South Korea, US to hold third 'working group' meeting on North Korea next week South Korean top nuclear envoy Lee Do-hoon, center-right, and his American counterpart Stephen Biegun provide a briefing on their 2nd "working group" meeting on North Korea at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Dec. 21. YonhapSouth Korea and the United States will hold their third "working group" meeting on North Korea next week, diplomatic sources in Seoul said Saturday. Seoul's top nuclear envoy, Lee Do-hoon, and his American counterpart, Stephen Biegun, will co-chair a video conference on the denuclearization issue after months of silence, they said."The two sides are fine-tuning the details for the meeting slated for the latter half of next week," one of the diplomatic sources said.The two envoys are expected to discuss details regarding inter-Korean relations as Washington and Pyongyang are poised to resume talks. Officials from the White House, and Cheong Wa Dae and the Ministry of Unification will also join the talks.The talks were reportedly postponed due to the partial shutdown of the U.S. federal government after the White House and Congress faileJan 12, 2019
Guess what: FM hints at 'surprise announcement' on 2nd Trump-Kim summit Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, center, speaks during a meeting with ruling party lawmakers at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday. YonhapSouth Korea's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Friday that she does not rule out the possibility of a surprise announcement on a much-anticipated summit between the United States and North Korea.Kang made the remarks amid hopes that the possible second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will create fresh momentum for diplomacy on Pyongyang's denuclearization and a lasting peace on the peninsula."Major U.S. figures have hinted recently that there has been communication between Pyongyang and Washington over the possible second U.S.-North Korea summit," Kang wrote in a pre-released script for a lecture hosted by the ruling Democratic Party's special panel on denuclearization.Trump has recently said that the summit location will probably be announced "in the not-too-distant future." In his New Year's speech, Kim voiced his desire to meet the American president "anytime."Kang pointed out that there neeJan 11, 2019
Kim Jong-un committed to denuclearization, 2nd US summit: Chinese media Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Chinese president, holds a welcoming ceremony for Kim Jong-un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, before their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 8, 2019. Xinhua-YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reaffirmed his commitment to the denuclearization and vowed efforts to produce good results from his second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, Chinese state media said Thursday. Kim made the pledge during his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday, according to Xinhua News Agency. Kim was in China for a four-day trip, his fourth visit to the neighboring ally in about 10 months."The DPRK will continue sticking to the stance of denuclearization and resolving the Korean Peninsula issue through dialogue and consultation, and make efforts for the second summit between DPRK and U.S. leaders to achieve results that will be welcomed by the iJan 10, 2019
Businesspeople request access to Gaeseong complex Members of an emergency planning committee for the Corporate Association of Gaeseong Industrial Complex stage a protest in front of the headquarters of the Ministry of Unification in Seoul, Wednesday, demanding their visit to the now-closed business park in North Korea. / YonhapBy Lee Min-hyungSouth Korean businesspeople who invested in the North's Gaeseong Industrial Complex, have asked the government to allow them to visit the now-closed factory park, citing the need for maintenance of their facilities there.One hundred and twenty-three South Korean companies were forced to shut down their operations there in February 2016. They have since formed an emergency planning committee, and requested access to the complex six times, which were all rejected by the government.On Wednesday, the committee submitted their seventh request to the Ministry of Unification. The businesspeople asked for the ministry to allow 179 representatives of them to visit the site to inspect their equipment on Jan. 16.“The operation of the Gaeseong complex should resume within the first half of this Jan 9, 2019By Lee Min-hyung
Kim's train departs Beijing for North Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong-un headed back home Wednesday after wrapping up his trip to China. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un headed back home Wednesday after wrapping up a trip to China during which he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping for talks apparently aimed at discussing strategies ahead of a possible summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.Kim's special train departed from the Beijing railway station at 2:08 p.m. local time with Kim and his entourage on board. He is expected to arrive in Pyongyang early Thursday morning.Kim came to Beijing by train on Tuesday and held summit talks with Xi hours later. Details of their hourlong meeting were not disclosed. After the talks, Xi hosted a welcome reception for Kim. Tuesday was Kim's 35th birthday.Earlier Wednesday, Kim visited a pharmaceutical factory located in the economic-technological development zone in the Chinese capital. Sources said that he spent around 20-30 minutes touring the plant operated by Tong Ren Tang, a drug-making conglomerate known for its history of more than 300 years.Kim reportedly had lunch with Jan 9, 2019
INTERVIEW 'North Korea willing to learn international law' This September photo shows a street in Pyongyang near Kim Il Sung Square. At right is the headquarters of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). Numbers painted on the road indicate where to stand when there is a big gathering. Courtesy of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Korea officeBy Jung Da-minNorth Korea is willing to learn international law, which boosts the claim that the once-reclusive nation is serious this time about opening up, a German lawyer said during a recent interview with The Korea Times. “North Koreans are interested in legal issues as they want to do international business that requires understanding of international mechanisms like economic laws and taxation laws,” said Stefan Samse. “The role of lawyers would be more important in setting up an international framework in terms of dealing with potential legal disputes.”Stefan Samse in his Seoul office. Korea Times photo by Jung Da-minSamse is the Korea-resident representative of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, a German political foundation that organizes meetings for politicians and runs scholarship programsJan 9, 2019
Ex-NK diplomat's plea: 'My friend Jo Song-gil, come to free South Korea' Former North Korean diplomat Thae Yong-ho speaks to reporters in Seoul, Wednesday. He called on the governments of South Korea, Italy and the United States to make all-out efforts to protect his ex-colleague Jo Song-gil, the acting North Korean ambassador to Rome who has been in hiding in Italy since November. YonhapBy Park Si-soo Jo Song-gilA former North Korean diplomat who defected to South Korea in 2016 called on the governments of South Korea, Italy and the United States to make all-out efforts to protect his former colleague Jo Song-gil, the acting North Korean ambassador to Rome who has been in hiding in Italy since November.With the disappearance of Jo and his family considered a move to seek asylum, Thae Yong-ho also urged the three countries to “check their intentions to come to South Korea within a safe and free environment.” “We call upon the Korean government to urge the Italian government to provide protection to Jo Song-gil and his family, and within a safe, free environment, check their intentions to come to Korea,” Thae told reporters in SeoulJan 9, 2019
Kim Jong-un meets Xi ahead of Trump summit North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un and his wife Ri Sol-ju are featured in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency, Tuesday. The state media said Kim was visiting China from Monday to Thursday at Xi's invitation. KCNA-YonhapBy Kim Bo-eunNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, Tuesday, on the second day of his four-day trip to China. The visit comes ahead of a possible second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.The North's Korean Central News Agency stated Kim was visiting China, from Monday through Thursday, upon the invitation of Xi. Kim, accompanied by his wife Ri Sol-ju, and key officials including Kim Yong-chol, Ri Su-yong and Ri Yong-ho, traveled via his train, it said.Kim is expected to share developments concerning the summit with Trump and discuss its agenda. Officials such as Kim Yong-chol are playing key roles in the North's denuclearization talks with the U.S.Trump has continued to refer to a second summit with Kim in recent days, stating a date will be decided on soon, and that negotiations for the location were undJan 8, 2019By Kim Bo-eun
Koreas to hold joint New Year's event at Mt. Geumgang this month Participants carry the Korean unification flag after the inter-Korean event held by the South Korean Committee for Implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration, a private organization, and its North Korean counterpart to push for unification in Pyongyang in this June 17 file photo. / Korea Times FileBy Park Ji-wonThe South Korean Committee for Implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration will hold a New Year's event with its North Korean counterpart at the North's Mount Geumgang resort late this month, the organization revealed Monday. The pro-unification organization said its North Korean counterpart sent a letter Saturday to propose holding the joint event at the North's mountain resort between Jan. 30 and 31.“We first suggested holding the event after consultation with several relevant organizations. As the North has agreed with our proposal, the event will be pushed forward as planned,” the organization's spokesperson Lee Yon-hee said.The June 15 declaration was an agreement made by leaders of the two Koreas at their first summit in 2000. The private organizatioJan 8, 2019By Park Ji-won
Cheong Wa Dae says N. Korea-China summit may promote peaceSouth Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae welcomed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's ongoing trip to Beijing on Tuesday, saying the North Korea-China summit may help efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and establish lasting peace."We hope the exchange between China and North Korea will contribute to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of lasting peace," spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom told a daily press briefing.His remarks followed reports that Kim arrived in the Chinese capital earlier in the day for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.The Cheong Wa Dae spokesman said the Seoul government was told in advance of the visit by Pyongyang and Beijing."We were contacted by both countries and have been sharing our information," he said.The spokesman expressed hope that the China-North Korea summit would also lead to a second U.S.-North Korea summit."Exchanges are under way between the two Koreas, North Korea and China, and North Korea and the United States, and we hope there will be a virtuous circle of these exchanges so progress in eJan 8, 2019
