NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — The United States dismissed as “absurd” North Korea’s accusation that President Donald Trump has declared war against the regime, after Pyongyang said it was ready to defend itself by shooting down American bombers. Speaking to reporters outside his New York hotel, Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho responded to Trump tweeting at the weekend that North Korea’s leadership “won’t be around much longer” if it keeps up its threats. Ri, who […]
Tag: North Korea
Seoul urges US to avoid ‘further escalation’ with N. Korea
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — South Korea urged the United States to help dial down tensions with the North on Monday, after Pyongyang accused President Donald Trump of declaring war. “It is very likely that North Korea will conduct further provocations,” South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said in a speech in Washington. “It is imperative that we, Korea and the US together, manage the situation… in order to prevent further escalation of tensions or […]
Global stocks mostly fall on German election, North Korea worries
by Ben Perry Agence France Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Global stocks mostly fell Monday and the euro tumbled on unease over the German election outcome and the increasingly hostile war of words between Washington and Pyongyang over North Korea’s nuclear program. Investors worried about looming political infighting in Germany after an election that won Angela Merkel a fourth term as chancellor, but also gave a hard-right opposition party parliamentary seats for the […]
North Korea says Trump has declared war
by Carole Landry Agence France Presse NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — North Korea’s foreign minister on Monday accused United States President Donald Trump of declaring war against his country and said Pyongyang was ready to defend itself by shooting down US bombers. The White House dismissed the claim as “absurd.” Speaking to reporters outside his New York hotel, Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho responded to Trump, who had warned on Twitter at the weekend that […]
Japan’s Abe triggers snap election amid N. Korea crisis
By Richard Carter Agence France Presse Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday called a snap election, seeking a fresh term at the helm of the world’s third-largest economy as tensions with nearby North Korea reach fever-pitch. Abe hopes to capitalize on a weak and fractured opposition to sweep back into power, as polls show him regaining ground after a series of scandals. “I will dissolve the House of Representatives on the 28th” of September, […]
Japan’s Abe poised to call snap election amid N.Korea crisis
by Richard Carter Agence France-Presse TOKYO, Japan (AFP) – Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was widely expected to call a snap election Monday, hoping to capitalize on rising support as tensions with nearby North Korea reach fever pitch. Voters in the world’s third-largest economy could go to the polls as soon as October 22, more than a year earlier than expected, as Abe seeks to take advantage of a political opposition in disarray. According to a weekend poll […]
N. Korea, Venezuela, Chad among 8 countries on new US travel ban
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — North Korea, Venezuela and Chad were added Sunday on a new list of countries targeted by a US travel ban due to poor security and lack of cooperation with American authorities. Sudan, one of six majority-Muslim countries on the original travel ban, was removed from the list, leaving eight nations with complete or partial blocks on travel to the United States. Full travel bans were placed on nationals from North […]
US, N. Korea brinksmanship brings warning of ‘unpredictable nosedive’
by Jim Mannion Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Spiking nuclear tensions between the United States and North Korea showed little sign of abating Sunday as Russia warned of a “very unpredictable nosedive” if Washington does not ease up on its fiery war of words with Pyongyang. US bombers and fighter escorts flew off the coast of North Korea on Saturday and US President Donald Trump took to Twitter with verbal threats as […]
North Korea quake not a nuclear test, say China experts
BEIJING, China (AFP) — A shallow 3.5-magnitude earthquake which hit North Korea near the country’s nuclear test site on Saturday was not the result of a fresh nuclear test, China’s seismic service said, after initially reporting a “suspected explosion.” The China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) said in a statement late Saturday that study of infrasonic data determined “the incident is not a nuclear explosion, but had the nature of a natural earthquake.” The Chinese Academy […]
North Korea minister launches tirade against Trump at UN
by Carole Landry Agence France Presse UNITED NATIONS, United States — North Korea’s foreign minister assailed United States President Donald Trump at the United Nations on Saturday, deriding him as a “mentally deranged” leader whose threats had increased the chances of military confrontation. Ri Yong-ho told the General Assembly that Trump’s vow to “totally destroy” his country if necessary had made “our rockets’ visit to the entire US mainland all the more inevitable.” Describing Trump […]
China experts say 3.4-quake hits N.Korea in ‘suspected explosion’
BEIJING, China (AFP) — China’s seismic service CENC on Saturday detected a zero-depth, 3.4-magnitude earthquake in North Korea, calling it a “suspected explosion”. The epicenter is roughly the same as that of a previous shallow earthquake on September 3, which turned out to be caused by a North Korean nuclear test, the official Xinhua news agency said. The earthquake comes after days of increasingly bellicose rhetoric between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader […]
China confirms it will limit oil exports to North Korea
BEIJING, China (AFP) — China will limit exports of refined petroleum products to North Korea starting October 1, its commerce ministry said, confirming Beijing’s participation in new UN sanctions intended to rein in its rogue neighbor. The United Nations Security Council, including permanent member Beijing, approved tough sanctions against Pyongyang last week in response to its sixth and most powerful nuclear test. Washington had initially sought a full oil embargo, but softened its stance […]





