Korean business leaders express cautious hope for reopening of Kaesong complex

South Korean businesspeople who had operated factories at the now-shuttered Kaesong complex said Tuesday they will prepare for a possible resumption of operations at the joint factory park as South Korean President Moon Jae-in holds talks with Kim Jong-un.Moon and the North Korean leader held their first round of talks on the first day of the historic summit largely aimed at seeking a breakthrough in the denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang.  (Yonhap)Shin Han-yong, the head of

Sept. 18, 2018

[Photo News] First ladies define elegance on the red carpet

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook received the red carpet treatment upon arriving at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport on Tuesday morning. Dressed in a navy blue two-piece ensemble and matching brooch, the North Korean first lady appeared confident on the runway alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. First lady Kim Jung-sook, in white, also projected an elegant image. While Moon and his North Korean counterpart, Kim Jong-un, exchanged cheek-to-cheek hugs, th

Sept. 18, 2018

[Video] Moon enthusiastically received in Pyongyang

President Moon Jae-in received an unprecedentedly enthusiastic reception by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as he arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday for his third meeting with Kim.　Upon stepping off the plane at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport around 10 a.m., Moon and first lady Kim Jung-sook were greeted by Kim and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, as well as thousands of cheering North Koreans. 　The leaders embraced each other three times, and exchanged smiles and handshakes, before Kim led Moon to meet

Sept. 18, 2018

[Newsmaker] Live broadcast distinguishes 2018 Pyongyang summit

One of the major differences that distinguishes South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s latest trip to Pyongyang from previous inter-Korean summits is the live broadcast of the event. The summit scheduled from Tuesday to Thursday is the first time the communist nation has agreed to broadcast segments of an inter-Korean summit held in its capital city live. South Korean President Moon Jae-in (left) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un participate in an open-car parade in Pyongyang. (Joint Press Corps

Sept. 18, 2018

Kim expects progress at next summit with Trump

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his North Korean counterpart, Kim Jong-un, kicked off their historic summit Tuesday in hopes of reviving the stalled denuclearization talks between the US and the communist state.A closed-door meeting was held at the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea from 3:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., marking the first inter-Korean summit at the North’s ruling party building. The meeting ran beyond the allotted time by 30 minutes.Accompanying Mo

Sept. 18, 2018

Journalists cover inter-Korean summit with measured excitement

Thousands of journalists who gathered at a press center in Seoul held their breath and stopped work for a moment when South Korean President Moon Jae-in shook hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un after disembarking from a plane at an airport in Pyongyang. Even the sound of computer typing fell away as they fixed their eyes or cameras on a large screen set up to show the summit meetings between Moon and Kim. Some stopped walking and took out their mobile phones to capture the historic momen

Sept. 18, 2018

US and Russia clash over enforcing UN sanctions on NK

UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- The United States and Russia clashed Monday over enforcing UN sanctions against North Korea, with the US ambassador accusing Moscow of “cheating” and Russia’s envoy accusing Washington of “political ill-intent.”The acrimonious meeting of the Security Council was called by US Ambassador Nikki Haley, who accused Russia of pressuring independent UN experts to alter a report on implementation of sanctions against North Korea that she said contained “evidence of multiple Russia

Sept. 18, 2018

Two Koreas’ first ladies visit children’s hospital, music school

The first ladies of the two Koreas carried out their own form of diplomacy, bonding over their shared interest in music and visiting a children’s hospital on the sidelines of the third summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang.South Korea’s first lady Kim Jung-sook visited the six-story Okryu Children’s Hospital, the only children’s hospital in Pyongyang, at around 2 p.m. and met with four North Korean children and their guardians. She was

Sept. 18, 2018

[Breaking] First Moon-Kim meeting to take place between 3:30 to 5 p.m.

President Moon Jae-in’s first meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his trip to Pyongyang is to begin at 3:30 p.m. and last for about 1 1/2 hours, Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday. In the meantime, first lady Kim Jung-sook and businessmen accompanying Moon will meet with North Korean officials, Moon’s chief press secretary Yoon Young-chan told reporters.  (Yonhap)(Yonhap)Moon arrived at Pyongyang at 10 a.m. for his third meeting with Kim. After being greeted by Kim’s top aides, ceremonia

Sept. 18, 2018

Koreans pin hopes for peace breakthrough on 3rd Moon-Kim summit

South Korean citizens hailed President Moon Jae-in's visit to Pyongyang on Tuesday, pinning hopes for progress in nuclear talks and inter-Korean reconciliation on the planned summit between Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.Many citizens were glued to a television in the waiting area of Seoul Station at around 10 a.m., as they anxiously watched a live broadcast of Moon's arrival at Pyongyang's Sunan International Airport.  (Yonhap)Some of them shouted in delight, cheered and clapped when

Sept. 18, 2018

Moon Jae-in, Kim Jong-un share Benz ride in Pyongyang

Upon arriving in Pyongyang for a three-day summit Tuesday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in switched from a plane to his secure Benz, joined by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.Moon and Kim rode in an open-roof Benz, followed by a car carrying first ladies Kim Jung-sook and Ri Sol-ju.The cars had traveled via land from South Korea across the border to Pyongyang, prior to Moon’s arrival.(Footage provided by Pyongyang Press Corps.)Security personnel followed in Lexus vehicles.This is not the firs

Sept. 18, 2018

Moon to stay in Paekhwawon guest house known for hosting VIPs

PYONGYANG -- The Paekhwawon State Guest House where South Korean President Moon Jae-in will stay during his trip to Pyongyang is known as North Korea's facility to host heads of state and foreign dignitaries. Built in 1983 along the Taedong River that runs through Pyongyang, the guest house is composed of three three-story buildings that are connected to one another. It can accommodate up to 90 guests. With thick woods behind it, the Taedong River flowing in front and a large artificial lake, th

Sept. 18, 2018

Moon, Kim may get together seven or eight times in 3 days

South Korean President Moon Jae-in began his historic three-day visit to North Korea on Tuesday with a welcome ceremony at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport attended by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his top officials.The presidential plane carrying Moon and his entourage landed at the Pyongyang airport shortly before 10 a.m. via the Yellow Sea direct flight route.Kim greeted Moon at the airport, as his late father, Kim Jong-il, did in 2000 for then-South Korean President Kim Dae-jung,

Sept. 18, 2018

N. Korean first lady joins welcoming ceremony for Moon and his wife at Pyongyang airport

North Korean first lady Ri Sol-ju attended the welcoming ceremony for South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his wife at Sunan International Airport in Pyongyang on Tuesday.She became the first North Korean first lady ever to attend a formal welcoming ceremony for an inter-Korean summit.Ri warmly greeted the first couple from South Korea, maintaining a light smile on her face all throughout the event. (Screen-captured from YTN)On Tuesday, Ri's first appearances on the television broadcast came a

Sept. 18, 2018

Kim, Moon start possibly most challenging Korean summit yet

PYONGYANG, North Korea -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in arrived in North Korea on Tuesday for his third and possibly most challenging summit yet with leader Kim Jong Un in which he hopes to break an impasse in talks with the United States over the North’s denuclearization and breathe energy into his own efforts to expand and improve relations between the Koreas.Om what are by now familiar images of the two Korean leaders hugging and exchanging warm smiles, Kim greeted Moon at Pyongyang’s ai

Sept. 18, 2018

[Newsmaker] Points to watch for at Pyongyang summit

With North Korea hard-pressed by international sanctions, it is unlikely that the third inter-Korean summit will yield immediate results in such areas as cross-border economic cooperation.Here are some of the latest remarks by Yoon Young-chan, senior secretary to the president for public communications, on what will be discussed at the summit. (Yonhap)1) Economic cooperation and sanctionsYoon said that the two Koreas will discuss “the big picture” in terms of economic cooperation, but the aforem

Sept. 18, 2018

[Photo News] Moon arrives in Pyongyang to warm welcome from North Koreans

Before President Moon Jae-in arrived in Pyongyang, hundreds of North Koreans were ready to welcome the South Korean leader.The live broadcast of Moon’s arrival showed North Koreans holding colorful bouquets and waving both the North Korean flag and the Korean Unification Flag. Military honor guards were also seen marching into Pyongyang’s Sunan Airport.Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was also spotted in the airport. Shortly after, Kim and his wife Ri Sol-ju made surprise

Sept. 18, 2018

S. Korean taekwondo demonstration team to perform in Pyongyang

South Korea's taekwondo demonstration team will perform in Pyongyang later this year following an invitation from North Korea, a Seoul-based international taekwondo governing body said Tuesday. World Taekwondo said its delegation, including president Choue Chung-won and a demonstration team, will make a five-day visit to Pyongyang starting Oct. 30 after receiving an invitation from North Korea's International Taekwondo Federation.  (Pyongyang Press Corps)WT said 50 members -- including 22 in the

Sept. 18, 2018

K-pop stars leave for Pyongyang to attend inter-Korean summit

Singers Zico, Ailee and Ali left for Pyongyang this morning to attend the third inter-Korean summit.The celebrities were seen arriving at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, as part of a some-200-strong delegation that will accompany South Korean President Moon Jae-in.Zico opted for a clean-cut look in a navy suit befitting the seriousness of the event, while Ailee wore a blue dress as the two got ready to board the presidential plane.(Video taken by Song Su-hyun, edited by Lim Jeong-

Sept. 18, 2018

Moon aims to revive stalled US-NK denuclearization talks

President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday his trip to North Korea will have “significant meaning” as long as it leads to the resumption of stalled denuclearization talks between North Korea and the US. Moon, who flew to Pyongyang for his third meeting with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un, said his goal was not to sign a new agreement with Kim, but to establish “permanent peace” on the Korean Peninsula. “We are witnessing a transition from everyday fear of war to institutionalization of peace,” Moon wa

Sept. 18, 2018