NK leader discusses 'war deterrent' at Central Military Commission meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presides over a Central Military Commission meeting of the ruling Workers' Party on Saturday in this photo provided by the Korean Central News Agency. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has presided over a Central Military Commission meeting of the ruling Workers' Party and discussed "the key issues of further bolstering a war deterrent of the country," state media reported Sunday.The meeting held on Saturday also examined the "strategic mission" of major military units for coping with the "military situation around the Korean Peninsula" and approved "major key munitions production plan indices," according to the Korean Central News Agency."The enlarged meeting discussed issues of intensifying the party's education and guidance of commanders and political officials of the people's army" and "stressed the need to thoroughly arm the young commanding officers," the KCNA said.The meeting held on Saturday also examined the "strategic mission" of major military units for coping with the "military situation around the Korean Peninsula.” YonhapKim alsJul 19, 2020
North Korea claims it is developing coronavirus vaccine People wearing protective face masks walk amid concerns over COVID-19 in front of Pyongyang Station in Pyongyang, North Korea, April 27, 2020. Kyodo via ReutersNorth Korea is developing a vaccine for COVID-19 Pyongyang's science research council said Saturday. According to a report posted on Mirae, the website run by the North's State Commission of Science and Technology, its scientists are currently conducting clinical trials on a vaccine for the novel coronavirus. The report said the vaccine development was being led by a medical biology institute under the North's Academy of Medical Science using angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). North Korea claimed it has confirmed the immunogenicity and safety of its candidate vaccine through animal tests and that clinical trials started this month. The reclusive state, which has yet to report a single virus case in the country, added that scientists are in discussions on conducting the third phase of the clinical study. North Korea said the bioengineering branch of the State Academy of Sciences is also conducting research for the developmJul 18, 2020
NK leader made least number of public appearances in first half North Korean leader Kim Jong-un / Korea Times fileNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un made the least number of public appearances in the first half of this year since he assumed power in 2012, amid efforts to prevent an outbreak of the new coronavirus in the country, a recent report said Thursday.According to data released by the Korea Institute for National Unification, a state-run think tank, Kim appeared in public on 19 occasions in the first half of this year.This contrasts with the first half of 2013 when he made nearly 100 public appearances, including visits to factories and military facilities. Between 2017 and 2019, he made an average of 40 to 50 appearances.Kim's absence from public view in May sparked rumors globally about his heath and even the possibility of his death.Among his public appearances this year, field inspections of major military exercises or installations accounted for over half of his activities.He made only two appearances in relation to the North's economic projects, according to the report. In January, Kim inspected a fertilizer factory in Sunchon, north ofJul 16, 2020
Trump floats summit possibility for status quo with NK North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump shake hands ahead of their summit in Singapore in this June 12, 2018, photo. / AP-YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooDespite North Korea's rejection of another summit with the United States, the Donald Trump administration has been floating the idea ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November. However, doubting its sincerity, diplomatic experts say it is a U.S. ploy to preserve the status quo and prevent the isolated state from interfering in the vote.U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo did not rule out the possibility of a summit between U.S. President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ahead of the election.“I think that's unlikely,” he said at the Economic Club of New York, Wednesday. “But in the event that it was appropriate ― we thought we could make material progress and the best way to do that was to put President Trump with Chairman Kim to do it ― I'm confident that the North Koreans and President Trump would find that in our best interests.”His remarks came less than 10 days after Trump tJul 16, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
Moon's new security team may have limits in engaging North Korea President Moon Jae-in talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during their first inter-Korean summit at the truce village of Panmunjeom, April 27, 2018. / Korea Times file By Kang Seung-wooPresident Moon Jae-in recently shook up his national security team in a bid to double down on his inter-Korean peace initiative, but the ambitious reshuffle may fall short of his expectations, with few gambits to curry favor with North Korea, according to Pyongyang watchers.Earlier this month, Moon reshaped the team that is filled with so-called pro-North Korea figures such as National Intelligence Service (NIS) director nominee Park Jie-won, a key figure in arranging the first inter-Korean summit in 2000, and former presidential chief of staff Im Jong-seok who has called for independent yet aggressive actions to improve stalled inter-Korean relations. In addition, Suh Hoon, a former NIS chief who contributed to inter-Korean summits between Moon and North Korean leader Kim JongJul 16, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
Biegun emphasizes US readiness to engage in talks with NK U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun has emphasized Washington's readiness to engage in dialogue with North Korea, the State Department said Friday.Biegun, who doubles as the top U.S. envoy for North Korea, delivered the position in meetings with Japanese officials during his visit to Tokyo on Thursday and Friday, the department said in a press release."Deputy Secretary Biegun emphasized continued U.S. readiness to engage in dialogue with the DPRK," it said, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.Biegun expressed a similar position during his trip to Seoul earlier in the week, saying North Koreans will "find us ready at that very moment" that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appoints a negotiator empowered to discuss the country's nuclear weapons program.Nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang have stalled due to differences over the scope of North Korea's denuclearization and sanctions relief from the U.S.North Korea has rejected the idea of resuming talks before the U.S. changes its positions.On Friday, Kim's sister, Jul 11, 2020
N. Korea, US remain apart over summit By Yi Whan-wooNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un's powerful sister downplayed the possibility of another summit between her brother and U.S. President Donald Trump this year, saying it was “unnecessary” and “useless.”Kim Yo-jongThe statement by Kim Yo-jong, the North's de facto No. 2, came after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday he was “very hopeful” about resuming talks with North Korea including a summit between the leaders of the two countries.“This is my personal opinion but any summit between the U.S. and North Korea will not take place this year," Kim Yo-jong said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency. “As long as there is no decisive change in the U.S. position, a summit between the DPRK and the U.S. is unnecessary and useless this year, and in the future at least for us.”Kim's view reiterates Pyongyang's declarations that it would not “gift” an additional summit, following the previous three from 2018 to 2019, to Trump if it does not get something substantial in return.The U.S. hJul 10, 2020By Yi Whan-woo
Pyongyang says another summit with US 'unnecessary,' 'useless' Kim Yo-jong, the sister of leader Kim Jong-un, said Friday in a statement to the Korean Central News Agency that another summit with the United States is "unnecessary" and "useless" for North Korea as long as there is no change in Washington's negotiating position. Korea Times fileAnother summit with the United States is "unnecessary" and "useless" for North Korea as long as there is no change in Washington's negotiating position, the sister of leader Kim Jong-un said Friday.Kim Yo-jong made the remark in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency, as U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. is "very hopeful" about continuing dialogue with the North, including another summit between the two countries."This is my personal opinion but any summit between the U.S. and North Korea will not take place this year," Kim Yo-jong said. "As long as there is no decisive change in the U.S. position, a summit between the DPRK and the U.S. is unnecessary and useless this year and in the future at least for us."That, however, does not mean that the North is not going to dJul 10, 2020
Russian court sentences North Korean fisherman to 4 years in prison A Russian court sentenced a North Korean fisherman to four years in prison for assaulting Russian border guards at sea.A court in the city of Nakhodka in the Russian Far East recently found the North Korean national guilty of assaulting at least three Russian officers with a wooden baton, Radio Free Asia's Korean service reported Wednesday.Two other North Korean defendants charged with resorting to violence against Russian authorities are to go on trial in September, according to Tass news agency."Three of the defendants struck the troops with sticks in various parts of the ship, using violence harmful to life and health," the prosecutor's office in the Primorye region said, the Moscow Times reported.Last September, Russian authorities said North Korean fishermen on two large ships, and others on board 11 smaller fishing vessels, clashed with Russian guards who confronted the boats at Quito-Yamato Bank, which Russia claims as part of its territorial waters.A North Korean fisherman died in Russian custody following clashes, and about half a dozen fishermen showed various degrees of inJul 9, 2020
US defense chief calls North Korea, Iran 'rogue states' U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper again described North Korea and Iran as "rogue states" that conduct aggressive activities.In a video message released Tuesday to thank members of the force for their contribution to implementing the National Defense Strategy, Esper listed achievements such as removing terrorists and preserving the freedom of navigation in contested waters.The Department of Defense has also "deterred aggressive activities perpetrated by rogue states such as North Korea and Iran, as well as near-peers such as Russia and China," he said.Esper used the word "rogue" to describe North Korea and Iran in February, as well as in December.After U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's mention of the word in August, North Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui warned the U.S. not to test the country's patience if it didn't want to have "bitter regrets afterwards."U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, who doubles as the U.S. special representative for North Korea, has been in Seoul this week amid stalled nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang.North KoreanJul 9, 2020
