N. Korean delegates arrive in Seoul for Olympic closing ceremony amid protest

North Korea’s high-level delegation arrived Sunday to attend the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics amid mounting criticism that the visit is led by a combative general accused of orchestrating attacks on South Korea. Vice Chairman of the North’s ruling Workers’ Party Kim Yong-chol crossed the border at around 9:50 a.m. via a land route, Seoul’s Unification Ministry said. Accompanying Kim was Ri Son-gwon, chairman of the Committee for Peaceful Reunification, and six other member

Feb. 25, 2018

S. Korea to focus on holding further inter-Korean talks after Olympics

South Korea's unification ministry said Sunday that it will make efforts to hold further talks with North Korea as the PyeongChang Winter Olympics helped revive momentum for inter-Korean dialogue.The ministry also said that there should be progress over the resolution of North Korea's nuclear issue for better inter-Korean ties and that the South is ready to work as a mediator to expedite talks between the US and North Korea."Without hurrying, Seoul will make efforts to improve inter-Korean ties

Feb. 25, 2018

NK official accused of masterminding 2010 naval attack visits S. Korea amid protest

A top North Korean official accused of having orchestrated the North's sinking of a South Korean warship in 2010 made a high-profile trip to the South on Sunday amid fierce opposition from conservatives here.Kim Yong-chol, a ranking party official in charge of inter-Korean affairs, crossed the inter-Korean border for a three-day visit, leading North Korea's high-level delegation to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics closing ceremony.His trip comes during a period of Olympics-driven rapprochement be

Feb. 25, 2018

[Breaking] N. Korean delegates arrive in S. Korea for Olympic closing ceremony

Led by Kim Yong-chol, vice chairman of the North’s ruling Workers’ Party, North Korea’s high-level delegates arrived at South Korea on Sunday to attend the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. 　Kim, who also served as the head of the ruling party’s United Front Department, and his support staff crossed the border via a land route at around 9:50 a.m, according to Seoul’s Unification Ministry.　Accompanying Kim was Ri Son-gwon, chairman of the Committee for Peaceful Reunification, a

Feb. 25, 2018

NK's high-level delegation set to arrive in S. Korea for Olympics' closing ceremony

NK's high-level delegation set to arrive in S. Korea for Olympics' closing ceremonyNorth Korea's high-level delegation led by a top official accused of having masterminded the 2010 sinking of a South Korean warship is set to arrive in the South Sunday to attend the PyeongChang Winter Olympics' closing ceremony.Kim Yong-chol, a key party official handling inter-Korean affairs, will cross the inter-Korean border later in the day, heading an eight-member delegation for a three-day trip to South Kor

Feb. 25, 2018

NK delegation includes diplomats in charge of nuclear issue, diplomacy with US: source

North Korea’s high-level delegation to the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics includes multiple officials in charge of nuclear issues and diplomacy with the United States, an informed government source here said Saturday.The makeup of the eight-member delegation has fueled speculation that it could have discussions with Seoul officials over how the isolated regime hopes to settle the nuclear standoff and improve ties with Washington. (Yonhap)Led by Kim Yong-chol, a vice chairman

Feb. 24, 2018

US imposes more North Korea sanctions, Trump warns of 'phase two'

The United States said on Friday it was imposing its largest package of sanctions to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear missile program, and President Donald Trump warned of a “phase two” that could be “very, very unfortunate for the world” if the steps did not work.  US President Donald Trump (Yonhap)In addressing the Trump administration’s biggest national security challenge, the US Treasury sanctioned one person, 27 companies and 28 ships, according to a statement on the US Treasury

Feb. 24, 2018

[PyeongChang 2018] Koreas to hold talks next week on NK's participation in Paralympics

South Korea and North Korea agreed Friday to hold working-level talks next week to discuss the North's participation in the 2018 Winter Paralympics, which will be held in the South next month, Seoul officials said.The two sides will meet Tuesday at the northern side of the inter-Korean border to discuss details of the North's participation in the March 9-18 games, according to South Korea's unification ministry.At last month's inter-Korean talks, the North agreed to send a 150-member delegation

Feb. 23, 2018

Former NK spymaster's visit sparks public outrage

A North Korean ranking military official’s planned visit to the PyeongChang Olympics in South Korea is fueling concerns and outrage here and the South Korean government is struggling to calm the waves.  North Korea`s general reconnaissance bureau head Kim Yong-chol will be part of the closing delegation at the 2018 Winter Olympics. (Yonhap)Gen. Kim Yong-chol, head of the North Korean ruling party’s United Front Department and former chief of the Reconnaissance General Bureau, is a known hard-lin

Feb. 23, 2018

Seoul says it is difficult to pinpoint mastermind of North's 2010 naval attack

The South Korean government said Friday that it is difficult to pinpoint who led North Korea's deadly sinking of the warship Cheonan in 2010, amid controversy surrounding a planned visit by a senior Pyongyang official widely suspected of masterminding the attack.Kim Yong-chol, a top North Korean official, is scheduled to arrive in the South on Sunday for a three-day visit leading a high-level delegation to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics' closing ceremony to be held later in the day. Conservativ

Feb. 23, 2018

Main opposition party rallies against planned visit by NK official accused of sinking Cheonan

Members of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party held a protest rally in front of Cheong Wa Dae on Friday to oppose a planned visit to South Korea by a top North Korean official accused of masterminding the deadly 2010 sinking of a South Korean warship.Kim Yong-chol, a vice chairman of the Central Committee of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party, is scheduled to cross the border on Sunday for a three-day visit as the head of an eight-member delegation to the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang

Feb. 23, 2018

Pence: NK leader's sister is a 'central pillar' of oppressive regime

WASHINGTON -- US Vice President Mike Pence blasted the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Thursday, calling her a "central pillar" of a regime accused of serious human rights abuses.He was addressing thousands of people at the Conservative Political Action Conference near Washington following a trip to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, where a secret meeting with the North Koreans was canceled at the last minute.In media coverage of Pence at the Games' opening ceremony, he appeared to b

Feb. 23, 2018

North Korea slams U.S.-Japan joint drill

A North Korean committee on Thursday blasted the United States and Japan for conducting a joint missile drill, branding it as a "ferocious gangster-like act." Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force and the U.S. Navy will conduct the annual exercise for one week starting on Friday. The drill includes the Japanese and U.S. air forces, as well as the U.S. Marine Corps."Branding this as a ferocious gangster-like act aimed to tarnish the hard-won atmosphere for the improvement of the north-south ties an

Feb. 22, 2018

Too early to predict US-NK contact at Olympics: Seoul minister

South Korea's unification minister said Thursday that it is too early to say whether officials from the United States and North Korea will meet on the sidelines of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics' closing ceremony.North Korea said it will send a high-level delegation led by Kim Yong-chol, a senior party official, to the closing Sunday for a three-day trip. It coincides with a visit by US President Donald Trump's daughter, Ivanka, to the South, fanning speculation about them possibly meeting here

Feb. 22, 2018

Hard-liner to lead North Korea’s delegation to Olympic closing ceremony

Led by a hawkish general in charge of inter-Korea relations, a group of high-level delegates from North Korea will be dispatched for the closing ceremony of PyeongChang Olympics, South Korea’s Unification Ministry said Thursday. 　The North notified the Unification Ministry that it would send Sunday eight delegates led by Gen. Kim Yong-chol, head of the ruling party’s United Front Department and former chief of the Reconnaissance General Bureau. 　Accompanied by Ri Son-gwon, chairman of the Commit

Feb. 22, 2018

Moon likely to meet N. Korean delegation to Olympics: official

President Moon Jae-in will likely hold a meeting with North Korea's delegation to the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games, an official from the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday.The North Korean delegation is set to arrive here Sunday for the closing of the Winter Olympic Games later the same day. It will be led by Kim Yong-chol, the head of the ruling party's United Front Department and former chief of North Korea's reconnaissance bureau."We believe President

Feb. 22, 2018

NK to send high-level delegation to Olympics' closing ceremony

North Korea said Thursday it will send a high-level delegation, including a top party official in charge of inter-Korean affairs, to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics' closing ceremony scheduled for Sunday, Seoul officials said.Kim Yong-chol, a vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea's central committee, will lead the eight-member delegation, which will arrive in the South on Sunday for a three-day trip, according to Seoul's unification ministry.The trip coincides with a visit by US Pr

Feb. 22, 2018

NK seeks nukes to reunify peninsula under its control: Bolton

WASHINGTON -- North Korea is pursuing nuclear weapons as a means to reunify the Korean Peninsula under its control, not just for self-defense, John Bolton, former US ambassador to the United Nations, said Wednesday.His remark is in line with recent assessments by Trump administration officials."At some point, people have to recognize that North Korea wants nuclear weapons not just for self-defense, but they still want to reunify the Korean Peninsula under their control," he told a forum.Bolton,

Feb. 22, 2018

[Newsmaker] NK hackers expand targets beyond South Korea: reports

A North Korean hacking group has broadened its scope of attack from the South Korean government and private sector to other nations as well, according to a top cybersecurity firm report.  Workers at the Korea Internet and Security Agency in Seoul, South Korea, monitored the spread of ransomware cyberattacks. (Yonhap)US cybersecurity firm FireEye said the state-backed “Reaper” hacking organization, which it dubbed “APT 37,” expanded its target list to include Japan, Vietnam and the Middle East la

Feb. 21, 2018

S. Korea sees inter-Korean talks as key to North's denuclearization

South Korea's foreign ministry said Wednesday that it sees inter-Korean and US-North Korea talks as "major pillars" of any dialogue aimed at denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.The ministry said it will also work hard to build global consensus on the need to generate a "virtuous cycle" between improving ties with the North and resolving the North's nuclear issue.Those goals are part of the ministry's policy measures to be pushed this year and were previously submitted to the National Assembly."W

Feb. 21, 2018