US supports humanitarian aid for North Korean people: State Dept. U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price holds a press briefing at the State Department in Washington, U.S., Aug. 16. Reuters-YonhapThe United States supports efforts to alleviate the suffering of North Korean people and is engaged in efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to such people in the reclusive North, a State Department spokesman said Thursday.Ned Price also noted the U.S. would support humanitarian assistance for the North even if its efforts to denuclearize the country do not move forward."Even when we disagree with a particular regime, we believe that we must work to the best of our ability to do all we can to alleviate the suffering of the people," he said when asked about the U.S. position on the recent shipments of COVID-19 medical supplies to North Korea.The World Health Organization said on Thursday (Seoul time) that it has begun sending such supplies to the North."And so we continue to support international efforts aimed at the provision of critical humanitarian aid to the DPRK," Price added, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic PeopleOct 8, 2021
Ministry approves 3 requests by civilian groups to provide humanitarian aid to North Korea A North Korean flag is seen from Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea, Sept. 29. YonhapThe unification ministry said Thursday that it has approved three requests by civilian organizations to provide humanitarian assistance to North Korea, which are meant to help bolster cross-border cooperation and exchanges.The decision was announced amid cautious optimism about the resumption of dialogue created after North Korea restored all communication lines with South Korea early this week following about two months of suspension attributable to Pyongyang's protest over a joint military exercise by the South and the United States."The unification ministry approved civilian organizations' three requests to ship humanitarian materials into the North," a ministry official said. "Our stance remains unchanged that we will continue to seek cooperation in humanitarian areas, including those in urgent need of medical and nutritional materials for children, pregnant and other at-risk citizens in the North."The official declined to identify the organizations, just saying that those materiOct 7, 2021
WHO says it began shipment of COVID-19 medical supplies to North Korea In this Aug. 11 file photo, an official takes a student's temperature at a college in Pyongyang to prevent the outbreak of the coronavirus. AFP-YonhapThe World Health Organization (WHO) said that it has begun the shipment of COVID-19 medical supplies to North Korea through the Chinese port of Dalian, raising the possibility that the North might be easing its long-enforced tight border controls amid the global pandemic.North Korea has tightened border controls since the outbreak of the coronavirus in China, which has meant key materials and medical supplies could not be shipped to the North. The North closed off a major shipping route linking Dalian to its western port of Nampo in July, as it heightened its anti-epidemic emergency status to the highest level. "To support DPR Korea with essential COVID-19 medical supplies, the WHO started the shipment through Dalian," the organization said in its weekly report that provides updates on situations about infections and preventive measures in the world.DPR Korea stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of KoreOct 7, 2021
US urges full implementation of North Korea sanctions by all UN members In this 2017 March file photo, a North Korea flag flutters next to concertina wire at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Reuters-YonhapThe U.S. State Department on Tuesday called on all members of the United Nations to faithfully implement U.N. sanctions on North Korea.The call came after a panel of experts on U.N. Security Council resolutions on North Korea noted some member states continue to allow sanctions evasion activities by the North."We note that the PRC and Russia figure prominently in the report as two Member States who continue to condone sanctions evasion activities by the DPRK and other actors," a department spokesperson told Yonhap News Agency in an email when asked to comment on a report by the U.N. panel of experts.The semestrial report, dated Sept. 8 and released Monday, did not specify countries that failed to implement U.N. Security Council sanctions."We reiterate the need for all Security Council members to take these violations seriously and to work together to peacefully resolve this challenge," the official added.The department official also hOct 6, 2021
North Korea waiting to hear US commitment to 'action for action' approach: Andrew Kim Andrew Kim, former founding director of the CIA's Korea Mission Center / YonhapNorth Korea is likely waiting to hear from the United States that Washington is committed to an action-for-action approach toward the complete denuclearization of North Korea, a former U.S. intelligence official said Tuesday.Andrew Kim, former founding director of the CIA's Korea Mission Center, also insisted that Pyongyang may want to see an official statement from the U.S. that it is ready to sit down for talks without any conditions.After a monthslong review of its North Korea policy, the Joe Biden administration said it will seek a calibrated, practical approach that explores diplomacy and engagement with North Korea. It has also offered to meet with North Korea anytime, anywhere without preconditions."I'm sure Pyongyang was patiently waiting to hear what the new U.S. administration's North Korea policy will look like," the former CIA official said in a webinar hosted by the Washington Times Foundation."The reason I'm saying that (is because) Pyongyang was probably hoping to see more concrete roadmap fOct 6, 2021
US urges full implementation of UNSC sanctions on North Korea A boy watches a screen showing a photo from the April 27, 2018, inter-Korean summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the Unification Observation Post in Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea, Oct. 4. AP-YonhapA spokesman for the U.S. State Department on Monday stressed the need to fully implement U.N. Security Council sanctions on N. Korea while also urging the North to comply with U.N. resolutions that prohibit the North from testing or developing weapons of mass destruction.Ned Price made the remark after North Korea criticized the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) for convening an emergency meeting last week to discuss its recent missile launches."We remain concerned by the DPRK's repeated violations of multiple Security Council resolutions and we underscore the need for both full compliance with Security Council resolutions and full implementation of all existing U.N. sanctions," the spokesman said in a telephonic press conference.DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.White House press sOct 5, 2021
North Korea continues to develop nuclear, missile programs despite sanctions: report This Sept. 28 file photo provided by the North Korean government shows what North Korea claims to be a new hypersonic missile launched from Toyang-ri, Ryongrim County, Jagang Province, North Korea. North Korea continues to advance its nuclear and ballistic missile programs despite worsening economic conditions exacerbated by U.N. Security Council (UNSC) sanctions, a U.N. report showed Monday. AP-YonhapNorth Korea continues to advance its nuclear and ballistic missile programs despite worsening economic conditions exacerbated by U.N. Security Council (UNSC) sanctions, a U.N. report showed Monday.The report by a panel of experts on North Korean sanctions also said the North continues to evade sanctions by ever sophisticating means."During the reporting period, despite the country's focus on its worsening economic travails, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea continued to maintain and develop its nuclear and ballistic missile programs," said the report, referring to North Korea by its official name.The semestrail report, dated Sept. 8, noted the North did not conduct any intercontOct 5, 2021
Unification minister says restoration of cross-border hotlines is 'new beginning' Unification Minister Lee In-young, left, poses during his courtesy visit to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Monday. Courtesy of Ministry of UnificationUnification Minister Lee In-young said Monday that South and North Korea's restoration of cross-border hotlines marks a “new beginning” in efforts to improve ties.Lee spoke to Yonhap News Agency during a visit to Berlin to mark the 31st anniversary of German reunification.Earlier Monday, the two Koreas restored their communication lines 55 days after they were cut off by the North in protest of annual military exercises between South Korea and the United States.Lee had previously told reporters that Seoul would push to hold high-level talks with Pyongyang before the end of the year.“We have to do things in order, from building a video conference system to ensuring a stable (connection) through test calls, and then discussing anew the items that we have already come up with,” the minister told Yonhap on Monday.He noted that Seoul had already proposed a video conference system the last time communicationOct 4, 2021
North bullies South over communication lines In this photo provided by the Ministry of National Defense, a South Korean military officer makes a test call to his North Korean counterpart, Monday, as North Korea restored cross-border communication lines Monday morning after being cut off for 55 days. YonhapBy Kwon Mee-yooNorth Korea restored direct communication hotlines between the two Koreas, Monday, 55 days after shutting them down to protest against the annual South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises in August. But the restoration is not entirely welcomed, as critics say the South is allowing itself to be dragged around by the North's decision and the hotlines can be severed again anytime Pyongyang decides to do so.North Korean leader Kim Jong-un announced last week the restoration of cross-border communication lines and North Korean state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) announced the restoration early Monday.South Korea's Ministry of Unification and Ministry of National Defense said it successfully talked with its North Korean counterparts via the eastern and western direct military communication lines and the liaiOct 4, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Koreas restore cross-border hotlines 55 days after suspension North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks during the second day of a session of the Supreme People's Assembly, the North's parliament, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang, Sept. 29, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) the next day. Yonhap South and North Korea restored their direct communication lines Monday, about two months after they were suspended due to Pyongyang's protest against an annual combined military exercise of South Korea and the United States. The move raises hopes for the resumption of inter-Korean dialogue that has been stalled amid a drawn-out deadlock in denuclearization talks and the Korea peace process.The two sides had contact through a military hotline and a separate joint liaison office channel, according to related authorities here.Hours earlier, North Korea's state media announced that the lines would be back to normal operation as of 9 a.m. on the day.The South's government immediately exprOct 4, 2021
