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
Japanese delegation makes rare visit to North Korea Members of a Japanese deletion, led by Shingo Kanemaru, pose in Pyongyang, Saturday. The trip came four months after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe offered to hold a summit with Kim's grandson, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, without any preconditions.YonhapA Japanese delegation arrived in Pyongyang, North Korea's state news agency said Saturday, amid soured relations between the two countries.The Yamanashi prefectural delegation led by Shingo Kanemaru arrived in Pyongyang, the Korean Central News Agency said in a one-sentence dispatch.Kanemaru is the second son of late Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Shin Kanemaru, who met with North Korea's founder Kim Il-sung during a visit to Pyongyang in 1990 with other Japanese politicians.It remains unclear whom Shingo Kanemaru will meet during his visit.The trip came four months after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe offered to hold a summit with Kim's grandson, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, without any preconditions.In June, North Korea dismissed Abe's offer as "a height of brazen-facedness," accusing Japan of desperately hurting NoSep 15, 2019
Reunions of separated families 'top priority' if inter-Korean talks resume Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul speaks to family members separated by the Korean War. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoReunions of family members separated by the Korean War (1950-53) will be the top priority if inter-Korean talks resume, South Korea's unification minister said Friday.“The government will continue to seek ways to fundamentally resolve the issue,” Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul said at Imjingak, a park in Paju, south of the demilitarized zone separating two Koreas. “There are too many people and most of them are very old,” he said. “South and North Koreas need to come up with the best possible ways to make their wishes come true before it's too late.”Kim made the comment as he celebrated the Chuseok holiday with members of divided families.Last September, South and North Korea agreed to set up a permanent family reunion center, but no progress has been made since.Tens of thousands remain separated from their family members as a result of the war, which ended in a truce. A total of 133,353 South Koreans have registered to be reunited with Sep 13, 2019By Jung Min-ho
It's 'wrong' to block separated families from being reunited: Moon President Moon Jae-in speaks at Cheong Wa Dae during an interview with KBS on Aug. 29. The show went on the air Friday. Courtesy of Cheong Wa DaePresident Moon Jae-in said Friday his administration will keep doing its best to create opportunities for separated families in the two Koreas to be reunited as often as possible.He was speaking in a special KBS program on the issue of family members residing on the other side of the border following the 1950-53 Korean War. It was aired for Chuseok, one of the most important traditional holidays for Koreans.The president expressed regret over the "slow progress" in implementing an inter-Korean agreement to hold regular family reunion events."It's wrong that governments in both the South and the North have not given them even a chance for such a long time," he said. He emphasized that it's a top-priority "humanitarian task" that needs to be resolved.The government will do its utmost to ensure the two Koreas hold more family reunion events, either face-to-face or via video link, and members of divided families can visit their hometowns, he addSep 13, 2019
Trump says he expects to meet North Korean leader at some point this year In this file photo taken on June 12, 2018, U.S. President Donald Trump, right, meets with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un at the start of their summit at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa Island, Singapore. AFPU.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that he expects to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at some point later this year.At the White House, Trump was asked by reporters if he plans to meet Kim this year and whether he has a new proposal for denuclearization negotiations with Pyongyang."At some point, yes," Trump said of the potential meeting. "Certainly, (the North Koreans) want to meet. They'd like to meet. I think it's something that will happen. And we'll see, but Kim Jong-un ― I think something can happen."Trump and Kim have had three meetings since June 2018 to negotiate the North's denuclearization in exchange for U.S. sanctions relief and security guarantees.But talks have stalled since Trump and Kim's second summit in Vietnam in February ended without a deal.On Monday the North's First Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui said her country would be willing to resume taSep 13, 2019
Inter-Korean liaison office generates 'half success' Vice Unification Minister Suh Ho, third from right, takes a look at the inter-Korean liaison office in the North Korean border city of Gaeseong on June 14. YonhapBy Lee Min-hyungAhead of the first anniversary of the joint communication office in the North Korean border city of Gaeseong, skepticism is rising about its effectiveness in promoting communication between the two Koreas. The inter-Korean liaison office opened Sept. 14, 2018, with much fanfare amid thawing relations between Seoul and Pyongyang, but the symbolic channel of communication ended up being only half successful in terms of advancing bilateral relations.By the time the office was established, expectations were the office would serve as a de facto embassy helping the two Koreas enhance their exchanges, thereby building a sustainable mood for inter-Korean reconciliation.The purpose of its establishment was noteworthy, as the office was aimed primarily at fostering peace on the Korean Peninsula. Despite the initial expectations, the office has so far failed to generate any outstanding or tangible outcomes amid weakeninSep 11, 2019By Lee Min-hyung
