North Korean leader observes new tactical guided weapons test The launching of a missile from an undisclosed location in North Korea is seen in this undated photo provided by the North Korean government April 17. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un observed the successful test-firing of a new tactical guided missile meant to improve the efficiency of nuclear operations, Pyongyang's state media announced Sunday. Yonhap North Korean leader Kim Jong-un observed the successful test-firing of a new tactical guided missile meant to improve the efficiency of nuclear operations, Pyongyang's state media announced Sunday.The new weapon system is "of great significance in drastically improving the firepower of the frontline long-range artillery units and enhancing the efficiency in the operation of tactical nuclear weapons of the DPRK and diversification of their firepower missions," the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The DPRK is the acronym for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "The testApr 17, 2022
North Korea marks founder's birthday with fireworks, large-scale performance In this photo taken on Thursday, people visit the Light Festival to celebrate the 110th birth anniversary of North Korean leader Kim Il-sung at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang. AFP-YonhapNorth Korea held celebrations for the 110th birth anniversary of its founder Kim Il-sung, Friday evening, with fireworks and a dance performance at its capital, footage from state media showed.Throngs of masked North Koreans appeared to hold large-scale dance celebrations at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang as colorful fireworks were set off in the background, according to the broadcast claimed to be live from the North's state-run Korean Central Television.The Korean Central Broadcasting Station reported earlier that the country would hold a youth ball at the square at 7 p.m. and a musical performance afterward in commemoration of the “Day of the Sun” holiday.Fireworks were scheduled to be set off over the banks of the Taedong River centered on the Tower of the Juche Idea in the capital, it added, with other similar events being staged across the nation.As the North usually marks every fiApr 15, 2022
Only 11 North Korean defectors arrived in South Korea in Q1 Unification Bridge in Paju, northwest of Seoul. Yonhap The number of North Korean defectors reaching South Korea dropped to 11 in the first quarter of this year, the unification ministry said Friday, amid prolonged border closures due to COVID-19.During the same period last year, 31 North Koreans crossed into the South, according to the ministry data.The number of incoming defectors has significantly decreased since the outbreak of the pandemic in early 2020 due to restrictions on cross-border movements. According to the ministry, 1,047 North Koreans sought refuge in the South in 2019, compared with 229 in 2020 and 63 last year. The figure stood at five in the April to June period last year, before increasing slightly to 12 and 15 in the third and fourth quarters, respectively. (Yonhap)Apr 15, 2022
North Korean defense minister promoted to vice marshal on anniv. of Kim Il-sung's birth North Korean Defense Minister Ri Yong-gil, who was elected as a member of the State Affairs Commission, the country's highest decision-making body, during the second day of a session of the Supreme People's Assembly, the North's top legislature, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang, is seen in this photo, released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, Sept. 30. YonhapNorth Korea's Defense Minister Ri Yong-gil has been promoted to the country's third-highest military rank of vice marshal in a major reshuffle, the country's state media said Friday.The latest shakeup appears intended to boost morale and unity among top-echelon officers as the North marks the 110th anniversary of the birth of its national founder Kim Il-sung."A relevant decision was issued by the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea on April 14," the official Korean Central News Agency said, referring to the ruling party's top military decision-making body.Ri, who previously served as minister of social security, was confirmed by state media to have been appointed defense minisApr 15, 2022
North Korea to mark anniversary of founder's birth with nighttime performances, fireworks Women wearing traditional Korean "hanbok" participate in a dance party at the plaza of the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang, April 14, a day ahead of the 110th anniversary of the birth of the country's founder Kim Il-sung. YonhapNorth Korea is set to celebrate the 110th anniversary of the birth of its founder Kim Il-sung, Friday night, with large-scale performances and fireworks in its capital, according to state media.The country is scheduled to open a youth ball at the Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang at 7 p.m. and then hold a musical performance in commemoration of the anniversary, called the “Day of the Sun” in the North, the state-run Korean Central Broadcasting Station reported.After the performance, fireworks will be set off over the banks of the Taedong River centered on the Tower of the Juche Idea in the capital, it added, with other similar events being staged across the country.As the North usually marks every fifth and tenth political anniversaries with major celebrations, Kim Jong-un, the North's leader and grandson of the founder, may attend Friday night's event Apr 15, 2022
US closely monitoring North Korea for possible provocation: State Dept. US State Department spokesman Ned Price speaks at the daily briefing at the State Department in Washington, DC, in this Feb. 25 file photo. AFP-Yonhap The United States is closely monitoring North Korea for possible provocations, a U.S. state department spokesperson said Thursday.Ned Price made the remarks as Pyongyang celebrates the 110th anniversary of the birth of its late founding leader Kim Il-sung, Friday (KST)."What I can say and what we know is that the DPRK in the past has used the occasion of holidays and other notable occasions within the DPRK to engage in provocations," the spokesperson said in a press briefing."So of course, we're closely watching for the possibility," he added. DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.Pyongyang has so far staged 12 missile launches this year, including seven in January alone that marked the largest number of missile tests it has conducted in a single month.Earlier reports havApr 15, 2022
North Korean provocations likely to continue for months: Jake Sullivan U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan speaks to the media about the war in Ukraine and other topics at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 22. Reuters-Yonhap North Korea is currently in a provocation cycle that may last for weeks or even months, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Thursday.Sullivan also said the North will continue efforts to advance its nuclear weapons and missile programs, but that the capability to hit the U.S. mainland has yet to be proven."A few weeks ago, they tested an intercontinental ballistic missile, which they had not done previously, they had not done since 2017. So yes, they are in a pattern of provocation, pattern of testing," Sullivan said in a seminar hosted by the Economic Club of Washington D.C., a non-profit organization based in Washington."I think you will hear more out of North Korea in terms of its efforts to advance its nuclear program and its missile program in the weeks and months ahead," he addApr 15, 2022
Kim gives North Korea's most famous newscaster a luxury home Kim Jong-un visits the new house of Korean Central Broadcasting announcer Ri Chun-hi, behind Kim, after attending an inauguration ceremony for Pothong riverside terraced residential district in Pyongyang, April 13, in this photo provided by the North Korean government. AP-YonhapState media anchor Ri Chun-hi is one of North Korea's most famous voices, announcing the country's major events of the past decades ― among them nuclear and missile tests and the death of a leader ― in a resounding, booming voice filled with emotion.The anchor dubbed abroad as the ``pink lady'' for her bright, traditional attire was the topic of official North Korean media herself Thursday after leader Kim Jong-un gave Ri a luxurious residence and asked her to continue to vigorously serve as the voice of his ruling Workers' Party. Experts say Kim is trying to boost his support from elite North Koreas while the country deals with pandemic hardships and a diplomacy stalemate.``(Kim) said it is the sincerity of the party that there is nothing to spare for the treasures of the country like her who has worked as a Apr 14, 2022
Inter-Korean ties won't normalize if NK keeps pursuing nuclear weapons: minister nominee Unification Minister nominee Kwon Young-se, center, speaks to reporters as he arrives at a temporary office in Seoul, Thursday, to prepare for his parliamentary confirmation hearing. YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooThe normalization of deadlocked inter-Korean ties will be unlikely as long as North Korea continues to modernize its nuclear weapons, the unification minister nominee said, Thursday. However, he also said South Korea's new Yoon Suk-yeol administration will try to build the momentum to resume talks between the two Koreas, although it will be a daunting task. Rep. Kwon Young-se, a four-term lawmaker who is currently doubling as the vice chairman of Yoon's transition committee, was selected, Wednesday, to head the unification ministry, which is in charge of inter-Korean affairs. “North Korea's denuclearization is the only path toward the normalization of inter-Korean relations,” Kwon told reporters.Citing the recent threat of the North Korean leader's sister, Kim Yo-jong, to use nuclear weapons against South Korea, and the lack of any sign from Pyongyang that it will give Apr 14, 2022By Kang Seung-woo
No progress in denuclearization, no normalization in inter-Korean ties: minister nominee Unification Minister-designate Kwon Young-se / Yonhap Unification Minister-designate Kwon Young-se said Thursday it would be "difficult" to normalize inter-Korean ties as long as the nuclear-armed North Korea continues to advance its nuclear weapons development.Kwon, a four-term People Power Party lawmaker, made the remarks as he appeared at his office for the first time in central Seoul after being nominated to lead the ministry handling Seoul-Pyongyang affairs."Amid a situation that North Korea has nuclear weapons and is continuing to make advancements in its nuclear development, I think the normalization of inter-Korean relations is difficult," he told reporters. "One of the big obstacles (to inter-Korean relations) is the nuclear issue," he addedThe North has recently ratcheted up tensions in the region, resuming the test-firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile last month that ended a years' long moratorium on such tests. (Yonhap)Apr 14, 2022
