Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
March 2020 - North Korea Special Weapons News
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- New Department Director General of DPRK Foreign Ministry for Negotiations with U.S. Issues Statement KCNA 20 Mar 2020 -- The new department director general of the DPRK Foreign Ministry for negotiations with the U.S. released the following statement on Mar. 30
- Test-Fire of Super-large Multiple Rocket Launchers Conducted in DPRK KCNA 20 Mar 2020 -- The Academy of Defence Science of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea carried out a test-fire of super-large multiple rocket launchers on Sunday to verify once again the tactical and technological specifications of the launch system to be delivered to units of the Korean People's Army.
- N Korea: Pompeo's sanction remarks 'ludicrous'; 'We will walk our way' Press TV 30 Mar 2020 -- North Korea has denounced as "ludicrous" US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's remarks on maintaining international sanctions on the country, warning that Pyongyang could abandon denuclearization talks with Washington.
- North Korea confirms test-firing of 'super-large' rocket launchers Press TV 30 Mar 2020 -- North Korea has confirmed the "successful" firing of rockets to test "super-large" rocket launchers.
- North Korea Tests 'Super-Large' Rocket Launcher, Test Appears Successful - Reports Sputnik 29 Mar 2020 -- The two short-range projectiles fired by North Korea on Sunday were a test of a 'super-large' multiple rocket launcher, the South Korean Yonhap News Agency reported.
- North Korea launches 2 unidentified projectiles: South Press TV 29 Mar 2020 -- North Korea has fired two "short-range projectiles" into the ocean off its east coast, South Korea says, calling the launches "very inappropriate" amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
- N. Korea Has Record Month for Missile Launches, With Global Focus on Coronavirus VOA 28 Mar 2020 -- North Korea has conducted another missile test, sending a fresh signal it will not stop developing weapons even amid a coronavirus pandemic.
- North Korea Ignores COVID-19 in Rush to Redeploy Workers to Russia Radio Free Asia 27 Mar 2020 -- North Korea is preparing to redeploy migrant workers to Russia to reestablish a much-needed source of foreign cash that had been put on hold due to concerns over the coronavirus crisis.
- Experts: N. Korea Must Admit to COVID-19 Cases, Request Help Before Sanctions Lifted VOA 26 Mar 2020 -- North Korea needs to publicly admit there is a coronavirus outbreak inside its borders and officially ask the international community for help fighting COVID-19 before any sanctions are lifted, experts said.
- North Korea Reportedly Asking for Medical Aid While Denying It Has Any Coronavirus Cases Sputnik 26 Mar 2020 -- North Korea is reportedly asking for medical aid from other countries while denying that it has any cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus within its borders.
- North Korea Cracks Down on Hoarding, Price Gouging as Coronavirus Crisis Worsens Radio Free Asia 26 Mar 2020 -- Authorities in North Korea are taking action against wholesalers for hoarding food and price gouging amid rising food prices as the coronavirus epidemic bears down on the reclusive country, local sources told RFA.
- North Korea Eases Restrictions on Sea Smugglers Amid COVID-19 Dangers Radio Free Asia 25 Mar 2020 -- North Korean internal government directives point to a renewed policy of leniency for smugglers, who have been out of work since the government began cracking down on crossing the country's border with China to prevent the spread of coronavirus, traders familiar with the orders told RFA.
- North Korea Ramps up Ideology Lessons Amid COVID-19 School Closures Radio Free Asia 24 Mar 2020 -- North Korea has postponed the opening of middle and high schools until April 20 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, but authorities have not eased up on the ideological indoctrination that education system's chief aim, sources in the country told RFA.
- Experts: Trump's Letter to Kim Shows N Korea Dialogue Still Matters VOA 24 Mar 2020 -- President Donald Trump's attempt to reengage North Korea through "anti-epidemic" help offered through a letter sent to the country's leader Kim Jong Un is an effort to show the U.S. remains open to dialogue even amid the coronavirus pandemic, experts said.
- Top DPRK leader observes demonstration firing of tactical guided weapon People's Daily 22 Mar 2020 -- Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), observed the demonstration firing of tactical guided weapon on Saturday, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Sunday.
- 'New Tactical Guided Missiles' Tested in North Korea's Recent Launch - Report Sputnik 22 Mar 2020 -- The recent launches by North Korea were tests of new tactical guided missiles that are expected to make an "epochal" change to the country's defen?e strategy, North Korean media reported.
- Kim Yo Jong, First Vice Department Director of WPK Central Committee, Issues Statement KCNA 22 Mar 2020 -- Kim Yo Jong, first vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, issued the following statement Sunday:
- Trump to Kim Jong Un: We Can Help With Coronavirus VOA 21 Mar 2020 -- President Donald Trump has sent a personal letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, offering U.S. help amid the coronavirus pandemic, the first known contact between the two leaders in months.
- SPA Presidium Releases Decision to Convene SPA Session KCNA 21 Mar 2020 -- The Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) of the DPRK on March 20 released a decision on convening a SPA session.
- SPA Issues Official Notice KCNA 21 Mar 2020 -- The Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Friday made public an official notice to inform the SPA deputies of convening the 3rd Session of the 14th SPA in Pyongyang on April 10, Juche 109 (2020).
- North Koreans Put Out of Work by COVID-19 Resort to Drug Trafficking Radio Free Asia 20 Mar 2020 -- North Korean restrictions on business activities and social movement to prevent the spread of coronavirus have driven already struggling traders to take up meth trafficking, sources in the isolated country told RFA.
- Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Guides Artillery Fire Competition between Large Combined Units of KPA on Western Front KCNA 21 Mar 2020 -- Amid the high military morale running through the entire army all out for getting fully combat ready along with firm conviction in sure victory under the extraordinary commanding art and militant encouragement by Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, the sound of another artillery has rocked heaven and earth, as part of the efforts to carry on the revolution in training.
- N Korea fires two projectiles into Sea of Japan: South Korea's military Press TV 21 Mar 2020 -- North Korea has fired two projectiles appearing to be short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, South Korea's military says.
- North Korea Launches More Ballistic Missiles, Even During Pandemic VOA 21 Mar 2020 -- North Korea has test-fired what appear to be two short-range ballistic missiles, South Korea's military said Saturday.
- More Efforts Directed to Preventing COVID-19 in DPRK KCNA 20 Mar 2020 -- The emergency anti-epidemic headquarters at all levels in Pyongyang and local areas of the DPRK have directed greater efforts to preventing COVID-19.
- DPRK Takes Step to Prevent Inflow of COVID-19 through Sea KCNA 18 Mar 2020 -- Emergency anti-epidemic headquarters at all levels and relevant organs in the coastal areas of the DPRK are further tightening the order of entry into sea so as to prevent the inflow of COVID-19 through sea.
- Teachers Face Hardship in North Korea as COVID-19 Halts Private Classes Radio Free Asia 16 Mar 2020 -- Authorities in North Korea are clamping down on private tutoring and banning school teachers from working on the side due to coronavirus concerns, in a major blow to many educators who supplement their low salaries with private students, sources in the country say.
- Material Measures Taken to Prevent COVID-19 Uriminzokkiri 15 Mar 2020 -- Material measures have been taken in different parts of the DPRK to prevent the inroads of COVID-19.
- Stricter anti-epidemic measures adopted Pyongyang Times 14 Mar 2020 -- The DPRK is further intensifying nationwide anti-epidemic effort in a scientific manner to prevent COVID-19 from entering and spreading in the country.
- Strict Top-Class Anti-Epidemic Measures Enforced in DPRK KCNA 13 Mar 2020 -- The nationwide anti-epidemic work to prevent the inroads of COVID-19 has been intensified in response to the spirit of the enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.
- North Koreans Ignore Government Advice to Wear Masks to Prevent COVID-19 Radio Free Asia 13 Mar 2020 -- Residents of North Korea, facing a confusing mix of warnings and an information gag order that has left them uninformed about the COVID-19 epidemic, are ignoring the advice of authorities to wear face masks in public to prevent the spread of the deadly illness, RFA has learned.
- Experts: N. Korea's Recent Launches Tested Missiles to Target S. Korea VOA 13 Mar 2020 -- In recent tests, North Korea has been improving the firepower of its missiles that can target South Korea, making them ready to deploy on a battlefield, experts said.
- Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Guides Artillery Fire Competition of Artillery Units under KPA Corps 7 and Corps 9 KCNA 13 Mar 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, guided an artillery fire competition between the artillery units under the Korean People's Army Corps 7 and Corps 9 on March 12.
- North Korean City Quarantines Suspected Coronavirus Patients, Makes Them Pay the Bill Radio Free Asia 11 Mar 2020 -- North Korean authorities are quarantining suspected COVID-19 patients in overpriced accommodations and then passing the bill on to them, demanding that patients pay for their quarantine in full before they are allowed to return to their homes, sources in the country told RFA.
- Campaign for Preventing COVID-19 Brisk in DPRK KCNA 10 Mar 2020 -- More strict measures are being taken in the DPRK to prevent COVID-19.
- Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Guides Another Firepower Strike Drill of Long-range Artillery Sub-units of KPA on Front KCNA 10 Mar 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, guided another firepower strike drill of long-range artillery sub-units of the Korean People's Army on the front on March 9.
- UN Investigator Warns Against Isolating North Korea as Threat of COVID-19 Looms VOA 09 Mar 2020 -- A U.N. investigator Monday warned of serious consequences if COVID-19 gains a foothold in North Korea, and urged the government to accept international offers of help to contain the spread of the deadly virus. The investigator submitted a report on the North's human rights situation to the U.N. Human Rights Council.
- Some Foreign Diplomats Depart North Korea Amid Virus Scare VOA 09 Mar 2020 -- A group of foreign diplomats has departed Pyongyang, with some temporarily closing their missions in the North Korean capital amid a coronavirus scare.
- DPRK fires 3 projectiles into East Sea - Yonhap People's Daily 09 Mar 2020 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired three unidentified projectiles into the East Sea on Monday local time, a week after it fired two short-range projectiles, Yonhap news agency reported, citing military sources of the Republic of Korea (ROK).
- North Korea's Launch of Projectiles May Be Part of Drills, Contradicts Agreements - Seoul Sputnik 09 Mar 2020 -- The projectiles launched by North Korea on Monday toward the Sea of Japan may have been a part of a military exercise, and they go against the inter-Korean military deal, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.
- North Korea Rush Orders Medical Supplies from China to Battle Coronavirus Radio Free Asia 08 Mar 2020 -- Authorities in North Korea have put in a rush order for medical supplies necessary to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus from China, sources within the isolated country told RFA's Korean Service.
- North Korea Launches Three Projectiles Into Sea of Japan - Reports Sputnik 08 Mar 2020 -- This is the second time the DPRK has launched missiles recently, following the launch of two unidentified projectiles into the Sea of Japan on 2 March.
- Spokesperson for DPRK Foreign Ministry Issues Statement KCNA 07 Mar 2020 -- A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea made public the following statement on Saturday:
- North Korea slams European states for 'illogical thinking' over recent military drills Press TV 07 Mar 2020 -- North Korea has lambasted European nations for their "illogical thinking" about Pyongyang's recent military drills after they called for a closed-door meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to condemn the peninsular country's recent "missile launches."
- North Korea 'Mobilizes' Workers, Then Collects Money When Work is Cancelled Because of Coronavirus Radio Free Asia 06 Mar 2020 -- Authorities in North Korea are making preparations to mobilize citizens for major state projects that require large amounts of labor, but sources say that the government has chosen to do this during the novel coronavirus crisis to encourage citizens to donate money instead.
- Experts Left to Decipher Kim Jong Un's Latest Letter to South Korea VOA 06 Mar 2020 -- North Korea is sending mixed messages to South Korea in the age of the coronavirus: Earlier this week, Pyongyang conducted its first short-range ballistic missile test in more than three months, then broke its hostile silence by sending well-wishes to the South Korean president.
- Cambodia Charges 16 Crewmembers Suspected of Violating North Korea Sanctions Radio Free Asia 05 Mar 2020 -- Authorities in Cambodia Thursday officially charged 16 crewmembers of a ship suspected in breaking sanctions on North Korea that anchored in Cambodian waters last week after being expelled from Taiwan.
- North, South Korea Exchange Letters About Coronavirus VOA 05 Mar 2020 -- North and South Korean leaders are again speaking after months of broken-down communication. This time, though, the two countries are focusing their discussions on the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.
- Amid Coronavirus Fears, North Korea Orders Schools Sanitized, Makes Parents Pay For it Radio Free Asia 04 Mar 2020 -- Authorities in North Korea have initiated nationwide school sanitation projects to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, but rather than properly fund the projects, the state is making the parents foot the bill.
- Defectors: North Korea Military May Become Hotbed of Coronavirus Infections VOA 04 Mar 2020 -- With a million personnel, the Korean People's Army is among the largest in the world.
- NGOs Urge South Korean President Moon to Focus More on North Korean Human Rights Radio Free Asia 04 Mar 2020 -- A coalition of NGOs recently sent an open letter to South Korean President Moon Jae In, urging his administration to stop ignoring North Korea's human rights abuses.
- Protective Clothing Mass-produced in DPRK KCNA 03 Mar 2020 -- Protective medical clothing, gloves, overshoes and medical respirator for the prevention of epidemics are being mass-produced in the DPRK.
- North Korea Quarantines Island County as 7000 Suspected Coronavirus Patients are Being Monitored. Radio Free Asia 03 Mar 2020 -- An entire island county in North Korea's North Pyongan Province was designated as a quarantine zone last week, after residents there began exhibiting signs of coronavirus infection, RFA has learned.
- Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Guides Firepower Strike Drill of Long-range Artillery Sub-units of KPA on Front KCNA 03 Mar 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 firepower strike drill ground of long-range artillery sub-units of the Korean People's Army on the front on March 2 to further kindle the flames of the training revolution.
- N Korean State Media Confirms Pyongyang Held Long-Range Artillery Strike Drills on Monday Sputnik 03 Mar 2020 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Monday supervised "firepower strike drill" of the armed forces' long-range artillery sub-units, state-run media reported on Tuesday.
- DPRK fires 2 unidentified projectiles into eastern waters: S.Korean military People's Daily 02 Mar 2020 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired two unidentified projectiles into the eastern waters on Monday, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
- North Korea fires 2 unidentified projectiles: South Press TV 02 Mar 2020 -- The South Korean military says North Korea has fired two unidentified projectiles eastward into the sea.
- Even Amid Virus Scare, North Korea Continues Weapons Tests VOA 02 Mar 2020 -- North Korea launched two short-range projectiles Monday, South Korea's military said -- a move that comes as the North scrambles to prevent a potentially disastrous coronavirus outbreak within its borders.
- Two Chinese Nationals Charged with Laundering Over $100 Million in Cryptocurrency From Exchange Hack US Dept. of Justice 02 Mar 2020 -- Forfeiture Complaint Details Over $250 Million Stolen by North Korean Actors
- Treasury Sanctions Individuals Laundering Cryptocurrency for Lazarus Group US Treasury 02 Mar 2020 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today sanctioned two Chinese nationals involved in laundering stolen cryptocurrency from a 2018 cyber intrusion against a cryptocurrency exchange.
- Two Chinese Nationals Charged With Laundering $100M in Stolen Cryptocurrency VOA 02 Mar 2020 -- Two Chinese nationals have been charged by U.S. prosecutors with laundering more than $100 million worth of cryptocurrency that had been stolen by North Korean hackers in 2018.
- Cambodia Seizes Cameroonian Tanker That Violated North Korea Sanctions Radio Free Asia 02 Mar 2020 -- Cambodian authorities last week seized a Cameroon-registered ship that is suspected of having taken part in ship-to-ship transfers to North Korea of oil and other banned goods, RFA has learned.
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