North Korea ranks 174th among 180 countries on corruption index: report gettyimagesbank North Korea retreated four notches in an annual international corruption ranking to 174th among 180 countries last year, a report by an anti-corruption watchdog showed Monday. The reclusive North scored 16 out of 100 in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) report issued by the Berlin-based Transparency International, down two points from the previous year.The index evaluates countries based on how corrupt their public sector is perceived to be, using data collected "by a variety of reputable institutions, including the World Bank and the World Economic Forum." North Korea does "not have the basic institutional infrastructure ― such as mechanisms for administration and rule of law ― to form an integrity system," the watchdog said. South Korea climbed a notch to rank 32nd with 62 points, while Denmark, Finland and New Zealand shared the top spot with 88 points. South Sudan was at the bottom of the list with 11 points. (Yonhap)Feb 1, 2022
US says it is seeking diplomacy over North Korea's missile launches North Korea's military launches a guided missile from an unidentified location, Jan. 25. The United States stated Monday that it was trying to find a diplomatic means to address the 'North Korea problem' while pushing for 'different steps' to hold the country responsible for its recent series of ballistic missile launches. YonhapThe United States stated Monday that it is trying to find a diplomatic means to address the North Korea problem while pushing for "different steps" to hold the country responsible for its recent series of ballistic missile launches."Even as we seek to find ways to address this challenge diplomatically we're moving forward with different steps to hold the DPRK responsible and accountable," Ned Price, spokesperson for the State Department, said during a regular press briefing, using the acronym for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.He was responding to a question about a series of missile launches by Pyongyang this month.On Sunday, North Korea fired an "intermediate-and long-range ballistic missile" toward the East Sea, the seFeb 1, 2022
US worried North Korea could return to nuclear and ICBM tests U.S. President Joe Biden walks on the South Lawn of the White House before boarding Marine One in Washington, Jan. 28. UPI-Yonhap The United States is concerned North Korea's escalating missile tests could be precursors to resumed tests of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles, a senior U.S. official said Sunday (local time), while urging Pyongyang to join direct talks with no preconditions.North Korea conducted a test of one of its largest missiles Sunday, sending a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) soaring into space for the first time since 2017.South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the recent flurry of North Korean missile tests was reminiscent of heightened tensions in that year, when North Korea conducted multiple nuclear tests and launched its largest missiles.He said the latest launch took North Korea a step closer to fully scrapping a self-imposed moratorium on testing its longest-range intercontinental ballistic missJan 31, 2022
North Korea confirms test-firing of Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile This combination of photos shows North Korea's military test-firing an intermediate and long-range ballistic missile Jan. 30, the North's official Korean Central News Agency reported Jan. 31. Yonhap North Korea announced Monday it test-fired a Hwasong-12 "intermediate and long-range" ballistic missile (IRBM) the previous day, with Pyongyang's state media reporting that the accuracy of the weapons system "being produced and deployed" had been confirmed."The evaluation test-fire of Hwasong 12-type ground-to-ground intermediate- and long-range ballistic missile was conducted Sunday under a plan of the Academy of Defense Science, the Second Economy Commission and other institutions concerned," the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in an English-language report.The launch was aimed to "selectively evaluate the missile being produced and deployed and to verify the overall accuracy of the weapon system," it added. "It confirmed the accuracy, security Jan 31, 2022
South Korean nuke envoy holds phone talks with US, Japanese counterparts over North Korea's missile 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, Jan. 30. AP-YonhapSouth Korea's top nuclear envoy held phone talks with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts Sunday over North Korea's launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile earlier in the day, Seoul's foreign ministry said. Noh Kyu-duk, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, and his American counterpart, Sung Kim, denounced the North's latest missile launch as a challenge to the international community's efforts to diplomatically resolve the Korean peninsula issue, as well as to the U.N. Security Council resolutions, according to the ministry."(The two sides) agreed to maintain the security posture based on the firm South Korea-U.S. alliance and continue efforts for an early resumption of dialogue with North Korea," the ministry said in a statement. Noh also held a separate phone conversation with his Japanese counterpart, Takehiro Funakoshi, and agreed to continue "close communications and cooperation" to keep Jan 30, 2022
Moon says North Korea inches closer to scrapping ICBM moratorium President Moon Jae-in / Korea Times file President Moon Jae-in said Sunday that North Korea has inched closer to scrapping its self-imposed moratorium on testing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) shortly after the North fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile. Moon made the remark while presiding over a plenary meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) for the first time in about a year, an indication of how seriously he takes the launch of what is believed to be the longest-range missile the North has fired in recent years.South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the North's missile flew about 800 kilometers at a maximum altitude of 2,000 km. The flight data indicated that North Korea tested its biggest ballistic missile since 2017. The launch also marked the North's seventh such show of force this month alone."North Korea has kept its moratorium on nuclear tests and ICBM launches so far while expressing a willingness for dialogue. But if it diJan 30, 2022
North Korea launches intermediate-range ballistic missile toward East Sea: South Korean military North Korea launches what it claimed was a hypersonic missile Jan. 5, in this photo provided by the North Korean government. The North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic (IRBM) missile into the East Sea, Sunday, South Korea's military said, raising fears that Pyongyang was inching toward its threatened suspension of a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear weapons and long-range missile tests. AP-Yonhap North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic (IRBM) missile into the East Sea, Sunday, South Korea's military said, raising fears that Pyongyang was inching toward its threatened suspension of a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear weapons and long-range missile tests.The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the missile, fired at a steep angle from Mupyong-ri in the northern province of Jagang, at 7:52 a.m., noting that it flew about 800 kilometers at a maximum altitude of 2,000 km.The missile hit a top speed of Mach 16, or 16 times the speed ofJan 30, 2022
Activist indicted for sending anti-regime leaflets to North Korea A group of defectors fly balloons containing anti-North Korean regime leaflets into the North from the border village of Paju, Gyeonggi Province, in this April 2016 file photo. Yonhap Prosecutors have indicted a vocal North Korean defector and activist known for anti-Pyongyang leafleting on charges of attempting to send propaganda leaflets and other items by balloon into the North last year, sources said Friday.Park Sang-hak, the head of Fighters for a Free North Korea, a North Korean defectors' group, is accused of having sent 10 balloons carrying propaganda leaflets and booklets as well as US$1 bills toward the North from the border provinces of Gyeonggi and Gangwon on two occasions in April. Prosecutors are said to have indicted Park on charges of an attempted violation of the Development of Inter-Korean Relations Act as they could not confirm whether the balloons actually arrived in North Korea.Under the revised law, which took effect in March, the act of sendinJan 28, 2022
North Korea confirms test-firing of long-range cruise, surface-to-surface missiles North Korea's military test-fires a surface-to-surface tactical guided missile from an unknown location in North Korea, Jan. 27, the North's Korean Central News Agency reported Jan. 28. YonhapNorth Korea confirmed Friday this week's two weapons tests involving long-range cruise, and surface-to-surface tactical guided missiles, and vowed to "keep developing powerful warheads.”On Thursday, South Korea's military said the North fired what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, marking its sixth such launch this month. This latest saber-rattling came just two days after Pyongyang launched two apparent cruise missiles from an inland area."The Academy of Defense Science of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea conducted the test-fire for updating long-range cruise missile system and the test-fire for confirming the power of conventional warhead for surface-to-surface tactical guided missile on Tuesday and Thursday respectively," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, referring to the North by its official name.Leader Kim Jong-un did not attendJan 28, 2022
North Korea fires 2 apparent short-range ballistic missiles toward East Sea: South Korean military People watch a TV at Seoul Railway Station, Jan. 25, showing a file image of a North Korean missile launch during a news program. North Korea fired two apparent short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, Thursday, South Korea's military said, in Pyongyang's sixth such launch this year. AP-YonhapNorth Korea launched two apparent short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, Thursday, according to South Korea's military, in Pyongyang's sixth such test this year.The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launches from in and around Hamhung, a city on the North's east coast, at around 8 a.m. and 8:05 a.m., respectively, and they flew about 190 kilometers with a top altitude of 20 km."For more details, the intelligence authorities of South Korea and the United States are conducting a detailed analysis," the JCS said in a text message sent to reporters.The South Korean military is keeping close tabs on related North Korean movements and maintaining a readiness posture, the JCS added.Pyongyang apparently test-fired at least two cruise missiles from an inland area TuJan 27, 2022
