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US govt tells North Korea to focus on people, not missiles

Korea’s formal name is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It has been under U.N. sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes….reports Asian Lite News

The United States called on North Korea on Monday to defund its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes and prioritise the needs of its own people, as Russia and China blamed sanctions for worsening the humanitarian situation in the hermit Asian state.

Russia put sanctions under the spotlight at the U.N. Security Council as part of its presidency of the 15-member body during February. However, Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia could not chair the meeting because he tested positive for COVID-19, diplomats said.

“We call on DPRK to demonstrate a commitment to the wellbeing of its own people by respecting human rights, defunding its unlawful WMD (weapons of mass destruction) and ballistic missiles programme, and prioritising the needs of its own people – the vulnerable North Koreans,” said the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

North Korea’s formal name is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. It has been under U.N. sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

In November, Russia and China revived a 2019 push to ease U.N. sanctions on North Korea in what they described as a bid to improve the humanitarian situation. The move found little support or engagement among council members, so China and Russia have not put it to a vote.

“If the council were to think of ordinary Koreans and not merely geopolitics then this proposal warrants support,” Deputy Russian U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy told the council. “We believe firmly that the Security Council sanctions apparatus requires a strong dose of humanization.”

North Korea’s humanitarian situation “continues to worsen,” according to an excerpt of a confidential U.N. report seen on Saturday by Reuters. The report said that was probably mainly due to Pyongyang’s COVID-19 blockade.

Russia and China also both used the council meeting on Monday to blast unilateral sanctions, without naming names. China’s U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun said of such countries: “They have been flinging them about left, right, and center in a frenzy, so much so that they seem to be addicted.”

Thomas-Greenfield said she was concerned by attempts “to criticize and delegitimize” unilateral sanctions as unlawful and that the United States categorically rejects that position.

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UNSC urged to condemn North Korea’s missile tests

North Korea staged its seventh and last round of missile launch of the year on January 30, reports Asian Lite News

The US and eight other countries have called on the UN Security Council (UNSC) to condemn North Korea’s recent missile tests after the council’s closed meeting apparently failed to take any concrete action against Pyongyang.

Friday’s meeting marked the second attempt by the US and other like-minded countries in just about two weeks to hold North Korea to account for its recent series of missile launches, Yonhap News Agency reported on Saturday.

North Korea staged its seventh and last round of missile launch of the year on January 30.

“The DPRK’s January 30 launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) is a significant escalation in the DPRK’s recent violations of multiple Security Council resolutions and seeks to further destabilize the region. We condemn this unlawful action in the strongest terms,” US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a joint statement.

DPRK is the acronym for North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

The statement was signed by the UN representatives from eight other UNSC member countries — Albania, Brazil, Britain, France, Ireland, Japan, Norway and the United Arab Emirates.

They noted the IRBM marked the longest-range test conducted by North Korea since late 2017, also adding Pyongyang has so far fired nine ballistic missiles in the seven rounds of missile tests this year.

“The nine ballistic missiles launched in January is the largest number of launches the DPRK has conducted in a single month in the history of its WMD and ballistic missile programs,” they said in their joint statement.

“We call on all Council members to speak with one voice in condemning these dangerous and unlawful acts,” they added.

North Korea has maintained a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile testing since November 2017 when it last test fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, following its sixth and last nuclear test in September that year.

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‘N. Korea fires 2 ballistic missiles toward East Sea’

It also tested the KN-23 missile — modeled after Russia’s Iskander ballistic missile — on January 14 and its own version of the US’ Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), called the KN-24, three days later…reports Asian Lite News

North Korea fired two apparent short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Thursday, South Korea’s military said, in Pyongyang’s sixth such launch this year.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch from in and around Hamhung, a city on its east coast, at around 8 a.m. It did not elaborate further, Yonhap news agency reported.

“Our military is keeping close tabs on related North Korean movements and maintaining a readiness posture,” the JCS said in a message sent to reporters.

Pyongyang apparently test-fired at least two cruise missiles from an inland area on Tuesday following four reported rounds of weapons tests, including hypersonic missile launches on January 5 and 11.

It also tested the KN-23 missile — modeled after Russia’s Iskander ballistic missile — on January 14 and its own version of the US’ Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), called the KN-24, three days later.

The recent bouts of the North’s “saber-rattling” came as the US has been stepping up sanctions pressure amid a protracted deadlock in its nuclear negotiations with the recalcitrant regime.

Last Friday, US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the North’s missile launches this month during their virtual summit, the White House has said, though US officials have continued to signal openness for dialogue.

A day ahead of the summit, a defiant Pyongyang made a thinly-veiled threat to lift its yearslong moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests, sparking speculation it would engage in more provocative actions down the road.

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N Korea launches second ballistic missile into East Sea

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told journalists at a news conference that the missile is believed to have traveled less than 700 kms…reports Rahul Kumar

 The Japanese coast guard has said that North Korea seems to have fired a ballistic missile on Tuesday, the second one in less than a week. The communist country had admitted to firing a “hypersonic missile” last week on Wednesday.

Japanese news agency Kyodo said that the second missile landed in the sea outside Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), but caused no damage to ships or aircraft, according to the government.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the spate of missile launches by the communist neighbour, saying, “It is extremely regrettable that the country has repeatedly carried out missile launches.”

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told journalists at a news conference that the missile is believed to have traveled less than 700 kms.

Kishida has instructed ministers to monitor North Korea’s military activities and asked officials to collect information on the launch while ensuring the safety of planes and vessels in and around Japan.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency too reported the launch of an “unidentified projectile”, quoting the South Korean military.

South Korea’s National Security Council held an emergency meeting and expressed “deep regret” over the latest firing.

The two missile launches follow North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s exhortations to the forces to make more military advances. He has vowed to counter an unstable international situation amid stalled talks with South Korea and the US.

The launches have happened at a time when the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was holding closed-door discussion over North Korea’s missile launches.

Over the past few months, the remote and secretive country has test-fired a number of missiles from trainheads to submarine based missiles, leading to an arms race in the Korean peninsula.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

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Moon tells Biden about his offer of papal visit to N.Korea

Pope Francis said that if he received an invitation from North Korea, he would gladly visit the North for the sake of helping Koreans and the cause of peace, according to Park. …reports Asian Lite News.

President Joe Biden has welcomed as good news Pope Francis’ expression of a willingness to visit North Korea when he met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Rome, an aide to Moon said.

Biden made the remarks as Moon told him that he asked the pope to visit North Korea to bring peace on the Korean Peninsula and Pope Francis positively reacted to the offer by saying he is willing to go to the North if he receives an invitation, presidential spokesperson Park Kyung-mee said.

Biden welcomed the exchange between Moon and the pope as good news and praised Moon for making progress in bringing peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Moon and Biden held a casual meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Rome, Park said, adding that the informal meeting took place shortly before world leaders posed for a group photo.

Both Moon and Biden held a separate meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Friday.

At a meeting with the pope at the Apostolic Palace, Moon told Pope Francis: “If Your Holiness has the opportunity and pays a visit to North Korea, it will build momentum for peace on the Korean Peninsula. Koreans have high expectations,” according to Park.

Pope Francis said that if he received an invitation from North Korea, he would gladly visit the North for the sake of helping Koreans and the cause of peace, according to Park.

The Pope has called for peace on the peninsula and previously expressed a willingness to visit North Korea.

During a meeting with the Pope in 2018, Moon delivered a verbal invitation from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and Francis had said at the time he was willing to visit the North if Pyongyang sends him an official invitation.

No further progress, however, has been made amid a deadlock in talks between the North and the US.

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S.Korea pins hope on end-of-war declaration

The upcoming talks will likely touch on President Moon Jae-in’s recent proposal to declare a formal end to the Korean War, which Noh has said is the most effective among confidence-building measures with North Korea…reports Asian Lite News

South Korea’s chief nuclear envoy said that a formal declaration of an end to the 1950-53 Korean War could pave the way for resuming the stalled denuclearization talks with North Korea.

Noh Kyu-duk made the remark on Saturday ahead of his meetings with his US and Japanese counterparts in Washington later this week to explore ways to bring Pyongyang back to the negotiating table, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The upcoming talks will likely touch on President Moon Jae-in’s recent proposal to declare a formal end to the Korean War, which Noh has said is the most effective among confidence-building measures with North Korea.

“I expect more in-depth discussions on various issues at the working level, including the end-of-war declaration,” Noh said during a meeting with reporters upon his arrival at the Dulles international airport.

“(The declaration) is meaningful as a gateway to talks for the complete denuclearization and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.”

South and North Korea technically remain at war as the Korean War ended only with an armistice, not a peace treaty.’

Noh and the US special representative for North Korea, Sung Kim, are scheduled to meet bilaterally on Monday before holding a trilateral meeting with their Japanese counterpart, Takehiro Funakoshi, the following day. Noh plans to hold a separate bilateral meeting with Funakoshi on Tuesday, according to Seoul officials.

The three held their last in-person talks in September in Tokyo.

Noh said he expects to have a “constructive” discussions with Kim to come up with inducements for dialogue with the North, saying Seoul and Washington have been jointly preparing humanitarian aid for the North and it is nearly ready.

Nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang have remained stalled since the Hanoi summit in 2019 between then US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that ended without a deal.

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Blinken says N Korea increasing instability, insecurity

His comments on Thursday marked the first time the top US diplomat commented directly on North Korea’s recent missile launches. …reports Asian Lite News

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed concerns over North Korea’s recent missile launches, saying the country is increasing insecurity and instability in the region.

His comments on Thursday marked the first time the top US diplomat commented directly on North Korea’s recent missile launches.

“We’re concerned about these repeated violations of Security Council resolutions that create, I think, greater prospects for instability and insecurity,” Blinken told reporters on Thursday.

On Thursday, North Korea test-fired a new type of anti-aircraft missile capable of downing air targets at longer distances with enhanced accuracy, and on Tuesday it fired what it claimed to be a “hypersonic” glide vehicle, about two weeks after it test launched a short-range ballistic missile.

The US has condemned the missile launches as violations of “multiple UN Security Council resolutions”.

The North is prohibited from developing or testing any ballistic missiles and other weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons.

Blinken emphasised the latest missile launch violated U.N. Security Council resolutions.

“On North Korea, we’re evaluating and assessing the launches that you’ve referred to to understand exactly what they did, what technology they used,” he said.

“But regardless, we’ve seen repeated violations now of UN Security Council resolutions that the international community needs to take very seriously.”

His remark came a day before the UN Security Council is set to hold a meeting to discuss the North’s recent missile launches.

N Korea test-fires new anti-aircraft missile

Meanwhile, North Korea said on Friday that it has test-fired a new type of anti-aircraft missile capable of downing air targets at longer distances with enhanced accuracy.

The North’s Academy of Defence Science carried out the test aimed at “confirming the practicality of operation of the launcher, radar and comprehensive battle command vehicle as well as the comprehensive combat performance of the missile”, Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

The Academy verified the “remarkable” combat performance of the new missile that features rapid response and guided accuracy with a missile control system as it introduced new technologies that included “twin-rudder control technology” and a “double-impulse flight engine”, Yonhap News Agency quoted KCNA as saying.

The North has also been successful in substantially increasing the effective range of the missile, it added.

The twin-rudder control technology appears to be aimed at increasing mobility by attaching variable wings to the warhead and at the middle of the missile.

Pak Jong-chon, a member of the Presidium of the Politburo of the ruling Workers’ Party, guided the launch, while leader Kim Jong-un did not attend the firing, according to the KCNA.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry said it will continue efforts to restart inter-Korean talks while keeping a close watch on the North’s next move.

North Korea has recently ratcheted up tensions by conducting its first test-launch of a hypersonic missile earlier this week, just two weeks after test-firing two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea.

The latest missile launch also comes as the North has signalled a willingness to improve ties with the South in recent weeks on the condition that Seoul drops its “double standards” of denouncing the North’s “defensive” weapons tests while justifying its own arms build-up.

During his speech at the second-day session of the Supreme People’s Assembly on Thursday, Kim said that cross-border communication lines with South Korea will be restored in early October as part of efforts to improve chilled relations.

Kim also said the North has “neither aim nor reason” to provoke South Korea and urged Seoul to “get rid of the delusion” that it has to deter the Pyongyang’s provocations.

Inter-Korean relations have remained in a deadlock since the no-deal summit between the US and North Korea in early 2019.

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North Korea resumes n-reactor operation: Report

The annual report by the IAEA was released when North is openly threatening to enlarge its nuclear arsenal….reports Asian Lite News

Pyongyang appears to have restarted the operation of its main nuclear reactor used to produce weapons fuels, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said, media reported.

The annual report by the IAEA was released when North is openly threatening to enlarge its nuclear arsenal.

The report refers to a 5-megawatt reactor at the North’s main nuclear complex in Yongbyon, north of Pyongyang. The reactor produces plutonium, one of the two key ingredients used to build nuclear weapons along with highly enriched uranium, media reported.

This comes amid the visit of South Korea’s nuclear envoy to Washington to discuss issues on the Korean Peninsula.

Noh Kyu-duk, South Korea’s special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, is reportedly on a four-day trip to Washington between August 29 to September 3 at the invitation of Sung Kim, US special representative for North Korea, reports Xinhua news agency.

During the visit, Noh is scheduled to meet the officials from the US Department of State and the White House to continue the close consultations, which the two sides had during the American nuclear envoy’s trip to Seoul earlier this week.

During the meeting in Seoul, Noh and Kim discussed the possible humanitarian assistance to North Korea, calling for Pyongyang to return to the dialogue table.

The Foreign Ministry said it anticipated that an in-depth discussion can be made between South Korea and the US during Noh’s Washington trip for the early resumption of the Korean Peninsula peace process.

Denuclearisation talks between North Korea and the US have been stalled since the second summit between top leader Kim Jong-un and former Anerican President Donald Trump ended without agreement in February 2019 in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi.

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Kim’s sister warns against S Korea-US military drill

The warning comes amid a surprise thaw on the Korean peninsula, prompted by a series of personal letters between Mr. Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in….reports Asian Lite News

The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said on Sunday that a planned military exercise between Seoul and Washington would “becloud” relations, state-run media reported.

The warning comes amid a surprise thaw on the Korean peninsula, prompted by a series of personal letters between Mr. Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

The two sides on Tuesday restored communications that were severed more than a year ago, announcing their leaders had agreed to work on improving ties.

But Kim Yo-jong — a key adviser to her brother the North Korean leader — warned the mood could shift if the South holds joint military drills with the United States later this month.

Pyongyang, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) — File photo handed out by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Dec. 30, 2019 shows Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), addressing the 5th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the WPK in Pyongyang, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). (KCNA/Handout via Xinhua/IANS)

“I view this as an undesirable prelude which seriously undermines the will of the top leaders,” Kim Yo Jong said, adding the drill “further beclouds the way ahead of the north-south relations”.

Seoul and Washington are treaty allies, with the US stationing around 28,500 troops in the South to defend it against its nuclear-armed neighbour.

They have previously scaled back their annual joint military exercises significantly to facilitate nuclear talks with Pyongyang, which condemns such drills as preparations for an invasion.

The dovish Moon is credited with brokering the first-ever summit between North Korea and a sitting US president, in Singapore in June 2018.

But Pyongyang largely cut off contact with Seoul following the collapse of a second summit between Kim and then US president Donald Trump in Hanoi that left nuclear talks at a standstill.

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New US envoy offers to meet N Korea anywhere, anytime

Sung Kim arrived in Seoul on Saturday for a three-way meeting with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts over the denuclearisation issue….reports Asian Lite News

Sung Kim, the newly appointed US special envoy for North Korea on Monday offered to meet with Pyongyang “anywhere, anytime, without preconditions”, with no public contact so far between the Biden administration and the nuclear-armed nation, media reported.

Sung Kim arrived in Seoul on Saturday for a three-way meeting with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts over the denuclearisation issue.

“We continue to hope that the DPRK will respond positively to our outreach, and our offer to meet anywhere anytime without preconditions,” reports quoted Sung Kim as saying.

Meanwhile, National Security Adviser (NSA) Jake Sullivan said that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s remarks that Pyongyang should be ready for a dialogue, as well as a confrontation with Washington, were an “interesting signal”.

The remarks made during a key Workers’ Party meeting on June 17 in Pyongyang marked the first time that Kim spoke of the US since President Joe Biden took office in January.

“His comments we regard as an interesting signal. And we will wait to see whether they are followed up with any kind of more direct communication to us about a potential path forward,” Sullivan said during an interview with ABC News on Sunday.

He reaffirmed that the Biden administration is prepared to engage in “principled negotiations” with Pyongyang to deal with its nuclear program, with the ultimate objective of the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.

The Biden administration at the end of April completed its policy review towards North Korea.

The White House said it had reached out to Pyongyang through several channels but had not yet received any response.

Kim Jong-un and former US President Donald Trump held their first summit in Singapore in June 2018, agreeing on a complete denuclearisation of and a lasting peace settlement on the Korean Peninsula.

Denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington have been stalled since the second Kim-Trump summit ended without agreement in February 2019 in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi.

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