Trump, Moon agree not to seek 'offensive stance' against North Korea South Korean President Moon Jae-in shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump at the InterContinental Barclay hotel during the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday (KST), in New York. AP-YonhapSeoul's spy agency hints at Kim Jong-un's visit to Busan By Kim Yoo-chul, Do Je-haeNEW YORK/SEOUL ― President Donald Trump agreed with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in not to pursue an “offensive stance” against North Korea, noting Washington is “getting along very well” with Pyongyang, Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday (KST). “President Moon Jae-in and President Donald Trump reaffirmed their previous promises on North Korea. Both Seoul and Washington will not take an offensive stance against Pyongyang. Also, they agreed that North Korea can have a bright future if it takes visible and concrete steps toward denuclearization,” Kim Hyun-chong, second deputy head of the National Security Office, told reporters in a briefing after the two leaders' summit.The meeting at the InterContinental New York Barclay Hotel lasted 65 minutes and also covered the issuSep 24, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul
US-NK in talks to clarify 'denuclearization' term Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha responds to questions at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel, Monday, about issues South Korean President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump will discuss during their summit Tuesday (KST). YonhapFM Kang confirms NK wants 'security guarantee'By Kim Yoo-chulNEW YORK ― The United States and North Korea are in talks to agree on a “mutually-acceptable” definition for “denuclearization,” South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Monday (KST) in a briefing at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel. “Since the breakdown in Hanoi, yes, there has been a lot of discussion between Washington and Pyongyang over the issue of the desired end state for denuclearization, and the clarification of actual denuclearization. Lots of interpretations have been used regarding denuclearization as there are different definitions. The upcoming working-level discussions between Washington and Pyongyang will look into that issue, seriously and thoroughly, to gain a clear concept of the term,” the foreign minister saidSep 23, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul
Weather agency says 3.5 magnitude quake occurs in Pyonggang, North Korea South Korea's state weather agency said Saturday that a 3.5 magnitude earthquake occurred in Pyonggang, North Korea's Kangwon Province. YonhapSouth Korea's state weather agency said Saturday that a 3.5 magnitude earthquake occurred in Pyonggang, in North Korea's Kangwon Province. The Korea Meteorological Administration added, however, that there may not have been any damage from the "natural" quake. (Yonhap)Sep 21, 2019
Trump boasts of getting detainees back, cites Warmbier case Kim Dong-chul, who had been a captive of North Korea, is welcomed back to America by President Donald and his wife Melania Trump at Joint Base Andrews on May 10 2018. APU.S. President Donald Trump boasted Friday of his successes in getting detainees back from foreign nations and cited the case of Otto Warmbier, an American college student who died in 2017 shortly after being released from North Korea.Trump made the comments as he praised his new national security adviser, Robert O'Brien, who previously served as the administration's envoy for hostage negotiations."I think we can say that there has never been anybody that's done better than you and I as a combination," Trump said during a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the White House. "We brought many people home and we brought them home quickly. Speed is a very important thing, I find, with hostages."Mentioning Warmbier, who was detained in the North for more than a year and found in a coma when U.S. officials went to secure his release, Trump lamented that he was not brought out sooner.The USep 21, 2019
Trump touts 'very good' relationship with Kim ahead of possible nuke talks U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in the East Room of the White House, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, in Washington DC. APPresident Donald Trump touted his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Friday, as the two countries move toward resuming denuclearization talks. Trump said at a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Scott Walker at the White House that the negotiations may or may not succeed, but that his relationship with Kim was "positive." "I think the best thing that happened to this country is the fact that, at least for three years in fact, that I have a very good relationship with Kim Jong-un," he told reporters at the start of the meeting. "His country has tremendous potential. He knows that."Trump and Kim have had three meetings since June 2018 to negotiate the dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear weapons program in exchange for U.S. economic and political concessions.Talks stalled after their second summit in February ended without a deal, but they are expected to resume as early as this moSep 21, 2019
US, NK should never lose golden chance for talks: unification chief Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul, second from right, speaks with Jeong Se-hyun, right, new deputy chair of the presidential National Unification Advisory Council, while taking part in an event in Seoul to commemorate the first anniversary of the Sept. 19 inter-Korean summit, Thursday. YonhapBy Lee Min-hyungThe United States and North Korea “should never lose their golden chance for peace talks,” even if both sides are still facing a tough road ahead to end decades of hostility and distrust, South Korea's unification minister said Thursday.“North Korea would be able to take a big step toward a new path called denuclearization if the U.S. and the North engage in substantive and reasonable negotiations on the basis of their bilateral trust,” Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul said in a congratulatory message on the first anniversary of the historic inter-Korean summit held in Pyongyang.The unification chief went on to say that the South Korean government would also “do everything it could” to back up the reviving dialogue momentum between the U.S. aSep 19, 2019By Lee Min-hyung
Separated families age, diminish fast An elderly man wipes away tears during a consolation ceremony for families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Sept. 11. / YonhapBy Yi Whan-wooThe number of remaining members of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War is dwindling at an alarming level, as nearly 60 percent of those previously registered with the government are dead, according to the latest data.The rate of decrease is expected to accelerate as more than eight of every 10 remaining survivors are in their 70s or older.This situation is prompting the need for both Koreas to organize reunions regularly irrespective of the political and security atmosphere, according to observers.A total of 133,353 South Koreans seeking a cross-border reunion have registered with the Ministry of Unification and the (South) Korean Red Cross since 1988. The Seoul government created a database that year to systematically manage the divided families.The data now shows that 79,466 or 59.6 percent of the people registered have died as of August this year, leaving only 53,887 alive.The ministry said this finding is seriSep 19, 2019By Yi Whan-woo
North Korea-themed pub? A risky business idea in Seoul Empty frames are seen after the removal of the portraits of late North Korean leaders and the image of a North Korean flag from the exterior of the North Korea-themed pub under construction in Seoul's Hongdae area, Sept. 16. YonhapA woman takes a photo of the signs that satirize North Korean-style slogans near the North Korea-themed pub under construction in Seoul's Hongdae area, Sept. 16. YonhapOwner removes images of late North Korean leaders over fears of national security lawBy Jung Min-hoYou may have thought that a North Korea-themed cafe or restaurant would be a hit in South Korea. But putting that business idea into action may get you into serious trouble.Earlier this week, the owner of a North Korea-themed pub in Seoul's Hongdae area removed a North Korean flag and portraits of the country's late leaders ― Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il ― from the building's exterior after police warned him.The owner of the Pyongyang Pub, which is still under construction, said he came up with the idea to promote his business, not the regime. The place also was decorated with parodies of North KSep 19, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Trump says it isn't time for him to visit North Korea U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before departing on Marine One from the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, in Washington. APU.S. President Donald Trump said Monday it is not the right time to visit Pyongyang after a newspaper reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un invited him for what would be their third summit.Trump said last week that he expected to meet Kim again "at some point" this year.The South Korean newspaper JoongAng Ilbo reported Monday that Kim invited Trump to Pyongyang in a letter sent in August."I don't want to comment on that," Trump told reporters at the White House when asked if he was invited. Asked if he would be willing to go to North Korea, he said: "Probably not. I don't think it's ready. I don't think we're ready for that. I would do it some time, at some time at a later future."Trump and Kim have had three meetings to negotiate the dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear weapons program in exchange for U.S. economic and political concessions."Depending on what happens, I'm sure he'll love coming to the United StateSep 17, 2019
Dog meat shunned in South Korea, remains popular in North Dog meat soup is seen with other dishes in this photo taken at a restaurant in Pyongyang in 2018. Dog meat remains a popular stamina food in summer in North Korea while it is shunned by an increasing number of people in the South. / YonhapBy Yi Whan-wooAn Chan-il, a North Korean defector-turned researcher in Seoul, says growing public sentiment against eating dog meat has been a culture shock for him while living here.This is because North Koreans still see dog meat as a traditional food which is known to be good for “stamina” ― especially during summer ― according to An, who fled to the South in 1979.“We even have a tradition of sharing dog meat among neighbors,” he told The Korea Times. “There has been no problem with regarding dog as a common dietary staple, and I found it really odd that people here have increasingly argued and protested eating dog meat in recent years.”Another defector, who goes by the alias Lee Kun-shin, blames poverty for the consistent demand for dog meat in the North.“Dog, chicken and gray mullet are among a handful Sep 16, 2019By Yi Whan-woo
