North Korea holds anti-American rally to mark war anniversary North Korea holds an anti-American rally for the third day in a row in Pyongyang, June 25, to mark the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War, with participants vowing to "mercilessly annihilate" the United States. YonhapNorth Korea held an anti-American rally for the third day in a row to mark the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War, with participants vowing to "mercilessly annihilate" the United States if it provokes the North, state media reported Sunday.The North has held anti-U.S. rallies since Thursday to mark the war anniversary for the first time in five years. Pyongyang skipped such rallies in 2018 amid a thaw in relations with the United States and had not resumed them amid the COVID-19 pandemic."The speakers vehemently denounced the U.S. imperialists for provoking the Korean War to nip in the bud the young DPRK less than two years after its foundation and perpetrating the most hideous massacre and barbaric destruction unprecedented in the world war history," the North's official Korean Central News Agency reported."They stressed that if the U.S. imperialists dare provoke the DPJun 26, 2022
In key party meeting, N. Korea approves strengthening 'war deterrent,' state media says North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un presides over the third enlarged meeting of the eighth Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), which was held between June 21 and 23 in Pyongyang, in this photo provided by North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), which reported Friday that the high-profile meeting on key defense policies ended the previous day. Yonhap N. Korea's key party meeting ends after three-day runNorth Korea approved an "important issue" to strengthen its "war deterrent" during a three-day high-profile party session on defense policies and strategies earlier this week, state media said Friday.Also decided was to "supplement the operation duties" of frontline troops with an "important military action plan," according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), which carried a report on the results of the third enlarged meeting of the eighth Central Military Commission (CMA) of the Workers' Party of Korea that finished the previous day. It did not provide details such as what the duties are and whether the nuclear issue was on the agendaJun 24, 2022
Outgoing UN rapporteur on North Korea's human rights to visit Seoul next week Tomas Ojea Quintana, the U.N. special rapporteur on North Korea's human rights situation, speaks during a press conference in Seoul in this July 10, 2018 photo. Korea Times fileThe outgoing U.N. special rapporteur on North Korea's human rights situation will visit here next week, the U.N. Human Rights Office in Seoul said Thursday.Tomas Ojea Quintana will arrive in Seoul on Monday for a three-day trip, which will likely be his last visit to South Korea during his term, according to the U.N. office. His six-year term ends in July.He is scheduled to give a lecture at Seoul National University on Tuesday and is expected to meet with officials from the South Korean government and civic groups on North Korean human rights.Attention has been drawn to whether Quintana will meet the bereaved family of a South Korean fisheries official killed by North Korean troops near the inter-Korean sea border in 2020.The previous administration tentatively concluded the official attempted to defect to the North. The Coast Guard and the defense ministry recently reversed the stance, announcing they had noJun 23, 2022
North Korea delays nuclear test due to pressure from China, fear of backlash: experts North Korean leader Kim Jong-un laughs during a meeting of the central military commission of the Workers' Party in Pyongyang, Wednesday, to discuss major tasks to build up national defense and implement key defense policies. YonhapPyongyang's next test could involve more powerful bomb: RAND analystBy Kang Seung-wooNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has yet to press the nuclear button, despite urgent warnings from South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities that the North has completed preparations for another nuclear test.Diplomatic observers agree that a nuclear test is still imminent. But they believe the delay may be due to pressure from China or because Pyongyang is weighing the possible political repercussions. Citing comments made by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the Eighth Workers' Party Conference in January 2021 that his country will enhance its nuclear and missile capabilities, as well as the 31 missiles launched so far this year and the reconstruction of its nuclear test site, Joseph DeTrani, a former U.S. special envoy for negotiations with North Korea, said the recJun 23, 2022By Kang Seung-woo
North Korea discusses revising operation plans for 'frontline' units, reorganization of military: state media North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presides over the third enlarged meeting of the eighth Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) in Pyongyang, June 22, in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency. Yonhap North Korea held a rare military meeting to change the operational plan of military frontline units with leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, the country's state media said Thursday, amid heightening tensions in the region.Kim also discussed the reorganization of key military formations as he convened the second-day session of the third enlarged meeting of the eighth Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), Wednesday, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)."It discussed the work of additionally confirming the operational duties of frontline units of the Korean People's Army (KPA) and modifying operational plans, according to the Party's military and strategic plan, and the iJun 23, 2022
North Korea could be delaying nuclear test because of China, COVID-19: official New activity at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in Kilju County, North Hamgyong Province, North Korea, is seen in this March 4 satellite image. Reuters-Yonhap North Korea could be pushing back what would be its seventh nuclear weapon test in consideration of China's political calendar and its own situation with COVID-19, a presidential official said Wednesday.Pyongyang has been reported for weeks to be preparing for a nuclear test at its testing ground in Punggye-ri, with the only remaining step being a "political decision" by leader Kim Jong-un."I think the China variable and the COVID-19 variable are playing into this," the official told reporters, citing the upcoming 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in the fall."It appears that North Korea is making a considerable effort out of concern for the major chaos that would be caused by a seventh nuclear test, although we haven't been able to verify it," he said.China is North Korea's only major polJun 22, 2022
Family of slain public official seeks help from UN, US politicians Lee Rae-jin, left, the elder brother of the government official shot dead by North Korea's military in September 2020, stands next to his lawyer as he reads a statement to reporters at the Seoul District Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul, Wednesday. NewsisComplaint filed against 3 former officials of Moon over obstruction of justiceBy Jung Min-hoThe family of a South Korean government official shot dead by North Korea's military two years ago is seeking help from the United Nations Human Rights Office and rights-conscious politicians overseas to find the facts behind the killing. Lee Rae-jin, the elder brother of the deceased official, told The Korea Times Tuesday that he is asking U.N. rights officials and U.S. lawmakers for support in his desperate bid to get to the bottom of the case, which he thinks was mismanaged intentionally by the previous Moon Jae-in administration to avoid provoking the North.“At the invitation of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I'm going to visit the United States in September to talk with members about the issue,” Lee saidJun 22, 2022By Jung Min-ho
N. Korea snaps up Chinese soybeans as COVID-19 exacerbates food shortage fears The North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported June 18 that medical supplies and other goods prepared by party central committee officials and their family members were delivered on June 17 to a region in South Hwanghae Province that has seen an infectious disease outbreak. KCNA-YonhapChina's exports to North Korea slumped by 85.2 percent in May from AprilBy Ji Siqi, Kim Bo-eunSHENYANG, HONG KONG ― North Korea bought a large volume of soybeans from China in May even though overall imports from its neighbor slumped more than 80 percent from the previous month, trade data from Beijing showed, amid suspicion the reclusive state is suffering food shortages as it fights a coronavirus outbreak.North Korea spent $2.97 million on 3,744 tons of Chinese soybeans last month, the second-largest monthly amount since 2017, Chinese customs data showed.The country imported just 500 tons of soybeans from China in the first four months of 2022.North Korea is facing a potentially dire food situation this year, which has been exacerbated by trade disruptions caused by the pandemic.The CIA estimaJun 22, 2022By Kim Bo-eun
North Korean leader presides over Central Military Commission meeting to discuss key defense policies A Central Military Commission meeting of the ruling Workers' Party is held to discuss the country's military line and key defense policies in Pyongyang, June 22. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has presided over a Central Military Commission meeting of the ruling Workers' Party to discuss the country's military and key defense policies, state media reported Wednesday.At the enlarged meeting held the previous day, Kim initiated a discussion to "review the overall work for national defense in the first half of the year," the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.The meeting also discussed the "issues of confirming the crucial and urgent tasks to build up national defense and thoroughly implementing the military line and key defense policies of the Party.""The Central Military Commission of the WPK started the discussion on the presented agenda items," the KCNA said, suggesting that the meeting will likely continue for several days. (Yonhap)Jun 22, 2022
INTERVIEW North Korean girl's story of searching for mother, freedom and herself Han Song-mi, a North Korean defector and the co-author of "Greenlight to Freedom," and Casey Lartigue, the other co-author, pose with their new book at Freedom Speakers International's office in Seoul, June 16. Korea Times photo by Jung Min-ho'Greenlight to Freedom,' Han-Lartigue yearlong book project, comes to fruitionBy Jung Min-hoLife is pain. It was particularly so for Han Song-mi, a North Korean girl. Her earliest memory was her father beating her mother. Her younger sister suddenly died without a clear cause. After her parents' divorce, she and her mother endured years of hunger, eating grass. At the age of nine, she thought about killing herself and was told that her mother had already tried it once with poison.Yet Han, now 28, has not only survived but thrived with resilience and a strong determination to live. After escaping the North in search of her mother and freedom, she settled down in South Korea, where she discovered her “second life” and became an inspiration to many.“Greenlight to Freedom,” her book, co-authored with Casey Lartigue, co-presidJun 22, 2022By Jung Min-ho
