N. Korea says Middle East could become 'graveyard' for US North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gestures during a meeting of the Central Committee of the Worker's Party in Pyongyang, in this photo released on April 10, 2019, by the Korean Central News Agency. ReutersNorth Korea's official news agency carried its first report Monday on the recent killing of a top Iranian general by the United States, while a propaganda media outlet said a day earlier that the Middle East could become a "graveyard" for the U.S.The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the Iranian general, Qassim Suleimani, was killed in a U.S. missile attack at an airfield in Bagdad early Friday morning and that China and Russia condemned the attack as a violation of the U.N. Charter."China and Russia emphasized that they not only object to abuse of military power in international relations but also cannot tolerate adventurous military acts," KCNA said, referring to a telephone conversation between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Saturday."They expressed concerns over regional situations being worsened by the U.S.'s illegal acJan 6, 2020
North Korea seeks digital transformation in 2020 North Korean leader Kim Jong-un uses a computer in this file photo. / Korea Times file Foreign experts skeptical of Pyongyang's initiative for smart economyBy Park Jae-hyukNorth Korea will speed up its transformation into a digital economy this year, following the global trend of integrating cutting-edge information technology (IT) with various conventional industries, according to a Seoul-based think tank.Sah Jin-hwan, a researcher at the Korea Development Bank's Future Strategy Research Institute, said in a recently published report that the country is highly likely to adopt “national development strategies for the digital economy” to transform it into “digital Joseon” in 2020.“Considering North Korea has emphasized the recent global trend of digital transformation and technology policies on digitization, a North Korean version of development strategies for a digital economy will soon come to the fore,” he said.“In order to make a breakthrough and boost economic gJan 5, 2020By Park Jae-hyuk
Pentagon chief: US will look at resuming military drills with S. Korea depending on NK move The United States will consider resuming military exercises with South Korea that have been suspended depending on North Korea's next move, the Pentagon chief has said.U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper made the comment in an interview with MSNBC Thursday after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un threatened in a New Year's message to soon showcase a "new strategic weapon."Experts have said the strategic weapon could be an intercontinental ballistic missile intended to pressure the U.S. to make concessions in the two countries' stalled denuclearization talks."Well, that's something we will take a look at, certainly, depending on Kim Jong-un's next move," Esper said when asked if it is time to resume the suspended exercises with South Korea. "It is true that we did scale back exercises because we wanted to keep the door open, or open the door for diplomacy. And I think that's the right way to proceed. In no way, shape, or form did it affect our fundamental ability to fight and win against North Korea. But those are things we would look at over the coming months as events unfold on the grounJan 4, 2020
NK newspaper calls for self-reliance amid int'l sanctions North Korea's official newspaper said Saturday that the communist state will not maintain an attachment to seeking the lifting of international sanctions currently imposed against Pyongyang and will instead overcome hurdles through a self-reliant approach.The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North's ruling party, reported that having an illusion of establishing peace with enemies will lead to self-destruction, and added the country will not have a lingering attachment to easing sanctions.North Korea also claimed that it does not believe that Washington will ever leave Pyongyang in peace, adding that the United States will not change its imperialist nature.The newspaper added that Pyongyang will make efforts to find ways to incapacitate such sanctions, rather than waiting for their abolishment.In late December, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presided over a four-day plenary meeting of the Workers' Party Central Committee and discussed policy directions on key domestic and diplomatic issues.During the party session, Kim said he sees no reason to stick to his earlier commitJan 4, 2020
North Korea's official newspaper warns of immediate, powerful strike against threats North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attends a meeting in Vladivostok, Russia, April 25, 2019. ReutersNorth Korea's official newspaper said Friday that any attempt to infringe upon the communist state's dignity and survival should be met by an "immediate and powerful" strike, calling for all-out efforts to build up its national defense capability.North Korean leader Kim Jong-un threatened at a key party meeting in late December that the world will soon witness a "new strategic weapon," and warned of a "shocking actual action," accusing the United States of stalling for time for its own poltical interests.Kim said that he sees no reason to stick to his commitment to suspend nuclear and long-range missile tests and that there will never be denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula until the U.S. rolls back its hostile policy against Pyongyang."An action that would violate our republic's dignity and survival should be met by an immediate and powerful strike," the Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North's ruling party, said in an editorial. "(We) should maintain invincible military Jan 3, 2020
US defense secretary urges North Korean leader to exercise restraint In this file photo taken on Dec. 18, 2019, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper participates in a press conference at the State Department in Washington, DC. AFPU.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Thursday urged North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to exercise "restraint" after the communist nation threatened to reveal a "new strategic weapon" in protest over stalled nuclear talks.Kim made the remark in a New Year's message that expressed his frustration over stalled denuclearization talks with the U.S. Experts have said the "strategic weapon" Kim said the world will see in the near future could be an intercontinental ballistic missile."We would urge restraint by Kim Jong-un," Esper said in an interview with Fox News, noting that the best path forward is still a political agreement on denuclearizing North Korea."We are on that path. We want to remain on that path, and we would obviously urge Kim Jong-un and his leadership team to sit back down at the negotiation table to do that," he said.Esper made clear, however, that the U.S. military stands ready to "fight tonight" if necessary."We haveJan 3, 2020
Floral tribute to former leaders North Korean residents pay tribute by laying flowers at the statues of North Korea's former leaders, Kim Il-sung, the country's founder, and his son Kim Jong-il, at Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on New Year's Day, in this photo from the Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the country's ruling Workers' Party of Korea, Thursday. Rodong Sinmun-YonhapJan 2, 2020
North Korea threatens to resume ICBM testing, Trump shrugs off Kim's taunt North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks during a meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party at the party's headquarters in Pyongyang, Wednesday. / YonhapBy Jhoo Dong-chanNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has indicated that his regime will lift its moratoria on nuclear and inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests, a move that will likely perplex U.S. President Donald Trump.During a four-day Worker's Party meeting in Pyongyang, Kim told senior North Korean officials that the test bans, which he agreed to in talks with Trump early last year, were no longer necessary, the North's state-run Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Wednesday. Unsurprisingly, he also said Pyongyang was planning to unveil what he called a “new strategic weapon” in the near future.In response, the U.S. president didn't seem to be upset. By mentioning Kim's agreement in Singapore about denuclearization, Trump stressed he still had a “good relationship” with the North Korean leader and added he has no questions that Kim will keep his word in refraining from conduJan 1, 2020By Jhoo Dong-chan
Kim Jong-un 'man of his word' on denuclearization: Trump President Donald Trump speaks to the media about the situation at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, from his Mar-a-Lago property, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, in Palm Beach, Fla. AP-YonhapU.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he believes Kim Jong-un will uphold his commitment to denuclearize after the North Korean leader threatened to show off a "new strategic weapon."Hours earlier, North Korean media reported that Kim saw no reason to continue his self-declared moratorium on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests, and warned that the world will soon see a "new strategic weapon."His remarks came as North Korea has expressed frustration over stalled denuclearization talks with the U.S. and threatened to take a "new way" unless Washington offers concessions."We'll see. I have a very good relationship with Kim Jong-un," Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida as he arrived for a New Year's Eve party."I know he's sending out certain messages about Christmas presents, and I hope his Christmas present is a beautiful vase," the president continued, reprising his earlJan 1, 2020
Kim Jong-un impatient with moratorium on ICBM tests, warns of 'new strategic weapon' North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presides the meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party at the party headquarters, Korean Central News Agency said on Jan. 1, 2020. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he sees no reason to stick to his commitment to suspend nuclear and long-range missile tests and will soon show off a "new strategic weapon," accusing the United States of stalling for time for its own political interests, according to state media Wednesday.Still, however, Kim appeared to have left room for negotiations as he also said during a meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party that how much the North will bolster its "nuclear deterrent" will depend on the future U.S. attitude.Kim said it was part of his efforts to build confidence with the U.S. that he suspended tests of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), but Washington responded with joint military exercises with South Korea and more sanctions on Pyongyang."Under such condition, there is no ground for us to get unilaterally bound to the commitment any loJan 1, 2020
