US official renews calls for North Korea to abandon nukes In this undated photo provided on Sunday, May 24, 2020, by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks during a meeting of the Seventh Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea in North Korea. APU.S. National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien renewed calls Sunday for North Korea to give up its nuclear program if it wants to have a "great economy," after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held a key party meeting to discuss bolstering nuclear deterrence.In his first public appearance in about three weeks, Kim presided over a session of the Workers' Party's Central Military Commission to discuss "new policies for further increasing the nuclear war deterrence," the North's official Korean Central News Agency reported Sunday.The North's first mention of "nuclear war deterrence" since early 2018 came amid an impasse in nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang, and its struggle to improve its economy crippled by global sanctions and a pandemic-driven plunge in trade with China."We've managed to avoid a conflict with North Korea over the last 3 1/2 May 25, 2020
N. Korean leader discusses nuclear war deterrence North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks during a meeting of the Seventh Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party in this photo image released by the Korean Central News Agency, Sunday. YonhapDefense meeting seen as bid to press US ahead of November presidential electionBy Yi Whan-wooNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un presided over a key defense meeting of the ruling Workers' Party and discussed “new measures to enhance nuclear war deterrence of the country,” the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) and other state-controlled media outlets reported Sunday.Analysts said the discussion is seen as a bid to press the Donald Trump administration over the stalled nuclear dialogue ahead of the U.S presidential election in November.The analysts speculated, depending on the U.S. response, firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) or an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) can be possible around the 70th anniversary of the Korean War on June 25.Cheong Wa Dae said it is analyzing what the North meant by new measures, adding “This is all we can say atMay 24, 2020By Yi Whan-woo
Will South Korea lift 2010 sanctions against North Korea? Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun, right, an independent lawmaker who heads the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, shakes hands with Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul during their meeting at the Assembly in Seoul, Friday. / YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooIn the wake of government officials' comments that South Korea's own sanctions on North Korea have virtually lost their effects, questions are arising over whether the South would lift the measures officially.However, even though the “May 24 measures” remain only symbolic following tougher sanctions by the global community, it may not be easy for the Moon Jae-in administration to make such a drastic move, as their lifting could cause a strong political backlash from conservatives domestically and the international community is still firmly retaining sanctions on Pyongyang.The economic sanctions, imposed by the Lee Myung-bak administration in 2010 in retaliation to the North's torpedoing of the South's naval ship, the Cheonan, ban inter-Korean economic exchanges and cooperation. “The May 24 measures pose no loMay 22, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
Seoul closely monitoring North Korea as leader out of public view again North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. YonhapSouth Korea is closely watching the whereabouts of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the unification ministry said Friday, as his absence from public view has stretched to three weeks once again.A swirl of global rumors about Kim's heath and even the possibility of his death came to an end when he attended the completion ceremony of a fertilizer factory with a broad smile on May 1 after a 20-day absence from public view.Speculation over his whereabouts has resurfaced as he has been out of public view for three weeks."The relevant authorities are keeping a close watch," Yoh Sang-key, the ministry's spokesperson, told a regular press briefing when asked whether or not the ministry is aware of Kim's whereabouts."There was a time in January when he was also absent from public view for 21 days so we are watching the situation over his absence from media reports," he said.It is not rare for Kim to disappear from the public eye.After his appearance at a concert in Pyongyang celebrating Lunar New Year's Day on Jan. 25, he was absent for three weeks untilMay 22, 2020
North Korea's propaganda changes Un A, the female North Korean presenter of Echo DPRK, a YouTube channel believed to be managed by the North Korean regime, talks in one of the channel's clips posted on May 7. / Captured from YouTubeBy Kang Seung-wooNorth Korea is changing the way it promotes its closed-off regime to international audiences, with the propaganda now being produced in various and modern styles and with the presenters' signature bombastic style of speech being toned down.It is a stark contrast to the conventional propaganda put out by its state media that was traditionally unfriendly and unilateral. It is believed the change was made following its leader Kim Jong-un's repeated instruction to develop realistic and up-to-date propaganda.Echo DPRK, a YouTube channel that is believed to be managed by the North Korean regime, is one of the new-style outlets. Since its launch in August 2017, the channel has uploaded some 40 videos and has gained over 7,000 subscribers. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which is the North's official name. The video channel featuring a female NortMay 19, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
North Korea among 47 countries facing food shortages due to pandemic: UN agency Farmers on the Chongsan-ri cooperative farm start planting rice for this year on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, in Nampho, North Korea. APAround 183 million people in 47 countries, including North Korea, are facing the possibility of severe food insecurity as border closures and disruptions in global supply chains have restricted their access to farming products, a U.N. food agency said.The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) also estimated in the report that around US$350 million will be needed this year to provide necessary assistance to those countries facing a looming crisis."While the COVID-19 pandemic is devastating lives, public health systems, livelihoods and economies across the world, populations living in food crisis contexts and those whose resilience has been eroded by previous crises are particularly exposed to its effects," the report said. "Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic is already directly affecting food systems through impacts on food supply and demand, and indirectly through decreases in purchasing power, the capacity to produce and distribute food, and the intensificMay 19, 2020
OHCHR calls for regular meetings of separated families in 2 Koreas People living in North Korea hold hands of their separated family members in the South while bidding farewell following a three-day reunion event at Mount Geumgang Hotel in the North, Aug. 26, 2018. / Joint Press CorpsBy Kim RahnThe United Nations' human rights office has urged the two Koreas to allow meetings and contact between families separated by the Korean War (1950-53).The Seoul branch of the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) called for the South and the North's joint efforts on Facebook, Friday, marking the International Day of Families.“About 65 percent of the separated family members who are still alive are 80+ years old. The U.N. Human Rights Office strongly urges both Koreas to allow permanent contact between separated families, through meetings, letters, phone communications and video messaging,” it wrote.In an August 2019 report on North Korea's human rights situation, the U.N. made similar calls. “Take the steps necessary, in collaboration with the Republic of Korea, to resolve the issues of family separation as a matter ofMay 17, 2020By Kim Rahn
Can China emerge as inter-Korean mediator? President Moon Jae-in and Chinese President Xi Jinping / Korea Times fileBy Kang Seung-wooAmid a deadlock in denuclearization talks between North Korea and the United States that were much anticipated to bring peace and stability to the Korean Peninsula, China sees its presence as a facilitator in the stalled inter-Korean relations increasing.The development comes as re-election-seeking U.S. President Donald Trump has been putting engagement with the North on the back burner, leading President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to reach out to Chinese President Xi Jinping.However, it remains to be seen whether China can live up to such expectations as it is currently engaged in a struggle for hegemony with the U.S. Last week, Moon had a phone conversation with Xi, during which the latter agreed to visit the South within this year. The government has been pushing for Xi's visit Seoul, which could help expand bilateral trade. But apart from the economic considerations, it is also seeking support from the Chinese government for Moon's “Korean Peninsula peace process&rMay 17, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
14-day examination period for JSA tours likely to be shortened A South Korean soldier stands guard during a tour of the Joint Security Area on the border with North Korea on May 1, 2019. Korea Times fileThe 14-day-long examination period required for South Koreans' tours to the demilitarized border village of Panmunjom may be cut to a three-day process, the United Nations Command (UNC) said Sunday.The UNC said it is currently discussing the simplification plan with the South Korean government. "The 14-day examination required for Koreans wishing to visit the Joint Security Area (JSA) is South Korea's own regulation which the UNC has been implementing for over than 10 years for South Korea," the UNC said. After confirming the South Korean government's position not to retain the 14-day process, the UNC is planning to cooperate with the Ministry of Unification to adopt a new rule, said the UNC, which authorizes human traffic through the JSA. Currently, a maximum of 14 days are required in security clearance for South Korean visitors to the border area while an average of three days are needed to approve a non-Korean's visit. The upcoming simplificaMay 17, 2020
Time to put rumors aside and adopt evidence-based approach to denuclearizing Korean Peninsula By Hwang Yong-soo Hwang Yong-soo, member of Asia Pacific Leadership Network and principal researcher at Korea Atomic Energy Research InstituteSince 2020 South Korea has been on the frontline of two existential threats: that of possible nuclear war on the one hand, and the COVID-19 pandemic on the other. The first has been amplified by rumors about North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's health which created much uncertainty about the stability of the Korean Peninsula. Although the South Korean government repeatedly confirmed that the situation in the North was normal, many “irresponsible” parties contributed to wild speculation about North Korean leadership succession and even the possible need for external intervention to establish order in the North. This miasma of rumor and fabrication simply disappeared when Kim reappeared on May 1. By then, possible damage had been done to North Korean perceptions of the intentions of external parties ― perhaps this was the motivation of the original rumormongers?Meanwhile, another rumor is afoot, this time propagated by the Center for StrMay 14, 2020By Kim Rahn
