NK officials book flight to Washington: reports

North Korea’s chief negotiator in US-North Korea talks, Kim Yong-chol, will head to Washington on Thursday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed Wednesday, sparking speculations a second US-North Korea summit may be imminent. According to the ministry, North Korean officials, including Kim, have booked tickets to Washington that depart from Beijing on Thursday.  Kim Yong-chol. YonhapKim is the vice chairman of the ruling Workers’ Party Central Committee and the chief negotiator in US-North Kor

Jan. 16, 2019

Top N. Korean envoy due in Washington this week: CNN

North Korea will send a top government official to Washington, DC later this week, CNN reported Wednesday amid indications that the two sides are moving closer to a second summit.Kim Yong-chol, North Korea's top negotiator and ex-spymaster, plans to arrive there Thursday (local time) for a two-day stay, according to the broadcaster.It cited two US sources familiar with ongoing negotiations. (Yonhap)Kim is expected to hold talks with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on details of a planned summit b

Jan. 16, 2019

Pro-unification group postpones inter-Korean New Year event to next month

A pro-unification organization in South Korea said a New Year's meeting with its North Korean counterparts, planned to be held at the North's Mount Kumgang resort, has been delayed to next month.The South Korean Committee for Implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration had earlier said it would hold the joint event at the scenic mountain resort later this month. (Yonhap)The June 15 declaration refers to the agreement made by the two Koreas at their first-ever summit in 2000.At the request of

Jan. 15, 2019

Local experts doubt report on NK bolstering nuclear arsenal

North Korea cannot afford to be slapped with additional international sanctions over the development of nuclear weapons, experts here said Tuesday, following a media report that the country might have produced material for more atomic bombs in 2018. Citing satellite-imagery analysis and leaked US intelligence, Bloomberg on Monday reported that Pyongyang has been strengthening its nuclear arsenal by churning out rockets and warheads as well as adding several intercontinental ballistic missiles an

Jan. 15, 2019

Video family reunions not likely to take place around Lunar New Year's holiday: official

Video reunions of separated families of South and North Korea are unlikely to happen around next month's Lunar New Year's Day holiday as it takes time to make preparations, including obtaining a sanctions exemption for the event, a unification ministry official said TuesdayOn Monday, the ministry handling inter-Korean affairs said that video reunions could take place on the occasion of the Feb. 5 holiday. It is a follow-up to an agreement between the leaders of the Koreas in September to hold vi

Jan. 15, 2019

N. Korea's vice FM travels to Sweden for conference

 Choe Son-hui, North Korea's vice foreign minister, showed up in Beijing on Wednesday on her way to Sweden, where she will attend an international conference.  Choe Son-hui (Yonhap)She arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport at around 11:30 a.m. on an Air Koryo flight. Asked about her destination, Choe answered, "I am going to an international conference in Sweden."It remains to be seen whether she will hold any sideline meetings in connection with the ongoing denuclearization negotiati

Jan. 15, 2019

N. Korea, US may hold high-level talks this week: source

Senior North Korean and US officials may meet in Washington, DC later this week for consultations on a second summit, a diplomatic source in Seoul said Tuesday.Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to greet Kim Yong-chol, a top aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.The source pointed out that the two sides are resolved to have face-to-face negotiations. (Yonhap)"Given Secretary Pompeo's other commitments, it's true that (he's) available for the talks on Jan. 17-18," the source said.Pompeo

Jan. 15, 2019

NK propaganda outlet urges 'practical' reciprocal measures from Washington

A North Korean propaganda outlet urged the United States on Tuesday to take practical reciprocal measures in denuclearization negotiations, warning the nuclear standoff won't ever be resolved if Washington sticks to sanctions and pressure.   "It is no one other than the US that has caused the nuclear problem on the Korean Peninsula, and if it does not take its share of the responsibility, only coming up with atrocious preconditions and forcing them on the other side, the nuclear issue cannot eve

Jan. 15, 2019

US, NK engage in fine-tuning ahead of summit

The US is fine-tuning the details of a second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un amid media reports naming Vietnam as a possible site for talks. Asked when the two leaders will hold their summit, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on TV that the administration is “working out the details,” without further elaboration. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (Yonhap)His remark is being taken as a positive sign for an imminent summit, as Trump said negotiati

Jan. 14, 2019

Pompeo says 'details' are being worked out for 2nd US-NK summit

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that "details" are being worked out for the possible second summit between Washington and Pyongyang, amid a flurry of media reports on Vietnam as its possible venue.During a media interview, he made the remarks as expectations grow that US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may meet in the coming months to break an apparent impasse in their negotiations over Pyongyang's denuclearization. (Yonhap)"We're working out the details,

Jan. 14, 2019

NK hopes to counter Japan’s abduction issue with forced labor dispute

North Korea will raise the issue of forced mobilization of Koreans during Japanese occupation of the Korean Peninsula should talks be held between Pyongyang and Tokyo, Japanese media reported Sunday. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho addresses the general debate of the General Assembly at the United Nations on Sept. 29 last year. UNAccording to Japanese news reports, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho informed Mongolian Foreign Minister Damdin Tsogtbaatar of the plans during their m

Jan. 13, 2019

Trump suggests Vietnam for US-NK summit: report

US President Donald Trump suggested holding the anticipated second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Vietnam in mid-February, a Japanese newspaper reported Sunday. Yomiuri Shimbun reported that North Korea appears to review the US proposal but has not yet give a response, citing officials familiar with the matter. The report comes amid rising speculation that the two leaders are soon to hold the second summit to resume the stalled talks on denuclearization, following their first mee

Jan. 13, 2019

S. Korea, US to hold third 'working group' meeting on N. Korea next week

South Korea and the United States are expected to hold their third "working group" meeting on North Korea next week, diplomatic sources in Seoul said Saturday.Seoul's top nuclear envoy, Lee Do-hoon, and his American counterpart, Stephen Biegun, will co-chair a session through a video conference on denuclearization amid months of quiet in related dialogue, they said. Lee Do-hoon (Right), Seoul's top nuclear envoy, and his American counterpart, Stephen Biegun, talk to reporters on Dec. 21, 2018, i

Jan. 12, 2019

NK refugee faces deportation from Australia: report

A North Korean-born refugee is facing deportation from Australia for drug-related crimes, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.The Australian Department of Immigration is set to deport the 52-year-old man despite recognizing he may be executed or sent to a forced labor camp upon arrival in North Korea. (AP)Choe arrived in Australia in 1993, aged about 26, by hiding in a shipping container bound for northern Queensland. After working long hours at a Sydney restaurant, he developed mental health pro

Jan. 11, 2019

Negotiations for resumption of inter-Korean economic projects possible

Negotiations to resume two inter-Korean economic cooperation projects are possible but there need to be ways to prevent the flow of “bulk cash” into North Korea, a high-ranking Foreign Ministry official said Thursday on condition of anonymity. In his New Year speech Tuesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he is willing to reopen the South-North joint industrial park in the North’s border town of Kaesong and resume the suspended tourism program to Mount Kumgang without any preconditions.“(I

Jan. 11, 2019

South Korea's stance on declaration of end of Korean War remains unchanged

South Korea will continue to push for signing with North Korea a declaration to formally end the Korean War this year amid concerns over slow progress, a government official said on condition of anonymity Thursday. The government’s willingness to sign the declaration remains unchanged although the timeline has been delayed from what it had expected – by the end of last year, the official said. “We still believe that the agreement should be pushed ahead.” (Yonhap)This echoes President Moon Jae-in

Jan. 11, 2019

Vietnam and Singapore shortlisted for NK-US summit

Vietnam and Singapore are likely to be shortlisted to host a second summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and the US President Donald Trump, Foreign Affairs Ministry officials said on condition of anonymity Thursday. “(The venues you should pay attention to) are those mentioned by media including Vietnam, Singapore and Hawaii,” one ministry official said. “But Hawaii is said to be an unrealistic location as it doesn’t have a North Korean embassy there,” another official added. (AP)The s

Jan. 11, 2019

FM does not rule out surprise announcement on 2nd US-NK summit

South Korea's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Friday that she does not rule out the possibility of a surprise announcement on a much-anticipated summit between the United States and North Korea.Kang made the remarks amid hopes that the possible second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will create fresh momentum for diplomacy on Pyongyang's denuclearization and a lasting peace on the peninsula. (Yonhap)"Major US figures have hinted recently that the

Jan. 11, 2019