First signs of activity detected at N.Korean nuclear test site in 4 years

Satellite imagery shows “very early signs of activity” at the previously shuttered Punggye-ri nuclear test site for the first time since 2018, while a UN watchdog said North Korea appears to have continued fissile material production at its major nuclear facilities. The California-based James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies on Monday said the commercial satellite images taken on March 4 suggest that Pyongyang has resumed construction activities at the nuclear test site i

March 8, 2022

N. Korea urged to respect denuclearization deals amid reports of activities at Yongbyon

South Korea's unification ministry on Tuesday called on North Korea to abide by agreements it has made with the international community for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula amid reports the reclusive regime is continuing activities at its main Yongbyon nuclear complex. On Monday, Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said the agency's monitoring team has spotted indications of activity at the 5-megawatt reactor at the complex north of Pyong

March 8, 2022

Australia sanctions N. Korean firm involved in arms development

Australia has imposed its own sanctions against a North Korean trading company linked with the secretive nation's development of weapons of mass destruction, as well as Chinese and Russian companies accused of helping Pyongyang shun international sanctions, a recent government document showed. The Pyongyang-based Puhung Trading Corp. has been added to Australia's list of entities under financial sanctions, which restrict the use of their assets, according to a document from Foreign Minister Mari

March 8, 2022

Pentagon urges N. Korea to stop 'needless' provocation and engage in negotiations

A US Department of Defense spokesperson on Monday called on North Korea to stop its missile launches, calling them "needless provocations." Department Press Secretary John Kirby also urged Pyongyang to engage in dialogue to find a negotiated solution. "These continue to be provocations, needless provocations at that," he said when asked about North Korea's recent missile tests that it claims to have been aimed at developing a reconnaissance satellite. North Korea has staged n

March 8, 2022

NK leadership to decide time for satellite launch: pro-NK paper

North Korea will launch a rocket carrying satellite at a "time and place" as determined by its leadership, a pro-North Korea newspaper said Monday with regard to the secretive nation's stated development of a "reconnaissance satellite." On Saturday, the North fired an apparent ballistic missile into the East Sea, which its state media described as "another important test" for the satellite program. "(The satellite) will fly toward space at a time and place deci

March 7, 2022

NK says it conducted test for reconnaissance satellite

North Korea has conducted “another important test” for a reconnaissance satellite, its state media said Sunday, a day after South Korea’s military described the test as a probable ballistic missile launch. 　 The North’s National Aerospace Development Administration and the Academy of Defense Science conducted “another important test on Saturday under the plan of developing a reconnaissance satellite,” the official Korea Central News Agency reported. 　 &ldqu

March 6, 2022

N. Korea says it conducted another 'important test' for 'reconnaissance satellite' development

North Korea said Sunday it has conducted another "important test" for developing a "reconnaissance satellite." "The DPRK National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) and the Academy of Defence Science conducted another important test on Saturday under the plan of developing a reconnaissance satellite," the Korean Central News Agency said in an English-language report. The DPRK is the acronym for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of

March 6, 2022

Top S. Korean, US nuclear envoys discuss N. Korea's missile launch

The top nuclear envoys of South Korea and the United States condemned Saturday North Korea's latest missile test and vowed to boost coordination during phone consultations, Seoul's foreign ministry said. Earlier in the day, the North test-fired a ballistic missile toward the East Sea from around the Sunan area in Pyongyang, less than a week after a ballistic missile launch, according to the South's military. Noh Kyu-duk, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, a

March 5, 2022

US condemns N. Korea's latest missile launch as threat to neighbors

A US state department spokesperson condemned North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch Friday, calling it a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions. The spokesperson also urged North Korea to refrain from further provocations and engage in sustained diplomacy. "The United States condemns the DPRK's ballistic missile launch," the spokesperson told Yonhap News Agency in an email, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. &

March 5, 2022

NSC condemns N. Korea's launch of ballistic missile

The presidential National Security Council on Saturday condemned North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile and called for Pyongyang to immediately stop acts that raise tensions on the Korean Peninsula. National security adviser Suh Hoon presided over the meeting, shortly after North Korea fired an unidentified projectile, which was later described by the South's military as a ballistic missile, toward the East Sea. NSC members said that North Korea's repeated firing of ballistic missile

March 5, 2022

N. Korea fires 1 ballistic missile toward East Sea: S. Korean military

North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Saturday, South Korea's military said, just four days ahead of the presidential election here. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the launch from around the Sunan area in Pyongyang at 8:48 a.m. and that the missile flew around 270 kilometers at a top altitude of 560 km. The latest launch, the North's ninth show of force this year, came less than a week after it claimed to have conducted a "reconnaissance satellite&q

March 5, 2022

US senators voice concern over possible use of cryptocurrency by N. Korea to evade sanctions

A group of US senators has expressed concerns over the possibility of such "adversaries" as North Korea and Russia using cryptocurrency to evade international sanctions and urged relevant authorities to ensure strong enforcement of sanctions compliance in the cryptocurrency industry. In a joint letter sent to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Wednesday (Washington time) amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, four senators -- Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH

March 4, 2022

2.1 magnitude natural quake hits near N. Korea's nuclear test site: weather agency

A 2.1 magnitude natural earthquake struck near North Korea's nuclear test site early Friday, South Korea's weather agency said. The quake struck about 33 kilometers north-northwest of Kilju, North Hamgyong Province, at 2:15 a.m., the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said. Kilju is where North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear testing site is located. The epicenter of Friday's quake was at a latitude of 41.24 degrees north and a longitude of 129.22 degrees east at a depth of 29 km. The KMA said

March 4, 2022

NK leader attends tree planting event with party officials

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has planted memorial trees with key ruling party officials in Pyongyang to mark his country's tree-planting day, Pyongyang's state media said Thursday. On Wednesday, Kim attended the event with participants of the recently concluded Conference of Secretaries of Primary Committees of the Workers' Party of Korea, where they reviewed progress in key party tasks and pledged to improve them. During the event, Kim renewed calls for unity among party ranks, saying, "

March 3, 2022

N. Korea cancels Pyongyang marathon for 3rd straight year amid COVID-19

North Korea has canceled the annual Pyongyang marathon due to the COVID-19 pandemic for the third consecutive year, a tour agency has said. The event, also known as the Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon, was originally scheduled for April 10 in Pyongyang, but Koryo Tours, a Beijing-based tour agency specializing in North Korea tours, said on its website, "2022's Pyongyang Marathon has officially been cancelled." The agency said the marathon for next year will be held on Apr

March 3, 2022

NK ambassador to UN denounces US over Russia's Ukraine invasion

NEW YORK/SEOUL -- North Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Kim Song blamed the United States for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, saying Washington's "hegemonic policy" is threatening the peace and security of other sovereign states. Kim made the remarks at an emergency session of the UN General Assembly held in New York on Tuesday (New York time), as dozens of other speakers urged Russia to stop its military attacks on Ukraine. "The US and the West, in defiance of Russia's reas

March 2, 2022

NK propaganda machine calls for strong armed forces on uprising anniversary

A North Korean propaganda outlet on Tuesday marked the anniversary of a 1919 uprising against Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule with calls for loyalty to the leader and strong armed forces. Meari, a propaganda website, said the March 1 Independence Movement gave lessons that such an uprising can succeed only when led by "an outstanding leader" and that armed forces are the only way to deal with armed aggressors. "Our people risked sacrifices and fought bravely but could not overcome t

March 1, 2022

With S.Korea’s support, UNSC members ‘condemn’ N.Korean missile launch

UN Security Council members and nonmember states on Monday condemned North Korea’s ballistic missile launch “in the strongest terms” and issued a joint statement, notably with South Korea’s participation. The UNSC swiftly held a closed-door consultation around a day after Pyongyang conducted its 10th ballistic missile launch on Sunday. But the Security Council’s 15 members once again failed to concur on concerted action against North Korea’s consecutive ball

March 1, 2022

N.K. leader urges 'devoted march for people'

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has urged "a devoted forced march for the people" and their ideological education in his speech concluding a three-day conference of the ruling Workers' Party, state media said Tuesday. Kim made the appeal Monday during an address for the closure of the 2nd Conference of Secretaries of Primary Committees of the Workers' Party of Korea held in Pyongyang, the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The conference, the first since late 2016

March 1, 2022

N. Korea still claims zero cases of COVID-19

North Korea has reported to the World Health Organization that the country has seen no cases of the coronavirus after more than 56,000 people have undergone tests so far, WHO data showed Tuesday. The North has claimed it has remained coronavirus-free since the pandemic began two years ago. According to the latest WHO statistics, 56,227 North Koreans have been tested for COVID-19 so far, but none of them were found to be infected. Of the about 1,300 people tested between Jan. 11-17, 110 showed sy

March 1, 2022