Korean-British activist wins British royal order for helping North Korean defectors Sokeel Park, South Korea Country Director for Liberty in North Korea (LiNK), has been nominated to receive the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen's New Year Honors in the U.K. Korea Times fileBy Jung Da-min, Park Si-sooA Korean-British human rights activist is among the recipients of this year's Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE). Sokeel John Park, 34, South Korea country director for U.S.-based NGO Liberty in North Korea (LiNK), was honored for “services to U.K./Korea relations,” the British government said in a statement. Park has contributed to LiNK's mission of helping North Koreans flee from the isolated country since 2010. More than 1,000 North Koreans have escaped with the NGO's help. The schedule for the awards ceremony is not fixed yet."It is a massive honor, and very humbling, to receive an MBE in the New Year's Honors from Queen Liz," Park said in a statement on Jan. 4."There are many unknown heroes making huge sacrifices ― sometimes even the ultimate sacrifice ― for the cause of the North Korean people's freedom, far frJan 6, 2019
Former N. Korea diplomat urges asylum-seeking colleague to come to South A former North Korean diplomat who defected to the South urged an ex-colleague missing in Italy to come and settle in Seoul Saturday, as the rare asylum bid makes global headlines. Jo Song Gil, the North's acting ambassador to Rome, went into hiding with his wife in November and is seeking asylum, according to Seoul's intelligence authorities.It would be the first high-profile defection of a North Korean diplomat since 2016 when the then deputy ambassador to London, Thae Yong Ho, switched sides to settle in Seoul. Jo has not contacted Seoul's spy agency since he went into hiding, suggesting he was seeking asylum in a third country in the West, possibly the US, according to several media reports. But Thae, who said he once worked with Jo at Pyongyang's foreign ministry, wrote an open letter urging his ex-colleague to come to the South instead and work together to help the two Koreas reunify. "I thought that I knew a lot about the South...through the Internet while serving overseas. But the South I actually experienced was far more democratic and economically prosperous than I imaginedJan 6, 2019
N. Korea uses face recognition tech at hospital and other facilities North Korea has introduced facial recognition technology to manage records of people entering and exiting some state facilities, a propaganda website of the communist state said Saturday.The website, Meari, said that a key research institute of the Kim Il Sung University in Pyongyang has developed the technology and that the face recognition system has been installed at a hospital in the capital and other buildings."The face recognition process is speedy and accurate," the website said.Facial recognition is among the cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, the reclusive state has sought to develop in recent years.In October 2012, the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the North's ruling Workers' Party, reported on the country's scientists focusing on the development of "world-class" face recognition products. (Yonhap)Jan 5, 2019
N. Korea will never give up nuclear arsenal: ex-U.S. spy chief North Korea will never give up its nuclear arsenal and is seeking recognition as a nuclear power while manipulating U.S. President Donald Trump, former U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said Friday.North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said in his New Year's address that he is committed to complete denuclearization and ready to meet Trump at any time for a second summit.Trump told reporters Wednesday that he is looking forward to the meeting, which will be set up in the "not-too-distant future.""Kim Jong-un is in the driver's seat here," Clapper told CNN. "He's figured out how to appeal to President Trump, mainly through ego, writing him an occasional love letter and agreeing to photo op summits."And in the meantime, de facto -- every day goes by, de facto -- North Korea is a nuclear power and that's what they want to be recognized as," added the former U.S. intelligence chief."And I think that has a lot to do with the temperate behavior of late, which is a good thing."North Korea did not test any nuclear weapons or ballistic missiles last year while Kim held a series ofJan 5, 2019
Pompeo 'confident' Trump-Kim summit coming soon, but not final deal In this file photo taken on November 28, 2018, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks to reporters at the US Capitol after briefing senators in Washington, DC. AFPU.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday again voiced optimism that a second United States-North Korea summit would take place soon but said he doubted it would seal a landmark deal.U.S. President Donald Trump, who held a historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June in Singapore, on Tuesday revealed that he had received a "great letter" from Mr Kim, and boasted of their relationship."Lots of work that is left to be done, but I am confident that in the next short period of time President Trump and Chairman Kim will get the chance to meet again," Mr Pompeo told Fox News host Sean Hannity, a prominent supporter of Mr Trump.He said the summit would work to "truly create a much better, safer America with less threat of not only nuclear weapons being launched at us but nuclear proliferation as well".But asked if the next summit would lead to a lasting deal, Mr Pompeo said: "I'd be surprised if we get all Jan 5, 2019
NK leader's appearances reflect focus on economy North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects fisheries in the Donghae area in the North in this file photo. / YonhapBy Kim Bo-eunNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un made 98 public appearances last year, being seen significantly more at economy-related events, according to data from the unification ministry, Friday.Among his 98 appearances, 41 were at economy-related events. These were concentrated in July and August, when the leader conducted a series of inspections of sites across the country. He visited the Wonsan-Kalma tourist zone, farms and various factories.This is a notable increase from 2017, when he was seen over 26 occasions at economy-related events, out of a total of 94 appearances.The on-site inspections are seen as part of efforts to build North Korea's economy, which the North Korean leader stated as the country's top priority, at a plenary session of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Committee in April.Kim's plan to focus on the economy is set to continue this year. The leader devoted much of his New Year address in stressing the need for economic development, calling for iJan 4, 2019By Kim Bo-eun
'N. Korean diplomat seeking asylum in third country' The front of the North Korean Embassy in Rome.By Yi Whan-wooA North Korean diplomat who disappeared in early November with his family is believed to be seeking asylum in a third country.Multiple South Korean intelligence and diplomatic officials said Friday they “cannot confirm” whether North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy, Jo Song-gil, was seeking asylum in a Western country. “And that should be seen as 'yes' to the question,” a source said. The source claimed that the officials, for confidentiality reasons, typically say an issue “cannot be confirmed” when asked about sensitive security matters that are true.A National Intelligence Service (NIS) official speculated that Cho and his family were staying in Italy and were being protected by its government.It remains unclear where Cho is seeking asylum. But the official claimed it would not be South Korea because Cho had not contacted the South Korean government.“We have not been contacted by Cho, nor have we been in touch with him, since he disappeared in November,” the official saidJan 4, 2019By Yi Whan-woo
North Korea replaced its top diplomat in Rome in late November The North Korean embassy in Rome / YonhapItaly's diplomatic authorities confirmed Friday that North Korea recently replaced its top envoy in Rome, while remaining guarded about whether it's linked with a reported asylum bid by a North Korean diplomat.An official at the Italian Embassy in Seoul said Jo Song-gil had served as the charges d'affaires of the North's diplomatic mission there since Oct. 9, 2017.He "was replaced in such function by Mr. Kim Chon" as of Nov. 20 last year, the official told Yonhap News Agency.It remains unclear whether Kim had already been working at the embassy or was newly dispatched.Jo disappeared in early November with his family after leaving the embassy, a South Korean lawmaker said Thursday after being briefed by the country's state intelligence agency on the matter.Earlier in the day, a Seoul-based newspaper reported that Jo is seeking asylum in a Western nation. He was nearing the end of his stint in Rome when he vanished. (Yonhap)Jan 4, 2019
North Korea's 2019 New Year stamp North Korea's 2019 New Year stamp has been published, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Wednesday. Featured at right is a new type of trolley bus recently launched in Pyongyang. KCNA-YonhapJan 3, 2019
Trump says he's ready to meet again with North Korean leader U.S. President Donald Trump chairs a Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, on Jan. 2. AFPU.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he has received a letter from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and will be setting up a meeting with Kim ``in the not-too-distant future'' to restart talks about the North's nuclear programs. ``He'd like to meet. I'd like to meet,'' Trump said as he held up the letter during a Cabinet meeting. Earlier in the day, Trump tweeted: ``Kim Jong Un says North Korea will not make or test nuclear weapons, or give them to others _ & he is ready to meet President Trump anytime.'' Kim has met several times with the leader of South Korea and attended a summit in Singapore with Trump in June. Kim has signed vague statements pledging a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, but has not described how and when that might occur. In a New Year's message, Kim hinted at a possible cap on nuclear weapons production if the U.S. took equivalent steps. He did not elaborate. He also stood by his commitment on denuclearization, which does not meJan 3, 2019
