North Korean leader's speech shows international sanctions working Kim Seok-hyang, director of the Institute of Unification Studies at Ewha Womans University, first from left, makes the opening speech at a forum to discuss North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un's 2019 New Year's speech, Wednesday, at Seoul Global Center. Seated on the stage are eight expert panels including Lee Seog-ki, Senior Research Fellow at Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade, Kim Joon-hyung, professor at Handong Global University and Choi Yong-hwan, Senior Research Fellow at Institute for National Security Strategy. Korea Times photo by Jung Da-minBy Jung Da-minAlthough much of the media focus was placed on his warning he would find a “new way” if the U.S. sticks to the sanctions, experts here argued that the New Year address of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un was mainly about the economy. It could indicate the sanctions by the United Nations and the United States are affecting the North, forcing it to go on the defensive.The Korean Sharing Movement and Ewha Womans University's Institute of Unification Studies hosted a forum on Wednesday at the Seoul GlobJan 2, 2019
Pro-Pyongyang paper voices lifting sanctions before 2nd summit with US This file picture taken on September 5, 2017 shows trucks waiting in the Chinese border city of Dandong, in China's northeast Liaoning province, before crossing the Friendship Bridge to the North Korean town of Sinuiju. China has ordered North Korean companies in the country to shut down by January as it applies UN sanctions imposed following Pyongyang's sixth nuclear test, the commerce ministry said on September 28, 2017. YonhapThe United States should first drop its push for sanctions and pressure against North Korea if a second summit between the two countries is going to happen, a pro-North Korean newspaper in Japan said Wednesday."If the U.S. president moves from his anachronistic mindset bent on sanctions to resolve anything and also from a variant version of talk of adjusting speeds (on negotiations) and draws up a right 2019 business plan, it would be possible to find a clue to the second summit between North Korea and the U.S.," the Choson Sinbo said in an article.In his New Year's Day address, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said that he is committed to complete denuclearizJan 2, 2019
Pokemon's Pikachu appears at North Korea's New Year festival People look at an ice sculpture in Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Square during the New Year celebrations. At right is a character balloon in the shape of Pikachu from the popular Japanese animation Pokemon. KCNA-YonhapBy Jung Da-minA Japanese animation character appeared at North Korea's New Year celebrations that drew large crowds in the capital Pyongyang. In a photo released on New Year's Day by the country's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a Pikachu balloon is seen being held by a person in the crowd at Kim Il Sung Square on Monday. Pikachu, beloved around the world, is the main character of popular Japanese animation Pokemon. There were large-scale celebrations in the capital Monday night, including the Pyongyang Ice Sculpture Festival 2019, a concert, a drone show and the countdown to midnight displayed in numeral-shaped fireworks. The ice festival featured some 70 sculptures by officials, workers and students.In North Korea, the New Year is a big two-day holiday (Jan.1-2).Jan 2, 2019
Aftermath quake rips near North Korean nuke test site In this Thursday, May 24, 2018 photo, smoke and debris rise in the air as an observation post next to the entrance of the north tunnel at North Korea's nuclear test site is blown up at Punggye-ri, North Hamgyong Province, North Korea. YonhapA 2.8 magnitude earthquake took place near North Korea's northeastern nuclear test site Wednesday in an apparent aftermath of the communist country's previous nuclear test, South Korea's weather agency said.The quake occurred about 11 kilometers east of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in Kilju, North Hamgyong Province, at 7:20 a.m., the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said. The North carried out its sixth and most powerful nuclear test in the Punggye-ri site in September 2017, causing several induced quakes thereafter. "The (Wednesday) quake is presumed to have naturally occurred due to the influence of the North's sixth nuclear test," Woo Nam-cheol, a KMA geological analyst, said. (Yonhap)Jan 2, 2019
Trump: 'looking forward to meeting Kim Jong-un' U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a signing ceremony for H.R. 2, the "Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018" in Washington, U.S., December 20, 2018. REUTERS-YonhapU.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he looks forward to a second meeting with the North Korean leader, after Kim Jong-un said he is ready to meet any time."'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,'" Trump tweeted, apparently citing a PBS News Hour report on Kim's New Year's address earlier in the day."I also look forward to meeting with Chairman Kim who realizes so well that North Korea possesses great economic potential!"Trump did not address the rest of Kim's speech, in which the North Korean leader also warned the U.S. not to test the country's patience with continued sanctions and pressure.A U.S. State Department spokesperson told Yonhap earlier, "We decline the opportunity to comment." It was Washington's first response to Kim's annual New Year's Day speech, which was watched closely for a hint of theJan 2, 2019
Ideological dispute deepening on NK leader's Seoul visit People who support North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit to Seoul participate in an event to welcome him in Seoul, Dec. 9. YonhapBy Kang Seung-woo After decades of ideological conflict that drove South and North Korea to the brink of war at times, the two sides have undergone a stunning about-face in their relations, with an unprecedented reconciliatory mood along with three inter-Korean summits last year alone. Another highlight of the changes will be Seoul's bid to host the leader of its northern neighbor this year for another summit.However, the advancement of bilateral ties is developing another yet unexpected ideological confrontation as rival partisan organizations have started to fight for hegemony ― one side welcoming the envisaged Kim Jong-un's visit to the South and the other side threatening to assassinate him. Should the Seoul summit get on track, such confrontations are likely to deepen, further dividing South Koreans.Seoul has been pushing for Kim's trip in the hopes it will help further improve cross-border ties and give an impetus to the ongoing diplomatic efforts tJan 1, 2019By Kang Seung-woo
North Korean leader says he is ready to meet Trump North Korean leader Kim Jong-un delivers a New Year's address while sitting in an armchair in an office, Tuesday. Photos of his predecessors, Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, are also seen behind him. YonhapKim Jong-un wants to continue peace talksBy Lee Min-hyungNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he is ready to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at any time, in a prerecorded New Year's address aired by the state-controlled Korea Central Television, Tuesday.While reiterating his willingness for complete denuclearization, he called for Washington not to misjudge the North's patience and take corresponding actions for rapid progress in their denuclearization dialogue.“I am ready to sit face-to-face with U.S. President Donald Trump again at any time,” said Kim, dressed in a suit in a room decorated with the portraits of his deceased grandfather and father. “I will do my utmost to generate an end state that the international society will definitely welcome.”The overall tone for his speech was not as provocative as that from the previous years reflecting the Jan 1, 2019By Lee Min-hyung
Cheong Wa Dae hails NK leader's address President Moon Jae-in / YonhapSouth Korea's presidential office welcomed the New Year's address by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, saying it reflects his wish for the development of inter-Korean ties and Pyongyang-Washington relations."Chairman Kim's firm commitment is expected to have a positive effect on resolving the Korean Peninsula issue smoothly in the new year," Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said.In the half-hour long televised speech, the North's leader expressed his willingness to meet again with U.S. President Donald Trump for denuclearization talks. (Yonhap)Jan 1, 2019
South Korea's military seeks speedy implementation of accord with North Korea Two Koreas are seeking a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. Courtesy of Defense MinistryUnarmed border guards of the two Koreas will be able to walk across the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) starting as early as this month, as the South's defense authorities will step up efforts for the early implementation of a recent inter-Korean military accord on reducing tensions, a government official said Tuesday.The two sides have already made the Joint Security Area (JSA) in the truce village of Panmunjom a weapons-free zone under the Sept. 19 agreement on a set of confidence-building measures.That measure is a key outcome of summit talks between President Moon Jae-in and the North's leader Kim Jong-un last year.The two Koreas and the United Nations Command agreed in principle to allow their security guards to move "freely" across the MDL. But they have yet to sign a joint document on new guidelines on relevant operations, including a surveillance system.The official said South Korea's military is pushing for another round of consultations on the issue this month. If a compromise iJan 1, 2019
NK leader warns of seeking 'new way' if US pressure continues North Korean leader Kim Jong-un delivers a New Year's message on the national TV. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un said Tuesday he is firmly committed to denuclearization and ready to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at any time, but warned he could seek an alternative course if the U.S. misjudges his patience and sticks to sanctions.Kim made the remarks during his New Year's speech broadcast by the country's state television, also urging the U.S. to take corresponding measures in exchange for denuclearization steps the communist nation has taken so far.Kim also said he is willing to reopen the now shuttered inter-Korean industrial park in the North's border city of Kaesong and resume a suspended tour program to Mount Kumgang on the North's east coast "without any preconditions."That could suggest Kim wants the resumption of the two projects as sanctions relief from the U.S."I am always ready to sit down again with the U.S. president at any time and will make efforts to produce an outcome that the international community would welcome," Kim said."(But) we could be left withJan 1, 2019
