N. Korea says it conducted 'strategic cruise missile' drills this week This Feb. 24 photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows the North staging "strategic cruise missile" launch drills in an area of the northeastern city of Kim Chaek the previous day. YonhapNorth Korea has conducted "strategic cruise missile" launching drills, with the "war posture" of the country's nuclear combat forces clearly demonstrated, its state media said Friday, as South Korea and the United States held joint military exercises this week.A subunit of the North's strategic cruise missile unit fired four "Hwasal-2 strategic cruise missiles" from an area of the northeastern city of Kim Chaek in North Hamgyong Province toward the East Sea at dawn Thursday, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)."The four strategic cruise missiles precisely hit the preset target on the East Sea of Korea after traveling the 2,000 kilometer-long elliptical and eight-shaped flight orbits for 10,208 seconds to 10,224 seconds," the KCNA said in an English-language report. "The drill reconfirmed the reliability of the weapon system and examFeb 24, 2023
N. Korea to hold key party meeting amid severe food shortages This image, captured from footage aired by North Korea's Korean Central Television on Feb. 6, shows the North holding a politburo meeting of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea the previous day. YonhapNorth Korea is expected to hold a key party meeting later this month to solely discuss agricultural issues amid keen attention to whether it will unveil any practical measures to address its serious food shortages.The secretive country earlier announced its plan to hold a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) in late February to discuss "immediate farming issues and long-term goals for the agricultural development." It stopped short of specifying the date.The North's state media said it is "very important and urgent" to establish the "correct strategy" for development and agriculture, and to take relevant measures.Observers said the North's rare move to convene such a key party meeting for the second time in about two months points to the urgency to deal with the country's food crisis.North Korea has reportedly faced chronic food shortages, but its food crisis has fFeb 23, 2023
N. Korean nuclear, missile programs not helpful to China: state dept. State Department spokesperson Ned Price is seen answering a question during a daily press briefing at the department in Washington, Feb. 22, in this captured image. YonhapNorth Korea's continued missile provocations and its nuclear development program are not helpful to any country, including China, a state department spokesperson said Wednesday, two days after China blocked U.S.-led efforts to condemn Pyongyang's latest ballistic missile tests.The department spokesperson, Ned Price, also reiterated that all United Nations member countries have the obligation to fully implement U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions on North Korea."The DPRK's ballistic missile program, its nuclear program is not only a threat to the United States and our people. It's not only a threat to our treaty allies, Japan and the ROK in this case, but it is a threat to peace and security across the region," Price said during a daily press briefing.DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name, ROK stands for South Korea's formal name, the Republic of Korea."And that iFeb 23, 2023
US deserves an A for effort to denuclearize N. Korea but needs to make first concession: US experts Robert Gallucci, a former U.S. nuclear negotiator, is seen speaking during a webinar hosted by the Stimson Center, a nonprofit think tank based in Washington, on Feb. 21, in this captured image. YonhapThe United States is right in pursuing a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula but needs to consider changing methods to achieve its objective, U.S. experts said Tuesday.They argued the U.S. could, or should, consider removing sanctions on the impoverished North to induce dialogue."Let me start with U.S. policy objective. I've given that an A minus," Robert Gallucci said in a webinar, titled "A Mid-Term Report Card for Biden's North Korea Policy."Gallucci, a former U.S. negotiator in denuclearization talks with North Korea, said there existed an ongoing debate in Washington over whether it would be wise for the U.S. to give up its objective of completely denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula."I think the debate is appropriate and I am glad it's happening, but I think the correct answer is the one the administration came to," he told the webinar hosted by the Stimson Center, a Feb 22, 2023
US lawmaker calls for increased missile defense against N. Korean provocation A TV screen shows a file image of North Korea's missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Feb. 20, AP-YonhapThe head of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services called for efforts to enhance U.S. missile defense against North Korea's evolving missile threat on Monday.Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) also highlighted the need for stepped up efforts to accelerate development of the next generation interceptor."The recent North Korean ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) test is a stark reminder that Kim Jong-un is an unstable dictator with a growing nuclear arsenal capable of ranging the U.S. homeland," the U.S. lawmaker said in a released statement."Protecting the U.S. homeland must be paramount as we develop our 2024 budget, and this includes fully-funding homeland missile defense assets," he added.Pyongyang conducted its first ICBM test of the year on Saturday (Korea time). North Korea also fired two short-range ballistic missiles on Monday.North Korea conducted an unprecedented 69 ballistic missile tests in 202Feb 21, 2023
US calls for UNSC action against N. Korean missile tests, again to no avail U.S. Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield speaks during a UN Security Council meeting on Non-proliferation and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Feb. 20. AFP-YonhapThe United States on Monday called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to hold North Korea to account for its recent missile provocations but to no avail due to opposition from two veto-wielding members of the council ― China and Russia.The U.S.' call came in the first UNSC meeting of the year to be held on North Korea."The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the DPRK's February 18 and February 19 launches of three ballistic missiles," U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Security Council, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."Our repeated failures to respond emboldened the DPRK to conduct these destabilizing and exploratory launches without fear of consequences," the U.S. diplomat added, calling for a UNSC presidential Feb 21, 2023
North Korea warns it will use Pacific as 'firing range' A North Korean military vehicle launches a short-range ballistic missile during exercises in Sukchon, a western coastal town near Pyongyang, Monday, in this image provided by its official Korean Central News Agency. YonhapSeoul might be pushed to develop own nuclear weapons, ruling party leader saysBy Jung Min-hoNorth Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast, Monday, claiming they are capable of carrying nuclear warheads that can destroy military air bases in South Korea.The latest provocation came two days after the North launched an intercontinental ballistic missile, which prompted Seoul and Washington to deploy fighter aircraft including B-1B bombers on joint drills in the skies over South Korea's western sea.North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the artillery unit of its military fired two shots from a 600-millimeter multiple rocket launcher, aimed at targets 395 kilometers and 337 kilometers away, respectively. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff told reporters that it detected the missiles fired from Sukchon, a western Feb 20, 2023By Jung Min-ho
S. Korea slaps more sanctions on N. Korea in response to missile provocations A TV screen shows a file image of North Korea's missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Feb. 20. AP-YonhapSouth Korea said Monday it has decided to impose additional independent sanctions on North Korea in response to its latest long-range ballistic missile launch and the firing of two short-range ballistic missiles.The government is imposing the sanctions on four individuals and five institutions involved in the secretive regime's nuclear and missile development programs or helping Pyongyang evade sanctions, according to the foreign ministry.Previously, the Yoon Suk Yeol administration imposed sanctions on the North on Feb. 10 over crypto theft and cyberattacks. (Yonhap)Feb 20, 2023
Presidential officials meet over NK missile launch National Security Adviser Kim Sung-han / Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hoonPresidential officials met Monday to discuss the security situation following North Korea's launch of two short-range ballistic missiles earlier in the day, the presidential office said.National Security Adviser Kim Sung-han presided over the meeting and was briefed on North Korea's missile launch and the South Korean military's readiness posture before discussing the South's response, it said.North Korea's launch came just two days after it fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, and South Korea and the United States responded by staging joint air drills involving B-1B bombers. (Yonhap)Feb 20, 2023
N. Korea fires 2 short-range ballistic missiles toward East Sea: S. Korean military This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, Feb. 19, shows the North's launch of a Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile at a lofted angle the previous day. YonhapNorth Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) toward the East Sea on Monday, Seoul's military said, a day after South Korea and the United States staged joint air drills, involving B-1B bombers, in response to the North's long-range missile launch.The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch from the Sukchon area in South Pyongan Province between 7 a.m. and 7:11 a.m. It did not immediately provide details."While strengthening its monitoring and vigilance, our military is maintaining a full readiness posture in close cooperation with the U.S.," the JCS said in a text message sent to reporters.Monday's launch marks the North's third missile provocation this year.About an hour after the JCS announcement, North Korea said its military carried out firing drills involving multiple rocket launchers at 7 a.m.An artillery unit of the Korean People's Army (KPA) launcFeb 20, 2023
