In summit with Kim, Xi vows active role in NK security, Korean Peninsula issues

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday began a two-day state visit to North Korea, fanning speculation about changes in the geopolitical dynamics on the Korean Peninsula, as well as denuclearization talks. Xi touched down in Pyongyang at about 11:40 a.m., beginning his first state visit to the North. He is also the first Chinese leader to make a state visit in 14 years. Although this is Xi’s first visit to Pyongyang as president, he has held four summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong

June 20, 2019

Denuke talks likely to expand to include China, warns former unification minister

A former unification minister called for government action Thursday, as he raised concerns that the denuclearization talks may be expanded to a four-way dialogue that includes China in addition to the two Koreas and the US.Former Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun made the statement during a conference at the National Assembly, saying Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Pyongyang attested to China’s intentions to play a bigger role in the denuclearization talks.  &ldqu

June 20, 2019

[Photo News] Chinese tourists share N. Korea travel photos ahead of Xi visit

The number of Chinese people visiting North Korea has seen a huge surge recently, especially since Chinese President Xi Jinping announced Tuesday his first official visit to Pyongyang.Several images and videos of Chinese tourists taken in North Korea were revealed through social media Thursday, coinciding with Xi’s arrival.  By Choi Ji-won (jwc@heraldcorp.com)

June 20, 2019

US imposes sanctions on Russian financial for helping North Korea

The US Treasury Department slapped sanctions on a Russian financial company Wednesday for allegedly assisting North Korea evade sanctions, while Washington’s top nuclear negotiator called for dialogue with Pyongyang with no conditions attached. The Russian Financial Society is accused of opening multiple bank accounts since at least 2017 on behalf of Dandong Zhongsheng Industry & Trade, a company owned and controlled by the North Korean Foreign Trade Bank, Pyongyang’s primary for

June 20, 2019

Pyongyang drawing up new plan for 3rd summit with US: former NK diplomat

North Korea is drawing up a new plan for its third summit with the United States, a Korean newspaper quoted a former NK diplomat as saying on Thursday. The two-day summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that begins Thursday signals that Pyongyang has chosen China over South Korea as a mediator for denuclearization talks with the US, Thae Yong-ho, a former deputy North Korean ambassador to the UK, said in an interview with Dong-A Ilbo, a South Korean daily

June 20, 2019

China's Xi arrives in Pyongyang: state media

PYONGYANG (AFP) -- Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang Thursday for a two-day state visit, the first by a Chinese president in 14 years, according to Chinese state media.Xi, who is accompanied by his wife Peng Liyuan, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other officials, landed at 11:40 am local time (0240 GMT), according to China's CCTV broadcaster. (AFP)

June 20, 2019

Xi leaves for N. Korea amid trade tensions with US

Chinese President Xi Jinping left for North Korea on Thursday, in a high-profile trip likely to highlight the countries' traditional alliance amid escalating Sino-US competition on trade and other tricky geopolitical fronts.It marks the first trip to the North by a Chinese head of state in 14 years and the fifth since Beijing and Pyongyang established diplomatic relations in 1949. Then Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Pyongyang in October 2005.Xi's two-day state visit to the communist ally ha

June 20, 2019

Chinese leader hints at bigger role in NK issues

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday voiced support for North Korea and its approach to denuclearization, fanning speculation that Beijing will take a more direct hand in North Korean issues. In an op-ed piece published in North Korea’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, Wednesday -- a day before he begins a state visit to North Korea -- Xi highlighted China’s support for Pyongyang. “We will actively contribute to peace and security, development and prosperity of the

June 19, 2019

[News Analysis] Will Xi’s Pyongyang visit create momentum for stalled nuclear talks?

With Chinese President Xi Jinping set to visit North Korea this week, all eyes are on whether his visit will create new momentum to move forward stalled denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang. State-operated media outlets in China and North Korea announced Monday night that the Chinese president is scheduled to make a state visit to North Korea on Thursday and Friday. According to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, the two leaders will discuss the situation on the Korean Peninsula

June 18, 2019

NK media reports on 'Parasite' popularity, highlights downside of capitalism

A North Korean propaganda media outlet carried a report on South Korea's Cannes-winning film, "Parasite," on Tuesday, saying the movie shows that the South's society is seriously ill with the cancerous problem of the rich-poor gap.The article in DPRK Today, one of the North's propaganda websites, marks the first time that a North Korean state media outlet has mentioned the winner of the Palme d'Or at this year's Cannes Film Festival. It is rare for a North Korean media outlet to report

June 18, 2019

US in contact with Pyongyang to revive nuclear talks: envoy

The US is in contact with North Korea in various ways, South Korea’s chief nuclear negotiator Lee Do-hoon said Tuesday, raising hopes for the resumption of stalled nuclear talks between the two countries. “I believe various forms of contact are being made. I can tell you that we’re going in the direction where we can revive the momentum for dialogue,” he told reporters at Incheon Airport before boarding a plane bound for Washington. US President Donald Trump has hint

June 18, 2019

Cheong Wa Dae says inter-Korean summit is not a must before G-20

South Korea's presidential office publicly toned down its expectations for another inter-Korean summit Tuesday, a day after Beijing and Pyongyang announced this week's bilateral summit.Attending the Oslo Forum in the Norwegian capital last week, President Moon Jae-in expressed his desire to meet again with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un before US President Donald Trump visits South Korea at the end of June. Trump is due in Northeast Asia to attend the Group of 20 summit to take place in Osaka,

June 18, 2019

FM says she believes there are 'good signs' for resuming NK nuclear talks

INCHEON -- Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Tuesday there are "good signs" pointing to a resumption of denuclearization talks between the United States and North Korea. "I think there are good signs," she told reporters at the airport upon returning from Moscow, when asked if there are any fresh moves to restart the stalled nuclear talks. She didn't elaborate on what those good signs are.Kang returned from a two-day trip to Russia, where she held talks with her counterpar

June 18, 2019

2 NK fishermen express desire to defect, 2 others sent back

Two of the four North Korean fishermen rescued from the East Sea last week expressed a desire to defect to South Korea, while the two others were sent back to the North according to their wishes, the unification ministry said Tuesday.South Korea returned the two crew members at the border village of Panmunjom earlier in the day after notifying the North of the incident via their joint liaison office in Kaesong on Monday, a ministry official said. "Based on their free will, two have clearly

June 18, 2019

S. Korean nuclear envoy heads to US amid renewed hopes for dialogue with NK

South Korea's top nuclear envoy left for the United States on Tuesday for talks with his counterpart amid growing hopes for a restart of denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang.During his four-day trip to Washington, Lee Do-hoon, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, is scheduled to meet US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun, the foreign ministry said.  "I believe various forms of contact are being made (between the N

June 18, 2019

Chinese President Xi to visit N. Korea this week: KCNA

Chinese President Xi Jinping will make a state visit to North Korea this week, the North's state media reported Monday, marking his first trip to Pyongyang since becoming president.Xi is scheduled to pay a two-day visit to North Korea from Thursday at the invitation of its leader Kim Jong-un, according to the Korean Central News Agency.It will be the first visit by a Chinese leader to its communist neighbor in 14 years. Though Xi visited North Korea in 2008, he was China's vice president at that

June 18, 2019

White House on Xi's NK visit: Focus is on denuclearization

WASHINGTON -- The world is focused on achieving North Korea's denuclearization, the White House said Monday in response to news of Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit to Pyongyang.Xi is to make a state visit to North Korea on Thursday and Friday, his first as China's president."Our goal is to achieve the final, fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK as agreed to by Chairman Kim," a White House official told Yonhap on background, referring to North Korea by its official n

June 18, 2019

Vice unification minister meets UN special rapporteur on NK human rights

Vice Unification Minister Suh Ho met with a UN special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea on Monday and discussed the issue of North Korean escapees held in China and other matters.The special rapporteur, Tomas Ojea Quintana, said after the meeting that he also discussed the need for humanitarian aid for North Korea. But he did not provide details of his discussions. Quintana arrived in South Korea earlier in the day for a five-day visit, during which he plans to hold a series of talks wi

June 18, 2019

S. Korea, China discussed Xi's N. Korea trip plan: Cheong Wa Dae

The South Korean government has closely consulted with China on a plan by President Xi Jinping to visit North Korea this week, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday.The presidential office was responding to multiple news reports that Xi will make a two-day trip to North Korea from Thursday. Such state media reports by Beijing and Pyongyang represent a formal announcement.South Korea has kept a close eye on the issue since it learned of a related move last week, Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Ko Min-jung said in

June 17, 2019

China's Xi to visit North Korea this week ahead of G20

BEIJING -- Xi Jinping will make the first trip to North Korea by a Chinese president in 14 years this week, state media said Monday, as Beijing tightens relations with Pyongyang amid tensions with the United States.Xi will visit Pyongyang on Thursday and Friday at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, said Chinese broadcaster CCTV.The timing is likely to raise eyebrows at the White House as it comes one week before the G20 summit in Japan, where US President Donald Trump expects to

June 17, 2019