'Kim's visit to Samsung factory in Vietnam still possible' A train believed to be carrying North Korean leader Kim Jong-un leaves the railway station in the Chinese border city of Dandong, in this photo taken by Kyodo on Saturday. Reuters-YonhapKim Jong-un begins journey across China for Hanoi summit using an armored train By Kim Yoo-chul HANOI _ There is still a chance North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will visit a cutting-edge Samsung Electronics handset factory in northern Vietnam before or after his second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Vietnamese capital, two sources said Sunday.“Preparatory work on security and other issues is under way for a possible visit by North Korean leader Kim to Samsung Electronics' handset factory in Thai Nguyen during his visit to the Southeast Asian country,” one source here said on condition of anonymity as she wasn't officially authorized to speak to the media. Samsung, the world's top handset maker, runs several factories in Vietnam. “The Vietnamese government wants to show the North Korean leader why reliable continued flow of foreign capital is necessary for economic growFeb 24, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul
Better US-NK ties will send positive signal to pope about Pyongyang visit: archbishop Pope Francis attends a penitential liturgy at the Vatican, Feb. 23. The pontiff is hosting a four-day summit on preventing clergy sexual abuse, a high-stakes meeting designed to impress on Catholic bishops around the world that the problem is global and that there are consequences if they cover it up. APA meaningful progress in the United States and North Korea relations in the wake of their second summit set for this week will provide a positive signal to Pope Francis about paying a visit to the communist nation, a South Korean archbishop said Sunday. The remark by Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-joong comes as U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are to meet in Hanoi, Vietnam, for their second summit. The two Korean War foes will sit down to discuss ways to get rid of Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal and decide what Washington can offer in return, including sanctions relief. "Pope Francis has said he can visit North Korea if Pyongyang sends him a formal invitation," Kim told Yonhap in an interview. "We should take his word for itself, instead of interpreting it in Feb 24, 2019
North Korean leader on train to summit In this Feb. 23 photo provided on Feb. 24 by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waves from a train before leaving Pyongyang Station, North Korea, for Vietnam. Kim is on the train for his second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. APNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has departed by train for Hanoi to hold a second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump later this week, Pyongyang's state media reported Sunday.Kim left Pyongyang Railway Station on Saturday afternoon and was accompanied by senior officials, including his sister Kim Yo-jong and top aide Kim Yong-chol, the Korean Central News Agency reported."Senior officials of the Party, government and armed forces organs sincerely wished Kim Jong-un good success in the second DPRK-U.S. summit meeting and talks and safe return," the KCNA said, using the initialism for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. But there was no mention of Kim's wife, Ri Sol-ju, in the list of those accompanying the leader. Kim is to hold his second summit with Trump from Feb. 27-28.The KCNA alsFeb 24, 2019
North Korean leader departs for Hanoi by train: report This Jan. 8, 2019 photo shows a train believed to be carrying North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrives at Beijing Railway Station in Beijing, China. Reuters-Yonhap North Korean leader Kim Jong-un departed for Hanoi by train on Saturday for a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, a news report said.Kim's train left Pyongyang around 5 p.m. local time and is expected to travel through China all the way to Vietnam, Tass news agency reported from Pyongyang, citing an unidentified source.Kim and Trump are set to hold their second summit on Feb. 27-28.The report said that the train will travel around 4,500 kilometers to Hanoi, which will take over 48 hours.Earlier, the Vietnamese foreign ministry tweeted that Kim will make an "official friendly visit" to Vietnam "in the coming days."A North Korean train possibly carrying the North Korean leader crossed into China on Saturday, a source familiar with the matter said.The train passed through the Chinese border city of DandoFeb 24, 2019
Ex-CIA official lays out road map for North Korea's complete denuclearization Andrew Kim, the former head of the Central Intelligence Agency's Korea Mission Center, gives a lecture at Stanford University, Friday (local time). YonhapA former U.S. intelligence official with vast experience dealing with North Korea presented a road map for achieving the U.S. goal of final, fully verified denuclearization (FFVD) of the North, Friday (local time). Andrew Kim, who retired as head of the Central Intelligence Agency's Korea Mission Center in December, said Washington's vision for FFVD starts with the continued suspension of North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile tests.The next step, he said in a lecture at Stanford University, was the inspection of North Korea's nuclear and missile facilities by international experts."Pyongyang must declare its facilities," he continued. "The North must completely dismantle and remove nuclear weapons delivery system facilities and associated materials from the Korean Peninsula on an agreed timeline. The North must provide a comprehensive declaration of its nuclear, ballistic missile, chemical and biological programs."Kim'Feb 23, 2019
North Korea has long way to go to denuclearize, but Yongbyon offer 'significant': ex-CIA official Andrew Kim, former head of the Central Intelligence Agency's Korea Mission Center, speaks to reporters at Stanford University on Friday (local time). Yonhap North Korea has a long way to go to dismantle its nuclear weapons program, but the offer to shut down its Yongbyon facility is a "significant" step, a former U.S. intelligence official said Friday (local time). Andrew Kim, who retired in December as head of the Central Intelligence Agency's Korea Mission Center, said North Koreans had complained to him that they weren't getting due credit for the steps they had taken to honor their denuclearization commitment after the first U.S.-North Korea summit in June."I personally heard from North Korean officials, and they claimed that their concessions were much more valuable than the reciprocal action the U.S. has taken so far," Kim said during a lecture at Stanford University. "They said this was part of their commitment to build trust with the U.S. and denuclearizatioFeb 23, 2019
Kim Jong-un to make 'official friendly visit' to Vietnam Video footage from North Korea's state-run Korean Central Television (KCTV) shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waving from a train as it leaves Pyongyang, Jan. 7, to head to Beijing for a fourth North Korea-China summit. KCTV-YonhapVietnam's foreign ministry said Saturday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will pay an "official friendly visit" to the Southeast Asian country, where the second summit between him and U.S. President Donald Trump is to be held next week.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said through its social media page that Kim will pay an official friendly visit in the coming days. The second summit between Kim and Trump is slated for Feb. 27 and 28 in Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital.The ministry, however, did not provide details of the visit, including the schedule.Pundits said Vietnam apparently defined Kim's trip as an "official visit" rather than a notch higher "state visit," as it centers on the summit with Trump.Kim is widely anticipated to arrive in Vietnam through the border train station of Dong Dang in Lang Son Province, Tuesday, via rail, and then to travelFeb 23, 2019
North Korean, US envoys continue talks on summit agenda North Korean envoys leave the Vietnamese government's guesthouse in Hanoi, Saturday, after a meeting with their U.S. counterparts. From left are Kim Hyok-chol, Pyongyang's special representative for the United States; Choe Kang-il, acting director-general for the foreign ministry's North American affairs; and Kim Song-hye, director of the United Front Department's tactical office. Yonhap Senior North Korean and U.S. envoys held another meeting in Hanoi, Saturday, to discuss the agenda for the second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un slated for next week.This was the third such meeting between Kim Hyok-chol, Pyongyang's special representative for the United States, and his U.S. counterpart Stephen Biegun, Washington's envoy for North Korea.Following a one-hour meeting in the morning, they sat across the table again in the afternoon at around 4:30 p.m. (local time) and ended at 7:40 p.m.The lengthy negotiations followed theFeb 23, 2019
Bolton cancels trip to S. Korea: White House U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton takes notes during a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and China's Vice Premier Liu He in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., Friday (local time). Reuters-Yonhap U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton has canceled a planned visit to South Korea ahead of next week's summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, a White House spokesman said Friday (local time). "Ambassador Bolton has canceled his travel to the Republic of Korea to focus on events in Venezuela," the National Security Council spokesman told Yonhap News Agency on condition of anonymityA diplomatic source in Seoul earlier told Yonhap, "The White House has said that he will not visit Seoul due to the need to watch the Venezuelan situation."On Wednesday, CNN reported, quoting two U.S. officials, that he will visit South Korea this week for discussions about the upcoming summit between Trump and KimFeb 23, 2019
Trump says troop withdrawal not on summit agenda U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, Friday (local time). AFP-YonhapU.S. President Donald Trump said Friday (local time) that withdrawing troops from South Korea will not be discussed during his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Trump and Kim are set to meet in Hanoi, Vietnam, Feb. 27 and 28, to discuss the dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear weapons program. There had been concerns that the U.S. president would agree to draw down American troops in South Korea as part of a deal with the North."No, it's not, no. It is not a consideration," Trump said at a White House event, responding to a reporter's question about whether a drawdown was on the cards. "That is not one of the things on the table."Pressed about what will be discussed, he said, "Oh, you want me to really discuss that now? Everything is on the table."The two sides have been in negotiations to hammer out a deal ahead of next week's summit, the second between Trump and Kim.At their first summit in SingaporFeb 23, 2019
