Human rights activists shocked by photos of North Korean fishermen A North Korean fisherman is held by South Korean officials before being handed over to North Korean officials at the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom, in this Nov. 7, 2019, file photo. Courtesy of Ministry of UnificationNew photos show violations of human rights, hurt credibility of crime allegations: rights expertsBy Jung Min-hoSuzanne Scholte, chairwoman of the North Korea Freedom CoalitionPhotos of North Korean fishermen fiercely resisting deportation seem to show that they were sincere about defecting to South Korea, and the credibility of the previous administration's claim doubting the intent of the defectors has been damaged by the revelation, according to human rights activists. New pictures released Tuesday by the Ministry of Unification show the fishermen appearing to be gripped by fear, as South Korean officials hand them over to North Korean authorities at Panmunjom, the inter-Korean truce village. Authorities under the Moon Jae-in administration claimed in 2019 that they were not legally obligated to accept the fishermen because they had conspired with a third manJul 13, 2022By Jung Min-ho
North Korea fires another apparent artillery shot on Monday: source People watch a TV screen at a train station in Seoul, June 13, showing a news program reporting about North Korea firing an artillery shot into the Yellow Sea. YonhapNorth Korea fired an artillery shot into the Yellow Sea earlier this week, presumably from a multiple rocket launcher, a defense source here said Wednesday, as the U.S. has deployed six F-35A stealth fighters on the peninsula for combined drills.The South Korean military had detected a single trajectory believed to be an artillery shot on Monday morning, the source said without providing additional details including where it was fired.On Sunday, North Korea fired two suspected artillery shots from multiple rocket launchers. (Yonhap)Jul 13, 2022
Ministry shifts stance on deportation of North Korean fishermen A North Korean fisherman resists South Korean officials' attempt to hand him over to North Korean officials at the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom, in this Nov. 7, 2019, file photo. Courtesy of Ministry of UnificationNew revelation suggests they were sincere about defecting, unlike previous claimsBy Jung Min-hoThe Ministry of Unification has abandoned its previous position on the repatriation of two North Korean fishermen, whom it said were “not sincere” about defecting to South Korea in 2019 ― a chief justification for the controversial decision.Speaking to The Korea Times, Tuesday, a ministry official reconfirmed its shift in stance. But while the Coast Guard apologized for reversing its investigation results involving North Korea under the previous administration, the official said the ministry, as of now, has no plans to issue an apology.The Moon Jae-in administration said in 2019 that the South Korean government was not obligated to accept the defectors, because they murdered 16 fellow fishermen during their escape to South Korea across the Northern Limit LinJul 12, 2022By Jung Min-ho
North Korea hails ties with China as 'unbreakable' on bilateral alliance treaty anniversary North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping applaud after a performance at an event to welcome the latter's visit to Pyongyang, June 20, 2019, in this image captured from North Korea's Korean Central Television report the following day. YonhapNorth Korea on Monday called its relations with China "unbreakable" as it marked the 61st anniversary of the signing of their alliance treaty.An article carried by the Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, spoke highly of the bilateral relations while commemorating the "DPRK-China Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance" signed in 1961. DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."The numerous meetings and talks held between respected Comrade Kim Jong-un with Comrade Xi Jinping in recent years have again demonstrated the great unity between the two countries, which was relentlessly forged into a friendly relationship that can withstand any storm and an invincible strategic relationship unbreakable by anything," it said.The article also took aim at the United StateJul 11, 2022
N. Korea fires apparent artillery shots: S. Korean military North Korea test-fires presumed artillery shots in this file photo. YonhapNorth Korea fired artillery shots Sunday, presumably from multiple rocket launchers, South Korea's military said, in what would be yet another show of force by the regime.The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a text message to reporters that it had detected “trajectories” believed to be artillery shots from around 6:21 p.m. to 6:37 p.m. It gave no additional details, such as the exact number of shots launched and the origin of the firing.The South Korean military detected a total of two trajectories, according to an informed source. “While bolstering our military's surveillance and vigilance, South Korea and the United States are working closely and maintaining a thorough readiness posture,” the JCS said.North Korea also fired shots from multiple rocket launchers, on June 12, a week after the reclusive regime fired eight short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea. The latest launch came amid growing concerns that Pyongyang could conduct what would be its seventh nuclear test orJul 10, 2022
NK leader holds mass photo session with party officials despite battle against COVID-19 pandemic North Korean officials in the party life guidance sections of organizational departments of party committees at all Levels of the Workers' Party of Korea visit the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang on July 8, to pay tribute to North Korea's founder, Kim Il-sung, as the communist country marks the 28th anniversary of the former leader's death the same day, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un held a large-scale group photo session with officials from the ruling party's life guidance sections that attended a workshop earlier this week, state media reported Saturday.Photos released by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) show Kim standing in close proximity with hundreds of officials from the ruling Workers' Party without masks for the photo shoot.Last week, the North Korean leader held a five-day workshop, the first of its kind, for officials in the party's life guidance sections of organizational departments and called for absolute obedience to the party's Central Committee.Kim last held such aJul 9, 2022
North Korean leader visits mausoleum to mark grandfather's death anniversary This photo released Friday by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency shows the North's leader Kim Jong-un and other officials visiting the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang to pay tribute to his grandfather and North Korea's founder, Kim Il-sung, as the communist country marks the 28th anniversary of the former leader's death the same day. The mausoleum enshrines the mummified bodies of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, the current leader's father. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited a mausoleum for his late grandfather and national founder Kim Il-sung to mark the 28th anniversary of his death, according to state media Friday.Kim paid tribute at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the bodies of Kim Il-sung and the current leader's late father Kim Jong-il lie in state, on the occasion of the memorial day, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, without specifying when the visit was made.Kim Il-sung, who founded North Korea in 1948, ruled the country until his death in 1994.The North's leader was accompanied by participants of a special workJul 8, 2022
Over 40 pct of N. Koreans undernourished: U.N. report Pedestrians cross the road with parasols on Mirae Scientist St. in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Tuesday. AP-YonhapMore than 40 percent of North Koreans are undernourished, a U.N. report showed Thursday amid concerns of food security in the impoverished country.According to the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022 report co-published by U.N. agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organization, the U.N. Children's Fund and the World Food Programme, the prevalence of undernourishment among North Korea's 25-million population reached 41.6 percent from 2019 to 2021, compared with 33.8 percent from 2004 to 2006.Meanwhile, 33.9 percent of North Korean women aged 15 to 49 suffered from anemia in 2019, compared with 13.5 percent of South Korean women in the age group in the same period.The prevalence of stunting in the North's children aged under 5 stood at 18.2 percent in 2020, compared with 2.2 percent in South Korea. (Yonhap)Jul 7, 2022
N. Korean leader urges 'absolute obedience' to ruling party North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presides the first-ever workshop to strengthen the "monolithic" leadership of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), held from Saturday to Wednesday, at the April 25 House of Culture in Pyongyang for officials in the party life guidance sections of organizational departments, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)'s Thursday report. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un held the first-ever workshop to strengthen the "monolithic" leadership of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), state media reported Thursday, in his latest move aimed at tightening internal discipline.The workshop, the first of its kind, was held from July 2-6 at the April 25 House of Culture in Pyongyang for officials in the party life guidance sections of organizational departments, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).The special workshop was held to establish the "monolithic leadership system" of the party's central committee "more thoroughly" across the party and society, realize the "organizational and ideological consolidation of the PaJul 7, 2022
Spy agency files complaints against ex-chiefs over past cases involving North Korea Suh Hoon, left, and Park Jie-won, former heads of the National Intelligence Service / YonhapSouth Korea's state spy agency said Wednesday it has requested formal investigations by prosecutors into allegations that two of its former chiefs mishandled controversial incidents involving North Korea a few years earlier.The National Intelligence Service (NIS) filed a complaint with the Supreme Prosecutors Office against Park Jie-won for "deleting intelligence-related reports without authorization" in regard to North Korea's killing of a South Korean fisheries official in 2020.Park, formerly a longtime lawmaker, is accused of abusing his authority and unlawfully destroying public electronic records during his stint as director of the NIS under the previous liberal Moon Jae-in administration.In September 2020, Lee Dae-jun, then 47 years old, was fatally shot by the North's coast guard near the Yellow Sea border between the two Koreas, a day after going missing while on duty on board a fishery inspection boat.A storm of controversy has stirred up here since the South's Coast Guard and the defJul 6, 2022
