North Korea fires unidentified projectile eastward: South Korean military People watch a TV at Seoul Railway Station, Feb. 27, showing a file image of a North Korean missile launch during a news program. AP-YonhapNorth Korea fired an apparent ballistic missile toward the East Sea, Sunday, South Korea's military said, in the recalcitrant regime's eighth show of force this year.The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch from around the Sunan area in Pyongyang at 7:52 a.m. It did not elaborate.The latest launch, the first in just under a month, came in the midst of the armed conflict in Ukraine following Russia's invasion of the country last week."Currently, our military is keeping close tabs on the possibility of additional launches and maintaining a readiness posture," the JCS said in a text message sent to reporters.Sunan is where the North test-fired what it claimed to be a tactical guided missile Jan. 17. The missile, called the KN-24, was seen as modeled after the U.S.' Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).Pyongyang conducted seven missile tests last month alone, including an intermediate-range ballistic missile launch Jan. 30.FollowinFeb 27, 2022
China vows cooperation with North Korea under 'new situation' Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un wave from an open top limousine as they travel along a street in Pyongyang, North Korea, in this June 20, 2019, file photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency. AP-Yonhap China's President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of cooperation between Beijing and Pyongyang in an unspecified "new situation," North Korea's state media reported Saturday.North Korea, officially known as the DPRK, carried out an unprecedented seven missile tests in January ― including its most powerful missile since 2017 ― with denuclearization negotiations with the United States at a standstill. It paused testing during the Beijing Winter Olympics, with analysts saying the decision could have been made out of deference to China. Beijing is Pyongyang's most important ally and economic benefactor, their relationship forged during the 1950s Korean War.In his message to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Xi said Beijing was readyFeb 26, 2022
North Korea ranked one of worst countries for political rights and civil liberties: report North Korean citizens visit the statues of their late leaders Kim Il-sung, left, and Kim Jong-il on Mansu Hill in Pyongyang, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the birth of Kim Jong-il, Feb. 16. AP-YonhapNorth Korea has been rated as one of the worst countries in terms of freedom, a recent report by a U.S.-funded freedom watchdog showed Friday.In an annual Freedom House report titled, "Freedom in the World 2022," the North received a combined freedom score of 3 out of 100 ― zero points for political rights and 3 points for civil liberties.It ranked only above Turkmenistan at 2 points, and South Sudan and Syria with just 1 point each among 195 countries assessed by the organization.The report came amid concerns about human rights conditions in the North that has been struggling with economic woes aggravated by global sanctions and pandemic-driven border closures. (Yonhap)Feb 25, 2022
Ukraine conflict, a cautionary tale for security-wary North Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attends a meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party in Pyongyang, North Korea, Jan. 19, in this photo provided by the North Korean government. Russian President Vladimir Putin's order to send troops into eastern Ukraine could be a reminder of the grim reality for North Korea: A deal to bargain away its nuclear arms could prove to be a scrap of paper anytime in the world of power politics. AP-Yonhap Russian President Vladimir Putin's order to send troops into eastern Ukraine could be a reminder of the grim reality for North Korea: A deal to bargain away its nuclear arms could prove to be a scrap of paper anytime in the world of power politics.Defying international pleas, Putin ordered his "peacekeeping" troops into two breakaway regions in Ukraine, Monday, recognizing them as "independent" states ― a move that U.S. President Joe Biden has said amounted to the "beginning of a Russian invasion." The strongman's militaFeb 24, 2022
UN rapporteur calls for sending 60 mln COVID-19 vaccine shots to N. Korea Tomas Ojea Quintana, the U.N. special rapporteur on North Korea's human rights situation, speaks during a press conference in central Seoul, Wednesday. NewsisThe U.N. special rapporteur on North Korea's human rights made an emphatic call Wednesday for the world to offer 60 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to the reclusive country to help it break "out of isolation."Tomas Ojea Quintana made the appeal amid concerns the North's apparent reluctance to engage with the outside world due to the pandemic would worsen its economic woes and human rights conditions, and hamper nuclear diplomacy with the regime."I call on the international community to agree on a strategy to provide the DPRK with 60 million doses of vaccination to cover at least two shots of the entire population," he told a press conference in Seoul. DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.Quintana called the proposed vaccine provision "the key" to opening the North's borders, resuming interaction with the outside world and bringing it out of isolation.He arrived here on Feb. 15 on a Feb 23, 2022
Truth panel confirms North Korean forces' massacre of Christians during Korean War The office of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Republic of Korea / Newsis By Park Han-solDuring the early stage of the 1950-53 Korean War, North Korean soldiers in retreat from the South massacred over 1,100 Christians in accordance with the regime's drive toward religious persecution, a state commission announced, Tuesday.In the wake of the successful Incheon Landing Operation of the United Nations Command ― the covert amphibious landing of 75,000 troops at the port of the city on Sept. 15, 1950 ― the North's army, which had previously reached the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, was soon forced to withdraw.It was during the course of this retreat that the North Korean military killed at least 1,145 Christians, said a report by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which was made based on research by the Seoul Theological University.The violent religious persecution, which lasted for over a month particularly in the Jeolla and South ChungcheongFeb 22, 2022By Park Han-sol
North Korea highly expected to resume missile tests: experts North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a greenhouse farm in South Hamgyong Province, Friday, in this photo provided by the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). YonhapChina's Paralympics, two significant political meetings may affect Pyongyang's decision By Kang Seung-wooAs the Beijing Winter Olympics have come to a close, North Korea is anticipated to restart its show of force in the near future amid an impasse in nuclear talks with the United States, according to diplomatic observers. Pyongyang carried out an unprecedented seven rounds of missile launches in January, including a test-firing of an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), but has since refrained from saber-rattling in what seems to be a move to not steal attention from the 2022 Beijing Winter Olymmpic Games hosted by China, its lone economic pipeline and diplomatic protector. The quadrennial sporting event held its closing ceremony on Sunday. “I think North Korea refrained from any missile launches ― or other activities ― that could have interfeFeb 22, 2022By Kang Seung-woo
Seoul city to provide health care, education support to North Korean defectors Seen is the Seoul Metropolitan Government taken on Jan. 26. Korea Times photo by Suh Jae-hoon Seoul Metropolitan Government will provide North Korean defectors with free health checkups, online tutoring services for students and other support measures to help them better settle in their new homeland, city officials said Monday.This is the first time in nine years that Seoul has put together support measures for defectors. The capital is home to 6,759 defectors, about 21.4 percent of the total, and about 3.4 billion won ($2.85 million) has been earmarked for this year's support plan, up 1.5 billion won from last year. Under the plan, free medical examinations will be provided for 200 people aged 14 or older in the first half of the year on a pilot basis, and those in need of medical treatment after examinations will be additionally given 1 million won in nursing fees a year.The program will be expanded to other defectors either in the second half or next year, officiFeb 21, 2022
Beijing vows continued support for Pyongyang on anniversary of late North Korean leader's birth North Korean leader Kim Jong-il meets Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, in this April 19, 2004, file photo. AP-YonhapA senior Chinese official has said Beijing will continue support for North Korea on the 80th anniversary of the birth of the North's late former leader Kim Jong-il, describing their relations as "forged by blood," according to Pyongyang's state media Friday.Ji Bingxuan, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, made the remarks Wednesday during an event held at the North Korean Embassy in Beijing to mark the anniversary, the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.Ji delivered greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping to the North's leader Kim Jong-un as he met with Ambassador Ri Ryong-nam, and expressed thanks for the North supporting China on the international stage. "He expressed earnest gratitude for our country's recent support for China on the global stage and said that China, which highly values the China-North Korea ties, will continue to support North Korea and Feb 18, 2022
1 in 4 students think unification with North Korea unnecessary: survey This Jan. 11 file photo shows a North Korean flag at a North Korean village inside the Demilitarized Zone. YonhapOne in four South Korean students think that unification with North Korea is unnecessary, a survey showed Friday. In the online survey of 72,524 elementary, middle and high school students conducted by the education ministry and the unification ministry from Nov. 1 to Dec. 10 last year, 61.2 percent replied that unification is necessary, while 25 percent said it is not needed. The rate of students against unification increased for the third consecutive year from 19.4 percent in 2019 and 24.2 percent in 2020.Among the reasons for unification, the "reduction of the threat of war" was cited the most at 27.2 percent, followed by the "same ethnic race" at 25.5 percent and the "resolution of the separated family problem" at 20.9 percent.Those who were opposed to unification cited the "economic burden" the most at 29.8 percent, followed by "potential social problems after unification" at 25 percent and "political differences between the South and the North" at 17 percent.The survFeb 18, 2022
