WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A weapons test announced by North Korea was not of a ballistic missile, the US defense chief said Thursday, adding that US forces have not changed their posture in response. “There was a test,” Patrick Shanahan, the acting defense secretary, told reporters as he met his Albanian counterpart at the Pentagon. He declined to elaborate on the findings of US intelligence but said, “It’s not a ballistic missile.” “Also […]
Tag: diplomacy
North Korea demands Pompeo’s removal from US nuclear talks
by Kang Jin-kyu Agence France Presse SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea on Thursday demanded the removal of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo from talks over its banned nuclear program, hours after the isolated state claimed to have tested a new kind of weapon. Describing Pompeo as “reckless” and immature, the foreign ministry said it wanted him replaced by another interlocutor, a demand that significantly ups the ante in a sensitive diplomatic […]
Activity detected at North Korea nuclear site: US monitor
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Activity has been detected at North Korea’s main nuclear site, suggesting Pyongyang may be reprocessing radioactive material into bomb fuel since the collapse of a summit with Washington, a US monitor said Wednesday. The possible signs of fresh reprocessing activity last week come after a February summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ended abruptly without agreement on Pyongyang’s nuclear programme. Since then […]
UN in negotiations on Libya ceasefire
by Carole LANDRY UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — United Nations Security Council diplomats began negotiations Tuesday on a British-drafted resolution that would demand an immediate ceasefire in Libya after forces loyal to commander Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive on Tripoli. The proposed text seen by AFP warns that the offensive by Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) “threatens the stability of Libya and prospects for a United Nations-facilitated political dialogue and a comprehensive political solution […]
North Korean leader open to third Trump summit: KCNA
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is willing meet with US President Donald Trump a third time if Washington comes to the table with the “right attitude”, state media reported Saturday. Kim also said he would wait until the end of the year “for the US to make a courageous decision” on another meeting, after his most recent summit with Trump in Vietnam broke down and both sides left […]
Malaysia revives massive Chinese rail project
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AFP) — Malaysia said Friday a major Chinese-backed railway had been revived following a deal to cut costs, lifting a suspension slapped on the project when a corruption-plagued regime lost power last year. The railway was among several infrastructure projects in Malaysia supported by Beijing but put on hold after the shock defeat of a coalition that had ruled the country for six decades. Critics said the projects lacked transparency, could […]
US urges Sudan army to bring civilians into government
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States on Thursday urged Sudan’s army to bring civilians into government after ousting veteran leader Omar al-Bashir, saying an announced two-year timeline was too long. Washington calls “on transitional authorities to exercise restraint and to allow space for civilian participation within the government,” State Department spokesman Robert Palladino told reporters. His comments came after Sudan’s army announced “the toppling of the regime,” to be replaced by a transitional […]
Wikileaks founder Assange arrested in London after Ecuador pulls asylum
by Dario THUBURN Agence France Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s nearly seven-year hideout in Ecuador’s London embassy abruptly ended Thursday when police entered the building and arrested him ahead of possible extradition to the United States. Footage shot by the Russian video news agency Ruptly showed a frantic-looking Assange — his worn face framed by a large white beard and shock of grey hair — being huddled out of […]
South Korean ship detained over sanctions on North: Seoul
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — A South Korean ship has been detained for more than six months on suspicion of violating UN sanctions against the nuclear-armed North, Seoul’s foreign ministry said Wednesday. Pyongyang is sanctioned over its weapons programme under multiple UN Security Council resolutions, which include curbs on shipments of oil and fuel to the isolated regime. But the North has been seeking to get around the measures, with a recent UN report […]
Diplomats, activists decry Chinese ‘threats’ at UN rights council
by Nina Larson Agence France Presse GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — Diplomats and activists on Monday denounced intense Chinese lobbying, pressure and even threats to rein in criticism of Beijing during last month’s session of the UN Human Rights Council. Human Rights Watch (HRW) charged that the Chinese mission in Geneva had sent a letter to a number of missions urging them to stay away from a US-organised event on March 13 about China’s treatment […]
ICC president urges US to join global criminal court
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AFP) — The International Criminal Court’s top official has called on the United States to join and support its work after Washington recently stepped up its dispute with the global legal body. ICC president Chile Eboe-Osuji called on the US to “join her closest allies and friends at the table of the Rome Statute”, referring to the court’s founding document. “The past, present and future victims of genocide, crimes against humanity […]
Rebuilding at North Korea’s rocket site ‘almost complete’: Seoul
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea has almost completed rebuilding a long-range rocket site it had promised to close, Seoul lawmakers told reporters Friday after a closed-door meeting with South Korean intelligence officials. The claim comes a month after a second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in February ended without an agreement, deepening a gap between the two on how to achieve “complete denuclearisation”. Shortly […]





