North Korean leader visits typhoon-hit area, calls for all-out recovery efforts North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visits a typhoon-hit area in North Korea's southwestern province of South Hwanghae, state media reported Friday. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a typhoon-hit area in the country's southwestern province of Hwanghae and called for all-out efforts to minimize damage to farming fields and a reduction in harvests, state media reported Friday.Kim's trip to South Hwanghae Province, which came after Typhoon Bavi passed along the North's western coastline Thursday, is seen as aimed at highlighting his image as a leader caring for the lives of his people as they have been reeling from recent back-to-back natural disasters.During the visit, Kim said that the scale of damage is smaller than expected and "positively appraised national crisis control system against natural disasters taking up proper shape and the ability to counter the crisis making remarkable improvement," the Korean Central News Agency said.He stressed the need to "direct efforts to minimizing the damage in the agricultural field in particular and reduction in the harvest," while urAug 28, 2020
N. Korean leader calls for readiness against virus, typhoon In a rare display of urgency, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held his third high-level political conference in as many weeks, where he raised alarm about the nation's coronavirus response and a typhoon forecast to hit the country early Thursday.During an enlarged meeting of the Politburo of the ruling Workers' Party on Tuesday, Kim lamented unspecified ``defects'' and ``shortcomings'' in the country's' anti-virus campaign and urged that they be corrected swiftly, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency said Wednesday. Kim also called thorough preparations to minimize damage from Typhoon Bavi, which comes weeks after torrential rains caused flooding and massive damage to homes and crops, inflicting further pain to an economy ravaged by U.S.-led sanctions over its nuclear weapons and border closures amid the pandemic.Kim set tasks for the party and public services at every level, ``saying that to thoroughly prevent the casualties by the typhoon and minimize the damage to crops is important work which can never be neglected even a moment,'' KCNA paraphrased the leaAug 26, 2020
North Korean leader chairs meeting to discuss typhoon preparation, antivirus efforts North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks during a politburo meeting of the Workers' Party, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Wednesday. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un presided over a key party meeting and discussed measures to minimize damage from an approaching powerful typhoon and correct some "defects" in the country's antivirus efforts, state media reported Wednesday.The enlarged politburo meeting of the Workers' Party held Tuesday appears to be aimed at solidifying internal unity and showing Kim's care for people's lives as the country is facing a growing strain from global sanctions and back-to-back natural disasters weighing on its already fragile economy, experts said.Kim said the efforts to "thoroughly prevent the casualties by typhoon and minimize the damage to the crops is an important work which can never be neglected even a moment for our Party" and "also a crucial one deciding whether we would successfully wrap up this year's farming or not," the Korean Central News Agency said.He instructed all workers to "awaken to the importance of the work for pAug 26, 2020
Virus-hit economy poses threat to North Korean leader By Kang Seung-wooNorth Korea's recent announcement that it would unveil a new five-year economic development plan early next year means its economy is facing a serious crisis due to the sustained international sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic, which are emerging as a “big challenge” to leader Kim Jong-un, Pyongyang watchers said Sunday.North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presides over a plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party in Pyongyang, Wednesday. / YonhapOn Thursday, the totalitarian state announced it would map out a new plan to boost its sagging economy in a ruling Workers' Party Congress in January 2021, admitting its current strategy introduced in 2016 has failed, citing “internal and external situations and unexpected manifold challenges.” These comments point to U.S.-led economic sanctions on the North, the coronavirus pandemic and a series of devastating floods, according to the experts.“The North Korean economy is facing a serious and deep structural crisis, compounded by the COVID-19 problem,” said Daniel Sneider,Aug 23, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
Is North Korean leader Kim yielding power to sister? North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presides over the 6th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang, Thursday. YonhapSpy agency analysis again fuels speculation on NK leader's health By Yi Whan-wooThe analysis by the country's spy agency that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has partly delegating authority to his sister and aides is again fueling speculation over his health, following rumors and unconfirmed news in April that he was in grave danger after undergoing surgery. Some experts said Friday that yielding power, even a bit, was unthinkable under any circumstances in North Korea led by the Kim family's three-generations of one-man rule. They said Kim, whose obesity, chain-smoking and other health problems have always been an issue, is in a critical condition and that his regime is shifting to a new rule jointly led by his powerful younger sister Kim Yo-jong and other aidesThe experts argue the NIS was mistaken when it briefed lawmakers in a closed-door session of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee, Thuerday, that Kim partly deAug 21, 2020By Yi Whan-woo
North Korea's propaganda efforts evolving on YouTube A female anchor of North Korea's YouTube channel “Echo of Truth” enjoys fried chicken and beer in a video posted Aug. 1. / Captured from Echo of TruthBy Park Han-solSurrounded by high-rise buildings piercing the purple evening sky, a young woman enjoys fried chicken and beer at a romantic restaurant with a hint of vintage decor. The crisp sound of her biting into well-baked drumsticks reminds one of a “mukbang” (online eating show).In another video, a bob-haired woman experiences a range of emotions from terror to sheer joy as she screams on rides just like any other amusement park vlogger. Her tearful screams during a free-fall at a drop tower, the rollercoaster ride shakily filmed from her point of view, and the cameraman's chuckle over her jokes about going home all convey the lively atmosphere in a place of never-ending fun.The vlog then cuts to her standing in front of two austere red signs, a stark contrast to colorful rides and surrounding greeneries. She admiringly explains that “respected Marshal Kim Jong-un visited here with great leader Kim JoAug 21, 2020By Park Han-sol
'North Korean leader partially delegates power to sister' says spy agency By Kang Seung-wooNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has delegated some of his authority to his younger sister Kim Yo-jong and his close aides, according to the South Korean spy agency, Thursday. Kim Yo-jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister / YonhapHowever, the move is believed to have nothing to do with the leader's health, it added.“Kim Yo-jong, the first vice department director of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party, is currently administering overall state affairs on behalf of her brother,” National Intelligence Service (NIS) officials were quoted as saying in a closed-door briefing to the National Assembly by Rep. Kim Byung-kee of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the main opposition United Future Party. “But Kim Jong-un is not in poor health and he has not picked an heir to succeed him.”The lawmakers added the power-sharing arrangement is aimed at relieving Kim of some of the stress coming from leading the totalitarian state for nine years, and averting accountability in the event of policy failure. Kim toAug 20, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
N. Korea to unveil new economic plans in January party meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un / Korea Times fileNorth Korea will hold a rare ruling party congress in January where leader Kim Jong Un will announce a new five-year plan to develop the country's dismal economy ravaged by U.S.-led sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic, state media said Thursday.The plans were confirmed Wednesday during a plenary meeting of the Workers' Party's decision-making Central Committee where Kim acknowledged economic shortcomings caused by ``unexpected and inevitable challenges in various aspects and the situation in the region surrounding the Korean Peninsula.''The report by Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency didn't directly mention nuclear diplomacy with the United States, which has stalled over disagreements in exchanging sanctions relief and denuclearization steps.The Workers' Party last convened for a full congress in 2016, which was its first in 36 years, where Kim announced his initial five-year national development plan, which included goals for improving power supply and increasing agricultural and manufacturing production.Entering theAug 20, 2020
Seoul revs up efforts to improve inter-Korean ties Unification Minister Lee In-young, right, fist bumps with Chinese Ambassador to Korea Xing Haiming during the latter's courtesy visit to the ministry in Seoul, Wednesday. / YonhapTop Chinese diplomat to come to Korea Friday By Kang Seung-wooUnification Minister Lee In-young has doubled down on his plan to engage with North Korea, seeking to create a favorable environment for inter-Korean projects through meetings with a series of envoys from neighboring countries, according to diplomatic experts, Wednesday. Lee met with U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Harry Harris, Tuesday, followed by his talks with Chinese Ambassador Xing Haiming, Wednesday. Lee is also expected to sit down with Japanese Ambassador Koji Tomita next week. According to the ministry, these meetings are courtesy visits to the new minister, who took office last month. “Lee is seeking to break through the deadlock in inter-Korean relations by any means, but with the North remaining unresponsive, he intends to build an environment, which is conducive to improving bilateral ties between Seoul and Pyongyang,” said ParkAug 19, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
Unification minister suggests upgrading S. Korea-US working group Unification Minister Lee In-young elbow-bumps with U.S. Ambassador to Korea Harry Harris during Harris' courtesy visit to the ministry in Seoul, Tuesday. / YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooIn talks with U.S. Ambassador to Korea Harry Harris, Tuesday, Unification Minister Lee In-young proposed that a South Korea-U.S. working group be revamped to facilitate improvements in inter-Korean relations and the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula.Ambassador Harris responded that the U.S. strongly supports inter-Korean cooperation and would find ways to continue this through the working group that he believes has played “an important role in creating a more secure and stable environment.”Lee's proposal came as the entity coordinating North Korea-related issues has been under fire from South Korean liberal politicians and activists for allegedly “hindering progress” in inter-Korean ties due to its “excessively harsh” standards adopted on the North. They have called for restructuring its operation or even dismantling it.“By readjusting or reorganizing thAug 18, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
