Russians leave North Korea en masse amid pandemic In this May 13 file photo, restaurant staff, in protective suit, disinfect the floor of Chongchun Restaurant in Pyongyang. AP-YonhapA group of Russians left North Korea en masse last week after living in the country for the past several years, Russia's Embassy in Pyongyang said.Photos released on the embassy's Facebook page on Tuesday showed dozens of Russians waving as they prepared to depart from Pyongyang Station."On July 2, many of our colleagues and friends returned to their homeland ― those who have worked with us in Russian missions abroad in the DPRK for the past few years, including during these difficult coronavirus times," the embassy said in the Russian-language post.DPRK refers to the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.The embassy said that the borders have been strictly closed under the self-isolation regulations enforced by North Korean authorities and pointed out that the rotation of personnel at its embassy has not been made for almost two years."Everyone who had expired contracts were forced to leave the Country of Morning Freshness," iJul 6, 2021
China's role growing in North Korean denuclearization North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, bids farewell to Chinese President Xi Jinping at Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang after the latter's visit to North Korea in this June 2019 photo. / Korea Times file Pyongyang seeking to boost ties with BeijingBy Kang Seung-wooAmid a prolonged deadlock in North Korean denuclearization talks, diplomatic observers believe that China should play a critical role in resolving the impasse.Efforts to address the decades-long issue have stalled since former U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un failed to produce a nuclear deal in Hanoi, Vietnam in February 2019. Despite repeated dialogue offers by U.S. President Joe Biden, who took office in January, the reclusive country has been refusing to engage with the United States, increasing calls for Beijing to cooperate in dealing with Pyongyang.“As North Korea believes that it can achieve economic development via cooperation with China, the North has been refusing to engage either the U.S. or South Korea,” said Cheong Seong-chang, director of the Center for NJul 5, 2021By Kang Seung-woo
North Korea not cooperating with global vaccine distribution program: report COVID-19 vaccine / Korea Times fileNorth Korea has not been cooperating with a United Nations-led global vaccine distribution program, failing to complete necessary paperwork to receive help against the coronavirus pandemic, a report said Sunday.Citing an anonymous source, Voice of America (VOA) reported on talks between North Korea and Gavi, a vaccine alliance that helps run COVAX, an international initiative aimed at global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.According to the report, North Korea has completed only two of the seven required administrative steps. The source told VOA that North Korea has refused entry to international aid workers who could facilitate shipment of vaccines, citing COVID-19 infection concerns.North Korea has also expressed reservations about the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine and has been reluctant to sign a liability waiver in case of potential side effects, the VOA report added.In March, Gavi announced plans to send 1.7 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to North Korea by May.During a ruling party meeting last Tuesday, North Korean leader Kim JoJul 4, 2021
North Koreans overtake South Koreans in TOEFL score in 2020: report According to a report from the U.S.-based Education Testing Service (ETS), the administrator of TOEFL, the average score in the internet-based TOEFL by North Korean nationals was 87 out of 120 in 2020. YonhapNorth Koreans surpassed South Koreans in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), one of the leading English language proficiency tests, last year, a report showed Saturday.According to a report from the U.S.-based Education Testing Service (ETS), the administrator of TOEFL, the average score in the internet-based TOEFL by North Korean nationals was 87 out of 120 in 2020.North Koreans' average TOEFL score, up four points from 2019, was the same as the global average and one point higher than South Koreans' average of 86, up three points from the previous year, the report said.By section, North Korean test takers were slightly superior to their South Korean counterparts in listening and speaking, it noted. The average score of the North Korean test takers was 22 out of 30 in reading, 23 in listening, 22 in speaking and 21 in writing. South Korean test takers averaged 22 Jul 3, 2021
US shortlists North Korea among worst nations in human trafficking gettyimagesbankThe United States has again shortlisted North Korea as a nation complicit in human trafficking and forced labor, an annual U.S. report said Thursday.The North Korean regime is one of 11 governments with a "policy or pattern" of human trafficking, according to the Trafficking in Persons Report.North Korea was put on the shortlist of 12 countries in 2020 and again this year with 11 nations."The 2021 Trafficking in Persons Report includes the following 11 governments with a documented 'policy or pattern' of human trafficking, trafficking in government-funded programs, forced labor in government-affiliated medical services or other sectors, sexual slavery in government camps, or the employment or recruitment of child soldiers," said the report.The 11 governments include those of Afghanistan, Burma, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Russia, South Sudan, Syria and Turkmenistan."This year's report focuses on state sponsors of human trafficking. We documented 11 countries where the government itself is the trafficker," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a press conference."GoJul 2, 2021
North Korea's young generation becomes headache for Kim Jong-un Young North Korean students watch fireworks celebrating the regime's founder Kim Il-sung's birthday on April 15, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. YonhapBy Yoon Ja-youngFor North Korea's young leader Kim Jong-un, his peers increasingly seem to be becoming his biggest headache. Having experienced a market economy and foreign cultures while growing up, unlike their parents, they don't think they owe anything to the regime. “Just like South Korea, there is generation gap in North Korea. If the Korean War is the landmark in South Korea that divides the generation who experienced the war from those born after it, North Koreans regard the great famine in the mid-1990s as a similar milestone,” said Seo Jae-pyoung, a director at the Association of the North Korean Defectors.In the North young people in their 20s and 30s are called the “Jangmadang (market) generation.” As children, the young generation which accounts for about 14 percent of North Korea's 25 million population, went through the worst famine in the country's moderJul 2, 2021By Yoon Ja-young
North Korea increases cyberattacks on South Korea Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the main opposition People Power Party speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday, calling on the government to declare a state of emergency over North Korea's cyberterrorism campaign against South Korea. YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooSeveral major South Korean facilities have fallen victim to cyberattacks originating from North Korea in recent months, as the reclusive state has been ramping up its cyberterrorism campaign against its southern neighbor. According to relevant organizations and Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) was attacked in May, followed by attacks on Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME).KAERI is a government-funded research institute in charge of developing nuclear technology, and KAI is the nation's sole aircraft manufacturer, while DSME is a major shipbuilder specializing in the construction of submarines and other naval vessels.Some of the cyberattackers' online addresses were traced Jul 1, 2021By Kang Seung-woo
North Korean leader vows to elevate relations with China to new strategic point North Korean leader Kim Jong-un / AP-YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un vowed to elevate relations with China to a new strategic point as he sent a congratulatory message to Chinese President Xi Jinping to mark the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China, state media said Thursday.In an apparent reference to the deepening Sino-U.S. rivalry, Kim also said in the message that "hostile forces" are engaged in "vicious slander and all-round pressure" upon China, but they can "never check the on-going advance of the Chinese people," according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)."Despite the complicated international situation, the two parties and the two countries, with firm faith in the justice of the socialist and communist cause, accelerate their advance toward a brighter future, tiding over difficulties and ordeals by dint of their militant friendship and bonds of kinship," Kim was quoted as saying by the KCNA. "The WPK, by its firm unity with the CPC, would raise the DPRK-China friendship to a new strategic point as required by the times and as desired by the peoplesJul 1, 2021
Clock ticking for Seoul's last-ditch efforts to thaw inter-Korean ties North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks during a Politburo meeting of the ruling Workers' Party in Pyongyang, Tuesday, in this handout photo released by Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency. YonhapS. Korean President's term nearing end; no major factors seen to bring North Korea back to negotiationsBy Nam Hyun-wooThe clock is ticking for President Moon Jae-in's efforts to improve inter-Korean relations, as North Korea remains reluctant to talk while South Korea is bracing for a transfer of power before the presidential election slated for March next year.The Moon government had seen June as the optimal time to set the mood for inter-Korean or trilateral dialogue involving the U.S., and engage Pyongyang amid the Tokyo Olympics or other international events in the second half of this year. While North Korea is lukewarm about a dialogue, Seoul and Washington are in talks over holding a combined military exercise scheduled for August, which North Korea strongly opposes. Experts say when the military drill takes place and South Korea enters into preparations for the presidential electionJun 30, 2021By Nam Hyun-woo
North Korean leader says 'grave incident' has happened due to lapses in anti-virus efforts In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks during a Politburo meeting of the ruling Workers' Party in Pyongyang, North Korea, June 29. Kim said a "grave incident" has happened that could threaten the safety of his people and country in nationwide anti-epidemic efforts, state media reported Wednesday. AP-YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un said a "grave incident" has happened that could threaten the safety of his people and country in nationwide anti-epidemic efforts, state media reported Wednesday. Kim made the remarks as he presided over an extended politburo meeting of the ruling Workers' Party on Tuesday, accusing senior officials of neglecting their duties in carrying out measures needed to fight the global pandemic, according to the Korean Central News Agency. "By neglecting important decisions of the party in its national emergency antivirus fight in preparations for a global health crisis, officials in charge have caused a grave incident that poses a huge crisis to the safety of the nation and its people," Kim was quoted as Jun 30, 2021
