US spy aircraft on missions over East Sea: aviation tracker The U.S. Air Force's RC-135 surveillance plane. WikipediaThe United States flew a RC-135S surveillance plane over South Korea's East Sea, an aviation tracker said Tuesday, on an apparent mission to collect intelligence regarding North Korea.The RC-135S Cobra Ball aircraft departed Kadena Air Base in Japan's Okinawa and flew over the East Sea earlier in the day, Aircraft Spots said in a Twitter post.The surveillance aircraft last made a similar flight over the region in early October.As one of America's major intelligence-gathering assets, the aircraft collects data regarding missile launches, such as the movement of transporter erector launcher (TEL) vehicles and electronic signals, a military source here said.The deployment came a week after North Korea tested a "super-large" multiple rocket launcher as the latest in a series of test-firings of projectiles, including new types of ballistic missiles. On Oct. 2, North Korea also test-fired a new type of SLBM, the Pukguksong-3. The South Korean military has said it is monitoring the situation in case the North conducts additional launcNov 5, 2019
Cash-strapped NK guest workers juggle two jobs North Korean defector identified only by his surname Park looks out in this still photo of “Dollar Heroes.” Park, who now lives in South Korea, was a former North Korean guest worker in Russia and he worked as a lumberjack there in the 1980s. / Photo from Sebastian Weis'Dollar Heroes' zooms in on state-sponsored modern-day slavery By Kang Hyun-kyungIn the small Gulf country of Kuwait, North Korean guest workers have occasionally become unwanted newsmakers: some have been caught brewing or selling liquor against the local law. Once arrested, they are ordered to leave Kuwait. North Koreans' repeated violations of local laws and subsequent deportations have caused those who are familiar with the issue to be critical of their “short-sightedness.” They wonder why the North Koreans risk their “careers” and return home with shattered dreams. The 2018 documentary “North Korea's Secret Slaves: Dollar Heroes” gives insight into North Korean guest workers juggling two jobs. According to the film, they are modern-day slaves, working long hours withNov 3, 2019By Kang Hyun-kyung
Pompeo says North Korean launch 'consistent' with previous weapons tests U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivers remarks at the Secretary of State's Awards for Corporate Excellence 20th anniversary ceremony at the State Department in Washington, DC, on Oct. 31, 2019. AFP-YonhapU.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday that North Korea's recent test launches of “projectiles” appeared to be of rockets that were "consistent" with those the regime has tested before.Pompeo made the remarks in an interview with KQAM, a radio station based in Wichita, Kansas, a day after North Korea conducted what it called the successful test of a super-large multiple rocket launcher.South Korea's military had earlier said the North fired two short-range projectiles from a western region toward the East Sea and that both flew about 370 kilometers at a maximum altitude of around 90 km."So it would've been now the last 24 hours North Korea fired two ― what we think were rockets that were consistent with what they've done before," Pompeo said."We are still working diligently to execute what President Trump and Chairman Kim agreed to now in June of a year agoNov 2, 2019
Xi voices willingness to maintain 'close communication' with Kim Jong-un Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a welcome ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Oct. 25, 2019. Reuters-YonhapChinese President Xi Jinping has said he is ready to maintain "close communication" with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and promote the two countries' ties, according to the North's state media, Saturday. In a reply to a congratulatory message sent by Kim on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Xi said he "firmly" supported Kim's pursuit of developing his country's economy and improving the people's livelihoods, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported."I am ready to keep close communication with you and achieve new and greater development of the China-DPRK relations with joint efforts," Xi said in the message.DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.The reply, dated Oct. 30, came a month after Kim sent the congratulatory message for the anniversary.After years of chilly relations following the North's nuclear and missile tests, Beijing and Pyongyang have recNov 2, 2019
Dialogue efforts worsen Pyongyang's rogue behavior North Korea has successfully tested “super-large” multiple rocket launcher, according to the Korean Central News Agency, Friday. YonhapBy Yi Whan-wooNorth Korea has repeatedly displayed “rogue” behavior, with its latest actions ranging from a test of a “super-large” multiple rocket launcher, staging a World Cup qualifier match with South Korea behind closed doors, and unilaterally deciding to demolish South Korean assets at the Mount Geumgang Resort. While analysts acknowledged the North's latest behavior resembles its past actions, they warned that its recent moves are increasingly worrisome.They said this is because despite its leader's promise to become a “normal state,” its latest actions are evidence of regression; and there is evidence the North has made advancements in its military technology.Given this, the experts noted that the U.S. and South Korea should reconsider being “indefinitely” patient with the North in the hopes of it eventually denuclearizing.“Pyongyang will not give up its nuclear weapons and the Nov 1, 2019By Yi Whan-woo
North Korea hails 'successful test of super-large multiple rocket launcher' This Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019, photo provided by the North Korean government, shows what it says a test firing of a super-large rocket launcher by the Academy of Defense Science in North Korea. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)North Korea's official news agency said Friday that the country successfully tested a super-large multiple rocket launcher the previous day, adding that it verified the "perfection" of the weapons system.On Thursday, South Korea's military said that the North fired two short-range projectiles from its western region toward the East Sea, saying both flew about 370 kilometers."The Academy of Defense Science of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea succeeded in another test-fire of super-large multiple rockNov 1, 2019
North Korea fires two unidentified projectiles toward East Sea: JCS North Korea's Korean Central News Agency released on Oct. 3 a photo of their submarine-launched ballistic missile Pukkuksong-3. YonhapNorth Korea fired two unidentified projectiles toward the East Sea on Thursday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, amid a lack of progress in denuclearization talks with the United States and chilled inter-Korean ties."The projectiles were fired from areas in South Pyongan Province in the afternoon," the JCS said in a brief release, adding, "Our military is monitoring the situation in case of additional launches and maintaining a readiness posture." No other details were immediately available, including the projectiles' type and flight range.It is the 12th time that North Korea has carried out such a weapons test so far this year, with the last test-firing taking place on Oct. 2, when it tested a new type of submarine-launched ballistic missile, the Pukguksong-3, from waters off its east coast.During the previous 10 rounds of tests, the North test-fired short-range projectiles, including its version of Russia's Iskander ballistic missile aOct 31, 2019
Minister, biz leaders discuss North Korean demand for facility removal from Mount Kumgang Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul, center, discusses with Presidents of Hyundai Asan, a firm dedicated to North Korean tourism and other inter-Korean businesses, and Korea Tourism Organization about the North Korean demand for facility removal from Mount Kumgang at Seoul Government Complex in Jongno District, Seoul, Thursday. YonhapUnification Minister Kim Yeon-chul was met with the heads of South Korean operators of now-suspended tours to North Korea's Mount Kumgang on Thursday to discuss how to handle Pyongyang's demand for the removal of all resort facilities from the mountain.Kim's meeting with Bae Kook-hwan, president of Hyundai Asan Corp., and Ahn Young-bae, president of the state-run Korean Tourism Organization (KTO), came days after the North rejected Seoul's offer to hold talks about its demand for the removal of all South Korean-built resort facilities.The North has said it will build its own international tourist zone at the mountain. The demand was seen as an expression of the North's frustration with the long-suspended tour project amid international sanctions on PyongyOct 31, 2019
Kim Jong-un sends condolence message to Moon over passing of his mother In this undated photo provided on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019, by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, visits the Diamond Mountain resort in Kumgang, North Korea. Korean Central News Agency-APNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has extended a condolence message to President Moon Jae-in over the death of his mother, Kang Han-ok, Cheong Wa Dae announced Thursday.Kim delivered the message Wednesday afternoon through the truce village of Panmunjom, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson, Ko Min-jung.It was conveyed soon after to Moon at Namcheon Catholic Cathedral in Busan, where a mourning station for Kang was set up, she added.Kim sent his "consolation" message for Moon, expressing his "deep condolence," Ko added.Kang was laid to rest earlier Thursday after a Catholic Mass. Kang was a Catholic. The 92-year-old died from a chronic illness Tuesday. Pope Francis also delivered a message, reading, "I was saddened to learn of the death of your dear mother Teresa Kang, and I assure you of my spiritual closeness during this time of sorrow." He added, "Joining you in gOct 31, 2019
US House passes bill on reuniting Korean-Americans with North Korean family members Rep. Grace Meng, the Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's sixth district, speaks with USA TODAY in May 2019. Screen capture from YouTubeA U.S. congressional committee on Wednesday passed a bill calling for U.S. efforts to reunite Korean-Americans with their family members in North Korea.The Divided Families Reunification Act, introduced by Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), passed through the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee amid ongoing tensions between the U.S. and the North over the regime's nuclear weapons program.The bill requires the U.S. secretary of state and the U.S. special envoy on North Korea human rights issues to consult with the South Korean government and the Korean-American community on potential opportunities and efforts for reunions between Korean-Americans and their North Korean family members, who have been separated since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.It also requires them to submit reports on their consultations to Congress. The position of U.S. special envoy on North Korea human rights issues has been vacant since January 2017Oct 31, 2019
