PHOTOS Kim Jong-un encourages Korean People's Army on its 71st founding anniversary North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un gives the thumbs up as “Our National Flag” is re-performed at his encore request during a congratulatory performance given by the State Merited Chorus at the annex to the headquarters to the Party Central Committee on Feb. 8, the Korean People's Army (KPA) foundation day. Seated at his left is his wife Ri Sol-ju. KCNA-YonhapBy Jung Da-minNorth Korea's Songun (military-first) policy has been less highlighted with the country's policy undergoing a major shift to focus more on economic development since last April, as the country's leader Kim Jong-un declared completion of nuclear weapons development.The de-emphasis, however, does not mean the importance of military forces has been lowered, as shown in reports on Kim Jong-un's celebrating the 71st founding anniversary of the Korean People's Army with military officials.According to North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Saturday, Kim made a congratulatory visit to the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces on the anniversary, inspected an honor guard and made a speech.He alFeb 11, 2019
North Koreans unhappy with excess celebration of late leader's birthday This video footage shows a scene from the 22nd Kimjongilia Festival in Pyongyang last year. Screenshot from DPRK Today's YouTube channelBy Jung Da-minThe poster for the 23rd Kimjongilia Festival to be held from Feb. 14-21 in Pyongyang, released by North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Sunday. KCNA-YonhapThe 23rd Kimjongilia Festival from Feb. 14 to 21 in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang is expected to display the flower named after the current leader's late father and celebrate his Feb. 16 birthday, known locally as the Day of the Shining Star. But that is excessive even by some North Koreans' standards, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA), a U.S.-funded multi-language media outlet. “Unlike ordinary plants, Kimjongilia needs more than 15 hours of light and is a particularly sensitive plant in terms of temperature, so even if we succeed in making it bloom in cold weather like now, it easily falls off in a day or two,” a source in the North's South Pyongan Province told RFA last week, on condition of anonymity.According to the source, the cultivatFeb 11, 2019
What's at stake? Trump may focus on N. Korea nuke complex, Kim on US rewards When U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un first met in Singapore last year, there was pomp, there was circumstance, but there wasn't much substance.Before they meet again in Vietnam on Feb. 27-28, there's growing pressure that they forge a deal that puts them closer to ending the North Korean nuclear weapons threat.But what could that look like?Kim may be willing to dismantle his main nuclear complex. The U.S. may be willing to cough up concessions, maybe remove some sanctions. The question, however, is whether what's on offer will be enough for the other side.Here's a look at what each side could be looking for as Trump and Kim try to settle a problem that has bedeviled generations of policymakers.DESTROYING A NUKE COMPLEXThe North's Yongbyon (sometimes spelled Nyongbyon) nuclear complex, located about 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of Pyongyang, has facilities that produce both plutonium and uranium, two key ingredients in nuclear weapons. North Korea's state media have called the complex of a reported 390 buildings ``the heart of our nuclear program.''AFeb 11, 2019
62% of South Koreans optimistic about Trump-Kim summit Six in 10 South Koreans expect some substantial outcome from the second summit between North Korea and the United States, slated for Feb. 27-28 in Vietnam, a poll showed Monday.In the survey of 501 South Korean adults nationwide conducted by pollster Realmeter last Friday, 62.5 percent issued an optimistic forecast for the settlement of the North Korean nuclear problem at the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and the North's leader Kim Jong-un.By contrast, 35.1 percent voiced negative views, saying the summit could only weaken the alliance between South Korea and the U.S. without producing any tangible results on denuclearization. The remaining 2.4 percent didn't give an answer or said they don't have any opinion.The poll conducted on request from broadcaster CBS has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points and a confidence level of 95 percent. Realmeter said the optimistic view is prevalent among all supporters of liberal and moderate political parties and in all regions and age groups, excluding those in their 60s or older.Among the supporters of the conserFeb 11, 2019
US, North Korean negotiators to meet again before 2nd summit In this June 12, 2018, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with North Korea leader Kim Jong-un at the Capella resort on Sentosa Island in Singapore. As they prepare to meet again, Trump is replaying many of the same moves, with a suspenseful buildup, make-or-break stakes and dramatic rendezvous in a far-flung locale. APThe top U.S. envoy for North Korea returned from three days of talks in Pyongyang and will meet again with his North Korean counterpart before the second summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi later this month, the U.S. State Department said. Stephen Biegun, the U.S. special representative for North Korea, met with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Seoul's chief nuclear envoy Lee Do-hoon on Saturday to brief them on his negotiations with North Korea. ``Our discussions were productive,'' Biegun said while meeting Kang. ``President is very much looking forward to taking next steps. We have some hard work to do with DPRK between now and then. I am confident if both sides stay committed we can makFeb 10, 2019
'PyeongChang Games ushered in Korea peace process' In this March 7, 2018, file photo, people watch a TV screen showing images of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, South Korean President Moon Jae-in, center, and U.S. President Donald Trump at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea. AP-YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in said Saturday the upcoming second North Korea-U.S. summit is a "miracle-like" gift stemming from the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games, celebrating the first anniversary of South Korea's successful hosting of the global sports event.Many agree that North Korea's participation in the games was sort of a starting point of a peace mood on the peninsula after yearslong military tensions.The Koreas even fielded a unified ice hockey team."A small snowball we rolled together (in the PyeongChang Games) has become a snowman of peace," Moon wrote on his SNS accounts.He cited his three rounds of summit talks with the North's leader Kim Jong-un last year.Kim met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore on June 12.Moon noted that the two leaders plan to have a second meeting in Hanoi on Feb. 27-28."All (of those) are steFeb 9, 2019
Hanoi selected as venue for 2nd US-North Korea summit: Trump People watch a TV screen showing file footage of U.S. President Donald Trump, right, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019. AP-YonhapU.S. President Donald Trump announced that his second meeting with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un will take place in Vietnam's capital city and expressed optimism about the communist nation's future.He made public the summit venue in a Twitter message on Saturday (Seoul time) after Stephen Biegun, the U.S. envoy for North Korea, returned to South Korea following a trip to Pyongyang.Trump earlier said he will meet Kim in the Southeast Asian nation from Feb. 27-28."My representatives have just left North Korea after a very productive meeting and an agreed upon time and date for the second Summit with Kim Jong Un," Trump tweeted. "It will take place in Hanoi, Vietnam, on February 27 & 28. I look forward to seeing Chairman Kim & advancing the cause of peace!"Trump extolled Kim, who is known to be in his 30s and to have been educated in Europe and whom TrFeb 9, 2019
US nuclear envoy calls summit prep talks with North Korea 'productive' In this Feb. 3, 2019, file photo, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun arrives at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea. South Korean media says Biegun has returned Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, to South Korea after a three-day visit to Pyongyang. AP-YonhapThe U.S. envoy for North Korea on Saturday cast this week's working-level talks with North Korea to prepare for the two countries' second summit late this month as "productive" but said "some hard work" still remains.U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun flew back to Seoul on Friday evening following a three-day visit to Pyongyang aimed at fine-tuning details for the Feb. 27-28 summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Hanoi, Vietnam."I would say it was a productive set of discussions over the last few days, and our team engaged on a number of areas of mutual interest, and we've agreed to meet again," he said during a meeting with his South Korean counterpart Lee Do-hoon. "So I think this is a constructive place to be especially in advance ofFeb 9, 2019
Summit venue raises chance for Kim Jong-un's state visit to Vietnam The Vietnamese national flag flutters in the wind at the Ho Chih Minh mausoleum in Hanoi, Feb. 9. US President Donald Trump announced Feb. 8 that his upcoming summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will take place in the Vietnamese capital on Feb. 27 and 28. AFP-YonhapThe choice of Vietnam's capital as the venue for a second North Korea-U.S. summit has raised the possibility that Kim Jong-un will make a state visit there later this month, observers said Saturday.If Kim does, he will be the first North Korean leader to land in Vietnam in 54 years. Kim Il-sung, North Korea's founding leader and his grandfather, held summits with then-Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh in November 1958 and October 1964.President Donald Trump confirmed Saturday (KST) that he will meet Kim in Hanoi on Feb. 27 and 28. This will make it convenient for Kim to hold meetings with top Vietnamese leaders, as it would be relatively easy for North Korean embassy officials there to prepare for a state visit. That is apparently one reason Kim preferred Hanoi to the central seaside city of Da Nang as a summit locaFeb 9, 2019
US, North Korean envoys agree to meet again before 2nd summit In this Feb. 3, 2019, file photo, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun is questioned by reporters upon his arrival at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea. South Korean media on Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, say Biegun has returned to South Korea after a three-day visit to Pyongyang. AP-YonhapU.S. and North Korean negotiators concluded their talks in Pyongyang, agreeing to meet again before their leaders' second summit slated for later this month, the State Department said Friday. Washington's Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun visited the North Korean capital from Wednesday to Friday for pre-summit talks with his counterpart, Kim Hyok-chol.President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are scheduled to meet in Vietnam on Feb. 27 and 28.The two envoys “discussed advancing President Trump and Chairman Kim's Singapore summit commitments of complete denuclearization, transforming U.S.-DPRK relations, and building a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula,” the department said in a statement, referring to pledges madFeb 9, 2019
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