by Jung Ha-Won Agence France Presse SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — South Korea’s efforts to bring the North to its Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang next month are provoking a backlash among its own people, with accusations that Seoul risks turning the Games into a “Pyongyang Olympics.” Many are fuming over what they see as exploitation of the South’s own athletes for political purposes, and accusing President Moon Jae-In’s government of making too many concessions to […]
Tag: North Korea
N. Korea prepares grand military parade on eve of Olympics: report
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea is preparing a lavish display of its military strength in a parade on the eve of next month’s Winter Olympics in the South, despite a rare sporting detente with Seoul, it was reported Thursday. Pyongyang, which has rattled the international community with its nuclear and missile tests in recent months, has agreed to send athletes to the Games and march with the South under one flag at the […]
Trump says Russia undermining N.Korea sanctions
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump on Wednesday accused Russia of undermining international sanctions against North Korea and weakening efforts to curb Kim Jong-Un’s nuclear weapons program. “Russia is not helping us at all with North Korea,” Trump told the Reuters news agency. “What China is helping us with, Russia is denting.” Last month, Trump had already denounced Russia for “not helping” global efforts to pressure Pyongyang to halt the development of nuclear weapons […]
US nuclear review calls for development of low-yield weapons
by Thomas Watkins Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US military wants to overhaul its atomic arsenal and develop a new type of low-yield weapon that experts worry could lead to greater proliferation and heighten the risk of nuclear war. The proposed changes to the nuclear weapons program, outlined in a draft version of the Pentagon’s Nuclear Posture Review, mark a significant break from the vision for America’s nuclear future under Barack Obama, who during a famous […]
War with N. Korea is avoidable: UN chief
UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — A war with North Korea is avoidable, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday, urging direct talks between key powers on dismantling Pyongyang’s nuclear program. Guterres said recent moves by South and North Korea to ease tensions were important, but he added: “let’s not forget that the essential problem is yet to be solved.” “I believe war is avoidable,” Guterres told reporters, but he added: “I am not yet sure […]
Eight bodies found as ‘North Korean’ boat washes up in Japan
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Eight bodies have been recovered from a wrecked boat that washed ashore in central Japan, authorities said Tuesday, suspecting the vessel is the latest in a series of North Korean “ghost ships.” Coastguard rescuers found the corpses of seven men inside the wreckage of the boat that washed up in Kanazawa, central Japan, last week, senior police official Hiroshi Abe told AFP. The badly decomposed remains of another man were […]
Japan’s Abe seeks to drum up EU pressure on North Korea
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AFP) — Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sought to drum up EU pressure on North Korea on Sunday in Sofia, while pledging to boost economic cooperation with Bulgaria and the Balkans. “During today’s talks we discussed the constantly worsening security situation in Eastern Asia and we were unanimous with Premier Boyko Borisov about the importance of close cooperation on the North Korea issue,” Abe said. He met with his Bulgarian counterpart Borisov as […]
Hawaii rattled after alert of incoming missile is mistakenly sent
by Eugene Tanner, with Maggy Donaldson in Washington Agence France-Presse HONOLULU, United States (AFP) – An alert warning of an incoming ballistic missile aimed at Hawaii was sent in error Saturday, sowing panic and confusion across the US state — which is already on edge over the risk of attack — before officials dubbed it a “false alarm.” Emergency management officials eventually determined the notification was sent just after 8:00 am (1800 GMT) during a shift […]
N. Korea steps up tunnelling at nuclear test site: monitor
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea has stepped up tunnelling at its main nuclear test site, a US think tank said, even as tensions cool on the peninsula following the resumption of long-stalled inter-Korean dialogue. Satellite images showed increased activity at the Punggye-ri site, with mining carts and personnel frequently visible, and excavation waste piles growing, the respected 38North website said Thursday. “These activities underscore North Korea’s continued efforts to maintain the Punggye-ri site’s […]
Putin praises ‘mature politician’ Kim Jong-Un
MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday praised North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Un as a “mature politician” with a formidable arsenal, but also urged him to defuse international tensions over Pyongyang’s controversial nuclear program. Kim, 34, has been locked in an increasingly bitter standoff with US President Donald Trump, with the pair trading threats of war and personal insults. However, there have been signs of a potential cooling after Pyongyang this month […]
Trump cryptic about contacts with N. Korea’s Kim
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump on Thursday suggested he could have a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, but refused to say if the two had spoken. “I probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong-Un,” Trump told the Wall Street Journal in an interview. “I have relationships with people. I think you people are surprised.” The paper reported that Trump would not be drawn on whether contacts […]
Clouds lift as North Korea boosts Pyeongchang Olympics
by Park Chan-Kyong Agence France Presse SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Pyeongchang Winter Olympics organizers are entering their final preparations with renewed confidence after neighboring North Korea ended months of speculation by confirming its attendance, immediately easing fears over security and ticket sales. With one month to go, the outlook is suddenly much brighter for the “Peace Olympics,” which had been rocked by the drugs ban on Russia’s team and concerns over potential disruption by […]





