From New Rich to dating culture, seismic social changes underway in North Korea A North Korean traffic lady, who marshals vehicles at the intersections of North Korea's capital city, smiles in this photo taken by Japanese photographer Hatsuzawa Ari in 2016.By Kang Hyun-kyungJapanese photographer Hatsuzawa Ari, who has been photographing North Korean citizens since 2011, realized rapid social change has been underway since Kim Jong-un ascended to power following his father Kim Jong-il's death in December 2011. Hatsuzawa, 45, said he was overwhelmed by the pace of social change in the “Hermit Kingdom,” which he said was so drastic he almost felt “dizzy.”According to him, the breeze of change was first felt at the airport in Beijing in December 2016 when he transferred to the Air Koryo flight heading to Pyongyang. There, he was struck by the looks of the North Korean passengers.Back in 2012, the Japanese photographer said passengers aboard the North Korean airplane were predominantly men wearing shabby military uniforms and the in-flight atmosphere was tense. In December 2016, however, a pair of wealthy women, who he figured were mother and Sep 9, 2018By Kang Hyun-kyung
NK resumes talks with US on war remains By Kim Yoo-chulTalks between the United States and North Korea over a possible joint effort for the recovery of more remains of U.S. soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War have resumed last week, a government official said, Sunday. “A general-level meeting was held at the truce village of Panmunjeon late Sept. 7 between representatives from each side in which they discussed ways to initiate moves for joint excavations of more remains of U.S. soldiers killed during the inter-Korean War within North Korean territory,” the official said.“The potential for future remains being repatriated was also a key part of the agenda at the talks. The U.S. was hoping to receive more remains of its soldiers killed during the Korean War.”Details on the specific timeline of the joint excavation project and how many U.S. military investigators will be allowed access to the battle sites remain unknown as the North was still reluctant to allow U.S. inspectors into its territory.The U.S. delegation was led by Major General Michael Minihan, chief of staff for the United NationSep 9, 2018By Kim Yoo-chul
Spy chief visits Tokyo to report on NK visit South Korea's spy chief Suh hoon, left, talks with National Security Council head Chung Eui-yong before a meeting with ministers of foreign and defense affairs at Cheong Wa Dae last week. YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chulSouth Korea's spy chief Suh Hoon has arrived in Tokyo to brief Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on key updates of last week's meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Cheong Wa Dae said Sunday.“National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Suh Hoon will meet Abe on Sept. 10 in Tokyo. Suh will brief Abe about the latest findings of last week's meeting with Kim by South Korea's special delegation,” the presidential office said.“Sending NIS Director Suh is part of President Moon Jae-in's envoy diplomacy to win backing for his engagement policy toward North Korea from major stakeholders in North Korean issues.”It is unknown whether Suh will deliver any messages from Kim to Abe. More details about the Suh-Abe meeting will be released afterward.The trip to Tokyo came after President Moon's chief security adviser Chung Eui-yong went to China last Saturday Sep 9, 2018By Kim Yoo-chul
Floods leave 76 dead, 75 missing in North Korea North Koreans work in a field damaged by Typhoon Kompasu, in this 2010 file photo from Korea Central News Agency (KCNA). KCNA-APBy Jung Da-minAt least 76 people were killed and 75 missing in floods that struck North Korea in late August, according to international aid agencies.“Heavy rains in recent days triggered large-scale flooding and landslides in low-lying areas, destroying more than 800 buildings including homes, clinics and schools,” International Federation of Red Cross and the Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) DPRK Country Office said in a statement.Flood victims were in urgent need of health services, shelters and food, said John Fleming from the DPRK Country Office."With the cold season around the corner, we are also concerned this disaster will increase the risk of health problems and food insecurity for some communities,” he noted.According to the report of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the natural disaster has worsened North Korea's food insecurity.“In North and South Hwanghae, 17,000 hSep 9, 2018
PHOTOS North Korea reveals rehearsal scenes of mass gymnastics event The image of North Korea's flag on the floor of the May Day Stadium at Pyongyang. The phrases above the hall read: “The Glorious Day” and “Celebration 70.” DPR Korea Tour-YonhapBy Jung Da-minNorth Korea is staging a mass gymnastics and artistic performance in Pyongyang, Sunday, to mark Sept. 9 foundation day.On Friday, DPR Korea Tour, a website run by North Korea's National Tourism Administration, released rehearsal photos of, "The Glorious Country," being held at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang.Tickets cost from $115.7 to $925.7, according to the website. Below are scenes from “The Glorious Country.”. DPR Korea Tour-Yonhap. DPR Korea Tour-Yonhap. DPR Korea Tour-Yonhap. DPR Korea Tour-Yonhap. DPR Korea Tour-YonhapSep 9, 2018
PHOTOS North Korea stages huge parade, without showing ICBMs North Korean soldiers march during a parade for the 70th anniversary of North Korea's founding day in Pyongyang, North Korea, Sunday. North Korea staged a major military parade, huge rallies and will revive its iconic mass games on Sunday to mark its 70th anniversary as a nation. AP Korean People's Army soldiers march during a mass rally on Kim Il Sung square in Pyongyang on Sunday. AFP People wave plastic flowers during a military parade marking the 70th anniversary of North Korea's foundation in Pyongyang, North Korea, Sunday. Reuters. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, right, raises hands with China's third highest ranking official, Li Zhanshu, during a parade for the 70th anniversary of North Korea's founding day in Pyongyang, North Korea, Sunday. AP Chinese President Xi Jinping sends letter to NK leader By Kim Bo-eunNorth Korea did not showcase intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) in its military parade held in Pyongyang, Sunday, marking the 70th anniversary of the communist regime’s founding.Pyongyang also did not provide live coverage of the Sep 9, 2018By Kim Bo-eun
North Korea to fete 70th birthday with tanks, dancing masses Workers with paint brushes and brooms put the final touches on Pyongyang's iconic Kim Il Sung Square on Saturday as North Korea prepared for what promises to be its biggest celebration in years _ the 70th anniversary of the country's official birth as a nation.The spectacle, months in the making, will center on a military parade and mass games that will likely put both advanced missiles and leader Kim Jong Un's hopes for a stronger economy front and center. Although North Korea stages military parades almost every year, and held one just before the Olympics began in South Korea in February this year, Sunday's parade comes at a particularly sensitive time. Kim's effort to ease tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump have stalled since their June summit in Singapore. Both sides are now insisting on a different starting point. Washington wants Kim to commit to denuclearization first, but Pyongyang wants its security guaranteed and a peace agreement formally ending the Korean War. With tensions once again on the rise, a parade featuring the very missiles that so unnervedSep 9, 2018
Seoul to set up international press center for inter-Korean summit South Korea will set up an international press center in Seoul during the upcoming summit between its President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Friday.The press center will be operated during the inter-Korean summit, slated for Sept. 18-20, according to Cheong Wa Dae.It will be located at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in eastern Seoul and be open to all pre-registered members of the media, it added.Registrations will be accepted through Tuesday.Along with the press center, the presidential office will operate an online platform to provide information in nine different languages, including English, Chinese and Spanish.The upcoming Moon-Kim summit will be the third of its kind. The leaders of the divided Koreas met in the border village of Panmunjom on April 27, then again on May 26. (Yonhap)Sep 8, 2018
N. Korea leader rules out US troop pullout By Yi Whan-wooFor many South Korean conservatives, talks over a declaration of an end to the 1950-53 Korean War has raised concerns over the possible pullout of U.S. troops stationed here as repeatedly demanded by North Korea, and the weakening of the bilateral alliance. So it was surprising that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un downplayed such concerns when President Moon Jae-in's special envoys made a one-day visit to Pyongyang, Wednesday, to discuss a summit this month. “Chairman Kim said the withdrawal of the American military and the weakening of the Seoul-Washington alliance will have nothing to do with a declaration ending the Korean War,” National Security Office (NSO) chief Chung Eu-yong said during a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. “This was what he thought of the nature of the declaration when we asked him.”Chung, who led the five-member delegation to the North, also said Kim was fully aware of the security concerns raised by groups of American and South Koreans over talks to end the war.North Korea has for decades been calling for the witSep 7, 2018By Yi Whan-woo
North Korean computer programmer charged in Sony hack, WannaCry attack First Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Wilkison announces charges against a North Korean national in a range of cyberattacks on September 6, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The complaint includes the cyberattack against Sony Pictures in 2014, the WannaCry 2.0 ransomware attack and the 2016 cybertheft from the central bank of Bangladesh. AFPA computer programmer accused of working at the behest of the North Korean government was charged Thursday in connection with several high-profile cyberattacks, including the Sony Pictures Entertainment hack and the WannaCry ransomware virus that affected hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide.Park Jin Hyok, who is believed to be in North Korea, conspired with others to conduct a series of attacks that also stole $81 million from a bank in Bangladesh, according to the Justice Department's criminal complaint. The U.S. believes he was working for a North Korean-sponsored hacking organization.The U.S. government has previously said that North Korea was responsible for the 2014 Sony hack. That attack led to the release of a trove of sensitive persoSep 7, 2018
