North Korean media raise issues over human rights, inter-Korean projects

North Korea appears to be hoping to increase pressure on Seoul over inter-Korean projects and human rights concerns ahead of the second US-North Korea summit.  This file photo shows a UN Security Council meeting convened to discuss North Korea's human rights condition. (AFP-Yonhap)North Korean media and propaganda websites on Monday said Seoul was being swayed by the US with regard to inter-Korean projects, while accusing the UN of creating friction between the two Koreas. A propaganda poster ca

Jan. 21, 2019

After DC trip, N. Korean envoy set to board flight for Pyongyang

A top North Korean official arrived at an airport here Monday to leave for Pyongyang following a trip to Washington DC.Kim Yong-chol, vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party Central Committee, and his entourage showed up at the Beijing international airport at around 12:35 p.m.They got their tickets issued for an Air China flight scheduled to take off at 1:35 p.m. (Yonhap)They landed here on Sunday afternoon after travelling to the US capital.Kim, Pyongyang's lead negotiator, had talks with S

Jan. 21, 2019

S. Korea, US foreign ministers hold talks on N. Korea

The top diplomats of South Korea and the United States had phone talks Monday on North Korea and pending alliance issues, Seoul's foreign ministry said.Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed the results of the latest high-level talks between Pyongyang and Washington. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha (left) and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (Yonhap)Kim Yong-chol, a top North Korean envoy, visited Washington DC for negotiations with Pompeo last week. He met

Jan. 21, 2019

Senior N. Korea official arrives in Beijing after trip to Washington for summit discussions

A senior North Korean official arrived in Beijing on Sunday, apparently on his way home from Washington, after having discussed details of a second summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump.　Kim Yong-chol, a close aide to leader Kim, arrived at the Beijing Capital International Airport at around 6:36 p.m. from Washington and left the airport, along with his entourage, using vehicles prepared by North Korea‘s embassy and the Chinese government. (Yonhap)　He is

Jan. 20, 2019

N. Korea criticizes S. Korea‘s plan to acquire stealth fighter jets

North Korea’s official newspaper criticized Seoul‘s planned deployment of stealth fighter jets on Sunday, warning that such a provocative act could throw cold water on the growing peace mood on the Korean Peninsula.　“The move by South Korea’s military authorities to strengthen their military capability runs counter to the Panmunjom Declaration and the September Pyongyang Declaration,” the Rodong Sinmun said in a commentary, referring to the agreements reached between the leaders of the two Korea

Jan. 20, 2019

US, NK kick off working-level talks for second summit of their leaders

Senior officials from the United States and North Korea have kicked off working-level talks in Sweden to prepare for a second summit between the leaders of the two countries, sources said Sunday.Stephen Biegun, Washington's special representative for North Korea, arrived in Stockholm on Saturday afternoon for four days of talks with North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui at a remote facility outside Sweden's capital. Stephen Biegun (left) and Choe Son-hui (right) (Yonhap)It is the first

Jan. 20, 2019

Top NK official departs US after meeting Trump

A top North Korean official wrapped up a three-day visit to the United States Saturday after meeting with US President Donald Trump and agreeing to hold a second bilateral summit next month.Kim Yong-chol, known as a close aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, boarded an Air China flight to Beijing at Dulles International Airport, near Washington, just before 4 p.m. From Beijing, he is expected to return to Pyongyang. (Yonhap)Kim and his entourage refused to answer reporters' questions about F

Jan. 20, 2019

Trump: Location of 2nd N. Korea summit chosen

US President Donald Trump said Saturday that the location of his next summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been chosen but will be announced in the future.The second summit is being planned for near the end of February, after Trump met with a senior North Korean official at the White House Friday."We had a very good meeting yesterday with North Korea. That was an incredible meeting," the US president told reporters at the White House. (Yonhap)"It lasted almost two hours and we've agre

Jan. 20, 2019

Senior N. Korean diplomat arrives in Beijing

A senior North Korean diplomat in charge of Russian affairs arrived in Beijing on Saturday.Asked whether he was en route to Russia, North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Sin Hong-chol told reporters at the Beijing Capital International Airport, "I have something to do in Beijing." This file photo, taken on Oct. 27, 2018, shows North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Sin Hong-chol. (Yonhap)North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited China and held a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this month

Jan. 19, 2019

Trump, Kim to hold 2nd summit near end of Feb.: White House

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will hold a second summit near the end of February at a location to be announced at a later date, the White House said Friday.Trump and a top North Korean official met at the White House to finalize details of a potential summit on dismantling the North's nuclear weapons program."President Donald J. Trump met with Kim Yong Chol for an hour and half, to discuss denuclearization and a second summit, which will take place near the end of

Jan. 19, 2019

Report: Secret talks between US, NK in Sweden

COPENHAGEN -- Sweden’s news agency says a secret, high-level meeting between envoys from the United States and North Korea is being held in Stockholm.The TT news agency says US special envoy for North Korea Stephen Biegun is meeting with Pyongyang’s Deputy Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui.  (Yonhap)TT said Friday Sweden’s Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom is also participating.There was no immediate word from the Swedish government.Sweden has had diplomatic relations with Pyongyang since 1973 and i

Jan. 18, 2019

S. Korea’s nuclear envoy may visit Sweden for talks with N. Korea: source

South Korea’s chief nuclear envoy appears to be on his way to Sweden for a possible meeting with a senior North Korean official, a diplomatic source said Friday.Lee Do-hoon, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, seems to have left for Stockholm, where a government-civilian security forum, often called Track 1.5 session, is to take place, the source added. Lee Do-hoon (Yonhap)North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui earlier headed to the Swedish capital fr

Jan. 18, 2019

Koreas hold liaison office meeting to discuss cross-border issues

Senior officials of South and North Korea met at their joint liaison office Friday and discussed pending cross-border projects as well as the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the unification ministry said.During the meeting at the liaison office in the North's border city of Kaesong, South Korean Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung and North Korean official Hwang Chung-song agreed to work together to ensure that various inter-Korean projects will move forward smoothly, the ministry said. (

Jan. 18, 2019

S. Korean scholars move to publish inter-Korean medical dictionary

South Korean scholars said Friday that they will push forward with a plan to publish a dictionary for medical terminology used by the Koreas in an effort to bridge differences in language usage.Members of the Inter-Korean Foundation for Health and Medical Education and the Research Institute of Korean Studies under Korea University held a forum Thursday to discuss the issue. (Yonhap)Participants agreed on the need to organize terms being used by those in the medical profession that are now consi

Jan. 18, 2019

N. Korean leader plans state visit to Vietnam: news report

Vietnam is preparing to greet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Reuters reported Friday amid talk of a possible summit between him and President Donald Trump there in the coming weeks or months.Quoting a source familiar with the matter, the news outlet said Kim will travel to Vietnam for a state visit "after the Feb. 4-8 lunar new year" holiday. Another source confirmed Kim's trip but did not give any dates. (Yonhap)The sources stopped short of clarifying if Kim's trip would be related to his muc

Jan. 18, 2019

Top N. Korean official in DC for talks with Pompeo

A senior North Korean official arrived in Washington on Thursday apparently for negotiations with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on a second summit between the two sides.A plane from Beijing carrying Kim Yong-chol, known as one of the closest aides to leader Kim Jong-un, and his entourage touched down at Dulles International Airport. (Yonhap)It's the first time that a North Korean government official has flown directly into the US capital without any stopover in another US city.He left the airpo

Jan. 18, 2019

South Korea, US to seek UN sanctions exemption for inter-Korean projects

Working-level officials from South Korea and the US agreed on Thursday that a sanctions exemption was needed to enable the two Koreas to carry out joint projects and said they would ask the United Nations Security Council to waive related restrictions. According to the Foreign Ministry, the two countries reached consensus during a videoconference that it was necessary to bring electronic devices into North Korea for two inter-Korean projects -- surveys to prepare for the reconnection of cross-bo

Jan. 17, 2019

Senior North Korean official to deliver letter to Trump

North Korea’s chief negotiator in US-North Korea talks, Kim Yong-chol, is expected to deliver a letter to US President Donald Trump during his visit to Washington this weekend, according to media reports Thursday. Kim, vice chairman of the ruling Workers’ Party Central Committee, is expected to arrive in the US capital on Thursday. He will meet Trump at the White House, following a meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday. North Korean senior official Kim Yong-chol (Yonhap)The se

Jan. 17, 2019

S. Korea, US discuss humanitarian projects on N. Korea

South Korean and US government officials on Thursday discussed pending North Korea-related issues via videoconferencing, including Seoul's push for humanitarian programs, ministries involved said.In the "working group" session, the two sides also talked "in general" about a move to resume Pyongyang-Washington dialogue, according to Noh Kyu-duk, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."Today, there were consultations on such matters as video reunions of separated families and the exchange o

Jan. 17, 2019

2nd US-NK summit likely in Danang in March or April: report

A second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is likely to take place in March or April in the Vietnamese resort city of Danang, a news report said Thursday.The Washington Post reported that Trump could make an announcement on the venue and date of the envisioned meeting with Kim as early as Friday, after a meeting with Kim Yong-chol, a top North Korean official expected to arrive in Washington on Thursday. (Yonhap)The report said that Trump is expected to

Jan. 17, 2019