Danish aid group sends W280 million-worth of food aid to North Korea In this March 13, 2019, photo, a worker walks among stacks of food at Kumkhop Trading Co. food factory in Pyongyang, North Korea. AP-Yonhap An aid group from Denmark recently provided more than 600 tons of food in humanitarian aid to North Korea, according to a report, Saturday.Mission East sent 636 tons of corn and beans, worth 280 million won (US$234,000), to the impoverished North, Radio Free Asia reported.The aid was delivered by truck via China.The report said the aid was designated to feed 33,000 children in the country's northwestern Pyongan Province. (Yonhap)Sep 7, 2019
Reporter's Notebook Chuseok highlights separated families' agony Separated relatives from North and South Korea hold each other's hands during a reunion event on Aug. 25, 2018, the second day of the second round of the 21st inter-Korean family reunion event at a resort on Mount Geumgang in North Korea. Joint Press CorpsBy Jung Da-min Chuseok, a nationwide autumn holiday, is just around the corner. While many people are expecting to return to their hometowns to spend the holiday with their families, there are those who cannot see their families or visit their hometowns.The tragedy of separated families since the division of South and North Korea is often forgotten especially when inter-Korean relations are strained. With North Korea's series of missiles tests since May this year amid the stalled denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang, there is a possibility that this year could be another year that will end without a family reunion event. Despite the surprise meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on June 30, there has not been much headway with reviving the reunions of separated families. PSep 6, 2019
2.3-magnitude 'natural' earthquake hits North Korea Captured from KMA websiteBy Park Si-soo A 2.3-magnitude earthquake was detected north of Pyongyang, North Korea's capital, Sunday afternoon. The seismic activity was recorded at 1:22 p.m. with its epicenter 27 kilometers southeast of Gaechun, North Pyongan Province, at a depth of 16 kilometers, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). KMA believes the quake was “natural” and too weak to cause damage. North Korean media have not yet reported the quake.Sep 1, 2019
North Korea berates Pompeo, says hopes for talks fading North Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui / Korea Times fileA top North Korean diplomat said Saturday that expectations for talks with the United States are fading away, bristling strongly at U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's description of Pyongyang's behavior as "rogue."First Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui also warned the U.S. not to test Pyongyang's patience, claiming that Pompeo's remarks made the resumption of working-level negotiations between the two countries more difficult."Our expectations of dialogue with the U.S. are gradually disappearing and we are being pushed to reexamine all the measures we have taken so far," Choe said in a statement carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)."We are very curious about the background of the American top diplomat's thoughtless remarks and we will watch what calculations he has. The U.S. had better not put any longer our patience to the test with such remarks irritating us if it doesn't want to have bitter regrets afterwards," she said. On Tuesday, Pompeo said in a speech to American vetAug 31, 2019
US sanctions 3 shipping firms over illicit NK activity The United States has sanctioned three shipping firms for allegedly engaging in illicit ship-to-ship transfers of refined petroleum goods to North Korea. YonhapThe United States sanctioned three shipping firms Friday for allegedly engaging in illicit ship-to-ship transfers of refined petroleum goods destined for North Korea.The U.S. Treasury Department announced the measures on its website, adding the companies were based in Taiwan and Hong Kong.The department also sanctioned two Taiwanese individuals and designated a Panama-flagged vessel as blocked property for engaging in related activity."Shipping companies trading with North Korea are exposing themselves to significant sanctions risk, despite the deceptive practices they try to employ," Treasury Under Secretary Sigal Mandelker said in a statement."Treasury will implement and enforce existing U.S. and U.N. sanctions on individuals, entities and vessels involved in illicit ship-to-ship transfers with North Korean flagged vessels," she added.North Korea is under a wide array of international sanctions for its nuclear and ballistic Aug 31, 2019
Reporter's Notebook Humanitarian aid to North Korea should continue Sacks of rice prepared by the South Korean government to send to flood victims in North Korea are loaded at the Port of Gunsan in North Jeolla Province in this 2010 file photo. Yonhap By Jung Da-min Providing any sanctions relief to North Korea is often linked with the progress of denuclearization dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang. But sanctions should not hamper humanitarian aid focused relief assistance.Recent findings by a report titled “The Human Costs of U.N. Sanctions and Funding Shortfalls for Humanitarian Aid in North Korea,” published by the Washington-based think tank 38 North on Aug. 22, has revealed preventable deaths attributable to delays and funding shortfalls have been estimated to be 3,968 in the single year of 2018, with 223 deaths out of them were due to delays in the U.N.’s exemption process for humanitarian aid items. It said the numbers represented minimum with the limited data available.The report pointed out that funding shortfalls led to reductions in the U.N. programming causing 87 percent of total preventable deaths. But it saAug 30, 2019
Kim Jong-un becomes 'formal' head of state with more power than ever Members of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) attend the Second Session of 14th SPA at Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang, Thursday, the country's state-run Korean Central News Agency reported (KCNA) the same day. KCNA-YonhapBy Jung Da-min North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un has become a “formal” head of state, with better-cemented legal grounds through recent amendments and supplements of the country’s Socialist Constitution, North Korea watchers said Friday. An announcement on some changes in legal status and duty of the chairman of the State Affairs Commission (SAC), the position taken by the country’s actual leader Kim Jong-un, came a day before at the Second Session of the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA). While the SAC is Pyongyang’s supreme leadership institution, the SPA is a rubber-stamp parliament. Kim Jong-un did not attend the Thursday SPA session and Choe Ryong Hae, a member of SPA and also the president of SPA Presidium presided it, according to a report by the country’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KAug 30, 2019
Moon invites Kim Jong-un at summit in Busan In this photo provided by Cheong Wa Dae, President Moon Jae-in listens to a report from officials about the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Aug. 22. AP-YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chulPresident Moon Jae-in is sticking to his engagement-driven North Korea policy, seeking to break the impasse in the denuclearization talks via another direct encounter with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the upcoming summit with leaders of Southeast Asian countries in Busan.In a special contribution to Bangkok Post, the President said he is expecting to meet Kim at the ASEAN-South Korea Commemorative Summit to be held in the country's largest port city of Busan.“It would be a very meaningful occasion for peace on the Korean Peninsula and in East Asia, if Kim Jong-un is given the chance to join the gathering. East Asian countries would be able to discuss in detail with the North about possible areas of cooperation between them,” President Moon said. The remarks were confirmed by Cheong Wa Dae, Friday. South Korea will hold the summit and Mekong-SAug 30, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul
Moon hopes for North Korean leader's participation in ASEAN summit President Moon Jae-in / YonhapSouth Korean President Moon Jae-in said Friday he would "embrace" Japan if it shifts to dialogue to end diplomatic and trade rifts between the two sides, again extending an olive branch to Tokyo."I'm ready to embrace and cooperate with Japan when it returns to the table for dialogue and cooperation, whenever that may be," he said in a written interview with the Bangkok Post.He's scheduled to visit Thailand next week in a Southeast Asian swing that will also take him to Myanmar and Laos.Moon voiced hope that Seoul and Tokyo will fulfill their responsibility "so that future generations in East Asia will be able to experience prosperity achieved through cooperation."The message shows that his administration leaves the door open for talking with the neighboring country even after its decision last week to terminate a bilateral pact on sharing military intelligence, known as the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA).The measure came after Japan snubbed the president's overtures in his Aug. 15 Liberation Day speech. He said South Korea wiAug 30, 2019
North Korea changes constitution to solidify Kim's rule North Korea's parliament has approved changes to the country's constitution to solidify leader Kim Jong-un's role as head of state, official state media said Thursday. YonhapNorth Korea's parliament has approved changes to the country's constitution to solidify leader Kim Jong-un's role as head of state, official state media said on Thursday.The move comes after Kim was formally named head of state and commander-in-chief of the military in a new constitution in July that analysts said was possibly aimed at preparing for a peace treaty with the United States.North Korea has long called for a peace deal with the United States to normalise relations and end the technical state of war that has existed since the 1950-1953 Korean War, which concluded with an armistice rather than a peace treaty.Kim's legal status as "representing our state has been further consolidated to firmly ensure the monolithic guidance of the Supreme Leader over all state affairs", state news agency KCNA quoted Choe Ryong-hae, president of the presidium of the supreme people's assembly, as saying.The presidium presiAug 30, 2019
