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☆ North Korea Leader's Sister Says Japan PM's Comments Positive - KCNA
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL (Reuters) - The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said there is no impediment to closer ties with Japan and there may come a day Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visits Pyongyang, state news agency KCNA said on Thursday. Kishida, whose nation has no formal diplomatic ties with Pyongyang, has said he was exploring possibilities to meet North Korea's leader to resolve the matter of Japanese civilians abducted in the 1970s and 1980s. Kim Yo Jong, a deputy department director in the ruling Workers' Party, said Kishida's comments could be considered positive if meant to advance relations. Japan has been critical of North Korea's pursuit of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons, often drawing harsh rebukes from Pyongyang, especially as Tokyo stepped up its security alliance with South Korea and the United States. Kim is widely considered the closest confidant and adviser to her brother on external policy matters.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Fumio Kishida, KCNA, Kishida, Kim Yo Jong, Kim, Jack Kim, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: North, Workers ' Party Locations: SEOUL, Japan, Pyongyang, Tokyo, South Korea, United States

☆ North Korea Leader Kim: We Will Wipe Out Enemies if They Use Force -KCNA
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Kim made the comments during a visit to the defence ministry on Thursday, rallying soldiers to uphold the ideology of the ruling Workers' Party and defend the country with their lives, KCNA news agency reported. "If enemies try to use force against our country, we will make the bold decision to change history and not hesitate to use all our super power to wipe them out," KCNA quoted him as saying. Kim repeated his vow to never hold dialogue or negotiations with South Korea, which he said was his country's "enemy No. 1," and said the policy of powerful military readiness was the only way to ensure peace and security for North Korea, KCNA said. North Korea has marked the foundation of its military on Feb. 8 and last year held a large military parade at midnight showcasing its largest intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Persons: Jack Kim SEOUL, Kim Jong Un, Kim, KCNA, Ae, Jack Kim, Chris Reese, Jamie Freed Organizations: Workers ' Party Locations: South Korea, North Korea, Seoul, Korea

☆ U.S. F-16 Jet Crashes in South Korea, Pilot Safe - Yonhap
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

SEOUL (Reuters) - A U.S. F-16 fighter jet crashed into the sea off South Korea's west coast on Wednesday and the pilot was rescued safely, Yonhap news agency reported, the second crash of the F-16 aircraft in just over a month in the country. The incident occurred off the west coast city of Gunsan, Yonhap said, citing military sources. Gunsan is home to one of the two main air bases used by the U.S. military in South Korea. An official contacted at the Kunsan Air Base did not immediately have a comment when asked about the crash. (Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Ed Davies)

Persons: Yonhap, Jack Kim, Ed Davies Organizations: U.S, Kunsan, Base Locations: SEOUL, Gunsan, South Korea

☆ North Korea Tests Submarine-Launched Cruise Missiles, KCNA Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Jack KimSEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea tested its new strategic cruise missiles for the second time in a week on Sunday, calling it a newly developed submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM), accelerating its navy's nuclear armament, state news agency KCNA reported on Monday. Leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test of the missile, called "Pulhwasal-3-31," which is identical to the strategic cruise missiles that the North said last week were under development. South Korea's military said on Sunday that the North fired multiple cruise missiles off its coast but did not provide details. North Korea's ballistic missiles are typically more controversial and are explicitly banned under U.N. Security Council resolutions. But analysts have said intermediate-range cruise missiles were no less a threat than ballistic missiles and are a serious capability for North Korea.

Persons: Jack Kim SEOUL, KCNA, Kim Jong Un, Kim, Jack Kim, Andrew Cawthorne, Lisa Shumaker, Leslie Adler Organizations: . Locations: North Korea

The time is now to put an end to the controversy around eating dog meat, party members have said, adding there was broad support from the opposition party, which currently controls parliament, and from the public. A Gallup Korea poll last year showed almost two-thirds of respondents opposed eating dog meat, with only 8% saying they had eaten dog within the past year, down from 27% in 2015. The farmers scuffled with police who outnumbered them and set up barricades to stop them from crossing the street to move closer to the presidential office. While the practice of eating dog meat has declined in popularity, the farmers and restaurant owners who serve the meat have been fighting to keep it legal. The farmers have accused First Lady Kim, a vocal critic of dog meat consumption, of exercising what they call improper pressure on the government and the ruling party to bring in the ban.

Persons: Yoon Suk Yeol, Yoon, Kim Keon Hee, Ju, Lady Kim, Jimin Jung, Dogyun Kim, Hongji Kim, Jack Kim, Ed Davies, Jamie Freed Organizations: Korean Association, Edible, Presidential, Gallup, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, SEOUL, Gallup Korea

HWASEONG, South Korea, Nov 24 (Reuters) - As South Korea moves to ban eating dog meat, many of those involved in the centuries-old controversial practice are fighting to keep it legal. A Gallup Korea poll last year showed almost two-thirds of respondents opposed eating dog meat, with only 8% saying they had eaten dog within the past year, down from 27% in 2015. Despite its declining popularity and opposition from animal rights activists, previous attempts to ban dog meat have failed because of industry protests. With the backing of the public, and bipartisan support in parliament, there are signs that the ban could soon become law. Nam Sung-gue who has run a restaurant selling dog meat boshintang, or "restoring" soup, for the past 30 years, said the ban was unfair, even though his business is fast declining.

Persons: Lee Kyeong, I've, Nam Sung, Kim Keon Hee, Yoon Suk Yeol, gil, Daewoung Kim, Soo, hyang Choi, Jack Kim, Miral Organizations: Power Party, Gallup, Korean Association, Edible, Minwoo, Thomson Locations: South Korea, Korea, Seoul, Gallup Korea

North Korea said it placed its first spy satellite in orbit on Tuesday. South Korea's military said North Korea's military reconnaissance satellite was believed to have entered orbit, but it would take time to assess whether it was operating normally. Critics have said the pact weakened South Korea's ability to monitor the North's near the border while North Korea had violated the agreement. South Korea said it was suspending a clause in the agreement and resuming aerial surveillance near the border. North Korea had notified Japan of a satellite launch after two failed attempts to put what it called spy satellites into orbit this year.

Persons: Kim, Kim Jong Un, KCNA, Adrienne Watson, Jonathan McDowell, Shin Won, sik, Kim Jong, Shin, Yoon Suk Yeol, Yoon, Moon Jae, Critics, Carl Vinson, U.N, Antonio Guterres, Vladimir Putin, Hong Min, Hyunsu Yim, hyang Choi, Josh Smith, Hyonhee Shin, Joyce Lee, Liz Lee, Satoshi Sugiyama, Ed Davies, Jack Kim, Gerry Doyle, Alex Richardson, Kim Coghill Organizations: Reuters, KCNA, REUTERS Acquire, North, ., U.S, Andersen Air Force Base, Pentagon, . National Security, Harvard – Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, U.S . Space Force, South Korea's Defence, National Security, South Korean, Korea's Defence, Korea Institute for National Unification, South, U.S ., Thomson Locations: North Gyeongsang Province, North Korea, Korea, South Korea, SEOUL, United States, . North Korea, Pyongyang, Pacific, Guam, U.S, South, Britain, North, Santa Fe, Korean, Japan, China, North Korea's, RUSSIA, Russian, Russia, Minwoo, Seoul, Beijing, Tokyo

☆ North Korea notifies Japan of satellite launch plan between Nov 22 and Dec 1
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Chang-Ran Kim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

TOKYO, Nov 21 (Reuters) - North Korea has notified Japan it plans to launch a rocket carrying a space satellite between Nov. 22 and Dec. 1 in the direction of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, Japan's Coast Guard said on Tuesday. If carried out, it would likely mark a third attempt by the nuclear-armed state this year to put a spy satellite into orbit. Japan will work with the United States, South Korea and others to "strongly urge" North Korea not to go ahead with the launch, Kishida said. North Korea has not made a formal announcement of the plan on official media. The North considers its space and military rocket programmes a sovereign right, and analysts say spy satellites are crucial to improving the effectiveness of its weapons.

Persons: Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, military's Vandenberg, Chang, Ran Kim, Jack Kim, Christina Fincher, David Gregorio, Sandra Maler Organizations: Japan's Coast Guard, Aegis, United Nations, South, Japan, International Maritime Organization, North, U.S, SpaceX, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, North Korea, Japan, East China, United States, South Korea, Pyongyang, Korea, Tokyo, Seoul

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin attends a welcome ceremony before an annual security meeting with South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won-sik at the Defence Ministry in Seoul, South Korea on November 13, 2023. Washington has accused North Korea of supplying military equipment to Russia for use in its war with Ukraine, and Moscow of providing technical military support to help the North. "If the countries that backed North Korea during the Korean War ever try to help again, then those countries will also receive grave punishment from the international community along with North Korea." China and North Korea are parties to the armistice with the UNC. The defence chiefs also agreed to step up joint drills and cooperate with Japan to deter and better prepare for any North Korean attack.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won, sik, JUNG YEON, Lloyd Austin, Austin, We're, Shin Won, Shin, Jack Kim, Ed Davies, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Defense, South Korean Defence Minister, Defence Ministry, Rights, . Defense, . Command, UNC, Security, Democratic People's, DPRK, ., Defence, Korean, United Nations, Command, Soviet Union, U.N, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, China, Russia, North Korea, Pyongyang, People's Republic of China, North, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Washington, Ukraine, Moscow, . North Korea, Russia's, North Korea's, Soviet, United States, Britain, Australia, Turkey, U.S, Austin, Japan

[1/2] US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won-sik attend a welcome ceremony before their annual security meeting at the Defence Ministry in Seoul, South Korea on November 13, 2023. JUNG YEON-JE/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Nov 13 (Reuters) - South Korea and the United States have revised a bilateral security agreement aimed at deterring North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile threats during talks on Monday, South Korea's defence ministry said. The Tailored Deterrence Strategy (TDS) is aimed at countering the threat of North Korea's nuclear weapons and other armaments, according to an announcement on the agreement by the two countries 10 years ago. The revision was considered necessary because the existing strategy did not adequately address the rapid advancements in North Korea's missile and nuclear threats, it said. Earlier, South Korea's defence ministry said Shin and Austin would discuss jointly countering threats by North Korea, including through executing an "extended deterrence" strategy.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won, sik, JUNG YEON, Shin Won, Lloyd Austin, Shin, Austin, Phil Stewart, Hyunsu Yim, Jack Kim, Ed Davies, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Defense, South Korean Defence Minister, Defence Ministry, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Korea's Defence, U.S ., The Defence Ministry, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, United States, North Korea, United, Korea

☆ South Korea's Yoon, Japan's Kishida to attend tech roundtable on Nov. 17
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a joint press conference with U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (not pictured) at the trilateral summit at Camp David near Thurmont, Maryland, U.S., August 18, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Nov 10 (Reuters) - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol plans to attend a roundtable on technological cooperation with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at Stanford University on Nov. 17, Yoon's office said on Friday. They are expected to discuss technology cooperation between the two countries as well as three-way cooperation with the United States, it said. The three countries have since conducted joint military drills and agreed on an early warning data sharing on North Korea's missile launches. Reporting by Jack Kim Editing by Ed Davies and Gerry DoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Yoon Suk Yeol, Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, Camp David, Evelyn Hockstein, Yoon Suk, Japan's, Kishida, Yoon, Jack Kim, Ed Davies, Gerry Doyle Organizations: South, U.S, Japanese, REUTERS, Rights, Stanford University, Economic Cooperation, Japan's Kyodo, Korea's, Thomson Locations: South Korean, Camp, Thurmont , Maryland, U.S, Rights SEOUL, United States, Asia, San Francisco, Japan, North Korea, Kishida, Tokyo

[1/2] U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken waves as he arrives ahead of meetings in Seoul, at Osan Air Base, South Korea, November 8, 2023. Blinken arrived in South Korea late on Wednesday after attending a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Tokyo. They will discuss a response to the growing military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow and North Korea's suspected supply of arms to Russia for use against Ukraine. North Korea is preparing to launch a spy satellite after having failed twice this year to put one in orbit. South Korea's spy agency said last week North Korea was in the final stages of preparations for the launch after apparently receiving technical assistance from Russia.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Jonathan Ernst, Blinken, Yoon Suk, Jin, Jack Kim, Soo, Choi, Ed Davies, Lincoln Organizations: Osan Air Base, REUTERS, Rights, South, Foreign, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, North Korea, Russia, Israel, Gaza, Tokyo, Blinken's, Asia, India, East . Washington, U.S, Pyongyang, Moscow, North, United States, Japan, Russia's, Washington, Ukraine, Korea, South

[1/5] G-dragon of K-pop group BIGBANG arrives at a police station to appear for questioning regarding his alleged illegal drug use in Incheon, South Korea, November 6, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji Acquire Licensing RightsINCHEON, South Korea, Nov 6 (Reuters) - The former frontman for the K-pop band BIGBANG, known as G-Dragon, appeared for police questioning on Monday over allegations of illegal drug use, the latest in a string of South Korean artists embroiled in high-profile narcotics cases. Kwon, 35, stood briefly for the media before entering a police station in Incheon where the star of the Oscar-winning film "Parasite", Lee Sun-kyun, was also questioned over the weekend on a separate allegation of illegal drug use. South Korea has tough drug laws, and crimes are typically punishable by at least six months in prison or up to 14 years for repeat offenders and dealers. Social media and foreign travel have made illegal drugs much more accessible, drug rehab advocates say.

Persons: BIGBANG, Kim Hong, Kwon Ji, Yoon Suk Yeol, Kwon, Oscar, Lee Sun, Lee, Choi Seung, Lee Seung, Dogyun Kim, Jimin Jung, Jack Kim, Ed Davies, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, YG Entertainment, Social, Thomson Locations: Incheon, South Korea, Rights INCHEON, Korean, Korea, T.O.P

☆ South Korea to re-impose stock short-selling ban through June to 'level playing field'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Jack Kim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A journalist walks past an electronic board of the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) at the Korea Exchange (KRX) in Seoul, South Korea, January 20, 2016 REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Nov 5 (Reuters) - South Korea from Monday will re-impose a ban on short-selling shares at least until June to promote a "level playing field" for retail and institutional investors, financial authorities said on Sunday. The regulator last week said it would establish a team of investigators to probe short-selling by foreign investment banks for illegal activity including so-called naked short-selling. Naked short-selling - in which an investor short-sells shares without first borrowing them or determining they can be borrowed - is banned in South Korea. Earlier in the year, the regulator fined five foreign firms including Credit Suisse for naked short-selling. Officials and market watchers alike have cited uncertainty around short-selling regulation as among factors needing to be resolved for influential index provider MSCI to upgrade South Korea to developed-market status.

Persons: Kim Hong, Kim Joo, Kim, Jack Kim, Michael Perry, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Korea, Korea Exchange, REUTERS, Rights, Monday, Financial Services Commission, Financial Supervisory Service, Credit Suisse, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, Hong Kong

☆ North Korea's Chances of Succeeding in Spy Satellite Launch High -S.Korea
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea is in the final stages of preparations for the launch of a spy satellite and the chances of the third attempt succeeding are high, Yonhap news agency reported on Wednesday, citing South Korea's intelligence service. North Korea has made two attempts to launch its first reconnaissance satellite this year that ended in failure as stages of the boosters experienced malfunctions. The North had previously pledged to make a third attempt in October, but has so far shown no indication that it was going ahead with the launch. "North Korea is also seen to be trying to use the Israel-Hamas war in a multifaceted way," Yoo was quoted as saying after the spy agency briefing. The spy agency also said that North Korea dispatched a delegation that mainly consists of experts on artillery to Russia in mid-October, news reports said.

Persons: Yoo Sang, Kim Jong, Kim, Vladimir Putin, Yoo, Jack Kim, Ed Davies Organizations: National Intelligence Service, NIS, Israel Locations: SEOUL, North Korea, Russia, Ukraine, Korea, Russian, Moscow, South Korea, Japan, United States, Israel

☆ North Korea's chances of succeeding in spy satellite launch high -S.Korea
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, Nov 1 (Reuters) - North Korea is in the final stages of preparations for the launch of a spy satellite and the chances of the third attempt succeeding are high, Yonhap news agency reported on Wednesday, citing South Korea's intelligence service. North Korea has made two attempts to launch its first reconnaissance satellite this year that ended in failure as stages of the boosters experienced malfunctions. The North had previously pledged to make a third attempt in October, but has so far shown no indication that it was going ahead with the launch. "North Korea is also seen to be trying to use the Israel-Hamas war in a multifaceted way," Yoo was quoted as saying after the spy agency briefing. The spy agency also said that North Korea dispatched a delegation that mainly consists of experts on artillery to Russia in mid-October, news reports said.

Persons: Yoo Sang, Kim Jong, Kim, Vladimir Putin, Yoo, Jack Kim, Ed Davies Organizations: National Intelligence Service, NIS, Israel, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, North Korea, Russia, Ukraine, Korea, Russian, Moscow, South Korea, Japan, United States, Israel

☆ S.Korea, Japan, US condemn North Korea's supply of arms to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, Oct 26 (Reuters) - South Korea, Japan and the United States strongly condemned the supply of arms and military equipment by North Korea to Russia and said they had confirmed "several" deliveries of such weapons, a joint statement issued on Thursday said. Russia and North Korea have denied the transfer of arms from the North for use in Russia's war against Ukraine amid reports that Washington and researchers said showed movement of vessels carrying containers likely with weapons between the two countries' ports. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is North Korea's official name. North Korea is seeking military assistance from Russia to advance its own military capabilities in return for its arms support for Moscow, it said. North Korea and Russia pledged closer military cooperation when their leaders met in September in Russia's far east.

Persons: Sergei Lavrov, Kim Jong, Jack Kim, Ed Davies Organizations: Democratic People’s, Russian Federation, North, Russian, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, Japan, United States, North Korea, Russia, Ukraine, Washington, Republic of Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, DPRK, Democratic People’s Republic, Korea, North, Moscow, Russia's

☆ North Korea says Israel bombed Gaza hospital, calls US 'accomplice'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Mohammed Al-Masri/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Oct 26 (Reuters) - North Korea's foreign ministry accused Israel of bombing a hospital in the Gaza Strip on Oct 17., saying it had openly committed a war crime "under the undisguised patronage of the United States". North Korean state media has often argued against Western views, especially those of the United States, on international issues. It also routinely lashes out at the United States. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza has said 471 people were killed in a blast at Al-Ahli al-Arabi Hospital earlier this month. There is still uncertainty around the death toll from the hospital blast and the number of injuries, U.S. officials said.

Persons: Mohammed Al, Masri, Israel, KCNA, connived, Jack Kim, Ed Davies, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Hamas, Islamic, U.S, Thomson Locations: Al, Ahli, Israel, Gaza City, Rights SEOUL, Gaza, United States, Korean, Arabi, Israeli, Palestinian

This year, officials in the South Korean capital said they would work with police, emergency services and local officials to ensure "not a single person gets hurt" during Halloween celebrations. The plan unveiled this week covers just Seoul, rather than the entire nation, he added. The Seoul anniversary has unnerved authorities elsewhere in the run-up to this year’s celebrations. "Officials have grown fearful of a disastrous crowd crush similar to the one in the Itaewon district in Seoul, South Korea," Shibuya city officials said in a statement. The safety campaign has involved a ban on street drinking over the Halloween weekend, while videos posted on social media urge: "On Halloween night, everyone should stay away from Shibuya."

Persons: Ahn, Paek Seung, Dogyun Kim, Jihyun Jeon, Jack Kim, John Geddie, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Seoul City Hall, Cyber University of Korea, Thomson Locations: Gangnam district, Seoul City, Seoul, South Korea, SEOUL, Tokyo, Itaewon, Shibuya

☆ Russian foreign minister thanks North Korea for supporting its war in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov takes part in a welcoming ceremony upon his arrival in Pyongyang, North Korea, October 18, 2023. Russian Foreign Ministry/Handout via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov thanked North Korea for supporting the country's war in Ukraine and pledged Moscow's "complete support and solidarity" for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Russia's foreign ministry said. North Korean state media said Lavrov's visit will mark a "significant occasion" in further consolidating relations between the countries. Photos released by the Russian foreign ministry showed Lavrov greeted by people holding flowers and flags of the two countries upon arrival in North Korea. The White House last week said North Korea recently provided Russia with a shipment of weapons in what it called a troubling development.

Persons: Sergei Lavrov, Moscow's, Kim Jong Un, Lavrov, Vladimir Putin, Kim, Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Soo, hyang Choi, Jack Kim, Sandra Maler, Ed Davies Organizations: Russian, Russian Foreign Ministry, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, North, Russian Federation, Democratic People's, Russia's TASS, Thomson Locations: Pyongyang, North Korea, Rights SEOUL, Ukraine, Moscow, Russian, DPRK, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korean, Russia, Koreans, China

☆ Russian Foreign Minister Thanks North Korea for Supporting Its War in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov thanked North Korea for supporting the country's war in Ukraine and pledged Moscow's "complete support and solidarity" for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Russia's foreign ministry said. North Korean state media said Lavrov's visit will mark a "significant occasion" in further consolidating relations between the countries. Photos released by the Russian foreign ministry showed Lavrov greeted by people holding flowers and flags of the two countries upon arrival in North Korea. Lavrov's two-day visit comes a month after North Korean leader Kim made a rare trip to Russia, during which he invited Putin to Pyongyang and discussed military cooperation. Russia's TASS news agency earlier said Lavrov may also brief North Koreans on the results of Putin's visit to China.

Persons: Sergei Lavrov, Moscow's, Kim Jong Un, Lavrov, Vladimir Putin, Kim, Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Soo, hyang Choi, Jack Kim, Sandra Maler, Ed Davies Organizations: Russian, North, Russian Federation, Democratic People's, Russia's TASS Locations: SEOUL, North Korea, Ukraine, Pyongyang, Moscow, Russian, DPRK, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korean, Russia, Koreans, China

Rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, as seen from near Israel's border with Gaza in southern Israel, October 12, 2023. Military experts said this week that photos from the conflict showed Hamas militants may be using North Korean weapons, including possible F-7 rocket-propelled grenades. The North's official KCNA news agency called the claims of its weapons being used in the attacks "a groundless and false rumour". U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Thursday said he could not confirm the reports about the source of the rockets being used by Hamas. North Korea's state media earlier this week blamed Israel for causing bloodshed in Gaza.

Persons: Amir Cohen, Israel, Bruce Bechtol, Joost Oliemans, Stijn Mitzer, John Kirby, Kirby, Jack Kim, Michael Perry Organizations: Rockets, REUTERS, Rights, North, Angelo State University in, Israeli Defense Force, . National Security, United, Palestinian, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Israel's, Rights SEOUL, North Korea, Washington, Angelo State University in Texas, Iran, Syria, United States, Korean

A cartoon soldier is depicted on part of a warning sign on barbed wire on the Chinese side of the border between Russia, China and North Korea near the town of Hunchun, China, November 24, 2017. Any forced repatriation of North Koreans goes against international norms and South Korea viewed it as regrettable, Koo Byoung-sam, a spokesman for South Korea's Unification Ministry, told a media briefing. "It appears to be true that a large number of North Koreans in China's three northeast provinces have been repatriated to the North," Koo said. South Korea had been unable to determine the number of people involved and whether there were defectors among them. China has never recognised fleeing North Koreans as defectors and instead calls them "economic migrants".

Persons: Damir Sagolj, Koo Byoung, Koo, Tae Yong, Kim Hyuk, Kim Cheol, Jack Kim, Hyonhee Shin, Eduardo Baptista, Ed Davies, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Koreans, South Korea's Unification Ministry, Former North, Korean, Rights Watch, The North, Thomson Locations: Russia, China, North Korea, Hunchun, Rights SEOUL, South Korea, North, Korea, China's, Former North Korean, Korea's, Beijing, North Koreans, Koreans, The, The North Koreans, Korean, Jilin province

☆ Hyundai Motor to make BAIC's ARCFOX electric cars in Beijing - report
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A Beijing Hyundai sign is seen at an entrance to the Beijing Hyundai Motor plant in Chongqing, China October 8, 2018. REUTERS/Yilei Sun/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Hyundai Motor has decided to produce Beijing Automotive Group Co's EV brand ARCFOX cars at its plant in Beijing in a bid for a breakthrough in a major market where it has been struggling to make a foothold, a news report said on Wednesday. The plan is for Beijing Hyundai Motor, a joint venture of Hyundai Motor (011760.KS) and Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC), to produce the ARCFOX vehicles, and the companies are discussing the details, the report cited the sources as saying. Beijing Hyundai Motor will likely oversee the design, production and quality control and use its plant in Beijing, the report said. When asked to comment on the report, Hyundai Motor said it was "currently reviewing various measures for EV production, but nothing has been decided," in a statement to Reuters.

Persons: BAIC, Jack Kim, Heekyong Yang, William Maclean Organizations: Beijing Hyundai, REUTERS, Yilei, Rights, Hyundai, Beijing Automotive, Korea Economic, Beijing Hyundai Motor, Hyundai Motor, Beijing Automotive Group, Reuters, Kia, Thomson Locations: Beijing, Chongqing, China, Rights SEOUL, Korea

☆ North Korea halts nuclear reactor, likely to extract bomb fuel, Donga Ilbo reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The operation of the 5 megawatt nuclear reactor at the Yongbyon nuclear complex has been suspended since late September, according to intelligence assessment by U.S. and South Korean authorities, the report said. Reprocessing of spent fuel rods removed from a nuclear reactor is a step taken before plutonium is extracted. The Yongbyon nuclear complex is the North's main source of plutonium that it likely has used to build nuclear weapons. North Korea has also operated uranium enrichment facilities, which is a separate source of material that could be used for nuclear weapons. North Korea claims itself a nuclear state but has kept how many nuclear weapons it may have built or deployed a secret.

Persons: Jeon Ha, Siegfried Hecker, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Hecker, " Hecker, Kim, Jack Kim, Lincoln Organizations: Kyodo ., Donga Ilbo, Russia, North, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Thomson Locations: Korean, Yongbyon, Kyodo . North Korea, SEOUL, North Korea, Korea, Pyongyang, Russia, Korea's

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