North Korea likely to increase provocation level A new type of tactical guided missile is launched from the North Korean town of Hamju, South Hamgyong Province, last Thursday, in this photo released by the North's Korean Central News Television the following day. YonhapBy Jung Da-minNorth Korea's launching of two short-range ballistic missiles has increased tensions between the United States and North Korea, while the Joe Biden administration is in the final stages of reviewing its North Korea policy.Pyongyang watchers said North Korea is likely to continue missile tests claiming they are for the country's self-defense.On March 21, Pyongyang fired two cruise missiles and four days later fired the ballistic missiles. Following the latest launch, U.S. President Joe Biden said there would be “responses” if Pyongyang chooses to escalate tensions and Washington would “respond accordingly.” The hermit regime has since expressed “deep apprehension” over Washington's criticism of its missile tests, saying they were exercises of “self-defensive right” to deter military threats posed against thMar 29, 2021
North Korea accuses UN of double standard over missile firings This March 25 file photo provided by the North Korean government shows what it says a test fire of newly developed new-type tactical guided projectile by the Academy of Defense Science, at an undisclosed place in North Korea. APNorth Korea on Monday accused the United Nations of a ``double standard'' over its reaction to the North's recent missile launches, warning it of a serious consequence.Last week, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea in a defiance of U.N. resolutions that ban such launches by North Korea. The U.N. Security Council subsequently adopted a resolution to renew the mandate of U.N. experts monitoring sanctions against North Korea.Some experts say North Korea's missile launches, the first of their kind in a year, were aimed at applying pressure on the new U.S. government of President Joe Biden.``It constitutes a denial of sovereignty and an apparent double standard that the UNSC takes issue, on the basis of the U.N. `resolutions' _ direct products of the U.S. hostile policy toward (North Korea),'' senior North Korean Foreign Ministry officMar 29, 2021
North Korea may be ready to roll out new ballistic missile submarine: 38 North America's North Korea-specializing website 38 North released on March 27 Planet Labs' recent satellite photo of North Korea's Sinpo shipyard where the floating drydock has been repositioned from before (left) to next to the submarine launching quay. Courtesy of 38 NorthSatellite imagery of a North Korean shipyard has detected suspicious activity suggesting it may be ready to launch a new ballistic missile submarine in the near future, a U.S. expert website monitoring the communist country said. 38 North reported Friday that recent commercial satellite imagery of the North's shipyard on its east coast indicated that the floating dry dock, normally moored at a nearby pier, has recently been repositioned along the construction hall's submarine-launch quay. Noting that such an arrangement is not usual, the website said it indicated that "the new ballistic missile submarine, which has been under construction for several years, may be nearing completion or is ready to be rolled out and launched in the near future."Alternatively, the dry dock may be there for rail alignment adjustment with Mar 28, 2021
UN experts to investigate North Korea weapons test gettyimagesbankA UN sanctions committee focused on nuclear-armed North Korea has asked its experts to investigate Pyongyang's launch of missiles on Thursday, diplomats said.The panel is composed of the same 15 countries that sit on the Security Council. The request to the experts was made Friday in a closed door meeting of the committee.North Korea launched two weapons from its east coast Thursday, with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga calling them ballistic missiles.It was North Korea's first substantive provocation since Joe Biden took power as US president in January.The sanctions committee met after an urgent request made Thursday by the United States.Pyongyang is under multiple international sanctions over its weapons programs, with UN Security Council resolutions banning it from developing ballistic missiles."An outcome of the 1718 committee was for the UN panel of experts to investigate the missile launches as a first step," one diplomat said, referring to the UN North Korea sanctions panel."We are looking at what is possible," another diplomat said about prospects for tMar 27, 2021
North Korea says Biden's remarks on recent missile launches a 'provocation' A new type of a tactical guided missile was launched from the North Korean town of Hamju, South Hamgyong Province, Thursday, in this photo released by the North's Korean Central News Agency. YonhapNorth Korea on Saturday accused U.S. President Joe Biden of "provocation" for criticizing its recent missile launches, claiming the firings are an exercise of its self-defense right and warning the U.S. will face "something that is not good" if such "thoughtless remarks" continue.Ri Pyong-chol, vice chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party, made the statement, a day after Biden said the North's launch of two short-range ballistic missiles Thursday was in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions."We express our deep apprehension over the U.S. chief executive faulting the regular testfire, exercise of our state's right to self-defense, as the violation of UN "resolutions" and openly revealing his deep-seated hostility toward the DPRK," Ri said."Such remarks from the U.S. president are an undisguised encroachment on our state's right to self-defense and provocation to it,"Mar 27, 2021
North Korea rejects South's offer of joint Easter prayer: sources A North Korean Christian organization has rejected its South Korean counterpart's proposal for a joint prayer. (Reuters-Yonhap)A North Korean Christian organization has turned down a proposal by its South Korean counterpart for a joint prayer on the occasion of Easter early next month, sources said Friday, amid no progress in Seoul's efforts to improve inter-Korean relations.The South's National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK) sent a draft of a joint prayer ahead of Easter that falls on April 4.But the North's Korean Christian Federation (KCF) stated that "a joint prayer between the two Koreas would be meaningless at this point," according to the sources.It expressed the position in a letter to Peter Prove, director of international affairs at the World Council of Churches. The religious organization asked for Prove's continued support for Pyongyang.The two Christian organizations had often released a joint prayer ahead of Easter and Liberation Day, but the North side was unresponsive last year. An NCCK official voiced regret over the situation in a phone interview with Yonhap NeMar 26, 2021
North Korea likely to escape punishment for rocket launches A new type of a tactical guided missile was launched from the North Korean town of Hamju, South Hamgyong Province, Thursday, in this photo released by the North's Korean Central News Agency. YonhapExperts call for stronger actions to stop the situation from getting worse By Kang Seung-wooThe international community expressed concerns over North Korea's test-firing of two short-range ballistic missiles last Wednesday, in defiance of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. But Pyongyang is likely to avoid fresh punishment, based on recent history, in which the international community has been generous about short-range weapons.However, some experts believe that there should be a stricter response to the North Korean provocations, regardless of their size or range, in order to avoid giving the North the impression that short-range launches are tolerable. According to the North's Korean Central News Agency, Friday, the totalitarian state test-fired two “new-type tactical guided missiles” that flew 600 kilometers off its east coast to hit their targets. South Mar 26, 2021By Kang Seung-woo
North Korea slams UN resolution on human rights as 'fake document' People watch a TV showing a file image of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a news program, March 25, at the Suseo Railway Station in Seoul. APNorth Korea on Friday slammed a recently adopted U.N. resolution on its human rights violations, calling it a "fake document" with political motives.The 47-member U.N. Human Rights Council adopted the resolution by consensus at its 46th session in Geneva on Tuesday, marking the 19th consecutive year such a resolution has been adopted. According to Pyongyang's foreign ministry, Han Tae-song, North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, said in a statement at the session that the North rejects the resolution and denounces it as a "fake document that does not deserve even the slightest consideration.""The so called 'evidences' presented by the EU for the 'resolution' are nothing more than a fake 'testimony' of scummy 'defectors' to sustain their filthy lives ― the criminals who have abandoned their families after committing crimes in their homeland," he said.He then criticized the EU and other "Western countries" for their hostiMar 26, 2021
Biden, Trump in stark contrast on North Korea President Joe Biden speaks during a press conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., Thursday. AP-YonhapBy Nam Hyun-wooU.S. President Joe Biden's press conference, Thursday (local time), showed his administration is taking a different course from the previous Trump administration in terms of American policy toward North Korea, according to analysts and sources, Friday.They said Biden's remarks on North Korea issues indicated that the U.S. is returning to a rules-based international order in dealing with the country, while stressing global cooperation and coordination with allies. During his first White House press conference, Biden said the North's missile tests on Thursday were a violation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1718, which bans North Korea's nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches. “We are consulting with our allies and partners, and there will be responses if they choose to escalate. We will respond accordingly,” Biden said. Asked if he agrees North Korea is the top foreign policy issue, Biden also said yes.Then-PresMar 26, 2021By Nam Hyun-woo
UN sanctions committee to meet at US request over North Korea missiles This photo provided by the North Korean government shows what it says a test fire of newly developed new-type tactical guided projectile by the Academy of Defense Science, at an undisclosed place in North Korea, Thursday, March 25. APThe United Nations Security Council North Korea sanctions committee is due to meet on Friday, at the request of the United States, over Pyongyang's launch of two suspected ballistic missiles into the sea near Japan, a spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the United Nations said.The move suggests a measured response by U.S. President Joe Biden's administration to North Korea's first tests since he took office in January. Attempts by the Biden administration to reach out to North Korea have so far been rebuffed, according to U.S. officials.Earlier on Thursday, Biden said the United States remained open to diplomacy with North Korea in spite of its missile tests this week, but warned there would be responses if North Korea escalates matters.When North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles a year ago, Britain, Germany, France, Estonia and Belgium raMar 26, 2021
