NK's Kim Jong-un in Russia amid US warnings not to sell arms A TV screen shows an image of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's departure from Pyongyang, North Korea for Russia, during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Sept. 12. AP-YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has arrived in Russia, Japanese media reported on Tuesday, for what the Kremlin said would be a comprehensive discussion with President Vladimir Putin amid warnings from Washington they should not agree on an arms deal.Kim left Pyongyang for Russia on Sunday on his private train, the North's state media reported on Tuesday, accompanied by top arms industry and military officials and the foreign minister.Japan's Kyodo news agency reported on Tuesday, citing an unnamed Russian official source, that a train carrying Kim had arrived at Khasan station, the main rail gateway to Russia's Far East from North Korea."It will be a full-fledged visit," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "There will be negotiations between two delegations, and after that, if necessary, the leaders will continue their communication in a one-on-one format."An official Sep 12, 2023
N. Korean leader Kim Jong-un's special train appears to have departed for Russia: gov't official This April 24, 2019 file photo released by press office of the administration of Primorsky Krai region, shows North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un leaving a train carriage after arriving at the border station of Khasan, Primorsky Krai region, Russia. AP-YonhapA special train believed to be carrying North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appears to have departed for Russia, a South Korean government official said Monday."The intelligence authorities believe the train presumed to be carrying Kim Jong-un is moving to Vladivostok," the official told Yonhap News Agency.Another senior official confirmed that Kim appears to have departed Pyongyang and is headed to Russia.Still, there has been no word from Pyongyang and Moscow on Kim's possible trip to Russia.North Korea has yet to disclose whether its leader has started his possible train trip, which is expected to take 20 hours or more.The New York Times has reported that Kim plans to travel to Vladivostok, possibly by armored train this month, for talks with Putin about the possibility of supplying Russia with more weaponry for its war in Ukraine anSep 11, 2023
Britain's King Charles III congratulates N. Korea's Kim on key anniversary This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, Sept. 10, shows the North's leader Kim Jong-un attending an event in Pyongyang to mark the 75th anniversary of the regime's founding the previous day. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has received a congratulatory message from Britain's King Charles III on the occasion of the North's founding anniversary, Pyongyang's state media said Monday."As the people of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea celebrate their National Day, I send my good wishes for the future," the British king said in the message, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the North's official name. North Korea celebrated the 75th anniversary of the regime's founding, which fell last Saturday, with a paramilitary parade and a large-scale performance.North Korea and Britain established diplomatic relations in 2000, but Britain's embassy in Pyongyang has temporarily closed due to COVID-19-related restrictions. (Yonhap)Sep 11, 2023
Kim-Putin summit could take place as early as Tuesday This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Sept. 12, shows the North's leader Kim Jong-un leaving Pyongyang for a trip to Russia on his special train. YonhapPyongyang, Moscow confirm meeting plan as North Korean train heads to Vladivostok By Jung Min-hoNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un is expected to arrive in Russia for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin as early as Tuesday and possibly sign an arms deal.After a train presumably carrying Kim left Pyongyang en route to Vladivostok, Monday, the North's official Korean Central News Agency reported that he will soon “meet and have a talk with” Putin, but did not elaborate on when and where the meeting would take place.The Kremlin also confirmed that the North Korean leader will visit the country “in the coming days” at the invitation of Putin, according to Russia's TASS news agency.Hours before the confirmation, South Korean government officials said that the North Korean leader's heavily armored train appeared to have left Pyongyang on Sunday afternoon. If the summit tSep 11, 2023By Jung Min-ho
N. Korea's Kim expected to visit Russia's Far East within a few days: Russian media This April 25, 2019 file photo shows Russian President Vladimir Putin, center right, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un shaking hands during their meeting in Vladivostok, Russia. AP-YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un is expected to visit Russia's Far East in a few days, a Russian media report said Monday, amid news reports that Kim may soon travel to Russia for a summit with President Vladimir Putin.Citing multiple sources in Russia's Far East, Russia's Interfax news agency reported that Kim is likely to visit the Russian region "in the coming days." A source in the government of a constituent territory in Russia's Far Eastern Federal District told the news agency that Kim "might visit the region shortly." Another Russian government source also confirmed that such a visit was being prepared, according to the agency."We have been preparing for Kim Jong-un's visit for a long time," the source was quoted as saying. The New York Times earlier reported that Kim may travel to Vladivostok on his armored train to meet with Putin on the margins of an economic forum this week amid speculaSep 11, 2023
Unification minister meets UN rapporteur for N. Korea's human rights Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho, right, meets with Elizabeth Salmon, the U.N. special rapporteur for North Korea's human rights, at his office in Seoul, Sept. 11. Yonhap Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho met with the U.N. special rapporteur for North Korea's human rights Monday and vowed close cooperation to improve Pyongyang's dismal rights records.Elizabeth Salmon has been visiting South Korea since last Monday for a nine-day trip to meet with government officials, North Korean defectors and rights groups, as she will submit a report on the North's rights issues to the U.N. based on the results of her trip."Seoul's unification ministry is preparing a roadmap aimed at improving North Korea's human rights situation. If the roadmap is drawn up, I think this could be a chance for (the government) to further cooperate with Salmon," Kim said, without elaborating.Kim said that improving the human rights of the North Korean people is the top priority for South Korea, whilSep 11, 2023
NK leader has photo session with paramilitary parade participants North's leader Kim Jong-un holds a photo session the previous day with participants of a paramilitary parade to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the country's founding, in this Sept. 11 photo carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has had a photo session with participants of a paramilitary parade to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the country's founding, state media said Monday, amid speculation about his possible trip to Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin.In the photo shoot session held Sunday, Kim called the parade a "powerful demonstration of the invincible spirit of socialist Korea" in a march to "achieve the great cause of building a powerful nation," according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).North Korea held a paramilitary parade Saturday to mark its 75th founding anniversary, led by the Worker-Peasant Red Guards, a civil defense organization, not by regular troops.Speculation has been rising that Kim may travel to Russia's Far Eastern city of Vladivostok this week for talks with Putin on the sSep 11, 2023
No word on NK leader's possible visit as Russia kicks off economic forum Figure North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, toasts Russian President Vladimir Putin during a post-summit dinner at the Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok, Russia, April 25, 2019, in this photo carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency. YonhapRussia kicked off an economic forum in Vladivostok on Sunday, but there was no word from both Moscow and Pyongyang on a possible visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the forum. The New York Times earlier reported that Kim may travel to Vladivostok on his armored train to meet with Putin on the margins of the Eastern Economic Forum, which will run through Wednesday at the Far Eastern Federal University.The report on the possible summit, which would mark their first meeting in four years, came amid speculation North Korea may supply arms for Russia's use in its war in Ukraine in return for food, energy and advanced technology for weapons development.Sources, however, said unusual signs of Kim's possible trip had not been detected in railway sSep 10, 2023
N. Korea's Kim touts patriotism on key anniversary North's leader Kim Jong-un, right, and his daughter, believed to be named Ju-ae, attend a paramilitary parade in Pyongyang to mark the 75th anniversary of the regime's founding day, Sept. 8, in this photo carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called patriotic people the "best assets" of the state as he marked the country's founding anniversary with a paramilitary parade, the North's state media reported Sunday. Kim made the remarks at a photo session Saturday with people who took part in the celebrations of the country's 75th founding day, according to the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "The patriotic people, including the persons of merits and labor innovators who have dedicated themselves to creating valuable assets for the prosperity of the country by placing the state affairs above their family affairs in good or bad days, are the best assets representing the very might of the country," Kim said, according to the report by the KCNA. The KCNA also described the anniversary as "a great revolutionary eventSep 10, 2023
N. Korean leader attends paramilitary, military parade to mark key anniversary Figure North's leader Kim Jong-un, right, and his daughter, believed to be named Ju-ae, attend a paramilitary and military parade in Pyongyang to mark the 75th anniversary of the regime's founding day, Sept. 8, in this photo carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency. YonhapNorth Korea has staged a paramilitary and military parade in Pyongyang to mark the 75th anniversary of the regime's founding day, with leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, the North's state media said Saturday.Kim observed the paramilitary and military parade that took place at Kim Il Sung Square on Friday to celebrate the founding anniversary, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim did not deliver a speech at the event, which was also attended by his daughter, believed to be named Ju-ae.Also present were a Chinese delegation, led by Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, and visiting members of a Russian army song and dance ensemble, the report added. Russia did not send a separate delegation this time.The nighttime event marks the third military parade North Korea has staged this year alone, Sep 9, 2023
