Letter to Kim Jong-un: 'Please send North Korea athletes to Fina World Championships' Rep. Park Ji-won Korea Times fileBy Park Si-soo Opposition heavyweight Rep. Park Ji-won has invited North Korean athletes and a cheering squad to the Fina World Championships in the South Korean city of Gwangju next month, in an open letter he wrote to North Korean Kim Jong-un In the letter posted on his Facebook account on Tuesday, the four-term lawmaker of the People's Party “cordially asked Chairman Kim Jong-un to accept” his invitation to show the world the “two Koreas' efforts for reconciliation and harmony.”“If North Korean athletes and cheering squad take part in (the aquatic championships), I guarantee it will become a big success,” Park wrote. “It's Gwangju, the hometown of President Kim Dae-jung.” Captured from Park's Facebook accountIn this June 2000 archive image, then North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, left, and then South Korean President Kim Dae-jung shake hands in Pyongyang.?Korea Times fileThe lawmaker's emphasis on Gwangju and President Kim Dae-jung has a reason. Former President Kim was the first South Korean leader to Jun 4, 2019
North Korean leader's sister reemerges after days of absence Kim Yo-jong, second from left, is seen at North Korea's propaganda group gymnastics and artist performance, "The Land of the People," at May Day Stadium in Pyongyang, Tuesday. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is also seen fourth from left. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un's powerful younger sister has appeared in public for the first time in 53 days, contradicting rumors that she was disciplined in the wake of the leader's embarrassing no-deal summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.Kim Yo-jong attended North Korea's propaganda group gymnastics and artist performance called "The Land of the People" held in Pyongyang's May Day Stadium on Monday, along with leader Kim, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).It marked the first time that Kim Yo-jong has appeared in public since she was last seen in North Korean media during the Supreme People's Assembly in April. Until then, she played the role of a personal secretary for the leader, and was seen holding an ashtray when he was having a cigarette break at a Chinese train station on his way to Vietnam for the summit with TJun 4, 2019
'Purged' N. Korean official appears at show Kim Yong Chol, in the white circle, watches an arts performance with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the nation's top brass in this photo released on Monday by the North's official news wire KCNA. The photo came amid reports of him purged after collapsed nuclear talks in Hanoi.A senior North Korean official reportedly purged after talks collapsed between leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump appeared at an arts performance with the country's top brass, official media reported Monday.Kim Yong Chol, the North's counterpart to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in nuclear talks, was sent to a labour camp following the collapse of the Kim-Trump summit in Hanoi in February, South Korea's Chosun Ilbo newspaper had reported Friday.But late Sunday Kim Yong Chol was among the country's top leaders ― including Kim Jong Un, his wife Ri Sol Ju, senior members of the ruling party and top military officers ― at a "performance given by amateur art groups of the wives" of military officers, North Korea's official news wire KCNA said.A picture carried by the official Rodong Sinmun newJun 3, 2019
Experts show mixed responses to Kim Jong-un's latest factory inspections North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un inspects the Phyongnam General Machine Plant, presumed to be also known as the General Machinery Plant ― that he inspected Jan. 18 ― in South Pyongan Province, in this photo released by the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Sunday. KCNA-YonhapKim's latest activity could be seen as either military-related or economy-focusedBy Jung Da-minNorth Korea's leader Kim Jong-un's latest inspections of general machine plants could be an indicator that he intends to continue his country's nuclear and missile programs, according to a long-time North Korea researcher.The North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Sunday that Kim had inspected the Phyongnam General Machine Plant, presumed to be also named the January 18 General Machinery Plant in South Pyongan Province that he previously inspected. The KCNA reported the day before that Kim has visited a number of “economic” sites in Jagang Province, including the Kanggye General Tractor Plant, a well-known munitions factory. The additional factories and plants Kim visJun 2, 2019
Kim Jong-un appears in public two days in a row North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visits the Phyongnam General Machine Plant, according to a Korean Central News Agency report on Saturday. YonhapYonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un made an inspection visit to a machinery factory, the country's official news agency said Sunday, one day after he was reported to have made his first public appearance in more than three weeks.Kim, who had been out of public view since the North conducted short-range missile launches on May 9, resumed public activity with a visit to Kanggye General Tractor Plant and other factories, according to a Korean Central News Agency report on Saturday.The early morning report did not specify the timing of the visit, but it was widely believed to have been made on Friday. North Korean state media outlets usually leave out the timing when reporting on a leader's visit, apparently for security reasons.On Sunday, KCNA reported that Kim paid another "field guidance" trip, to Phyongnam General Machine Plant."Noting that the Phyongnam General Machine Plant holds a very important place in the development of the national eJun 2, 2019
China calls for swift resumption of US-NK dialogue on nuke programs China's Defence Minister Wei Fenghe addresses the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on June 2. AFPChinese Defense Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe called on the United States and North Korea on Sunday to resume dialogue at an early date and strive for better ties.The minister made the remarks in his keynote speech during the Asia Security Summit, better known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore."China is committed to denuclearization, peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and to a negotiated solution through dialogue and consultation," the general said, noting that China has played "an irreplaceable and constructive role" toward those goals. Expressing hope for Washington and Pyongyang to be cool-headed and patient, he urged the two sides to "resume the dialogue for peace at an early date ... and to combine denuclearization with the establishment of a peace mechanism." Negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang are at a stalemate following the no-deal summit in February between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Hanoi, due to their gapJun 2, 2019
Kim inspects factories in first public activity in more than 3 weeks North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects inside a machinery factory in the country's Jagang Province, according to the Korean Central News Agency, Saturday. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected machinery factories and other economic facilities in Jagang Province bordering China, in his first public outing in more than three weeks, Pyongyang's state media reported Saturday. Since Kim oversaw the launch of short-range missiles, May 9, he has not appeared in the North's state media, sparking rumors that he could be suffering from some health problem, such as diabetes or hypertension. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that he inspected the Kanggye General Tractor Plant, Kanggye General Precision Machine Plant, Jangjagang Machine Tool Factory and the February 8 General Machine Factory. They are key defense facilities.At the Kanggye General Tractor Plant, Kim expressed his appreciation for workers "having produced highly efficient machinery and equipment conducive to the national economy and the strengthening of defense capabilities," according to the KCNA."The SuprJun 1, 2019
Cheong Wa Dae cautious about reports of N. Korea's post-Hanoi purge South Korea's presidential office maintained a cautious stance Friday on news reports of a possible massive purge of top North Korean officials after the failed summit in Hanoi with the United States."I don't think that a hasty conclusion or comments on the issue are appropriate," Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Ko Min-jung said at a press briefing.She was responding to a local newspaper's report that North Korea had executed Kim Hyok-chol, its special envoy for the U.S., and some foreign ministry officials who were involved in preparations for the second summit between leader Kim Jong-un and President Donald Trump in late February. Their two-day talks abruptly ended with no accord.Kim Yong-chol, a top aide to the leader, was sent to a remote province for hard labor, the Chosun Ilbo said in a front-page story, citing an unnamed source."There's nothing we can confirm (for you)," Ko said. "We are monitoring all related situations (on North Korea). But I think it's important to figure out how much information in the article has been confirmed." (Yonhap)May 31, 2019
'Kim Jong-un carried out purge after Hanoi summit collapse': report From left, Kim Hyok Chol, Kim Yong Chol and Kim Yo Jong.North Korea executed Kim Hyok Chol, its special envoy to the United States, and foreign ministry officials who carried out working-level negotiations for the second U.S.-North Korea summit in February, holding them responsible for its collapse, a South Korean newspaper reported on Friday.Kim Yong Chol, a senior official who had been U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's counterpart in the run-up to the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi, is also said to have been subjected to forced labor and ideological education, the Chosun Ilbo reported.The North Korean leader is believed to be carrying out a massive purge to divert attention away from internal turmoil and discontent, the newspaper said."Kim Hyok Chol was investigated and executed at Mirim Airport with four foreign ministry officials in March," an unnamed North Korea source said, according to the Chosun Ilbo, adding that they were charged with spying for the United States.Kim Hyok Chol had been negotiations counterpart to UMay 31, 2019
US, North Korea at odds over UN Security Council resolutions violation A short-range missile is launched from Kusong, North Pyongan Province, in northwestern North Korea, May 9, in this photo released the following day by the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). North Korea fired two short-range missiles into the sea off its east coast five days after its launch of multiple “unidentified” projectiles on May 4. KCNA-YonhapBy Jung Da-minThe United States and North Korea are at odds over whether North Korea's launch of short-range missiles earlier in the month was a violation of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions regulating North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear technologies. The U.S. Department of State spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus told reporters in Washington on Tuesday that the department's view is that North Korea's whole weapons of mass destruction (WMD) program is in conflict with the UNSC resolutions. “I think that the entire North Korean WMD program, it's in conflict with the U.N. security resolutions,” Ortagus said, adding that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is focused on supportiMay 29, 2019
