Denuclearization of Korean Peninsula remains top priority for US: Kritenbrink U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a joint press availability with South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, left, and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi following their meeting in Honolulu, Feb. 12. AP-YonhapThe complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is a top priority for the United States and its regional allies, a senior U.S. official said Wednesday, while highlighting the importance of trilateral cooperation between the U.S., South Korea and Japan to achieve that goal.Assistant Secretary of State for Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink also renewed the U.S. call for North Korea to engage in serious dialogue."Issues related to security on the Korean Peninsula and particularly the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear and missile programs is, of course, a top priority for our three countries," Kritenbrink told reporters during a teleconference to explain the outcome of Secretary of State Antony Blinken's recent trip to Australia, Fiji and Hawaii.During his visit to Hawaii, the top U.S. diplomat met with his South Korean and JapanesFeb 17, 2022
North Korea focuses on internal unity on late leader's birth anniversary: Seoul official Citizens walk past a poster in Pyongyang, North Korea, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the birth of the country's late former leader Kim Jong-il, Feb. 16. The letters on the poster read "Great General is the Eternal Sun of Juche." AP-Yonhap North Korea appears to have focused on boosting internal unity on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the birth of the country's late former leader Kim Jong-il, instead of using it as a chance to send a new major message to the outside world, a Seoul official said Thursday.Pyongyang has been holding various events to mark the Feb. 16 anniversary, with leader Kim Jong-un attending a national meeting held in the northwestern city of Samjiyon, Tuesday, to pay tribute to his late father, according to the North's state media."North Korea appears to have used the holiday as an opportunity to bolster internal unity, rather than as a venue to deliver messages to the outside world," an official at the Ministry of Unification, handFeb 17, 2022
US Air Force deploys 4 B-52 bombers to Guam U.S. Pacific Air Forces B-52 bombers occupies the flightline at the Andersen Air Force Base in Guam on unspecified date. / Captured from U.S. Pacific Air ForcesThe United States has deployed four B-52 nuclear-capable bombers to Guam to demonstrate America's "commitment to the region," its military said Wednesday, amid concerns Pyongyang could conduct provocative acts in time for key political events.The U.S. Pacific Air Forces said the bombers and more than 220 Air Force personnel have arrived at Andersen Air Force Base on the Pacific Island to support training efforts with allies and partners.Speculation has lingered that Pyongyang could stage another show of force to mark the 80th birthday of his late father, Kim Jong-il, on Wednesday and the 110th birthday of his late grandfather Kim Il-sung on April 15.The late leader's birthday this week has so far been largely uneventful, with the North's state media highlighting his legacies, such as improvement in the country's ties with China.The U.S. military said the arrival of the bombers demonstrates the U.S.' security commitment to the Feb 16, 2022
North Korean leader attends national meeting to celebrate late father's 80th birthday In this photo provided by the North Korean government, a meeting is held to celebrate the 80th birth anniversary of North Korea's late leader Kim Jong-il in Samjiyon City, North Korea, Feb. 15. AP-YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has attended a national meeting to celebrate the 80th birthday anniversary of his late father Kim Jong-il, according to Pyongyang's state media Wednesday.Kim was present at the event to pay tribute to the former leader, which was held in the northwestern city of Samjiyon the previous day, the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. It is the first time the North has had such a high-profile national meeting there instead of Pyongyang."A floral basket in the name of Kim Jong-un was laid in front of the statue of the Chairman (Kim Jong-il)," it said.Kim was accompanied by senior party officials, including his influential sister, Kim Yo-jong, at the event, as Ri Il-hwan, a member of the ruling party's powerful politburo, made a related report. The KCNA did not mention if Kim delivered a message during the meeting.It remains unconfirmed if KFeb 16, 2022
Two natural quakes hit near North Korea's nuclear test site: state weather agency Satellite photos of North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear testing site in Kilju, North Hamgyong Province, from 2010 / Capture from Sankei Shimbun's homepageTwo minor natural earthquakes hit near North Korea's nuclear testing site Monday, South Korea's state weather agency said.A 2.3 magnitude tremor occurred about 36 kilometers north-northwest of Kilju, North Hamgyong Province, at 2:33 p.m., according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). At 7:47 p.m., another 2.3 magnitude quake struck about 37 kilometers north of the region, where North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear testing site is located, the KMA said.Both are presumed to have occurred naturally, the agency added.They followed a 3.1 magnitude natural earthquake that struck the region Friday.The epicenter of Monday's first quake was at a latitude of 41.27 degrees north and a longitude of 129.24 degrees east at a depth of 22 km, according to the KMA.The epicenter of the second tremor was at a latitude of 41.28 degrees north and a longitude of 129.26 degrees east. It was 18 km deep.Over 20 earthquakes with a magnitude of 2.0 or Feb 14, 2022
UN rapporteur on North Korea human rights to visit South Korea this week U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea Tomas Ojea Quintana / YonhapThe U.N. special rapporteur on North Korea's human rights situation is scheduled to visit South Korea this week to compile data and have discussions on the matter, the foreign ministry said Monday. Tomas Ojea Quintana will visit Seoul from Feb. 15-23 to meet with South Korean government officials, politicians as well as civic groups and North Korean defectors to prepare for an annual report to be submitted to the Human Rights Council next month. He plans to have a meeting with Second Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-moon on Wednesday, and discuss findings and recommendations during a press briefing on the last day of his visit, the ministry said. It would be his seventh trip to South Korea since taking office in August 2016 and the last before his term ends in August. (Yonhap)Feb 14, 2022
North Korea to convene conference of party's primary committees this month People clap as they watch a performance of synchronized swimming marking the 'Day of Shining Star' on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the birth of the late former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il at a swimming center in Chongchun Street in Pyongyang, Feb. 13. North Korea plans to convene a conference of the ruling party's primary committee officials this month to push ahead with decisions made at a major party congress last year, according to Pyongyang's state media Monday. AP-Yonhap North Korea plans to convene a conference of the ruling party's primary committee officials this month to push ahead with decisions made at a major party congress last year, according to Pyongyang's state media Monday.The 2nd Conference of Secretaries of Primary Committees of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) will be held in Pyongyang "during the last ten days of February," the North's official Korean Central News Agency said. "The WPK Central Committee decided to convene the conFeb 14, 2022
South Korea, US, Japan show unity against North Korea's provocation U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center, and South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong reach out for a fist bump with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi at the end of a joint press availability following their meeting in Honolulu, Feb. 12. AP-Yonhap South Korea, the United States and Japan demonstrated a united front against North Korea's provocations via trilateral talks among their top diplomats in Honolulu, Saturday.Experts, in general, gave a positive assessment of the high-level session among the regional powers meant to find ways to engage with North Korea, especially its timing, despite no immediate breakthrough in sight."Such a meeting is always good to exchange views considering there is a high probability North Korea will continue to test more missiles ― and maybe even an ICBM ― between now and April," said Harry Kazianis, senior director at the Washington-based Center for the National Interest think tank.The trilateral event among SouthFeb 13, 2022
Top diplomats from South Korea, US, Japan urge North Korea to halt provocations, resume talks From left, South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi pose before their trilateral ministerial talks in Honolulu, Feb. 12. Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs The top diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan urged North Korea, Saturday, to halt its destabilizing actions and return to dialogue.The joint call came after a trilateral meeting between South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi in Honolulu."We condemn the DPRK's ballistic missile launches and its unlawful nuclear ballistic programs, which are clear violations of U.N. Security Council resolutions," Blinken said in a joint press conference, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."And we continue to work to find ways to hold the DPRK accountable," he added.The foreiFeb 13, 2022
Top diplomats of South Korea, US discuss ways to engage with North Korea Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, right, meets U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, in Honolulu, Hawaii, Feb. 12. Reuters-Yonhap Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Saturday in Hawaii to discuss ways to engage with North Korea.The meeting follows a recent series of North Korean missile launches amid a prolonged hiatus in dialogue with Pyongyang."As I have repeatedly said publicly, maintaining the status quo in the Korean Peninsula issues is not an option," Chung said Friday after arriving in Honolulu."As time passes, North Korea's nuclear missile capability will continue to develop, and if that happens, the security conditions of the Korean Peninsula will worsen and that will lead to instability not only on the Korean Peninsula but in Northeast Asia and the entire world," he added.North Korea staged seven missile launches in January, the largest number of missile tests it has conducted in a month. It also launched aFeb 13, 2022
