Yoon to preside over NSC meeting after NK missile launch

President Yoon Suk-yeol will preside over a meeting of the National Security Council following North Korea's ballistic missile launch Wednesday, his office said. The meeting is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. North Korea fired three ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, according to South Korea's military. (Yonhap)

May 25, 2022

N. Korea's total suspected COVID-19 cases reach nearly 3 million: state media

North Korea reported over 134,510 new suspected COVID-19 cases Tuesday, with the total number of fever cases reaching nearly 3 million. More than 134,510 people showed indications of fever, with no additional deaths reported, over a 24-hour period until 6 p.m. the previous day, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, citing data from the state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters. The daily number of fever cases has remained below 200,000 for the third consecutive day afte

May 24, 2022

N. Korea reports 167,650 new suspected COVID-19 cases, one more death

North Korea said Monday around 167,650 new cases of fever and another death have been confirmed, as the country stages what it calls an anti-epidemic war. More than 167,650 people showed symptoms of fever, with one additional death reported, over a 24-hour period until 6 p.m. the previous day, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, citing data from the state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters. The daily number of fever cases has remained below 200,000 for the second con

May 23, 2022

N. Korea reports 186,000 new suspected COVID-19 cases, one more death

North Korea said Sunday around 186,000 new cases of fever and another death have been reported, as it announced a COVID-19 outbreak on its soil earlier this month. More than 186,090 people showed symptoms of fever, with one additional death reported, over a 24-hour period until 6 p.m. the previous day, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, citing data from the state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters. It raised the death toll to 67, with the fatality rate standing at 0

May 22, 2022

‘Omicron could infect nearly all North Koreans’

If the pace of omicron spread keeps up in North Korea, nearly the entire population could end up becoming infected, experts in South Korea say. North Korea’s cumulative number of “fever” cases stands at 2,251,610 as of 6 p.m. Thursday, according to Workers’ Party of Korea newspaper Rodong Sinmun -- which means roughly 8 percent of its 26 million population have likely been infected. The true figure, however, could be up to four to five times the official estimate, ac

May 20, 2022

N.Korea scrambles to distribute reserve medical supplies as suspected COVID-19 cases top 2 million

North Korea’s total cases of fever have surpassed 2 million since late April, amid what is widely believed to be a COVID-19 outbreak. With the rising number of cases, the North Korean regime is scrambling to equally distribute emergency medical supplies across the country. The state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters reported approximately 263,370 cases of fever in the 24 hours up to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported on Friday. The total n

May 20, 2022

N. Korea apparently on 'cusp of potentially another ICBM test': US general

North Korea appears to be on the "cusp of potentially another intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test," a top US military officer in South Korea has said, stressing the allied troops are "standing ready" to deal with it. During a security forum in Hawaii on Wednesday (local time), Lt. Gen. Willard M. Burleson, the head of the Eighth US Army, made the remarks amid rising concerns about the possibilities of an ICBM or nuclear test by Pyongyang. "We think we are on t

May 20, 2022

N. Korea to hold state funeral for military official known for ties with Kim Jong-un

A top North Korean military official, who was a close aide to the late leader Kim Jong-il and known to have helped groom the current leader Kim Jong-un, has died, Pyongyang's state media reported Friday. Hyon Chol-hae, marshal of the Korean People's Army and general adviser to the Ministry of National Defence, died of multiple organ failure at 9 a.m. on Thursday at the age of 87, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The North has organized a state funeral committee chai

May 20, 2022

North Korea’s omicron surge: Kim Jong-un’s ‘double-masking’ and other peculiarities

Lacking vaccines and treatments, North Korea is deploying unconventional methods to fight its growing COVID-19 crisis. In a mere week since “first” cases were acknowledged on May 12, the number of suspected cases there climbed to nearly 2 million. Outside experts say these estimates are likely a vast undercount of the true scale of the outbreak. Kim Jong-un’s double-masking act North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was spotted wearing two masks while visiting pharmacies in

May 19, 2022

N. Korea stays mum on S. Korea's offer for COVID-19 talks, assistance: official

North Korea has remained unresponsive to South Korea's bid for a formal offer of consultations on providing COVID-19 medical assistance for the fourth day, according to a ministry official here Thursday. The Ministry of Unification had sought to deliver a related fax message to the North on Monday through their liaison office to hold working-level talks and offer assistance to the impoverished neighbor struggling with the recent outbreak. But the North did not express its intention to accep

May 19, 2022

N. Korea reports 1 additional death amid COVID-19 outbreak

North Korea reported one additional death and over 260,000 new suspected COVID-19 cases Thursday, raising its total number of fever cases to nearly 2 million amid its battle with the virus outbreak. According to the information of the state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters, more than 262,270 people showed symptoms of fever and one death was reported over a 24-hour period until 6 p.m. Wednesday, increasing the total number of fatalities to 63, the official Korean Central News Agency (KC

May 19, 2022

N. Korea's trade with China jumps on year in April

  North Korea's trade with China jumped on year in April as the two nations had resumed railroad freight traffic, according to Chinese customs data on Wednesday.  North Korea's trade volume with China stood at $102 million in April, compared with some 30 million for the same month a year ago, according to the data.  Railroad freight traffic between North Korea and China halted in August 2020 due to outbreaks of COVID-19 in China, and resumed in January this year.  Trade

May 18, 2022

N. Korea claims COVID-19 situation takes ‘favorable turn,’ slams officials’ ‘slackness’

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un rebuked cadres for their “slackness” in handling the COVID-19 outbreak while the country claimed that the pandemic situation was taking a “favorable turn,” the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Wednesday. Kim on Tuesday convened a rare first meeting of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Center Committee of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, the highest decision-making body, to discuss the spread of infectious

May 18, 2022

North Korea likely to launch ICBM within 48 to 96 hours: US official

North Korea appears to be preparing for a possible intercontinental ballistic missile test within the next 48 to 96 hours in time for US President Joe Biden’s visit to Seoul and Tokyo this weekend, CNN reported Wednesday. An official familiar with the matter told CNN that a government assessment shows that “things we have noticed in the past for a launch are the things we are noticing now.” While the official did not provide specific details on the latest satellite imagery

May 18, 2022

N. Korea silent on S. Korea's offer for COVID-19 talks for 3rd day: official

North Korea has remained unresponsive to South Korea's attempt to propose working-level consultations on its push to extend help to the neighbor in its fight against the COVID-19 outbreak for the third day, a ministry official here said Wednesday. The Ministry of Unification had sought to deliver a related message to the North on Monday through their liaison office to hold the talks and offer assistance in medical supplies to the neighbor, known for its dilapidated medical system. The two K

May 18, 2022

NK leader criticizes problem in early response to COVID-19 crisis in key politburo meeting: state media

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un rebuked officials for failing to respond properly to the COVID-19 outbreak in its early stages as he presided over a ruling Workers' Party meeting, state media said Wednesday. His message came as the country reported more than 232,880 people with fever symptoms nationwide and six additional deaths, raising total fatalities to 62, as of 6 p.m. the previous day. At the meeting of the presidium of the political bureau held Tuesday, Kim said that "immaturity

May 18, 2022

US concerned about COVID outbreak in N. Korea, no delay in nuclear test expected: State Dept.

The United States is deeply concerned about the COVID-19 outbreak in North Korea and supports providing humanitarian assistance, including COVID-19 vaccines, to the impoverished country, a state department spokesperson said Tuesday. Ned Price, however, noted Pyongyang may still go ahead with its widely anticipated nuclear test. "Unfortunately, to date the DPRK has refused all vaccine donations from COVAX," the department press secretary said when asked in a daily press briefing if the

May 18, 2022

JCS chief visits frontline Army unit to check readiness

South Korea's top military officer on Tuesday visited an Army unit on the eastern front to check its readiness against possible threats from North Korea and border breaches, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. JCS Chairman Gen. Won In-choul inspected the frontline unit of the 22nd Division in charge of the eastern border area and its border defense system, it said. Citing the division's vast border operations area, which includes parts of the country's eastern coast, Won urged the troops to maint

May 17, 2022

N. Korea still unresponsive to S. Korea's outreach for talks on COVID-19: official

North Korea has remained unresponsive for the second day to South Korea's attempt to offer dialogue on COVID-19 medical supplies and health care cooperation, a ministry official here said Tuesday. The Ministry of Unification had sought to deliver a related fax message to the North on Monday through their liaison office. It is seeking to hold working-level consultations on the ongoing epidemic in the impoverished neighbor and assistance in medical supplies, including vaccines, masks and test ki

May 17, 2022

Pyongyang criticizes Yoon for rehashing old-school North Korea policy

North Korea criticized South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol as a person who likes to “show off,” and said Yoon is rehashing an old-school North Korea policy, Tuesday. Uriminjokkiri, one of the North’s propaganda websites, called Yoon a “manspreading ship owner” who solely pursues his own authority and pleasure, and bothers his subordinates by ordering the relocation of the presidential office and the residence. The website also pointed how Yoon has “imper

May 17, 2022