Otto Warmbier parents in South Korea: Death of son was 'intentional act' Parents of a U.S. college student who died after being released from North Korea in 2017 met with a South Korean opposition politician in Seoul on Friday.Fred and Cindy Warmbier, who have become activists targeting North Korea human rights abuses since the death of their son, Otto Warmbier, met with Liberty Korea Party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn to discuss the Kim Jong Un regime, South Korean news service News 1 reported Friday.Hwang said his party is prepared to make a "strong response" against North Korea, "so these things will not happen again."The former South Korean justice minister, who was in the middle of a hunger strike in protest of Seoul's policies, said his party will do more to hold Pyongyang accountable for its rights abuses."We think it unfortunate Otto Warmbier became a victim," Hwang told the Warmbiers. "We will continue to work hard on behalf of North Korea human rights."Hwang also thanked the Warmbiers for their activism and working with various international rights organizations, according to News 1.South Korea passed a North Korea human rights act in 2016. Hwang suggesNov 23, 2019
Reporter's Notebook Unification minister's 'lone wolf' diplomacy unwelcome in US Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chulBy Jhoo Dong-chanSouth Korean Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul has been experiencing a series of humiliations during his seven-day trip to the United States. Kim took off for Washington Nov. 17, and started suffering bitter insults on the very first day of his tour. He first met U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun at the State Department complex on Monday. Kim told reporters after his two-hour meeting with Biegun that he explained the significance of the Mount Geumgang project.He reiterated his stance during a keynote speech at the United States Institute of Peace that the South Korean government is aiming at “resuming the Mount Geumgang project as a basic framework for sustainable negotiation channels between the two Koreas.”His remark, however, faced mounting criticism here that it was irrelevant to current issues facing the two Koreas.Washington has imposed continuous pressure on Seoul to renew its General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) intel-sharing pact with Japan. It also demands a whoppNov 22, 2019By Jhoo Dong-chan
NK leader rejects Moon's invitation to ASEAN summit in South Korea In this April 26, 2019, file photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attends a wreath laying ceremony in Vladivostok, Russia. AP-YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un will not attend a special summit that South Korea will host for Southeast Asian leaders next week, turning down President Moon Jae-in's invitation to the event, Pyongyang's state media said Thursday.Moon sent a personal letter on Nov. 5 to invite Kim to the South Korea-ASEAN special summit slated for next Monday and Tuesday in the southeastern port city of Busan, but North Korea could not find any reason for its leader to travel for the event, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). (Yonhap)Nov 21, 2019
US backs off bit to entice NK to nuke talks U.S. President Donald Trump's Nov. 17 tweetBy Jhoo Dong-chanA senior North Korean diplomat arrived in Russia, Monday evening, for consultations with officials there over the possible resumption of denuclearization talks with the United States. “On Nov. 18, at Sunan International Airport Ambassador A. Matsegora saw off member of the State Affairs Commission of DPRK, First Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK Choe Son-hui who left on a visit to Russia,” the Russian embassy said in a post on its official Facebook page.The specifics of Choe's itinerary in Russia were not released, but political analysts in Seoul said she would probably discuss tactics with the officials ahead of any nuclear disarmament talks between Washington and Pyongyang. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has set the end of the year as a deadline for negotiations.Cheong Wa Dae officials declined to comment on the trip citing the sensitivity of the issue. Choe is well-known as a “lead negotiator” in the denuclearization talks and is also considered one of the top confidants of the North KoNov 18, 2019By Jhoo Dong-chan
Trump to Kim Jong-un: 'act quickly, get the deal done' U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday told North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to "act quickly" to reach a deal with the United States, in a tweet weighing in on North Korea's criticism of his political rival former Vice President Joe Biden.Trump, who has met Kim three times since 2018 over ending the North's missile and nuclear programs, addressed Kim directly, referring to the one-party state's ruler as "Mr. Chairman".In his tweet, Trump told Kim, "You should act quickly, get the deal done," and hinted at a further meeting, signing off "See you soon!"North Korea said on Thursday it had turned down a U.S. offer for fresh talks ahead of a year-end deadline Pyongyang has set for Washington to show more flexibility in negotiations.U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper announced in Thailand earlier on Sunday that joint U.S.-South Korean military drills would be postponed in an effort to bolster the stalled peace push.Pyongyang's official KCNA news agency in a commentary on Friday lashed out at Biden for insulting Kim, calling Biden a "rabid dog" that needs to be put down.Biden tops most nationaNov 18, 2019
Biden: North Korean insults 'badge of honor' Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden takes selfies with supporters at a campaign rally at Los Angeles Trade Technical College in Los Angeles Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019. AP-YonhapFormer U.S. Vice President and Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden has retorted North Korea's recent description of him as a "rabid dog," saying he wears such insults as a "badge of honor."Biden made the remarks in a statement Friday, a day after Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency said in a commentary that rabid dogs like Biden "must be beaten to death with a stick," according to U.S media outlets, including The Hill. Biden has been critical of U.S. President Donald Trump's engagement with dictators."It seems that murderous dictator Kim Jong-un doesn't like me," Biden was quoted as saying. "Add him to the list of autocrats who don't want me to be president ― right next to Vladimir Putin. I wear their insults as a badge of honor."Biden has shown aversion to Trump's handling of North Korea, particularly after the communist regime's launches of short-range projectilesNov 17, 2019
North Korean leader watches air show, calls for readiness to fight enemies North Korea's Korea Central News Agency reported Saturday that leader Kim Jong-un had watched a military air show at Wonsan Kalma Airport. In this photo, Kim is talking with the pilots who participated in the event. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended a military airshow and called on pilots to be ready to fight "enemies armed to the teeth," according to state media, Saturday. The airshow at Wonsan Kalma Airport on the North's east coast was "held by way of letting all the aircraft equipped with maximum armament conduct bombing flight and firing flight under the command of the formation flight by the flight commanding officers," the Korean Central News Agency reported in EnglishAfter watching the display, Kim expressed "great satisfaction" with the flight commanding officers who "fully demonstrated the invincible might" of the leader's "flying corps."Kim urged all pilots to be "fully ready for effectively applying" air tactics to operations and “battles,” adding it was important for them "to possess high level of aviation, bombing skill and marksmanship by systeNov 16, 2019
Biden's campaign takes swipe at Kim, Trump after North Korean attack Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden smiles during a campaign rally at the Los Angeles Trade Technical College, Nov. 14. AP-YonhapA spokesman for former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's presidential campaign responded Friday to North Korea's criticism of the Democratic presidential candidate by saying it is becoming obvious that "repugnant dictators" feel threatened by him.North Korea's state media lashed out at Biden earlier Friday, calling him a "rabid dog" that must be "beaten to death.""It's becoming more and more obvious that repugnant dictators, as well as those who admire and love them, find Joe Biden threatening," spokesman Andrew Bates was quoted as saying by Reuters."That's because he'd restore American leadership in the world on day one by putting our security, interests, and values at the heart of our foreign policy," he added.The criticism appeared directed at both North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said that the two "fell in love" after their first summit in Singapore in June 2018.The commentary from the Nov 16, 2019
US sees slimmer chance of diplomatically ending North Korean nuclear program North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, front, watched the regime's new tactical guided missile firing on Tuesday, according to the Korean Central News Agency, in August 2019. YonhapA senior U.S. official warned Friday that the chances of diplomatically ending North Korea's nuclear weapons program were growing slim.Speaking to reporters in a background briefing, the senior State Department official said he had delivered the message to Chinese officials on a recent trip to Beijing."I urged Beijing to maintain pressure on the regime, noting the space for a diplomatic solution is quickly closing; and that Beijing must take action to prevent sanctions evasion that occurs in its jurisdiction, such as a failure to stop ship-to-ship transfers of coal and oil that take place in Chinese waters," the official said without elaborating.The comment comes as denuclearization negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang have stalled since a second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in February ended without a deal.The North has stepped up pressure on the U.S. tNov 16, 2019
Railcars may indicate movement of radioactive material at North Korean nuclear complex: US think tank A view of what researchers of Beyond Parallel, a CSIS project, describe as specialized rail cars at the Yongbyon Nuclear Research Center in North Pyongan Province, North Korea, in this commercial satellite image taken April 12, 2019 and released April 16, 2019. Reuters-YonhapRecent satellite imagery has shown the movement of four specialized railcars that could indicate the transportation of radioactive material at North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear complex, a U.S. think tank said Friday. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) published the findings in a report, citing satellite imagery from Nov. 1 and 9, but added that it was unclear whether any radioactive material was actually moved.The Yongbyon Nuclear Research Center is North Korea's main nuclear facility and has been at the center of U.S.-North Korea negotiations aimed at dismantling the regime's nuclear weapons program.The four specialized railcars have been associated with the movement of radioactive material in the past, according to CSIS.On Nov. 1, one railcar, described as an approximately 10-meter-long flatNov 16, 2019
