S. Korea reaffirms commitment to implementing inter-Korean agreements

The unification ministry on Saturday said it has a firm determination to implement inter-Korean agreements, shortly after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un accused the South of going against it at a rare party congress. 　 Kim made the remarks during the eighth congress of the ruling Workers‘ Party currently under way in Pyongyang, calling on Seoul to abide by the inter-Korean peace-building and tension-reduction deals and halt its joint military exercises with the United States. 　 “As

Jan. 9, 2021

Kim calls US 'biggest enemy,' vows to continue nuclear development

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called the United States the “biggest enemy” of his country, threatening to continue to advance its nuclear capabilities, state media said Saturday. 　 Kim added that Washington‘s policy against Pyongyang won’t change regardless of who rules the White House, saying that an end to its hostile stance will be the key to future relations between the two countries, according to the Korean Central News Agency. 　 Kim made the remarks reporting

Jan. 9, 2021

Kim Jong-un examines ties with S. Korea at party congress

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Thursday examined ties with South Korea and decided to expand foreign relations, on the third day of his second party congress since coming to power in 2012. Kim did not elaborate, according to the North’s state media. The 37-year-old leader also highlighted “our way of life” full of socialist values in education, health and arts and discussed promoting the supremacy of “our institutions.” Kim, who faces the toughest challenges

Jan. 8, 2021

US to create cybercrime bureau against China, N. Korea

The US State Department said Thursday that it is creating the Bureau of Cyberspace Security and Emerging Technologies (CSET) to respond to security threats posed by adversaries including China, North Korea, Russia and Iran. The threats have increased since Congress was notified of the plan in June 2019, the State Department said in a statement. The CSET bureau will lead the US government diplomatic efforts on international cyberspace security concerns that affect US national security and forei

Jan. 8, 2021

NK state media make no mention of leader Kim's presumed birthday

North Korean state media made no mention of its leader Kim Jong-un's presumed 37th birthday on Friday amid its detailed report on an ongoing rare party congress. The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and the Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the ruling party, carried articles on the eighth party congress of the ruling Workers' Party, the country's biggest political event, but did not mention his birthday. The North's state Korean Central Television (KCTV) also kicked off its program at 9 a.

Jan. 8, 2021

NK paper emphasizes antivirus efforts as party congress is under way

North Korea's official newspaper on Friday urged the people to keep their guard up against the coronavirus pandemic as a rare party congress is under way in Pyongyang with thousands of delegates gathering to join the largest political event. The eighth congress of the ruling Workers' Party, the first of its kind in nearly five years, has been held since Tuesday to determine the country's policy directions for the economy and foreign affairs. Pyongyang had been placed on the highest alert agains

Jan. 8, 2021

NK leader reviews inter-Korean ties, vows to 'comprehensively' expand external relations

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reviewed inter-Korean relations and pledged to "comprehensibly" expand external ties during a rare party congress, state media reported Friday. Kim announced the policy line in a report to the third-day session of the eighth congress of the ruling Workers' Party held in Pyongyang the previous day, citing "the prevailing situation and the changed times," according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "The report studied the issu

Jan. 8, 2021

N. Korea vows to bolster defense on 2nd day of party congress

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un vowed Wednesday to bolster defense on the second day of a party congress held for the second time since 2016. He came to power in 2012. Kim said he would expand the military capabilities to realize a peaceful environment for North Koreans, according to the North’s state media. 　 Kim discussed economic goals as well for different sectors, but again skipped foreign policies. On the first day of the congress, Kim admitted to economic failures over the past f

Jan. 7, 2021

NK leader vows to boost defense capabilities at party congress

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to strengthen his country's military capabilities to protect its people at a rare party congress, state media said Thursday, amid an impasse in its nuclear negotiations with the United States. Kim, however, did not use such provocative words as nuclear weapons or war deterrent, which some experts saw as intended to avoid increasing tensions, as he reported to the second-day session of the eighth congress of the ruling Workers' Party on Wednesday. He &q

Jan. 7, 2021

US flies spy plane over peninsula amid NK party congress: aviation tracker

A US reconnaissance plane flew over South Korea on Wednesday, an aviation tracker said, on an apparent mission to monitor North Korea as Pyongyang kicked off its rare party congress. The US Navy's EP-3E was seen flying over Hwaseong, south of Seoul, and Hongcheon, 100 kilometers east of the capital, in the afternoon, according to the tracker, No callsign. The flight came as the ruling Workers' Party's first congress in nearly five years started in Pyongyang on Tuesday. The congress draws keen

Jan. 6, 2021

Kim Jong-un admits economic failures, holds off on foreign policy

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un admitted Tuesday his five-year economic plan had failed “terribly” to deliver on expectations for almost every sector, as he opened a party congress for the second time since 2016. Kim, who came to power in 2012, did not address foreign policies. The key party meeting, attended by the ruling Workers’ Party members, delegates and spectators, sets forth the regime’s major economic and foreign initiatives and involves a party reshuffle. In 20

Jan. 6, 2021

Failure to get NK to begin denuclearization was unfortunate: Pompeo

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a media interview that it was unfortunate that the US failed to get North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to begin the denuclearization process during his term. The outgoing secretary of state who was deeply involved in US President Donald Trump’s summits with Kim made the remarks when asked by Bloomberg TV on Monday whether he feels there has been progress on North Korea. “President Trump came in and recognized that one of the great challenges t

Jan. 6, 2021

US should not lose sight of progress made with N. Korea: DeTrani

The incoming US administration of Joe Biden should recognize the progress made with North Korea so far and reengage the North in denuclearization talks to build on such progress, a former US nuclear negotiator said Tuesday. Joseph DeTrani also argued North Korea would be willing to come back to the negotiating table. "President Donald Trump and his two summits had success, certainly in Singapore, with that joint statement, that declaration coming out of Singapore that spoke about a transf

Jan. 6, 2021

NK leader admits economic failure as he opens party congress

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has admitted the failure to meet the country's economic development goals as he opened the ruling party's first congress in nearly five years, state media said Wednesday. Kim made the acknowledgement in his opening speech for the eighth congress of the Workers' Party, which took place in Pyongyang on Tuesday, according to the Korean Central News Agency. The party congress, the North's biggest political event, was launched amid expectations the North will unveil

Jan. 6, 2021

N. Korea requests vaccine from global group despite zero COVID claims

North Korea has sent an application to secure a coronavirus vaccine supply from a global group that helps low-income countries with inoculations, the Wall Street Journal said Monday, citing sources familiar with the matter, adding it has reached out to several European embassies asking about vaccines. Gavi, an international vaccine alliance that helps impoverished countries vaccinate their people, declined to comment on North Korea’s application. The group is assessing the demand in diffe

Jan. 5, 2021

UN panel approved 30 cases of sanctions exemptions to aid programs in NK last year

A UN Security Council panel approved sanctions exemptions on a total of 30 cases last year to aid agencies providing humanitarian assistance to North Korea, a recent report showed. According to the annual report by the North Korea sanctions committee released on its website, 30 aid exemption requests from member states, UN entities and other international organizations were approved by the panel from Jan. 1-Dec. 31 in 2020. The report did not identify which countries and organizations received

Jan. 5, 2021

NK mum on party congress slated for early Jan

North Korea remains silent about its much anticipated eighth party congress which it said would be held in early January. For the sixth Workers’ Party congress held in October 1980 and the seventh in May 2016, North Korea announced the opening dates 20 days and 10 days prior to the dayslong event. This time, North’s state media is merely continuing to emphasize the importance of party leadership. The Rodong Sinmun, a mouthpiece of the North Korean Workers’ Party, said in its

Jan. 5, 2021

N. Korea shows no sign of 'major provocation' for now: USFK chief

WASHINGTON -- North Korea is not showing any signs of preparation to stage a major provocation at least for now, the chief of US Forces Korea (USFK) said Monday. "I say that we are not seeing any indicators that suggest that there would be a major provocation. But that's today. That could change next week," Gen. Robert Abrams said when asked if North Korea may stage a military provocation before or after the Jan. 20 inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden. Many experts beli

Jan. 5, 2021

Minister says he hopes for positive message from N. Korea

Unification Minister Lee In-young said Monday he hopes to receive a positive message from North Korea on inter-Korean relations as Pyongyang is expected to hold a rare party congress this week. Lee made the remarks during his online address for the new year to his ministry staff, as the North is set to convene the congress of the Workers' Party this week for the first time in over four years amid expectations that the North is to unveil its economic scheme and policy directions for the United S

Jan. 4, 2021

NK paper calls for ramped-up antivirus campaign ahead of party congress

North Korea's official newspaper on Monday urged a stepped-up nationwide antivirus campaign ahead of a highly anticipated party congress expected to take place this week. North Korea has said it will convene the eighth congress of the Workers' Party in early January without specifying a date for the gathering. State media earlier said delegates to the congress gathered in Pyongyang, suggesting its opening is imminent. "As we march forward this year, what we have to prioritize is to streng

Jan. 4, 2021