N. Korea's nuclear test site still operational: 38 North

WASHINGTON -- North Korea's nuclear test site appears to be operational contrary to claims that is has been damaged beyond repair, a US website monitoring the reclusive country said Monday.The test grounds in Punggye-ri could support further underground nuclear testing judging from new synthetic aperture radar data, which show the viability of two mountainous areas that can be reached via the South and West Portals, according to 38 North."The data also corroborates Kim Jong-un's publicly reporte

May 1, 2018

Trump says he likes idea of meeting Kim on inter-Korean border

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump said Monday that he likes the idea of meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the inter-Korean border.There could be a "great celebration" on the site if the meeting goes well, he said, referring to the summit being planned for late May or early June."We're looking at various countries, including Singapore, and we are also talking about the possibility of the DMZ, Peace House, Freedom House, and there's something that I thought was intriguing," Tru

April 30, 2018

[Video] (FULL) Kim Jong-un’s speech in Panmunjeom

When the summit between South and North Korea took place Friday, many were surprised to hear North Korean leader Kim Jong-un use plain-spoken language, and that he spoke with much civility, in stark contrast to his formerly belligerent manner of speech propagated on media.Kim Jong-un, following the signing of the Panmunjeom Declaration vowing to bridge the two Koreas’ efforts for peace, denuclearization and reunification of transportation and communication, gave a 5-minute speech stressing the n

April 30, 2018

[Graphic News] Major international rankings for South and North Korea

　South Korea’s economic freedom score is 73.8, making its economy the 27th freest in the 2018 Index. Its overall score has decreased by 0.5 point, with a steep decline for the government integrity indicator outweighing an improvement in investment freedom. 　South Korea ranked 51st as a corrupt nation out of the 180 countries and jumped 20 places to 43rd in press freedom index.　North Korea is the 171st least corrupt nation out of 175 countries, according to the 2017 Corruption Perceptions Index r

April 30, 2018

Libya model suggested for N. Korea’s denuclearization

With a summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as close as three weeks away, assessing the most apt strategy for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is expected to be a key task lying ahead for the allies. US national security adviser John Bolton told Fox News on Sunday that the US has “very much in mind” the “Libya model” in handling the North’s nuclear program, reiterating the strategy he had floated in a previous interview shortly before taking his cu

April 30, 2018

Kim Jong-un ‘well aware’ of South Korea’s first female FM

South Korea’s Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa said on Monday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appeared familiar with her identity when they met during the inter-Korean summit on Friday. When President Moon Jae-in introduced Kang to Kim as the country’s first female foreign minister at Panmunjeom, Kim said he had seen her on television many times, Kang told reporters on Monday. South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Friday. (Yonhap)TV

April 30, 2018

Seoul keeps close eye on Trump-Kim plans

President Moon Jae-in’s meeting with US President Donald Trump may be brought forward due to apparent changes in the plans for US-North Korea summit, a South Korean official said Monday. Although Cheong Wa Dae has not released the official date of the Moon-Trump meeting, it had been speculated that it would take place mid-May. “If South Korea-US summit is held in mid-May, it may be too close together (with US-North Korea summit),” a high-level Cheong Wa Dae official said. He added that with the

April 30, 2018

Education authorities push for school field trips to North Korea

After the two Koreas agreed to push for measures aimed at ending hostilities and seeking denuclearization at the end of the inter-Korean summit on Friday, the Korean public is highly anticipating the possibility of a school-organized field trip to North Korea. A field trip to North Korea offers an opportunity for the two Koreas to make meaningful exchanges in the education sector, the Gwangju Office of Education said Monday.  Gwangju Office of EducationPrior to the inter-Korean summit that was h

April 30, 2018

[2018 Inter-Korean summit] Behind-the-scenes stories unveiled

With the historic inter-Korean summit still dominating the news, behind-the-scenes stories are being revealed by those who accompanied President Moon Jae-in to the meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Here are some notable moments from the 12-hour inter-Korean summit.Moon Jae-in and Kim Jung-un in private conversation A fascinating scene was of the two leaders walking on a foot bridge in Panmunjeom, sitting on benches and talking privately for about 30 minutes. The leaders sometimes lau

April 30, 2018

S. Korea mulling high-level talks with NK over joint liaison office

South Korea is considering holding high-level talks with North Korea to discuss the details of establishing a joint liaison office in the North's border city of Kaesong, government officials said Monday.The two Koreas agreed to set up a joint permanent liaison office where officials from both sides would be stationed to promote communication and civilian exchanges, according to a joint declaration adopted after the inter-Korean summit held Friday at the border village of Panmunjom."To implement

April 30, 2018

Japan conveying desire to hold summit with NK via Sweden and Mongolia: report

TOKYO -- Japan has been conveying its intention to hold a summit with North Korea via Sweden and Mongolia amid reports of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's interest in holding a dialogue with Tokyo, a Japanese newspaper said Monday.Citing a diplomatic source, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported the intention is being conveyed to the North through the two countries, which have close diplomatic relations, adding hopes have emerged of a possible Japan-North Korea summit following the US-North Kore

April 30, 2018

China's foreign minister to visit NK this week

Beijing -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit North Korea this week ahead of a historic summit planned between the North and the United States, the Chinese foreign ministry said Monday.His two-day trip from Wednesday comes at a critical time when efforts are being made toward denuclearizing the country. "State Councilor Wang will visit North Korea at the invitation of North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho," a foreign ministry spokesman said. Last Friday, President Moon Jae-in and Nor

April 30, 2018

Over 60% of S. Koreans trust NK willingness for denuclearization: poll

More than 60 percent of South Koreans have confidence in North Korea's stated willingness for denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula, a survey showed Monday.In a Realmeter survey conducted Friday when the historic inter-Korean summit took place, 64.7 percent of the respondents said they trust Pyongyang's will to denuclearize and work toward a lasting peace on the peninsula.Those who don't trust the communist state comprised 28.3 percent, while 7 percent said they were unsure. North K

April 30, 2018

US has Libya model in mind for NK denuclearization: Bolton

WASHINGTON -- The United States is considering using the model of Libya's denuclearization in upcoming negotiations with North Korea over its nuclear weapons program, the top US national security adviser said Sunday.The Libya model calls for North Korea to fully dismantle its nuclear program before receiving any concessions from the US in return."We have very much in mind the Libya model from 2003, 2004," US National Security Adviser John Bolton said in an interview on Fox News when asked if Pyo

April 30, 2018

Pompeo: US has obligation to pursue diplomacy with NK

WASHINGTON/SEOUL -- The United States has an obligation to engage in diplomacy with North Korea to find a peaceful solution to its nuclear weapons issue, the top US diplomat has said.US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made the remark in an interview broadcast Sunday ahead of a planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un."We have an obligation to engage in diplomatic discourse to try and find a peaceful solution so that Americans aren't held at risk by Kim

April 30, 2018

N. Korea to return to same time zone as S. Korea on May 5

North Korea will unify its time zone with South Korea's starting this weekend in a bid to promote the two Koreas' reconciliation and unity, the country's state media said Monday.During a summit with President Moon Jae-in on Friday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said that his country will move its clock forward 30 minutes, back to the same time as in the South.North Korea decided to push back its standard time by 30 minutes in August 2015, claiming the move was aimed at removing the vestige of

April 30, 2018

[Photo News] Inter-Korean summit: Behind the scenes

South Korea’s presidential office Cheong Wa Dae Sunday released some behind-the-scenes photos taken during the banquet at the Peace House in the truce village of Panmunjeom after the inter-Korean summit on Friday.Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, fills the glass of South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in during the banquet at the Peace House in the truce village of Panmunjeom. Cheong Wa Dae.North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un fills the glasses of South Korea’s Defense

April 29, 2018

Moon, Putin agree on need for trilateral cooperation with N. Korea

SEOUL/MOSCOW -- President Moon Jae-in had a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday in the wake of the inter-Korean summit and shared a common understanding that they need to have trilateral economic cooperation with North Korea to promote peace, the presidential office said.In their 35-minute talks over the phone, Moon gave credit to Russia's support for the success of the inter-Korean summit held last Friday. Moon called for Putin's continued backing for Seoul's dipl

April 29, 2018

[Graphic News] Major rail lines in South and North Korea

　The leaders of the two Koreas have agreed to “adopt practical steps” to connect and modernize the now-defunct cross-border railway lines. If restored, the rail networks of South Korea will be connected to those of the North, allowing further rail network expansion connecting to China and Russia. 

April 29, 2018

Seoul to push for family reunion talks with North as soon as possible

South Korea will push for inter-Korean Red Cross talks as soon as possible to arrange a reunion of families separated since the 1950-1953 Korean War, Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said Sunday.The leaders of the two countries agreed to hold the reunion event around August 15 during their landmark summit Friday."It takes time to prepare for Red Cross meetings as well as reunions of separated families, so they are at the top of our priority list," Cho told reporters on his way to his office.

April 29, 2018