Activity at N. Korea's Punggye-ri suggest possible additional tests: US monitor

WASHINGTON -- Recent satellite imagery show continued activity at North Korea's main nuclear test facility in Punggye-ri that may suggest preparations for future tests, a US monitor said Monday. The image, taken Sept. 29, shows possible work to clear the area in front of a dismantled underground tunnel, which could allow additional nuclear tests in the future, according to Beyond Parallel, a project of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank. "The

Oct. 4, 2022

After flurry of missile launches, N.Korean media dismiss allies’ moves to sharpen deterrence

North Korea’s propaganda outlets have continued to dismiss South Korea and the US’ move to reinforce their deterrence and military readiness as “bravado” against a “nuclear weapons state,” arguing that North Korea merely sees a US aircraft carrier as a “lump of scrap metal.” Multiple propaganda outlets have simultaneously launched a flurry of attacks on the Yoon Suk-yeol government’s defense strategy to reinforce the South Korea-US combined d

Oct. 3, 2022

Masks return in N. Korea in renewed fight against COVID-19

Masks have apparently made their return in North Korea in October, with the country's public health experts advising people to don facial protection to guard against the possible resurgence of COVID-19. The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), monitored in Seoul, on Sunday released photos of elderly people wearing masks while attending the previous day's celebrations of the International Day of Older Persons. The Korean Central Television also showed footage of university students in m

Oct. 2, 2022

Unification minister says N. Korea trying to tame S. Korean government, grab US attention

South Korea's point man on North Korea said Sunday he believes North Korea's recent series of missile launches are aimed at "taming" the new South Korean government while at the same time grabbing US attention. Unification Minister Kwon Young-se made the remark to Yonhap News Agency at Incheon International Airport ahead of his departure for Germany for a four-day trip aimed at seeking support for Seoul's peace and denuclearization efforts while joining the celebration for the 32nd a

Oct. 2, 2022

Defector group sends propaganda balloons to N. Korea

PAJU  -- An anti-Pyongyang group of North Korean defectors said Sunday they released eight giant balloons carrying face masks, Tylenol pills and other items toward North Korea the previous day. Park Sang-hak, head of the Fighters for a Free North Korea, told Yonhap News Agency that the balloons also carried vitamin C tablets, booklets outlining South Korea's development over the past 50 years and USBs containing U.S. lawmakers talking about North Korea's human rights situation. The ball

Oct. 2, 2022

N.Korea conducts fourth ballistic missile launch in a week

North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles from the capital city of Pyongyang toward the east coast on Saturday morning, marking its fourth missile launch in a week. The missile launches came hours before South Korea was set to stage a large-scale military parade to mark the Oct.1 Armed Forces Day with the participation of President Yoon Suk-yeol, Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup and top military commanders. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said “two short-range ballis

Oct. 1, 2022

US general stresses 'ironclad' alliance, decries NK, China, Russia as threat to peace

 A top US military officer in South Korea stressed the importance of maintaining the "ironclad" alliance between the two countries Friday, as he decried North Korea, China and Russia as a threat to peace in Northeast Asia and beyond. Lt. Gen. Willard M. Burleson, the commander of the Eighth US Army, delivered a lecture on the alliance as Seoul and Washington are moving to deepen and broaden the alliance amid Pyongyang's evolving military threats and Beijing's growing assertiven

Sept. 30, 2022

US reaffirms commitment to defense of S. Korea after N. Korean missile launch

WASHINGTON -- The United States reaffirmed its "ironclad" commitment to the defense of South Korea and Japan on Thursday, hours after North Korea fired two ballistic missiles in its latest provocation. North Korea launched what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Thursday (Seoul time). "We are aware of the two ballistic missile launches and are consulting closely with our allies and partners," US Indo-Pacific Command said in a released state

Sept. 30, 2022

N.Korea conducts third ballistic missile launch in less than a week

North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles from a western inland town toward the East Sea on Thursday evening, marking its third missile launch in less than a week. North Korea’s latest missile launches came hours after US Vice President Kamala Harris denounced North Korea’s “brutal dictatorship” while reaffirming the US’ ironclad defense commitment to South Korea during her visit to South Korea. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said two short-ran

Sept. 29, 2022

S. Korea, US, Japan set to stage anti-submarine drills to counter N. Korea

South Korea, the United States and Japan will conduct an anti-submarine warfare exercise near the Korean Peninsula for the first time in five years to enhance combined capabilities and interoperability against escalating threats from North Korea. The South Korean and US navies and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force are set to stage trilateral drills on Friday in international waters of the East Sea, South Korea and the US announced on Thursday. “The exercise is designed to strengthen ca

Sept. 29, 2022

N. Korea fires ballistic missiles toward East Sea as allies engage in naval drills

North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles eastward from the capital city of Pyongyang on Wednesday evening, according to the South Korean military. Pyongyang’s consecutive missile launches came just one day before US Vice President Kamala Harris is set to visit South Korea. The ballistic missile-firing was the second in three days as Seoul and Washington engage in large-scale naval drills. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said “two short-range ballistic missiles w

Sept. 28, 2022

North Korea may conduct nuclear test between Oct.16 to Nov.7: NIS

North Korea may conduct a seventh nuclear test after China’s party congress in October but before the US midterm elections in November, the South Korean spy agency said on Wednesday. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service said North Korea’s completion of restoring Tunnel No.3 at the Punggye-ri nuclear testing site has increased the chance of a nuclear test during a closed-door briefing to the parliamentary intelligence committee. The NIS said North Korea could conduct a se

Sept. 28, 2022

N. Korea blames US for first-use nuclear doctrine

North Korea claimed Monday that the United States compelled the country to adopt a first-use nuclear doctrine and vowed to continue military buildup in a tit-for-tat move against the US’ “hostile policy.” At the UN General Assembly, the claim was immediately dismissed by South Korea, but North Korea repeatedly clarified that it no longer seeks to discuss Korean Peninsula affairs with the Yoon Suk-yeol government. North Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Kim Song underscore

Sept. 27, 2022

N. Korea in period of provocation but US prepared for dialogue: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- North Korea may conduct its seventh nuclear test without warning but the United States remains committed to engaging with Pyongyang in serious diplomacy, a state department spokesperson said Monday. Ned Price also said the North currently remains in a period of provocations. "We have spoken of North Korea's pattern of provocations in recent months. We have warned repeatedly that North Korea could well conduct another nuclear test, its seven nuclear tests with no warning,&

Sept. 27, 2022

[Graphic News] S. Koreans grow more skeptical of NK’s denuclearization: survey

　Nine out of 10 South Koreans are skeptical about the possibility of North Korea abandoning its nuclear program, a survey showed, amid a prolonged impasse in inter-Korean relations and denuclearization talks. 　According to a poll of 1,200 adults by the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies at Seoul National University, 92.5 percent responded with skepticism, the highest percentage since the annual survey began in 2007. 　The number of respondents that supported South Korea’s nuclea

Sept. 27, 2022

N. Korea, China resume cross-border cargo rail service after 5-month hiatus

Cross-border cargo trains between North Korea and China have resumed operations after a five-month hiatus, China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed Monday. The confirmation came after South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported that a freight train loaded with supplies was seen departing from the Chinese border city of Dandong and crossing the China-North Korea Friendship Bridge into Sinuiju in North Korea on Monday morning. Wang Wenbin, a spokesman at the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said C

Sept. 26, 2022

Was that Kim Jong-un’s daughter on TV?

Was that Kim Jong-un’s daughter on TV? North Korean watchers are zeroing in on a girl who appeared on the reclusive state’s national TV during a recently televised event, saying she could be Kim Jong-un’s only daughter, Ju-ae. The UK's Daily Mail first reported about the child among a pack of preteen children attending the anniversary of the founding of North Korea from a broadcast of the Korea Central Television. It cited a self-proclaimed North Korean analyst of InDPRK.c

Sept. 26, 2022

UN envoy says ‘will become bridge between’ Lee Dae-jun family, international community

Elizabeth Salmon, the United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in North Korea, said she supports the family of Lee Dae-jun, the South Korean fisheries official who was killed by North Korean soldiers at sea in 2020. In a letter dated Sept. 23 seen by The Korea Herald, Salmon told Lee’s 20-year-old son, “I am here to support you and your family.” “I will support the efforts made by you, your family and the Republic of Korea to reveal the fact, t

Sept. 26, 2022

Yoon sees greater likelihood of N. Korean provocation in case of Taiwan conflict

President Yoon Suk-yeol has expressed concern that a potential military conflict between China and Taiwan could raise the likelihood of North Korea's provocations, making clear the "top priority" of the Seoul-Washington would lie on dealing with Pyongyang. Yoon made the remarks when asked whether he would support the United States coming to Taiwan's military defense if China were to attack the island, which Beijing regards as part of its territory. "In the case of milita

Sept. 26, 2022

N. Korea holds politburo session on agriculture without leader Kim's attendance

North Korea held a ruling Workers' Party politburo meeting to discuss the issue of improving the country's agricultural situation, its state media said Monday. Jo Yong-won, secretary for organizational affairs of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Committee, presided over the politburo meeting the previous day, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). North Korean leader Kim Jong-un did not attend the meeting. Officials at the meeting adopted an "imp

Sept. 26, 2022