Reports over the weekend of the US weighing a possible troop reduction in South Korea put officials here on edge again. A Seoul official, however, tried to play down the media speculation, saying adjusting the US’ military presence here has not been discussed. 　 　 “There has been no discussion between the two countries regarding the reduction of the US forces here, nor a notification from the US,” a Defense Ministry official told The Korea Herald, declining to comment fu

Defense July 19, 2020

The South Korean government’s crackdown on nonprofit groups led by North Korean defectors for sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border has met with a severe backlash from human rights advocates. 　 Thor Halvorssen, president of the Human Rights Foundation, a New York-based organization that promotes human rights and freedom, said Seoul’s decision to revoke operation license and seek prosecution of the defector groups is a violation of freedom of speech and expression, in a

North Korea July 16, 2020

North Korea has started to promote its now-shuttered tourism project to Kumgangsan, appearing to invite foreign tourists back to the reclusive regime soon after shutting its borders amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 　 Pyongyang temporarily barred foreign tourists to the mountain resort on its east coast when it closed its borders in late January, as the virus spread in neighboring China and South Korea. The shutdown has crippled the North’s economy even more as trade and tourism were a key sou

North Korea July 15, 2020

South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee is a woman of many firsts. In the 70-year history of the Trade Ministry, she is the first woman to attain the top position. This is after climbing the ladder within the agency, led mostly by men. This year the 53-year-old minister has set her sights on yet another milestone: becoming the first woman and the first Korean to lead the World Trade Organization. 　 Currently in Geneva to attend the WTO’s General Council meeting, slated to start Wednesda

Foreign Affairs July 14, 2020

Kim Yo-jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s influential younger sister, on Friday ruled out the possibility of holding another US-North Korea summit this year, saying it is “useless” for Pyongyang and would only benefit Washington, according to state media.  “This is my personal opinion but summit between the US and North Korea will not take place this year,” said Kim to the state-run Korea Central News Agency.  She said another summit is “unne

North Korea July 10, 2020

US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun on Thursday stressed the importance of resuming talks with North Korea and vowed to work with South Korea to this end, during his meeting with Suh Hoon, the newly appointed top security adviser to President Moon Jae-in. 　 The two met at Cheong Wa Dae in the morning, on the last day of Biegun’s three-day visit here. During an hourlong meeting, Biegun, who doubles as Washington’s top nuclear envoy, and Suh talked about North Korea’s r

North Korea July 9, 2020

US President Donald Trump said he is open for another summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, despite the North repeatedly denying any interest in it. 　 In a media interview on Tuesday (Washington time), Trump said: “I understand they want to meet and we would certainly do that. 　 “I would do it if I thought it was going to be helpful,” he was quoted as saying in a multiple US media outlets. 　 The comment came as his top envoy on North Korean affairs, US Deputy Secretar

North Korea July 8, 2020

The US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun is expected to focus on the stalled denuclearization process on North Korea during his three-day visit here. But the North said it has no intention to resume dialogue with the US. 　 In a statement released through the North’s official Korean Central News Agency on Tuesday, hours before the US envoy arrived in Seoul, senior North Korean Foreign Ministry official Kwon Jong-gun said Pyongyang has “no intention to sit face-to-face”

North Korea July 7, 2020

  South Korean President Moon Jae-in, having reshuffled his top security team with figures known to be for engagement with North Korea, is widely expected to push to make a breakthrough in stalled relations with North Korea. 　 On Friday, Moon tapped Suh Hoon, director of the National Intelligence Service, as his national security adviser, and nominated Park Jie-won, a former lawmaker and special envoy to North Korea, to succeed Suh as the spy chief. Lee In-young, a four-term lawmaker from

Foreign Affairs July 5, 2020

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha on Thursday said the government is making an all-out effort to resume stalled dialogues with North Korea, amid recent heightened tensions between the two Koreas.  “For the time being, North Korea has stopped taking additional measures that could worsen the situation in the Korean Peninsula. The ministry will remain vigilant and focus on managing the situation to prevent deterioration, and make all-out diplomatic efforts for the North to return to the

Foreign Affairs July 2, 2020

Amid heightened uncertainties over inter-Korean relations, a special adviser to President Moon Jae-in called for the leaders of the two Koreas to meet in order to break the deadlock and move forward after the North’s demolition of a joint liaison office last month. 　 “Kim Yo-jong, the vice department director of the North’s Workers Party, said the relationship with the South has changed to that of an enemy and blocked all communication channels between the two Koreas. The onl

North Korea July 1, 2020

The Unification Ministry on Tuesday said it was reconsidering the timing of a $10 million aid package to North Korea via the World Food Program, amid heightened tensions between the two Koreas. 　 The ministry said that earlier this month the unification minister and WFP Executive Director David Beasley held a videoconference and they were planning to go ahead with an aid project for assisting nutrition needs for women and babies. But it decided to delay the plan after Kim Yo-jong, North Korean

North Korea June 30, 2020

North Korea has registered the trademark for “Masikryong Hotel” inside a luxury ski resort with a UN agency on intellectual property rights, as the reclusive regime seeks to develop its nascent tourism industry to garner more revenue amid international sanctions. 　 The North listed the trademark on April 2 at the World Intellectual Property Organization, the website showed Tuesday. The trademark is set to expire in 2030, but it could apply for extension afterward. 　 The luxury ho

North Korea June 30, 2020

The Unification Ministry on Monday held a hearing on two North Korean defector-led groups, as the final step before revoking their permits for floating anti-North Korea propaganda materials across the border, in defiance of the government. 　 The ministry said it held a hearing on Kuensaem, an organization that has sent bottles filled with rice to the North, and Fighters for a Free North Korea, which has floated anti-Pyongyang leaflets. 　 North Korean defector Park Jung-oh, who heads Kuensaem

North Korea June 29, 2020

The police on Friday raided the two defector-run organizations at the center of anti-Pyongyang leaflet campaigns here on allegations that they violated laws governing inter-Korean exchanges. 　 Investigators from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency were dispatched to the offices of Fighters for a Free North Korea, led by North Korean defector Park Sang-hak, and Keunsaem, led by Park’s younger brother Park Jung-oh. Both offices are in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul. 　 FFNK is accused of flyi

North Korea June 26, 2020