North Korea on Sunday (May 15) reported 15 more deaths from ''unidentified fever'' amid an explosive COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

According to the country's health authorities, a total of 42 people have died four days after a lockdown was imposed in the impoverished country.

"Swift state emergency measures" are being taken to curb the rise in cases reported by state news agency KCNA.

"All provinces, cities, and counties of the country have been totally locked down and working units, production units and residential units closed from each other since the morning of May 12 and strict and intensive examination of all the people is being conducted," it said.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/an-exploding-covid-19-crisis-in-north-korea-21-new-fever-death-reported-478822/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Calling the outbreak a "great turmoil", North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held an emergency meeting with the members of the ruling Workers' Party.

"If we don't lose focus in implementing epidemic policy and maintain strong organisation power and control based on single-minded unity of the party and the people and strengthen our epidemic battle, we can more than overcome the crisis," KCNA quoted him as saying.

Previously, under the COVAX scheme, both China and the World Health Organization (WHO) had offered coronavirus vaccines to North Korea but Pyongyang had turned down the offer.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kim-jong-un-says-covid-19-outbreak-has-put-north-korea-in-great-turmoil-as-21-new-deaths-reported-478770" hreflang="en">Kim Jong Un says COVID-19 outbreak has put North Korea in 'great turmoil' as 21 new deaths reported</a>

With one of the world's worst healthcare systems, North Korea can be on the edge of potential disaster as it does not have any Covid vaccines, antiviral treatment drugs, or mass-testing capacity.

It has already reported 820,620 cases within a few days of announcing the outbreak despite activating a "maximum emergency quarantine system" to slow the disease's spread through its unvaccinated population.

In a survey conducted by Johns Hopkins University in 2021, North Korea's healthcare system ranked 193 out of 195 countries.

(With inputs from agencies)

Watch WION's live TV here:

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

North Korea on Sunday (May 15) reported 15 more deaths from ''unidentified fever'' amid an explosive COVID-19 outbreak in the country. According to the country's health authorities, a total of 42 people have died four days after a lockdown was imposed in the impoverished country.

North Korea on Sunday (May 15) reported 15 more deaths from ''unidentified fever'' amid an explosive COVID-19 outbreak in the country. According to the country's health authorities, a total of 42 people have died four days after a lockdown was imposed in the impoverished country. "Swift state emergency measures" are being taken to curb the rise in cases reported by state news agency KCNA. "All provinces, cities, and counties of the country have been totally locked down and working units, production units and residential units closed from each other since the morning of May 12 and strict and intensive examination of all the people is being conducted," it said. Calling the outbreak a "great turmoil", North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held an emergency meeting with the members of the ruling Workers' Party. "If we don't lose focus in implementing epidemic policy and maintain strong organisation power and control based on single-minded unity of the party and the people and strengthen our epidemic battle, we can more than overcome the crisis," KCNA quoted him as saying. Previously, under the COVAX scheme, both China and the World Health Organization (WHO) had offered coronavirus vaccines to North Korea but Pyongyang had turned down the offer. Also read | Kim Jong Un says COVID-19 outbreak has put North Korea in 'great turmoil' as 21 new deaths reported With one of the world's worst healthcare systems, North Korea can be on the edge of potential disaster as it does not have any Covid vaccines, antiviral treatment drugs, or mass-testing capacity. It has already reported 820,620 cases within a few days of announcing the outbreak despite activating a "maximum emergency quarantine system" to slow the disease's spread through its unvaccinated population. In a survey conducted by Johns Hopkins University in 2021, North Korea's healthcare system ranked 193 out of 195 countries. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here:

North Korea reports 15 more deaths amid 'explosive' COVID-19 outbreak

North Korea carried out a fresh test of a newly developed anti-aircraft missile on Thursday, according to state media KCNA which reported the news on Friday. The test is the latest in North Korea's series of weapons tests. North Korea's denuclearisation talks with the United States are deadlocked.

North Korea has propelled a string of weapon test, fired Anti-Aircraft missile

The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday said it was "admirable" of the South to propose a formal end to the Korean War but demanded Seoul first drop its "hostile policies" towards Pyongyang.

Kim Yo Jong's remarks, carried by Pyongyang's official KCNA news agency, were in response to South Korean President Moon Jae-in's recent calls for declaring an official end to the 1950-53 conflict that ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, leaving the two sides technically at war for more than half a century.

In a speech at the UN General Assembly earlier this week, Moon proposed the declaration of an end to the conflict that broke out 71 years ago, stressing such an act would "make irreversible progress in denuclearisation and usher in an era of complete peace".

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-clothing-brand-faces-heat-over-inappropriate-messages-anti-india-depictions-printed-on-kids-shirts-415605">Chinese clothing brand faces heat over inappropriate messages, anti-India depictions printed on kids' shirts</a>

Kim, a key policy adviser to her brother Kim Jong Un, said it was an "admirable idea" to propose a formal end to the war but insisted the South should remove its hostile attitude first.

Making such a declaration with "double-dealing standards, prejudice and hostile policies" still in place "does not make any sense," she said.

"For the termination of the war to be declared, respect for each other should be maintained and prejudiced viewpoint, inveterate hostile policy and unequal double standards must be removed first," she said.

She added making such a declaration would "hold no water and would change nothing" under current conditions.&nbsp;

But the North would be willing to have talks on improving ties with Seoul if the South withdrew hostility "after breaking with the past when it often provoked us".&nbsp;

ALSO READ&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-says-uks-boris-johnson-offered-to-re-establish-cooperation-415593">France says UK's Boris Johnson offered to 're-establish cooperation'</a>

Kim Yo Jong last week accused Moon of "slander" after both Koreas carried out missile launches.

North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;carried out two missile firings this month alone, one involving a long-range cruise missile and the other short-range ballistic missiles.

Moon described Pyongyang's recent launches as "provocations" when he oversaw &nbsp;a successful test-firing of a submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) last week, making the South one of a handful of nations with the advanced technology.

That prompted Kim Yo Jong to condemn Seoul's "illogical attitude that describes their similar behaviour as a legitimate action to support peace, and ours as a threat to peace".

Communications between the North and South have largely been cut in the aftermath of a second US-North summit in Hanoi that collapsed in February 2019&nbsp;as then-president Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un couldn't agree on the terms of an agreement.

The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday said it was "admirable" of the South to propose a formal end to the Korean War but demanded Seoul first drop its "hostile policies" towards Pyongyang.

The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday said it was "admirable" of the South to propose a formal end to the Korean War but demanded Seoul first drop its "hostile policies" towards Pyongyang. Kim Yo Jong's remarks, carried by Pyongyang's official KCNA news agency, were in response to South Korean President Moon Jae-in's recent calls for declaring an official end to the 1950-53 conflict that ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, leaving the two sides technically at war for more than half a century. In a speech at the UN General Assembly earlier this week, Moon proposed the declaration of an end to the conflict that broke out 71 years ago, stressing such an act would "make irreversible progress in denuclearisation and usher in an era of complete peace". ALSO READ | Chinese clothing brand faces heat over inappropriate messages, anti-India depictions printed on kids' shirts Kim, a key policy adviser to her brother Kim Jong Un, said it was an "admirable idea" to propose a formal end to the war but insisted the South should remove its hostile attitude first. Making such a declaration with "double-dealing standards, prejudice and hostile policies" still in place "does not make any sense," she said. "For the termination of the war to be declared, respect for each other should be maintained and prejudiced viewpoint, inveterate hostile policy and unequal double standards must be removed first," she said. She added making such a declaration would "hold no water and would change nothing" under current conditions. But the North would be willing to have talks on improving ties with Seoul if the South withdrew hostility "after breaking with the past when it often provoked us". ALSO READ | France says UK's Boris Johnson offered to 're-establish cooperation' Kim Yo Jong last week accused Moon of "slander" after both Koreas carried out missile launches. North Korea carried out two missile firings this month alone, one involving a long-range cruise missile and the other short-range ballistic missiles. Moon described Pyongyang's recent launches as "provocations" when he oversaw a successful test-firing of a submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) last week, making the South one of a handful of nations with the advanced technology. That prompted Kim Yo Jong to condemn Seoul's "illogical attitude that describes their similar behaviour as a legitimate action to support peace, and ours as a threat to peace". Communications between the North and South have largely been cut in the aftermath of a second US-North summit in Hanoi that collapsed in February 2019 as then-president Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un couldn't agree on the terms of an agreement.

North Korea leader's sister Kim Yo Jong demands South drop 'hostile policies'

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said his country needs to prepare for "both dialogue and confrontation" with the United States under President Joe Biden, state media reported Friday.

At a plenary meeting of the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea on Thursday, Kim outlined his strategy for relations with Washington, and the "policy tendency of the newly emerged US administration", the Korean Central News Agency said.

Kim "stressed the need to get prepared for both dialogue and confrontation, especially to get fully prepared for confrontation to protect the dignity of our state" and reliably guarantee a "peaceful environment", KCNA reported. 
 
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/denuclearisation-is-the-goal-biden-moon-express-willingness-for-dialogue-with-north-korea-386632">'Denuclearisation is the goal': Biden, Moon express willingness for dialogue with North Korea</a>

The North Korean leader "called for sharply and promptly reacting to and coping with the fast-changing situation and concentrating efforts on taking stable control of the situation on the Korean peninsula", the agency said.

Pyongyang had already accused Biden of pursuing a "hostile policy" and saying it was a "big blunder" for the veteran Democrat to say he would deal with the threat posed by the North's nuclear programme "through diplomacy as well as stern deterrence". 
 
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-accuses-the-us-of-using-spurious-diplomacy-to-cover-up-hostile-acts-382073">North Korea accuses the US of using 'spurious' diplomacy to 'cover up hostile acts'</a>

In 2019, the North said Biden should be "beaten to death with a stick".

"Calibrated" approach

Biden's predecessor Donald Trump made headlines -- but little diplomatic progress -- with a series of face-to-face meetings with Kim, a policy that Biden says he will not pursue unless the terms change dramatically.

During a visit to Washington last month by South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Biden said he "would not meet" Kim unless there was a concrete plan for negotiating on Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal.

And he made a clear criticism of Trump's chummy relationship with Kim, saying he "would not do what had been done in the recent past. I would not give him all he's looking for — international recognition".

The White House says it is now pursuing "a calibrated practical approach" -- diplomatic jargon, it seems, for being realistically low-key, while open-minded.

"We understand where previous efforts in the past had difficulties and we've tried to learn from those," a senior White House official said.

North Korea has carried out six atomic bomb tests since 2006. It is under multiple sets of international sanctions for its banned weapons programmes.

A report from US intelligence experts released in April said North Korea could resume nuclear tests this year as a way to force Biden's administration to return to the negotiating table.

Kim "may take several aggressive and potentially destabilising actions to reshape the regional security environment and drive wedges between the United States and its allies -- up to and including the resumption of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) testing," said the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said his country needs to prepare for "both dialogue and confrontation" with the United States under President Joe Biden, state media reported Friday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said his country needs to prepare for "both dialogue and confrontation" with the United States under President Joe Biden, state media reported Friday. At a plenary meeting of the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea on Thursday, Kim outlined his strategy for relations with Washington, and the "policy tendency of the newly emerged US administration", the Korean Central News Agency said. Kim "stressed the need to get prepared for both dialogue and confrontation, especially to get fully prepared for confrontation to protect the dignity of our state" and reliably guarantee a "peaceful environment", KCNA reported. Also read | 'Denuclearisation is the goal': Biden, Moon express willingness for dialogue with North Korea The North Korean leader "called for sharply and promptly reacting to and coping with the fast-changing situation and concentrating efforts on taking stable control of the situation on the Korean peninsula", the agency said. Pyongyang had already accused Biden of pursuing a "hostile policy" and saying it was a "big blunder" for the veteran Democrat to say he would deal with the threat posed by the North's nuclear programme "through diplomacy as well as stern deterrence". Also read | North Korea accuses the US of using 'spurious' diplomacy to 'cover up hostile acts' In 2019, the North said Biden should be "beaten to death with a stick". "Calibrated" approach Biden's predecessor Donald Trump made headlines -- but little diplomatic progress -- with a series of face-to-face meetings with Kim, a policy that Biden says he will not pursue unless the terms change dramatically. During a visit to Washington last month by South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Biden said he "would not meet" Kim unless there was a concrete plan for negotiating on Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal. And he made a clear criticism of Trump's chummy relationship with Kim, saying he "would not do what had been done in the recent past. I would not give him all he's looking for — international recognition". The White House says it is now pursuing "a calibrated practical approach" -- diplomatic jargon, it seems, for being realistically low-key, while open-minded. "We understand where previous efforts in the past had difficulties and we've tried to learn from those," a senior White House official said. North Korea has carried out six atomic bomb tests since 2006. It is under multiple sets of international sanctions for its banned weapons programmes. A report from US intelligence experts released in April said North Korea could resume nuclear tests this year as a way to force Biden's administration to return to the negotiating table. Kim "may take several aggressive and potentially destabilising actions to reshape the regional security environment and drive wedges between the United States and its allies -- up to and including the resumption of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) testing," said the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

North Korea must prepare for 'dialogue and confrontation' with the US: Kim Jong Un

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un chaired a Central Military Commission meeting, state media KCNA said on Saturday, where he called for boosting military power, but KCNA did not have details of any military activities planned. 
 
The meeting on Friday called for a 'high-alert posture' against the 'recent fast-changing' situation on the Korean Peninsula, said KCNA, adding that it also addressed organisational issue of dismissing, transferring and newly appointing some military officers. 
 
Kim discussed 'important tasks' to make 'a fresh turn in the overall work of national defence',&nbsp;KCNA said without elaborating on details. 
 
North Korea's plenary meeting of the ruling party's Central Committee is planned for later in June.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un chaired a Central Military Commission meeting, state media KCNA said on Saturday, where he called for boosting military power, but KCNA did not have details of any military activities planned.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un chaired a Central Military Commission meeting, state media KCNA said on Saturday, where he called for boosting military power, but KCNA did not have details of any military activities planned. The meeting on Friday called for a 'high-alert posture' against the 'recent fast-changing' situation on the Korean Peninsula, said KCNA, adding that it also addressed organisational issue of dismissing, transferring and newly appointing some military officers. Kim discussed 'important tasks' to make 'a fresh turn in the overall work of national defence', KCNA said without elaborating on details. North Korea's plenary meeting of the ruling party's Central Committee is planned for later in June.

North Korea's Kim calls for boosting military power: KCNA

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw military drills on Friday, state media KCNA said, a rare public outing amid efforts to prevent an outbreak of the coronavirus in the isolated country.

North Korea has not confirmed any cases of the virus, but state media said a month-long quarantine period had been imposed for people showing symptoms and “high-intensity” measures were taken including reinforcing checks in border regions and at airports and sea ports.

On Feb. 16, Kim made his first public appearance in 22 days to visit a mausoleum marking the anniversary of the birth of his father and late leader Kim Jong Il.

The military drill was to “judge the mobility and the fire power strike ability” on the frontline and eastern units and ended to the “great satisfaction” of Kim, KCNA said on Saturday.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-koreas-kim-makes-first-public-appearance-in-22-days-amid-virus-outbreak-280995">North Korea's Kim makes first public appearance in 22 days amid virus outbreak</a>

<div>“Soldiers, who have firmly armed themselves with a-match-for-a-hundred idea of the Party and trained under the simulated conditions of actual battles, reduced a target islet to a sea of flames,” KCNA said.</div>

In a separate dispatch, KCNA said Kim has also convened a meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party’s powerful politburo where a stricter enforcement of “top-class anti-epidemic steps” was discussed to prevent the spread of the virus.

“In case the infectious disease spreading beyond control finds its way into our country, it will entail serious consequences,” Kim was quoted as telling the meeting. “No special cases must be allowed within the state anti-epidemic system.”

He instructed the officials to “seal off all the channels and space through which the infectious disease may find its way, and strengthen check-up, test and quarantine,” KCNA added.

Also watch:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/south-korea-reports-2022-positive-cases-of-coronavirus-283277"> South Korea reports 2,022 positive cases of Coronavirus</a>

A plan is under way to evacuate some 60 quarantined foreign diplomats from North Korea, including from Germany, French and Switzerland, CNN reported on Friday, citing an unnamed source inside the country. The report also said other countries with diplomatic missions were seeking to scale down their operations.

KCNA released photographs of Kim presiding over the meeting as well as overseeing the drills without wearing a surgical mask. All of the aides who accompanied Kim on the military inspection had identical black masks, whereas none of the participants at the meeting did.

“Kim’s activities appear to be intended to highlight to his people that his campaign to build a self-reliant economy is business as usual while boosting military morale and also showing they were not affected by the virus,” said Kim Dong-yup, a professor at Kyungnam University in Seoul.

Also see: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/south-korea-worst-hit-after-mainland-china-school-exams-postponed-283267">South Korea worst-hit after Mainland China, School exams postponed</a>

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw military drills on Friday, state media KCNA said, a rare public outing amid efforts to prevent an outbreak of the coronavirus in the isolated country.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw military drills on Friday, state media KCNA said, a rare public outing amid efforts to prevent an outbreak of the coronavirus in the isolated country. North Korea has not confirmed any cases of the virus, but state media said a month-long quarantine period had been imposed for people showing symptoms and “high-intensity” measures were taken including reinforcing checks in border regions and at airports and sea ports. On Feb. 16, Kim made his first public appearance in 22 days to visit a mausoleum marking the anniversary of the birth of his father and late leader Kim Jong Il. The military drill was to “judge the mobility and the fire power strike ability” on the frontline and eastern units and ended to the “great satisfaction” of Kim, KCNA said on Saturday. Also read: North Korea's Kim makes first public appearance in 22 days amid virus outbreak “Soldiers, who have firmly armed themselves with a-match-for-a-hundred idea of the Party and trained under the simulated conditions of actual battles, reduced a target islet to a sea of flames,” KCNA said. In a separate dispatch, KCNA said Kim has also convened a meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party’s powerful politburo where a stricter enforcement of “top-class anti-epidemic steps” was discussed to prevent the spread of the virus. “In case the infectious disease spreading beyond control finds its way into our country, it will entail serious consequences,” Kim was quoted as telling the meeting. “No special cases must be allowed within the state anti-epidemic system.” He instructed the officials to “seal off all the channels and space through which the infectious disease may find its way, and strengthen check-up, test and quarantine,” KCNA added. Also watch: South Korea reports 2,022 positive cases of Coronavirus A plan is under way to evacuate some 60 quarantined foreign diplomats from North Korea, including from Germany, French and Switzerland, CNN reported on Friday, citing an unnamed source inside the country. The report also said other countries with diplomatic missions were seeking to scale down their operations. KCNA released photographs of Kim presiding over the meeting as well as overseeing the drills without wearing a surgical mask. All of the aides who accompanied Kim on the military inspection had identical black masks, whereas none of the participants at the meeting did. “Kim’s activities appear to be intended to highlight to his people that his campaign to build a self-reliant economy is business as usual while boosting military morale and also showing they were not affected by the virus,” said Kim Dong-yup, a professor at Kyungnam University in Seoul. Also see: South Korea worst-hit after Mainland China, School exams postponed

North Korea's Kim guides military drills, warns 'serious consequences' if virus breaks out: Report

North Korea's state media on Thursday (October 3) released still photographs of a missile launch and said it had successfully test-fired a new type of submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from the sea off its east coast on Wednesday (October 2), aimed at containing external threats and bolstering its self-defence.

North Korea says successfully tested new submarine-launched ballistic missile -KCNA

North Korean senior official and former top nuclear <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-executes-its-special-envoy-to-us-after-hanoi-summit-collapse-223029">envoy Kim Yong Chol accompanied</a> leader Kim Jong-un to a Sunday art performance, state media KCNA said on Monday, signalling that the former spymaster is alive and remains a force in North Korea’s power structure.

South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo reported on Friday that<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-checking-reports-of-north-korean-envoys-execution-pompeo-223222"> Kim Yong Chol, Kim Jong-un’s right-hand man</a> and the counterpart to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo before the failed Hanoi summit, had been sent to a labour and re-education camp in Jagang Province near the Chinese border, citing an unidentified North Korea source.

Asked about the last US contact with Kim Yong Chol and North Korea in general on Sunday, Pompeo declined to answer, saying: “we conduct our negotiations in private.”

During an amateur art performance by the wives of officers in the North Korean Army attended by Kim Jong Un and his wife, Ri Sol Ju, on Sunday, Kim Yong Chol was among “leading officials” who accompanied them, according to KCNA on Monday.

He was the tenth official named among 12 mentioned overall.

As Kim Jong-un’s point man for nuclear talks with the United States, Kim Yong Chol was apparently censured for the summit’s collapse by being removed from a key party post, a South Korean lawmaker had said in April.

Kim Yong Chol was pictured standing behind Kim Jong-un in an official photo released from a session of North Korea’s rubber-stamp legislature in April, but did not accompany Kim on his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin later that month.

The Chosun Ilbo story, which could not be independently confirmed, also said North Korea executed its working-level nuclear envoy to the United States, Kim Hyok Chol, as part of a purge of officials who steered negotiations for the collapsed summit in February.

Officials who worked with Kim Yong Chol have been out of the public eye since the summit, while seasoned diplomats who appeared to have been sidelined, including Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, were seen returning to the spotlight.

North Korea's former top nuclear envoy was also seen with Kim Jong-un.

North Korean senior official and former top nuclear envoy Kim Yong Chol accompanied leader Kim Jong-un to a Sunday art performance, state media KCNA said on Monday, signalling that the former spymaster is alive and remains a force in North Korea’s power structure.

North Korean senior official and former top nuclear envoy Kim Yong Chol accompanied leader Kim Jong-un to a Sunday art performance, state media KCNA said on Monday, signalling that the former spymaster is alive and remains a force in North Korea’s power structure. South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo reported on Friday that Kim Yong Chol, Kim Jong-un’s right-hand man and the counterpart to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo before the failed Hanoi summit, had been sent to a labour and re-education camp in Jagang Province near the Chinese border, citing an unidentified North Korea source. Asked about the last US contact with Kim Yong Chol and North Korea in general on Sunday, Pompeo declined to answer, saying: “we conduct our negotiations in private.” During an amateur art performance by the wives of officers in the North Korean Army attended by Kim Jong Un and his wife, Ri Sol Ju, on Sunday, Kim Yong Chol was among “leading officials” who accompanied them, according to KCNA on Monday. He was the tenth official named among 12 mentioned overall. As Kim Jong-un’s point man for nuclear talks with the United States, Kim Yong Chol was apparently censured for the summit’s collapse by being removed from a key party post, a South Korean lawmaker had said in April. Kim Yong Chol was pictured standing behind Kim Jong-un in an official photo released from a session of North Korea’s rubber-stamp legislature in April, but did not accompany Kim on his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin later that month. The Chosun Ilbo story, which could not be independently confirmed, also said North Korea executed its working-level nuclear envoy to the United States, Kim Hyok Chol, as part of a purge of officials who steered negotiations for the collapsed summit in February. Officials who worked with Kim Yong Chol have been out of the public eye since the summit, while seasoned diplomats who appeared to have been sidelined, including Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, were seen returning to the spotlight. North Korea's former top nuclear envoy was also seen with Kim Jong-un.

Amid execution reports, North Korea's ex-nuclear envoy seen with Kim Jong-un

North Korea has broken its silence on the diplomatic thaw with Washington and Seoul, saying it is driving the &quot;peace offensive&quot; and rejecting suggestions that sanctions forced it to the negotiating table.

The commentary from the state-run KCNA news agency came with a rapid rapprochement on the Korean peninsula underway, after a period of heightened tensions stoked by the missile and nuclear tests.

But as diplomats scurry to arrange two proposed summits - North-South talks followed by a face-to-face meet between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un - the North&#39;s silence had raised concerns over its intentions.

The KCNA commentary late Tuesday did not directly mention the summits but noted the &quot;dramatic atmosphere for reconciliation&quot; with the South and &quot;a sign of change&quot; with the US.&nbsp;

It said Pyongyang&#39;s overtures came from a position of strength, not from weakness, even as it confronts intense international pressure as well as biting economic sanctions over its nuclear weapons programme.

&quot;The dialogue peace offensive of the DPRK is an expression of self-confidence as it has acquired everything it desires,&quot; it said, using the North&#39;s official name.&nbsp;

It also slammed hawks in Washington, Seoul and Tokyo for questioning the sincerity and motivation behind the North&#39;s willingness to step back from the brink.

&quot;Such rubbish as &#39;result of sanctions and pressure&#39;... spread by hostile forces is just as meaningless as a dog barking at the moon,&quot; it said, urging &quot;prudence&quot; for all parties involved.

&quot;It is really an expression of small-mindedness for the riff-raffs to spoil the atmosphere and say this or that even before the parties concerned are given a chance to study the inner thoughts of the other side and are seated at a negotiating table,&quot; it said in typically colourful language.&nbsp;

Since floating the idea for a summit with the US, &quot;the North has been carefully watching how the situation is developing, including the US-South Korea joint military drills, before making it public to the people&quot;, Professor Kim Yong-hyun at Dongguk University told.

The South and the US announced Tuesday a plan to resume annual joint military exercises on April 1, with its main drill shortened by a month - in an apparent conciliatory gesture over an event that infuriates the North.

Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies said the North also needs time to prepare its people for a drastic policy turnaround toward the United States.

&quot;The North won&#39;t confirm the two summits until dates and venues are fixed and it needs to educate its people through party cells slowly for a policy U-turn&quot;, Yang said.

The North&#39;s state media has not reported any public activities by Kim since March 6, when it said he held talks with South Korean envoys.

Kim learned of South Korean President Moon Jae-in&#39;s intention for an inter-Korean summit from the envoys, exchanged views and made a &quot;satisfactory agreement,&quot; the North&#39;s KCNA said at that time.

Trump&#39;s announcement earlier this month that he was willing to meet with the North&#39;s young leader - after an invitation conveyed by envoys from the South - has triggered a flurry of diplomatic activity.

The North&#39;s foreign minister Ri Yong Ho met his counterpart from Sweden, which represents Washington&#39;s interests in North Korea, in Stockholm over the weekend, with reports saying they discussed the release of three Americans detained in the North.&nbsp;

Choe Kang Il, a senior Pyongyang diplomat handling ties with the US, is currently in Finland for discussions with the retired former US ambassador to Seoul, Kathleen Stephens.&nbsp;

Moon on Wednesday said a three-way summit including the two Koreas and the US could be possible, depending on the outcomes of the inter-Korean and US-North Korean summits.

&quot;We must completely resolve the issues of denuclearising the Korean Peninsula and establishing peace&quot;, he said.

North Korea says it is driving the 'peace offensive' and rejecting suggestions that sanctions forced it to the negotiating table

North Korea has broken its silence on the diplomatic thaw with Washington and Seoul, saying it is driving the "peace offensive" and rejecting suggestions that sanctions forced it to the negotiating table. The commentary from the state-run KCNA news agency came with a rapid rapprochement on the Korean peninsula underway, after a period of heightened tensions stoked by the missile and nuclear tests. But as diplomats scurry to arrange two proposed summits - North-South talks followed by a face-to-face meet between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un - the North's silence had raised concerns over its intentions. The KCNA commentary late Tuesday did not directly mention the summits but noted the "dramatic atmosphere for reconciliation" with the South and "a sign of change" with the US. It said Pyongyang's overtures came from a position of strength, not from weakness, even as it confronts intense international pressure as well as biting economic sanctions over its nuclear weapons programme. "The dialogue peace offensive of the DPRK is an expression of self-confidence as it has acquired everything it desires," it said, using the North's official name. It also slammed hawks in Washington, Seoul and Tokyo for questioning the sincerity and motivation behind the North's willingness to step back from the brink. "Such rubbish as 'result of sanctions and pressure'... spread by hostile forces is just as meaningless as a dog barking at the moon," it said, urging "prudence" for all parties involved. "It is really an expression of small-mindedness for the riff-raffs to spoil the atmosphere and say this or that even before the parties concerned are given a chance to study the inner thoughts of the other side and are seated at a negotiating table," it said in typically colourful language. Since floating the idea for a summit with the US, "the North has been carefully watching how the situation is developing, including the US-South Korea joint military drills, before making it public to the people", Professor Kim Yong-hyun at Dongguk University told. The South and the US announced Tuesday a plan to resume annual joint military exercises on April 1, with its main drill shortened by a month - in an apparent conciliatory gesture over an event that infuriates the North. Professor Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies said the North also needs time to prepare its people for a drastic policy turnaround toward the United States. "The North won't confirm the two summits until dates and venues are fixed and it needs to educate its people through party cells slowly for a policy U-turn", Yang said. The North's state media has not reported any public activities by Kim since March 6, when it said he held talks with South Korean envoys. Kim learned of South Korean President Moon Jae-in's intention for an inter-Korean summit from the envoys, exchanged views and made a "satisfactory agreement," the North's KCNA said at that time. Trump's announcement earlier this month that he was willing to meet with the North's young leader - after an invitation conveyed by envoys from the South - has triggered a flurry of diplomatic activity. The North's foreign minister Ri Yong Ho met his counterpart from Sweden, which represents Washington's interests in North Korea, in Stockholm over the weekend, with reports saying they discussed the release of three Americans detained in the North. Choe Kang Il, a senior Pyongyang diplomat handling ties with the US, is currently in Finland for discussions with the retired former US ambassador to Seoul, Kathleen Stephens. Moon on Wednesday said a three-way summit including the two Koreas and the US could be possible, depending on the outcomes of the inter-Korean and US-North Korean summits. "We must completely resolve the issues of denuclearising the Korean Peninsula and establishing peace", he said.

North Korea denies sanctions prompted diplomatic thaw

North Korea on Thursday said it will be ready by mid-August to fire four missiles near the US territory of Guam after Trump&#39;s warning to Pyongyang that any additional threats will be met with &quot;fire and fury&quot;.

Hwasong-12 rockets would pass over Japan and land in the sea about 30km (17 miles) from Guam, if the plan was approved by Kim Jong-un, the official KCNA news agency said.

&quot;They will fly 3,356.7km for 1,065 seconds and hit the waters 30-40km away from Guam,&quot; KCNA quoted army chief General Kim Rak Gyom as saying.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/japan-could-legally-intercept-a-guam-bound-north-korea-missile-report-18792" target="_blank">Also read:&nbsp;Japan could legally intercept a Guam-bound North Korea missile, says report</a>

Guam is home to about 163,000 people and a US military base that includes a submarine squadron, an air base and a Coast Guard group.

It also said&nbsp;Donald Trump&#39;s &quot;fire and fury&quot; comments earlier this week are a &quot;load of nonsense&quot;, saying only &quot;absolute force can work on him&quot;.

&quot;Sound dialogue is not possible with such a guy bereft of reason and only absolute force can work on him,&quot; Kim Rak Gyom said.

North Korea earlier this week said&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/preview/article/18729">it is considering missile strikes on the US Pacific territory of Guam</a>, just hours after Trump&rsquo;s &quot;fire and fury&quot; comment.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MTkAv5KrwzE" width="560"></iframe>

&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Hwasong-12 rockets would pass over Japan and land in the sea about 30km (17 miles) from Guam if the plan was approved by Kim Jong-un, the official KCNA news agency said

North Korea on Thursday said it will be ready by mid-August to fire four missiles near the US territory of Guam after Trump's warning to Pyongyang that any additional threats will be met with "fire and fury". Hwasong-12 rockets would pass over Japan and land in the sea about 30km (17 miles) from Guam, if the plan was approved by Kim Jong-un, the official KCNA news agency said. "They will fly 3,356.7km for 1,065 seconds and hit the waters 30-40km away from Guam," KCNA quoted army chief General Kim Rak Gyom as saying. Also read: Japan could legally intercept a Guam-bound North Korea missile, says report Guam is home to about 163,000 people and a US military base that includes a submarine squadron, an air base and a Coast Guard group. It also said Donald Trump's "fire and fury" comments earlier this week are a "load of nonsense", saying only "absolute force can work on him". "Sound dialogue is not possible with such a guy bereft of reason and only absolute force can work on him," Kim Rak Gyom said. North Korea earlier this week said it is considering missile strikes on the US Pacific territory of Guam, just hours after Trump’s "fire and fury" comment.

North Korea says it will develop Guam strike plan by 'mid-August'

North Korea said today it would close one of the last remaining channels of communication with the US in protest at sanctions on leader Kim Jong-Un for human rights abuses. 
 
The North&#39;s foreign ministry notified the US government that it would effectively halt all communications with Washington through the North&#39;s office at the United Nations in New York, state-run KCNA said. 
 
&quot;We...have notified the US that we would completely end all official communications through New York,&quot; it said. 
 
The North&#39;s UN office has long served as a rare avenue of formal and informal communications with the US including past talks on nuclear disarmament in the North. 
 
In the message sent through its UN office Sunday, Pyongyang said all bilateral issues would be handled based on its wartime laws from now on, including two Americans currently detained in the North. 
 
Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old college student, was sentenced to 15 years&#39; hard labour in March for stealing a propaganda banner from a hotel. Korean-American missionary Kim Dong-Chul is also serving a jail term on charges of subversion and espionage. 
 
&quot;We have notified the US that the US would be entirely held responsible for all unfortunate developments that may occur in the future,&quot; the KCNA said without elaborating. 
 
The warnings came days after the North slammed the new US sanctions targeting Kim as a &quot;declaration of a war&quot; and vowed to take strong retaliatory measures. 
 
The latest sanctions, which described Kim directly responsible for a long list of serious human rights abuses, are the first that name the leader of the isolated, nuclear-armed state. 
 
Pyongyang, in its first reaction published last Thursday, urged Washington to retract the sanctions, warning that it would otherwise cut off &quot;every lever and channel for diplomatic contact&quot; between the two countries. 
 
(AFP)

All bilateral issues would be handled based on its wartime laws from now on, including two Americans currently detained in the North

North Korea said today it would close one of the last remaining channels of communication with the US in protest at sanctions on leader Kim Jong-Un for human rights abuses. The North's foreign ministry notified the US government that it would effectively halt all communications with Washington through the North's office at the United Nations in New York, state-run KCNA said. "We...have notified the US that we would completely end all official communications through New York," it said. The North's UN office has long served as a rare avenue of formal and informal communications with the US including past talks on nuclear disarmament in the North. In the message sent through its UN office Sunday, Pyongyang said all bilateral issues would be handled based on its wartime laws from now on, including two Americans currently detained in the North. Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old college student, was sentenced to 15 years' hard labour in March for stealing a propaganda banner from a hotel. Korean-American missionary Kim Dong-Chul is also serving a jail term on charges of subversion and espionage. "We have notified the US that the US would be entirely held responsible for all unfortunate developments that may occur in the future," the KCNA said without elaborating. The warnings came days after the North slammed the new US sanctions targeting Kim as a "declaration of a war" and vowed to take strong retaliatory measures. The latest sanctions, which described Kim directly responsible for a long list of serious human rights abuses, are the first that name the leader of the isolated, nuclear-armed state. Pyongyang, in its first reaction published last Thursday, urged Washington to retract the sanctions, warning that it would otherwise cut off "every lever and channel for diplomatic contact" between the two countries. (AFP)

North Korea to shut communication with US to protest sanctions on Kim Jong-Un

kcna

Kcna, News on Kcna, stories on Kcna, articles on Kcna, Kcna stories at Wion, Kcna news, Kcna latest news