is closely watching North Korea and its widely anticipated military parade, a state department spokesperson said Monday, while also highlighting US commitment to the security of South Korea. The department spokesperson, Ned Price, noted the military parades are have more "propaganda value" than any material value to North Korea. "These are always exercises that we watch," Price told a daily press briefing. Pyongyang was earlier reported to be

Feb. 7, 2023

N. Korea calls for 'perfecting' war readiness posture in meeting chaired by leader Kim

North Korea has convened a meeting of the ruling party's central military commission to discuss ways to expand operational combat drills and "more strictly perfect" its readiness posture for war, according to its state media Tuesday. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presided over an enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea on Monday, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. Participants "discussed in depth the major m

Feb. 7, 2023

Apparent N.Korean balloon crossed into S. Korea: JCS

A suspected North Korean balloon crossed the inter-Korean border and flew over South Korean airspace Sunday, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed Monday. A South Korean frontline unit in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province first detected the 2-meter balloon, which flew from North Korea, with a terminal observation device, or TOD. South Korea’s JCS was immediately briefed on the situation. But the JCS ordered the military to reinforce surveillance without taking any countermeasures

Feb. 6, 2023

N. Korea to hold ruling party plenary meeting on agriculture this month

North Korea plans to hold a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea in late February to discuss issues related to agricultural development, its state media said Monday. At a politburo meeting of the WPK's Central Committee held the previous day, the North unanimously decided to convene the seventh enlarged plenary meeting of the party late this month, according to the Korean Central News Agency. The move is aimed at reviewing last year's achievements in the country&#

Feb. 6, 2023

N. Korea adopts law on protection of 'state secret'

North Korea has adopted a new law aimed at safeguarding state secrets at a parliamentary meeting, its state media said Friday, amid apparent efforts to tighten internal discipline. The plenary meeting of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly , held in Pyongyang the previous day, also adopted other laws on the country's management of railways and the education of prodigies, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. The objective of the law on the "prot

Feb. 3, 2023

N.Korea threatens US to face ‘toughest’ response

North Korea on Thursday said the US would face the “toughest” response if Washington pushes to conduct larger-scale field training exercises with Seoul, threatening that it would not engage in talks if such moves go forward. The statement delivered through its Foreign Ministry came two days after the South Korean and US defense chiefs agreed on steps, including bolstering combined military exercises to enhance the alliance’s deterrence and readiness posture. The US also pledged

Feb. 2, 2023