Kaesong: gateway to Korea's past and future This building, identified as part of the Koryo Sungkyunkwan Academy, opened in 2012 next to the historic site of Koryo Sungkyunkwan in Kaesong. / Jon Dunbar This is the second in a three-part series about travel in North Korea.By Jon DunbarRoad travel anywhere outside Pyongyang is extremely unpleasant. Google says the 172.3km Pyongyang-Kaesong Highway is a 102-minute trip, but the actual time is closer to two and a half hours due to the patchy roads that hinder travel speeds. Despite this, leaving the capital at least once on a visit to North Korea is worth it.Pyongyang is a showcase city, but Kaesong better represents North Korean urban life. It served as the capital of the 918-1392 Goryeo Kingdom and still has numerous historic attractions. After division of the peninsula, Kaesong was part of the South, but changed hands during the 1950-53 Korean War. Yet, most people in the South would only think of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex (GIC, spelled with a G to reflecOct 15, 2018By Jon Dunbar
North Korea strengthens ties with Mongolia North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yongho (fourth from right) talks with Zandaakhuu Enkhbold (third from left), head of the presidential secretariat of Mongolia at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in this August file photo. KCNA-YonhapBy Jung Da-minNorth Korea is strengthening its ties with Mongolia, with Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga's inviting Chairman Kim Jong-un to visit the country to mark the 70th anniversary of North Korea-Mongolia diplomatic relations.North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Sunday that Kim received the invitation last week. KCNA also reported that a delegation of the Mongolian Food, Agriculture and Environment Workers Trade Unions headed by President Gantuya Ochirjantsan arrived in North Korea, Sunday.Diplomatic relations between North Korea and Mongolia have strengthened in recent years, with trade volume between the countries rising steadily.In particular, Mongolia's exports to North Korea jumped 55 percent last year compared to the previous year, according to the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency's January report citinOct 15, 2018
Rodong calls on Europe to make 'right choice' on Russia-Germany joint project Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, talk at the German government's guest house Meseberg Palace in this August file photo. Reuters-YonhapBy Jung Da-minNorth Korea's party mouthpiece Rodong Sinmun's Monday edition highlighted conflicts surrounding a joint gas pipeline project between Germany and Russia, supporting Russia's argument that European countries should approve the project.In a relatively toned-down editorial titled “Complex contradictions surrounding 'Nord Stream 2,'” the newspaper said the American attempt to sanction countries involved in the project was aimed at replacing Russian gas with the U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG). The editorial came out two days after the DPRK Information Committee, the North Korean government's organization committed to state-level public relations, began a rare trip to the U.K., France and Hong Kong.These moves are seen as North Korea's efforts to raise its voice in international diplomacy, strengthening its ties with other countries as well as traditional close alliances with RussiOct 15, 2018
Two Koreas to break ground for road, railway connection in Nov.-Dec. - Koreas to break ground for road, railway connection in late Nov. or early Dec.- Koreas to hold Red Cross meeting in Nov.- Koreas to hold general-level military talks as early as possible.- Koreas to hold sports talks late this month to discuss co-hosting of 2032 Olympics.The two Koreas agreed Monday to start a joint project to modernize and eventually connect their railways and roads across their borders in late November or early December.They also agreed to hold Red Cross talks this month to discuss issues related to families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War and arrange a general-level military meeting "as soon as possible."The agreements were reached during high-level talks at the truce village of Panmunjom between South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon and his North Korean counterpart, Ri Son-gwon. (Yonhap)Oct 15, 2018
Defector-turned-journalist excluded from media pool covering talks with North Korea Kim Myeong-sungSouth Korea's unification ministry has excluded a North Korean defector-turned-journalist from joining pool reporters for Monday's high-level talks with the North.Citing safety concerns and other "special" circumstances, the ministry earlier decided to exclude Kim Myeong-sung of the Chosun Ilbo, a local daily newspaper, from the group of reporters to be sent to the truce village of Panmunjom for the high-level talks with North Korea.Kim has worked for the country's largest-circulation newspaper for years and is currently covering the unification ministry that handles inter-Korean affairs. "High-level talks are held in a confined space, and Kim is widely known for his active reporting. We are asking for cooperation since the decision is deemed necessary under such special circumstances, rather than trying to restrict the press," Baik Tae-hyun, ministry spokesman, told reporters. The spokesman added that there had been no objection from the North about the reporter and that the ministry made the decision on its own by taking into account various factors. Asked if his excOct 15, 2018
Two Koreas hold high-level talks to discuss post-summit specifics Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, left, shakes hands with his North Korean counterpart Ri Son-gwon before starting a meeting at the truce village of Panmunjom, Monday. / Joint Press CorpsSouth and North Korea are holding high-level talks Monday to discuss the implementation of the summit agreement their leaders reached last month.South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon is leading a five-member delegation to the talks that began around 10 a.m. at the truce village of Panmunjom. His North Korean counterpart is Ri Son-gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country."The timing (of the meeting) is very important for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the improvement in inter-Korean relations," Cho told reporters in Seoul before departing for the talks. "As such, we will make efforts to induce good results for the implementation of the Pyongyang Declaration we made in September," he added. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed the declaration after holding their third summit last month, in whOct 15, 2018
'Pope hopes to visit North Korea next spring' says ruling party leader South Korea's ruling party chief said Monday that he heard Pope Francis is hoping to visit North Korea next spring as its leader Kim Jong-un has invited him to Pyongyang.Lee Hae-chan, the chairman of the Democratic Party (DP), made the remark without revealing the source of the information."I heard that there is talk that Pope Francis wants to visit North Korea next spring," Lee said at a meeting with senior party officials.It would be quite meaningful if President Moon Jae-in delivers Kim's invitation and the pope visits North Korea, he added.During a summit with Moon last month, the North's leader said he would ardently welcome the pope if he visits Pyongyang, according to Moon's spokesman.Moon plans to deliver the message to the pope when he visits the Vatican from Oct. 17-18 as part of his nine-day trip to Europe.If realized, it will be the first-ever visit by a pope to North Korea.South Korea's Catholic church welcomed the invitation and expressed hope that relations between the Vatican and North Korea will improve. (Yonhap)Oct 15, 2018
'N. Korea economy has become durable despite sanctions': presidential adviser By Yi Whan-wooMoon Chung-inNorth Korea has adapted to international sanctions and its economy has become increasingly durable, according to President Moon Jae-in's foreign policy adviser.Special Presidential Adviser for Unification, Security and Foreign Affairs Moon Chung-in, however, said Pyongyang's economy could reach its limit in the face of the sanctions.He said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is aware of this and is trying to overcome the situation by opening the country's doors to the outside world through denuclearization. Speaking at a forum in Hong Kong, Saturday, he shared his eyewitness account of North Korea as a South Korean delegate during President Moon's latest summit with Kim in Pyongyang from Sept. 18 to 20. The Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation, a Seoul-based civic group, hosted the forum at the South Korean Consulate General in Hong Kong to discuss post-summit challenges. It attracted over 200 guests, including South Korean Consul General Kim Won-jin and council members in China.“Pyongyang looked quite lively during the inter-Korean summit iOct 14, 2018By Yi Whan-woo
Two Koreas to hold high-level talks this week to discuss implementation of summit agreement South and North Korea will hold high-level talks this week to discuss the implementation of the summit agreement their leaders reached last month, the unification ministry here said Sunday.South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon will led a five-member delegation to the talks scheduled for Monday at the southern side of the truce village of Panmunjom, according to the ministry. Other South Korean delegates include Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung, Vice Land and Transport Minister Kim Jeong-ryeol and Vice Sports Minister Roh Tae-gang, the ministry said. Their North Korean counterparts will be led by Ri Son-gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country. They also include Vice Railroad Minister Kim Yun-hyok, Vice Minister for Land and Environment Protection Pak Ho-yong and Vice Sports Minister Won Kil-u.The two leaders agreed in September to intensify cross-border cooperation and exchanges on various fronts and shared a view to make the Korean Peninsula a land of safety without nuclear weapons. They, in particular, agreed to break ground fOct 14, 2018
North Korean propaganda team on rare trip to UK, France, Hong Kong By Jung Da-minNorth Korean propagandists are making a rare overseas trip with its purpose and other details shrouded in secrecy. The delegation led by Vice Chairman Jo Yong-sam of the DPRK Information Committee left on Saturday to visit Britain, France and Hong Kong, the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Saturday. The DPRK Information Committee is a non-permanent organization committed to state-level public relations. DPRK is the acronym for North Korea's official name, Democratic People's Republic of Korea.It was the committee members' first overseas trip in four years ― the most recent trip was to Singapore and Qatar in 2014 ― according to KCNA. It did not provide further details. The trip is widely seen as an effort to improve the North's ties with other countries in sync with its recent peace overtures.Oct 14, 2018
