North Korea ranks lowest in world democracy index last year: poll A poster is displayed on a street in Pyongyang marking the 73rd anniversary of the foundation of the Korean People's Army in this Feb. 8 photo. AFPNorth Korea ranked the lowest in a world democracy index last year for the 16th consecutive year, according to a recent report.The reclusive regime placed at the bottom among the 167 countries reviewed, with an overall score of 1.08 out of 10, according to the Democracy Index 2020 published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the research division of the British weekly The Economist.The North has ranked the lowest in the EIU index since the agency began compiling related data in 2006.The agency classified Pyongyang as an "authoritarian regime" out of four designations, which included "full democracy," "flawed democracy" and "hybrid regime."It scored zero in electoral process and civil liberties, and received low scores of 2.5 and 1.67 for the functioning of government and political participation, respectively.Meanwhile, South Korea moved up the index from a "flawed democracy" in 2015 to a "full democracy" last year.However, the agencFeb 13, 2021
North Korean Foreign Minister Ri named politburo member North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Son-gwon. YonhapNorth Korean Foreign Minster Ri Son-gwon has been elected a member of the powerful politburo of the ruling Workers' Party, state media reported Friday. Ri was by-elected as a politburo member during a four-day plenary meeting of the party's eighth Central Committee that wrapped up on Thursday, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).Kim Song-nam, another ranking party official, was also named an alternate member of the politburo, while O Su-yong was elected as director of the party's Department of Economic Affairs, KCNA said.North Korea convened the plenary Central Committee meeting this week to discuss how to implement the first year's tasks of a five-year economic development plan and other objectives set forth during last month's party congress.Leader Kim Jong-un attended the multi-day meeting and reported on economic and other domestic issues, criticizing economic agencies for "passive, self-protecting tendencies." Kim rapped the Cabinet for failing to play a leadership role in putting together workable economic developmFeb 12, 2021
North Korea engaged in fights against YouTube sanctions Un A, a North Korean presenter of “Echo DPRK,” a YouTube channel believed to be managed by the North Korean regime, introduces goods at a department store in Pyongyang. / Korea Times file By Kang Seung-wooNorth Korea is fighting international sanctions imposed on the country due to its nuclear and missile tests.This fight against punitive actions has reached YouTube, where its channels have been deleted over claims they violate the platform's terms of service, with the country continuously attempting to revive its propaganda channels. “Red Star TV,” a YouTube channel hosted by a North Korean living in Russia, has been in operation again after suffering its seventh shutdown in January by the Google subsidiary. However, while reopening the channel, North Korea is emphasizing that “Red Star TV” is an informational project of the DPRK International Solidarity Group, which disseminates “true information” about the latest events in the world and on the Korean Peninsula. TFeb 11, 2021By Kang Seung-woo
North Korea stole $300 million in crypto to fund nukes: UN experts In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attends at a meeting of Central Committee of Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang, Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. APNorth Korea has stolen more than $300 million worth of cryptocurrencies through cyberattacks in recent months to support its banned nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, a confidential UN report said.Compiled by a panel of experts monitoring sanctions on Pyongyang, the report said the country's "total theft of virtual assets from 2019 to November 2020 is valued at approximately $316.4 million", citing a UN member state.Financial institutions and exchanges were hacked to generate revenue for Pyongyang's nuclear and missile development, said the report, which was seen by AFP.The vast majority of the proceeds came from two thefts late last year.The North is known to operate an army of thousands of well-trained hackers who have attacked firms, institutions and researchers in South Korea and elsewhere.It has also been accused of exploiting its cyber capabilities for financial gain.The North is Feb 10, 2021
What will Pyongyang expect from return of Chung-Suh duo? Then-national security adviser Chung Eui-yong, third from left, and then-National Intelligence Service chief Suh Hoon, second from left, hold a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Sept. 5, 2018, during their visit to Pyongyang as presidential envoys. A third summit between President Moon Jae-in and Kim took place about two weeks after their visit. Chung was sworn in as foreign minister, Tuesday, and Suh succeeded Chung as President Moon's national security adviser in July 2020. Courtesy of Cheong Wa DaeBy Do Je-hae President Moon Jae-in has rehired Chung Eui-yong, his first national security adviser from May 2017 to July 2020, as minister of foreign affairs with the hope of resuscitating inter-Korean and U.S.-North Korea talks to bring new momentum for his peace process before the twilight of his presidency sets in later this year. It is Chung who met with former U.S. President Donald Trump in March 2018 and brokered the first summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore three months later.Chung's surprise appointment last month as foreign minister,Feb 10, 2021By Do Je-hae
'North Korea low on daily necessities after shutting down borders' A staff member of the Pongnam Noodle House, right, disinfects the hands of a woman coming into its restaurant in Pyongyang, Feb. 5. AP-YonhapBy Do Je-hae North Korea seems to be struggling with acquiring daily necessities due to its shutdown of borders with adjacent countries to guard against the spread of COVID-19, according to the diplomatic community there. Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Matsegora said in a recent interview with Interfax that the prolonged border shutdown is leading to shortages of sugar and flour, among other basic items, according to the Korean website of Radio Free Asia, Monday.Ambassador Matsegora explained that North Korea has kept its borders closed since January 2020 to prevent entry from China and Russia in order to keep COVID-19 out of the country. No foreigners have been allowed to enter since. The North Korean authorities openly acknowledge that they are going all out to prevent the inflow of the coronavirus pandemic because they lack the medical infrastructure to cope with an outbreak. Many companies have been closed and many people have lost their jobs Feb 9, 2021By Do Je-hae
Over 60% of South Korean youth say unification with North Korea. necessary: survey GettyimagesbankOver six out of 10 South Korean youth think that unification with North Korea is necessary, a survey showed Tuesday. In a survey conducted by the education and unification ministries on 68,750 students enrolled in elementary, middle and high schools nationwide from Nov. 2-30 of last year, 62.4 percent said that the two Koreas need to reunify. The finding marks a 6.9 percentage point jump from a similar poll conducted a year ago. Among students who saw the need for unification, 28.4 percent cited a reduction of the threat of war, while 25.5 percent mentioned common ethnic roots as the reason. The rate of those who saw unification as unnecessary also rose to 24.2 percent, up from 13.7 percent in 2018 and 19.4 percent in 2019. The potential economic and social problems that could transpire from the event were the most common reasons they gave for their opposition, with 27.6 percent and 23 percent, respectively.Of the total respondents, 13.4 percent said they remained undecided on the issue.Of the surveyed, 54.7 percent said they consider North Korea a partner for cooperatFeb 9, 2021
North Korean leader raps economic agencies for 'passive, self-protecting tendencies' North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks during a Workers' Party meeting on Monday, state media reported Tuesday. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un rapped economic agencies for "passive and self-protecting tendencies" as he held a Workers' Party meeting to finalize this year's plans to carry out policy goals set forth at last month's rare party congress, state media said Tuesday.The North unveiled a new five-year economic development plan at the eighth congress of the party last month, with a focus on self-reliance in the face of the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and global sanctions on its regime.On Monday, leader Kim attended the second plenary meeting of the party's 8th Central Committee to push ahead with "strategic tasks" set forth during the party congress, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).During the meeting, Kim delivered a report on implementing the first year's tasks of the five-year economic plan and "evinced the determination and will of the Party Central Committee" to push forward the economic construction "despite the persistent emergenFeb 9, 2021
North Korea's human rights issue most divisive for South Korea, US gettyimagesbank By Kang Seung-wooDuring last week's phone conversation between President Moon Jae-in and President Joe Biden, the two agreed to “comprehensively” work together on North Korea. However, it might not be too long before the new U.S. president could find himself disagreeing with South Korea's policy of championing inter-Korean engagement ahead of pressuring Pyongyang on human rights ― a concerning sign that the different stance on this issue may result in cracks in their cooperation and furthermore, bilateral relations.Former U.S. President Donald Trump neglected North Korea's human rights violations over the past four years for fear of derailing his nuclear negotiations with Kim Jong-un whose regime considers United Nations resolutions on the North's human rights a serious provocation. This neglect served as a de facto green light for the Moon administration to also put the issue on the shelf.But, given that the Biden administration is seeking to carry Feb 8, 2021By Kang Seung-woo
South Korea's view on North Korea nuclear issue may cause friction with US Foreign Minister nominee Chung Eui-yong speaks during his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday. Chung said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had the intention to give up its nuclear program. / YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooDiffering views between South Korea and the United States on North Korea's nuclear ambitions may cause discord, affecting the allies' cooperation on resolving the problem, according to diplomatic observers, Monday. Should Seoul stick to such an approach toward Pyongyang, it may find itself alienated from Washington in terms of its policies toward the totalitarian state, they say. President Moon Jae-in said in his New Year press conference, Jan. 18, that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had the intention to denuclearize his country. This stance was reiterated by his pick for foreign minister, Chung Eui-yong, who also said in Friday's confirmation hearing that Kim was still sincere about giving up his nuclear program.However, the U.S. State Department's de facto refutation of the South Korean government's stance on the Kim regime's denuclearization efFeb 8, 2021By Kang Seung-woo
