North Korea unlikely to take Trump's offer North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is not expected to accept an offer from U.S. President Donald Trump to help Pyongyang combat the coronavirus pandemic, without Washington's sanctions relief. / Korea Times fileBy Kang Seung-wooThe U.S. offer to help North Korea fight the coronavirus pandemic is unlikely to be accepted by Pyongyang, according to pundits, Tuesday. In addition, the U.S. humanitarian approach to the North is not likely to give South Korea leeway for inter-Korean quarantine cooperation, they added.On Sunday, Kim Yo-jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's younger sister and close adviser, announced U.S. President Donald Trump had written a personal letter to his brother about cooperation on the fight against the virus ― although the reclusive country claims there are no cases of the COVID-19. “At this point in time, I doubt it,” said Terence Roehrig, a professor of national security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College.“Though North Korean statements have recognized the severe threat COVID-19 is for the country, it does not acknowledge any cases though thaMar 24, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
Is Trump's second letter to NK leader for dialogue or status quo? North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump meet at Panmunjeom in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, June 30, 2019. / Korea Times fileBy Kang Seung-wooU.S. President Donald Trump's personal letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to offer cooperation in fighting the coronavirus is raising speculation that Washington may be seeking to reopen nuclear disarmament dialogue with Pyongyang.At the very least, some critics say he is trying to preserve the status quo with the country ahead of the presidential election in November in order to portray the North Korea talks as a major foreign policy win.Since the collapse of the Hanoi summit between the two leaders in February 2019, nuclear diplomacy between the two countries has stalled. The North has carried out a series of short-range missile tests, the latest of which occurred Saturday, while Trump is now focused on his reelection. And what the two countries pay have in common is containment of the COVID-19 outbreak, as per Trump's letter.“We regard it as a good judgment and proper action for the U.S. president to make effoMar 22, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
North Korea praises Trump but warns on ties In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects military exercise at an undisclosed location in North Korea on Saturday, March 21, 2020. YonhapUS President Donald Trump has sent a letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un detailing a plan to develop ties, state media reported Sunday citing Kim's powerful sister, but she warned their good personal relationship is not enough, as a hiatus in disarmament talks drags on.The statement by Kim Yo Jong came a day after the nuclear-armed North fired what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast on Saturday, the latest such action it has taken this year."In the letter, he... explained his plan to propel the relations between the two countries of the DPRK and the US and expressed his intent to render cooperation in the anti-epidemic work," an apparent reference to the coronavirus pandemic, Jong said in the statement reported by the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).A senior administration official confirmed Trump sent a letter to Kim, "consistent with his effortsMar 22, 2020
NK leader guides artillery fire competition: KCNA North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has guided an artillery fire competition on the western front, state media said Saturday, the second such guidance in about a week.The competition Friday involved large combined units of the Korean People's Army, with the participation of the artillery units under the 3rd, 4th and 8th corps of the KPA, the Korean Central News Agency said in a report."The Supreme Leader expressed satisfaction, saying that the firing skill of the artillerymen on the western front, those under the 3rd Corps in particular, was remarkably great," said the English report. "And he spoke highly of them, noting that it was just like hitting the target with sniper rifle."The 3rd Corps had an "overwhelming victory" and took first place, followed by the 8th Corps and then the 4th Corps, according to the report."The Supreme Leader gave important instructions on the direction of the military and political work, including the issue of intensifying the drills of all the KPA units, as required by the prevailing situation," it continued."The competition held under the direct guidance ofMar 21, 2020
N. Korea to hold parliamentary meeting in April amid coronavirus fears North Korea's parliament will convene a plenary session in Pyongyang next month, state media said Saturday, amid the country's nationwide efforts to block an outbreak of the new coronavirus on its soil.The presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) on Friday released its decision to convene the third session of the 14th SPA on April 10, according to the Korean Central News Agency.North Korea usually holds such a meeting once in April every year to address the country's major policy, personnel reshuffles and budget affairs. Last year, the North held SPA meetings twice in April and August.Next month's gathering comes as North Korea is making all-out efforts to block the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus from spreading onto its soil.Though it has not reported any confirmed infections, the North has tightened its borders and quarantine measures.Such actions as the border closures and restrictions on movement of people and imported goods are expected to affect Pyongyang's intensified efforts to build a "self-reliant" economy amid long-stalled denuclearization talks with the UMar 21, 2020
N. Korea fires 2 short-range ballistic missiles toward East Sea North Korea on Saturday fired two projectiles presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, the latest in a series of such launches this month.They were fired northeastward from areas near its western county of Sonchon in North Pyongan Province at 6:45 a.m. and 6:50 a.m., respectively, the JCS said, adding that they flew around 410 kilometers, reaching a maximum altitude of around 50 km."South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities are analyzing other specifics," the authorities said. "Our military is monitoring the situation in case there are additional launches and maintaining a readiness posture."Calling the launch "a very inappropriate act" at a time when the whole world has been facing difficulties due to the coronavirus pandemic, the JCS called on the regime to immediately halt such military moves.It is the third time that the North has carried out such weapons tests so far this year after they began in March following months of hiatus.The last such test took place on March 9 when it fired at least three shoMar 21, 2020
North Korean leader attends ceremony for Pyongyang hospital amid coronavirus fears North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has attended a ceremony to break ground on a general hospital in Pyongyang, calling it a "crucial task" to prop up the country's public health, state media reported Wednesday.The ceremony to begin the construction of Pyongyang General Hospital marked Kim's first reported public activity in the capital city in about three weeks. Recent state media reports suggested that Kim had been away from Pyongyang to observe military drills along the east coast, including the latest one March 9. Speculation swirled that his unusually long absence from Pyongyang might have to do with coronavirus fears."Our party set it as a political matter of maintaining and glorifying the image of the Korean-style socialism and as a crucial task to which top-priority state efforts should be directed under whatever conditions and environments to prop up the field of public health," he was quoted as saying during the event. Kim ordered the hospital construction to be completed by the 75th founding anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPKMar 18, 2020
Kim Jong-un may have left Pyongyang to escape virus North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center, watches an artillery fire competition in an eastern region of the country, Thursday, according to the Korean Central News Agency report, Friday. It is speculated he has been out of Pyongyang to avoid possible infection of COVID-19. / YonhapBy Kim RahnSpeculation is growing that North Korean leader Kim Jong-is staying away from Pyongyang out of concern over the coronavirus in the country's crowded capital, following reports that he has been observing military exercises across the country for weeks. According to North Korea's state media reports, Kim has apparently been out of Pyongyang since Feb. 26 when he presided over a meeting of the ruling Workers' Party.Media reports said Kim inspected joint exercises in Wonsan in the country's eastern province of Kangwon, Feb. 28. It is speculated he moved from Pyongyang to Wonsan the previous day.On March 2, the North launched two short-range projectiles into the sea off the east coast as part of its exercises “under the guidance of Kim,” according to the reports. It launched another three pMar 13, 2020By Kim Rahn
Speculation grows that North Korean leader has been away from Pyongyang for weeks North Korean leader Kim Jong-un / Korea Times fileNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un's attendance at this week's artillery fire exercise has added to speculation that he has been away from Pyongyang for an extended period of time due possibly to coronavirus concerns.According to state media reports, Kim supervised the coastal artillery drill on Thursday, just days after he oversaw a similar exercise on March 9. These drills followed two more artillery exercises held on March 2 and Feb. 28 with the leader in attendance. The North did not disclose the location of Thursday's exercise. But considering the three previous drills took place either in the eastern coastal cities of Wonsan or Sondok, the latest one is also believed to have happened along the east coast.The short interval between these drills has raised speculation that Kim might be staying in east coast regions, rather than shuttling between Pyongyang and the east coast. Some media reports have speculated that he could be away from the capital city due to coronavirus fears.Kim's last public appearance unrelated to the military waMar 13, 2020
North Korea may test more advanced ICBM: US general This photo provided by the North Korean government shows a military drill at an undisclosed location in North Korea on Monday, March 9, 2020. APNorth Korea's recent engine testing suggests the regime may be ready to test a more advanced intercontinental ballistic missile that could pose a greater threat to the United States, a U.S. general said Thursday.Gen. Terrence O'Shaughnessy, commander of the U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, offered the assessment in a written statement to the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces ahead of a hearing on fiscal year 2021 priorities for missile defense and missile defeat programs."Kim Jong-un has demonstrated the capability to threaten the U.S. homeland with nuclear-armed ICBMs," he said, referring to the North Korean leader. "In 2017, North Korea successfully tested an apparent thermonuclear weapon as well as two ICBM designs capable of ranging most or all of North America ― feats only the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council had previously achieved."O'Shaughnessy recalled that aftMar 13, 2020
