North Korea apparently all set for nuke, ballistic missile tests: South Korean military People watch a TV at Seoul Railway Station, May 7, showing a file image of a North Korean missile launch during a news program. North Korea appears to have completed its preparations for a new nuclear weapons or ballistic missile test. AP-Yonhap North Korea appears to have completed its preparations for a new nuclear weapons or ballistic missile test, South Korea's military said Tuesday, stressing its "firm" readiness posture against the reclusive regime's possible provocations."We believe that North Korea's preparations for a nuclear test and a missile launch have been completed," Col. Kim Jun-rak, spokesperson of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a regular press briefing. "With regard to this, our military is maintaining a firm readiness posture."During a forum Monday, Victor Cha, a senior vice president and Korea chair at the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, raised the possibility that the North could launch a provocation on the last weMay 24, 2022
North Korea's media shifts stance, questions effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines Staff disinfect the premises of a medical oxygen factory to curb the current COVID-19 health crisis in Pyongyang, May 19, in a photo released by the official North Korean Central News Agency. North Korea's state-controlled media carried reports Tuesday questioning the usefulness of COVID-19 vaccines. Yonahp North Korea's state-controlled media carried reports Tuesday questioning the usefulness of COVID-19 vaccines, as the secretive nation has claimed progress in efforts to control the coronavirus outbreak. The North's latest stance may suggest a dimmer prospect of accepting the international community's existing offers of vaccine aid, including Washington's stated willingness to provide help and Seoul's bid for consultations on healthcare cooperation."Pharmaceutical companies are developing vaccines against various virus variants, with treatments having been developed, but there are questions about whether they can be used in the global scope," the Rodong Sinmun, anMay 24, 2022
North Korea's total suspected COVID-19 cases reach nearly 3 million: state media Staff at the Central Zoo conduct disinfection work to curb the current COVID-19 health crisis in Pyongyang in this undated photo released by the official North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), May 20. North Korea has reported that the number of people with COVID-19 symptoms has risen past 2 million since the country first disclosed an outbreak last week, according to the KCNA. EPA-YonhapNorth Korea reported over 134,510 new suspected COVID-19 cases Tuesday, with the total number of cases of “fever” reaching nearly 3 million.More than 134,510 people showed indications of fever, with no additional deaths reported, over a 24-hour period until 6 p.m. the previous day, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, citing data from the state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters.The daily number of fever cases has remained below 200,000 for the third consecutive day after reaching 219,030 cases Saturday.The death toll remains at 68, with the fatality rate standing at 0.002 percent, the KCNA said.The fever caseload reported since late April in the nation, with May 24, 2022
South Korea to wait for North Korea's response to aid offer with no deadline set: ministry An undated photo released by the official North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows medical service personnel in the military handing out medical supplies at a pharmacy to curb the current coronavirus disease health crisis in Pyongyang, May 20. EPA-YonhapThe South Korean government will wait for North Korea's response to its offer of cooperation against the COVID-19 outbreak there, leaving the door open for sending aid through international organizations, the unification ministry said Monday.Last Monday, the ministry attempted to send a fax message to the North through their joint liaison office to offer working-level consultations on the pandemic and medical assistance, including vaccines, masks and test kits. But the North has remained unresponsive as of this Monday morning."Making a regular call at 9 a.m. via the inter-Korean liaison office today, the Ministry of Unification asked the North for its intent on whether to accept the message that we sought to deliver last week, but the North Korean side made no mention of the issue and ended the call," the ministry's spokesperson May 23, 2022
North Korea reports 167,650 new suspected COVID-19 cases, one more death North Korean health care workers disinfect the zoo in Pyongyang amid an outbreak of COVID-19, in this photo from the state-run Korean Central News Agency, May 20. YonhapNorth Korea said Monday around 167,650 new cases of “fever” and another death have been confirmed over a 24-hour period until 6 p.m. the previous day, as the country stages what it calls an anti-epidemic war.The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported the cases, citing data from the state emergency epidemic prevention headquartersThe daily number of “fever cases” has remained below 200,000 for the second consecutive day after reaching 219,030 cases Saturday.It raised the death toll to 68, with the fatality rate standing at 0.002 percent, the KCNA said.The fever caseload reported since late April, in the nation with a population of 24 million, came to more than 2.81 million as of 6 p.m. Sunday, of which more than 2.33 million, or 82.9 percent, have recovered and at least 479,400 are being treated, according to the KCNA.The Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, carried several arMay 23, 2022
INTERVIEW Pyongyang elite won't get COVID-19 vaccine shots, says ex-NK doctor North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks during a ruling party Politburo meeting in Pyongyang, North Korea, Saturday. North Korea may have started considering vaccinating the population against COVID-19, but Kim and the powerful elite close to him almost certainly did not get the shots and likely never will, says a former doctor from North Korea. AP-YonhapIntelligence agency believes Kim remains unvaccinated over side effect worriesBy Jung Min-hoNorth Korea may have started considering vaccinating its population against COVID-19, but leader Kim Jong-un and the powerful elite close to him almost certainly have not gotten the shots and probably never will, says a former doctor from North Korea.Several days after its first official coronavirus case, the Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the ruling Workers' Party, reported May 17 that vaccines are “effective” ― a drastic change in its stance from previously being “not a solution” with “serious side effects.”“There is no reason that he would take on even a tiny risk of vaccine side effects,&rMay 23, 2022By Jung Min-ho
Biden says 'hello' to North Korea's Kim amid tensions over weapons tests U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks with Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun (not pictured) on the automaker's decision to build a new electric vehicle and battery manufacturing facility in Savannah, Georgia, as he ended his visit to Seoul, May 22. Reuters-YonhapU.S. President Joe Biden, in Seoul before heading to Japan as part of his first Asia trip as president, had a simple message for North Korea's Kim Jong Un: "Hello... period," he told reporters on the last day of his visit to South Korea, Sunday.Biden said he was "not concerned" about new North Korean nuclear tests, which would be the first in nearly five years.But his wry response when asked what message he had for Kim underscored the administration's low-key approach to the unresolved tensions with North Korea. It is a stark contrast with former President Donald Trump's showy threats, summits, and "love letters" to Kim.However, neither of their approaches has led to a major breakthrough, and North Korea has resumed testing its largest intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), while intelligence reports suggesMay 22, 2022
North Korea reports 186,000 new suspected COVID-19 cases, one more death A deserted street in Pyongyang is seen Tuesday, in this photo provided by North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency, Wednesday. AP-YonhapNorth Korea reported around 186,000 new cases of “fever” and another death Sunday, after it announced a COVID-19 outbreak on its soil earlier this month. More than 186,090 people showed symptoms of fever, with one additional death reported, 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.This raised the death toll to 67, with a fatality rate standing at 0.003 percent, the KCNA added.The caseload reported since late April, in the nation with a population of 24 million, came to more than 2.64 million as of 6 p.m. Saturday, of which more than 2.06 million have recovered and at least 579,390 are being treated, according to the KCNA.On May 12, the reclusive North made public its first confirmed case of the Omicron variant. Many North Korea observers have raised concerns about the impoverished country's heathMay 22, 2022
North Korea reports nearly 220,000 new suspected COVID-19 cases, one more death North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attend a ruling party politburo meeting in Pyongyang, North Korea, Saturday, in this photo provided by the North Korean government. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image. AP-Yonhap North Korea said Saturday it has confirmed around 220,000 new cases of “fever” and another death, nine days after publicly admitting a COVID-19 outbreak.The nation's leader Kim Jong-un also had a ruling Workers' Party politburo meeting to discuss strategies in the "anti-epidemic war," according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).He stressed the need to "optimize" the virus prevention policy and take "all possible steps for revitalizing the overall economy" at the same time.More than 219,030 people showed “symptoms of fever” and one death was reported over a 24-hour period until 6 p.m. the previous day, the KCNA said, citing data from the state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters. It raiMay 21, 2022
70% of South Koreans support giving medical aid to pandemic-hit North Korea: poll A man wearing a KN95 face mask walks in this photo released by the official North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), May 20. Yonahp More than seven out of 10 South Koreans are in favor of giving medical assistance to North Korea struggling with a massive COVID-19 outbreak, a poll showed Friday. In a nationwide survey of 1,000 people aged 18 or above conducted by Gallup Korea from Tuesday to Thursday, 72 percent said the government should provide medical support to the North, while only 22 percent opposed the idea. The remaining 6 percent did not answer. The positive opinion was stronger in most groups in terms of age, region and political inclination, except for those in their 20s, who were sharply divided on the issue.On the question of the possible timing of unification with the North, a majority of 57 percent said: "gradually, starting in about 10 years." Only 19 percent said they were opposed to unification. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 peMay 20, 2022
