Topic
TOPIC
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a country in East Asia, located in the northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering South Korea and China. Its capital, Pyongyang, is the country's largest city by both land area and population. It is a single-party state led by the Korean Workers' Party (KWP), and governed by Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un since 2012. It has a population of 24,052,231 (UN-assisted DPRK census 2008) made up of Koreans and a smaller Chinese minority. Japan 'opened' Korea in 1876 and annexed it in 1910. The Republic of Korea (ROK) was founded with US support in the south in August 1948 and the Soviet-backed Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the north in September that year.
- From Australia to Taiwan, the region may be sliding into an accelerating arms race amid China’s military growth and North Korea’s test launches, analysts say
- Australia is set to build eight nuclear-powered submarines with the US and UK; South Korea is striving to develop solid-fuel rocket engines; while Japan has spent millions on long-range air-launched weapons
Pyongyang’s claim that it successfully tested a new hypersonic gliding missile on Tuesday comes as an arms race is intensifying in Asia. But experts are doubtful, saying that the North’s technology is not comparable to what the US, Russia and China have.
Pyongyang’s claim that it successfully tested a new hypersonic gliding missile on Tuesday comes as an arms race is intensifying in Asia. But experts are doubtful, saying that the North’s technology is not comparable to what the US, Russia and China have.
Seoul’s top nuclear envoy Noh Kyu-duk spoke on the phone with the US special representative Sung Kim, and agreed to meet him in Jakarta on Thursday.
Seoul’s top nuclear envoy Noh Kyu-duk spoke on the phone with the US special representative Sung Kim, and agreed to meet him in Jakarta on Thursday.
North Korea’s United Nations ambassador Kim Song told the General Assembly on September 27, 2021, that “nobody can deny the right” of the nuclear-armed country to test weapons. Song’s comments came moments after South Korea’s military said the North had fired an “unidentified projectile” into the sea off its east coast.
North Korea’s United Nations ambassador Kim Song told the General Assembly on September 27, 2021, that “nobody can deny the right” of the nuclear-armed country to test weapons. Song’s comments came moments after South Korea’s military said the North had fired an “unidentified projectile” into the sea off its east coast.
Virgil Griffith, who is based in Singapore, in 2018 started providing services such as cryptocurrency mining to North Korean individuals.
Virgil Griffith, who is based in Singapore, in 2018 started providing services such as cryptocurrency mining to North Korean individuals.
The presumed short-range missile was fired from an inland area into waters off the east coast, according to the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The presumed short-range missile was fired from an inland area into waters off the east coast, according to the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Analysts say Kim Jong-un’s powerful sister is floating a trial balloon to see if Pyongyang can resume dialogue with Washington through Seoul, while South Korean leader Moon is keen on a summit between the Koreas, the US, and China as part of his reunification goal.
Analysts say Kim Jong-un’s powerful sister is floating a trial balloon to see if Pyongyang can resume dialogue with Washington through Seoul, while South Korean leader Moon is keen on a summit between the Koreas, the US, and China as part of his reunification goal.
Seoul’s Unification Ministry welcomed a statement from Kim Yo-jong, the sister of Kim Jong-un, about North Korea being open to conditional talks.
Seoul’s Unification Ministry welcomed a statement from Kim Yo-jong, the sister of Kim Jong-un, about North Korea being open to conditional talks.
The comment comes after North Korea urged the US and South Korea to abandon a ‘hostile policy’ before talks can be held on ending the 1950-53 Korean war.
The comment comes after North Korea urged the US and South Korea to abandon a ‘hostile policy’ before talks can be held on ending the 1950-53 Korean war.
Kim Jong-un’s powerful sister says a formal end to the 1950-53 conflict is on the cards if South Korea, US drop ‘double-dealing attitudes’ over the North’s ‘right to self defence’.
Kim Jong-un’s powerful sister says a formal end to the 1950-53 conflict is on the cards if South Korea, US drop ‘double-dealing attitudes’ over the North’s ‘right to self defence’.
Textiles factories in North Korea have turned domestic in recent years after a UN-imposed sanction in 2017 banned exports from the country. Garment manufacturing used to be one of North Korea’s largest sources of foreign income, accounting for US$752 million from exports in 2016. Since the imposition of UN sanctions, factories such as Mangyongdae Sportswear Manufactory are now producing sportswear for civilians and state athletes.
Textiles factories in North Korea have turned domestic in recent years after a UN-imposed sanction in 2017 banned exports from the country. Garment manufacturing used to be one of North Korea’s largest sources of foreign income, accounting for US$752 million from exports in 2016. Since the imposition of UN sanctions, factories such as Mangyongdae Sportswear Manufactory are now producing sportswear for civilians and state athletes.
Chung Eui-yong and his American counterpart Antony Blinken spoke amid a renewed focus on the North’s nuclear capabilities, and as the South Korean president repeated his calls to formally end the 1950-53 conflict.
Chung Eui-yong and his American counterpart Antony Blinken spoke amid a renewed focus on the North’s nuclear capabilities, and as the South Korean president repeated his calls to formally end the 1950-53 conflict.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in has repeated a call for a declaration to formally end the Korean war. His remarks before the United Nations General Assembly on September 21, 2021, were Moon’s latest attempts to engage with North Korea throughout his presidency. The Korean war that started in 1950 is technically not over, since there has been no formal declaration of the end of the conflict and only an armistice that was signed in July 1953. Moon has argued that a formal declaration by the two Koreas as well as the US and possibly China, would encourage the North to denuclearise. But Washington has insisted that Pyongyang must give up its nuclear weapons first.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in has repeated a call for a declaration to formally end the Korean war. His remarks before the United Nations General Assembly on September 21, 2021, were Moon’s latest attempts to engage with North Korea throughout his presidency. The Korean war that started in 1950 is technically not over, since there has been no formal declaration of the end of the conflict and only an armistice that was signed in July 1953. Moon has argued that a formal declaration by the two Koreas as well as the US and possibly China, would encourage the North to denuclearise. But Washington has insisted that Pyongyang must give up its nuclear weapons first.
Former disarmament affairs envoy to UN calls for review of ‘no first use’ pledge as a way to counter growing military pressure from United States.
Former disarmament affairs envoy to UN calls for review of ‘no first use’ pledge as a way to counter growing military pressure from United States.
Thoughtful ideas from Koreans north and south of the DMZ are the best remedy for the tensions. Outside powers claim to want to help fix the problem, but almost 70 years after the Panmunjom armistice, reconciliation is no closer.
Thoughtful ideas from Koreans north and south of the DMZ are the best remedy for the tensions. Outside powers claim to want to help fix the problem, but almost 70 years after the Panmunjom armistice, reconciliation is no closer.
Last week the US announced a new three-way security pact with Australia and Britain, under which US nuclear submarines will be supplied to Canberra.
Last week the US announced a new three-way security pact with Australia and Britain, under which US nuclear submarines will be supplied to Canberra.
The activity at the Yongbyon nuclear complex indicates North Korea is intent on boosting the production of bomb materials, experts say.
The activity at the Yongbyon nuclear complex indicates North Korea is intent on boosting the production of bomb materials, experts say.
North Korea on Wednesday said it succeeded in launching ballistic missiles from a train for the first time and released a video shot from a variety of angles.
North Korea on Wednesday said it succeeded in launching ballistic missiles from a train for the first time and released a video shot from a variety of angles.
Tensions in the Korean peninsula escalate after Pyongyang tested a new “railway-borne missile system”. The test on September 15, 2021, occurred on the same day Seoul fired its first submarine-launched missile. Two ballistic missiles were fired from a North Korean train into the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, in a move Japan called “a threat to the peace and security” of Asia.
Tensions in the Korean peninsula escalate after Pyongyang tested a new “railway-borne missile system”. The test on September 15, 2021, occurred on the same day Seoul fired its first submarine-launched missile. Two ballistic missiles were fired from a North Korean train into the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, in a move Japan called “a threat to the peace and security” of Asia.
The missiles flew 800km before striking a target in the sea off the country’s east coast.
The missiles flew 800km before striking a target in the sea off the country’s east coast.
North and South Korea launched missile tests hours apart from each other on September 15, 2021. Seoul tested its first submarine-launched ballistic missile after Pyongyang fired two missiles that landed in the sea off its east coast. The tests highlight the arms race on the peninsula as nuclear talks with the North remain stalled.
North and South Korea launched missile tests hours apart from each other on September 15, 2021. Seoul tested its first submarine-launched ballistic missile after Pyongyang fired two missiles that landed in the sea off its east coast. The tests highlight the arms race on the peninsula as nuclear talks with the North remain stalled.
The missile launches this week highlight that beyond sanctions and censure, there are limited options to break up its nuclear arms programme.
The missile launches this week highlight that beyond sanctions and censure, there are limited options to break up its nuclear arms programme.
A spate of missile launches and weapons breakthroughs comes amid a flurry of diplomatic activity aimed at denuclearising the North.
A spate of missile launches and weapons breakthroughs comes amid a flurry of diplomatic activity aimed at denuclearising the North.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his counterpart Chung Eui-yong that Seoul and Beijing are ‘partners that can’t part ways’, on his last stop of a four-nation Asian tour.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his counterpart Chung Eui-yong that Seoul and Beijing are ‘partners that can’t part ways’, on his last stop of a four-nation Asian tour.
South Korea said it was convening its national security council while Japan’s PM Yoshihide Suga condemned the launch as ‘outrageous’.
South Korea said it was convening its national security council while Japan’s PM Yoshihide Suga condemned the launch as ‘outrageous’.
Keeping the status quo of a deadlock is neither effective nor conscionable, given the wishes of the Korean people themselves to reconcile.
Keeping the status quo of a deadlock is neither effective nor conscionable, given the wishes of the Korean people themselves to reconcile.
The envoys agreed to continue denuclearisation efforts in North Korea through ‘dialogue and sanctions’.
The envoys agreed to continue denuclearisation efforts in North Korea through ‘dialogue and sanctions’.
North Korea announced successful tests of a long-range cruise missile which analysts said could be the country’s first such weapon with a nuclear capability.
North Korea announced successful tests of a long-range cruise missile which analysts said could be the country’s first such weapon with a nuclear capability.
North Korea breaks lull in testing with “strategic weapon of great significance”, KCNA says, but some experts see only moderate military gains.
North Korea breaks lull in testing with “strategic weapon of great significance”, KCNA says, but some experts see only moderate military gains.
The missile is a weapon of ‘great significance’ in meeting the target of the five-year plan to develop the country’s weapon system, state media reported.
The missile is a weapon of ‘great significance’ in meeting the target of the five-year plan to develop the country’s weapon system, state media reported.
Canberra’s deal with the United Kingdom and the United States to counter China will only serve to destabilise the region, including the volatile Korean peninsula.
Japanese government measures are likely to spur a regional arms race, sending a message to Beijing that it has an aggressive neighbour.