N. Korea visit by Russian, Chinese delegates show support for unlawful weapons programs: state dept. In this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu speaks during a reception, hosted by the North Korean Defense Ministry, in Pyongyang, July 26. YonhapThe ongoing visits by Russian and Chinese delegations to Pyongyang highlight their support for North Korea's unlawful weapons development programs that pose serious threats to regional peace, a state department spokesperson said Thursday.Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the state department, insisted that Russia and China should use their influence over Pyongyang instead to help rein in North Korea's destabilizing activities."The DPRK's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, they pose a grave threat to international peace and security, and stand in blatant violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions," the spokesperson told a daily press briefing.North Korea's state media reported earlier that a Russian delegation led by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and a Chinese delegation led by Li Hongzhong, a member of the Politburo of the Chinese CommunisJul 28, 2023
S. Korean ambassador says N. Korean threats will only lead to stronger deterrence from S. Korea-US alliance South Korean Ambassador to the United States Cho Hyun-dong / YonhapSouth Korea's ambassador to the United States stressed the importance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance Thursday, highlighting the 70th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement that ended the Korean War.Ambassador Cho Hyun-dong also said that the alliance will continue to strengthen in the face of North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats."Even as I speak, Pyongyang is raising tensions by launching ballistic missiles and using brazen language threatening the use of nuclear weapons," Cho said during a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the Korean armistice."History has taught us that we must be strong enough to deter such aggression and to defend ourselves when necessary," he added. "North Korea's intensifying nuclear and missile threats will only invite an overwhelming defense posture from the alliance."The 1950-53 Korean War ended 70 years ago and was followed by the U.S.-South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty, which was signed on Oct. 1, 1953, forming the bilateral alliance.Cho underscored the need to Jul 28, 2023
N. Korea holds military parade to mark armistice anniversary: source A military parade is held at Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang, celebrating the 90th anniversary of the founding of North Korea's army, with the North's leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, in this photo released the following day by the state-run Korean Central News Agency, April 25, 2022. YonhapNorth Korea conducted a military parade in Pyongyang on Thursday to mark the 70th anniversary of the signing of the 1950-53 Korean War armistice, celebrated in the country as Victory Day, an informed source said.The event commenced following a pre-parade ceremony that began at 8:00 p.m., the source said, without elaborating.It was not immediately known whether North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended the parade. The reclusive regime has traditionally used such events to display major new weapons and foster internal unity.In the run-up to the parade, media outlets cited analyses of commercial satellite imagery that indicated the mobilization of troops and equipment for apparent rehearsals.Signs had also been detected of the North gearing up for a nighttime air show featuring combat aircraft and otJul 27, 2023
NK leader visits arms exhibition with Russian delegation ahead of armistice anniversary In this photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, right, walks with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu during their meeting at the headquarters of the Workers' Party of Korea's Central Committee in Pyongyang, July 26. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited an arms exhibition showcasing the country's latest weaponry with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who is visiting Pyongyang to attend celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the armistice of the Korean War, state media said Thursday.Shoigu arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday for a three-day visit to attend commemorative events marking one of the North's key anniversaries on July 27, which the North refers to as Victory Day.Despite maintaining strict border restrictions since 2020 to contain the pandemic, the reclusive state has invited delegations from China and Russia, which share strong ties with the North, in a rare invitation of official foreign guests since the COVID-19 breakout.Kim and Shoigu visited the "Weaponry Exhibition-2023" event showcasing Jul 27, 2023
Defense chiefs of North Korea, Russia hold talks in Pyongyang: TASS Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, right, shakes hands with North Korean Defense Minister Kang Sun-nam after arriving in Pyongyang on July 25, 2023, in this photo released by the North's Korean Central News Agency. YonhapRussia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu held talks with his North Korean counterpart, Kang Sun-nam, in Pyongyang on Wednesday and expressed his determination to boost bilateral ties, Russian media reported.Shoigu arrived in the North Korean capital Tuesday for a three-day visit to attend commemorative events to mark the 70th anniversary of the 1950-53 Korean War armistice."I am confident that today's talks will help strengthen cooperation between our defense ministries," TASS quoted Shoigu as saying.The North is set to hold commemorative events for the landmark anniversary of the signing of the armistice on July 27, 1953, which is celebrated in the country as Victory Day. (Yonhap)Jul 26, 2023
N. Korea may stage military parade to mark Victory Day as early as midnight A youth concert featuring wartime songs is held at an outdoor theater in Pyongyang to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, July 24, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. YonhapNorth Korea may conduct a much-anticipated military parade as early as midnight Wednesday to mark the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War armistice celebrated in the reclusive country as Victory Day, multiple sources said.Commercial satellite imagery has shown that the North has been preparing for the parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang ― an event likely aimed at highlighting its military presence and fostering internal unity."The parade could begin as early as midnight and stretch into the wee hours," a government source told Yonhap News Agency on condition of anonymity. Until 2018, Pyongyang held military parades mostly in the morning. But since the event held to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party in October 2020, it has staged parades at night. The upcoming parade, if held, is expected to set tJul 26, 2023
China, Russia can and must help reduce tensions on Korean Peninsula: State Dept. State department spokesperson Vedant Patel is seen answering questions during a daily press briefing at the department in Washington, U.S., July 25 in this screen captured image. YonhapChina and Russia have a role to play in bringing North Korea to the dialogue table, a state department spokesperson said Tuesday, insisting the two countries are also required to do so as members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the state department, added the United States remains open to engaging with Pyongyang without any preconditions."Both Russia and the PRC have a potential role they can play, including through the auspices of the U.N. Security Council in which they can use their influence over the DPRK to encourage them to refrain from threatening unlawful behavior, behavior that will not just incite tensions in the immediate region but also the region broadly," he told a daily press briefing, referring to China and North Korea by their official names, the People's Republic of China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."They aJul 26, 2023
NIU chief gives unification lecture to Korean American teachers National Institute for Unification Education President Lee In-bae delivers a lecture at the Korean American Community Center of San Francisco and the Bay Area in San Francisco, July 22. Courtesy of National Institute for Unification EducationBy Nam Hyun-wooLee In-bae, the president of the National Institute for Unification Education (NIU), delivered a special lecture on unification last week to Korean American teachers and members of the Korean community in the United States, according to the organization, Wednesday.The lectures were given at the 41st general assembly of the National Association for Korean Schools (NAKS), which was held in San Francisco from July 21 to 22. NAKS is an umbrella federation of Korean schools in the U.S. and has been carrying out educational projects including Korean language, culture, and history education for second and third-generation Korean Americans in the U.S. Beginning this year, the association launched projects to incorporate unification education into its curriculum, as part of efforts to promote the necessity of Korea's unification among ethnJul 26, 2023By Nam Hyun-woo
NK leader pays respects to fallen soldiers ahead of Korean War armistice anniv. Figure North Korean leader Kim Jong-un places a wreath to pay tribute to Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War and buried at the cemetery of martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers in Hoechang, South Phyongan Province, July 25, in this photo released by the North's Korean Central News Agency. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited cemeteries to pay respects to the country's soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War and to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the armistice, state media said Wednesday.The Korean War ended with an armistice agreement on July 27, 1953. The North calls the war the Great Fatherland Liberation War and designated the armistice signing date as Victory Day.Kim visited the Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery in Pyongyang on Tuesday on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, and was accompanied by Defense Minister Kang Sun-nam and other military leaders, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).During his visit, Kim said the "miracle of July 27" is a "great victory of signJul 26, 2023
N. Korea invites Russian delegation to Victory Day ceremony North Korean residents attend an event commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, which the North celebrates as Victory Day, in this July 21 photo carried by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency. YonhapNorth Korea said Tuesday it has invited a Russian military delegation for a ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the armistice of the 1950-53 Korean War this week in a rare invitation of foreign guests since the COVID-19 outbreak.The announcement came a day after North Korea said a Chinese delegation will make a "congratulatory" visit on the occasion of the anniversary that falls on Thursday, celebrated as Victory Day in the North.The Russian delegation led by Moscow's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu will visit the country in a move that will further develop their ties in "keeping with the demand of the times," according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).The KCNA reported the previous day that a Chinese delegation led by Li Hongzhong, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, will visit the NortJul 25, 2023
