S. Korea, US express serious concern over N. Korea's missile launch South Korea's new presidential office in Seoul's Yongsan District / Joint Press CorpsThe national security advisers of South Korea and the United States spoke by phone after North Korea's latest missile test and expressed "serious concern" over the regime's ongoing provocations, the presidential office said Friday.Kim Sung-han, head of the presidential National Security Office, and U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan held the phone call late Thursday (Seoul time) after the North launched three short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea in its first show of force since President Yoon Suk-yeol's inauguration this week."The two sides expressed serious concern over North Korea's recent provocative actions, including the ballistic missile launch, and agreed to further strengthen South Korea-U.S. coordination on the North," the presidential office said.Kim and Sullivan also discussed Biden's upcoming May 20 to 22 visit to Seoul and agreed it would serve as an "important turning point" for a strengthening of the comprehensive strategic alliance between the two countries.TheMay 13, 2022
N. Korea reports 6 COVID-19 deaths amid 'explosive spread of fever' North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visits the country's national emergency quarantine command center in Pyongyang, Thursday, to inspect antivirus efforts against the coronavirus pandemic, in this photo released by the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the following day. According to the KCNA, six people have died from COVID-19 and around 18,000 people have shown symptoms of a fever, in its first release of the number of infections and possible cases. YonhapNorth Korea said Friday six people have died from COVID-19 and more than 18,000 people nationwide had reported symptoms of fever the previous day alone. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited the country's state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters Thursday and examined antivirus efforts, a day after Pyongyang declared a shift to a "maximum emergency prevention system," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.Since late April, an unknown fever has spread "explosively" across the North, affecting 350,000 people, according to the KCNA. It added that 162,200 people have been fully treated so far."On May 1May 13, 2022
US has no plans to provide COVID vaccine to N. Korea, but supports int'l efforts White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki gestures as she speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. on May 12. AFP-Yonhap The United States has no immediate plans to provide COVID-19 vaccines to North Korea but supports international efforts to help vaccinate the people of the reclusive country, a White House spokesperson said Thursday.Jen Psaki, however, accused Pyongyang of exploiting its people by denying or diverting international assistance to pursue unlawful weapons programs."The United States does not currently have plans to share vaccines with the DPRK," the White House press secretary said when asked if the U.S. had plans to provide North Korea with COVID-19 vaccines.DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name.The country reported its first case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, Thursday (KST), also marking its first-ever report of a COVID-19 case."We do continue tMay 13, 2022
White House highlights possible N. Korean nuclear test this month White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki gestures as she speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. on May 12. AFP-Yonhap North Korea may be ready to conduct a nuclear test before the end of the month, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday.Her remarks come less than a week after a state department spokesperson hinted at a possible resumption of nuclear tests by the North in the near future."The United States assesses that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea could be ready to conduct a test there as early as this month," Psaki said when asked in a daily press briefing, referring to North Korea by its official name."This would be its seventh such test. We have shared this information with allies and partners, and are closely coordinating with them," she added.Pyongyang last conducted a nuclear test in September 2017, followed by the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of May 13, 2022
N. Korea fires 3 missiles in 1st major provocation after Yoon's inauguration People watch a TV screen showing a news program reporting about North Korea's missile launch with file footage at Seoul Station, Thursday. AP-YonhapBy Yi Whan-wooNorth Korea fired three suspected ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, Thursday, marking the first major provocation since President Yoon Suk-yeol took office two days earlier.The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the three, possibly short-range missiles, being launched from Sunan area in Pyongyang around 6:29 p.m.They traveled 360 kilometers to a maximum altitude of 90 kilometers at a top speed of Mach 5.“This is a grave provocation that must be suspended right away,” the JCS said.It went on to say, “The military has strengthened monitoring activities and vigilance and is maintaining a full readiness posture in close cooperation with the United States.”The National Security Office (NSO), during an emergency meeting presided over by its new chief Kim Sung-han, denounced the launch as a “two-faced act coming in the wake of the pandemic.” It was referring to the reclusive regimMay 12, 2022By Yi Whan-woo
North Korea fires suspected ballistic missile toward sea North Korea's ballistic missile / Korea Times fileNorth Korea fired a suspected ballistic missile toward the sea on Thursday, South Korea and Japan said, in the latest of a series of weapons demonstrations this years and just hours after it confirmed its first case of the coronavirus since the pandemic began.Japan's Defense Ministry said the projectile fired by North Korea was a possible ballistic missile. It gave no other details.South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a brief statement that the missile flew toward North Korea's eastern waters. It also gave no details.Earlier Thursday, North Korean state media confirmed the country's first COVID-19 infections as leader Kim Jong Un ordered nationwide lockdowns to slow the spread of the virus. Kim also ordered officials to bolster the country's defense posture to avoid any security vacuum. North Korea has test-launched a spate of missiles this year in an apparent attempt to put pressure on its rivals amid stalled nuclear diplomacy. Some experts say that despite the elevated anti-virus steps, North Korea would likely continue its wMay 12, 2022
Minister nominee says he's open to visiting North Korea as special envoy Unification Minister nominee Kwon Young-se / YonhapThe nominee to serve as South Korea's new point man on North Korea said Thursday he will "positively consider" a push for visiting Pyongyang as a presidential envoy to meet leader Kim Jong-un.Speaking to lawmakers during his confirmation hearing, Kwon Young-se, a veteran politician tapped as unification minister, said he will discuss the issue with the other members of President Yoon Suk-yeol's national security team, after assuming the post."Whether it's in the form of a special envoy or anything else, I personally hope to have an opportunity for candid talks on improving inter-Korean relations, including denuclearization, after considering relations between the Koreas," he said. His message adds to speculation that Yoon of the conservative People Power Party, who has signaled a "principles-based" tough approach toward the nuclear-armed North, may seek to send a special delegate there in a bid for a breakthrough in frosty inter-Korean relations. Even if the Yoon government offers to send a special envoy to Pyongyang, it is uncertainMay 12, 2022
South Korean military to revive 'provocation' reference to North Korean missile tests: sources People watch a TV at Seoul Railway Station, May 7, showing a file image of a North Korean missile launch during a news program. South Korea's military plans to revive its reference to North Korean ballistic missile tests as "provocations." AP-Yonhap South Korea's military plans to revive its reference to North Korean ballistic missile tests as "provocations," informed sources said Thursday in an apparent reflection of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's hardline stance on the recalcitrant regime's military threats.The Joint Chiefs of Staff has decided to use the expression in its public announcements of future North Korean missile launches in line with new Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup's directive, according to the sources.The preceding Moon Jae-in administration had refrained from describing North Korean missile launches as provocations, as it pushed for inter-Korean rapprochement, with Pyongyang having balked at the expression.The South Korean military also plans tMay 12, 2022
North Korea confirms first case of Omicron variant of COVID-19 An official takes a student's temperature at a college in Pyongyang as part of preventative measures against COVID-19 in this Aug. 11, 2021 file photo. North Korea announced its first case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, Thursday, and declared the implementation of a "maximum emergency" virus control system. AFP-Yonhap North Korea announced its first case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, Thursday, and declared the implementation of a "maximum emergency" virus control system.The authorities concluded that samples collected from fever-ridden patients in Pyongyang, Sunday, were identical to Omicron, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).The North's leader Kim Jong-un vowed to overcome the "unexpected crisis," it reported. (Yonhap)May 12, 2022
INTERVIEW North Korea's COVID-free claim nonsensical: virologist Students participate in a dancing party to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Kim Jong-un's election as the top state leader at the Arch of Triumph plaza in Pyongyang, North Korea, April 11. Officially, not a single person has been infected with COVID-19 in North Korea. AP-YonhapBy Jung Min-hoHakim DjaballahThe COVID-19 pandemic has swept across the world for more than two years. North Korea, however, is still completely free of the disease, according to its official data.The latest data available on the World Health Organization website shows “there have been 0 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 0 deaths” in the isolated state between Jan. 3, 2020 and May 10 of this year.Hakim Djaballah, former CEO of Institut Pasteur Korea and a virologist currently based in New York, believes that North Korea's COVID-free claim is most likely a lie.“It is very hard to imagine any country being COVID free let alone North Korea,” Djaballah told The Korea Times. “I do not believe their claim, given what has been happening near its borders.”Visitors walk across the YMay 12, 2022By Jung Min-ho
