US scraps visa waiver for South Koreans with record of North Korea visit In this July 8 file photo, people visit Mansu Hill to pay tribute to the late leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Kim Il-sung's death in Pyongyang, North Korea. APThe United States is no longer waiving visas for South Koreans and other foreign nationals with records of a visit to North Korea since March 2011, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday.The tightened measure, effective Tuesday (U.S. time), requires them to apply for a U.S. visa in person through the embassy and undergo necessary steps, including an interview."It does not mean a travel ban to the U.S. for having visited North Korea. (The applicant) can still enter the country after obtaining a visa that suits the purpose of the visit," a ministry official said.About 37,000 South Koreans, who have been to the North at least once since March 1, 2011, are expected to be affected by the new rule, according to ministry sources.If there is an urgent need for travel, the person can make an "expedited appointment" with the U.S. Embassy in Seoul for a swift process.Under the visa-free schemeAug 6, 2019
North Korea fires projectiles twice into sea, says it could seek 'a new road' North Korea on Tuesday fired unidentified projectiles twice into the sea while lashing out at the United States and South Korea for continuing their joint military exercises that the North says could derail fragile nuclear diplomacy. YonhapNorth Korea fired two projectiles believed to be short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Tuesday, South Korea's military said, in an apparent show of force against the ongoing joint military exercise between Seoul and Washington.The projectiles were fired at 5:24 a.m. and 5:36 a.m. from North Korea's southwestern county of Kwail in South Hwanghae Province, and both flew around 450 kilometers across the peninsula before splashing into the East Sea, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.Their maximum altitude was about 37 km, and the top speed was around Mach 6.9, according to the JCS."South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities believe that these short-range missiles bear similar flight features to the ballistic missiles North Korea test-fired on July 25," the JCS said, adding that analysis is underway to determine their exact type."OuAug 6, 2019
Trump: 'Kim Jong-un won't disappoint me' despite missile tests U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday underlined his intense personal support for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, even if he admitted that Pyongyang's recent missile tests "may" violate a UN resolution."There may be a United Nations violation, but Chairman Kim does not want to disappoint me with a violation of trust, there is far too much for North Korea to gain," Trump said in a series of tweets on the subject."Chariman Kim has a great and beautiful vision for his country, and only the United States, with me as President, can make that vision come true," Trump added, misspelling the North Korean dictator's official title.Nuclear-armed North Korea is barred from ballistic missile tests under UN resolutions, and its recent repeated testing of short-range missiles have been condemned by European members of the UN Security Council.Trump, however, has dismissed the tests as "standard."The US president has invested a huge amount of political capital in his attempt to persuade Kim to end his country's isolation and give up its nuclear arsenal.However, despite three massively publicized faAug 3, 2019
Trump says he has 'no problem' with North Korea's missile tests U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S., Aug. 1. ReutersU.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he had "no problem" with North Korea's missile tests, shortly after the regime conducted its third launch in a week."I think it's very much under control," Trump told reporters at the White House. "I have no problem. We'll see what happens, but these are short-range missiles. They are very standard."South Korea's military said North Korea on Friday (Seoul time) launched unidentified short-range projectiles off its east coast.The North earlier test-fired two short-range ballistic missiles on Wednesday, six days after launching two similar ones.Asked if he can still continue denuclearization talks with Kim, Trump said, "Oh, sure, because these are short-range missiles.""We never discussed that. We discussed nuclear. What we talked about is nuclear," he said. (Yonhap)Aug 2, 2019
North Korea fires unidentified short-range projectiles: JCS People watch a TV showing a file footage of a North Korea's missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, Friday. South Korea's military said North Korea fired unidentified projectiles twice Friday into the sea off its eastern coast in its third weapons tests in just over a week. APNorth Korea on Friday fired unidentified short-range projectiles off its east coast, South Korea's military said, its third launch in a week.The Joint Chiefs of Staff said the projectiles were fired at 2:59 a.m. and 3:23 a.m. from Yonghung, South Hamgyong Province, into the East Sea."We are monitoring the situation in case of additional launches and maintaining a readiness posture," the JCS said.Last week, North Korea test-fired two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast, saying it sent a "solemn" warning to South Korea over its planned military exercises with the United States this month.On Wednesday, North Korea fired two more such missiles, according to the JCS. North Korea disputed the assessment, saying it had tested a new rocket launch system.U.N. Security CouAug 2, 2019
UN Security Council to meet over North Korea missile launches: reports The United Nations Security Council will meet behind closed doors this week to discuss North Korea's latest missile launches, according to news reports Wednesday.The meeting will be held Thursday at the request of Britain, Germany and France following the North's launches of two short-range ballistic missiles early Wednesday, Reuters quoted diplomats as saying.Citing a source in the council, Russia's TASS news agency said the meeting will be held before noon.U.N. Security Council resolutions ban North Korea from conducting ballistic missile launches of any kind.South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Wednesday's missiles are estimated to have flown about 250 kilometers at an approximate altitude of 30 km.The North launched similar missiles last Thursday, saying they sent a "solemn" warning to South Korea over its planned military exercises with the United States next month.Those missiles were identified as KN-23, or the North's version of Russia's Iskander ballistic missile.The council will be meeting to discuss North Korean missile launches for the first time since diplomatic efforAug 1, 2019
North Korea test-fired new rocket system under leader's supervision: state media North Korea said Thursday it tested a new rocket system in launches conducted the previous day, raising questions about South Korea's assessment that the communist nation is believed to have fired short-range ballistic missiles.Leader Kim Jong-un "guided a test-fire of a newly developed large-caliber multiple launch guided rocket system on July 31," the Korean Central News Agency said."The test-fire scientifically confirmed that the tactical data and technical characteristics of the new-type large-caliber guided ordnance rocket reached the numerical values of its design, and verified the combat effectiveness of the overall system," the KCNA said. "After learning about the result of the test-fire, (Kim Jong-un) said that it is very great and it would be an inescapable distress to the forces becoming a fat target of the weapon," it added.The KCNA did not mention any country as its potential target, but the report appears to be referring to Seoul, which is apparently within the range of the weapon.The report came a day after South Korea's military said that North Korea fired two short-rAug 1, 2019
Bolton: 'N. Korea missile launches didn't break promise' U.S. National security adviser John Bolton speaks to media at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, July 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said Wednesday that North Korea's missile launches this week do not represent a violation of leader Kim Jong-un's promise not to conduct long-range missile tests.Bolton, however, questioned the regime's seriousness about resuming denuclearization talks, as he spoke to Fox Business a day after North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea for the second time in less than a week.The North claimed the tests involved a new large-caliber multiple launch guided rocket system."The firing of these missiles don't violate the pledge that Kim Jong-un made to (U.S. President Donald Trump) about intercontinental-range ballistic missiles," Bolton said, referring to the North Korean leader's suspension of long-range missile tests."But you have to ask if ― when the real diplomacy is going to begin; when the working-level discussions on denuclearization will begin, as Kim Jong-un again said oAug 1, 2019
Pastor released from North Korea publishes book Pastor Lim Hyeon-soo Korea Times fileBy Do Je-hae Pastor Lim Hyeon-soo, a former prisoner in North Korea, has come under media attention once again with his new book about his experiences in the totalitarian country. A worship service was recently held at the Manrihyun Church in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, to mark the publication of the Korean-Canadian's book "Whom Shall I Fear?" Onnuri Church elder Kim Ha-joong, who formerly served as unification minister and Korea's ambassador to China, was among the guests at the service. In the book, Lim describes himself as “a man who survived the valley of death with the Lord.” “I can give my life for the unification of my homeland through the Gospel,” Lim said in the preface of the book. He describes his 949 days in prison as a “blessing” prepared by God. “Pastor Lim has visited North Korea more than 150 times and provided a total of about $50 million in humanitarian aid,” said Kim, who delivered the congratulatory message at the church service. "I think it's amazing that God had someone who really loves Jul 31, 2019By Do Je-hae
North Korea fires two short-range ballistic missiles North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) from around Wonsan-Kalma in Gangwon Province, flying northeast into the East Sea on Wednesday morning, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff. It came six days after the North launched two other SRBMs from Wonsan. This photo released by North Korea's state-run Korean Central Television (KCTV) last Friday shows a missile being launched the previous day. KCTV-YonhapNSC expresses grave concern over North Korea testBy Jung Da-minNorth Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) into the East Sea, Wednesday morning, the latest in a series of missile tests off its eastern coastal area since May.These latest launches came six days after a similar test of two missiles last week. Hours after the missile tests, Cheong Wa Dae convened an emergency National Security Council (NSC), presided over by National Security Adviser Chung Eui-yong.“We expressed grave concerns over the firing of the missiles, which could have a negative impact on peace-building efforts,” the presidential office said in a statemJul 31, 2019
