Seoul strives to resuscitate inter-Korean peace momentum President Moon Jae-in salutes during a ceremony to mark the 73rd Armed Forces Day in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, Friday. YonhapCritics concerned about Seoul staying mum on Pyongyang's provocations By Nam Hyun-wooSouth Korea is striving to resuscitate peace momentum on the Korean Peninsula, releasing a series of messages directed toward the North, which, in turn, has also shown some signs recently of a reconciliatory attitude. However, some criticism has been raised that Seoul is turning a blind eye to Pyongyang's repeated military activities, while casting a rosy outlook on the possibility of inter-Korean talks. Meanwhile, the Kim Jong-un regime has been sending confusing signals through a contradictory combination of missile launches and conciliatory speeches. During a ceremony to mark the 73rd Armed Forces Day, Friday, President Moon Jae-in stressed the fact that the military's strong defense capability and readiness will enable permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula, and that his trust in the military helped him propose a declaration to ending the Korean War to North KoreaOct 3, 2021By Nam Hyun-woo
North Korea accuses UN Security Council of applying double standards over military activities This photo provided on Oct. 1 by the North Korean government shows what North Korea claims to be the test firing of a newly developed anti-aircraft missile in North Korea, Sept. 30. North Korea blasted the U.N. Security Council Sunday for convening a meeting on its recent missile launches, calling it "a manifestation of double-dealing standard." AP-YonhapNorth Korea blasted the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) on Sunday for convening a meeting on its recent missile launches, calling it "a manifestation of double-dealing standard." Jo Chol-su, director of the international organization department at the North's foreign ministry, made the remark in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), stressing that the missile tests were for "self-defense" purposes. The statement came after the Security Council convened a meeting on Friday to discuss Pyongyang's latest weapons tests, including the test-firings of what the North claimed was "an advanced anti-aircraft missile" and a "hypersonic missile." Last month, the North also fired two short-range ballistic missiles from a traiOct 3, 2021
North Korea develops translator using AI technology: propaganda website gettyimagesbankNorth Korea has developed an artificial intelligence-based translation program with enhanced speed and accuracy, a propaganda outlet reported Sunday. DPRK Today, a propaganda website, carried a report introducing the research result of the AI institute of Kim Il-sung University on the creation and introduction of Ryongma, an AI technology-based translation service system. Ryongma is designed to process seven different languages ― English, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, German, French and Spanish ― with its translation accuracy, in particular, of the first three languages "almost at experts' level," according to the website. It said that the translation speed has also been tripled to increase practicality. The research institute has also upgraded its voice recognition program, named "Ryongnamsan," designed to process the North Korean language, by expanding the applicable areas from social science to natural science sectors.North Korea has reportedly been ramping up efforts to enhance its capabilities in advanced technologies, including AI, virtual reality (VR) and augmenteOct 3, 2021
Civic group calls for lifting anti-North Korea sanctions, resuming Gaeseong complex operations A North Korean flag is seen from Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea, Sept. 29. Yonhap A civic group advocating national reunification called Saturday for the lifting of South Korea's standalone sanctions against North Korea and the resumption of operations at a now-shuttered joint industrial complex to pave the way for a thaw in cross-border ties.The South Korean Committee for Implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration made the call, as Seoul is struggling to resume dialogue with Pyongyang to advance its stalled peace agenda despite the regime's recent missile tests.The committee was formed following the historic June 15, 2000, inter-Korean summit, which produced a joint declaration toward achieving reconciliation, reunification and economic cooperation."If we carry out steps that we can take first, such as the lifting of the May 24 sanctions and the resumption of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, the ground for dialogue will be able to reopen,"Oct 2, 2021
US remains prepared to discuss 'full range of issues' with North Korea: Psaki White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., Oct. 1. Reuters-Yonhap White House press secretary Jen Psaki reiterated Friday the U.S. commitment to engage with North Korea, saying Washington is prepared to discuss a "full range of issues" with Pyongyang.Psaki made the remark after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un accused the U.S. of harboring “hostile intent” toward the North."We remain prepared to discuss the full range of issues," Psaki said when asked about Kim's speech at a recent meeting of the North's governing body.In a speech Wednesday (KST), the North Korean leader argued the U.S.'s hostile policy toward the North had not changed eight months after the new Joe Biden administration took office, while calling the its outreaches to Pyongyang for dialogue "a petty trick for deceiving the international community and hiding its hostile acts."Psaki noted the North has yet to respond to U.S. overtures."WOct 2, 2021
North Korea remains unresponsive to Seoul's calls after Kim's offer to restore hotlines In this 2018 January file photo, a South Korean official tests inter-Korean hotline at truce village of Panmunjom in Paju, 30 kilometers north of Seoul. YonhapNorth Korea remained unresponsive to South Korea's regular calls via military and liaison hotlines Friday after leader Kim Jong-un offered to restore severed cross-border communication lines in early October. "North Korea did not answer the opening call through the inter-Korean liaison office at 9 a.m.," a unification ministry official said. The calls through military hotlines also went unanswered, another official said.North Korea did not pick up afternoon calls at 5 p.m. either, they said.Leader Kim told a session of the rubber-stamp parliament Wednesday that he will restore cross-border communication lines with South Korea in early October as part of efforts to improve chilled relations, Pyongyang's state media earlier reported Thursday.North Korea blew up the liaison office in its border town of Kaesong created in 2018 to promote cross-border exchanges and unilaterally cut off all communication lines with South Korea in JunOct 1, 2021
What does Kim Yo-jong's SAC appointment mean?By Jung Da-min North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency said Thursday that Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, had been appointed as a member of the State Affairs Commission, along with seven other new members, in part of a shake-up of the country's top government organization. Yonhap The appointment of Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, to the country's top government organization, has yielded many interpretations regarding her growing presence in the country's politics. Some North Korea watchers believe she is solidifying her political standing by earning an official title as a member of the State Affairs Commission (SAC).Kim's appointment to the SAC was reported by the country's state-run Korean Central News Agency, Thursday, along with the adding of seven other new members, in part of a shake-up of the SAC. Nine members were retired or demoted, including 82-year-old Park Pong-ju, a vetOct 1, 2021
North Korean leader vows support for China's fight against 'hostile forces' In this 2019 June photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping, second from left, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, third from left, and their respective wives ― Peng Liyuan, left, and Ri Sol-ju, fourth from left, ― pay homage at the Friendship Tower, a symbol of their countries' alliance, in Pyongyang. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un pledged support for China's fight against "hostile forces' frantic anti-China confrontational moves" in a message he sent to Chinese President Xi Jinping to celebrate the 72nd founding anniversary of the ally, Pyongyang's state media reported Friday. "The message expressed belief that the Chinese nation's dream of rejuvenation will surely come true as there are the socialist idea with the Chinese characteristics for the new times," the Korean Central News Agency said."The DPRK government and people will firmly support the Chinese party, government and people in their just struggle to defeat the hostile forces' frantic anti-China confrontational moves and defend the sovereignty, right to developmeOct 1, 2021
Blinken says North Korea increasing instability, insecurity Secretary of State Antony Blinken answers media questions after a family photo with the delegation at the end the first day of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) meeting at the Hazelwood Green Mill 19 building in Pittsburgh, Sept. 29. AP-YonhapU.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday expressed concerns over North Korea's recent missile launches, saying the country is increasing insecurity and instability in the region.It marks the first time the top U.S. diplomat commented directly on North Korea's recent missile launches."We're concerned about these repeated violations of Security Council resolutions that create, I think, greater prospects for instability and insecurity," Blinken told reporters after attending U.S.-EU trade talks in Pittsburgh, according to the State Department.North Korea test fired what it claims to be a "hypersonic" glide vehicle on Tuesday, about two weeks after it test launched a short-range ballistic missile.The U.S. has condemned both missile launches as violations of "multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions."The North is prohibited fOct 1, 2021
As North Korea escalates, Biden plays it cool U.S. President Joe Biden attends the Congressional Baseball Game for Charity at Nationals Park in Washington, DC, U.S., Sept. 29. EPA-YonhapDuring their only meeting, Barack Obama warned Donald Trump that North Korea would be the most pressing problem, setting the new president on a whiplash policy course that went from threatening war to wooing young leader Kim Jong Un.Four years later, President Joe Biden is showing no such urgency ― and much more predictability ― even as the authoritarian state steps up both rocket launches and rhetoric.The Biden administration has repeatedly said it is willing to resume talks without preconditions but it also shows little interest in enticing North Korea, which wants an end to sweeping sanctions.North Korea for Biden is "still a priority issue but also a no-win kind of scenario," said Jenny Town, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center.More proactive diplomacy would open Biden to accusations either that he is rewarding "bad behavior" or that he went too far or not far enough."If you're looking at how much political capital is the administration wilOct 1, 2021
