US imposes sanctions on 3 North Korean officials Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, right, welcomes North Korea's special envoy Choe Ryong Hae during their meeting in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014. Korea Times fileThe United States on Monday imposed sanctions on three North Korean officials, including a top aide to leader Kim Jong-un, in response to their alleged human rights abuses and censorship.Choe Ryong-hae, who is seen as the No. 2 official in the regime, was designated for being an official of the ruling Workers' Party, the Department of the Treasury said in a statement.Choe is director of the party's Organization and Guidance Department (OGD), which is "instrumental in implementing censorship policies, and purports to control the political affairs of all North Koreans," it said.The other two officials are Minister of State Security Jong Kyong-thaek and Pak Kwang-ho, director of the party's Propaganda and Agitation Department (PAD).The sanctions freeze their property or interests within the U.S. and ban their transactions with U.S. citizens. But the action is expected to be largely symbolic as North Korea is aDec 11, 2018
'Linking SDGs and human rights could persuade North Korea' Thae Yong-ho, one of the most high-profile North Korean defectors to South Korea in recent years, delivering a keynote speech at a seminar titled “Strategies for Improving Human Rights in North Korea: Linking Sustainable Development Goals to Human Rights” held Monday in Seoul. Korea Times photo by Jung Da-minBy Jung Da-minSustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula will not be possible without confronting North Korea's human rights issues, a noted North Korean defector said Monday. “The EU approached North Korea with an argument that improving human rights would eventually benefit the country, helping it to be recognized as a 'normal state' in the international community,” said Thae Yong-ho, former North Korea's deputy chief of mission to the United Kingdom. The assertion was part of his keynote speech at the seminar hosted by Database Center for North Korean Human Rights (NKDB), on the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Human Rights Day that falls on Dec. 10.Thae suggested that South Korea could take lessons fromDec 10, 2018
Kim Jong-un's visit seems unlikely this year Stalled nuclear talks between US, NK also pressuring KimBy Lee Min-hyungPresident Moon Jae-inNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-unNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un is unlikely to visit Seoul this year for a much-anticipated inter-Korean summit, as both sides have yet to make any progress in arranging a schedule, according to officials. Cheong Wa Dae has stated that it would welcome a possible summit this year; but chances that this can be arranged in the next couple of weeks are slim given that the North has yet to confirm Kim's visit to Seoul.The ongoing deadlock in denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang is also pressuring Kim, as he would have to give details on the timeline and roadmap for his country's denuclearization if he makes the trip.In recent months, North Korea has complained that the U.S. has not taken “reciprocal steps” in exchange for the regime's ongoing moves for denuclearization, including the destruction of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in May.Thae Yong-ho, a former North Korean diplomat who defected to the South, also shared a dim view on KDec 10, 2018By Lee Min-hyung
Papal visit to North Korea still uncertain Pope Francis stands next to a candle decorated with the faces of Syrian children suffering from war. He was delivering the Angelus noon prayer from his studio window overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Dec. 2, 2018. AP-YonhapBy Oh Young-jin A guessing game is going on about whether Pope Francis will visit North Korea next year.The latest round has been triggered by reports on the Voice of America (VOA), the U.S. government-funded international radio broadcaster, that the pope will not visit North Korea next year.Then, Yonhap News, the South Korean government-funded news service, reported that the VOA's report could not be entirely trusted. “The Vatican is making a hidden effort to create a consensus with North Korea about the Pope's visit next year,” Yonhap quoted an unnamed source as saying over telephone. It is not clear whether the source is employed at the Vatican or is a South Korean diplomat there. Yonhap said that in October, when President Moon Jae-in visited the Vatican, the Pope told him he would unconditionally visit the North, once Pyongyang invitDec 10, 2018By Oh Young-jin
Nearly half of South Koreans fine with NK leader speaking at their parliament: poll Nearly half of South Koreans are in favor of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un making an address at the South's National Assembly. Yonhap Nearly half of South Korean adults are in favor of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un making an address at the National Assembly if he comes to Seoul, a poll showed Monday.The survey of 503 South Koreans nationwide by local pollster Realmeter showed 46.7 percent of respondents consenting to Kim's speech at the South Korean parliament, with 40.2 percent expressing the opposite view.The poll has a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points, with a 95 percent confidence level. The favorable opinion for Kim's parliamentary address was dominant within the margin of error. More than 70 percent of liberals were in favor and the address, and nearly 70 percent of conservatives opposed Kim's Assembly address.By age, more than half of respondents in their 30s and 40s expressed agreement, whereas people in their 60s were predominantly opposed. Those in their 50s were evenly split.A separate Realmeter poll released on Thursday showed that more than six out oDec 10, 2018
Seoul prepares for every scenario on Kim's visit People pose in front of a giant poster of President Moon Jae-in and Nort Korean leader Kim Jong-un near Cheong Wa Dae, Dec. 7. / YonhapNo confirmation on date and how, but all possibilities openBy Yi Whan-wooCheong Wa Dae remained cautious on Sunday about mentioning North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's possible visit as speculation grew stronger that he may arrive in Seoul very soon.North Korea is also keeping quiet about its leader's possible visit. However, rumors are circulating that talks between the two Koreas about Kim's visit are entering a critical phase.On Sunday, presidential press secretary Yoon Young-chan said there appeared to be “no sign of progress” regarding Kim's visit.“We have not heard anything from the North yet, and no headway has been made so far,” Yoon said in a text message to journalists.Yoon still underscored that Cheong Wa Dae was “preparing for every scenario” in case Kim decided to come by the end of this year, as he promised during his September summit with President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang.The statement comes amid specuDec 9, 2018By Yi Whan-woo
No signs of progress on NK leader's possible Seoul visit: Cheong Wa Dae A visitor takes a photo of murals depicting the handshake between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un near Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul, Friday. YonhapThere appear to be no signs of progress in regard to a possible visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to Seoul following the Moon Jae-in government's official invitation, the presidential office said Sunday."No headway has been made so far, and there is nothing to announce," Yoon Young-chan, Cheong Wa Dae's top press secretary said in a message to reporters.Speculation is rising in South Korea amid a slew of media reports claiming that Kim could be planning to make a three-day visit to Seoul this week and that South Korean officials are busy making secret preparations.Cheong Wa Dae has officially denied the reports while making it clear it leaves all doors open for Kim to come before the year's end or early next year.A Cheong Wa Dae official also reaffirmed it has yet to receive an answer from Pyongyang."We have delivered our message to Pyongyang clearly enough and are waiting calmly for their reDec 9, 2018
'Cheong Wa Dae to announce Kim's Seoul visit as early as Sunday': report North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's Seoul visit seems to be not a matter of “if” but a matter of “when.”Korea Times file photoBy Park Si-soo North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's Seoul visit seems to be not a matter of “if” but a matter of “when.”Various rumors have been swirling around in recent days, predicting the date of his visit, places to see and where he will stay, among other items on his “detailed itinerary” here. Despite repeated calls for clarification, however, Cheong Wa Dae has remained tight-lipped on the subject, even refusing to say “yes or no” when asked whether the visit will actually take place. Against this backdrop, a local newspaper has revealed what it claims are “fixed details” of Kim's Seoul trip. Citing an unidentified “high-ranking government official,” the Segye Ilbo reported Saturday that he will come to Seoul, Dec. 13 or 14, for a two- to three-day visit. It added the presidential office will make an announcement on the North Korean leader's visit as early as SundaDec 8, 2018
US scraps UN meeting on North Korea human rights The United States has dropped a bid to hold a UN Security Council meeting on North Korea's human rights record after failing to garner enough support for the talks, diplomats said Friday.The decision to scrap the meeting held every year since 2014 also comes as the United States is seeking a second summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. North Korea had written to council members last month to urge them to block the US request for the meeting that shines a spotlight on Pyongyang's dismal record.The US has, every year since 2014, garnered the nine votes needed at the council to hold the meeting, despite opposition from China.But diplomats said that only eight countries supported the US request this year, with non-permanent member Ivory Coast refusing to bow to pressure to lend its backing.China, which has strong expanding ties in Africa, has argued that the Security Council is not the venue to discuss human rights as a threat to international peace and security. Beijing says it should be raised in the Geneva-based Human Rights Council. Every year, ChDec 8, 2018
PHOTOS Kim Jong-un invited to Seoul Dec. 12-14, report says North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, second from left, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in with North Korean first lady Ri-Sol-ju, left, and her South Korean counterpart Kim Jung-sook next to them at Changgun-bong, the peak of Mount Paekdu, on Sept. 20, during the two leaders' third inter-Korean summit. Joint Press CorpBy Ko Dong-hwanWhile it is still uncertain when North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will visit Seoul, his South Korean counterpart has invited him on Dec. 12-14, according to a Friday report.Chosun Ilbo said South Korean President Moon Jae-in, shortly after returning from G-20 Summit in Argentina on Tuesday, sent an “official invitation” to Kim for those dates. Signs of Kim's Seoul visit within this month have been seen from the South Korean presidential office Cheong Wa Dae's recent moves.On Thursday, Moon held an unexpected meeting with presidential aides to discuss Kim's possible Seoul visit. Presidential chief of staff Im Jong-seok even canceled his half-day vacation to attend. Other regular presidential meetings scheduled for that day were canceled.Cheong WDec 7, 2018By Ko Dong-hwan
