US calls on int'l community to condemn North Korean missile launches U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price speaks during a media briefing at the department in Washington, Aug. 16, 2021. U.S. called on the international community Wednesday to condemn North Korea's latest missile launches and to implement all U.N. Security Council sanctions on the recalcitrant state. AP-Yonhap The United States called on the international community Wednesday to condemn North Korea's latest missile launches and to implement all U.N. Security Council sanctions on the recalcitrant state.State Department spokesperson Ned Price made the call in a briefing, calling the North Korean missile launches a threat to the region and to the entire world."We know that the DPRK's ongoing provocations pose a threat to the region, pose a threat to all of us," the spokesperson said, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."And it's incumbent on the international community to join us in condemning the DPRK's flagrant May 26, 2022
North Korea launches missiles to test Seoul-Washington deterrence President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks during a National Security Council meeting at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Wednesday, following North Korea's test launch of three ballistic missiles. Courtesy of presidential officeS. Korea, US counter by firing ground-to-ground missiles into East SeaBy Nam Hyun-wooNorth Korea fired three missiles, including what appears to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), off its east coast on Wednesday, putting to test an extended Seoul-Washington deterrence against the bellicose regime pledged by President Yoon Suk-yeol and his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden during their summit over the past weekend.The South Korean government, along with the United States, responded with a show of force. Both the South Korean and U.S. militaries countered the missile launch by firing ground-to-ground missiles off the east coast, following Yoon's order to pursue “practical measures on extended deterrence and stronger combined defense capabilities between South Korea and the U.S.” Graphic by Cho Sang-wonAccording to Seoul's Joint Chiefs May 25, 2022By Nam Hyun-woo
COVID-19 aid offer stands despite North Korea's latest provocation: minister Unification Minister Kwon Young-se responds to questions from lawmakers at the National Assembly in Seoul, May 20. Kwon said Wednesday that South Korea will continue to seek ways to help North Korea fight against COVID-19 despite its latest military provocation. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoDespite North Korea's latest military provocation, South Korea will continue to seek ways to support the North's fight against COVID-19, Unification Minister Kwon Young-se said Wednesday. “The Yoon Suk-yeol administration has maintained the stance that it would continue to find ways to help improve the lives of North Korean people, while responding strongly to its provocation,” Kwon said during a seminar for inter-Korean cooperation on the pandemic at the National Assembly in Seoul. “That's why we offered help immediately after the reports about the COVID-19 outbreak in North Korea … It's regrettable that the North chose to provoke (South Korea) instead of responding favorably to the offer,” he said.Kwon urged the North to take “the right path,” saying the Yoon goMay 25, 2022By Jung Min-ho
Spy chief nominee says North Korea apparently has no will to denuclearize on its own Spy chief nominee Kim Kyou-hyun / YonhapNorth Korea appears to have no intent on giving up its nuclear weapons on its own, South Korea's state intelligence chief nominee said Wednesday.Kim Kyou-hyun, named to lead the National Intelligence Service, presented the view during his National Assembly confirmation hearing, just hours after Pyongyang launched three ballistic missiles into the East Sea amid concerns it may even carry out another nuclear weapon test soon."I think North Korea scarcely has a will to denuclearize on its own," Kim said.On the COVID-19 outbreak in the North, he said people there appear not to have received vaccinations, while it remains unconfirmed whether or not leader Kim has been vaccinated.The North seems to have received emergency medical supplies from China, he added.Kim, formerly a veteran diplomat and senior presidential aide, voiced skepticism over the North's daily report of suspected coronavirus infections and deaths, saying, "The figures are hard to believe. "There is no way to verify (the numbers) objectively, but it seems to be far from the truth," hMay 25, 2022
WHO verifying North Korea's COVID-19 data amid coronavirus outbreak An empty street is seen in front of Pyongyang Station, amid growing fears over the spread of COVID-19 in this photo released by Kyodo from Pyongyang, May 23. The World Health Organization (WHO) is checking suspected COVID-19 data released by North Korea. Reuters-YonhapThe World Health Organization (WHO) is checking suspected COVID-19 data released by North Korea after the secretive country shared related information on its virus outbreak, a U.N. agency report showed Wednesday.The North reported to the WHO over 1.62 million people with “fever” and 23 associated deaths between May 13 and 18, according to the organization's latest regional COVID-19 situation report.The report, however, noted the North has not provided the case definitions for the figures and that the agency is "currently in the process of verifying COVID-19 data" from Pyongyang. It added that there was no information on COVID-19 vaccinations in the country.It said Poonam Khetrapal Singh, the organization's regional director of Southeast Asia, sent a letter to the North Korean ambassador in New Delhi, May 16,May 25, 2022
South Korea strongly condemns North Korea's missile launches as Yoon affirms US extended deterrence President Yoon Suk-yeol / YonhapThe office of President Yoon Suk-yeol strongly condemned North Korea's recent ballistic missile launches as a grave provocation Wednesday as Yoon ordered measures to ensure the U.S.' "extended deterrence" commitment to South Korea.The presidential office released the statement shortly after Yoon presided over a National Security Council meeting to discuss North Korea's launch of three ballistic missiles, including a presumed intercontinental ballistic missile, earlier in the day."The participants defined North Korea's missile launches as a grave provocation that violates U.N. Security Council resolutions, raises tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia and threatens international peace, and strongly condemns this," it said in the statement."President Yoon ordered the thorough implementation of international sanctions against North Korea, including U.N, Security Council resolutions, based on coordination between South Korea and the United States, and in close cooperation with relevant nations and the international community," it added.NortMay 25, 2022
Blinken condemns North Korean missile launches amid signs of additional provocations U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Mukthar Tileuberdi at the State Department in Washington, May 20. Blinken condemned North Korea's recent missile launches, Tuesday. Reuters-Yonhap U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned North Korea's recent missile launches, a department spokesperson said Tuesday, amid suspicions that the recalcitrant country may stage another provocation, possibly a nuclear weapon test.North Korea has staged 16 missile tests this year that included at least three of alleged intercontinental ballistic missiles.Blinken and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong condemned the missile launches as destabilizing provocations in a meeting in Tokyo, Tuesday (local time)."The secretary and foreign minister expressed their concerns around ongoing developments in the region, including the DPRK's continued destabilizing provocations, and committed to continue working closely with partners and allies to adMay 25, 2022
North Korea's total suspected COVID-19 cases surpass 3 million A street near Pyongyang station is empty, May 24. Reuters-YonhapNorth Korea reported over 115,000 new suspected COVID-19 cases Wednesday, with the total number of “fever” cases surpassing 3 million.More than 115,970 people showed symptoms of “fever” over a 24-hour period until 6 p.m. the previous day, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, citing data from the state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters.The death toll remained the same at 68 as the North claimed to have no additional deaths reported for the second consecutive day.The total number of cases since late April stood at more than 3.06 million as of 6 p.m. Tuesday, of which more than 2.74 million have recovered and at least 323,330 are being treated, it added.The daily fever tally has gradually dropped in recent days, with new cases staying below 200,000 for the fourth consecutive day after peaking at over 392,920, May 15.Officials at the ruling Workers' Party, including members of the presidium of the Political Bureau and secretaries of the Central Committee, inspected local hospiMay 25, 2022
N. Korea fires 3 ballistic missiles, including 1 suspected ICBM: JCS A news report on North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile is aired on a television at Seoul Station, in this Jan. 27 file photo.North Korea fired three ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Wednesday, including an apparent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), South Korea's military said, just a day after U.S. President Joe Biden wrapped up his Asia trip highlighting America's security commitment to Seoul and Tokyo.The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launches from the Sunan area in Pyongyang at around 6 a.m., 6:37 a.m. and 6:42 a.m., respectively, which marked the North's 17th show of force this year.The first of the three launches involved the suspected ICBM that flew some 360 kilometers at a top altitude of 540 km, the JCS said. Military authorities here are putting weight to the possibility of the missile being the North's newest Hwasong-17 ICBM.The second missile, deemed to be a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), reached an altitude of around 20 km and "vanished" ― an apparent sign of a launch failure, the JCS said. The last missile, thought to be May 25, 2022
South Korea open to reviewing May 24 sanctions on North Korea: official An inside view of the Ministry of Unification / YonhapThe government will review the issue of whether to maintain economic sanctions imposed on North Korea in 2010 for a deadly naval attack, mindful of President Yoon Suk-yeol's stated practical approach, a unification ministry official said, Tuesday.The remark came as Seoul marked the 12th year since the sanctions were applied on the North after it sank the South Korean warship Cheonan in a torpedo attack, which killed 46 sailors.Under the sanctions, known as the May 24 Measures, almost all inter-Korean exchanges are banned except for the Gaeseong Industrial Complex and humanitarian aid projects."The May 24 Measures can be reviewed in accordance with a principles-based and practical approach," the official said on condition of anonymity.He stressed, however, that the government's stance on maintaining sanctions on the North remains unchanged for now.Earlier in the day, a group of South Korean businessmen who used to be involved in inter-Korean economic projects called for the government to lift the sanctions."Since the measure went iMay 24, 2022
