Major arms deal between Kim and Putin 'very likely,' experts say This April 25, 2019 file photo shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin greeting each other during their meeting at the Far East Federal University on Russky Island in Vladivostok, Russia. Experts said on Tuesday that the war in Ukraine has brought the countries closer and the two leaders could reach a major arms deal at the expected summit in Vladivostok next week. EPA-YonhapRussia's help would 'advance and expedite' development of North Korean weaponsBy Jung Min-hoAfter Russia invaded Ukraine last year, experts on North Korea warned that the conflict could lead to a dangerous partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow. A protracted war could force the Kremlin to seek support from North Korea, which would be delighted to provide ammunition in return for Russian weapons technology, they said.That grim scenario may be set to unfold when North Korean leader Kim Jong-un meets with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok sometime next week, as the New York Times reported citing U.S. sources.Speaking to The Korea Times on Tuesday, analysts saiSep 5, 2023By Jung Min-ho
Seoul says N. Korea should seek int'l norms-based cooperation amid report of possible Kim-Putin summit This April 25, 2019 file photo shows Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un posing during their meeting in Vladivostok, Russia. Reuters-YonhapNorth Korea needs to seek cooperation with other nations in a way that does not hurt international norms and peace, South Korea's unification ministry said Tuesday, in response to a report that the leaders of the North and Russia may meet next week for talks on a possible arms agreement.The New York Times reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may travel to Vladivostok next week to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and discuss a possible arms deal."In regard to this, cooperation between North Korea and a nearby country, in all forms, should be conducted in a direction that does not hurt international order and peace," an official at Seoul's ministry told reporters on condition of anonymity."The government, alongside the international community, is closely watching cooperative ties involving North Korea and has raised the reminder that all member countries of the United Nations have a duty tSep 5, 2023
Efforts by N. Korea, Russia to seek closer military ties stem from increasing isolation: US envoy U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg delivers his address at the Chey Institute for Advanced Studies in Seoul, Sept. 5. YonhapThe U.S. ambassador in Seoul on Tuesday said North Korea and Russia appear to have sought closer military ties because they were increasingly isolated from the international community and have difficulty in gaining access to supplies due to global sanctions.Ambassador Philip Goldberg made the remarks during a lecture in Seoul when asked for comments on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's reported plan to visit Russia to discuss providing weapons and to address concerns about a strengthened trilateral cooperation between South Korea, the United States and Japan following their landmark summit at the Camp David presidential retreat. "I think what we have been seeing with (Russian Defense Minister Sergei) Shoigu's visit and talk about military equipment, or military assets, going in both directions, is unique to the Russia and North Korea situation," he said. "They're both isolated states, without ability to really access anything in the world due to sancSep 5, 2023
N. Korea's Kim likely flaunting daughter at military events to elicit loyalty: Seoul This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, April 19, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, right, and his daughter, Ju-ae, visiting the country's state space development agency the previous day. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has mainly brought his daughter, Ju-ae, to military-related events in an apparent bid to highlight his feats in the military sector and elicit the loyalty of the armed services, South Korea's unification ministry said Tuesday.Kim's daughter has made public appearances on 15 occasions since she made her first one in November 2022, and 12 cases of the total, or 80 percent, were at military-related events, the ministry said, based on reports by the Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper.In contrast, she attended events related to the economy and social affairs three times, it added.Ju-ae, believed to be around 11 years old, was first reported by state media on Nov. 18, when she, along with her father, attended the firing of a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile.Since then, her public appearances have been focused Sep 5, 2023
N. Korean leader Kim may visit Russia for talks with Putin on arms deal: report This photo, released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency on July 28, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, right, toasting with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu during a reception for the minister and his military delegation in Pyongyang the previous day. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un may soon travel to Russia to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and discuss a possible arms deal, a news report said Monday.The New York Times reported that Kim may travel to Vladivostok next week to meet with Putin."In a rare foray from his country, Mr. Kim would travel from Pyongyang, North Korea's capital, probably by armored train, to Vladivostok, on the Pacific Coast of Russia, where he would meet with Mr. Putin," said the report, quoting unidentified "American and allied officials.""Both leaders would be on the campus of Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok to attend the Eastern Economic Forum, which is scheduled to run Sept. 10 to 13," it added.The White House National Security Council (NSC) declined to confirm the report when asked, but said Kim maySep 5, 2023
Russia proposed three-way naval exercise with N. Korea, China: NIS National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Kim Kyou-hyun attends a parliamentary intelligence committee meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. YonhapRussia proposed conducting three-way naval exercises with North Korea and China when Moscow's defense minister held a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in late July, South Korea's intelligence agency was quoted as saying Monday.Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made the proposal when he held a one-on-one meeting with the North's leader, National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Kim Kyou-hyun said during a close-door briefing to the parliamentary intelligence committee, according to Rep. Yoo Sang-bum of the ruling People Power Party.Shoigu visited the North from July 25-27.Asked about the agency's analysis of North Korea's recent increase in military provocations, Yoo said they appear to be in response to the South Korea-United States joint Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise conducted from Aug 21-31.The agency reportedly confirmed North Korea's two short-range ballistic missile launches last Wednesday,Sep 4, 2023
Ex-NK envoy to China returns home amid eased COVID-19 border controls Two buses cross the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge over the Amnok River toward the Chinese border city of Dandong from North Korea's Sinuiju, Aug. 16. YonhapNorth Korea's former ambassador to Beijing, known to be staying in China due to pandemic-related border controls, has recently returned to Pyongyang as the reclusive country resumed flights last month, officials at the South Korean Embassy in Beijing confirmed Monday.North Korea's national carrier, Air Koryo, has operated flights for four days ― on Aug. 22, 24, 26 and 29 ― since Chinese authorities approved of the operation of the Pyongyang-Beijing route last month for every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday."Ji Jae-ryong, North Korea's former ambassador to Beijing who was staying at the North Korean embassy in China, has returned to the North via this flight, and the majority of passengers are believed to be North Korean diplomatic personnel and students," the South Korean embassy in China said.Cross-border exchanges via air, railway and land between Pyongyang and Beijing appear to have resumed temporarily to allow North Koreans to Sep 4, 2023
UN rapporteur urged to help lay groundwork to prosecute North Korean leader at ICC Elizabeth Salmon, right, the U.N. special rapporteur for North Korean human rights, poses with Son Myung-hwa, a representative of the Korean War POW Family Association, in Seoul, Monday, as she begins her nine-day trip. Courtesy of Korean War POW Family AssociationEvidence for Kim's crimes against humanity 'more than sufficient,' rights activists sayBy Jung Min-hoEvidence of atrocities committed in North Korea by the Kim Jong-un regime is abundant. Therefore, human rights activists are wondering whether the evidence collected in the South would meet the U.N.'s requirements to bring him to justice at the International Criminal Court (ICC).Speaking to The Korea Times on Monday, rights advocates said this is one of the main issues they are planning to raise if given the opportunity to speak with Elizabeth Salmon, the U.N. special rapporteur for North Korean human rights. Arriving Monday in Seoul, Salmon began her nine-day trip where she will meet with government officials, members of civic groups and North Korean escapees.“My first question to Salmon would be whether it is possiblSep 4, 2023By Jung Min-ho
Kim's visits to naval facilities show direction of North Korea's nuclear strategy: experts North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects a ship engine factory at Ryongchon County in North Pyongan Province, in this photo released on Sunday. YonhapPyongyang claims to have conducted 'tactical nuclear attack' drill with cruise missilesBy Jung Min-hoWhile reporting on its latest drill for a “tactical nuclear attack,” Sunday, Pyongyang released photos of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspecting a ship engine factory. The facility, situated on its west coast near the border with China, assumes an “irreplaceable responsibility for strengthening naval forces,” Kim said while presenting his policy direction for “opening a new era” in marine engineering.Analysts told The Korea Times that this move, consistent with his recent messages highlighting the importance of naval power, suggests the trajectory of the North's long-term nuclear weapons strategy, namely building a submarine equipped with submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) or a nuclear-capable submarine. “After developing and deploying strategic missiles on land, North Korea has beSep 3, 2023By Jung Min-ho
N. Korea conducted 'simulated tactical nuclear attack': KCNA A drill for "simulated tactical nuclear attack" being staged, Sept. 2, is seen in this Sept. 3 photo carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency. YonhapNorth Korea has conducted a drill for "simulated tactical nuclear attack," state media said Sunday, a day after the North fired cruise missiles following major joint exercise between South Korea and the United States.On Saturday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the North fired several cruise missiles toward the Yellow Sea at around 4 a.m. The launch came two days after the allies wrapped up their 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise which Pyongyang has denounced as a rehearsal for invasion."A firing drill for simulated tactical nuclear attack was conducted at dawn of September 2 to warn the enemies of the actual nuclear war danger," the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, adding "two long-range strategic cruise missiles tipped with mock nuclear warheads were fired."The North claimed the "nuclear strike mission" was "successfully" conducted, with the missiles flying a distance of 1,500 kilSep 3, 2023
