Most Popular
-
1
Opposition-led Assembly unilaterally passes bill to probe Marine's death
-
2
Golden chance to liquidate babies’ gold rings?
-
3
Inflation eases in April, continues bumpy ride
-
4
Seoul to more than double military drones by 2026 to counter NK threats
-
5
Russia sent more than 165,000 barrels of refined petroleum to N. Korea in March: White House
-
6
Seoul alerts overseas missions to NK terror threats
-
7
Key suspects grilled over alleged abuse of power in Marine death inquiry
-
8
Over 60% of S. Koreans support W100m childbirth incentive: survey
-
9
‘Inside Out 2’ adds four new emotions, explores teenage life
-
10
Questions raised over fair promotion of RM, NewJeans
-
Korea, U.S. kick off annual military drills amid tension
South Korean and U.S. troops launched their annual joint drills on Friday, military officials said, amid heightened tension following North Korea's third nuclear test last month.The Key Resolve/Foal Eagle exercises come after North Korea warned the top U.S. commander in South Korea of "miserable destruction" if the American military goes ahead with the two-month-long joint drills.Earlier in the day, the allies started the Foal Eagle drills, which are field training exercises involving tens of th
March 1, 2013
-
Korea's leader expresses 'expectation' for basketball exchange
After watching a basketball game with former NBA star Dennis Rodman in Pyongyang, North Korea's young leader Kim Jong-un expressed his "expectation" that a sports exchange with the United States could help promote "mutual understanding" between people of the two nations, the North's state media said Friday.On his third day visiting North Korea with New York-based VICE media company, Rodman watched a mixed basketball game with Kim between American players of the Harlem Globetrotters and North Kor
March 1, 2013
-
N. Korean leader watches basketball game with former NBA player
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un watched a basketball game with a former National Basketball Association (NBA) player in Pyongyang, local-based foreign media sources said Thursday. Kim Jong-un, the first chairman of the National Defense Commission in North Korea, watched a basketball game between the Harlem Globetrotters and the North's U-18 squad with American Hall of Fame basketball player Dennis Rodman, according to Chinese state-run media Xinhua News Agency.A day earlier, Rodman practiced wit
Feb. 28, 2013
-
F.M. nominee rules out military action against N.K.
Foreign Minister nominee Yun Byung-se on Thursday ruled out the possibility of military options in upcoming U.N. and country-level sanctions against North Korea for its recent nuclear test. “Major U.N. Security Council members including Korea are neither considering military sanctions nor expected to consider the issue,” the 60-year-old former deputy foreign minister said during his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly.Yun is one of the key architects of President Park Geun-hye’s policy
Feb. 28, 2013
-
N. Korea ratchets up warning ahead of joint S. Korea-U.S. military drills
North Korea ratcheted up warnings on Thursday as South Korea is set to hold annual joint military drills with the United States next month.The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) dispatch which is monitored in Seoul said that "the black cloud of a nuclear war is coming," and warned any provocations against the North will lead to the self-destruction of the aggressor. The threat comes as South Korea and the U.S. are scheduled to hold the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises. The computer-based simu
Feb. 28, 2013
-
S. Korea 'actively' supports U.N. inquiry on rights abuses in N. Korea
South Korea expressed its official support for a move by the U.N.'s top human rights body to set up its first in-depth investigation into widespread human rights violations in North Korea, a Seoul official said Thursday. Kim Bong-hyun, Seoul's deputy foreign minister for global affairs, told the 22nd session of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva that South Korea will "actively" support a resolution by the European Union that calls for the U.N. council to begin the in-depth investigation of
Feb. 28, 2013
-
[Newsmaker] N.K. military spy chief restored to rank
North Korea has recently reinstated hawkish military spy chief Kim Yong-chol to a four-star general, raising concerns that it will increase saber rattling following its third nuclear test last month.The Rodong Shinmun, the official newspaper of the North’s ruling party, ran a photo on Tuesday showing the head of the Reconnaissance General Bureau wearing a four-star insignia as he clapped behind leader Kim Jong-un during a recent national choir performance.The organization has masterminded a seri
Feb. 27, 2013
-
Pro-N. Korea paper calls on new Seoul gov't not to follow wrong footsteps
A pro-North Korean newspaper in Japan called on South Korea's new administration Wednesday not to follow in the footsteps of a "failed president" and engage in dialogue without setting any preconditions.The article carried on the Chosun Sinbo, which is the official paper of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, is noteworthy because it is the first time that Pyongyang – even indirectly – has commented on the new Park Geun-hye administration, which took power on Monday.The media o
Feb. 27, 2013
-
N. Korea warns U.S. is within range of strategic rockets, nukes
North Korea warned Wednesday that the United States is now within the range of its strategic rockets and atomic weapons, and stressed it is now a country that can protect itself from foreign aggression.An article carried by Uriminzokkiri, North Korea's propaganda Web site, said that the U.S. should not think it is safe because it is on the other side of the Pacific Ocean.The report, monitored in Seoul, said that if Washington persists in trying to suffocate North Korea with hostile policies, the
Feb. 27, 2013
-
S. Korean nuclear envoy heads to Beijing for N. Korea sanctions
South Korea's top nuclear envoy left for China Wednesday, a senior official said, as Seoul deepens efforts to convince the U.N. Security Council to adopt tougher sanctions against North Korea's third nuclear test. Lim Sung-nam, Seoul's chief envoy to the six-party talks aimed at ending the North's nuclear ambition, will meet with his Chinese counterpart Wu Dawei later Wednesday during his two-day visit to Beijing, the foreign ministry official said on the condition of anonymity. "During the meet
Feb. 27, 2013
-
N.K. seeks nuclear power status
Following its third nuclear test earlier this month, North Korea’s state media have churned out reports that call the country a nuclear-armed state, in an apparent bid to gain international recognition as a de facto nuclear power like India and Pakistan.On Monday, the Rodong Sinmun, the daily of the North’s ruling Workers’ Party, boasted of its possession of nuclear arms while expressing pleasure over its athlete’s winning a gold medal at an Asian marathon. On that day alone, more than 10 news r
Feb. 26, 2013
-
Dennis Rodman worms his way into North Korea
PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) ― Flamboyant former NBA star Dennis Rodman is heading to North Korea with VICE media company ― tattoos, piercings, bad-boy reputation and all.The American known as “The Worm’’ is set to arrive Tuesday in Pyongyang, becoming an unlikely ambassador for sports diplomacy at a time of heightened tensions between the U.S. and North Korea. Rodman, three members of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team, a VICE correspondent and a production crew from the company are visiti
Feb. 26, 2013
-
U.N. inching closer to N.K. human rights probe
Momentum is building fast among U.N. members to form an independent panel to probe the human rights record in North Korea as the despotic regime has defied international pressure to end oppression, torture and public executions of its people. The U.N. Human Rights Council is expected to discuss a draft resolution for the establishment of a substantive inquiry mechanism this month to be jointly proposed by the European Union and Japan, officials and activists said. The Geneva-based council opened
Feb. 26, 2013
-
Defector-turned-public servant charged with spying for North
A defector-turned-official working for the Seoul Metropolitan Government was indicted Tuesday on charges of carrying out espionage activities for the communist regime, prosecutors said.The 33-year-old spy, only identified as his surname Yoo, is accused of handing over the information of some 200 defectors living in Seoul to Pyongyang's spy agency, they said. The suspect, who has a Chinese nationality, arrived in South Korea in 2004, disguising himself as a North Korean defector, they said. In 20
Feb. 26, 2013
-
N. Korea appears to replace domestic security chief: source
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appears to have replaced his chief official in charge of domestic security affairs, a Seoul intelligence source said Tuesday, in what could be part of his moves to cement his power.Ri Myong-su, the North's minister of people's security, has not been seen in public for months, raising speculation that he might have been purged."To my knowledge, North Korea recently appointed Choi Bu-il, deputy chief of staff at the North's military, to the minister of people's secu
Feb. 26, 2013
-
Kim Jong-un oversees live fire exercises by artillery units
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected artillery units conducting live fire exercises to check if they could "fight an actual war," the communist country's media reported Tuesday.The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) report monitored in Seoul said Kim ordered the exercises and visited a unit to guide the artillerymen. The news wire service did not give details on when the exercises were conducted or which unit Kim guided, but the drills may have taken place on Monday when South Korean Preside
Feb. 26, 2013
-
N. Korea seen as expanding gulags: satellite imagery
North Korea is expanding its main political prison camps, apparently due either to hikes in the number of prisoners or the consolidation of its facilities, a human rights group said here Monday.The findings came from joint research by the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) and DigitalGlobe, a commercial earth image provider.An analysis of satellite photos of Camp No. 25 in the remote northeastern area of Chongjin-si showed that agricultural development, maintenance and construction
Feb. 26, 2013
-
U.N. likely to form commission to investigate rights abuses in N.K.
The United Nations has been in consultations with member states to adopt a resolution that would set up its first commission of inquiry into widespread human rights violations in North Korea, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said Monday.The resolution is one of several that have been the subject of debate during the ongoing 22nd session of the U.N. Human Rights Council, which will last until March 22.Ahead of the U.N. council’s session in Geneva, the European Union and Japan agree
Feb. 25, 2013
-
U.N. council in drawn-out talks on N. Korea sanctions
The U.N. Security Council is struggling to take what it calls "significant action" against North Korea for its latest nuclear test amid disputes among veto-wielding members, diplomatic sources said Sunday.In the wake of Pyongyang's third known nuclear experiment on Feb. 12, the U.S. government called for a "swift, credible and strong" response by the U.N. council.South Korea aims to release a tough sanctions resolution against North Korea within this month. Seoul holds the rotating presidency of
Feb. 25, 2013
-
Experts outline risks of nuclear deterrent
South Korea should exercise great caution in considering a nuclear deterrent against North Korea to avoid a possible arms race and instability in the region, experts advised last week.Following Pyongyang’s third atomic test on Feb. 12, conservatives here have floated the idea of nuclear armament and the redeployment of U.S. tactical weapons to deal with North Korea’s increasingly asymmetrical weapons systems.“I think it (nuclear options) is a really bad idea. The problem here is that South Korea
Feb. 24, 2013