UN committee approves draft resolutions calling for North Korea to give up nukes In this 2019 Sept. file photo, flags fly outside the United Nations headquarters during the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly. AP-YonhapA U.N. General Assembly committee has approved three draft resolutions concerning North Korea, including one reaffirming the Assembly's commitment to the "complete, verifiable and irreversible" abandonment of Pyongyang's nuclear program, its website showed Friday.On Wednesday, the First Committee in charge of disarmament and security affairs approved 25 resolutions and decisions, including those related to the North, amid reports that the recalcitrant regime has been doubling down on its nuclear and missile programs.Among the three resolutions is one entitled "Joint courses of action and future?oriented dialogue towards a world without nuclear weapons." It includes provisions calling for the North to renounce nuclear arms."Other provisions would have the Assembly reaffirm its commitment to the complete, verifiable and irreversible abandonment of all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programmes of the Democratic People's Republic Oct 29, 2021
US conducting in-depth review of Korean War's end declaration: US official Lee Seok-hyun, vice chairman of South Korea's National Unification Advisory Council, a presidential advisory board, is seen speaking with Deputy Assistant of Secretary for Korea and Japan Mark Lambert during their meeting in Washington, Oct. 28. YonhapThe United States is reviewing the possibility of declaring a formal end to the Korean War from various angles, a ranking U.S. diplomat has said, according to a South Korea official visiting the U.S.Mark Lambert, deputy assistant secretary of state for Korea and Japan, made the remark in a meeting with Lee Seok-hyun, vice chairman of South Korea's National Unification Advisory Council, according to Lee. The council offers policy recommendations to the South Korean president.Lambert's remark comes after White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan noted possible differences between South Korea and the U.S. over when a declaration of the war's end could be or should be made."We may have somewhat different perspectives on the precise sequence or timing or conditions for different steps," Sullivan said earlier when asked if the U.S. Oct 29, 2021
Seoul: North Korea's Kim lost 20 kilograms but remains healthy This combination of file photos provided by the North Korean government, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at Workers' Party meetings in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Feb. 8, 2021, left, and June 15, 2021. Kim has recently lost about 20 kilograms, but he remains healthy and tries to boost a public loyalty toward him in the face of worsening economic difficulties, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021. AP-YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un has recently lost about 20 kilograms (44 pounds), but remains healthy and is trying to boost public loyalty to him in the face of worsening economic problems, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers Thursday. The National Intelligence Service gave the assessment during a closed-door parliamentary briefing, saying it used artificial intelligence techniques, an analysis of super-resolution video of Kim and other methods to investigate Kim's condition, said two lawmakers who attended the session.Kim's heath has been a focus of keen outside attention in recent months because he has appeared noticeably thinner in state mediaOct 28, 2021
Unification minister's rare trip with President shows Moon's determination for inter-Korean relations Unification Minister Lee In-young speaks during a parliamentary audit of the ministry at the National Assembly in Seoul, Oct. 21. Korea Times photoMoon departs for Europe for meeting with pope, attending G20, COP26By Kang Seung-wooUnification Minister Lee In-young will be participating in President Moon Jae-in's overseas trip, in a rare move during which he is expected to play a role in promoting peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula, according to diplomatic observers. Moon departed for Italy, Thursday, where he is scheduled to meet with Pope Francis and attend the G20 summit. Following this, the President will travel to the U.K. for the COP26 United Nations Climate Summit and visit Hungary afterward.As Moon is scheduled to visit the Vatican, Friday (local time), Lee is expected to talk with officials there about a possible visit to North Korea by the pope.Pope Francis has repeatedly expressed his willingness to visit Pyongyang, which could help restart inter-Korean talks. A papal trip to North Korea has been put on the backburner since the 2019 Hanoi summit between North Korean leadOct 28, 2021By Kang Seung-woo
North Korea slams US, some western countries for skipping UN meeting on racism In this 2014 Oct. file photo, a North Korean flag flies on a mast at the Permanent Mission of North Korea in Geneva. Reuters-YonhapNorth Korea rebuked the United States and other western nations Thursday for having double standards on human rights and racism, taking issue with their absence from a recent symbolic U.N. meeting. In a note posted on the foreign ministry's website, North Korea criticized the U.S., Britain and others for not taking part in a high-level meeting at the U.N. General Assembly last month to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action that calls for racial justice.It accused the countries of having "the darkest history" in racism and "pouring cold water" on efforts to protect and improve human rights, while claiming to be "advanced nations" and acting like "judges" in the fields."Before western countries dispute here and there of non-existent 'human rights problems' of others, (they) should focus on their own domestic affairs, such as systematic racism and human rights violations," it added.In recent years, Pyongyang has iOct 28, 2021
North Korea builds more houses in Samjiyon under major development project This photo, released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, Oct. 28, shows new houses built in the northwestern city of Samjiyon near the border with China. YonhapNorth Korea has completed building 1,000 more houses in the northwestern city of Samjiyon near the border with China, state media reported Thursday, as part of a major development project under way at the birthplace of leader Kim Jong-un's late father."Shock brigade" members of the 216 Division "made the shining achievements of concluding the construction of all the dwelling houses they were tasked to fulfill," according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Developing the city has been one of Kim's pet projects since taking office in late 2011.Samjiyon is located at the foot of Mount Paekdu, the highest peak on the Korean Peninsula, and known to be the birthplace of Kim's late father and former leader Kim Jong-il. The mountain is regarded as a sacred place where his late grandfather and state founder Kim Il-sung staged an anti-Japanese fight during the 1910-45 colonial rule.The constructOct 28, 2021
US 'appears to have drawn a line' at South Korea's push for end-of-war declaration National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., Tuesday. EPA-YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooQuickly developing discussions between South Korea and the United States on declaring a formal end to the Korean War appear to have hit a snag as Washington has made it clear that it cannot accept Seoul's proposal, at least at this time, according to diplomatic observers, Wednesday. Since President Moon Jae-in once again floated the idea in a United Nations General Assembly speech in September, it has been gaining traction, as evidenced by six meetings occurring between South Korea's top nuclear envoy Noh Kyu-duk and his U.S. counterpart, Sung Kim, since August.However, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan seems to have stepped on the brakes amid the Moon administration's push for an end-of-war declaration, Tuesday (local time).“We may have somewhat different perspectives on the precise sequence or timing or conditions for different steps, but we are fundamentally aligned on the core strategic initiative here and on the belief thaOct 27, 2021By Kang Seung-woo
North Korea accuses UN special rapporteur of 'distorting reality' U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea Tomas Ojea Quintana / YonhapNorth Korea on Tuesday rebuked the U.N. special rapporteur on its human rights situation for "distorting our reality" and acting "at the urging of the United States" as the country responded to his recent criticism of the regime. In the remarks carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency, the spokesperson for the Korea Association for Human Rights Studies berated Tomas Ojea Quintana for having accused the North of rights violations during a recent U.N. General Assembly session."Recently, so-called 'special rapporteur' on the human rights situation in the DPRK has maliciously slandered our state at the United Nations, reeling off reckless remarks such as 'systematic human rights violation,' 'oppression of freedom of expression,'" the spokesman said. DPRK stands for the North's official name, Democratic People's Republic of Korea."The 'special rapporteur,' not being content with distorting our reality, has pointed a finger at our 'people's livelihood' and viciously picked on the most realiOct 26, 2021
Moon administration stays quiet about most North Korean provocations By Kang Seung-wooThe Moon Jae-in administration has refrained from firmly condemning North Korea's military provocations, a lawmaker said, Tuesday.President Moon Jae-in / YonhapAccording to Rep. Kang Min-kuk of the main opposition People Power Party, the Kim Jong-un regime has carried out provocative actions, including missile and nuclear tests, on a total of 40 occasions since President Moon took office in May 2017. However, the current administration has struck back with counter-remarks in only 12 instances, or 30 percent of the time, the lawmaker added. Taking a closer look, Moon has denounced the North's military actions as provocations only seven times. In addition, the President last issued a strong warning to North Korea for its tension-generating moves, May 9, 2019, in an interview marking the second anniversary of his inauguration, the lawmaker noted. Earlier in the day, the totalitarian state had launched short-range missiles. “Anyway, however, I'd like to warn North Korea that if such behavior by North Korea is repeated, it could make the current dialogue and negotOct 26, 2021By Kang Seung-woo
Possible papal visit to North Korea revisited President Moon Jae-in meets Pope Francis during his official visit to the Vatican, Oct. 18, 2018. Korea Times file By Kang Seung-wooOn the occasion of President Moon Jae-in's scheduled meeting with Pope Francis later this week, a possible papal visit to North Korea is once again emerging.Experts believe that the papal visit still stands a chance, given that Pope Francis has made many appeals for inter-Korean rapprochement. If realized, it could play a role in establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula.According to Cheong Wa Dae, Moon is scheduled to meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Friday, before attending the G20 Summit, and he is likely to discuss the possibility of a papal visit to Pyongyang. “The pope has repeatedly expressed his willingness to visit North Korea, so they may discuss the issue as well,” a senior official of the presidential office said. A papal trip to the reclusive state gained traction in 2018 amid a peace mood created by three inter-Korean summits and historic meetings between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and then U.S. President Donald TruOct 25, 2021By Kang Seung-woo
