S. Korea expected to deliver promised Tamiflu to N. Korea as early as this week

South Korea is expected to deliver its promised Tamiflu antiviral medication to North Korea as early as this week as a necessary domestic approval process is under way, observers said Monday.The South Korean government unveiled its plan to provide Tamiflu and other early medial detection kits to the North in December and discussed the issue with the United States through a joint working group session on North Korea late in the same month to make sure the aid doesn't violate sanctions. (Yonhap)"W

Jan. 7, 2019

Email suspected to have malicious code sent to reporters at govt. agency handling inter-Korean affairs

An email suspected to be carrying malicious code has been sent to dozens of reporters covering South Korea's unification ministry handling relations with North Korea, prompting an investigation into the incident, an official said Monday.The email titled "TF reference info" with a compressed file attached was sent to more than 70 members of the ministry's press corps earlier in the day. It was sent through a private email address from a person named "Yoon Hong-geun." The ministry suspects it cont

Jan. 7, 2019

N. Korea's official newspaper demands complete end to S. Korea-US military drills

North Korea's official newspaper urged South Korea on Monday to stop joint military drills with the United States, saying it will help create a peaceful atmosphere and move forward inter-Korean relations. The Rodong Sinmun, an organ of the North's ruling party, also called on Seoul to stop bringing any foreign strategic assets onto the Korean Peninsula, reiterating what leader Kim Jong-un demanded during his New Year's Day speech last week. (Yonhap)"Removing nuclear threats on the Korean Peninsu

Jan. 7, 2019

NK propaganda outlet demands Washington's corresponding measures amid preparations for 2nd summit

A North Korean propaganda outlet called on the United States on Monday to take "corresponding" steps for the "sincere measures" the North has taken toward denuclearization since their summit in June.Meari, a propaganda website, made the request as the two countries are preparing for a second summit between their leaders after a protracted stalemate for months over their denuclearization talks."Our republic has granted an excessive amount of goodwill and generosity to the US," Meari said on its w

Jan. 7, 2019

[Newsmaker] Ex-North Korean ambassador urges former colleague to defect to South Korea

A former senior North Korean diplomat who defected to the South in 2016 on Saturday urged a former colleague who has gone into hiding before ending his term in Italy to come to Seoul, as opposed to the US where he is reportedly seeking asylum. Thae Yong-ho, who was the deputy ambassador in London and the most recent senior diplomat to defect, wrote an open letter to Jo Song-gil, 44, until recently North Korea’s acting ambassador to Italy, who fled the Rome embassy with his wife in early November

Jan. 6, 2019

Moon's advisor says 'bold' NK action, partial US sanctions relief needed for breakthrough

A security policy advisor to South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Saturday that "bold" action by North Korea and partial US sanctions relief could help address a perceived deadlock in negotiations over Pyongyang's denuclearization.Moon Chung-in, a Yonsei University professor, made the remarks as Seoul seeks to advance its peace initiative by creating fresh momentum for the apparently stalled dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang. Moon Chung-in (Yonhap)"A breakthrough may emerge should the

Jan. 5, 2019

Pompeo says 'confident' that Trump, Kim will meet again soon

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that he is "confident" that a second meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will happen in the near future.Speaking to Fox News Thursday evening, Pompeo maintained that he believes the two leaders will be able to make progress toward dismantling the North's nuclear weapons program when they meet to follow up on their historic first summit last June. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and North Korean leader Kim Jong

Jan. 5, 2019

NK leader expands public activities in economy, external affairs in 2018: data

The number of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's public appearances increased in 2018, mainly in the fields of economy and external affairs amid rapprochement on the Korean Peninsula, government data showed Friday.Kim appeared in public 98 times last year, up 4.3 percent from 94 in 2017, marking the first time in five years for the number to rise, according to the data compiled by the unification ministry. (Yonhap)The tally had been decreasing every year since reaching its peak with 212 in 2013.O

Jan. 4, 2019

Pyongyang tracks down defector, people around him

North Korea has been hunting down its top diplomat in Italy after he went missing in early November amid news reports he applied for asylum with an unidentified Western country.Jo Song-gil (Yonhap)The department of international affairs of the North’s Workers’ Party and its Foreign Ministry were ordered to conduct a sweeping probe into its acting Ambassador to Rome Jo Song-gil, look for others who may be seeking to defect and find ways to prevent such occurences, JoongAng Ilbo reported Friday, c

Jan. 4, 2019

UN envoy on human rights to visit S. Korea next week

A United Nations expert on human rights will visit South Korea next week to collect information on North Korea, his office has said.Tomas Ojea Quintana, special rapporteur on the human rights situation in North Korea, will meet government and civic group officials and North Korean defectors during his trip to Seoul from Monday to Friday next week, according to the office.Tomas Ojea Quintana, special rapporteur on the human rights situation in North Korea (AP)He regularly visits South Korea and r

Jan. 4, 2019

S. Korean lawmaker: Spy agency says N. Korean diplomat in hiding

North Korea‘s acting ambassador to Italy, Jo Song Gil, went into hiding with his wife in November, South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers in Seoul on Thursday. A high-profile defection by one of North Korea‘s elite would be a huge embarrassment for leader Kim Jong Un as he pursues diplomacy with Seoul and Washington and seeks to portray himself as a player in international geopolitics.  South Korean lawmaker Kim Min-ki said an official from Seoul’s National Intelligence Service shared the infor

Jan. 3, 2019

North Korean leader’s comment on nuclear weapons draws mixed responses

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s comment about nuclear weapons in his New Year’s speech has evoked mixed responses from experts here.“We declared at home and abroad that we would neither make and test nuclear weapons any longer nor use and proliferate them, and we have taken various practical measures,” Kim said in a televised address on Tuesday. Thae Yong-ho, a former North Korean diplomat, said Kim’s speech shows there is no change in Kim’s stance on clinging to nuclear weapons.   “His 2019 p

Jan. 3, 2019

Trump talks of ‘great letter’ from Kim, but difficulties remain

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday revealed that he received a “great letter” from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Trump said that he received a letter from Kim, and reiterated his belief that North Korea is seeking real changes, and once again stressed his part in North Korea-related developments. US President Donald Trump holds up the letter from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the White House on Wednesday. YonhapClaiming that his meeting with Kim in Singa

Jan. 3, 2019

Acting NK ambassador to Italy seeks to defect: report

North Korea’s top diplomat in Italy sought asylum from an unidentified Western country with his family, JoongAng ilbo reported Thursday.Jo Song-gil, the acting North Korean ambassador to Rome, is currently under protection of Italian authorities upon his request, the newspaper reported, citing an unnamed diplomatic source.  (Yonhap)Jo was appointed as the acting ambassador after Italy expelled then Ambassador Mun Jong-nam in October 2017 in protest of a nuclear test by the North in violation of

Jan. 3, 2019

Trump says he received 'great letter' from NK leader

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he received a "great letter" from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and expects the two will have another meeting soon.Kim said in his New Year's address Tuesday that he is ready for a second meeting with Trump at any time and is committed to "complete denuclearization."But he also warned that the North may be compelled to "find a new way" to defend its interests if the US continues with sanctions and pressure against the regime.(Yonhap)"

Jan. 3, 2019

Unification minister: NK’s nuclear energy development could be discussed in denuclearization progress

Future denuclearization talks should pay attention to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s comments on the possible development of nuclear energy to tackle the country’s electricity shortage, according to Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon.In a television show Tuesday night, Cho said the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes was guaranteed in exchange for the development of a resolution of the nuclear weapon issue in the agreement of the six-party talks, in which South Korea, the United Sta

Jan. 2, 2019

[Newsmaker] Resumption of inter-Korean projects requires international consultation, ministry says

The Unification Ministry said Wednesday that close consultation with the international community is required in considering the resumption of a South-North industrial complex and tour program, following North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s call for the restart of inter-Korean projects.“As agreed before, it is necessary at this moment for us to focus on creating the conditions,” Unification Ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun told reporters Wednesday. “Also, it is a matter that should be pursued in con

Jan. 2, 2019

S. Korea says consultations with intl. community needed for resumption of Kaesong park, Kumgang tours

South Korea needs close consultations with the international community to consider the resumption of two inter-Korean economic cooperation projects as called for by North Korea's leader, the unification ministry said Wednesday.In his New Year speech on Tuesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he is willing to reopen the now-shuttered industrial park in the North's border town of Kaesong and resume the suspended tourism program to Mount Kumgang on its east coast without any preconditions. "A

Jan. 2, 2019

NK leader will not seek second summit with Trump without breakthrough: defector

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would not seek a second summit with US President Donald Trump if he sees no breakthrough in now-stalled denuclearization talks, a North Korean defector said Wednesday.Thae Yong-ho, a former senior North Korean diplomat, interpreted Kim's warning of a "new path" in his New Year's message as an expression of his resolve not to be swayed by the US. (Yonhap)Kim said Tuesday that he is firmly committed to denuclearization and ready to meet with Trump at any time. But h

Jan. 2, 2019

UNICEF says $19.5m needed for humanitarian aid to N. Korea this year

The UN Children's Fund estimates that at least $19.5 million is needed to support North Korean children this year amid constraints on assisting the impoverished country due to international sanctions.The global children's agency said in a report that 10.9 million people in North Korea, including 2.59 million under age 18, are exposed to chronic food insecurity and lack access to basic services, such as health care and sanitation facilities.(Yonhap)Among the total amount of funds requested for th

Jan. 2, 2019