North Korea tests new ICBM system, US to impose additional sanctions: official People watch a TV at Seoul Railway Station, March 5, during a news program showing a file image of a North Korean missile launch. AP-YonhapNorth Korea's two most recent missile launches were aimed at testing a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system ahead of a possible full-fledged ICBM test, a senior U.S. official said Thursday, adding the U.S. plans to take action that will hinder Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and missile programs.North Korea earlier confirmed launching missiles Feb. 27 and Saturday (KST), claiming they were aimed at developing a reconnaissance satellite."After careful analysis, the U.S. government has concluded that the DPRK's two ballistic missile tests on February 26, March 4 (U.S. time) of this year involved a relatively new intercontinental ballistic missile system," the U.S. administration official said in a telephone press briefing, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the new ICBM was first unveiled during a 2020 parade in Pyongyang.PyongyaMar 11, 2022
North Korean state media reports Yoon's election win President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol attends a ceremony to disband his presidential election team at the National Assembly Library in Seoul, March 10. AP-Yonhap North Korea's state media reported Friday that conservative opposition candidate Yoon Suk-yeol was elected as South Korea's president in the first coverage of the news by Pyongyang since the election."Yoon Suk-yeol, a candidate of the conservative opposition 'People Power Party,' won by a narrow margin in the 20th 'presidential election' held in South Korea on March 9," the North's official Korean Central News Agency said in a one paragraph report.Yoon was elected president earlier Thursday with the smallest-ever 0.73 percentage-point gap over liberal Democratic Party of Korea candidate Lee Jae-myung. (Yonhap)Mar 11, 2022
NK leader says satellite development aimed at collecting info on US military, its 'vassal forces' North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center, plants trees with the participants in the 2nd Conference of Secretaries of Primary Committees of the Workers' Party during an event in Pyongyang March 2, to mark the North's Arbor Day. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited the country's space agency, and said the recent development of a reconnaissance satellite is aimed at collecting information on the U.S. military in the region and its "vassal forces," Pyongyang's state media reported Thursday.On Saturday, North Korea fired a ballistic missile in a second such test in less than a week that Pyongyang claimed was for developing a reconnaissance satellite."He noted that the purpose of developing and operating the military reconnaissance satellite is to provide the armed forces of the DPRK with real-time information on military actions against it by the aggression troops of the U.S. imperialism and its vassal forces in South Korea, Japan and the Pacific," the North's offiMar 10, 2022
South Korea repatriates North Korean boat and 7 sailors one day after NLL crossing South Korean Navy's patrol ships search for survivors from a sunken South Korean navy ship near Baekryeong Island, March 29, 2010. South Korea said it fired warning shots at a North Korean patrol boat that temporarily crossed the countries' disputed western sea boundary while chasing an unarmed North Korean vessel, March 8. AP-Yonhap South Korea sent a North Korean boat and seven sailors back home Wednesday, a day after it veered across their western sea border due to a "navigational error and mechanical glitch," Seoul's defense ministry said.Seoul decided to repatriate them on the basis of "humanitarian" considerations and in respect for their wishes, the ministry said.The South Korean Navy seized the boat and crew for investigation Tuesday morning after the vessel crossed the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border in the Yellow Sea."It has been confirmed that the North Korean boat crossed the line (NLL) due to a navigational error and mechanical gMar 9, 2022
North Korea's patrol boat retreats after crossing inter-Korean sea border A North Korean patrol vessel is seen in the distance behind a Chinese fishing boat. South Korea's military seized a North Korean fishing boat that crossed the maritime border between the two Koreas, March 8. Korea Times fileA North Korean patrol boat retreated Tuesday after crossing the western maritime border into South Korean waters to chase a purportedly stray boat, according to military officials here. The patrol boat crossed the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto inter-Korean maritime border, at 9:49 a.m. as it tracked the other ship that breached the NLL 15 minutes earlier, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. The South Korean Navy drove the patrol boat back to the North with warning shots and messages, and seized the other ship carrying seven crewmembers, including six wearing military uniforms.The South has sent messages to the North about the border crossing incident twice thorough commercial and military communication lines, the JCS said.The seven unarmed North Koreans are said to have no intention of defecting to the South and claim their ship accidentally veered intMar 8, 2022
Chinese FM says N. Korea's security concern not resolved yet, US holds key Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks during a news conference on the sidelines of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress on March 7, 2022, in Beijing YonhapThe top Chinese diplomat said Monday North Korea's "reasonable" security concern remains unresolved and a resolution to its nuclear issue is up to the United States."North Korea's reasonable security concerns have not been fundamentally resolved," Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a press conference held on the sidelines of the National People's Congress in Beijing.He said Beijing is taking note of Washington's statement that it has no "hostility" toward Pyongyang."Where the next stage will go depends much on how the U.S. does (going forward)," he said in response to Yonhap News Agency's question on the Korean Peninsula issue.The key is whether Washington will take concrete action for a resolution to the problem or continue seeking to use it as a "geopolitical strategic card," he added.Wang said North Korea has taken "positive actions" since 2018 as part of efforts to resume talks, but it hasn't receiMar 7, 2022
UN set to hold meeting on North Korea's latest missile launch: Seoul official People watch a TV at Seoul Railway showing a file image of a North Korean missile launch during a news program, March 5. AP-Yonhap The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) plans to convene a session this week in response to North Korea's latest projectile launch, a South Korean government official said Monday.It would be the second meeting of the council in about a week in connection with such a move by the recalcitrant regime.Regarding the North's test-launch of an apparent ballistic missile Saturday, some members of the influential panel have requested closed-door discussions, and the meeting is scheduled to open Monday morning (local time), according to the foreign ministry official who requested anonymity. "Our government is in close communication with major members of the security council including the United States," the official added.The North launched what appeared to be a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) into the East Sea, Saturday, in its ninth shoMar 7, 2022
North Korea says it conducted another 'important test' for 'reconnaissance satellite' development People watch a TV showing a file image of North Korea's missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, March 5. YonhapNorth Korea said Sunday it has conducted another "important test" for developing a "reconnaissance satellite.""The DPRK National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) and the Academy of Defence Science conducted another important test on Saturday under the plan of developing a reconnaissance satellite," the Korean Central News Agency said in an English-language report. The DPRK is the acronym for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.Through the test, it added, the NADA "confirmed the reliability of data transmission and reception system of the satellite, its control command system and various ground-based control systems."It did not provide additional details in the two-paragraph report.The previous day, the secretive North fired a ballistic missile toward the East Sea, its ninth show of force this year, according to South Korea's military.Launched from around the Sunan area in Pyongyang, the missile fMar 6, 2022
South Korea condemns North Korea's launch of ballistic missile People watch a TV at Seoul Railway Station, March 5, showing a file image of North Korea's missile launch during a news program. AP-Yonhap The presidential National Security Council (NSC) condemned North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile, Saturday, and called for Pyongyang to immediately stop acts that raise tensions on the Korean Peninsula.National security adviser Suh Hoon presided over the meeting, shortly after North Korea fired an unidentified projectile, which was later described by the South's military as a ballistic missile, toward the East Sea.NSC members said that North Korea's repeated launching of ballistic missiles "goes against peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," a Cheong Wa Dae statement said.The NSC "condemned" the North's firing of ballistic missiles that "violate U.N. Security Council resolutions," it said.The NSC said the missile launch came at a "grave time," citing Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Beijing Winter Paralympics and thMar 5, 2022
Satellite imagery shows ongoing operations at North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear site: report North Korea's military test-fires a surface-to-surface tactical guided missile from an unknown location in North Korea, Jan. 27. North Korea appears to be continuing to produce fissile materials for nuclear weapons at its main Yongbyon nuclear facility, a U.S. monitoring website said, citing recent satellite imagery of Yongbyon. Yonhap North Korea appears to be continuing to produce fissile materials for nuclear weapons at its main Yongbyon facility, a U.S. monitoring website said, citing recent satellite imagery of the area.The site, 38 North, also suggested that work may be underway to further expand Yongbyon."Recent commercial satellite imagery of North Korea's Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center indicates ongoing production of fissile material ― both plutonium and enriched uranium," it said in a report published Thursday."These activities, as well as the gradual expansion and evident occupation of personnel housing over the past few years, all suggest thMar 5, 2022
