North Korea beefs up self-defense capabilities in military reorganization

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presided over a meeting of the top military decision-making body to accelerate the development of self-defense capabilities ahead of key events that will decide its national strategy, its state media reported Sunday. Discussions on ways to bolster its military capabilities through organizational restructuring and personnel reshuffle were highlighted during the third expanded meeting of the seventh central military commission of the ruling Workers’ Party. Det

Dec. 22, 2019

N. Korea threat looms as China, Japan, S. Korea leaders meet

BEIJING (Reuters) -- The spectre of new confrontation between Pyongyang and Washington hangs over meetings between China, Japan and South Korea this week, with growing risks North Korean actions could end an uneasy detente and upend recent diplomatic efforts.South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping separately on Monday. They will then travel to the south western city of Chengdu for a trilateral meeting with C

Dec. 22, 2019

NK leader presides over expanded Central Military Commission meeting of Workers' Party

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presided over an enlarged meeting of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party and discussed "important organizational and political measures and military steps to bolster up" the armed fores, state media said Sunday.The meeting was held amid heightened tensions with the United States with Pyongyang threatening to seek a "new way" unless Washington comes up with a acceptable proposal in their nuclear negotiations by end of th

Dec. 22, 2019

N. Korea raps US official's human rights remarks

The North Korean foreign ministry on Saturday denounced a US official's remarks on its human rights conditions, which it claimed came at a time when Pyongyang-Washington relations "are reaching a highly delicate point.""Such malicious words which came at this time when the DPRK-US relations are reaching a highly delicate point will only produce a result of further aggravating the already tense situation on the Korean peninsula, like pouring oil over burning fire," the ministr

Dec. 21, 2019

Biegun suggests US remains open to talks with N. Korea

US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun returned to Washington on Friday after a dayslong trip to South Korea, Japan and China, suggesting he remains open to meeting with North Korean officials to discuss the country's denuclearization.Biegun arrived at Dulles International Airport on a flight from Beijing after what would have been an impromptu meeting with the North Koreans apparently did not materialize.The special representative traveled to the region as tensions have risen

Dec. 21, 2019

Trump says he discussed N. Korea with Xi

US President Donald Trump said Friday he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the two countries' trade deal and North Korea.In a tweet, he said they had a "very good talk ... concerning our giant Trade Deal," referring to the interim agreement the two countries reached last week to halt additional tariffs on Chinese goods and require more Chinese purchases of US farm and other products.It was unclear, however, what they discussed regarding North Korea."China has already s

Dec. 21, 2019

North Korea has 3rd-highest air pollution-related deaths

North Korea ranked No. 3 in the rate of deaths related to air pollution, according to a new report Friday.Radio Free Asia said North Korea recorded 202 pollution-related deaths per 100,000 population, in a report “Pollution and Health Metrics” released on Wednesday by Global Alliance on Health and Pollution. The communist country was ranked behind Chad and Central African Republic, which stood at 287 and 251 deaths per 100,000, respectively. In North Korea, 51,391 died due to polluti

Dec. 20, 2019

NK leader may announce suspension of nuclear talks in New Year's address: expert

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may announce the suspension of nuclear talks with the United States when he delivers his New Year's Day address or holds a key meeting of the ruling Workers' Party later this month, an expert said Friday.Sung Ki-young, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Strategy made the remarks during a North Korea forum organized for foreign diplomats amid heightened concerns Kim could put his threat to take a "new way" into action.The North's l

Dec. 20, 2019

S. Korea rejects claim deported N. Korean fishermen were defector brokers

The unification ministry on Friday rejected as "fake news" allegations that the two North Korean fishermen deported from South Korea last month were brokers helping North Koreans fleeing the communist nation.The two fishermen in their 20s were sent back to the North last month, five days after they were captured near the eastern inter-Korean sea border. After an inter-agency investigation, the South Korean government concluded that they killed the captain of their boat and 15 fellow cr

Dec. 20, 2019

Biegun fails to set up talks with NK during Asia trip

The US point man on North Korea, Stephen Biegun, ended his trip to Beijing without setting up talks with the North on Friday amid concerns that Pyongyang could resume provocations in protest over the deadlocked nuclear negotiations.Biegun, who has just been confirmed as the US' new deputy secretary of state, was not seen boarding an Air China plane bound for Pyongyang at the Beijing Capital International Airport, a sign that his speculated trip to the North would not materialize.He then departed

Dec. 20, 2019

N. Korea establishes info website on science, technology

North Korea recently established a website providing information on science and technology trade, its state media said Thursday, an apparent move to revitalize related sectors amid economic challenges stemming from global sanctions.The North‘s National Science and Technology Committee created it to contribute to invigorating technology trade by establishing a link to prepare and verify the quality and competitiveness of technology products, the official Korean Central News Agency said. &ld

Dec. 19, 2019

[Herald Interview] N. Korea’s demand for halt of US-S. Korea military drill shows desperation for economic growth: ex-minister

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been calling on the US to suspend its joint military exercises with South Korea so that it can direct resources into the regime’s economic development, a former unification minister suggested. If South Korea and the US revive their biggest annual spring drills, Foal Eagle and Key Resolve next year, he says, North Korea will have to divert a larger number of armed forces back to the military grounds for training from construction sites where they were com

Dec. 19, 2019

China stresses ties with NK while seeking sanctions relief

North Korea and China stressed their friendship and cooperation while Beijing and Moscow have requested from the UN partial sanctions relief for Pyongyang.According to Yonhap News Agency, China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the North Korean Embassy in China held an exhibit at the National Library of China in Beijing on Tuesday in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties.  About 100 people, including North Korean ambassador to China Ji J

Dec. 19, 2019

UN adopts NK human rights resolution for 15th straight year

WASHINGTON -- The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution calling for accountability for gross human rights violations in North Korea.It is the 15th straight year the UN General Assembly has adopted such a document, which passed by consensus without a vote.The Assembly "condemns the long-standing and ongoing systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights in and by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, including those that may amount to crimes agai

Dec. 19, 2019

US senators warn N. Korea of more sanctions for provocation

WASHINGTON -- A bipartisan group of US senators Wednesday warned North Korea of further economic sanctions in response to any provocation, such as a long-range missile test.The four senators -- Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) -- led passage of a North Korea sanctions bill as part of an annual defense policy bill that passed the Senate on Tuesday.The defense bill is certain to be enacted into law as US President Donald Trump said last week h

Dec. 19, 2019

Biegun may hold secret meeting with NK in Beijing: ex-unification minister

The US point man on North Korea, Stephen Biegun, could hold a secret meeting with North Korean officials when he travels to China later this week, a former South Korean unification minister said Wednesday.The State Department announced earlier that Biegun, US special representative for North Korea policy, will visit Beijing on Thursday and Friday "to discuss the need to maintain international unity on North Korea."The previously unannounced trip, which follows his visits to Seoul and T

Dec. 18, 2019

North Korea may not fire long-range missile until year-end: think tank

North Korea is unlikely to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles at least until the end of the year in order not to embarrass China, experts said Wednesday, amid concerns the regime could express frustration at the stalled denuclearization talks with the US through a major military provocation. “Chances are high that North Korea won’t test-fire missiles before and after a China-Japan-South Korea trilateral summit or even until the year-end, taking into account Beijing’s po

Dec. 18, 2019

Trump aide says US not easing sanctions on N. Korea

WASHINGTON -- The United States will not ease sanctions on North Korea short of the regime's complete and verifiable denuclearization, a senior aide to US President Donald Trump said Tuesday, following reports that China and Russia proposed the United Nations lift some sanctions on the North.Kellyanne Conway, senior counselor to Trump, did not comment directly on the draft UN resolution proposed by China and Russia on Monday.Instead, she told reporters the US position regarding sanctions has not

Dec. 18, 2019

Biegun to visit China to discuss N. Korea

WASHINGTON -- US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun will visit Beijing later this week to discuss the need to maintain international unity on North Korea, the State Department said Tuesday.Biegun will be in the Chinese capital on Thursday and Friday following visits to Seoul and Tokyo, the department said in a brief statement.He will "meet with (Chinese) officials to discuss the need to maintain international unity on North Korea," it said, indicating the US official

Dec. 18, 2019

[Graphic News] North Korea’s crop harvest up 2% on improved weather conditions

　North Korea’s crop production this year is estimated to have slightly increased from a year earlier on the back of relatively improved weather conditions, data showed.　The combined crop output of the communist nation is estimated to reach 4.64 million tons this year, compared to 4.55 million tons a year earlier, according to the Rural Development Administration.　The production of rice, a key staple food for Koreans, is estimated to have risen 1.8 percent over the period to reach 2.24 mill

Dec. 17, 2019