Tag: North Korea

Taekwondo, Performing Artist, Cheering Squad: North Korea Offers Participation in Winter Olympics

A team of North Korean taekwondo athletes wave hands to audiences at the closing ceremony of the World Taekwondo Championships held in Muju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, in this file photo taken on June 30, 2017. (Yonhap)

PANMUNJOM, Korea, Jan. 9 (Joint Press Corps-Yonhap) — North Korea on Tuesday offered to send a high-level delegation and performing arts squads to next month’s PyeongChang Winter Olympics, while the South proposed their athletes’ joint entrance to the games’ opening and closing ceremonies, Seoul officials said.

The two Koreas exchanged their proposals in the morning session of their first official talks in two years at the shared border village of Panmunjom to discuss the North’s participation in the Winter Games and ways to improve ties.

South Korea proposed the two sides march together during the opening and closing ceremonies and the North dispatch a cheering squad for the event.

The South also offered to hold a Red Cross meeting to discuss the reunion of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War around the Lunar New Year’s holiday in February, Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung told a briefing.

In return, North Korea said that it will send a delegation of high-ranking officials and others, including performing and signing groups and taekwondo demonstration teams, on the occasion of the Winter Games, he added.

Taekwondo hoped to bring two Koreas together in PyeongChang

North Korea on Tuesday offered to send a taekwondo demonstration team, along with athletes and others to next month’s Winter Olympics in South Korea, shedding light over a possible reconciliation between two Koreas through sports.

During the first official talks between two Koreas in more than two years, Pyongyang said it plans to send a delegation of athletes, cheering and performing art squads as well as its taekwondo demonstration team to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, some 180 kilometers east of Seoul.

The Games are scheduled for Feb. 9-25, with PyeongChang’s adjacent sub-host cities of Gangneung and Jeongseon hosting ice and alpine skiing events.

Whether North Korea will participate the first Winter Olympics on the Korean Peninsula had remained uncertain until Pyongyang’s leader Kim Jong-un expressed his intention through a New Year’s speech.

If South Korea accepts the proposal and North Korea keeps its word, the taekwondo exchange is set to play a significant role in their reconciliation. The martial art is shared by both sides although they are still technically at war as the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.

North Korea currently leads the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) as the governing body of its style of taekwondo, which compares to the World Taekwondo (WT), a Seoul-based organization whose standard is accepted by the International Olympic Committee.

Despite the differences, taekwondo has been playing a key role in the relationship between the two Koreas.

Last June, the ITF also sent a demonstration team to the World Taekwondo Championships held in Muju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, marking the first visit in 10 years and the first sports exchange between the Koreas after South Korean President Moon Jae-in took office in May.

Responding to North Korea’s latest offer, World Taekwondo President Choue Chung-won said his organization will make preparations to have the martial art lend its hands to the reconciliation of the Koreas.

Two Koreas kick off high-level talks on Winter Olympics, ties

PANMUNJOM, Korea, Jan. 9 (Joint Press Corps-Yonhap) — South and North Korea began their first formal talks in more than two years Tuesday to discuss the North’s potential participation in next month’s Winter Olympics and ways to improve their long-stalled ties.

The high-level talks started at 10:00 a.m. at the truce village of Panmunjom in the heavily fortified border area, according to Seoul’s unification ministry.

The meeting came after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un extended a rare rapprochement to Seoul in his New Year’s Day message. He expressed a willingness to send a delegation to the PyeongChang Olympics and said the country is open for dialogue.

North Korea accepted Seoul’s dialogue offer Friday after the South and the United States agreed to postpone their military drills until after the Olympics. It also reopened a long-disconnected border hotline.

“I came here with hopes that the two Koreas hold talks with a sincere and faithful attitude to give precious results to the Korean people who harbor high expectations for this meeting, as the first new year present,” Ri Son-gwon, North Korea’s chief delegate, said at the start of the talks.

He is the chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country, North Korea’s state agency handling affairs with the South.

“These talks started after long-frayed inter-Korean ties,” said Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, the South’s chief negotiator, in response. “Well begun is half done. I hope that (the two sides) could hold the talks with determination and persistence.”

This photo, taken by the Joint Press Corps on Jan. 9, 2018, shows South Korea's chief delegate Cho Myoung-gyon (L) shaking hands with his North Korean counterpart Ri Son-gwon before holding South and North Korea's high-level talks. (Yonhap)This Photo, taken by the Joint Press Corps on Jan. 9, 2018, shows South Korea’s chief delegate Cho Myoung-gyon (L) shaking hands with his North Korean counterpart Ri Son-gwon before holding South and North Korea’s high-level talks. (Yonhap)

The meeting came as North Korea is under tough international sanctions over its nuclear and missile provocations. It conducted its sixth nuclear test and fired three intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) last year.

The government of liberal President Moon Jae-in has voiced the hope that the North’s participation in the games will help ease tensions on the divided peninsula that were sparked by the North’s provocations.

Moon also hopes that better inter-Korean relations will pave the way for the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue and for broader dialogue between the United States and the North.

Though the two Koreas will focus on Olympic cooperation, they are also expected to discuss ways to improve long-stalled inter-Korean ties.

Possible agenda items with regard to the Olympics include whether the North’s delegation would travel by land or other routes and whether the two Koreas would march together under a unified Korean flag at the opening and closing ceremonies.

If the land route across the heavily guarded border is chosen, there should be consultation between the military authorities of the two Koreas.

If the North sends a cheering squad or a performing arts and singing team, both sides will also have to consult over details such as travel route, accommodation and security issues.

 

As to inter-Korean ties, Seoul is expected to highlight the urgency of easing military tensions and resolving the issue of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War by renewing its July peace proposal.

In July last year, the South proposed holding military talks on easing border tensions and holding a Red Cross meeting to discuss the reunion of divided families. North Korea has not responded to Seoul’s offer.

Asked if North Korea’s denuclearization issue could be discussed, Baik Tae-hyun, spokesman at Seoul’s unification ministry said Monday, “The Koreas plan to discuss Olympic cooperation and issues of mutual concern.”

North Korea may repeat its call for South Korea and the U.S. to halt their joint military drills, which Pyongyang has long denounced as a war rehearsal.

The North could also demand that the South lift its economic sanctions and resume inter-Korean economic projects in exchange for its participation in the Winter Games, experts say.

The South closed an inter-Korean industrial complex in the North’s border city of Kaesong in 2016 and suspended a joint tour program at Mount Kumgang in 2008.

Resumption of operations at the complex and of the tour project could spark a row over the possible violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions aimed at curbing the inflow of hard currency to the North.

“The high-level talks can be called a success if North Korea agrees to join the Games and the two sides set the date for a next meeting and identify each other’s stance over issues of mutual concern,” said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies.

North Korean Miracle Drugs Sold Online By Russian Distributor: Sanctions Schmanctions

Lekar Korea is a Russian distributor for  Pugang Pharmaceutic Company. Royal Blood Fresh is one highly touted product (see full video below). Injections claim to be a cure-all for the immune system–even the common cold.

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Other products:

Sahyang Injection for women cures everything from depression to epilepsy to sexual dysfunction in women. It is a musk extract.

http://www.lekarkorea.com/Eng/Sahyang-Inj.htm

 

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Koreas agree to hold high-level talks Jan 9; First since 2015

SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Yonhap) — South and North Korea agreed Friday to hold high-level talks next week to discuss Pyongyang’s potential participation in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and ways to improve ties.

North Korea notified Seoul that it has accepted South Korea’s latest offer for talks next Tuesday, according to Seoul’s unification ministry.

“The two sides decided to discuss working-level issues for the talks by exchanging documents,” Baik Tae-hyun, ministry spokesman at the ministry, told a press briefing.

The move comes as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un expressed willingness to send a delegation to the Olympics to be held in the South next month and said the country is open to inter-Korean talks over the matter. The South proposed Tuesday for a high-level meeting in response.

The agreement came as the South and the United States agreed late Thursday to delay their joint military drills during the Winter Olympics.

North Korea has long denounced the military drills as a war rehearsal and used them as an excuse for its provocations. But the South and the U.S. said that the exercises are defensive in nature.

Next week’s talks will be the first inter-Korean dialogue since December 2015.

North Korea sent a document to the South under the name of Ri Son-gwon, the head of the North’s state agency in charge of inter-Korean affairs. The receiver is South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, the ministry said.

After a nine-year rule of two conservative governments, liberal President Moon, who favors engagement with Pyongyang, took office in May last year. But the North’s nuclear and missile threats have prompted him to maintain the dual track of seeking sanctions and dialogue.

Seoul hopes that better inter-Korean relations can help pave the way for the resolution of North Korea’s nuclear issue and broader talks between the U.S. and North Korea.

Some experts said that the North’s overture to South Korea may be aimed at weakening the united front in enforcing sanctions on Pyongyang and driving a wedge in the decadeslong alliance between Seoul and Washington.

 

Donald Trump Agrees to Suspend Military War Games During Winter Olympics

Photo provided courtesy of the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae shows South Korean President Moon Jae-in during his telephone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump on Jan. 4, 2018. (Yonhap)

STATEMENTS & RELEASES

Readout of President Donald J. Trump’s Call with President Moon Jae-In of the Republic of Korea

Issued on: January 4, 2018

President Donald J. Trump spoke today with President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea to discuss recent developments on the Korean Peninsula.  The two leaders agreed to continue the campaign of maximum pressure against North Korea and to not repeat mistakes of the past.  The United States and the Republic of Korea are committed to a safe and successful 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang.  President Trump told President Moon that the United States will send a high-level delegation to the Olympics.  The two leaders agreed to de-conflict the Olympics and our military exercises so that United States and Republic of Korea forces can focus on ensuring the security of the Games.

From South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency:

SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Yonhap) — South Korean President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed Thursday to delay their countries’ regular joint military exercises during the Winter Olympic Games to be held here next month.

The agreement came in a telephone conversation between the two leaders, according to the South Korean presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.

The tentative agreement came at a request from the South Korean leader.

“I believe it would greatly help ensure the success of the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games if you could express an intention to delay joint South Korea-U.S. military exercises during the Olympics in case the North does not make any more provocations,” Moon was quoted as telling Trump.

The U.S. president agreed, saying Moon may tell North Korea that there will be no military exercises during the Olympics, according to Cheong Wa Dae.

In a press release, the White House confirmed the leaders agreed to “de-conflict the Olympics and our military exercises so that United States and Republic of Korea forces can focus on ensuring the security of the Games.”

The call between Moon and Trump came one day after the divided Koreas reopened their dialogue channel at the joint security area of Panmunjeom in a prelude to resuming government-level talks for the first time since December 2015.

In a tweet, Donald Trump took credit for renewed dialogue between North Korea and South Korea:

 

Religious Freedom Act Violations: Annual Designation by US State Dept. Released

Today, the Department of State announces that the Secretary of State re-designated Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan as Countries of Particular Concern on December 22, 2017. The Secretary also placed Pakistan on a Special Watch List for severe violations of religious freedom.

Designations Under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998

Press Statement

Heather Nauert
Department Spokesperson
Washington, DC
January 4, 2018

In far too many places around the globe, people continue to be persecuted, unjustly prosecuted, or imprisoned for exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief. Today, a number of governments infringe upon individuals’ ability to adopt, change, or renounce their religion or belief, worship in accordance with their religion or beliefs, or be free from coercion to practice a particular religion or belief.

In accordance with the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, the Secretary of State annually designates governments that have engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom as “Countries of Particular Concern”. Today, the Department of State announces that the Secretary of State re-designated Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan as Countries of Particular Concern on December 22, 2017. The Secretary also placed Pakistan on a Special Watch List for severe violations of religious freedom.

The protection of religious freedom is vital to peace, stability, and prosperity. These designations are aimed at improving the respect for religious freedom in these countries. We recognize that several designated countries are working to improve their respect for religious freedom; we welcome these initiatives and look forward to continued dialogue. The United States remains committed to working with governments, civil society organizations, and religious leaders to advance religious freedom around the world.

S. Korean military: No signs of N. Korea’s imminent missile launch

Photo: North Korea state-run media issued this photo of their most recent Hwasong missile launch.

SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Yonhap) — South Korea’s defense authorities said Thursday there has been no indication of an imminent missile test by North Korea, responding to U.S. news reports that the secretive nation appears to be preparing to fire another intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

“There is no activity that would lead to an assessment that a missile provocation by North Korea is imminent,” Army Col. Roh Jae-cheon, spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a press briefing.

He pointed out, however, that it’s possible for the North to press ahead with a missile provocation anytime, adding South Korea and the United States are closely monitoring related situations.

Earlier this week, CBS News reported that the North has resumed its missile activity at the same site it shot an ICBM in November.

Newsweek also quoted U.S. officials as saying a new missile test may come as soon as later this week or next week.

The reports came amid renewed hopes of eased military tensions on the peninsula. The two Koreas are moving to resume high-level talks on the North’s possible participation at the Winter Olympics to open in the South’s town of PyeongChang next month.

Updated: North Korea Will Speak with South Korea Via Dialogue Channel

SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) — North Korea said Wednesday that it will reopen a suspended inter-Korean communication line after leader Kim Jong-un extended an overture to Seoul in his New Year’s Day message.

The North will open the dialogue channel at the shared border village of Panmunjom at 3:00 p.m. (Pyongyang time), according to the state-run TV station.

The announcement came a day after Seoul proposed high-level inter-Korean talks to discuss North Korea’s possible participation in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and ways to improve ties.

“By upholding a decision by the leadership, we will make close contact with South Korea in a sincere and faithful manner,” said Ri Son-gwon, the head of North Korea’s agency handling inter-Korean affairs. “We will discuss working-level issues over our potential dispatch of the delegation.”

But he did not specify whether the country would accept Seoul’s offer for high-level talks next week.

On New Year’s Day, North Korean leader Kim said that his country is willing to send a delegation to the Olympics in South Korea and is open to inter-Korean talks over the matter.

The North cut off two inter-Korean communication channels — a hotline installed at the liaison office at the truce village and a military channel — in February 2016 in protest of Seoul’s shutdown of a joint industrial complex.

Technically speaking, the hotlines are not physically severed, but the dialogue channel is not operating, as North Korea has not responded to South Korean officials’ daily contact attempts over the phone.

Kim “highly appreciated and welcomed” President Moon Jae-in’s support of his peace offer, according to Ri.

“The leader stressed that whether inter-Korean ties can be improved totally depends on North and South Korea,” the official said.

South Korea’s unification ministry welcomed the North’s restoration of the cross-border channel.

“We will consult with North Korea over working-level issues in connection to our dialogue offer through the hotline,” the ministry said.

Earlier on January 3, 2017:

SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) — North Korea showed no reaction to South Korea’s latest offer for high-level talks, Seoul officials said Wednesday, after Pyongyang extended a rare rapprochement toward the South.
South Korea proposed to hold inter-Korean talks next Tuesday at the shared border village of Panmunjom to discuss the North’s potential participation in the PyeongChang Olympic Games and ways to improve their ties.

A South Korean liaison official attempted to contact the North through a hotline installed at the truce village, but there was no response for the second straight day, according to Seoul’s unification ministry.
The North cut off two inter-Korean communication channels, including a military hotline, in February 2016 in protest of Seoul’s shutdown of a joint industrial complex.

Technically speaking, the hotlines are not physically severed, but the dialogue channel is not operating as North Korea has not responded to South Korean officials’ daily contact over the phone.

On New Year’s Day, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said that his country is willing to send a delegation to the Olympics to be held in the South and open to inter-Korean talks over the matter.

Cheong Seong-chang, a senior research fellow at the Sejong Institute, said that the North may not be able to accept the date proposed by the South, given that Kim Jong-un’s birthday falls on Monday.

“On top of its internal schedule, the North apparently needs time to set details that it wants to go over before the talks. It is likely to propose a different date to Seoul,” he said.

 

North Korea willing to send delegation to PyeongChang Olympics

Photo: North Korean figure skaters Ryom Tae Ok and Kim Ju Sik, courtesy Yonhap.

SEOUL, Jan. 1 (Yonhap) — North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said Monday his country is willing to send its delegation to the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Olympics to be held in South Korea.

“The Winter Games to be held in South Korea will be a good occasion for the country. We sincerely hope that the Winter Olympics will be a success,” Kim said in his New Year’s Day message. “We have readiness to take various steps, including the dispatch of the delegation.”

Winter Olympics Torch Relay, Preparations Underway: Photo Highlights

The leader also said that the North is open to talks with South Korea to discuss its participation in the games.

It marked the first official announcement by North Korea over its willingness to attend the Winter Games, which will be held from Feb. 9-25.

Russia to participate in parade of athletes at 2018 Olympics opening

Hong Kong vessel seized by S. Korea after ship-to-ship oil transfer for N. Korea

2017/12/29

SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Yonhap) — A Hong Kong vessel has been seized and inspected by South Korean authorities after secretly transferring oil to a North Korean vessel in international waters in a ship-to-ship transfer prohibited by the United Nations Security Council, government officials said Friday.

South Korean customs authorities inspected the Hong Kong vessel, Lighthouse Winmore, when it entered the country’s Yeosu Port on Nov. 24 after transferring 600 tons of refined oil to a North Korean vessel on Oct. 19, the officials said.

UNSC Resolution 2375, adopted in September, bans member countries from ship-to-ship transfer of any goods for North Korea.

This composite photo of oil transfer between China and North Korea is captured from the website of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. (Yonhap)This composite photo of oil transfer between China and North Korea is captured from the website of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. (Yonhap)

The Hong Kong-flagged ship was chartered by Taiwanese company Billions Bunker Group and previously visited South Korea’s Yeosu Port on Oct. 11 to load up on Japanese refined oil and head to its claimed destination in Taiwan, the authorities noted.

Instead of going to Taiwan, however, the vessel transferred the oil to a North Korean ship, the Sam Jong 2, and three other non-North Korean vessels in international waters, they said.

“The actions taken will be reported to the UNSC sanctions committee on North Korea in the future,” according to the authorities. “This marks a typical case of North Korea shrewdly circumventing UNSC sanctions by using its illegal networks.”

The officials said South Korea has shared intelligence with the U.S. for the detection of the illegal transaction.

In their search of the seized vessel, South Korean authorities secured navigation logs and testimony from the crew that the oil transaction was ordered by the Taiwanese group through the vessel’s caption. But motive of the transaction with North Korea is not known, the officials noted.

South Korea will be keeping the Hong Kong-flagged vessel for about six months, during which time Hong Kong is expected to file a request for the ship’s release with the UNSC’s sanctions committee on North Korea.

The U.S. has reportedly called on the UNSC to blacklist 10 ships for engaging in proscribed trade with North Korea although China and Russia are opposed to that. Lighthouse Winmore was reportedly one of the 10 targeted ships. The Security Council sanctions committee will make a decision on the request on Friday (New York time), according to the officials.