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
US Congress members submit bill on family reunions for Korean Americans Separated family members from South Korea hold the hands of their family members from North Korea on a bus at Mount Geumgang in the North in this Oct. 22, 2015 photo, after a reunion event for families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War. There have been no family reunion events for Korean Americans in the United States who have separated relatives in the North. Korea Times fileBy Jung Da-minTwenty-one members of the U.S. Congress have proposed a bill to call for a family reunion event for Korean Americans who have separated relatives in North Korea, according to the congressional website and a Washington-based V.O.A. report. Grace Meng, who has a Korean American husband, proposed the bill, called the Divided Families Reunification Act, last Thursday, together with other members of Congress, including four with Korean roots ― Young Kim, Michelle Park Steel, Andy Kim and Marilyn Strickland.“I rise today to announce the reintroduction of my Divided Families Reunification Act, and to raise the voices of families who have been separated for decades both across the DMZ [DemilitarizeFeb 7, 2021
From North Korean defector to UK election candidate: Park fights for 'voiceless' North Korean-born Jihyun Park, who fled to the U.K. 13 years ago and is now standing as a Conservative Party candidate for up-coming local council elections, poses for a photograph in Bury, northwest England, Feb. 6, 2021. AFPJihyun Park shares the civic concerns of any other would-be town councillor in Britain, from local education to potholes in the roads. But she is unique in one regard: no other candidate has fled North Korea.Park is believed to be the first defector from the oppressive state to have run for office in any country, other than South Korea, after fleeing human trafficking in China and the brutal privations of a North Korean prison camp. Thirteen years after finding refuge in Britain, the 52-year-old is standing for Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative party in council elections coming up in May, pledging to speak for other "voiceless people"."The UK people welcomed me to this land and I finally found my freedom. I want to pay back," she told AFP in an interview.Park first tried to flee the world's most reclusive state in 1998, when it was in the grip of faminFeb 7, 2021
S. Korean Australian faces charges of breaching UN sanctions on Pyongyang GettyimagebankBy Yi Whan-wooA South Korean-born Australian man is facing charges of breaching U.N. sanctions against North Korea's weapons of mass destruction program, Australian media outlets have reported this week. The trial of Choi Chan-han, 62, began at the New South Wales Supreme Court, Feb. 3.Citing Crown Prosecutor Jennifer Single, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported Choi had “extensive connections” to North Korea and faces seven charges, including being involved in brokering five transactions of coal, iron, petroleum, missiles, military equipment and other items to benefit the North.This makes him the first person to be charged under Australia's weapons of mass destruction laws enacted in 1995.None of the alleged transactions were successful, but the fact that Choi had “pulled the plug” before they succeeded was not relevant, Single was quoted as saying by ABC. “What is important is the accused's role in terms of those transactions and whether you are satisfied, beyond reasonable doubt, that he was involved in brokering those Feb 5, 2021By Yi Whan-woo
Meeting with unification minister Lee Rae-jin, the brother of a South Korean fisheries official who was killed by the North Korean military in the North's waters in September, heads for a meeting with Unification Minister Lee In-young at the Government Complex in Seoul, Thursday. He asked the ministry to deliver his letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, to request Kim to allow his visit to the North to meet officials there and urge a joint investigation into the incident. YonhapFeb 4, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
KBS seeks to open Pyongyang Bureau: report Seen is the building of KBS in Seoul in this undated photo. Courtesy of KBSBy Park Ji-wonNational public broadcaster KBS aims to open a bureau in Pyongyang by 2025, according to an opposition party lawmaker who cited a recent internal document about raising TV license fee from the current 2,500 won to 3,840 won. Opposition People Power Party (PPP) Rep. Park Dae-chul said the broadcaster is planning to launch its bureau in Pyongyang to provide “accurate and unbiased” coverage of the reclusive state and improve inter-Korean relations, quoting the document that details how the national broadcaster planned to use its budget. KBS earmarked 2.82 billion won ($2.52 million) for research projects on becoming a “unification channel,” and 2.66 billion won to send a correspondent to the North. It is also hoping to sign a memorandum of understanding with the North's state broadcaster to facilitate technological exchanges, hold joint programs to mark the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration and Aug. 15 National Liberation Day, and foster youth sports competitions to creatFeb 2, 2021By Park Ji-won
Nuclear plant row may increase US concerns over inter-Korean projects President Moon Jae-in talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the border truce village of Panmunjeom during their summit on April 27, 2018. / Korea Times file'Seoul, Washington shared info on Moon's economic project proposal for North Korea'By Kang Seung-wooAllegations that the government planned to assist North Korea build a nuclear power plant are expected to raise concerns with the new U.S. administration over inter-Korean projects sought by South Korea, according to diplomatic observers, Tuesday, although they said they do not buy into the claims.President Moon Jae-in faces allegations that he offered to build the plant in North Korea as part of cross-border reconciliation projects during his April 2018 summit with the North's leader Kim Jong-un. The opposition parties are denouncing the alleged offer as an “act benefitting the enemy.”The government flatly denies the claims, with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy unveiling an internal document to reaffirm that it had merely reviewed some ideas for possible inter-Korean economic cooperation projects afteFeb 2, 2021By Kang Seung-woo
US may take two-track approach to North Korea issue U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken addresses reporters during his first press briefing at the State Department in Washington, D.C., Jan. 27. Reuters-YonhapBy Do Je-hae The new Joe Biden administration may use a two-track approach to deal with the nuclear standoff with North Korea, offering either incentives or sanctions depending on which stance the North takes, diplomatic analysts said.U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken gave his first TV interview since taking office and there was very little mention of North Korea. But experts are taking note of the fact that the new top U.S. diplomat mentioned both “additional sanctions” and “diplomatic incentives” when talking about the next steps the Biden administration will take with North Korea. “The first thing we're going to do is to review the policy across the board to look at what tools we have, including additional sanctions, including especially additional coordination and cooperation with allies and partners, but also to look at diplomatic incentives. So once we do that, we'll be able to tell you Feb 2, 2021By Do Je-hae
North Korea beefs up missile units, special forces over past years: defense ministry In this Nov. 16, 2018, file photo, South Korean army soldiers patrol along the barbed-wire fence in Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea. APNorth Korea has expanded ballistic missile units and strengthened special forces with modernized equipment and exercises of attacking strategic targets, such as South Korea's presidential office, the defense ministry said Tuesday.These changes in the North Korean military were among the main points of the 2020 edition of South Korea's biennial defense "white paper" that the defense ministry unveiled online and offline Tuesday.According to the document, North Korea now has 13 missile brigades under its strategic force command, up from nine units in 2018. The units are believed to operate short-range ballistic Scud missiles that aim to strike South Korean targets, Rodong missiles with a range of around 1,300 kilometers and Musudan intermediate-range missiles with ranges of over 3,000 km that put the U.S. strategic military base in Guam within range.The increase in the number of such units is in line with the communist country's recenFeb 2, 2021
