North Korea seeking outside information ban via smartphone A North Korean woman holds her smartphone in Pyongyang. Korea Times file photoBy Park Ji-wonNorth Korea is trying to find more ways to control access to outside information as the number of its citizens with smartphones increases, according to a recent report.In the report released by the Washington-based Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) on Dec. 18, journalist Martyn Williams wrote that the ways of shutting down overseas information in smartphones have been diversified over the last decade in an apparent move to control its people's freedom.“Over the last decade, the regime has gotten increasingly sophisticated at clamping down on PCs and smartphones,” Williams wrote in the report titled "Digital Trenches: North Korea's Information Counter-Offensive."“It has proven adept at reacting to the potential freedoms such digital devices can bring and subverted open-source software to prevent citizens from exploiting those freedoms.“As cellular subscriptions rose, which is considered some 5 million, more and more citizens use their phones to watch foreiDec 24, 2019By Park Ji-won
Bolton says Trump's North Korea policy 'failing' In this file photo taken on August 29, 2019, U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton answers journalists questions after his meeting with Belarus President in Minsk. The former U.S. national security adviser criticized President Donald Trump's North Korea policy Monday (local time), warning that the country posed an "imminent" threat. AFPU.S. President Donald Trump's policy on North Korea is "failing" and the communist nation poses an imminent threat to American troops and allies, one of his former national security advisers said Monday.John Bolton, who worked for Trump until September, made the remark in a tweet as tensions have risen over North Korea's threat to send an unwelcome "Christmas gift" to the United States in protest of their stalled denuclearization talks."We say that it's unacceptable for North Korea to obtain nuclear weapons, but that's more rhetorical than a real policy at this point," wrote Bolton, who left the Donald Trump administration in September after numerous policy clashes with the U.S. president, including over North Korea."The risk to US forces & ouDec 24, 2019
'UN repatriation order on N. Korea workers may have limited impact' North Korean factory workers head to work before dawn in Dandong, a Chinese city on the border with North Korea, Dec. 5. AP-YonhapBy Park Ji-wonThe United Nations’ measure to remove all North Korean overseas workers, even those with valid work permits, will have limited impact on the North even after its Sunday deadline, experts say, amid difficulties of monitoring unregulated labor markets especially in China and Russia.The U.N. Security Council’s sanctions were imposed in December 2017 ordering its member nations to repatriate all North Korean employees from their territory within 24 months, or by Dec. 22, in an apparent move to pressure the North for its nuclear weapons production after it tested a long-range missile in 2017. There are no penalties, however, for not following the decision.The 100,000 North Koreans working overseas, mostly in China and Russia, are reportedly earning more than $500 million a year, contributing to Pyongyang’s economy. China allegedly hosts 50,000 North Korean workers and Russia has 30,000, accounting for around 80 percent of the entDec 23, 2019By Park Ji-won
N. Korean leader meets top military officials amid tension with US North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presides over an enlarged meeting of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Military Commission in this photo from the Korean Central News Agency (KNCA), Sunday. The KNCA did not say when the meeting was held. YonhapBy Yi Whan-wooNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has discussed the country's defense capabilities with top military officials, Pyongyang's state-controlled Korean Central News Agency (KNCA) reported Sunday.The enlarged meeting of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Military Commission has taken place six times since Kim took power in December 2011, with the last such meeting held in September.The commission is the North's top military decision-making body. Security and defense sources noted that the latest meeting took place amid heightened concerns the North may be about to return to a state of confrontation with the United States.The KNCA said Kim discussed “important organizational and political measures and military steps to bolster up” the armed forces and “gave analysis and briefing on the complicated internal and externalDec 22, 2019By Yi Whan-woo
Trump says he discussed North Korea with Xi In this June 29, 2019, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump, left, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, western Japan. AP-YonhapU.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the two countries' trade deal and North Korea.In a tweet, he said they had a "very good talk ... concerning our giant Trade Deal," referring to the interim agreement the two countries reached last week to halt additional tariffs on Chinese goods and require more Chinese purchases of U.S. farm and other products.It was unclear, however, what they discussed regarding North Korea."China has already started large scale purchases of agricultural product & more. Formal signing being arranged," Trump wrote. "Also talked about North Korea, where we are working with China, & Hong Kong (progress!)."The apparent phone call came as tensions have risen over North Korea's threats to launch a long-range missile unless the U.S. offers concessions before the year-end.China and Russia, key traditional alliDec 21, 2019
US Senate confirms Biegun as deputy secretary of state In this Dec. 16, 2019, photo, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun arrives for a meeting with South Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Cho Sei-young at the foreign ministry in Seoul, South Korea. AP-YonhapThe United States Senate on Thursday confirmed Stephen Biegun, Washington's top envoy for North Korea talks, as deputy secretary of state.Biegun's confirmation by a 90-3 vote came as the special representative has been in Beijing to meet with Chinese officials over North Korea.He has repeatedly expressed his intent to remain the lead negotiator for dismantling North Korea's nuclear weapons program even if appointed as the No. 2 official at the Department of State.Korea watchers have been divided on how Biegun's promotion will affect the negotiations with Pyongyang, with some saying it will elevate the issue to a higher U.S. foreign policy priority.Others have expressed concern the larger portfolio will turn his attention away from the talks. Biegun may also have to fill in for U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo if the top American diplomat decides to run for the SeDec 20, 2019
North Korea expected to test ballistic missile soon: experts A long-range rocket engine is tested at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station in Tongchang, North Pyongan Province, North Korea, in September 2018. / YonhapBy Jhoo Dong-chanMultiple sources at home and abroad said a North Korea ballistic missile test is imminent as denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang have reached a deadlock.U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, Stephen Biegun is visiting China this week following his trip to Seoul and Tokyo in a bid to seek a possible dialogue with Pyongyang, but North Korea is reiterating its position that it won't return to the table unless economic sanctions are lifted.Pyongyang said earlier this month that it will send a “Christmas gift” to the United States, but what the gift contains will depend entirely on Washington.U.S. Pacific Air Forces Commander, Gen. Charles Brown, claimed North Korea's Christmas gift will be a long-range ballistic missile test in the coming week.“What I would expect is some type of long-range ballistic missile would be the gift. It is just a matter of, does it come on ChristmDec 20, 2019By Jhoo Dong-chan
KINU displays skepticism on North Korean denuclearization process Korea Institute for National Unification researcher Kim Gap-sik, center, speaks during the institute's year-end media conference at the Koreana Hotel in central Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Korea Institute for National UnificationBy Jhoo Dong-chanThe Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) remains skeptical on the future course of North Korea's denuclearization process as the North's peace talks with the South and the United Stated show no signs of a breakthrough.The state-funded think tank said South Korea's efforts for peace have lost momentum due to stalled peace talks between the U.S. and North Korea.“The U.S. and North Korea have been exchanging tough remarks since their October talks failed to find a middle ground,”KINU fellow researcher Kim Gap-sik said during the institute's year-end media conference at the Koreana Hotel in central Seoul, Wednesday.“Washington is stressing the importance of resuming dialogue despite its tug-of-war with North Korea, but Pyongyang is reiterating its position claiming it is meaningless to resume talks under the curreDec 18, 2019By Jhoo Dong-chan
US envoy on North Korea to ask China to restart denuke talks U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun arrives at the foreign ministry in Tokyo, Wednesday. AP-YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chulU.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun is set to ask senior Chinese government officials for China's help to restart the stalled denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang, a senior ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmaker said.“Biegun used his high-profile meetings with senior Seoul officials as an opportunity to highlight U.S. readiness to apply quite flexible and inventive ways to bring North Korea back to the negotiating table. He is likely to convey these ideas he discussed with South Korean officials to Chinese officials. Simply, Biegun would ask China for Beijing's help to resume the denuclearization talks,” the lawmaker who is involved with the matter told The Korea Times, Wednesday.The State Department announced the U.S. envoy for the North will visit Beijing on Thursday and Friday after China and Russia proposed lifting some United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions on the North. ThDec 18, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul
Biegun to visit China to discuss North Korea U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun arrives for a meeting with South Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Cho Sei-young at the foreign ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. APU.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun will visit Beijing later this week to discuss the need to maintain international unity on North Korea, the State Department said Tuesday.Biegun will be in the Chinese capital on Thursday and Friday following visits to Seoul and Tokyo, the department said in a brief statement.He will "meet with (Chinese) officials to discuss the need to maintain international unity on North Korea," it said, indicating the U.S. official will urge Beijing to keep up sanctions pressure on Pyongyang.On Monday, China and Russia proposed a draft United Nations resolution calling for the lifting of some sanctions on the North.A State Department spokesperson called the proposal premature, saying the North is threatening to conduct an "escalated provocation" and refusing to meet to discuss denuclearization.North Korea has demanded sanctions relief Dec 18, 2019
