Uzbek-Kyrgyz summit, indicator of new trends in Central Asia

  The state visit of the Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Kyrgyzstan ended Jan. 27. Undoubtedly, the significance of its results will go down in the history of bilateral relations. Moreover, they mark a new stage in the process of regional cooperation. I would even say that the significance of the results of the visit goes beyond the region and may even play an important role in stabilizing the entire system of international relations. There are good reasons for such an assertion. Duri

Feb. 2, 2023

N. Korea warns of 'toughest' response to any US military action

North Korea said Thursday it will take the "toughest reaction" to any US military action in response to the US defense chief's latest pledge to deploy more strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula to ensure its security commitment. The North's warning came as US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Seoul earlier this week for talks with his South Korean counterpart and said there would be more deployments of advanced military assets involving F-22 and F-35 jets to deter the

Feb. 2, 2023

N.Korea prioritizes military buildup ahead of army anniversary

North Korean state media has stepped up the rhetoric to justify military buildup despite lingering economic woes ahead of the army founding anniversary, saying that defending the country from “enemies” is its priority. “What comes first is to reinforce our own strength and national defense capabilities in order not to become a slave of imperialists,” the Rodong Sinmun, an organ of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, said Wednesday in a Korean-language article. &ldqu

Feb. 1, 2023

Indonesia pledges closer friendship, stronger partnership with Korea

Top diplomats from South Korea and Indonesia pledged to forge a closer friendship and stronger partnership during a talk held online and in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday. The year 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Korea. Speaking to attendees gathered at the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, who attended the event online, called for closer friendship and partnership, including in building a greener and more sustain

Jan. 31, 2023

In face of supply disruptions, Korea, India must work together

India is willing to collaborate with South Korea to resolve supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and other geopolitical conflicts, said Amit Kumar, Indian ambassador to Korea, on Friday, stressing the 50 years of bilateral ties and deep trust building towards the future. Global geopolitical conflicts have exposed the acute vulnerability of supply chains and the risks of dependency on one country, Kumar told The Korea Herald, noting that "India and Korea must work togethe

Jan. 31, 2023

Indian Embassy celebrates 74th Republic Day

The Indian Embassy in Seoul on Thursday celebrated its 74th Republic Day with traditional dances and performances. The event commemorates the Jan. 26 anniversary on which the Indian Constitution came into effect in 1950. Delivering Indian President Droupadi Murmu’s message at the event, Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar outlined India's recent changes, development projects, achievements and future vision to the Indian diaspora in Korea. Kumar also spoke about India–Korea cul

Jan. 31, 2023

US House resolution seeks to denounce socialism, N. Korean leaders

WASHINGTON -- A resolution proposed in the US House of Representatives seeks to denounce socialism and socialist dictators, including North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his predecessors, the resolution showed Monday. The resolution, titled "Denouncing the horrors of socialism," also notes over 3.5 million people in North Korea have starved due to what it called crimes committed by socialist ideologues. The resolution notes "many of the greatest crimes in history were committed by

Jan. 31, 2023

N. Korea releases pictorial book of foreign gifts received by late leader

North Korea has released a pictorial book of gifts given to its late leader Kim Jong-il from foreign leaders and governments, including a basketball signed by former NBA superstar Michael Jordan, a Pyongyang propaganda website showed Monday. The 216-page book carries photos of various presents gifted to Kim, the father of current leader Kim Jong-un, displayed at the North's International Friendship Exhibition House, according to the North's Foreign Languages Publishing House website. T

Jan. 30, 2023

What’s behind N.Korean criticism of US’ Ukraine support?

North Korea on Sunday denounced the US’ decision to provide advanced battle tanks to Ukraine once again, while denying Washington’s accusation it was supplying weapons to Russia, which it labeled as a “grave provocation” that must be responded to. Kwon Jong-gun, director general of the Department of US Affairs of North Korea’s Foreign Ministry, condemned the US plans to “supply offensive armed weapons such as main battle tanks to Ukraine at any cost while igno

Jan. 29, 2023

S. Korea mistakenly fires machine gun near border with N. Korea

CHUNCHEON -- A South Korean soldier has mistakenly fired a machine gun during training near the border with North Korea, and the military has immediately informed North Korea that the shooting was not intentional, military officials said Sunday. The South Korean military said four live rounds were fired from the machine gun during a training session by an Army unit along the inter-Korean border in the eastern province of Gangwon at 6:27 p.m. on Saturday. All of the bullets landed in the southe

Jan. 29, 2023

N. Korea rejects alleged arms trading with Russia, warns of consequences

A senior North Korean official on Sunday rejected alleged weapons transactions with Russia, warning the United States that it will face unsavory consequences if it continues to spread such rumors. Kwon Jong-gun, director-general in charge of affairs to the US at North Korea's foreign ministry, called the allegation a grave provocation and said North Korea cannot tolerate what he describes as a US fabrication meant to hurt North Korea's standing. The angry statement carried by North Kor

Jan. 29, 2023

N. Korean leader's sister condemns US provision of tanks to Ukraine

The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un issued a statement Friday criticizing the USs' decision to send tanks to Ukraine to help its fight against Russia's invasion, saying that Washington is crossing the "red line." "The U.S., which has exposed the whole continent of Europe to the grave danger of war and caused big and small concerns, is now further crossing the red line," Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Par

Jan. 28, 2023

Unification Ministry seeks to disclose more N. Korean information to public

The Ministry of Unification aims to disclose more information on North Korea to the general public in 2023, it said Friday during a New Year’s policy briefing to President Yoon Suk Yeol. The ministry said it would focus on improving accessibility and convenience by releasing more North Korean newspapers and broadcasts to the public. It added that it would operate a pilot program by publishing information from Rodong Sinmun, an organ of the ruling Workers’ Party and the regime’s

Jan. 27, 2023

N. Korea urges antivirus efforts amid apparent preparations for military parade

North Korea is making all-out antivirus efforts, its official media said Thursday, amid a news report that it has imposed a lockdown on the capital city of Pyongyang apparently ahead of a military parade to mark the army founding anniversary next month. The Rodong Sinmun, the regime's main newspaper, stressed the need to place the top policy priority on strengthening quarantine efforts, calling on its people to continue fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic with the "greatest sense of

Jan. 26, 2023

Kim Jong-un said he needed USFK to protect him from China: Pompeo

Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrote in his new memoir that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un told him in 2018 that he needed US forces in South Korea to protect himself from China. Kim "said that he needed the Americans in South Korea to protect him from the CCP, and that the CCP needs the Americans out so they can treat the peninsula like Tibet and Xinjiang," Pompeo wrote, referring to the Chinese Communist Party, in his book "Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America

Jan. 25, 2023

‘Dramatic’ construction underway at N.Korea’s main rocket launch site

Satellite imagery showed “dramatic and ongoing” construction in North Korea’s main missile and rocket launching station on the west coast, a Washington-based think tank said Tuesday, noting that the site could be used for a satellite launch “in the near future.” The construction activities have taken place throughout the eastern and central sections of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station in the Tongchang-ri area, North Pyongan Province, according to Beyond Paralle

Jan. 25, 2023

N. Korean media decries Yoon's remarks on Iran

A North Korean propaganda outlet on Tuesday criticized President Yoon Suk Yeol's recent remarks on Iran's relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), noting they drew Tehran's wrath and created a "commotion" in the South. During a recent visit to a South Korean military contingent in the UAE, Yoon said that the UAE's "enemy and biggest threat" is Iran while the South's enemy is North Korea. The Tongil Shinbo, a weekly publication, made the first me

Jan. 24, 2023

N. Korea continues to provide ammunition to Russia in violation of UNSC sanctions: White House

North Korea continues to provide ammunition to Russia in support of Moscow's unprovoked war against Ukraine, a White House official said Friday, calling it a clear violation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions on Pyongyang. John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator for the National Security Council, said the U.S. has shared its intelligence on the delivery of North Korean ammunition to Russia with the UNSC Panel of Experts on North Korea sanctions. The NSC officia

Jan. 21, 2023

US should prepare to redeploy tactical nukes in Korea, says group of US experts

The United States should consider laying the groundwork with South Korea for a potential redeployment of its tactical nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula to ramp up pressure on North Korea and clear up South Korean doubts over the credibility of the US commitment to extended deterrence, a group of US experts and former US senior officials said Thursday. But Seoul and Washington should consider bringing back US tactical nuclear weapons to South Korea as a last resort, the bipartisan, 14-membe

Jan. 20, 2023