North Korea calls for turning peninsula into 'peace zone' ahead of talks with US The Unification Flag on the wall of the famous Okryugwan restaurant in Pyongyang. Korea Times fileNorth Korea's official newspaper called for efforts to turn the Korean Peninsula into a "peace zone" free of war threats on Thursday as the communist nation prepares to hold a second summit with the United States."Turning the Korean Peninsula into a zone for solid peace is the basic way to open the heyday of peace, prosperity and reunification," the Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the North's ruling party, said in a commentary."Only when we make the peninsula into a zone for lasting and solid peace will our people be able to enjoy a peaceful and stable life and build prosperity for future generations as well." The paper urged South Korea to stop conducting joint military drills with outside forces and deploying foreign war-related equipment on the Korean Peninsula, reiterating an argument that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made during his New Year's Day speech.The demand comes as the North and the U.S. are expected to hold high-level talks in Washington later this week, apparently to discuJan 17, 2019
North Korea's ICBMs could be on table at nuclear talks U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un go for a walk after lunch at the Capella Hotel on the Singaporean island of Sentosa, last June 12. REUTERSBy Kim Bo-eunThe United States may demand the dismantling of North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in exchange for corresponding measures, according to analysts, Wednesday.This could be discussed as a viable option for their next summit to facilitate North Korea's denuclearization process and build mutual trust, as the U.S. appears to have lowered the threshold of a previous agreement between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.This speculation is abounding after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last week mentioned Washington and Pyongyang are discussing means to “decrease risk for the American people.” President Moon Jae-in in his New Year press conference mentioned North Korea dismantling its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) could be a means to begin the process. Based on this, speculation had grown that the U.S. may agree on beginning with ICBMs,Jan 16, 2019By Kim Bo-eun
From Sinuiju to Busan A new poster recently released by North Korea's propaganda media Uriminzokkiri calls for the expansion of inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation. Featured at the top is Mount Geumgang and on the bottom a trolley, a plane, a truck and a train for inter-Korean trips from Sinuiju to Busan, and a cruise ship named “Mount Geumgang.” The North's scenic mountain was a popular tourist site for South Koreans who went there by ship. It is one of four posters released by Uriminzokkiri on Sunday that feature the theme of inter-Korean unity and an anti U.S.-military theme. Uriminzokkiri via YonhapJan 16, 2019
'War end, communication channel possible actions from US' Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha speaks during a press briefing at the ministry building, Wednesday. / YonhapBy Kim Bo-eunForeign Minister Kang Kyung-wha referred to ending the Korean War, establishing a communication channel between North Korea and the U.S., and humanitarian aid as possible measures that Washington could offer Pyongyang for taking denuclearization steps.“Various options are being discussed as corresponding measures,” Kang told reporters in a briefing at the foreign ministry, Wednesday.However, on resuming operations at the Gaeseong Industrial Complex (GIC) or tours to Mount Geumgang, which had drawn attention as possible reciprocal measures, Kang said such these “were not at a stage of being reviewed.”While North Korean leader Kim Jong-un brought up the matter in his New Year address, and President Moon Jae-in responded positively, multiple United Nations Security Council sanctions bar the re-opening of the GIC.There had been speculation that a working group meeting between South Korean and U.S. officials could discuss these matters at a meetiJan 16, 2019By Kim Bo-eun
Norway promises to keep up humanitarian aid to North Korea This October 2015 photo, taken by a World Food Programme (WFP) official, shows North Korean children at a nursery. Korea Times file (Captured from WFP website)By Jung Da-minThe Norwegian government is continuing its humanitarian aid to North Korea.Support for North Korea totaled about $1.6 million last year, according to Marianne Hagen, state secretary of the country's ministry of foreign affairs.“Last year, 14.5 million Norwegian kroner ― approximately $1.6 million ― were provided in bilateral humanitarian assistance channeled through the International Red Cross Federation (IFRC) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA),” Hagen wrote in an email to Radio Free Asia (RFA), Tuesday.She said the Norwegian government will continue supporting the vulnerable population in North Korea, as there is still considerable need for humanitarian aid. This year's budget amount is yet to be decided.A Norwegian government delegation visited North Korea from Nov. 24 to Nov. 30 to meet officials of the North Korean government and representatives of the World Food Programme (WFP) and otJan 16, 2019
North Korea prepares early for corn planting This May 2009 photo shows North Korean farmers planting rice in a field in Kapung County, North Hwanghae Province. Korea Times fileBy Jung Da-minNorth Korea is making early preparations for this year's cropping season, the ruling Workers' Party of Korea mouthpiece Rodong Sinmun reported Wednesday.Farmers at the Manpoong cooperative farm in Chungsan County, South Pyongan Province, have started digging holes before spring for corn planting, its editorial said.“Different scenes are observed at the Manpoong cooperative farm in Chungsan County that is going all out to prepare for this year's farming,” it said. “Every field is getting on with preparation for a high yield sooner than last year.”It said although last year's cereal production increased thanks to the “assembly-planting” of corn, the harvest could have been bigger if hole digging had been completed before spring.“As a result of digging holes in the busy farming season at the farm focusing on rice paddy farming, it was not possible to produce fertilizers and other farming materials as weJan 16, 2019
Top North Korean envoy due in Washington this week Kim Yong-chol, North Korea's top negotiator and ex-spymaster, and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo / YonhapNorth Korea will send a top government official to Washington, D.C. later this week, CNN reported Wednesday amid indications that the two sides are moving closer to a second summit.Kim Yong-chol, North Korea's top negotiator and ex-spymaster, plans to arrive there Thursday (local time) for a two-day stay, according to the broadcaster.It cited two U.S. sources familiar with ongoing negotiations.Kim is expected to hold talks with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on details of a planned summit between President Donald Trump and the communist nation's leader Kim Jong-un. The North Korean envoy visited the U.S. capital last year, less than two weeks ahead of the Kim-Trump summit in Singapore on June 12. He met with Trump at the White House.Pompeo had planned to hold a meeting with Kim, vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party Central Committee, in New York in November, but it was abruptly canceled.The North's official reportedly hopes to sit down with Trump again.As usuaJan 16, 2019
Kim Jong-un's right-hand man to visit Washington Jan. 17-18: reports In this June. 12, 2018, file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump, right, meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Sentosa Island, in Singapore. AP-YonhapSenior North Korean and U.S. officials may meet in Washington D.C. later this week for consultations on a second summit, a diplomatic source here said Tuesday.Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to greet Kim Yong-chol, a top aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.The source pointed out that the two sides are resolved to have face-to-face negotiations."Given Secretary Pompeo's other commitments, it's true that (he's) available for the talks on Jan. 17-18," the source said.Pompeo has cut short a trip to the Middle East for a family funeral.He is likely to attend the Global Chiefs of Mission Conference, to open in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, as well.A Seoul-based newspaper, the Chosun Ilbo, reported Tuesday that Kim Yong-chol will likely travel to the U.S. capital for a two-day trip starting Thursday. There has been no related announcement yet by either Pyongyang or Washington.President Donald Trump has talked openly aboutJan 15, 2019
Pompeo: 'Details' of 2nd Trump-Kim summit being worked out U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, holds a joint press conference with Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, at the Sheraton Grand in Doha, Qatar, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019. APU.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that "details" are being worked out for the possible second summit between Washington and Pyongyang, amid a flurry of media reports on Vietnam as its possible venue.During a media interview, he made the remarks as expectations grow that U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may meet in the coming months to break an apparent impasse in their negotiations over Pyongyang's denuclearization."We're working out the details, Margaret," Pompeo told Margaret Brennan while appearing on the broadcaster's "Face the Nation." "You'll be among the first to know."The top diplomat did not elaborate further.Over the weekend, Japanese news reports said that Trump has proposed holding the summit with Kim in Vietnam in February, and that Kim has yet to respond to that proposal. Foreign media have also said that Thailand, along Jan 14, 2019
Trump offers to meet Kim in Vietnam in mid-Feb. for 2nd summit: report U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un / Joint Press CorpsU.S. President Donald Trump has proposed holding the second summit talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in mid-February and suggested Vietnam as the venue, a foreign report said Sunday.The report comes amid mounting expectations that the two leaders will soon hold their next summit to resume the stalled denuclearization talks. They first met in Singapore in June last year.North Korea is said to be reviewing the U.S. proposal and has yet to give a formal response, a news report by Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun said, citing officials familiar with the matter.The Strait Times also reported earlier that Vietnam and Thailand are on the "shortlist" for the second Trump-Kim meeting and that both countries are willing to host the event, citing unidentified sources.Both have diplomatic ties with Pyongyang and Washington, and have organized international events like APEC, the report said.Pyongyang and Washington have been locked in a stalemate over how to carry out the agreements they reached in their first-everJan 13, 2019
