NK may soon test ICBM system

South Korean authorities believe North Korea could carry out an intercontinental ballistic missile system test as soon as this week, which would seriously raise tensions on the Korean Peninsula as the presidential transition gets underway in Seoul. 　 Seoul and Washington have detected signs of an imminent ICBM test, and have been keeping an eye on the developments, according to sources here. 　 National Security adviser Suh Hoon told President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol on Saturday that a test launch

March 14, 2022

N. Korea seen preparing for another imminent ICBM system test: sources

South Korea and the United States have detected signs that North Korea is preparing to conduct another intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system test as early as this week, informed sources here said Monday. Such indications emerged after Seoul and Washington accused Pyongyang on Friday of having tested a new ICBM system on Feb. 27 and March 5 ahead of a full-range ICBM test. The North has characterized the two launches as "reconnaissance satellite" development tests. South Ko

March 14, 2022

US envoy calls on China to condemn N. Korea's missile tests

WASHINGTON -- US special envoy for North Korea Sung Kim has called on China to condemn North Korea's continued missile launches, the state department said Sunday. Kim also called on China to help bring North Korea back to dialogue in a phone conversation with his Chinese counterpart, Liu Xiaoming, according to department spokesperson Ned Price. The call was made Thursday, the same day the United States made a rare revelation of its intelligence that North Korea's recent missile tests on Feb. 27

March 14, 2022

NK outlet slams S. Korea for denouncing satellite project as ICBM development

A North Korean propaganda machine slammed South Korea on Sunday for denouncing what Pyongyang claims were recent satellite launch tests as efforts to develop a new intercontinental ballistic missile, arguing it is a double standard to take issue with space projects that all countries are entitled to undertake. South Korea and the United States have recently announced their assessment that Pyongyang's purported satellite tests on Feb. 27 and March 5 were part of efforts to develop a new ICBM syst

March 13, 2022

N. Korea appears to have started demolishing S. Korean-built hotel

　 North Korea appears to have begun to dismantle some of the South Korean-built facilities at the Mount Kumgang resort, a report has said. 　Citing satellite images taken from March 5-9 by Planet Labs, the Voice of America said Friday (U.S. time) that the roof of the Haegumgang Hotel had become darker in the photos. The images also showed that heavy machinery was located in front of the floating hotel. 　The previous day, the South Korean government said it had detected similar moves at the

March 12, 2022

US will call out N. Korea's bad behavior, but remains open to dialogue: U.S. officials

The US will continue to call out “bad behavior” from North Korea, a Pentagon spokesperson said Friday, amid speculation that the recalcitrant state may be preparing for a nuclear or an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test. 　“We made these revelations public, we announced some of the additional ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) and enhanced readiness we were taking because we believe it’s important to call out the behavior that we‘

March 12, 2022

U.S. imposes sanctions on 5 Russian entities related to N.Korea

The US imposed sanctions on five Russian entities, including two Russian nationals, for aiding North Korea‘s ballistic missile programs Friday. 　“The DPRK continues to launch ballistic missiles in blatant violation of international law, posing a grave threat to global security,” Brian Nelson, under secretary of the treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, was quoted as saying, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of

March 12, 2022

S. Korea, US say NK testing new ICBM system

South Korea and the US on Friday confirmed that North Korea’s two recent missile launches were to test for a new intercontinental ballistic missile system, as Washington plans to announce fresh sanctions against the regime for its weapons program.  The authorities concluded that the regime’s ballistic missile tests on Feb. 27 and March 5 -- which Pyongyang claimed were for a reconnaissance satellite -- “involved a new intercontinental ballistic missile system” that

March 11, 2022

N. Korean state media reports Yoon's election as S. Korea's new president

North Korea's state media on Friday reported conservative opposition candidate Yoon Suk-yeol was elected as South Korea's president in the first coverage of the news by Pyongyang since the election. "Yoon Suk-yeol, a candidate of the conservative opposition 'People Power Party,' won by a narrow margin in the 20th 'presidential election' held in South Korea on March 9," the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a one paragraph report. Yoon was elected president ea

March 11, 2022

N. Korea tests new ICBM system, US to impose additional sanctions: official

WASHINGTON -- North Korea's two most recent missile launches were aimed at testing a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system ahead of a possible full-fledged ICBM test, a senior US official said Thursday, adding the US plans to take action that will hinder Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs. North Korea earlier confirmed launching missiles on Feb. 27 and Saturday (Seoul time), claiming they were aimed at developing a reconnaissance satellite. "After careful analysis, the

March 11, 2022

N. Korea to launch spy satellites by 2025 to monitor US military activities

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said the country would launch “a large number of reconnaissance satellites” by 2025 to monitor the “hostile” military activities of the US forces and its allies in the region, state media reported Thursday. The North Korean leader laid out the plan in a rare visit to the National Aerospace Development Administration, which came after Pyongyang claimed it conducted an “important test” for developing a reconnaissance satellite o

March 10, 2022

NK leader says satellite development aimed at collecting info on US military, its 'vassal forces'

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited the country's space agency, and said the recent development of a reconnaissance satellite is aimed at collecting information on the US military in the region and its "vassal forces," Pyongyang's state media reported Thursday. On Saturday, North Korea fired a ballistic missile in a second such test in less than a week that Pyongyang claimed was for developing a reconnaissance satellite. "(Kim) noted that the purpose of developing and op

March 10, 2022

N. Korea paves way for resuming ICBM, nuclear tests this year: ODNI

North Korea has paved the way for resuming intercontinental ballistic missile and nuclear tests this year, as part of the country’s actions to “reshape the regional security environment” in its favor, the US intelligence community has said. The US Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Monday released its report on annual worldwide threat assessment before the House Intelligence Committee’s hearing on the matter. The report assessed that Pyongyang’s

March 9, 2022

N. Korea may resume nuclear, ICBM testing this year: US report

North Korea may resume nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) testing before the year’s end, a US government report said Tuesday. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) also said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un believes his nuclear weapons are the “ultimate guarantor” of his regime and that North Korea will eventually be accepted as a nuclear power over time. “In January, North Korea began laying the groundwork for an increase in tensi

March 9, 2022

N. Korean military’s patrol ship breaches NLL for the first time since 2018

A North Korean military patrol ship retreated after breaching the disputed inter-Korean western maritime border Tuesday morning, marking the first such case since 2018, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. The patrol boat crossed the Northern Limit Line at 9:49 a.m. while it tracked another purportedly stray vessel that violated the NLL and crossed into South Korean waters around 15 minutes earlier, according to South Korean military officials. The patrol boat traveled about 1 kilometer south of

March 8, 2022

UNSC again fails to condemn NK’s missile launch

The UN Security Council held a closed-door meeting to discuss North Korea’s recent missile test on Monday, but failed to produce a text condemning the regime of its sanctions violations.  At the request of Washington, the meeting of the UN’s most powerful body came after the North said it conducted test for a reconnaissance satellite Saturday. Observers believe it was a cover for testing long-range ballistic missile technology banned by UN Security Council resolutions. 　 The co

March 8, 2022

First signs of activity detected at N.Korean nuclear test site in 4 years

Satellite imagery shows “very early signs of activity” at the previously shuttered Punggye-ri nuclear test site for the first time since 2018, while a UN watchdog said North Korea appears to have continued fissile material production at its major nuclear facilities. The California-based James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies on Monday said the commercial satellite images taken on March 4 suggest that Pyongyang has resumed construction activities at the nuclear test site i

March 8, 2022

N. Korea urged to respect denuclearization deals amid reports of activities at Yongbyon

South Korea's unification ministry on Tuesday called on North Korea to abide by agreements it has made with the international community for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula amid reports the reclusive regime is continuing activities at its main Yongbyon nuclear complex. On Monday, Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said the agency's monitoring team has spotted indications of activity at the 5-megawatt reactor at the complex north of Pyong

March 8, 2022

Australia sanctions N. Korean firm involved in arms development

Australia has imposed its own sanctions against a North Korean trading company linked with the secretive nation's development of weapons of mass destruction, as well as Chinese and Russian companies accused of helping Pyongyang shun international sanctions, a recent government document showed. The Pyongyang-based Puhung Trading Corp. has been added to Australia's list of entities under financial sanctions, which restrict the use of their assets, according to a document from Foreign Minister Mari

March 8, 2022

Pentagon urges N. Korea to stop 'needless' provocation and engage in negotiations

A US Department of Defense spokesperson on Monday called on North Korea to stop its missile launches, calling them "needless provocations." Department Press Secretary John Kirby also urged Pyongyang to engage in dialogue to find a negotiated solution. "These continue to be provocations, needless provocations at that," he said when asked about North Korea's recent missile tests that it claims to have been aimed at developing a reconnaissance satellite. North Korea has staged n

March 8, 2022