PHOTOS Kim Jong-un's democracy test A progressive group recently held a news conference at the National Assembly with mockups of President Moon Jae-in and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un. They called for the lifting of sanctions imposed on the North for its nuclear and missile programs to enable Kim's visit to Seoul. YonhapBy Oh Young-jinBy all indications, North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un will likely visit Seoul before the end of this year. He promised this during President Moon Jae-in's visit to Pyongyang in September. The media has been speculating on the dates but they have so far been denied. Moon, on his way to New Zealand aboard Air Force One during his recent overseas tour, revealed U.S. President Donald Trump had cleared Kim's visit before the second Kim-Trump summit. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is all smiles during a recent visit to a shoe factory. YonhapThere is no reason to block Kim's visit to the South. It is better to welcome him, because there is a chance the trip will help ease inter-Korean tensions, push the two countries further along a reconciliation path and disarm Kim of his nuclear weapons aDec 5, 2018By Oh Young-jin
Pompeo: NK sanctions campaign shows US leadership U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo talks during a press conference after a NATO Foreign Ministers meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels on Dec. 4. AFPU.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that the international sanctions campaign against North Korea is an example of U.S. leadership in the world.Speaking in Brussels, the top U.S. diplomat rejected criticism that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is undermining the world order by withdrawing from international organizations and pacts, including the nuclear deal with Iran."Under President Trump, we are not abandoning international leadership or our friends in the international system," Pompeo said in a speech at the German Marshall Fund."Indeed, quite the contrary," he continued. "Just look, as one example, at the historic number of countries which have gotten on board our pressure campaign against North Korea. No other nation in the world could have rallied dozens of nations, from every corner of the world, to impose sanctions on the regime in Pyongyang."His remarks come as the North has protested theDec 5, 2018
Unification Ministry has thorny task of handling ties with North Korea South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon walks to board a plane to leave for Pyongyang, North Korea, to participate in the inter-Korean basketball matches, at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, July 3. ReutersSouth Korea's Unification Ministry, responsible for inter-Korean affairs, has seen its standing wax and wane along with relations between the still officially warring neighbours.The ministry returned to prominence this year after three summits between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ended with pledges to defuse military tensions, restart economic cooperation and formally end the 1950-53 Korean War.But those efforts have placed the ministry in a bind, with Washington wary of rapid progress between the two Koreas that may undermine international sanctions and efforts to dismantle the North's nuclear and missile programmes.Here is a summary of the ministry's history, mission and how its work has evolved in line with changes in domestic political tides and diplomatic dynamics. ONE OF A KINDThe South's full-fledged UnifiDec 5, 2018
Kim Jong-un 'likely to visit Seoul Dec. 18-20,' says ex-minister Will North Korean leader Kim Jong-un come to Seoul this year? Former unification minister Jeong Se-hyun says it could happen and the most likely dates are Dec. 18-20.By Park Si-soo All eyes are on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's possible visit to Seoul this year. With everything up in the air, South Korean President Moon Jae-in is trying to make it happen, saying Kim's visit this year is still “a possibility.” He said a visit would “accelerate the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula” and result in a “greater stride in relations improvement” between the North and the United States.Against this backdrop, a former unification minister predicted on Tuesday that Kim could come to Seoul between Dec. 18 and 20. “I was told that a government official reportedly said Kim has no fixed schedule on Dec. 18, 19 and 20,” former Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun said in a radio interview. “So I think he could come on the days.” Jeong is well known for his ample knowledge of North Korea, built on his experience of serving the nationDec 4, 2018
Pyongyang-run restaurants losing customers in Russia Waitresses serve food at a North Korean restaurant in Beijing, in this undated photo. Korea Times fileBy Yi Whan-wooNorth Korean restaurants, once the source of foreign cash for the country's nuclear program, are losing customers in Vladivostok, Russia, according to sources familiar with Pyongyang.This suggests Pyongyang-run restaurants overseas are losing ground supporting the impoverished state in the face of prolonged international sanctions. “The restaurants are losing customers, so it looks like the boom is slowing,” a source recently told Radio Free Asia (RFA). “The restaurants are even empty during lunch hours.” The three North Korean restaurants in Vladivostok _ Kym Gang San, Morangak and Koryo _ had women in their 20s who were sent from Pyongyang as waitresses, singers and dancers.The customers, however, are losing interest in such a mix of dining and entertainment, the source said.It said Koryo doesn't appear to be run by North Korea anymore, while the Kim Jong-un regime manages Kym Gang San and Morangak.“It (Koryo) might have been handed over Dec 3, 2018By Yi Whan-woo
N. Korea remains low key over anniversary of 'nuclear armament' By Yi Whan-wooNorth Korea took a low-key approach last week to the first anniversary of what it claimed was the country's completion of its nuclear armament.Analysts and officials speculated that Pyongyang is trying to keep dialogue on course following leader Kim Jong-un's summits with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump this year.On Nov. 29 last year, Kim's regime said it had completed the development of “the state nuclear force,” after test-firing the “Hwasong-15” intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).It was believed to be capable of striking the continental U.S. and the announcement escalated tensions on the Korean Peninsula.A year later, however, there was no anniversary celebration.The official Rodong Sinmun newspaper did not publish any articles on ICBMs and also refrained from criticizing the U.S.Its front page was filled with economic stories while most of the other pages were also about the economy and technology. The only article about the U.S. was a commentary criticizing the U.S. and South Korea for joining a UnitDec 3, 2018By Yi Whan-woo
First snow of the season in Pyongyang First snow of the season in Pyongyang: Moranbong, a hillside park in Pyongyang, is covered with snow, Nov. 24. North Korea's propaganda website Meari said it was the first snow of the year in the city. / YonhapDec 3, 2018By Yi Whan-woo
N. Korea arrests retired official for criticizing Kim Jong-un By Yi Whan-wooA retired North Korean official in his 60s was arrested for criticizing the country's leader Kim Jong-un, according to sources familiar with the matter.They recently told Radio Free Asia (RFA) that the official, who served as the deputy chairman of the People's Committee in the border town of Hyesan, Ryanggang Province, was arrested while attempting to flee the country.“The retired official was arrested without warrant on Nov. 3 by the State Security Department on the charge of criticizing the Supreme Leader,” a source said, adding the man retired in October 2017.“He had been a very loyal administrative official for quite some time here in Ryanggang. He had a deep understanding of the lives of ordinary people and was very sympathetic to their difficulties.” The official criticized Kim over his recent visits to Samjiyon County in Ryanggang Province, where a state-sponsored construction project is under way. The project includes more than 400 new buildings.It was considered “one of the country's largest and most highly promoted.” But thDec 3, 2018By Yi Whan-woo
North Korea 'exports' more workers to China, Russia Workers discuss a project at a rock-drilling tools factory in Pyongyang in this photo taken in April. More North Koreans, especially Pyongyang's upper class, are seeking work abroad despite sanctions on the North. / Korea Times fileBy Yi Whan-wooMore North Koreans, including Pyongyang's upper class, are seeking jobs outside the country amid prolonged international sanctions on the North, according to sources.The move is expected to stir controversy because the sanctions prohibit the export of North Korean labor.Against this backdrop, North Koreans are even willing to take menial jobs in China and Russia that are not detectable by the United Nations and the West. “The people are looking to enhance their careers by becoming cooks, waiters, tailors or construction workers abroad,” a source told Radio Free Asia (RFA) recently. “They think they will be able to make more money overseas.”The screening process is strict because authorities only send those who are loyal to the regime.“People who want to go abroad for work have to go through a very strict selectioDec 3, 2018By Yi Whan-woo
North Koreans shun state-grown cabbages during kimchi season By Yi Whan-wooNorth Koreans are buying privately grown napa cabbages for kimchi-making season because they are unhappy with the quality of cabbages from state-run farms, according to sources in Pyongyang.The kimchi-making season, which starts in November, is crucial because kimchi is an everyday dish in both Koreas and the quality of the cabbages will decide how well the family eats from winter to spring.“Lots of napa cabbages are hauled to the local market on carts and wagons,” a source told Radio Free Asia (RFA) recently. “People in the markets only want to buy cabbages grown on private fields because of their superior quality.”The private farmers use enough fertilizer and water, which makes their cabbages tenderer and sweeter than the state-grown farms, according to the sources.The private farmers also like to cultivate medium-sized cabbages, whereas the state-run farms grow large ones that do not have packed leaves in the center. The harvesters for the state-run farms lamented the quality of the produce.“They complained about the quality of what theyDec 3, 2018By Yi Whan-woo
![Kim Jong-un's democracy test [PHOTOS]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)