North Korea likely to hold military parade at midnight to showcase latest ICBM: sources A conference held in Pyongyang ahead of the 90th founding anniversary of the People's Revolutionary Army, which falls April 25, is seen in this photo, released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency, April 23. YonhapSouth Korea has detected signs of North Korea preparing to hold a massive military parade around midnight Sunday to show off its latest strategic weapons in time for a key anniversary, according to government sources.The sources said the North was likely to mobilize around 20,000 troops for the parade at Kim Il Sung Square to mark the 90th founding anniversary of the North Korean People's Revolutionary Army (KPRA), that the North claims late national founder Kim Il-sung established in 1932.During rehearsals, over 250 pieces of military equipment have been paraded, including a hypersonic Hwasong-8 missile, a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), according to the sources.The North also appears to have built two pontoon bridges across the Taedong River connecting Kim Il Sung Square to the Tower of the JucApr 24, 2022
North Korea vows to expand relations with Russia on eve of summit anniversary Kim Jong-un is seen at an undisclosed location in North Korea in this undated photo provided by the North Korean government, April 17. AP-YonhapNorth Korea vowed Sunday to continue to expand and develop relations with Russia on the eve of the third anniversary of a summit between leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin.Kim and Putin held the summit in Russia's Far East city of Vladivostok, April 25, 2019. The third anniversary comes as the North stressed its friendly ties with Russia amid deepening tensions between Moscow and Washington in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine."Today, the DPRK-Russia relations, even in the face of challenges and pressure of the U.S. and its vassal forces, continue to develop and strengthen ... and are contributing to ensuring peace and security in the region and to establishing the international order based on independence and justice," the North's foreign ministry said in an article posted on its website."It is an invariable stand of the DPRK government to expand and develop in all fields the friendly and cooperative relations witApr 24, 2022
North Korea boasts of 'invincible power' world cannot ignore ahead of holiday This undated photo provided Sunday, April 17, by the North Korean government shows Kim Jong-un at an undisclosed location in North Korea. AP-YonhapNorth Korean state media on Sunday trumpeted how the country has gained an "invincible power that the world cannot ignore and no one can touch" under Kim Jong-un, an apparent reference to its nuclear weapons, as Pyongyang prepares for a military holiday.Monday will mark the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army, and international monitors say North Korea may stage a major military parade or conduct other weapons displays.North Korea has conducted an unprecedented flurry of ballistic missile tests this year, and American and South Korean officials say there are signs it could resume nuclear weapons testing for the first time since 2017.A report by state news agency KCNA on Sunday listed the history of North Korea's military achievements, from its battles against the United States in the 1950-1953 Korean War and smaller skirmishes throughout the Cold War to the 2010 bombardment of South Korea's YeonpyeongApr 24, 2022
North Korea could 'go small' with tactical nukes if it resumes testing A television broadcasts a news report on North Korea's new type of tactical guided weapon test, April 17. YonhapIf North Korea resumes nuclear testing, it could include development of smaller “tactical” warheads meant for battlefield use and designed to fit on short-range missiles such as the one tested last weekend, analysts said.South Korean and U.S. officials say there are signs that North Korea is seeking to resume operations in an underground tunnel at its Punggye-ri Nuclear Test site, which was officially shuttered in 2018.On Saturday, the North test-fired a new, short-range missile that state media said was for "enhancing the efficiency in the operation of tactical nukes," marking the first time North Korea has linked a specific system to tactical nuclear weapons.Analysts say putting small warheads on short-range missiles could represent a dangerous change in the way North Korea deploys and plans to use nuclear weapons. It means Pyongyang can field more of them, and instead of threatening a few cities to deter an attack, could use them against a wide range of militApr 22, 2022
South Korea asks North Korea to explain fire at Kaesong industrial complex: ministry In this 2021 September file photo, a suspended joint industrial complex in North Korea's border city of Kaesong is seen from the South Korean border city of Paju, north of Seoul. Korea Times fileSouth Korea has asked North Korea to provide an explanation over a fire outbreak at the now-shuttered Kaseong industrial complex but has received no response yet, the unification ministry said Friday.On Thursday, the ministry said a fire was detected at around 2 p.m. at a factory in the industrial complex in the North's border city of Kaesong, which was shut down in 2016 in response to Pyongyang's nuclear and missile tests."Following the opening call via the inter-liaison office at 9 a.m. today, our government made a verbal inquiry to North Korea asking for the confirmation of the fire, as well as its cause and size," Cha Deok-cheol, the ministry's deputy spokesperson, told a regular press briefing. "We are currently waiting for North Korea's reply."If any damage to South Korean property is confirmed, the government will review the "necessary measures," including holding consultations with thApr 22, 2022
Leaders of two Koreas exchange letters as Moon's term nears end President Moon Jae-in, right, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un shake hands at the Joint Security Area in Panmunjom at an inter-Korean summit held in April of 2018. Korea Times fileKim Jong-un's amicable message seen as divisive tacticBy Nam Hyun-wooOutgoing President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un expressed amicable sentiments through letters they exchanged recently, according to South Korea's presidential office, Friday.On the same day, however, Pyongyang continued with its bellicose rhetoric toward conservative President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, in what appears to be a familiar move from the regime's playbook of fomenting conflict between South Korea's conservative and liberal blocs amid the power transition period. Presidential spokesperson Park Kyung-mee speaks during a press conference about the letter exchange between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at Cheong Wa Dae, Friday. Yonhap“President Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un recently exchanged letters and reminisced about the past five years (of Moon's tenure),” presiApr 22, 2022By Nam Hyun-woo
EU sanctions those linked to North Korean nuclear arms program Kim Jong-un is pictured at an undisclosed location in North Korea in this undated photo provided April 17 by the North Korean government. The European Union has sanctioned eight individuals and four entities in connection with North Korea's nuclear weapons program. AP-Yonhap The European Union has sanctioned eight individuals and four entities in connection with North Korea's nuclear weapons program. The individuals concerned hold senior positions in institutions involved in the development of the North's missile program, a statement issued by the EU?said Thursday. It said the sanctioned entities had circumvented previous punitive measures, possibly contributing to the financing of the illicit weapons programs. North Korea is already subject to tough international sanctions in response to its controversial nuclear weapons program. The new measures reportedly freeze the assets of those affected, prohibit them from entering the EU and ban them from receiving funding iApr 22, 2022
Transition team emphasizes denuclearization as Moon, Kim exchange letters The launching of a weapon from an undisclosed location in North Korea is seen in this undated photo provided by the North Korean government April 17. President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's transition team called for "peace and prosperity through denuclearization" Friday after revelations that President Moon Jae-in had exchanged letters with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. AP-Yonhap President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's transition team called for "peace and prosperity through denuclearization" Friday after revelations that President Moon Jae-in exchanged letters with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un."I believe it is a great cause of the people to achieve peace and prosperity through denuclearization," a transition team official said, commenting on the exchange of letters between Moon and Kim. According to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim received a letter from Moon, Wednesday, and sent a reply letter the next day.In the letters, Kim thanked Moon for hisApr 22, 2022
North Korean leader exchanges letters with Moon President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un / Korea Times file North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has exchanged letters with South Korea's outgoing President Moon Jae-in earlier this week in an "expression of their deep trust," state media reported Friday.Kim received a "personal" letter from the South Korean president Wednesday, and sent a reply letter the next day, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)."Sharing the same view that the inter-Korean relations would improve and develop as desired and anticipated by the nation if the North and the South make tireless efforts with hope, the top leaders mutually extended warm greetings to the compatriots in the North and the South," it said in an English-language report.In his letter, Moon expressed his desire that both the South and the North make a joint declarations to establish "the foundation" for reunification even after his retirement, while Kim appreciated the "pains and eApr 22, 2022
Fire detected at Kaesong industrial complex in North Korea North Korean workers at Kaesong industrial complex in this 2007 file photo. Korea Times fileA fire was detected at the now suspended Kaesong industrial complex, an inter-Korean factory park inside North Korea, on Thursday afternoon and was put out an hour later, the unification ministry said. South Korea detected the fire at around 2 p.m. at one plant in the industrial complex located in the North Korean border city of Kaesong. The fire was extinguished at around 2:50 p.m., the Ministry of Unification said in a text message to reporters. "The government will make efforts to figure out how much damage the fire caused to the plant and nearby facilities, and share the situation with companies that have plants in the Kaesong industrial zone," it said. In 2016, South Korea pulled out of the complex in response to the North's nuclear and missile tests, ending more than a decade of cooperation in the joint venture. (Yonhap)Apr 21, 2022
