January 2020 - North Korea Special Weapons News

DPRK Works Hard to Prevent Novel Coronavirus Infection KCNA 31 Jan 2020 -- The central, provincial, city and county emergency anti-epidemic headquarters, which were established under the unified guidance of the Non-permanent Central Public Health Guidance Committee of the DPRK, have pushed ahead with the campaign to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
NGO Concerned Poor Would Suffer Most if Coronavirus Spreads to North Korea Radio Free Asia 30 Jan 2020 -- As the North Korean government moves to quarantine people who frequently cross the border with China and suspend an inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong, Amnesty International said that a potential coronavirus (nCoV) outbreak in the repressive country would disproportionately affect poorer citizens.
Hygienic and Anti-epidemic System Turned into State Emergency Anti-epidemic System KCNA 30 Jan 2020 -- Many countries are taking emergency measures amid the daily increasing uneasiness and concerns of the international community over the recent rapid spreads of the novel coronavirus.
Press Review KCNA 30 Jan 2020 -- Following are major news items and articles in newspapers of the DPRK on Thursday:
Coronavirus Scare Hampers Humanitarian Work in North Korea VOA 30 Jan 2020 -- As North Korea steps up efforts to fight the spread of the coronavirus known as 2019-nCoV, fear of the virus is hampering humanitarian work in North Korea, aid group officials said.
Public Health Sector Strengthened in DPRK KCNA 29 Jan 2020 -- Big efforts have been directed to reinforcing the public health sector in the DPRK.
North Korean Would-Be Defectors Arrested in Emergency Operation Near China Border Radio Free Asia 29 Jan 2020 -- North Korean authorities arrested seven out of a group of 15 government officials from Pyongyang who were allegedly attempting to defect by crossing the border into China, RFA has learned.
North Korea Cuts Off Trade With China on Fears of Coronavirus Radio Free Asia 29 Jan 2020 -- Authorities in North Korea have suspended all trade with China in an attempt to prevent the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus into the country, as several confirmed cases of infection have occurred in Chinese cities on the border with North Korea, RFA has learned.
North Korea Cancels All Air China Flights to Pyongyang, Beefs Up Precautions Amid Coronavirus Fears Sputnik 28 Jan 2020 -- The newly identified deadly strain of coronavirus, known as 2019-nCoV, has been detected in over a dozen countries across Asia, Australasia, Europe and North America, and has infected over 4,500 people in China, North Korea's neighbour to the north.
North Korea Remains Security Threat to U.S., Allies, Policy Official Says DoD News 28 Jan 2020 -- BY North Korea remains a security challenge, and the United States continues to pursue North Korean denuclearization, a senior Pentagon official told the House Armed Services Committee.
UN Cannot Verify North Korean Nuclear Test Site Irreversibly Destroyed Sputnik 27 Jan 2020 -- In May 2018, North Korea destroyed four tunnels and related infrastructure at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site as a sign of its commitment to denuclearisation ahead of reestablished negotiations with the United States. But subsequent reports have suggested that North Korea may restore the test site.
As North Korea Reverts to Self-Reliance, Experts Urge Pressuring Elites VOA 27 Jan 2020 -- As North Korea returns to self-reliance to maintain its faltering state-run economy, experts said sanctioning the financial lifelines of regime leaders might put added pressure on Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons program.
North Korea picks new foreign minister to follow 'new path' toward US Press TV 24 Jan 2020 -- North Korea has confirmed it has appointed an outspoken former military officer as its new foreign minister in an indication that it plans to follow a "new path" after the US failed to drop its hostile policy toward Pyongyang.
As North Korean Citizens Fear Spread of Coronavirus, Trade with China Continues Radio Free Asia 24 Jan 2020 -- North Korean residents are terrified about the rapid spread of Wuhan pneumonia caused by the coronavirus, but despite those fears, trade with China is continuing as normal.
China Orders Police Not to Enter Businesses Where North Koreans Work Radio Free Asia 23 Jan 2020 -- Authorities in China are ordering police officers not to enter or otherwise access businesses that employ North Korean workers, leading sources to believe that Beijing is looking the other way as the workers are in direct violation of U.N. sanctions.
Virus-Related Tourism Ban Could Hurt North Korea's Economy VOA 23 Jan 2020 -- North Korea has temporarily banned foreign tourists in response to the outbreak of a dangerous new virus in neighboring China. Depending on how long the ban lasts, it could hurt North Korea's economy, which though heavily sanctioned, has received a boost by a recent influx of Chinese tourists.
'Compelled to Seek a New Path': Pyongyang to End Nuclear Moratorium Amid US Intransigence Sputnik 23 Jan 2020 -- North Korea asserted Tuesday that it would no longer adhere to the moratorium placed on its nuclear and ballistic missile tests, as the US has not held up it end of the agreement and has instead slapped Pyongyang with "the most brutal and inhumane sanctions."
North Korea may seek 'new path' if U.S. continues to enforce unilateral demands ARIRANG 22 Jan 2020 -- "We have already warned that if the United States misjudges our patience, tries to enforce unilateral demands upon us and persists in imposing sanctions and pressure against my country, we may be compelled to seek a new path for defending our sovereignty and supreme national interests."
N. Korea's New 'Blunt' Foreign Minister May Reinforce Foreign Policy Realignment VOA 21 Jan 2020 -- North Korea has appointed a former military officer with a blunt-speaking reputation to be the country's new foreign minister, the latest evidence Pyongyang may be realigning its foreign policy after apparently losing hope in nuclear talks.
Pyongyang 'no longer bound by commitments' as US missed deadline Press TV 21 Jan 2020 -- North Korea says it will no longer be bound by any commitments toward denuclearization and may seek a "new path," as the US has ignored a year-end deadline to engage in meaningful diplomacy.
North Korean Local Government Forces Residents to Open Bank Accounts Radio Free Asia 21 Jan 2020 -- Authorities in North Korea are forcing residents in parts of South Pyongan province to open bank accounts as part of a mandated savings plan that will simultaneously secure funds for the local government and tighten control over the public.
S.Koreans' individual tour to DPRK not subject to UN sanctions: S.Korea People's Daily 20 Jan 2020 -- South Koreans' individual tour to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) would not be subject to the UN sanctions against Pyongyang, Yonhap news agency reported on Monday, citing the unification ministry of South Korea.
North Korea Appoints Korean Unification Talks Chief as New Foreign Minister – Reports Sputnik 19 Jan 2020 -- According to the Yonhap News Agency, ambassadors in Pyongyang have been notified of the appointment. The former CPRC chief, who has previously headed North Korean delegations during high-level talks with South Korea, will reportedly replace outgoing Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho.
S.Korea says policy on DPRK belongs to matter of sovereignty People's Daily 17 Jan 2020 -- South Korea's unification ministry said on Friday that the country's policy on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) belonged to a matter of sovereignty.
Seoul Criticizes US Ambassador's 'Very Inappropriate' Comments on N Korea Tourism VOA 17 Jan 2020 -- South Korea pushed back firmly Friday on comments by U.S. Ambassador Harry Harris, who called on Seoul to consult with Washington about the South's attempt to resume individual tourism to North Korea.
North Korea Dispatches More Security Agents to Control and Monitor Workers in China Radio Free Asia 17 Jan 2020 -- North Korean authorities have dispatched more security agents to China in order to boost control and monitoring of North Korean workers around the Lunar New Year holiday, with the goal of preventing the erosion of the workers' loyalty and decreasing the likelihood of defections, RFA has learned.
US General '100% Confident' Against North Korean Missiles VOA 17 Jan 2020 -- The United States has long seen North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons as a major national security threat. But the missiles Pyongyang would use to deliver a nuclear bomb appear to be a different matter.
Deadline? What Deadline? North Korea, US Try New 'Strategic Patience' VOA 17 Jan 2020 -- In April, just weeks after his summit with U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed in Hanoi, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un decided to ramp up the pressure on Washington.
Seoul Pushing to Revive Pyongyang's 'Engagement Momentum' in Peace Talks Sputnik 16 Jan 2020 -- While US-North Korean relations have suffered in recent months amid failed denuclearization talks, inter-Korean cooperation should be viewed as a separate matter and proceed as planned, suggested South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung Wha.
South Korea to push ahead with North Korea cooperation despite stalled talks Press TV 15 Jan 2020 -- South Korea says there is no need to wait for the United States' denuclearization talks with North Korea to progress in order to proceed with inter-Korean cooperation.
Ethnic Chinese Residents of North Korea Penalized for Failing to Participate in Political Events Radio Free Asia 15 Jan 2020 -- Authorities in North Korea are threatening to impose fines as punishment on ethnic Chinese residents for failing to participate in political events, signaling a possible end to the leniency the community has traditionally enjoyed as foreign residents, RFA has learned.
Biden: No Meeting With Kim Jong Un Absent Preconditions VOA 15 Jan 2020 -- Democratic presidential frontrunner Joe Biden says he would not meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un without preconditions. It is the latest evidence Biden would overturn parts of U.S. President Donald Trump's outreach to Pyongyang.
Treasury Sanctions Entities for Facilitating the Exportation of Workers from North Korea US Treasury 14 Jan 2020 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced two North Korea-related designations focusing on the Government of North Korea's continued supply of illicit labor to overseas markets.
US Imposes Sanctions Over N. Korean Workers Abroad VOA 14 Jan 2020 -- The United States has imposed sanctions on two North Korean entities for facilitating the export of labor in violation of U.N. sanctions.
Trump-Kim Chemistry Will Not Sway N. Korea On Denuclearization VOA 14 Jan 2020 -- The personal relationship between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump has no impact on Pyongyang's denuclearization stance toward Washington, said experts.
South Korea's Moon Shakes Off Pessimism About Dialogue With Pyongyang Sputnik 14 Jan 2020 -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in has expressed some hope about the prospects of dialogue with North Korea, as well as possibilities of Pyongyang resuming talks with the United States.
S. Korea Pushes For Cooperation With North, Despite Rejection, Insults VOA 14 Jan 2020 -- It was a relatively modest step: South Korea would relay birthday greetings from U.S. President Donald Trump to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who turned 36 last week.
South Korea optimistic about US-North diplomacy despite halt to negotiations Press TV 14 Jan 2020 -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in has expressed new optimism about the deadlocked talks between the United States and North Korea, citing a recent birthday wish sent to Pyongyang's leader by the American president.
China's role to be significant for Korean Peninsula's denuclearization: S. Korean president Global Times 14 Jan 2020 -- China's role has been and will be very significant in denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and building a permanent peace on the peninsula, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Tuesday.
Widening Wealth Gap in North Korea Creates a New Type of 'Serfdom' Radio Free Asia 13 Jan 2020 -- As a growing gap between North Korea's rich and poor continues to get wider, more and more of the country's poor are trying to find work as servants of the better off.
Trump Reaches Out to North Korea to Resume Talks - Report Sputnik 13 Jan 2020 -- Relations between the two states seemed to have thawed in 2018 after the meeting between Trump and Kim, but reverted back to hostility in February 2019. In October, tensions intensified when Pyongyang set a year-end deadline for the US to change its nuclear policy.
DPRK official says nuke talks only possible when US "fully" accepts demands Global Times 11 Jan 2020 -- A senior official of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said here on Saturday that dialogue with the United States can resume only when it fully accepts Pyongyang's demands.
Statement Issued by Advisor of DPRK Foreign Ministry KCNA 11 Jan 2020 -- Kim Kye Gwan, advisor of the DPRK Foreign Ministry, issued the following statement on Saturday:
North Korea rules out return to talks with US despite good personal relations with Trump Press TV 11 Jan 2020 -- North Korea says it will not return to the negotiation table with the United States solely based on the "good relations" between the country's leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump.
North Korea: US Must 'Unconditionally Accept Our Demands' VOA 11 Jan 2020 -- North Korea will not resume nuclear talks unless the United States unconditionally accepts its demands, a senior North Korean official said Saturday.
US: Seoul Must Continue to Enforce Sanctions on Pyongyang VOA 11 Jan 2020 -- The U.S. has responded to a call by South Korean President Moon Jae-in for renewed inter-Korean cooperation by stressing that Seoul must continue to implement all sanctions on North Korea.
Agitation Activities Encourage All-People Grand March in DPRK KCNA 10 Jan 2020 -- Now, the people in the DPRK have turned out in the new year advance of victory in response to the appeal of the Workers' Party of Korea calling for offensive of making a breakthrough head-on.
High-Rise Apartments Built With Illegal Chinese Materials All the Rage in North Korea Radio Free Asia 10 Jan 2020 -- New high-rise apartment buildings in North Korea constructed with Chinese building materials are causing a major shift in the North Korean real estate market, RFA has learned.
Experts: Iran's Attacks on US Assets Could Encourage N. Korea's Nuclear Ambitions VOA 09 Jan 2020 -- Iran's attacks on Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops as Tehran announced it will no longer comply with restrictions on uranium enrichment may encourage North Korea to perfect its nuclear and missile technologies, experts said.
Official (and Unofficial) News of Soleimani Killing Spreads in North Korea's Capital Radio Free Asia 09 Jan 2020 -- As news spreads in North Korea's capital about the U.S. drone strike last weekend that killed Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani, citizens are surprised that North Korea's media has been so quick to acknowledge the incident.
Cambodia Deports North Korean Workers, Shuts Down Businesses to Comply With Sanctions Radio Free Asia 08 Jan 2020 -- Authorities in Cambodia have arrested 16 North Koreans, shortly after announcing that they would shut down North Korean-owned businesses in an attempt to comply with U.N. sanctions, which stipulate that all North Koreans working abroad had to be repatriated by the end of last year.
Experts: Pyongyang Unlikely to Welcome Moon's Call for Reviving Inter-Korea Ties VOA 08 Jan 2020 -- Pyongyang is unlikely to respond positively to a call by South Korean President Moon Jae-in for reviving inter-Korean projects and efforts to invite North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to Seoul, experts say.
South Korea's Moon Urges North to Work On Arranging Kim's Visit to Seoul Sputnik 07 Jan 2020 -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in has called on Pyongyang to do everything possible to implement the agreement on a return visit of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to Seoul.
Experts: North Korea Can Use Iran to Justify Nuclear Deterrent Strategy Radio Free Asia 07 Jan 2020 -- North Korea experts say that Pyongyang will likely try to use the tension between the U.S. and Iran to justify a strengthening of its nuclear deterrence, in the wake of the U.S. drone-strike-assassination of Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani.
Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Gives Field Guidance to Sunchon Phosphatic Fertilizer Factory under Construction KCNA 07 Jan 2020 -- Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and supreme commander of the armed forces of the DPRK, gave field guidance to the Sunchon Phosphatic Fertilizer Factory under construction.
What Does Misreport Aim at?: KCNA Commentary KCNA 06 Jan 2020 -- Revealed once again is the true nature of Japan which leaves no means untried to realize its wild ambition.
Rodong Sinmun on Further Strengthening Our Own Force KCNA 06 Jan 2020 -- Rodong Sinmun Monday in an article says that to strengthen in every way our own force is an important demand to be constantly held fast to in the socialist construction.
Rodong Sinmun on Bright Future of DPRK KCNA 06 Jan 2020 -- Rodong Sinmun Monday says in an article that the proud reality of Juche Korea tells an iron truth that only when a country is led by a peerlessly great man can it get strong enough to firmly defend the nation's sovereignty and dignity.
North Korean Restaurants in Russia Remain in Business Beyond Worker Withdrawal Deadline Radio Free Asia 06 Jan 2020 -- North Korean-themed restaurants in Russia remained open on New Year's Day, indicating that many of the employees staffing the restaurants were not repatriated by the Dec. 22 deadline under U.N. sanctions, RFA has learned.
Rodong Sinmun on Basic Idea, Basic Spirit, of 5th Plenary Meeting of 7th Central Committee of WPK KCNA 04 Jan 2020 -- Rodong Sinmun on Saturday says in an article that the basic idea, the basic spirit, of the Fifth Plenary Meeting of the Seventh Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) is to conduct the offensive for a breakthrough head-on, not to wait for the situation to turn better.
Experts: Killing of Iranian Commander Sends Message to North Korea VOA 03 Jan 2020 -- U.S. efforts to deal with Iran in the coming days could divert its attention from Pyongyang, meanwhile the killing of Iran's top military general by the U.S. could prompt North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to reassess how willing the U.S. is to use force, experts said.
Esper on North Korea: US forces 'ready to fight tonight' Press TV 03 Jan 2020 -- US Defense Secretary Mark Esper has warned North Korea that the United States remained prepared to fight if necessary.
US flies spy aircraft over Korean Peninsula: Report Press TV 02 Jan 2020 -- A United States aircraft has conducted a reconnaissance flight over the Korean Peninsula, an aviation tracker says, as North Korea ends a unilateral moratorium on the testing of missiles.
As Beijing Prepares Huge Food-Aid Operation, Trains for North Korea Stop Shipping Commercial Freight Radio Free Asia 02 Jan 2020 -- Trade officials in China are limiting commercial freight train shipments to North Korea because Beijing has plans to provide a massive amount of food aid to Pyongyang, according to RFA sources in the Chinese border city of Dandong.
Kim Jong Un Warns of Hard Times in 'Long-Term Confrontation' with US VOA 02 Jan 2020 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may not have formally abandoned nuclear talks in his New Year's comments published Wednesday. But Kim appears to be preparing his domestic audience for a long-term future without sanctions relief, effectively dismissing the possibility of progress in negotiations that have been stalled for months.
Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Visits Kumsusan Palace of Sun KCNA 02 Jan 2020 -- Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and supreme commander of the armed forces of the DPRK, visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on the occasion of the New Year 2020.
NK's new strategic weapon 'targets US' Global Times 01 Jan 2020 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said the world will witness a new strategic weapon from his country in the near future, and Chinese analysts said Washington should take responsibility for the backward Korean Peninsula situation, as it didn't adopt flexibility in its policy and accept China's and Russia's proposal to ease sanctions when Pyongyang already showed its sincerity on denuclearization.
North Korea 'to develop new strategic weapon soon,' as deadline for US passes Press TV 01 Jan 2020 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called off two years of a moratorium on nuclear and missile tests, saying that North Korea will soon develop a "new strategic weapon," after the United States missed a year-end deadline for the resumption of talks with Pyongyang.
UN chief 'deeply concerned' following end of DPRK nuclear test moratorium UN News 01 Jan 2020 -- The UN Secretary-General is "deeply concerned" that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has ended a moratorium on nuclear and missile tests, his spokesman said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
Report on 5th Plenary Meeting of 7th C.C., WPK KCNA 01 Jan 2020 -- The 5th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was held at the headquarters building of the WPK Central Committee from December 28 to 31, Juche 108 (2019).
Kim Vows DPRK to Continue Strategic Weapons Development Unless Trump Ends Hostile Policy - Report Sputnik 01 Jan 2020 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un earlier promised a "Christmas gift" for the United States unless the Trump administration changes its stance on denuclearization. Early on Wednesday, Kim, in a statement released by the North Korean news agency KCNA, warned of a "shocking" action, vowing that the world will soon see "new strategic weapons".

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January 2020 - North Korea Special Weapons News