North Korea falling into financial crisis... hidden reason for peace overture? North Korea running out of hard currencyBy Kim Jae-kyoungNorth Korea is suffering a cash crunch due to international sanctions and could soon face a currency crisis, experts on the North said Tuesday.They said leader Kim Jong-un's recent visit to Beijing was aimed at seeking sanctions relief and easing cash drainage in the reclusive regime.“I think the February Chinese data shows Pyongyang is running short of cash, hence they have cut back sharply on their essential imports from China,” William Brown, adjunct professor at Georgetown School of Foreign Service, told The Korea Times.“Kim's ship is full of holes and a few patches won't help much. I'm pretty sure that's why Kim felt he suddenly had to go to Beijing.”According to data from Global Trade Atlas, China's imports from North Korea stood at $9 million in February, down 95 percent from a year ago. Its exports to the North fell by 32 percent to $103 million during the same period.Brown, who previously worked for the CIA and the National Intelligence Council, believes Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping mustApr 10, 2018
Trump says meeting with Kim Jong-in 'in May or early June' U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday he plans to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un next month or in early June to "hopefully" reach a deal on denuclearizing the regime.Trump made the remarks at a cabinet meeting where he also acknowledged the two sides were in talks to prepare for the meeting."North Korea, by the way, as you've probably seen -- and we've been in touch with North Korea -- we'll be meeting with them sometime in May or early June," he said. "And I think there'll be great respect paid by both parties and hopefully we'll be able to make a deal on the de-nuking of North Korea. They've said so; we've said so. Hopefully, it will be a relationship that's much different than it's been for many, many years."The White House had previously said the president would meet with Kim before the end of May. The unprecedented meeting was arranged through a group of South Korean envoys who met with Kim in Pyongyang last month. The envoys said Kim had expressed a commitment to denuclearization and promised to halt nuclear and ballistic missile tests.On Sunday, the White House coApr 10, 2018
820 North Korean defectors win EU citizenship in 2007-2016 A total of 820 people from North Korea acquired citizenship of member countries of the European Union in the 2007-2016 period, with nearly 90 percent of them living in Germany and Britain, the EU's statistics office has shown in a report.Most of them are believed to have defected to and settled in Europe after escaping from North Korea, given that the acquisition of a European citizenship is made through naturalization, marriage or asylum.The number of people, who came from North Korea and obtained citizenship in the European countries, including the 28 member countries of the EU, totaled 66 in 2016, down from the 128 recorded in the previous year, according to the Eurostat data released Monday.Out of the 66 people, Britain granted citizenship to 43, followed by Germany with 13, France, the Netherlands and Estonia with two each, and Austria with one.During the reported 10-year period, the number of new European citizens hailing from North Korea decreased to 58 in 2008 and 53 in 2009 from 71 in 2007 before increasing to 97 in 2010. In 2010, it shrunk to 77 before jumping to 123 in 201Apr 10, 2018
North Korea's foreign minister arrives in Moscow North Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ri Yong-ho has arrived in Moscow on a visit.The North Korean foreign minister arrived at a Moscow airport by a scheduled flight from Ashgabat where he had been on a visit before.The Russian Foreign Ministry reported earlier that negotiations between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and North Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ri Yong-ho would be held on April 10 in the Russian capital.The ministers will discuss development of bilateral cooperation and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.The Embassy of North Korea in Moscow did not specify the foreign minister’s program of the visit, which is expected to last from April 9 to 11. (TASS)Apr 9, 2018
North Korea puts nukes on table By Kim RahnNorth Korea has apparently assured the United States of its willingness to talk about removing its nuclear weapons during direct contacts between officials of the two countries, according to sources here and American media reports. A Cheong Wa Dae official said Monday that Pyongyang and Washington have been in contact with each other regarding the summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump, which is likely to be held in late May or June“As far as we know, the contacts and talks are going smoothly,” the official said on condition of anonymity.To grasp the situation in more detail, National Security Office chief Chung Eui-yong may soon contact John Bolton, the incoming U.S. national security adviser. “He has not contacted Bolton as the latter had not been officially appointed; but as he took office today, Chung will contact him soon,” the official said.Citing officials of the Trump administration, multiple U.S. media also reported North Korea directly delivered its willingness to discuss denuclearization to WashingtApr 9, 2018
Moon's aide told Kim Jong-un to stop smoking, got away North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is a heavy smoker. But in a country where making a suggestion to the young dictator of anything against his will is considered a blasphemy that deserves heavy punishment, nobody would put one’s life at risk to ask him to quit smoking. This Dec. 12, 2012 file photo shows Kim puffing a cigarette at the satellite control center in Pyongyang. / Korea Times file By Oh Young-jin Top presidential aide Chung Eui-yong advised North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to stop smoking during a dinner Kim hosted for Chung visiting Pyongyang as President Moon Jae-in's top envoy early last month. Chung's advice made the atmosphere at the head table in the banquet tense at least for a moment when the face of Kim Yong-chul, the North's top intelligence officer, hardened in displeasure by Chung's uncalled-for action. It was Ri Sol-ju, the North's first lady, who cheerfully clapped her hands and said, “He doesn't listen when I ask him to quit smoking.” That defused the tension. The young leader himself did not mind Chung's behavior. Japan's Asahi ShimApr 9, 2018
PHOTOS Pyongyang marathon: hundreds run through hermit city Runners compete in the Pyongyang International Marathon in Pyongyang on April 8, 2018. Behind them is the Arch of Triumph. / APBy Park Si-sooHundreds of foreign professionals and amateurs competed in the Pyongyang marathon on Sunday, a source of foreign currency for U.N.-sanctioned North Korea. The annual race was part of celebrations marking North Korean founder Kim Il-sung's birth in 1912.In previous years, there were about 1,000 participants, but there were only 429 this year due to a U.S. travel ban imposed last year after Otto Warmbier's death.The race started in Kim Il-sung stadium and passed alongside major landmarks in the city, such as Kim Il-sung Square and the new development project, Mirae Street, according to the BBC. A foreign competitor takes a photo inside Kim Il Sung stadium before the marathon. / AFPCompetitors cross the start line of the Pyongyang marathon at Kim Il Sung stadium. / AFPMarathon runners head down Ryomyong Street during the Pyongyang International Marathon. / APPedestrians watch foreign competitors pass a nearby subway station during the annual PyongyApr 9, 2018
'NK, US make secret contact for summit' By Kim Bo-eunSecret contacts are taking place between Pyongyang and Washington to prepare for a summit between their leaders slated for May, according to sources, Sunday.Citing Donald Trump administration officials familiar with the matter, CNN reported “secret direct talks” are being held, focusing on the venue of the summit. It stated intelligence officials of the two states have spoken and even met in a third country.The report dispelled concerns the summit may fall through: Such concerns had risen because North Korea has refrained from reporting about the summit, and there have been no recent reports of developments with regards to the meeting from either side.But CNN quoted the government sources as saying “the participation of the North Koreans in the preparatory talks gives them more confidence Kim is serious about the meeting.”The sources also said, “Pyongyang has reaffirmed Kim is willing to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”State Department officials are reportedly communicating with their North Korean counterparts thrApr 8, 2018
Six-party talks could still be valid By Yi Whan-wooNuclear dialogue with North Korea may possibly extend to all members of the now-dormant six-party talks after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un meets leaders of South Korea and the United States, Cheong Wa Dae said Friday.Kim is scheduled to meet President Moon Jae-in on April 27 and U.S. President Donald Trump in May.“Possibly, there will be a three-way summit among the leaders of the two Koreas and the U.S. following the inter-Korean summit and the Pyongyang-Washington summit,” a senior Cheong Wa Dae official said on condition of anonymity. “And if necessary, such dialogue may expand to the six-party talks.”The official said joint nuclear negotiations among the two Koreas, the U.S., China, Japan and Russia may be needed as part of efforts “to better guarantee and ensure safety” in coping with Pyongyang's nuclear program.The official, however, said this should not be taken to mean the Moon government is actively considering restarting the six-party talks suspended in December 2008.“President Moon Jae-in has mentioned the Seoul-PyApr 6, 2018
Kim Jong-un likely to visit Russia before inter-Korean summit By Yi Whan-wooNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has received an invitation to visit Russia, according to U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Dan Coats.Coats’ claim adds to speculation that Kim may meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to bolster diplomatic leverage on North Korea’s nuclear program before a planned inter-Korean summit on April 27.Kim, who visited Chinese President Xi Jinping in late March, is scheduled to send his Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho to Russia next week.Russian news agency TASS reported that on Wednesday Coats mentioned Kim’s invitation to Moscow when asked about the possibility of resuming the six-party talks on North Korea’s denuclearization in the wake of the Kim-Xi meeting.TASS said the DNI chief told reporters in Washington, D.C., he is trying to discover what the North Korean leader intends to discuss in Russia.He also said it was unknown if the six-party talks will be resumed. The two Koreas, the U.S., China and Russia are six-party talk members, along with Japan.Coats said he has not come across any announcement or evidenApr 6, 2018
