Australia has imposed its own sanctions against two Russian entities and a North Korean company linked with the reclusive regime’s recent test of an intercontinental ballistic missile. 　 Canberra also condemned the launch as a serious escalation of the North’s “destabilizing behavior” that poses an “unacceptable risk to our region.” 　 The Pyongyang-based Korean Ungum Corp. and two Russian firms, Russian Financial Society and Commercial Bank Agrosoyuz have be

Foreign Affairs March 29, 2022

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol on Monday called for the need to restore ties with Tokyo at the earliest in a future-oriented way, in his meeting with Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Koichi Aiboshi.   　 The two meet at Yoon’s office in Seoul, with the president-elect stressing the need for communication between the two countries to resolve sticking points. 　   　 “If the two countries’ political leaders, government officials and people push ahead with bilateral rela

Foreign Affairs March 28, 2022

North Korea confirmed Friday that it test-fired a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile the previous day under the order of leader Kim Jong-un, who vowed to boost its nuclear deterrent and prepare for a “long-standing confrontation” with the US.  Thursday’s test was the first full ICBM test by the reclusive regime since 2017, marking the end to the regime’s self-imposed moratorium on testing long-range missiles. The missile, known as Hwasong-17, flew highe

North Korea March 25, 2022

Satellite photos show more than 600 vehicles mobilized at a training ground in North Korea’s capital in a sign that the country is preparing for a large-scale military parade.  Citing imagery taken by Planet Labs, Radio Free Asia said Wednesday that the North on Monday mobilized around 600 to 650 vehicles at the Mirim airport in Pyongyang -– where rehearsals for previous military parades have taken place –- signaling a forthcoming gathering.  There were about 150 v

North Korea March 24, 2022

North Korea is cooperating with cybercriminals around the world, including those from Russia, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said, amid heightened cybersecurity concerns around the world due to Russia’s war with Ukraine. 　 “All I can say, generally, is that North Korea’s cyber capabilities have been manifest in the world and they work with all kinds of cybercriminals around the world, including Russian cybercriminals,” Sullivan told the press briefing on Tue

North Korea March 23, 2022

The election for the next director general of the International Labor Organization is scheduled for Friday, with all eyes on whether former Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha has a chance at becoming the first woman and first Asian leader in the organization’s 103-year history. 　 Kang, the country’s first female foreign minister, is competing for the ILO top job along with four other high-profile contenders. They include president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development

Foreign Affairs March 22, 2022

North Korea stayed mum Monday regarding artillery shots fired the previous day, which were seen as part of an ongoing wintertime military exercise.   　 The North fired suspected artillery pieces into the West Sea from an unspecified location in South Pyongan Province on Sunday, likely from multiple rocket launch systems, according to South Korea’s military.   　 The North’s state media outlets, including the Korean Central News Agency and Rodong Sinmun, have not reported

North Korea March 21, 2022

North Korean hackers launched at least seven attacks on cryptocurrency platforms last year and stole nearly $400 million worth of digital assets, according to a blockchain data firm report submitted to the US Senate. 　 The heist marked a 40 percent increase from 2020 when it stole about $300 million, according to Jonathan Levin, co-founder of Chainalysis, in a written testimony submitted to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban affairs for a hearing on digital assets and illicit fi

North Korea March 20, 2022

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected a major housing construction site in the country’s capital, state media reported Wednesday, stepping up domestic activities amid the regime’s continued weapons launches threatening the security in the region. 　 The Korean Central News Agency on Wednesday said Kim visited the construction site of 10,000 apartments in Songsin and Songhwa districts of eastern Pyongyang that is nearing completion. Kim had attended the groundbreaking ceremony of

North Korea March 16, 2022

North Korea could be preparing to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile soon, with satellite imagery showed a new concrete structure laid at Sunan airfield near Pyongyang, according to a media report. 　 Citing photos taken Saturday by Planet Labs, Voice of America reported Tuesday that the North has built two concrete slabs between the airfield’s runways and taxiways designed to support a transporter erector launcher, or TEL, used for launching missiles. 　 The report said the stru

North Korea March 15, 2022

South Korean authorities believe North Korea could carry out an intercontinental ballistic missile system test as soon as this week, which would seriously raise tensions on the Korean Peninsula as the presidential transition gets underway in Seoul. 　 Seoul and Washington have detected signs of an imminent ICBM test, and have been keeping an eye on the developments, according to sources here. 　 National Security adviser Suh Hoon told President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol on Saturday that a test launch

North Korea March 14, 2022

North Korean state media on Friday reported on conservative candidate Yoon Suk-yeol’s win as South Korea’s new president, marking the regime’s first coverage of the election result.  In a brief report, the North’s Korean Central News Agency said, “Yoon Suk-yeol, a candidate of the conservative opposition ‘People Power Party,’ won by a narrow margin in the 20th ‘presidential election’ held in South Korea on March 9.” The Rodong Sin

Foreign Affairs March 11, 2022

South Korea and the US on Friday confirmed that North Korea’s two recent missile launches were to test for a new intercontinental ballistic missile system, as Washington plans to announce fresh sanctions against the regime for its weapons program.  The authorities concluded that the regime’s ballistic missile tests on Feb. 27 and March 5 -- which Pyongyang claimed were for a reconnaissance satellite -- “involved a new intercontinental ballistic missile system” that

North Korea March 11, 2022

South Korea’s President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol held a phone conversation with US President Joe Biden just hours after his win Thursday, during which they reaffirmed the US-South Korea alliance to deal with North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. 　 During the 20-minute phone conversation, Biden congratulated Yoon on winning the presidential election, and invited the president-elect to the White House, according to a statement from Yoon’s People Power Party. In return, Yoon sa

Foreign Affairs March 10, 2022

South Korea went to the polls on Wednesday to elect its new president,  whose term will begin at the most challenging time for Korea in recent history.  On the domestic front, the new administration will need to wrestle with runaway housing prices, the coronavirus pandemic, gender and economic inequality among many other pressing issues. As pressing as these issues may be, the diplomatic situation facing the new president could have a long lasting impact on both South Korea and its

Foreign Affairs March 9, 2022