The two Koreas are likely to hold additional working-level talks this week, Seoul’s Ministry of Unification said Monday, ahead of an inter-Korean summit scheduled for April 27. The two sides held talks on measures, protocols, and media coverage for the summit on Thursday and a separate meeting for the establishment of a Seoul-Pyongyang hotline on Saturday. A South Korean high-level delegation led by Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon crosses the military demarcation line in the truce village o

North Korea April 9, 2018

With the historic inter-Korean summit scheduled for April 27, experts say Ri Sol-ju, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s wife, is likely to accompany her husband on the cross-border trip. 　Ri has maintained a largely veiled existence since the North‘s state media identified her as the wife of Kim Jong-un in 2012.  North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his wife Ri Sol-ju wave from a car as they bid farewell to Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan in Beijing. (AP-Yonhap)That is, unt

North Korea April 8, 2018

The two Koreas held working-level talks at the truce village of Panmunjeom on Thursday to discuss security measures, protocols and media coverage for their upcoming summit. The meeting kicked off around 10 a.m. (Seoul time) and lasted for four hours on the southern side of the joint security area, also known as Panmunjeom, according to the South Korean presidential office Cheong Wa Dae. South Korean soldiers stand on guard as they face the North Korea side at the border village of Panmunjeom in

North Korea April 5, 2018

The two Koreas started working-level talks on protocol, security and media coverage on Thursday, Seoul’s Unification Ministry said, ahead of an inter-Korean summit set for later this month. The meeting was to kick off at 10 a.m. at the southern side of the truce village of Panmunjeom near the border, according to Seoul. South Korean soldiers look toward the North Korean side as a North Korean solder approaches the UN truce village building that sits on the border of the Demilitarized Zone. (AP)T

North Korea April 5, 2018

The establishment of a hotline between the leaders of the two Koreas is expected to be a key agenda item at working-level talks slated for the weekend, Seoul’s Unification Ministry said Wednesday. The two Koreas agreed to hold two working-level meetings this week to hammer out details in preparation for the inter-Korean summit on April 27. Talks on protocol, security and media coverage are to be held Thursday, while cross-border communications will be the focus of a meeting slated for Saturday,

North Korea April 4, 2018

South Korean musicians and a taekwondo demonstration team returned home via a chartered flight early Wednesday after performing in Pyongyang for the first time in more than a decade. The delegation, led by Culture Minister Do Jong-hwan, arrived at Incheon Airport at 3:40 a.m. South Korean pop musicians Cho Yong-pil, Ali, Lee Sun-hee and Seohyun (from R to L) arrive at Incheon International Airport on April 4, after wrapping up a series of concerts in Pyongyang. (Yonhap)The 160-member art troupe

North Korea April 4, 2018

The final and second performance by South Korean pop artists in Pyongyang was held Tuesday.South Korea agreed earlier this month to hold the concert, in a move that was largely seen as an effort to further ease border tensions before the inter-Korean summit slated for April.  (Yonhap)Top-tier musicians who performed in the first concert Sunday -- including Cho Yong-pil, Lee Sun-hee, girl group Red Velvet and Girls’ Generation member Seohyun -- were largely expected to participate in Tuesday’s sh

North Korea April 3, 2018

Former President Park Geun-hye’s sentencing hearing will be allowed to be televised live, a Seoul court said Tuesday.  Former President Park Geun-hye (Yonhap)Park, who was impeached and arrested last year, faces a string of charges including bribery and abuse of power. The former president is also alleged to have allowed long-time confidante Choi Soon-sil to meddle in state affairs.The decision was made by the three judges presiding over Park’s corruption trial, according to the Seoul Central Di

Social Affairs April 3, 2018

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un expressed hope that South Korean musicians’ performance in Pyongyang could serve as a “meaningful occasion” to show the unity of the divided Koreas, the North’s state-run news agency said Monday. Under the theme “Spring Comes,” K-pop heavyweights including Cho Yong-pil, Lee Sun-hee, girl group Red Velvet and Seohyun of Girls’ Generation performed a concert at the 1,500-seat East Pyongyang Grand Theater in Pyongyang for two hours, starting at 6:30 p.m. (South Korea

North Korea April 2, 2018

After US President Donald Trump’s abrupt remarks tying talks with North Korea to the recently finalized US-South Korea trade deal, Cheong Wa Dae said it will try to find out the “true intention” behind the remark. (Yonhap)While mentioning the Korea-US free trade agreement, Trump suddenly warned on Friday that he “may hold it up until after a deal is made with North Korea,” in an effort to gain more leverage in potential talks with the rogue nation. “You know why? Because it’s a very strong card.

Foreign Affairs March 30, 2018

South and North Korea agreed Thursday to hold an inter-Korean summit on April 27 at the truce village of Panmunjeom, a joint statement released by Seoul’s Ministry of Unification said. “The South and North will hold the 2018 inter-Korean summit at the Peace House at the southern side of Panmunjeom on April 27, according to the will of the leaders of both sides,” the statement read. South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon (right) and North`s Ri Son-gwon enter the conference room on Thur

North Korea March 29, 2018

The technical crew for the South Korean art troupe set to perform in North Korea departed for Pyongyang Thursday morning, tasked with preparing the stages ahead of the performances. (Yonhap)The technicians are part of a 190-member South Korean art troupe and taekwondo demonstration team, which includes K-pop artists ranging from veteran singers Cho Yong-pil and Lee Sun-hee to idols Red Velvet and Seohyun. The art troupe‘s trip to the North is part of the agreement by the two Koreas to have South

North Korea March 29, 2018

Unlike Chinese reports of a recent summit between the leaders of North Korea and China, the North’s state media have yet to mention the upcoming inter-Korean summit in April and planned US-North Korea talks for May.  North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping (Yonhap)Confirming North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s recent trip to Beijing, China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency reported Wednesday that Kim discussed and mentioned the upcoming landmark summits with his counte

North Korea March 28, 2018

Announcing North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s surprise summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday, the North’s Korea Central News Agency reported Wednesday that key issues, such as the improvement of strategic ties between the two nations and the situation on the Korean Peninsula, were discussed. “The two great leaders of (North Korea) and China and respective parties exchanged in-depth opinions on important issues including the development of ties between China and North Korea and manage

Foreign Affairs March 28, 2018

 South Korean media outlets identified Kim Jong-un as part of a high-level North Korean delegation that left Beijing on Tuesday afternoon, citing intelligence sources. 　The news came as both Koreas and the US are gearing up for an inter-Korean summit in April and a possible US-North Korea summit in May. Japanese media had previously reported a “specific train” carrying an unidentified high-ranking North Korean official arriving in China on Monday. The same train left Beijing on Tuesday afternoon

Foreign Affairs March 27, 2018