Most Popular
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[Exclusive] Korean adoptee sisters meet for the first time in 39 years
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Signs point to N. Korean troops in Russia-Ukraine combat zone
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Yoon calls for measures to protect Koreans amid escalating Iran-Israel conflicts
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Rose's 'Apt.' redefines K-pop's global appeal
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Civil servant’s death linked to workplace bullying
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Two years on, thousands mourn Itaewon tragedy, calling for accountability
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[Weekender] Walk around Korea to really get to know the country
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N. Korea slams Seoul-Washington joint air exercise
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[Herald Interview] Love for K-drama, food defines 'Secret Ingredient'
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[Herald Interview] K-pop’s 'best years are ahead of us': Spotify’s general manager for Asia Pacific
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US to end North Korea review in weeks: official
The US will wrap up its policy review on North Korea in the coming weeks, a senior US diplomat for East Asian affairs said Friday, ahead of senior-level talks to take place in Seoul this week between the US state and defense secretaries and their South Korean counterparts. The top US envoy and defense chief is visiting Korea on March 17 and 18 following a trip to Japan to discuss North Korea’s denuclearization, among others, in the first high-level meeting held in person. “I don&r
March 14, 2021
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US expects to complete N. Korea policy review in "weeks": Sung Kim
The United States is expected to complete its ongoing review of its North Korea policy in a few "weeks," a senior US State Department official said Friday, ahead of Secretary Antony Blinken's upcoming trip to South Korea and Japan to discuss the issue. Sung Kim, acting assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, said the secretary's visit to the countries will provide great opportunities for the Asian allies to offer their own input into a new US policy to
March 13, 2021
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Blinken's trip to Asia will provide 'key ingredient' for US policy toward N. Korea: Price
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's trip to Japan and South Korea will give him a chance to coordinate US policy and its approach toward North Korea, a State Department official said Friday. Ned Price said Blinken's talks with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts will provide an important ingredient for a new US policy toward the North, but said the policy itself will likely be announced at a later date. "It's an especially important one because it's an especially important ingre
March 13, 2021
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Diplomacy and pressure should go ‘hand in hand’ in US policy toward NK
As the Biden administration is conducting its policy review on Pyongyang with a chance of doubling down pressure on the reclusive regime, a former Trump official on North Korea stressed that the pressure in itself is not “sustainable,” but has to be paired with diplomacy to achieve any kind of progress. “Pressure without openness to diplomacy is not sustainable. But diplomacy also on the other hand without pressure, or the openness to diplomacy in negotiation without pre
March 12, 2021
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Former US nuke negotiator urges Seoul, Washington to refrain from large-scale military exercises
A former US nuclear negotiator on Friday called on South Korea and the United States to refrain from large-scale combined exercises and urged North Korea to avoid nuclear tests to achieve progress in denuclearization talks. Robert Gallucci, known for his role in negotiating a landmark 1994 nuclear agreement with Pyongyang, made the remarks in an online forum hosted by the unification ministry. "The North will have to avoid extended range ballistic missile tests or engine tests or any nucl
March 12, 2021
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NK's official paper calls for tighter antivirus efforts in time for spring season
North Korea's official paper urged the people not to let their guard down against the new coronavirus, saying laxity is the "greatest enemy" in their ongoing efforts to ward off the highly contagious disease. North Korea has claimed to be coronavirus-free but has taken relatively swift and tough measures against the global pandemic, such as imposing strict border controls since early last year. "Arrogance, carelessness, laxity and negligence are the greatest enemies in our emerg
March 12, 2021
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UN official urges Seoul to address NK rights violations
The United Nations investigator of human rights violations in North Korea on Wednesday called on South Korea to address the North’s rights violations in nuclear talks and to seek economic and humanitarian exchanges in a human rights-based framework. Tomas Ojea Quintana, the special rapporteur on North Korea human rights, urged the South Korean government to take action in a report to the UN Human Rights Council. “We are not hesitant to follow up on those recommendations,” a
March 11, 2021
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NK paper stresses close relations with Cuba amid impasse in nuclear talks
North Korea's main newspaper on Thursday stressed close relations with Cuba in time for the 35th anniversary of a former Cuban leader's visit to Pyongyang. The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the ruling Workers' Party, said in an editorial that the two countries are "firmly united by a sense of comradery in the common battle for socialism." "We will continue to put our best efforts to strengthen our unwavering friendship and solidarity with the people of Cuba," the
March 11, 2021
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Ministry vows to keep close communication with int'l community on anti-Pyongyang leaflet ban
The unification ministry on Thursday said it will continue to maintain close communication with the international community on a recently legislated ban on sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets into North Korea after a UN special rapporteur voiced concerns over South Korea's decision, an official said. Earlier, Special Rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana submitted a report to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), expressing concern that the ban "limits many activities of escapees and civil society org
March 11, 2021
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NK newspaper calls for nationwide efforts to boost crop output
North Korea's official newspaper on Thursday urged nationwide efforts to increase grain output, calling it "a crucial matter" in the country's push to achieve key goals unveiled in a rare party meeting early this year. "We need to realize that food insecurity is a crucial matter related to improving our peoples' lives and economic development, and thoroughly implement this year's plans for crop production," the Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the ruling Workers' Par
March 11, 2021
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N. Korea poses 'serious' and 'immediate' threat to US, allies: Davidson
North Korea poses a serious and most imminent threat to the United States and its allies in the Indo-Pacific region such as South Korea, the commander of US Indo-Pacific Command said Tuesday. Adm. Phil Davidson also said the North continues to develop its nuclear and delivery systems designed to strike the US homeland. "North Korea poses a significant security risk to the United States and our partners in the Indo Pacific Region. The country has taken no meaningful steps toward denucleari
March 10, 2021
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Ministry finalizes guidelines on leafleting ban to clarify scope of application
The unification ministry on Tuesday announced finalized guidelines on a legislated ban on sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets into North Korea in an effort to ensure better interpretation of the law. The amendment to the Development of Inter-Korean Relations Act, set to take effect later this month, has raised concerns that it could hurt freedom of expression and undercut efforts to send information into the reclusive North. Concerns have also been raised that the law could prohibit the sending of
March 9, 2021
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NK economic officials blame themselves for lack of progress in development plans
North Korea's official newspaper on Tuesday carried contribution pieces by officials in the Cabinet and economic sectors holding themselves accountable for the lack of progress in economic development. The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the ruling Workers' Party, carried a contribution piece in a newly added section written by Jo Yong-dok, department director of the Cabinet, criticizing the lack of cooperation between industries. "Production was hindered by the lack of cooperati
March 9, 2021
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Red Cross offers to take care of cemetery for NK soldiers
South Korea's Red Cross is willing to take care of a cemetery for North Korean soldiers killed in the Korean War, its secretary general said Sunday, as the graveyard remains largely abandoned amid an administrative row. The cemetery, established in 1996 in the border county of Paju, holds 843 sets of remains of North Korean soldiers killed in the 1950-53 war. The remains of some Chinese soldiers had also been held there, but they were repatriated to China in 2014. In March 2019, the government
March 7, 2021
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NK leader calls on local party officials to bring 'clear changes' for the people
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un urged local party officials to achieve "clear changes and successes" that can be welcomed by the people, as he concluded a workshop with regional Workers' Party secretaries, state media reported Sunday. The four-day workshop, the first of its kind, concluded on Saturday and discussed ways to implement economic development and other goals put forth during a rare party congress in January, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "Enthus
March 7, 2021
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‘N. Korea is exploiting cyberspace to evade sanction’
North Korea is exploiting cyberspace to circumvent UN sanctions, Gen. Paul Nakasone, commander of the US Cyber Command, said at a cybersecurity videoconference it hosted Thursday. “North Korea sponsors cyber exploitation of international finance via cyber means to evade United Nations sanctions.” North Korea has long been accused of supporting cyberattacks targeting banks to finance its weapons program and prop up its economy. China is believed to be sharing expertise and training
March 5, 2021
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NK leader sets agriculture as 'primary economic task' for local party officials
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un set increasing agricultural production as a "primary economic task" as he held the second day of a workshop with regional Workers' Party secretaries, state media reported Friday. During the meeting on Thursday, Kim stressed the importance of increasing production in the farming sector and discussed ways to implement goals put forth during a rare party congress in January, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "The primary economic ta
March 5, 2021
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US defense chief shortlists N. Korea as 'nation-state threat'
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Thursday included North Korea in only a handful of countries that pose threats to the United States and its allies. It marked the first time the US defense chief addressed the North Korean issue since taking office in late January. "Even as we address accelerating competition by China, we will ensure that we remain fully ready to respond to and effectively deter nation-state threats emanating from Russia, Iran, and North Korea," Austin said in
March 5, 2021
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N. Korea again ranks lowest in terms of economic freedom: think tank
North Korea is the world's least free country in terms of economic freedom for its people and businesses, an annual report from a US think tank showed Thursday. The North ranked 178th or last in terms of economic freedom, according to the report, the 2021 Index of Economic Freedom by the Washington-based Heritage Foundation. "The world's least economically free nation remains North Korea, followed closely by the failed socialist nations of Venezuela and Cuba," it said, without clarif
March 5, 2021
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'Robust' N. Korea sanctions needed to prevent nuclear proliferation: defense nominee
The United States and others must continue to enforce sanctions on North Korea to prevent the North from proliferating its nuclear capability, the nominee for US under secretary of defense for policy said Thursday. Colin Kahl also highlighted the need for South Korea and the United States to maintain their combined defense posture to deter North Korean threats. "I believe that it is the role of the Department of Defense to maintain a robust defense and deterrence posture, and to ensure th
March 5, 2021