'North Korea eying Swiss, Singaporean-style success' In this Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018 photo, senior researcher with the Economic Institute of the North's Academy of Social Sciences Ri Ki Song gestures during his interview with the Associated Press in Pyongyang, North Korea. / APPYONGYANG, North Korea ― North Korea is exploring a grand plan to become a regional transportation hub, inspired in part by the successes of Singapore and Switzerland, and would be open to joining world financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund if current member states give up their ``hostile'' policies toward it, a senior government economist has told The Associated Press. Ri Ki Song, a senior researcher with the Economic Institute of the North's Academy of Social Sciences, said that although sanctions aimed at getting his country to abandon its nuclear and missile programs have increased over the past year, the country's economy has maintained steady growth _ with its GDP increasing from $24.998 billion in 2013 to $29.595 billion in 2016 and $30.704 billion in 2017. Some outside experts dispute the North's statistics. An estimate released iOct 29, 2018
N. Korea official visits Moscow to possibly discuss summit By Yi Whan-wooSin Hong-chol North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Sin Hong-chol arrived in Moscow, Saturday, to meet Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov this week, according to the Russian foreign ministry, Sunday. Sin's trip comes after several Russian diplomats hinted at North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit to Moscow in line with Russian President Vladimir Putin's invitation.And speculation is rampant that Sin, who handles Pyongyang-Moscow relations, may begin talks with Morgulov for the first summit between their leaders.Kim and Putin have not yet met.The Russian foreign ministry said Sin and Morgulov have met routinely to discuss bilateral issues. It did not give details on the agenda to be discussed this week.Sin also kept mum when asked whether he will prepare for Kim's Russia visit, after arriving at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow, Saturday.“It's possible Sin and Morgulov will talk about Kim's travel to Russia in addition to other issues they have discussed routinely,” a diplomatic source said.In May, Russian Foreign Minister SergeOct 28, 2018By Yi Whan-woo
NK media reports on military talks with Seoul, omits outcome North Korea's state media on Saturday reported on general-level military talks with South Korea a day earlier but didn't mention the outcome of the meeting.North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the general-level military talks were held for "implementing the historic September Pyongyang Joint Declaration."Friday's meeting was one of the follow-ups to the summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang last month."At the talks, both sides reviewed in an overall way the first-phase implementation of the military agreement attached to the 'September Pyongyang Joint Declaration,'" the KCNA said in English. "And they discussed the practical matters arising in the next-phase implementation and agreed to take necessary steps."South and North Korea agreed to withdraw 11 border guard posts each by November and verify their removal the following month during general-grade military talks at the truce village of Panmunjom on Friday.The two sides also decided on the "early" establishment of a joint military committee taskeOct 27, 2018
US calls on UN to enforce sanctions on North Korea The United States on Friday called on the United Nations to fully comply with sanctions on North Korea until the regime gives up its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert issued the call in a statement welcoming a U.N. committee's decision to deflag and ban port entry to three vessels suspected of engaging in illicit activities with the North.The Shang Yuan Bao, New Regent and Kum Un San 3 are accused of carrying out banned ship-to-ship transfers of refined petroleum to North Korean ships."North Korea's illicit imports of refined petroleum have substantially breached the U.N. sanctions cap on refined petroleum by making illicit transfers, and we urge that Member States immediately end all sales of refined petroleum to North Korea," the spokeswoman said. "We call on the 1718 Committee to formally recognize this breach."Nauert said the U.S. has deployed aircraft and surface vessels to detect and disrupt the illicit maritime activities."The U.S. remains committed to achieving the final, fully verified denuclearization of North KoOct 27, 2018
Seoul to open bank branches in North Korea only after sanctions are lifted South Korea will open bank branches in North Korea only after international sanctions are lifted in return for irreversible steps by the North to dismantle its nuclear weapons program, the top financial regulator here said Friday.Choi Jong-ku, chairman of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), told a parliamentary audit meeting that Seoul has not discussed cooperation with North Korea in the financial sector."Opening bank branches in North Korea will be possible only after conditions are met," Choi said. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to work to end the North's nuclear weapons program at a landmark summit in June, but there has been little progress on the details of how to meet that goal.The U.S. has called on its allies to maintain sanctions on North Korea until the North takes concrete and irreversible steps towards denuclearization.Financial sources have said the U.S. Treasury Department called on South Korean banks to comply with sanctions on North Korea, in a thinly veiled warning against doing business with Pyongyang before it takOct 26, 2018
Koreas agree to demolish 22 guard posts Major Gen. Kim Do-gyun of South Korea, right, and his North Korean counterpart Lt. Gen. An Ik-san shake hands ahead of a general-level military meeting at Tongilgak, the North's side of the truce village of Panmunjeom inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), Friday. / Joint Press CorpsKoreas agree to stop all hostile activities along the border from Nov. 1 By Kim Yoo-chul, Joint Press CorpsPANMUNJEOM/SEOUL _ The two Koreas agreed late Friday to completely demolish 22 front-line guard posts (GPs) by the end of November within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating Seoul and Pyongyang, following a broad-reaching military agreement at President Moon Jae-in's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un last month to reduce tensions.Military generals of both sides held talks Friday at Tongilgak in the North's side of the truce village of Panmunjeom inside the DMZ. After, they released a joint statement saying they agreed to create a joint military committee to explore further measures to disarm and cut back military threats against each other. The two Koreas, however, failed to produce a detOct 26, 2018By Kim Yoo-chul
South Korea pushes for inter-Korean joint volcano observatory at Mount Paekdu South Korea is pushing to set up an inter-Korean joint volcano observatory at Mount Paekdu on the North Korean-Chinese border, officials in Seoul said Friday.The Korea Meteorological Administration has drawn up a medium- and long-term plan to establish a facility to observe volcanic activities on the mountain, together with North Korea, according to administration officials and Rep. Sol Hoon of the ruling Democratic Party. The 2,744-meter-high mountain, the highest on the Korean Peninsula and considered a spiritual home of the Korean people, last erupted in 1903, historical records showed.The plan calls for the two Koreas to establish a joint observation station equipped with devices to detect seismic movements around Paekdu and communications networks, as well as facilities to measure the magnetic field of the earth and analyze volcanic gas, the officials and Sol said."Discussions with North Korea have yet to begin, but the joint observatory project will be pushed if the conditions are met," an administration official said.An eruption of Mount Paekdu is expected to cause immediOct 26, 2018
PHOTOS North Korea mass games a hit, get extended run in Pyongyang "The Glorious Country" mass games at May Day Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, Thursday. North Korea has extended the run of the iconic mass games, which it revived last month to mark the country's 70th birthday. AP Performers show martial art moves during "The Glorious Country" mass games at May Day Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, Thursday. AP Dancers perform during "The Glorious Country" mass games at May Day Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, Thursday. AP North Korea has extended the run of its iconic mass games, which it revived last month to mark the country's 70th birthday. Despite a travel ban blocking tourists from the U.S. and pricey tickets for tourists from other countries, the games _ which involve tens of thousands of gymnasts, dancers and flip-card-wielding hordes in the stands _ appear to once again be a hit, filling Pyongyang's 150,000-seat May Day Stadium more than a month after they resumed to end a 5-year hiatus. For the past month, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the country's independence on Sept. 9, North Korea has been stOct 26, 2018
US sanctions 2 Singapore firms, individual over North Korea In this July 21, 2018, file photo U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin speaks with members of the media in Buenos Aires, Argentina. AP-YonhapThe United States on Thursday sanctioned two Singapore-based firms and an individual over their alleged money laundering on North Korea's behalf.The Department of the Treasury said it is targeting Wee Tiong, a commodities trading company, WT Marine, a marine fuels company, and Tan Wee Beng, a Singaporean national who serves in senior positions in both firms.The designations are the latest action taken by the U.S. to enforce United Nations sanctions on North Korea and squeeze the regime into giving up its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs."Tan Wee Beng and his co-conspirators made deliberate efforts to launder money through the U.S. financial system on behalf of North Korea," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. "The U.S. government will not overlook these deceptive practices. We are deeply committed to the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea, and Treasury will continue to enforce and implement sOct 26, 2018
North Korean footballers cross the inter-Korea border for tournament North Korean football players competing in the 5th Ari Sports Cup U-15 international football tournament arrive in South Korea through the customs, immigration and quarantine office at Dorasan Station in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Oct. 25. YonhapA group of North Korean football players arrived in South Korea on Thursday for an international youth football tournament, Seoul's unification ministry said.The ministry said the 84-member North Korean delegation crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) and came to South Korea via the land route of the Gyeongui Line just after noon. They were greeted by South Korean officials, including Gangwon Governor Choi Moon-soon, at the customs, immigration and quarantine (CIQ) office at Dorasan Station in Paju, north of Seoul.The North Korean players get on a bus after leaving the customs, immigration and quarantine office. YonhapThe North's delegation is led by Mun Ung, a vice-minister-level official who heads the April 25 Athletic Committee. "As I step on this ground for the first time in 60 years, I felt this is also my country, and you know we'reOct 25, 2018
