PHOTOS Robust China-NK ties? Xi watches N. Korean art troupe's show A pamphlet for a North Korean art troupe's concert in Beijing on Sunday, attended by Chinese leader Xi Jinping. YonhapChinese President Xi Jinping attended a rare concert by a North Korean state art troupe and met with the delegation's chief, Chinese state media reported Monday, as the two countries boast close ties ahead of a second summit between the United States and North Korea. Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, met with Ri Su-yong, vice chairman of the North Korean ruling party's Central Committee, on Sunday and watched the performance by the North Korean artists, according to China's Xinhua News Agency.The art delegation arrived in Beijing on Thursday to stage the first performance by a North Korean art troupe in the neighboring country in three years since the North's Moranbong Band called off a planned performance in Beijing at the last minute in 2015. The dispatch came a few weeks after the North's leader, Kim Jong-un, made his fourth visit to China in less than a year and held talks with Xi in an apparent show of strengthening relations between the two countries in the run-up tJan 28, 2019
US wants full list of NK uranium enrichment facilities U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton walks on the driveway of the White House after an interview in Washington, Jan. 26 (KST). AP-YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chulThe United States wants North Korea to provide a list of its secret uranium enrichment facilities as a key prerequisite in exchange for possibly easing of economic sanctions, a Cheong Wa Dae official said Sunday.“Washington wants a list of Pyongyang's uranium enrichment facilities and secret nuclear weapons sites during the upcoming second summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un,” the official said.The request follows the ongoing working-level talks between the two at which the U.S. is said to have asked the North to dismantle its nuclear research facility at Yongbyon and place its inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in Chinese custody.“Washington wants Pyongyang to follow three steps in dismantling its nuclear program ― to give a report, allow verification and announce a dismantlement timeline ― because it wants to check on previous nuclear tests by North Korea and getJan 27, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul
What cards will NK, US play at summit? North Korean leader Kim Jong-un receives reports on the result of the recent U.S. visit by North Korean nuclear envoy Kim Yong-chul, at an office in Pyongyang, in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency on Thursday. / YonhapPossible 'big deal' should include actual verification of NK's nuclear capabilityBy Lee Min-hyungWith the highly-anticipated second meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un a month away, attention is growing over whether they can sign a possible “big deal” for denuclearization. The pre-summit atmosphere does not look bad considering the series of positive signals from the two sides. By engaging in “letter” diplomacy this year, Trump and Kim exchanged their willingness for the meeting, raising hopes for fresh momentum in their denuclearization talks.Washington and Pyongyang also held working- and high-level talks this month ahead of the summit to fine-tune the agenda and their differences for the summit.U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently said “real progress” has been Jan 27, 2019By Lee Min-hyung
North Korean art troupe begins performance in Beijing A North Korean art troupe, led by Ri Su-yong, vice chairman of the ruling party's Central Committee and composed of members from the North Korean army's State Merited Chorus and Samjiyon Band, perform at the Chinese National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing, Saturday evening. YonhapA North Korean art troupe began its performance in China's capital city on Saturday, the first show in the neighboring country in three years and a demonstration of close ties between the two countries.A delegation of senior officials and a 280-strong art troupe, led by Ri Su-yong, vice chairman of the ruling party's Central Committee, arrived in Beijing on Thursday for the show. North Korea announced the performance plan early last week.The performance comes after its leader Kim Jong-un returned from his fourth visit to China and meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, an apparent show of stronger ties between the two allies ahead of a planned second summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump next month.The troupe is reportedly composed of members from the North Korean army's State MerJan 26, 2019
PHOTOS New posters show North Korea mobilizing young people in key industries New posters released by North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Wednesday show young people in the frontline of the country's key industries. The poster reads: “Let the young people become pioneers of new technology, creators of new culture and pathfinders for a great leap forward!” KCNA-YonhapBy Jung Da-min North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) has released a new set of propaganda posters, one of which shows young people at the vanguard on “all fronts of socialist construction.”The posters show North Korean workers, especially young people, active in the country's key industries, including power, coal, metal and chemical production, agriculture, fisheries, light industry, construction and science.The state media said on Friday that an appeal to the country's young people was adopted at the ninth Plenary Meeting of the Central Committee of Kimilsungist-Kimjongilist Youth League that took place a day before, to encourage their devotion to achieving economic goals set by the leader Kim Jong-un in his New Year speech.&ldquJan 25, 2019
NK art troupe to perform in China Saturday A 280-member North Korean art troupe will perform at National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on Jan. 26 and 30. / YonhapBy Yi Whan-wooA North Korean art troupe will perform in China, Saturday, in an apparent sign that the two countries are enhancing their ties ahead of a planned second summit between the North's leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump next month. The performance is the first since the all-female Morang Band ― purportedly formed by Kim ― snubbed China by abruptly calling off a scheduled performance in Beijing in December 2015. Following Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile tests, bilateral ties hit their lowest level until Kim visited Beijing in March last year and resumed talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.Diplomatic sources said Friday an estimated 280 “leading artists” arrived in Beijing, Wednesday, at the invitation of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.The troupe is jointly led by Ri Su-yong, a former foreign minister vice chairman of the Central Committee of thJan 25, 2019By Yi Whan-woo
North Korea calls for unification under two regimes A joint conference of the government, political parties and organizations of North Korea was held at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on Wednesday, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Thursday. KCNA-YonhapBy Jung Da-minNorth Korea wants inter-Korean unification under the separate regimes in the North and the South, the country's national appeal to Koreans home and abroad reveals.The annual appeal was adopted at the joint conference of the government, political parties and public organizations at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on Wednesday, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Thursday.It proposed a "peaceful reunification based on a nationwide agreement," while saying the different ideologies and systems in the North and the South should both be allowed under a unified Korea."It is necessary to pool [our] wisdom and efforts to make a nationwide proposal for reunification in line with the will and demand of the nation on a basis of recognizing ideologies and systems existing in the North and the South and allowing them," the apJan 25, 2019
North Korea's UN envoy slams Israel over Palestine Kim Song addresses the 8449th United Nations Security Council meeting over the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, on Tuesday. Captured from UN Web TVBy Jung Da-min North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations Kim Song criticized Israel over its illegal occupation of Palestine, in an unusual appearance at a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting Tuesday.The UNSC meeting took place as prospects for a viable state of Palestine dwindled with the expansion of Israel's settlements on the West Bank amid continuing violence.About 50 speakers, including council members and non-members, attended.Kim also made a speech during the meeting."Kim Song (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement, said Israel's settlement expansion, blockade of Gaza and suppression of peaceful Palestinian protesters are serious challenges to Palestinians' establishment of an independent state," read the coverage of the meeting on the U.N. website. "He called for implementation of Council resolution 2334 (2016), among others adopteJan 24, 2019
North Korea's friendship art delegation arrives in Beijing North Korea's friendship art delegation to China, led by Ri Su-yong, a member of the Political Bureau and vice chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, is seen off by senior committee officials including Kim Ki-nam, Kim Yo-jong, Kwon Hyok-bong, Ri Chang-gun and others on Wednesday in Pyongyang, in this photo released by the country's state-run Korean Central News Agency. KCNA-YonhapBy Jung Da-minNorth Korea's top art delegation arrived in Beijing on Thursday.The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) Thursday morning reported that the delegation, led by Ri Su-yong, a member of the Political Bureau and vice chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, left Pyongyang Wednesday afternoon.The delegation includes the State Merited Chorus and leading artistes in Pyongyang.The official performance schedule is yet to be announced.The art troupe's visit is the first in three years after the cancellation of the Moranbong Band's performance in December 2015.Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to watch the performance.The North's Workers' PJan 24, 2019
Kim expresses 'great satisfaction' after receiving Trump's letter In this Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019, photo provided on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019 by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, right, meets Kim Yong-chol, who traveled to Washington to discuss denuclearization talks, in Pyongyang. AP-YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un expressed "great satisfaction" after receiving a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump and spoke highly of Trump's "determination and will" to resolve issues between the two countries, state media reported Thursday.Kim made the remark after top aide Kim Yong-chol briefed him on the results of his visit to Washington last week that included meetings with Trump and other top officials for talks about a second summit between the two countries, according to the Korean Central News Agency."Upon receiving the good personal letter sent by President Trump, the Supreme Leader expressed great satisfaction. He spoke highly of President Trump for expressing his unusual determination and will for the settlement of the issue with a great interest in the second DPRK-U.S. summit," the KCNA said.DPRK stands for the NoJan 24, 2019
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