North Korea's paper urges military's absolute obedience to ruling party on Army-First Day In this 2020 April file photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, military leaders write down instructions given by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, sitting, during an inspection of a mortar firing drill. YonhapNorth Korea's official newspaper on Wednesday called for the military's absolute obedience to the ruling Workers' Party as the country marked the 61st anniversary of its Army-First Day.North Korea celebrates the Day of Songun, or Army-First Day, on Aug. 25 to mark late leader Kim Jong-il's visit to the Seoul Ryu Kyong Su Guards 105th Armored Division in 1960. The unit is known to have entered Seoul for the first time among North Korean troops during the 1950-53 Korean War."For a military to demonstrate strength as an invincible combat force that can defeat any powerful enemy, it should be well-prepared not only in its ideology but also in terms of military technology," the paper said in an editorial.The paper, however, made no mention of any specific military achievements, including nuclear weapons, intercontinental ballistic missiles or submarine-laAug 25, 2021
North Korean paper calls for Japan to make reparations for colonial-era brutality In this 2007 November file photo, Gil Won-ok from the North Korean capital Pyongyang cries during a hearing at the European Parliament in Brussels as she recalls her time as a 'comfort woman,' or sex slave for the Japanese military, around World War II. The woman, who demanded an official apology from Japan's government, said she was forced at age 13 to work as a sex slave for Japanese soldiers. Reuters-YonhapNorth Korea's main newspaper on Tuesday urged Japan to repent and make reparations for colonial-era brutality on the occasion of the 111th anniversary of Tokyo's annexation of the Korean Peninsula.The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North's ruling party, pointed out that Japan forced Korea to sign the treaty in 1910, and called it a fabricated and illegitimate treaty.The paper challenged Japanese assertion that the annexation took effect legally with the approval of King Sunjong. The treaty was signed on Aug. 22, 1910, between pro-Japan Korean Prime Minister Lee Wan-yong and Japanese Governor General of Korea Terauchi Masatake."We must make Japan pay the price of alAug 24, 2021
US makes clear its support for inter-Korean humanitarian aid Noh Kyu-duk, right, Korea's chief nuclear envoy, and his U.S. counterpart Sung Kim announce the outcomes of their talks at a Seoul hotel, Monday. YonhapEnvoy assures US commitment to Korean Peninsula amid Afghan chaos By Kang Seung-wooThe United States made clear its commitment to inter-Korean humanitarian projects, Monday, a step forward from its previous stance, as South Korea is seeking to find a breakthrough in its ties with North Korea. In addition, Washington also reaffirmed its commitment to the defense of South Korea, as the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan is leaving Seoul anxious about whether it can trust its longtime ally.The commitment came after Sung Kim, the U.S. special representative for North Korea, had talks with his South Korean counterpart Noh Kyu-duk in Seoul. Kim is on a four-day trip to Seoul ending Tuesday. “We discussed possible humanitarian assistance to the DPRK,” Kim said following his meeting with Noh. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the official name of North Korea. “I reaffirmed U.S. support for inter-KoreanAug 23, 2021By Kang Seung-woo
Vice unification minister to hold high-level consultations with US nuclear envoy US special representative for North Korea Sung Kim / Reuters-YonhapVice Unification Minister Choi Young-jun will meet with the visiting U.S. nuclear envoy later Monday to discuss a coordinated approach to North Korea, the ministry said.Unification Minister Lee In-young will also hold a breakfast meeting with the U.S. envoy, Amb. Sung Kim, Tuesday to discuss ways for bilateral cooperation on denuclearization and improving inter-Korean relations, according to the ministry.Kim's visit here comes amid chilled inter-Korean relations after the North has rejected calls from the South via recently restored inter-Korean communication lines and warned of a "serious security crisis" last month. (Yonhap)Aug 23, 2021
North Korea's newspaper urges people to prioritize socialist ideology In this photo July 28 file photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, people lay flowers before the statues of late North Korean leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang. YonhapNorth Korea's official newspaper called Monday for putting socialist ideology ahead of anything else, stressing that ideologically arming people should be the basis for moving science and technology and other areas forward.The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North's ruling party, made the appeal in an editorial, saying that emphasizing the economy while being negligent in ideological education will only result in the collapse of the foundation of socialism."We must maintain the ideology-first policy to boldly break through the difficulties and to open up a new era of upheaval in socialism," it said.The paper in particular warned the North Korean youth against adopting foreign ideology, saying that the main target of the cultural "infiltration of the imperialists" are the young generations.It also pointed out that the North's "unprecedented challenges" should not bAug 23, 2021
North Korea develops real-time PCR equipment to test for coronavirus: state media In this 2020 August file photo released by Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the North Korea's ruling Workers' Party, officials disinfect subway station in Pyongyang amid the coronavirus pandemic. YonhapNorth Korea has developed real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) coronavirus testing equipment on its own, state media said Monday, as the country continues to fight against the global pandemic.Scientists and workers at the 111 Factory in Pyongyang have developed the equipment, which meets global standards, for the first time in the country, the Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the North's ruling Workers' Party, said.Many countries currently use PCR as a standard test for COVID-19 that works by finding the virus's genetic information, or RNA, in a sample taken from a patient.The North has conducted PCR testing when reporting to the World Health Organization, but this marks the first time Pyongyang has announced it has developed its own PCR equipment.North Korea is also tightening coronavirus measures amid the global spread of the contagious lambda and delta variants."We are intensifying the sAug 23, 2021
North Korean leader conducts 3rd inspection of riverside apartment construction site North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects a construction site for riverside apartments in Pyongyang, in this photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency Aug. 21. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected the construction site of riverside apartments in Pyongyang for the third time in nearly six months, state media reported Saturday.Kim inspected the residential district building project on the Pothong River that runs through the North Korean capital and called for timely measures for the supply of equipment and materials, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said."Expressing great satisfaction over the radical change brought about in the riverside area, making it totally different from how it was about 140 days ago, by the builders' patriotism and loyalty despite lack of everything and difficulties, he highly appreciated the labor feats of all the builders," it added. The KCNA did not reveal the exact date of the inspection.The construction site is in an area that until the 1970s housed a special residence for Kim Il-sung, the late state founder and granAug 21, 2021
North Korea holds conference on technology, construction amid prolonged virus measures In this photo released by the Choson Sinbo, a pro-North Korea newspaper in Japan, Aug. 17, North Korean children use laptops during class at an elementary school in Pyongyang. YonhapNorth Korea held a series of technology conferences on construction, information technology and the power industry this week, state media said Friday, in a move seen as aimed at tackling economic challenges with science and education.A conference on information technology was held from Tuesday to Thursday via video links to discuss ways to "continue providing education to students in emergencies such as the public health crisis or natural disasters," the Korean Central News Agency said.The North appears to have organized the conference to explore new ways to educate its students amid prolonged measures against the coronavirus.North Korea claims to be coronavirus-free, but it has taken relatively swift and drastic antivirus measures since early last year, including sealing its borders and imposing strict restrictions on movement.Also held this week were conferences on construction technology and power induAug 20, 2021
WHO to allot 3 million Chinese vaccine doses to North Korea World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland / Reuters-YonhapThe World Health Organization said it plans to allocate about 3 million doses of Chinese-made vaccines to North Korea, but did not disclose a timeline.Edwin Salvador, head of the WHO office in Pyongyang, said that 2.97 million doses of China's Sinovac vaccines are to be delivered to North Korea, Radio Free Asia's Korean service reported Wednesday."We are still waiting for [North Korea's] response to this offer," Salvador said.According to the U.N. official, the Kim Jong Un regime has already developed the national vaccine deployment plan and that a "Technical Assistance plan for its rollout has also been developed.""With COVID-19 vaccines now being able to be stored between [35.6 and 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit], and [with North Korea] having a good track record on routine immunization, the [country's] immunization system and network is expected to manage the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination with adequate technical support such as on cold chain logistics and monitoring and surveillance during its implementation," SAug 20, 2021
Experts split over impact of US pullout from Afghanistan on N. Korea issue Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman speaks on the situation in Afghanistan at the State Department in Washington, D.C., Wednesday. AP-YonhapRemains to be seen if Sung Kim will offer enticements to PyongyangBy Kang Seung-wooThe U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan is drawing mixed responses here, on speculation that it could leave room for Washington to concentrate efforts on the North Korean nuclear issue that seems to have been put on the back burner under the new Joe Biden administration. Despite completing its policy review of Pyongyang in April, the Biden administration has been less productive to engage the Kim Jong-un regime, unlike Biden's predecessor who held summits with the North's leader on three occasions.“The Biden administration has clearly shown its willingness to work with allies, including South Korea. And the Moon Jae-in government has successfully helped to put North Korea on the Biden administration's radar, among others, by supporting Washington's China policy,” said Ramon Pacheco Pardo, professor of international relations at King's College London.&lAug 19, 2021By Kang Seung-woo
