SEOUL , South Korea (AFP) — South Korea is committed to deploying an advanced US missile defense system this year despite opposition from China, a minister said Wednesday, even as opposition lawmakers headed to Beijing with a different message. Seoul and Washington agreed to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in the South after a string of North Korean nuclear and missile tests — prompting strong objections from China. “THAAD deployment is […]
Tag: North Korea
China says its hard work on denuclearization of Korean peninsula is obvious
BEIJING, China (Reuters) — China’s hard work in trying to ensure the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula is obvious to all, China’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday (January 3) after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said Beijing was not helping to control North Korea. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said on Sunday (January 1) his nuclear-capable country was close to test-launching an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), raising the prospect of putting parts of the United […]
North Korea nuclear threat Trump’s first challenge
by Nicolas REVISE Dave Clark Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — North Korea’s determined quest for a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the US mainland is the first major US foreign policy challenge of the Donald Trump era. And, less than three weeks before he takes office, Trump has already plunged into these most dangerous of waters with a warning to unpredictable dictator Kim Jong-un. Kim marked the New Year by announcing that […]
No N. Korea missile will be capable of reaching US: Trump
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President-elect Donald Trump took to Twitter again on Monday evening to promise North Korea would not develop a nuclear missile capable of reaching US territory. His comments come a day after the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Un, appeared to try to put pressure on Trump by announcing his country is in the “final stages” of developing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). “North Korea just stated that it is in the final […]
N. Korea plans nuclear push in 2017: top defector
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un is planning a “prime time” nuclear weapons push in 2017 to take advantage of leadership transitions in South Korea and the United States, a high-ranking defector said Tuesday. In his first press conference since fleeing his post as North Korea’s deputy ambassador to Britain in August, Thae Yong-Ho said Kim had issued a directive at a rare ruling party congress in May to “complete” nuclear […]
Japan cabinet approves biggest defence budget
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet on Thursday approved Japan’s biggest annual defense budget in the face of North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats and a territorial row with China. The Cabinet approved 5.13 trillion yen ($43.6 billion) in defense spending for the fiscal year starting in April, up 1.4 percent from the initial budget for the current fiscal year. It marks the fifth straight annual increase and reflects the hawkish Abe’s […]
North Korean leader watches military drills
Reuters — North Korea’s state-run television KRT on Wednesday (December 21) released still photographs of its leader Kim Jong Un watching a multiple rocket launcher drill and a night time combat flight drill. KRT said Kim ordered soldiers to conduct training under the simulated conditions of an actual war. KRT did not specify a date or a location of the drills. North Korea’s former deputy ambassador to Britain said on Monday (December 19) he defected […]
No planned changes to U.S. missile defense in South Korea – White House
WASHINGTON, United States (Reuter) — The White House on Thursday (December 15) said it was unaware of any planned changes to the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea despite recent political changes there. “I’m not aware of any change in plans for the deployment of this anti-ballistic missile battery in South Korea based on some of the political turmoil that we’ve seen in the Republic of Korea over the last couple of […]
A black bear cub gets stuck in tree near a North Carolina apartment building
NORTH CAROLINA, Unite States (Reuters) — Residents in Washington, North Carolina woke up on Wednesday (December 7) to find a black bear cub hanging out in a tree near their apartment building, NBC reported. Local media said it was not unusual to see black bears in trees in the area and that they eventually come down at night time and leave, but animal control officers remained in the neighborhood to ensure the residents and the […]
N. Korea artillery drill targets South, Seoul unveils sanctions
by Hwang Sunghee SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un conducted a large-scale artillery drill simulating an attack on the South Korean capital and other targets, as Seoul and Tokyo on Friday unveiled fresh unilateral sanctions against Pyongyang over its nuclear weapons program. The military exercise, involving multiple batteries of frontline heavy artillery units, targeted five border islands, as well as “reactionary ruling organs” in Seoul and other cities, the North’s official […]
North Korea to top US agenda at final Obama-Xi meeting
by Andrew BEATTY LIMA, Peru (AFP) — President Barack Obama will use his final meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping Saturday to press for an increase in the pace and severity of sanctions against North Korea. With Pyongyang launching test after provocative test to develop a miniaturized nuclear warhead and a missile capable of delivering that deadly payload to the United States, Obama’s White House wants to ratchet up the pressure before he leaves office […]
N. Korea urges policy shift from Trump administration
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea on Thursday warned the incoming Donald Trump administration will have to deal with a “nuclear state”, saying Washington’s push for denuclearisation was an “outdated illusion”. “If there is anything the Obama administration has done… it has put the security of the US mainland in the greatest danger,” said an editorial carried by the ruling party newspaper Rodong Sinmun. “It has burdened the new administration with the difficulty of […]





