<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-holds-mass-rally-to-celebrate-kim-jong-uns-re-election-210230">North Korean leader Kim Jong Un</a> has supervised the test-firing of a new type of "tactical guided weapon," the country's state media reported on Thursday.

It said the "advantages" of the weapon were "the peculiar mode of guiding flight and the load of a powerful warhead".

The KCNA report did not provide further details about the weapon, but said Kim described its development as one "of very weighty significance in increasing the combat power of the People's Army".

KCNA added that Wednesday's test was "conducted in various modes of firing at different targets" and that Kim "guided the test-fire".

Thursday's announcement came the day after a US monitor, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said activity had been detected at North Korea's main nuclear site.&nbsp;

It suggested Pyongyang may be reprocessing radioactive material into bomb fuel since the collapse of a February summit with Washington.

That meeting, the second between <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/kim-jong-un-open-to-third-summit-with-trump-210018">US President Donald Trump and Kim</a>, ended abruptly without agreement on Pyongyang's nuclear programme.

Since then, North Korea has said it is mulling options for its diplomacy with the US, and Kim said last week he was open to talks with Trump only if Washington came with the "proper attitude".

"Kim is trying to make a statement to the Trump administration that his military potential is growing by the day," said Center for the National Interest analyst Harry Kazianis.

"His regime is becoming frustrated with Washington's lack of flexibility in recent negotiations."

Last November, KCNA reported that Kim oversaw the testing of a "newly developed ultramodern tactical weapon" months after his first meeting with Trump.

It was the first official report of a weapons test by North Korea since it began negotiations with Washington over its nuclear and missile programme.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has supervised the test-firing of a new type of "tactical guided weapon," the country's state media reported on Thursday. It said the "advantages" of the weapon were "the peculiar mode of guiding flight and the load of a powerful warhead".

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has supervised the test-firing of a new type of "tactical guided weapon," the country's state media reported on Thursday. It said the "advantages" of the weapon were "the peculiar mode of guiding flight and the load of a powerful warhead". The KCNA report did not provide further details about the weapon, but said Kim described its development as one "of very weighty significance in increasing the combat power of the People's Army". KCNA added that Wednesday's test was "conducted in various modes of firing at different targets" and that Kim "guided the test-fire". Thursday's announcement came the day after a US monitor, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said activity had been detected at North Korea's main nuclear site. It suggested Pyongyang may be reprocessing radioactive material into bomb fuel since the collapse of a February summit with Washington. That meeting, the second between US President Donald Trump and Kim, ended abruptly without agreement on Pyongyang's nuclear programme. Since then, North Korea has said it is mulling options for its diplomacy with the US, and Kim said last week he was open to talks with Trump only if Washington came with the "proper attitude". "Kim is trying to make a statement to the Trump administration that his military potential is growing by the day," said Center for the National Interest analyst Harry Kazianis. "His regime is becoming frustrated with Washington's lack of flexibility in recent negotiations." Last November, KCNA reported that Kim oversaw the testing of a "newly developed ultramodern tactical weapon" months after his first meeting with Trump. It was the first official report of a weapons test by North Korea since it began negotiations with Washington over its nuclear and missile programme.

North Korea's Kim oversees new 'guided weapon' test: State media

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-koreas-kim-oversees-new-guided-weapon-test-state-media-211283">North Korean leader Kim Jong Un</a> will visit Russia in late April for his first meeting with President Vladimir Putin, Moscow said Thursday.

"Following an invitation from Vladimir Putin... Kim Jong Un will visit Russia in the second half of April," the Kremlin said in a statement on its website.

The announcement comes after North Korea announced it had tested a new tactical weapon with a "powerful warhead", as denuclearisation talks with Washington appear to stall.&nbsp;

The Kremlin did not provide details on the exact date or location of the meeting, but Russian, South Korean and Japanese media earlier reported it would be in Russia's Far East.

Putin has long expressed his readiness to meet with Kim.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier Thursday that Fiona Hill, an advisor to US President Donald Trump, had been in Moscow for talks with her Russian counterpart Yuri Ushakov.

US special envoy for North Korea Stephen Biegun was also in Moscow, the State Department said.

A Pyongyang official was meanwhile seen inspecting a train station in the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok, near Russia's border with North Korea, Russian state media reported.

Russia has relatively warm ties with the reclusive regime and provides some food aid.

The last summit between a Russian and North Korean head of state came in 2011, when Kim's father Kim Jong Il travelled to Siberia to meet Dmitry Medvedev, then Russia's president.

Kim Jong Il, who died shortly after the visit, told Medvedev his state was prepared to renounce nuclear testing.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit Russia in late April for his first meeting with President Vladimir Putin, Moscow said Thursday. "Following an invitation from Vladimir Putin.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit Russia in late April for his first meeting with President Vladimir Putin, Moscow said Thursday. "Following an invitation from Vladimir Putin... Kim Jong Un will visit Russia in the second half of April," the Kremlin said in a statement on its website. The announcement comes after North Korea announced it had tested a new tactical weapon with a "powerful warhead", as denuclearisation talks with Washington appear to stall. The Kremlin did not provide details on the exact date or location of the meeting, but Russian, South Korean and Japanese media earlier reported it would be in Russia's Far East. Putin has long expressed his readiness to meet with Kim. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier Thursday that Fiona Hill, an advisor to US President Donald Trump, had been in Moscow for talks with her Russian counterpart Yuri Ushakov. US special envoy for North Korea Stephen Biegun was also in Moscow, the State Department said. A Pyongyang official was meanwhile seen inspecting a train station in the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok, near Russia's border with North Korea, Russian state media reported. Russia has relatively warm ties with the reclusive regime and provides some food aid. The last summit between a Russian and North Korean head of state came in 2011, when Kim's father Kim Jong Il travelled to Siberia to meet Dmitry Medvedev, then Russia's president. Kim Jong Il, who died shortly after the visit, told Medvedev his state was prepared to renounce nuclear testing.

North Korea's Kim to meet Putin in Russia in late April

North Korea on Thursday demanded the removal of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo from talks over its banned nuclear programme, hours after the isolated <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-koreas-kim-oversees-new-guided-weapon-test-state-media-211283">state claimed to have tested a new kind of weapon</a>.

Describing Pompeo as "reckless" and immature, the foreign ministry said it wanted him replaced by another interlocutor, a demand that significantly ups the ante in a sensitive diplomatic standoff.

Pyongyang and Washington have been at loggerheads since the collapse of a summit between Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump earlier this year.

"I am afraid that, if Pompeo engages in the talks again, the table will be lousy once again and the talks will become entangled," Kwon Jong Gun, director general of the ministry's Department of American Affairs said, according to the official KCNA news agency.

"Therefore, even in the case of possible resumption of the dialogue with the US, I wish our dialogue counterpart would be not Pompeo but... (another) person who is more careful and mature in communicating with us."

It is not the first time North Korea has singled out Pompeo for special criticism.

When the secretary of state met with North Korean officials in Pyongyang in July last year, he was condemned for his "gangster-like" insistence that the North move towards unilateral disarmament.

Kwon, whom KCNA said was responding to a question from one of its journalists, said leader Kim had made clear that the US attitude has to change.

He said Pompeo was standing in the way of a resumption of talks.

"We cannot be aware of Pompeo's ulterior motive behind his self-indulgence in reckless remarks; whether he is indeed unable to understand words properly or just pretending on purpose.

"The US cannot move us one iota by its current way of thinking. In his previous visits to Pyongyang, Pompeo was granted audiences with our Chairman of the State Affairs Commission for several times and pleaded for the denuclearization.&nbsp;

"However, after sitting the other way round, he spouted reckless remarks hurting the dignity of our supreme leadership at Congress hearings last week to unveil his mean character by himself, thus stunning the reasonable people."

In testimony to a Senate subcommittee last week, Pompeo, who flew to Pyongyang four times last year, was asked if he would agree with the characterisation of Kim as a "tyrant".

"Sure. I'm sure I've said that," Pompeo replied.

North Korea takes an exceedingly dim view of anything it sees as a personal attack on Kim, who enjoys a personality cult among a people who are fed a steady diet of propaganda about the founding family.

Since the beginning of the thaw in relations between the US and North Korea, Pyongyang has been far happier to deal directly with Trump, who critics fear is too soft on the regime and is not sufficiently versed in diplomacy.

The US president has made much of his personal relationship with Kim, musing on several occasions about their "love" for each other.

'Powerful warhead'

Thursday's extraordinary attack on Pompeo came hours after KCNA announced Kim had supervised the test-firing of a new tactical weapon with a "powerful warhead".

It also comes after satellite imagery suggested heightened activity at a nuclear test site.

Wednesday's test was "conducted in various modes of firing at different targets" KCNA reported, adding that Kim described its development as one "of very weighty significance in increasing the combat power of the People's Army".

The report gave no details of the weapon.

South Korea had not detected anything on radar so it was unlikely to have been a missile, a military official told AFP.

"The description makes whatever was tested sound like a missile, but that could be everything from a small anti-tank guided missile to a surface-to-air missile to a rocket artillery system," said North Korea analyst Ankit Panda.

Earlier in the week, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a US monitor, said activity had been detected at Yongbyon, the North's main nuclear testing facility.&nbsp;

The think tank said evidence suggested Pyongyang may be reprocessing radioactive material into bomb fuel.

Kim's Hanoi summit with Trump, the second between the two men, ended abruptly, with North Korea later protesting that the US was being unreasonable.

Since then, North Korea has said it is mulling options for its diplomacy with the US, and Kim said last week he was open to talks with Trump only if Washington came with the "proper attitude".

"Kim is trying to make a statement to the Trump administration that his military potential is growing by the day," said Harry Kazianis, an analyst at the Center for the National Interest.

"His regime is becoming frustrated with Washington's lack of flexibility in recent negotiations."

North Korea on Thursday demanded the removal of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo from talks over its banned nuclear programme, hours after the isolated state claimed to have tested a new kind of weapon.

North Korea on Thursday demanded the removal of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo from talks over its banned nuclear programme, hours after the isolated state claimed to have tested a new kind of weapon. Describing Pompeo as "reckless" and immature, the foreign ministry said it wanted him replaced by another interlocutor, a demand that significantly ups the ante in a sensitive diplomatic standoff. Pyongyang and Washington have been at loggerheads since the collapse of a summit between Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump earlier this year. "I am afraid that, if Pompeo engages in the talks again, the table will be lousy once again and the talks will become entangled," Kwon Jong Gun, director general of the ministry's Department of American Affairs said, according to the official KCNA news agency. "Therefore, even in the case of possible resumption of the dialogue with the US, I wish our dialogue counterpart would be not Pompeo but... (another) person who is more careful and mature in communicating with us." It is not the first time North Korea has singled out Pompeo for special criticism. When the secretary of state met with North Korean officials in Pyongyang in July last year, he was condemned for his "gangster-like" insistence that the North move towards unilateral disarmament. Kwon, whom KCNA said was responding to a question from one of its journalists, said leader Kim had made clear that the US attitude has to change. He said Pompeo was standing in the way of a resumption of talks. "We cannot be aware of Pompeo's ulterior motive behind his self-indulgence in reckless remarks; whether he is indeed unable to understand words properly or just pretending on purpose. "The US cannot move us one iota by its current way of thinking. In his previous visits to Pyongyang, Pompeo was granted audiences with our Chairman of the State Affairs Commission for several times and pleaded for the denuclearization. "However, after sitting the other way round, he spouted reckless remarks hurting the dignity of our supreme leadership at Congress hearings last week to unveil his mean character by himself, thus stunning the reasonable people." In testimony to a Senate subcommittee last week, Pompeo, who flew to Pyongyang four times last year, was asked if he would agree with the characterisation of Kim as a "tyrant". "Sure. I'm sure I've said that," Pompeo replied. North Korea takes an exceedingly dim view of anything it sees as a personal attack on Kim, who enjoys a personality cult among a people who are fed a steady diet of propaganda about the founding family. Since the beginning of the thaw in relations between the US and North Korea, Pyongyang has been far happier to deal directly with Trump, who critics fear is too soft on the regime and is not sufficiently versed in diplomacy. The US president has made much of his personal relationship with Kim, musing on several occasions about their "love" for each other. 'Powerful warhead' Thursday's extraordinary attack on Pompeo came hours after KCNA announced Kim had supervised the test-firing of a new tactical weapon with a "powerful warhead". It also comes after satellite imagery suggested heightened activity at a nuclear test site. Wednesday's test was "conducted in various modes of firing at different targets" KCNA reported, adding that Kim described its development as one "of very weighty significance in increasing the combat power of the People's Army". The report gave no details of the weapon. South Korea had not detected anything on radar so it was unlikely to have been a missile, a military official told AFP. "The description makes whatever was tested sound like a missile, but that could be everything from a small anti-tank guided missile to a surface-to-air missile to a rocket artillery system," said North Korea analyst Ankit Panda. Earlier in the week, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a US monitor, said activity had been detected at Yongbyon, the North's main nuclear testing facility. The think tank said evidence suggested Pyongyang may be reprocessing radioactive material into bomb fuel. Kim's Hanoi summit with Trump, the second between the two men, ended abruptly, with North Korea later protesting that the US was being unreasonable. Since then, North Korea has said it is mulling options for its diplomacy with the US, and Kim said last week he was open to talks with Trump only if Washington came with the "proper attitude". "Kim is trying to make a statement to the Trump administration that his military potential is growing by the day," said Harry Kazianis, an analyst at the Center for the National Interest. "His regime is becoming frustrated with Washington's lack of flexibility in recent negotiations."

North Korea demands Pompeo's removal from US nuclear talks

US President Donald Trump tweeted on the possible happening of the third summit with North Korea. Watch complete video to know more.

Donald Trump is not giving on North Korea, 3rd summit to be held soon

North Korea President Kim Jong Un says talks are only possible if US shows right attitude. Watch video to know more

Kim Jong Un: Open to third summit with Trump

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-authorities-show-off-nuclear-advances-despite-us-sanctions-210084">Iran shows off nuclear advances despite US sanctions; insists its nuclear program is peaceful</a>

Iranian authorities showcased what they said were 114 advances in their domestic nuclear technology industry achieved over the course of a year despite the United States decision to unilaterally withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/belt-and-road-forum-to-enable-china-to-establish-its-direction-policy-framework-imf-chief-210055">IMF chief lauds Belt and Road Initiative, says it focuses on financing global infrastructure</a>

The Belt and Road Forum will be a good opportunity for China to identify its direction and the policy framework within which they want to develop this very large initiative, IMF chief Christine Lagarde said in Washington, DC ahead of the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kim-jon-un-gains-more-power-in-north-korea-leadership-shuffle-210060">Kim Jon Un gains more power in North Korea leadership shuffle</a>

North Korea has replaced its long-serving head of state with a close aide to leader Kim Jong Un, promoting a man who was placed on a US sanctions list last year for alleged human rights abuses, state media said Friday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/live-ipl-2019-mumbai-vs-rajasthan-210054">Live | IPL 2019: Mumbai vs Rajasthan</a>

Boundaries are raining for Rajasthan and the credit of it goes to Jos Buttler. Mumbai are stunned and don't know how to stop him.&nbsp;

Jos Buttler once again rose to the occasion and smashed a brilliant half century to keep Rajasthan in the chase.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/dont-like-surprises-artificial-intelligence-predicts-who-survives-game-of-thrones-210104">Don't like surprises? Artificial intelligence predicts who survives 'Game of Thrones'</a>

If you are a "Game of Thrones" fan and appreciate the element of surprise, stop reading now.

Students at the Technical University of Munich have developed an application to predict which character has the best chance to claim the coveted Iron Throne in the HBO hit medieval fantasy series about warring families.&nbsp;

Iran shows off nuclear advances despite US sanctions; insists its nuclear program is peaceful Iranian authorities showcased what they said were 114 advances in their domestic nuclear technology industry achieved over the course of a year despite the United States decision to unilaterally withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal.

Iran shows off nuclear advances despite US sanctions; insists its nuclear program is peaceful Iranian authorities showcased what they said were 114 advances in their domestic nuclear technology industry achieved over the course of a year despite the United States decision to unilaterally withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal. IMF chief lauds Belt and Road Initiative, says it focuses on financing global infrastructure The Belt and Road Forum will be a good opportunity for China to identify its direction and the policy framework within which they want to develop this very large initiative, IMF chief Christine Lagarde said in Washington, DC ahead of the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings. Kim Jon Un gains more power in North Korea leadership shuffle North Korea has replaced its long-serving head of state with a close aide to leader Kim Jong Un, promoting a man who was placed on a US sanctions list last year for alleged human rights abuses, state media said Friday. Live | IPL 2019: Mumbai vs Rajasthan Boundaries are raining for Rajasthan and the credit of it goes to Jos Buttler. Mumbai are stunned and don't know how to stop him. Jos Buttler once again rose to the occasion and smashed a brilliant half century to keep Rajasthan in the chase. Don't like surprises? Artificial intelligence predicts who survives 'Game of Thrones' If you are a "Game of Thrones" fan and appreciate the element of surprise, stop reading now. Students at the Technical University of Munich have developed an application to predict which character has the best chance to claim the coveted Iron Throne in the HBO hit medieval fantasy series about warring families.

News brief: Big stories of the day

North Korea has replaced its long-serving head of state with a close aide to leader<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/opinions/donald-trump-kim-jong-un-summits-other-aim-was-to-sell-vietnam-model-to-north-korea-208086&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiw5fyx_8zhAhXKso8KHSgJCOsQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw1CTDk-iRhe3vC0rxnhU8-K"> Kim Jong Un</a>, promoting a man who was placed on a US sanctions list last year for alleged human rights abuses, state media said Friday.

The move came as part of a top-ranking<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/kim-jon-un-gains-more-power-in-north-korea-leadership-shuffle-210060&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiax_LT_8zhAhWUheYKHUsLAmEQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw2xg5_Y6jVCcQW1zCOTrlPw"> reshuffle </a>that analysts said further cemented Kim's already unshakeable grip on power.

Kim also acquired a new title, and now becomes "the supreme representative of all the Korean people" -- a newly-created role that observers say makes him more like a modern national leader, on a par with other country's presidents and prime ministers.

Kim Yong Nam, the now-91-year-old who held the position of the North's head of state -- an almost entirely ceremonial role -- for almost 20 years, was replaced by Choe Ryong Hae, the state-run KCNA said.

As the new president of the Supreme People's Assembly, Choe is technically head of state, although real power in North Korea is wielded by Kim and his immediate family.

The reshuffle comes at a time of the heightened diplomatic activity that has seen Kim Jong Un hold landmark summits with the leaders of the US, China and South Korea.

Born in 1950, Choe is considered Kim Jong Un's right-hand man -- frequently referred to as the regime's "virtual number two official", has been key to the party's hierarchy since the 1980s.

Some reports have even suggested that one of Choe's sons is married to Kim Jong Un's powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong.

Choe is also one of the three North Korean officials placed under sanctions by the US last year over human rights abuse allegations.

Analysts said, however, the existing structures on Choe will have little impact on his future diplomatic endeavours, as long as its nuclear dialogue with the US continues.

"Kim Yong Chol, the North's top nuclear negotiator, also has been sanctioned by Washington since 2010," Ahn Chan-il, the president of the World Institute for North Korea Studies in Seoul, told AFP.

"But he visited Washington without a problem earlier this year. Washington will always make exceptions -- as long as Pyongyang has something to offer."

New title&nbsp;

Kim's new job adds to a growing list of titles he has accrued since he took power after the 2011 death of his father.

Analysts say it may also indicate a change in the country's constitution that concentrates more authority in the young leader.

"If Pyongyang indeed revised its constitution, then it just means Kim Jong Un now has more power than ever,"" said analyst Ahn.

"If that's the case, Kim will be the one who will be officially representing Pyongyang both at home and abroad".

Unlike his father, Kim Jong-Il, the young Kim has increasingly greeted foreign heads of state and visiting dignitaries, performing the functions of a modern head of state.

Jeong Young-Tae, an analyst at the Institute of North Korean Studies in Seoul, says the new title is part of Pyongyang's efforts to "secularise" Kim and his power.&nbsp;

"Kim Jong Un wants to re-brand North Korea as a 'normal' socialist country in the world stage," he told AFP.&nbsp;

"The new title 'representative' is a break from some of his previous titles that are redolent of a religious cult."

North Korea has replaced its long-serving head of state with a close aide to leader Kim Jong Un, promoting a man who was placed on a US sanctions list last year for alleged human rights abuses, state media said Friday.

North Korea has replaced its long-serving head of state with a close aide to leader Kim Jong Un, promoting a man who was placed on a US sanctions list last year for alleged human rights abuses, state media said Friday. The move came as part of a top-ranking reshuffle that analysts said further cemented Kim's already unshakeable grip on power. Kim also acquired a new title, and now becomes "the supreme representative of all the Korean people" -- a newly-created role that observers say makes him more like a modern national leader, on a par with other country's presidents and prime ministers. Kim Yong Nam, the now-91-year-old who held the position of the North's head of state -- an almost entirely ceremonial role -- for almost 20 years, was replaced by Choe Ryong Hae, the state-run KCNA said. As the new president of the Supreme People's Assembly, Choe is technically head of state, although real power in North Korea is wielded by Kim and his immediate family. The reshuffle comes at a time of the heightened diplomatic activity that has seen Kim Jong Un hold landmark summits with the leaders of the US, China and South Korea. Born in 1950, Choe is considered Kim Jong Un's right-hand man -- frequently referred to as the regime's "virtual number two official", has been key to the party's hierarchy since the 1980s. Some reports have even suggested that one of Choe's sons is married to Kim Jong Un's powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong. Choe is also one of the three North Korean officials placed under sanctions by the US last year over human rights abuse allegations. Analysts said, however, the existing structures on Choe will have little impact on his future diplomatic endeavours, as long as its nuclear dialogue with the US continues. "Kim Yong Chol, the North's top nuclear negotiator, also has been sanctioned by Washington since 2010," Ahn Chan-il, the president of the World Institute for North Korea Studies in Seoul, told AFP. "But he visited Washington without a problem earlier this year. Washington will always make exceptions -- as long as Pyongyang has something to offer." New title Kim's new job adds to a growing list of titles he has accrued since he took power after the 2011 death of his father. Analysts say it may also indicate a change in the country's constitution that concentrates more authority in the young leader. "If Pyongyang indeed revised its constitution, then it just means Kim Jong Un now has more power than ever,"" said analyst Ahn. "If that's the case, Kim will be the one who will be officially representing Pyongyang both at home and abroad". Unlike his father, Kim Jong-Il, the young Kim has increasingly greeted foreign heads of state and visiting dignitaries, performing the functions of a modern head of state. Jeong Young-Tae, an analyst at the Institute of North Korean Studies in Seoul, says the new title is part of Pyongyang's efforts to "secularise" Kim and his power. "Kim Jong Un wants to re-brand North Korea as a 'normal' socialist country in the world stage," he told AFP. "The new title 'representative' is a break from some of his previous titles that are redolent of a religious cult."

Kim gains more power in North Korea leadership shuffle

A Vietnamese woman accused of killing the half-brother of North Korean leader <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/opinions/donald-trump-kim-jong-un-summits-other-aim-was-to-sell-vietnam-model-to-north-korea-208086&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwil2c2RxMzhAhUC2o8KHexwBlcQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw1wiqe58eN9qS_vRGZh_dqd">Kim Jong-un </a>will walk free on May 3, her lawyer said Saturday.

Following diplomatic pressure from the Vietnamese government, Malaysian prosecutors had dropped the murder charge against Doan Thi Huong on April 1.

Subsequently, the 30-year-old former hair salon worker pleaded guilty to "causing injury" and was handed a three year and four-month jail term effective from the date of her arrest in February 2017 and later reduced for good behaviour.

The brazen killing of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/world/murder-at-the-airport-the-brazen-attack-on-kim-jong-nam-207113&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjT3ojnxMzhAhWD7XMBHcytAVYQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw3QXXs80GmIxdk2C8nNvhJg">Kim Jong-nam</a>&nbsp;with a toxic nerve agent at Kuala Lumpur's international airport in broad daylight shocked the world.

Seoul accused Pyongyang of plotting the Cold War-style hit as Malaysia allowed the two women's suspected North Korean handlers to leave in the days after the murder.

"We have been told by prison authorities that Huong will be freed on May 3," lawyer Salim Bashir told AFP.

"Huong is in a jovial mood. The young woman is expected to be immediately flown to Hanoi."

Last month the charge against co-accused 27-year-old Indonesian suspect Siti Aisyah was dropped.

During the women's long-running trial which began in October 2017, the court was shown CCTV footage of them approaching Kim as he waited for the flight, one of them placing their hands on his face, and then both of them running to bathrooms before fleeing the airport.

But the pair always maintained they were innocent pawns in a plan hatched by North Korea and believed they were carrying out pranks for a reality TV show.

The women would have been sentenced to death by hanging if convicted of murder.

The women's lawyers said the real masterminds were four North Koreans who were seen at the airport on the day of the murder meeting the pair, and who fled after the assassination. The four were charged in absentia along with the women over the killing.

"Obviously Huong deserves this freedom after her long incarceration. She is looking forward to being with her family and friends," her lawyer Salim said.

A Vietnamese woman accused of killing the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will walk free on May 3, her lawyer said Saturday. Following diplomatic pressure from the Vietnamese government, Malaysian prosecutors had dropped the murder charge against Doan Thi Huong on April 1.

A Vietnamese woman accused of killing the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will walk free on May 3, her lawyer said Saturday. Following diplomatic pressure from the Vietnamese government, Malaysian prosecutors had dropped the murder charge against Doan Thi Huong on April 1. Subsequently, the 30-year-old former hair salon worker pleaded guilty to "causing injury" and was handed a three year and four-month jail term effective from the date of her arrest in February 2017 and later reduced for good behaviour. The brazen killing of Kim Jong-nam with a toxic nerve agent at Kuala Lumpur's international airport in broad daylight shocked the world. Seoul accused Pyongyang of plotting the Cold War-style hit as Malaysia allowed the two women's suspected North Korean handlers to leave in the days after the murder. "We have been told by prison authorities that Huong will be freed on May 3," lawyer Salim Bashir told AFP. "Huong is in a jovial mood. The young woman is expected to be immediately flown to Hanoi." Last month the charge against co-accused 27-year-old Indonesian suspect Siti Aisyah was dropped. During the women's long-running trial which began in October 2017, the court was shown CCTV footage of them approaching Kim as he waited for the flight, one of them placing their hands on his face, and then both of them running to bathrooms before fleeing the airport. But the pair always maintained they were innocent pawns in a plan hatched by North Korea and believed they were carrying out pranks for a reality TV show. The women would have been sentenced to death by hanging if convicted of murder. The women's lawyers said the real masterminds were four North Koreans who were seen at the airport on the day of the murder meeting the pair, and who fled after the assassination. The four were charged in absentia along with the women over the killing. "Obviously Huong deserves this freedom after her long incarceration. She is looking forward to being with her family and friends," her lawyer Salim said.

Vietnam woman in Kim's brother murder to be freed on May 3

Dressed in a black suit, an unmistakable blonde wig and an extra-long red tie, "Trump" leads a Cantonese opera troupe during a rehearsal in Hong Kong. Dubbed 'Trump on Show', the absurd drama shows a mish-mash of current and imagined events including the US president's meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

'Trump' debuts in Cantonese opera

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-a-piece-of-paper-trump-called-on-kim-to-hand-over-nuclear-weapons-206692">US President Donald Trump </a>said Thursday he would discuss the possibility of further meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Welcoming&nbsp;South Korea's president Moon Jae to the White House, Trump said they would be "discussing... potential further meetings," as they seek a path forward following a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/donald-trump-kim-jong-un-summits-other-aim-was-to-sell-vietnam-model-to-north-korea-208086">failed nuclear summit between the US and North Korean leader</a>.

We will be discussing that and potential meetings, further meetings with North Korea and Kim Jong Un," Trump said.

"I enjoy the summits, I enjoy being with the chairman," he said.

Kim is "a person I've gotten to know very well and respect and hopefully and I really believe over a period of time a lot of tremendous things will happen. I think North Korea has a tremendous potential," Trump said.

The announcement comes months after Trump and Kim held an unsuccessful summit in Vietnam on February 28.

The summit in Vietnam's capital was cut short after Trump and Kim failed to reach a deal on the extent of economic sanctions relief for North Korea in exchange for its steps to give up its nuclear programme.

The first summit between Trump and Kim, held in Singapore in June 2018, was almost called off after the North Koreans rejected Bolton's repeated demands for it to follow a denuclearisation model.

Moon was in Washington for talks that he hoped would help put denuclearisation.

Trump extended his wishes to Kim in remarks with Moon by his side, while Moon told Trump that there was a dramatic turnaround in the situation on the Korean Peninsula after Trump's first meeting with Kim.

Moon said he believed Trump's diplomacy has led to a reduction in military tension and he believes the issues can be resolved through dialogue.

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Donald Trump said Thursday he would discuss the possibility of further meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Welcoming South Korea's president Moon Jae to the White House, Trump said they would be "discussing.

US President Donald Trump said Thursday he would discuss the possibility of further meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Welcoming South Korea's president Moon Jae to the White House, Trump said they would be "discussing... potential further meetings," as they seek a path forward following a failed nuclear summit between the US and North Korean leader. We will be discussing that and potential meetings, further meetings with North Korea and Kim Jong Un," Trump said. "I enjoy the summits, I enjoy being with the chairman," he said. Kim is "a person I've gotten to know very well and respect and hopefully and I really believe over a period of time a lot of tremendous things will happen. I think North Korea has a tremendous potential," Trump said. The announcement comes months after Trump and Kim held an unsuccessful summit in Vietnam on February 28. The summit in Vietnam's capital was cut short after Trump and Kim failed to reach a deal on the extent of economic sanctions relief for North Korea in exchange for its steps to give up its nuclear programme. The first summit between Trump and Kim, held in Singapore in June 2018, was almost called off after the North Koreans rejected Bolton's repeated demands for it to follow a denuclearisation model. Moon was in Washington for talks that he hoped would help put denuclearisation. Trump extended his wishes to Kim in remarks with Moon by his side, while Moon told Trump that there was a dramatic turnaround in the situation on the Korean Peninsula after Trump's first meeting with Kim. Moon said he believed Trump's diplomacy has led to a reduction in military tension and he believes the issues can be resolved through dialogue. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump, Moon to discuss 'further meetings' with North Korea's Kim

Twice as many foreigners as last year gathered in Pyongyang Sunday for the city's annual marathon, tour firms said, as reduced tensions see visitor numbers rise in isolated North Korea.&nbsp;

The event — part of the celebrations for the anniversary of founder Kim Il Sung's birth in 1912 — is the highlight of the North's tourism calendar and offers the chance to run or jog through the streets of the tightly-controlled city.

Around 950 Westerners entered the event, according to market leader Koryo Tours, compared to some 450 last year when numbers slumped.

That brought participation almost back to the levels of 2017, before tensions soared as the North carried out a series of missile launches and leader Kim Jong Un traded threats and personal insults with US President Donald Trump.

The same year, Washington also banned its citizens from visiting the North following the death of Otto Warmbier, a US student jailed for trying to steal a propaganda poster who died in a mysterious coma days after his release.

Several other countries subsequently raised their travel warnings, a combination of events that dealt a significant blow to the North's tourism industry.

The US ban remains in place but more Western tourists signed up for the marathon this time, tour operators said, following a year of high-level diplomacy between Trump and Kim.

"As political tensions have subsided, tourism demand has increased," said Elliott Davies, director at Uri Tours, another operator, adding: "You could plot a graph in this direct relationship."

- 'Marathon chasers' - 
The vast majority of tourists to the North are Chinese and some 5,000 Westerners a year used to visit the North -- with about 20 percent of those from the US -- seeking unique adventures in one of the most closed countries in the world.

The annual race also attracts so-called "Marathon Chasers" who tick off runs around the world, said Matt Kulesza, a senior tour guide at Young Pioneer Tours.

Angel Arnaudov, a 34-year-old engineer from Macedonia, said Pyongyang came onto his "radar" after finishing more than 30 marathons in cities ranging from Tokyo, New York and Copenhagen.

"I want to experience the life in North Korea myself and see if it is like they say on TV or different," he said, adding he would be posting videos on his YouTube channel.

For third-time participant Jasmine Barrett, the Pyongyang Marathon was an opportunity to interact with ordinary North Koreans who line the streets to cheer on the runners, offering high-fives and posing for selfies.

"I keep coming back because I love to see the smiles on the children's faces," the Australian entrepreneur told AFP.

"I'd definitely recommend it to others because it's a great way to see the city and the people who live there," she added.

Tour operators advise visitors to take extra precautions about "what to do and what not to do" when travelling in the North.

Simon Cockerell, Koryo Tours' general manager, said: "This is vital when visiting North Korea and anyone wanting to travel shouldn't go without a briefing."

Twice as many foreigners as last year gathered in Pyongyang Sunday for the city's annual marathon, tour firms said, as reduced tensions see visitor numbers rise in isolated North Korea.

Twice as many foreigners as last year gathered in Pyongyang Sunday for the city's annual marathon, tour firms said, as reduced tensions see visitor numbers rise in isolated North Korea. The event — part of the celebrations for the anniversary of founder Kim Il Sung's birth in 1912 — is the highlight of the North's tourism calendar and offers the chance to run or jog through the streets of the tightly-controlled city. Around 950 Westerners entered the event, according to market leader Koryo Tours, compared to some 450 last year when numbers slumped. That brought participation almost back to the levels of 2017, before tensions soared as the North carried out a series of missile launches and leader Kim Jong Un traded threats and personal insults with US President Donald Trump. The same year, Washington also banned its citizens from visiting the North following the death of Otto Warmbier, a US student jailed for trying to steal a propaganda poster who died in a mysterious coma days after his release. Several other countries subsequently raised their travel warnings, a combination of events that dealt a significant blow to the North's tourism industry. The US ban remains in place but more Western tourists signed up for the marathon this time, tour operators said, following a year of high-level diplomacy between Trump and Kim. "As political tensions have subsided, tourism demand has increased," said Elliott Davies, director at Uri Tours, another operator, adding: "You could plot a graph in this direct relationship." - 'Marathon chasers' - The vast majority of tourists to the North are Chinese and some 5,000 Westerners a year used to visit the North -- with about 20 percent of those from the US -- seeking unique adventures in one of the most closed countries in the world. The annual race also attracts so-called "Marathon Chasers" who tick off runs around the world, said Matt Kulesza, a senior tour guide at Young Pioneer Tours. Angel Arnaudov, a 34-year-old engineer from Macedonia, said Pyongyang came onto his "radar" after finishing more than 30 marathons in cities ranging from Tokyo, New York and Copenhagen. "I want to experience the life in North Korea myself and see if it is like they say on TV or different," he said, adding he would be posting videos on his YouTube channel. For third-time participant Jasmine Barrett, the Pyongyang Marathon was an opportunity to interact with ordinary North Koreans who line the streets to cheer on the runners, offering high-fives and posing for selfies. "I keep coming back because I love to see the smiles on the children's faces," the Australian entrepreneur told AFP. "I'd definitely recommend it to others because it's a great way to see the city and the people who live there," she added. Tour operators advise visitors to take extra precautions about "what to do and what not to do" when travelling in the North. Simon Cockerell, Koryo Tours' general manager, said: "This is vital when visiting North Korea and anyone wanting to travel shouldn't go without a briefing."

North Korea holds marathon, tourist numbers are double from last year

South Korean President Moon Jae-in will hold a meeting with the leaders of 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries in November this year, with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-drops-new-north-korea-sanctions-because-he-likes-kim-white-house-204999">North Korean leader Kim Jong-un</a> also possibly in attendance during the summit.

Making the announcement, South Korea's Presidential office said that the special South Korea-ASEAN summit will be held at Busan, located around 450 km from Seoul, on November 25 and 26.&nbsp;

The meeting will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between South Korea and ASEAN, Yonhap News Agency reported.&nbsp;

"As the largest international conference to be held in our country since the launch of the incumbent administration, the summit is expected to review the development of South Korea-ASEAN relations over the past 30 years and suggest a new vision for development in the next 30 years," Yoon Do-han, the senior secretary to the President for Public Relations, told reporters here on Monday.

Later, an official from the Presidential office said that the meeting may also involve Kim. The official said that some ASEAN nations have mulled extending an invitation to the North Korean leader.

The ASEAN comprises 10 countries -- Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

"The country will begin consultations with ASEAN countries based on such proposal, and depending on the outcome of their consultations, the country may invite Chairman Kim Jong-un," the official told reporters on condition of anonymity.

Moon has underlined the importance of ASEAN countries in its efforts to dismantle North Korea's nuclear weapons, saying that all 10 ASEAN member countries maintain diplomatic ties with Pyongyang.

Moon and Kim have met thrice, with their latest meeting held in Pyongyang in September last year. The North Korean leader has expressed keenness to visit South Korea for the fourth meeting with the South Korean President.&nbsp;

South Korean President Moon Jae-in will hold a meeting with the leaders of 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries in November this year, with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un also possibly in attendance during the summit.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in will hold a meeting with the leaders of 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries in November this year, with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un also possibly in attendance during the summit. Making the announcement, South Korea's Presidential office said that the special South Korea-ASEAN summit will be held at Busan, located around 450 km from Seoul, on November 25 and 26. The meeting will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between South Korea and ASEAN, Yonhap News Agency reported. "As the largest international conference to be held in our country since the launch of the incumbent administration, the summit is expected to review the development of South Korea-ASEAN relations over the past 30 years and suggest a new vision for development in the next 30 years," Yoon Do-han, the senior secretary to the President for Public Relations, told reporters here on Monday. Later, an official from the Presidential office said that the meeting may also involve Kim. The official said that some ASEAN nations have mulled extending an invitation to the North Korean leader. The ASEAN comprises 10 countries -- Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. "The country will begin consultations with ASEAN countries based on such proposal, and depending on the outcome of their consultations, the country may invite Chairman Kim Jong-un," the official told reporters on condition of anonymity. Moon has underlined the importance of ASEAN countries in its efforts to dismantle North Korea's nuclear weapons, saying that all 10 ASEAN member countries maintain diplomatic ties with Pyongyang. Moon and Kim have met thrice, with their latest meeting held in Pyongyang in September last year. The North Korean leader has expressed keenness to visit South Korea for the fourth meeting with the South Korean President.

Kim Jong Un may be invited to South Korea-ASEAN summit in November

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A Vietnamese woman suspected of assassinating the North Korean leader's half-brother accepted a lesser charge Monday and looks set to be freed soon, after her Indonesian co-accused was released last month.

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch&nbsp;PSLV-C45&nbsp;from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at around 9:30 am today.

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Four terrorists belonging to the&nbsp;Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were killed by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. The terrorists were killed following an encounter in Lassipora area of Pulwama district.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkish-president-erdogans-ruling-akp-set-for-defeat-in-ankara-vote-207066">Turkish President Erdogan's ruling AKP suffers </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkish-president-erdogans-ruling-akp-set-for-defeat-in-ankara-vote-207066">setback</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkish-president-erdogans-ruling-akp-set-for-defeat-in-ankara-vote-207066"> in Ankara's local election</a>

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKP suffered a major blow in Sunday's local election with the ruling party set to lose the capital Ankara and risking defeat in the&nbsp;country's economic hub Istanbul.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/arabs-to-seek-un-security-council-action-on-golan-heights-207067">Arabs to seek UN Security Council action on Golan Heights&nbsp;</a>

Arab leaders said on Sunday they would seek a UN Security Council resolution against the US decision to recognize&nbsp;Israeli sovereignty&nbsp;over the Golan Heights and promised to support Palestinians in their bid for statehood.

Vietnam woman in Kim Jong-un's half-brother murder case accepts new charge, likely to walk free A Vietnamese woman suspected of assassinating the North Korean leader's half-brother accepted a lesser charge Monday and looks set to be freed soon, after her Indonesian co-accused was released last month.

Vietnam woman in Kim Jong-un's half-brother murder case accepts new charge, likely to walk free A Vietnamese woman suspected of assassinating the North Korean leader's half-brother accepted a lesser charge Monday and looks set to be freed soon, after her Indonesian co-accused was released last month. ISRO to launch defence satellite PSLV-C45 from Sriharikota today The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch PSLV-C45 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at around 9:30 am today. J&K: 4 LeT terrorists killed in encounter with security forces Four terrorists belonging to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were killed by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. The terrorists were killed following an encounter in Lassipora area of Pulwama district. Turkish President Erdogan's ruling AKP suffers setback in Ankara's local election Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKP suffered a major blow in Sunday's local election with the ruling party set to lose the capital Ankara and risking defeat in the country's economic hub Istanbul. Arabs to seek UN Security Council action on Golan Heights Arab leaders said on Sunday they would seek a UN Security Council resolution against the US decision to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights and promised to support Palestinians in their bid for statehood.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said&nbsp;although a lot has been done by his government, a lot more is left to be done to take the country forward.&nbsp;

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On the day that their&nbsp;talks in Hanoi&nbsp;collapsed last month, US&nbsp;President Donald Trump handed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a piece of paper that included a blunt call for the transfer of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and bomb fuel to the United States, according to the document seen by Reuters.

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Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah filed his nomination papers on Saturday for the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat.

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Heavy rains caused flash floods in western Afghanistan that killed at least 17 people, destroying homes and sweeping through makeshift shelters that housed displaced families, a government official said on Saturday.

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Thousands of Gazans began gathering to mark the first anniversary of mass&nbsp;protests along the Israeli border&nbsp;on Saturday, testing a fragile truce only 10 days ahead of an Israeli general election.

Lots to be done to take the country forward, I'm here to complete that work: PM Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said although a lot has been done by his government, a lot more is left to be done to take the country forward.

Lots to be done to take the country forward, I'm here to complete that work: PM Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said although a lot has been done by his government, a lot more is left to be done to take the country forward. With a piece of paper, Trump called on Kim to hand over nuclear weapons: Report On the day that their talks in Hanoi collapsed last month, US President Donald Trump handed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a piece of paper that included a blunt call for the transfer of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and bomb fuel to the United States, according to the document seen by Reuters. BJP president Amit Shah files nomination from Gandhinagar seat Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah filed his nomination papers on Saturday for the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat. Afghanistan floods kill 17, worsen already desperate situation Heavy rains caused flash floods in western Afghanistan that killed at least 17 people, destroying homes and sweeping through makeshift shelters that housed displaced families, a government official said on Saturday. Thousands gather at Gaza-Israel border on anniversary in test of truce Thousands of Gazans began gathering to mark the first anniversary of mass protests along the Israeli border on Saturday, testing a fragile truce only 10 days ahead of an Israeli general election.

The mystery over a commando-style assault on North Korea's embassy in Madrid, allegedly led by man who had an Uber account in the name of "Oswaldo Trump", deepened Wednesday after a shadowy group committed to overthrowing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un claimed responsibility.

A dissident organisation known as the Cheollima Civil Defense (CCD) said it had orchestrated the raid carried out on February 22 to end illicit activities rampant in North Korea's foreign missions.

It denied using any violence, saying in a statement on its website that its members were invited into the embassy "and contrary to reports, no one was gagged or beaten." But the statement contradicts a Spanish National Court report published a day earlier, which said a group of people had roughed up employees of the embassy and robbed computers before fleeing.

The alleged leader of the group, Adrian Hong Chang, a 35-year-old Mexican who had an Uber account in the name of Oswaldo Trump, contacted "the FBI in New York five days after the assault" with information related to the incident in the embassy, the court added.

The embassy raid came just days before a high-stakes nuclear summit in Hanoi between Kim and US President Donald Trump that ultimately failed to reach an accord.

The timing has fuelled speculation that the assailants were trying to get information on North Korea's former ambassador to Spain, Kim Hyok Chol, who became North Korea's top nuclear negotiator after he was expelled from Spain in 2017.

CCD said the raid had no links to the Hanoi summit -- which ended abruptly with no agreement -- and that no other governments were involved until after the event.

But it added it had "shared certain information of enormous potential value with the FBI in the United States, under mutually agreed terms of confidentiality."&nbsp;

Hong Chang, who lives in the United States, first visited the North Korean embassy in Madrid on February 7, presenting himself as Matthew Chao, a "managing partner" at a firm he called Baron Stone Capital, according to the court's report.

He said he was interested in investing in North Korea and asked to meet with embassy's charge d'affaires.

Hong Chang later visited a shop where he would buy the knives and fake guns which were later used during the raid on the embassy before leaving Spain on February 9.

He returned to Spain on February 19 via Prague. Three days later a group of ten men led by Hong Chang broke into the embassy and tied up its occupants and covered their heads with plastic bags.

Two members of the group took the charge d'affaires to the embassy's basement and tried to convince him to defect, which he refused.

One embassy employee managed to escape by jumping from a first-floor balcony, seriously injuring herself, and managed to call the police.

When officers arrived at the embassy, Hong Chang -- who wore a pin badge depicting North Korea's leader -- opened the door and claiming to be a high embassy representative convinced them that there was no problem.

The gang then fled, most of them in embassy vehicles. The following day Hong Chang flew from Lisbon to New York.

A police source told AFP that the court had issued international arrest warrants for members of the gang but could not say how many nor if they involved Hong Chang.

CCD -- which offers to assist people attempting to defect from North Korea -- emerged in 2017 when it posted an online video of the son of the North Korean leader's assassinated brother, saying it had guaranteed his safety.

Last month the group declared itself a government-in-exile for the North called "Free Joseon", using an old name for Korea. (

The mystery over a commando-style assault on North Korea's embassy in Madrid, allegedly led by man who had an Uber account in the name of "Oswaldo Trump", deepened Wednesday after a shadowy group committed to overthrowing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un claimed responsibility.

The mystery over a commando-style assault on North Korea's embassy in Madrid, allegedly led by man who had an Uber account in the name of "Oswaldo Trump", deepened Wednesday after a shadowy group committed to overthrowing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un claimed responsibility. A dissident organisation known as the Cheollima Civil Defense (CCD) said it had orchestrated the raid carried out on February 22 to end illicit activities rampant in North Korea's foreign missions. It denied using any violence, saying in a statement on its website that its members were invited into the embassy "and contrary to reports, no one was gagged or beaten." But the statement contradicts a Spanish National Court report published a day earlier, which said a group of people had roughed up employees of the embassy and robbed computers before fleeing. The alleged leader of the group, Adrian Hong Chang, a 35-year-old Mexican who had an Uber account in the name of Oswaldo Trump, contacted "the FBI in New York five days after the assault" with information related to the incident in the embassy, the court added. The embassy raid came just days before a high-stakes nuclear summit in Hanoi between Kim and US President Donald Trump that ultimately failed to reach an accord. The timing has fuelled speculation that the assailants were trying to get information on North Korea's former ambassador to Spain, Kim Hyok Chol, who became North Korea's top nuclear negotiator after he was expelled from Spain in 2017. CCD said the raid had no links to the Hanoi summit -- which ended abruptly with no agreement -- and that no other governments were involved until after the event. But it added it had "shared certain information of enormous potential value with the FBI in the United States, under mutually agreed terms of confidentiality." Hong Chang, who lives in the United States, first visited the North Korean embassy in Madrid on February 7, presenting himself as Matthew Chao, a "managing partner" at a firm he called Baron Stone Capital, according to the court's report. He said he was interested in investing in North Korea and asked to meet with embassy's charge d'affaires. Hong Chang later visited a shop where he would buy the knives and fake guns which were later used during the raid on the embassy before leaving Spain on February 9. He returned to Spain on February 19 via Prague. Three days later a group of ten men led by Hong Chang broke into the embassy and tied up its occupants and covered their heads with plastic bags. Two members of the group took the charge d'affaires to the embassy's basement and tried to convince him to defect, which he refused. One embassy employee managed to escape by jumping from a first-floor balcony, seriously injuring herself, and managed to call the police. When officers arrived at the embassy, Hong Chang -- who wore a pin badge depicting North Korea's leader -- opened the door and claiming to be a high embassy representative convinced them that there was no problem. The gang then fled, most of them in embassy vehicles. The following day Hong Chang flew from Lisbon to New York. A police source told AFP that the court had issued international arrest warrants for members of the gang but could not say how many nor if they involved Hong Chang. CCD -- which offers to assist people attempting to defect from North Korea -- emerged in 2017 when it posted an online video of the son of the North Korean leader's assassinated brother, saying it had guaranteed his safety. Last month the group declared itself a government-in-exile for the North called "Free Joseon", using an old name for Korea. (

Mystery deepens over raid at North Korea's embassy in Madrid

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The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on two Chinese shipping companies it says helped North Korea evade US and international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program, the first such steps since US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's summit collapsed last month.

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European leaders and Prime Minister Theresa May agreed Thursday on a short delay to Britain's divorce from the European Union in the hope of ensuring an orderly Brexit. "I think what this decision tonight does is show the clear choice that is available, open to MPs," May noted.&nbsp;

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New Zealand police revealed Friday that they met with the accused Christchurch mosque shooter at his home in October 2017 before granting him the licence that let him purchase the weapons used in the rampage.

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Almost 100 people, mostly women and children, died Thursday as a ferry packed with families celebrating Kurdish New Year sank in a swollen river in the former jihadist stronghold of Mosul, in Iraq's worst accident in years.

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Boeing's 737 MAX aircraft will be outfitted with a warning light for malfunctions in the anti-stall system suspected in October's fatal crash in Indonesia, an industry source told AFP Thursday, standardizing a feature previously sold as an optional extra.

US announces first new North Korea sanctions since failed summit The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on two Chinese shipping companies it says helped North Korea evade US and international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program, the first such steps since US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's summit collapsed last month.

US announces first new North Korea sanctions since failed summit The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on two Chinese shipping companies it says helped North Korea evade US and international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program, the first such steps since US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's summit collapsed last month. UK PM Theresa May welcomes Brexit delay, says Parliament now has clear choice European leaders and Prime Minister Theresa May agreed Thursday on a short delay to Britain's divorce from the European Union in the hope of ensuring an orderly Brexit. "I think what this decision tonight does is show the clear choice that is available, open to MPs," May noted. New Zealand police visited mosque shooter before granting gun licence New Zealand police revealed Friday that they met with the accused Christchurch mosque shooter at his home in October 2017 before granting him the licence that let him purchase the weapons used in the rampage. Iraq: Almost 100 dead as overloaded ferry sinks in Tigris river, PM Mahdi declares national mourning Almost 100 people, mostly women and children, died Thursday as a ferry packed with families celebrating Kurdish New Year sank in a swollen river in the former jihadist stronghold of Mosul, in Iraq's worst accident in years. After crashes, Boeing rolls out safety feature previously sold as an option Boeing's 737 MAX aircraft will be outfitted with a warning light for malfunctions in the anti-stall system suspected in October's fatal crash in Indonesia, an industry source told AFP Thursday, standardizing a feature previously sold as an optional extra.

The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on two Chinese shipping companies it says helped <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-considering-to-suspend-nuclear-talks-with-us-report-203425">North Korea evade US</a> and international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program, the first such steps since <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-time-for-us-to-recognize-israeli-sovereignty-over-golan-heights-204736">US President Donald Trump</a> and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/some-time-may-pass-before-a-third-north-korea-summit-bolton-202420">summit collapsed last month</a>.

The US Treasury Department also issued an updated advisory that listed 67 vessels that it said had engaged in illicit transfers of refined petroleum with North Korean tankers or were believed to have exported North Korean coal.

The department identified the newly sanctioned firms as Dalian Haibo International Freight Co Ltd and Liaoning Danxing International Forwarding Co Ltd, both based in China.

The move prohibits US dealings with the designated companies and freezes any assets they have in the United States.

Washington announced the measures three weeks after a second meeting between Trump and Kim broke down over conflicting demands by North Korea for relief from sanctions and from the US side for North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons.

The United States has led international efforts to press North Korea through sanctions to give up its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

"The United States and our like-minded partners remain committed to achieving the final, fully verified denuclearisation of North Korea and believe that the full implementation of North Korea-related UN Security Council resolutions is crucial to a successful outcome," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

"Treasury will continue to enforce our sanctions, and we are making it explicitly clear that shipping companies employing deceptive tactics to mask illicit trade with North Korea expose themselves to great risk.”

The latest sanctions showed there was some “leakage” in North Korea sanctions enforcement by China, but Beijing was mostly abiding by UN resolutions, a senior US official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official said that financial as well as shipping companies risked US action if they were found to be in violation of sanctions.

The official insisted, however, that Thursday's announcement was meant to maintain sanctions enforcement on North Korea rather than intensify the pressure.

While declining to say whether Washington was trying to send a post-summit message to Pyongyang, the official said Trump "has made clear that the door is wide open to continuing the dialogue with North Korea."

LIMBO

US-North Korean engagement has appeared to be in limbo since the February 27-28 summit in Hanoi, despite US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying on March 4 he was hopeful he could send a team to North Korea "in the next couple of weeks."

Washington has said it aims to re-engage with Kim, but North Korea has warned it is considering suspending talks and may rethink a freeze on missile and nuclear tests in place since 2017 unless Washington makes concessions.

On Monday, two senior US senators called for the Trump administration to correct a slowing pace of American sanctions designations on North Korea, saying there had been a marked decline in such actions during the past year of US diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang.

They pointed to a 2019 UN report that found that North Korea continued to defy UN sanctions with an increase in smuggling of petroleum products and coal and violation of bans on arms sales.

The Treasury statement said Dalian Haibo was targeted for dealings with Paeksol Trading Corp, a company previously designated by US sanctions on North Korea.

It said Dalian Haibo shipped cargo from Dalian, China, to Paeksol in Nampo, North Korea, in early 2018 aboard North Korean-flagged vessels.

The statement said Liaoning Danxing had "routinely used deceptive practices" to enable the work of North Korean procurement officials based in the European Union.

The Treasury statement said evasion tactics employed by North Korea included disabling or manipulating automated identification systems, physically altering vessels, transferring cargoes between ships and falsifying cargo documentation.

It said ports visited by vessels involved in ship-to-ship transfers included those in Taiwan, China, Russia and South Korea.

The Treasury Department said that in 2018, North Korean ports received at least 263 tanker deliveries of refined petroleum via UN-prohibited ship-to-ship transfers.

It said that if the tankers were fully laden, North Korea would have imported 3.78 million barrels - more than 7-1/2 times the 500,000 barrels a year allowed under a UN resolution.

The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on two Chinese shipping companies it says helped North Korea evade US and international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program, the first such steps since US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's summit collapsed last month.

The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on two Chinese shipping companies it says helped North Korea evade US and international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program, the first such steps since US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's summit collapsed last month. The US Treasury Department also issued an updated advisory that listed 67 vessels that it said had engaged in illicit transfers of refined petroleum with North Korean tankers or were believed to have exported North Korean coal. The department identified the newly sanctioned firms as Dalian Haibo International Freight Co Ltd and Liaoning Danxing International Forwarding Co Ltd, both based in China. The move prohibits US dealings with the designated companies and freezes any assets they have in the United States. Washington announced the measures three weeks after a second meeting between Trump and Kim broke down over conflicting demands by North Korea for relief from sanctions and from the US side for North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. The United States has led international efforts to press North Korea through sanctions to give up its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. "The United States and our like-minded partners remain committed to achieving the final, fully verified denuclearisation of North Korea and believe that the full implementation of North Korea-related UN Security Council resolutions is crucial to a successful outcome," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. "Treasury will continue to enforce our sanctions, and we are making it explicitly clear that shipping companies employing deceptive tactics to mask illicit trade with North Korea expose themselves to great risk.” The latest sanctions showed there was some “leakage” in North Korea sanctions enforcement by China, but Beijing was mostly abiding by UN resolutions, a senior US official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official said that financial as well as shipping companies risked US action if they were found to be in violation of sanctions. The official insisted, however, that Thursday's announcement was meant to maintain sanctions enforcement on North Korea rather than intensify the pressure. While declining to say whether Washington was trying to send a post-summit message to Pyongyang, the official said Trump "has made clear that the door is wide open to continuing the dialogue with North Korea." LIMBO US-North Korean engagement has appeared to be in limbo since the February 27-28 summit in Hanoi, despite US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying on March 4 he was hopeful he could send a team to North Korea "in the next couple of weeks." Washington has said it aims to re-engage with Kim, but North Korea has warned it is considering suspending talks and may rethink a freeze on missile and nuclear tests in place since 2017 unless Washington makes concessions. On Monday, two senior US senators called for the Trump administration to correct a slowing pace of American sanctions designations on North Korea, saying there had been a marked decline in such actions during the past year of US diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang. They pointed to a 2019 UN report that found that North Korea continued to defy UN sanctions with an increase in smuggling of petroleum products and coal and violation of bans on arms sales. The Treasury statement said Dalian Haibo was targeted for dealings with Paeksol Trading Corp, a company previously designated by US sanctions on North Korea. It said Dalian Haibo shipped cargo from Dalian, China, to Paeksol in Nampo, North Korea, in early 2018 aboard North Korean-flagged vessels. The statement said Liaoning Danxing had "routinely used deceptive practices" to enable the work of North Korean procurement officials based in the European Union. The Treasury statement said evasion tactics employed by North Korea included disabling or manipulating automated identification systems, physically altering vessels, transferring cargoes between ships and falsifying cargo documentation. It said ports visited by vessels involved in ship-to-ship transfers included those in Taiwan, China, Russia and South Korea. The Treasury Department said that in 2018, North Korean ports received at least 263 tanker deliveries of refined petroleum via UN-prohibited ship-to-ship transfers. It said that if the tankers were fully laden, North Korea would have imported 3.78 million barrels - more than 7-1/2 times the 500,000 barrels a year allowed under a UN resolution.

US announces first new North Korea sanctions since failed summit

Trump's vision for North Korea: US aims for complete denuclearisation by 2021

Kim Jong Un votes in North Korean legislature election

US President Donald <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/our-stance-will-never-change-even-if-us-seeks-further-talks-north-korea-on-us-sanctions-relief-200370">Trump is ready to meet</a> North Korean leader Kim Jong-un again for denuclearisation talks, the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/no-agreement-was-reached-at-trump-kim-summit-white-house-200203">White House said</a>, underlining that his decision to walk out of the Hanoi summit sent a signal to other countries as well that he is not desperate for a deal unless it is in America's interest.

US National Security Advisor John Bolton told ABC News that Trump's walk out from his meeting with Kim was "friendly" and it is not a reflection that the talks broke down. &nbsp;I don't really think it broke down. I think the president did exactly the right thing, he said, referring to the failed summit between the two leaders in Hanoi in Vietnam on February 26 and 27.

Trump and Kim's Vietnam meeting ended abruptly without a deal on North Korean denuclearisation in return for sanctions relief. On Friday, Trump told reporters his relationship with Kim was a very good one and said he would be surprised in a negative way if he did anything that was not per our understanding.

Trump and Kim first met in Singapore in June 2018, producing only a North Korean commitment to work towards complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

"Trump and Kim Jong-un had had a number of conversations about what might be done to denuclearise North Korea. Kim offered a partial deal. The president has been very clear that he doesn't want to make the same mistakes as past administrations, Bolton said.

"Trump proposed to Kim what he talked about really going back to Singapore, is what he called the big deal, that North Korea completely denuclearize. And, in exchange for that, there was a very bright economic future for the North Korean people," Bolton said.

The two leaders went around on this several times. They had a full exchange of views, as the saying goes. It was clear they weren't going to reach an agreement, Bolton said.

So, what the president did was, as he put it, to walk away in a friendly way from the discussion. He said he's prepared to meet Kim Jong-un again. It's no date set or anything like that, but it's possible that North Korea will go back and rethink the position they came in with and come back to talk to the president about the big deal, he told the news channel in a talk show.

According to Bolton what the president did in Hanoi, was important not just in the negotiations with North Korea on their nuclear programme, but also with China on trade, and also with Russia on arms control and other countries.

Despite all the media speculation, the president turned out not to be desperate for a deal. He didn't have to come away with success. In the pursuit of American national interest, he was prepared to risk people characterising the Hanoi summit as a failure because he wasn't going to accept terms that weren't in our national interest, he said.

I do think that's a message for others that we're involved in significant negotiations with. Now, in terms of China specifically, you know, we just concluded another round of negotiations here in Washington, Bob Lighthizer, the U.S. trade representative, Steven Mnuchin, the treasury secretary, and others leading that, he said.

Talks with China are making progress, but there's work to be done. So it's true, as you say, there's no date set for the next summit, but it could be just a short time thereafter. We're going to have to have some more conversations and do the additional work, Bolton said.&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump is ready to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un again for denuclearisation talks, the White House said, underlining that his decision to walk out of the Hanoi summit sent a signal to other countries as well that he is not desperate for a deal unless it is in America's interest.

US President Donald Trump is ready to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un again for denuclearisation talks, the White House said, underlining that his decision to walk out of the Hanoi summit sent a signal to other countries as well that he is not desperate for a deal unless it is in America's interest. US National Security Advisor John Bolton told ABC News that Trump's walk out from his meeting with Kim was "friendly" and it is not a reflection that the talks broke down. I don't really think it broke down. I think the president did exactly the right thing, he said, referring to the failed summit between the two leaders in Hanoi in Vietnam on February 26 and 27. Trump and Kim's Vietnam meeting ended abruptly without a deal on North Korean denuclearisation in return for sanctions relief. On Friday, Trump told reporters his relationship with Kim was a very good one and said he would be surprised in a negative way if he did anything that was not per our understanding. Trump and Kim first met in Singapore in June 2018, producing only a North Korean commitment to work towards complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. "Trump and Kim Jong-un had had a number of conversations about what might be done to denuclearise North Korea. Kim offered a partial deal. The president has been very clear that he doesn't want to make the same mistakes as past administrations, Bolton said. "Trump proposed to Kim what he talked about really going back to Singapore, is what he called the big deal, that North Korea completely denuclearize. And, in exchange for that, there was a very bright economic future for the North Korean people," Bolton said. The two leaders went around on this several times. They had a full exchange of views, as the saying goes. It was clear they weren't going to reach an agreement, Bolton said. So, what the president did was, as he put it, to walk away in a friendly way from the discussion. He said he's prepared to meet Kim Jong-un again. It's no date set or anything like that, but it's possible that North Korea will go back and rethink the position they came in with and come back to talk to the president about the big deal, he told the news channel in a talk show. According to Bolton what the president did in Hanoi, was important not just in the negotiations with North Korea on their nuclear programme, but also with China on trade, and also with Russia on arms control and other countries. Despite all the media speculation, the president turned out not to be desperate for a deal. He didn't have to come away with success. In the pursuit of American national interest, he was prepared to risk people characterising the Hanoi summit as a failure because he wasn't going to accept terms that weren't in our national interest, he said. I do think that's a message for others that we're involved in significant negotiations with. Now, in terms of China specifically, you know, we just concluded another round of negotiations here in Washington, Bob Lighthizer, the U.S. trade representative, Steven Mnuchin, the treasury secretary, and others leading that, he said. Talks with China are making progress, but there's work to be done. So it's true, as you say, there's no date set for the next summit, but it could be just a short time thereafter. We're going to have to have some more conversations and do the additional work, Bolton said.

US President Donald Trump ready to meet Kim Jong Un again for denuclearisation talks: White House

A Malaysian court Monday freed an Indonesian woman accused of assassinating the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's half-brother after prosecutors withdrew the murder charge against her.

Siti Aisyah had been accused alongside Doan Thi Huong from Vietnam of killing Kim Jong Nam by smearing VX nerve agent on his face at Kuala Lumpur airport in February 2017, in a brazen Cold War-style hit that shocked the world.

"Siti Aisyah is freed," judge Azmin Ariffin told the Shah Alam High Court, as he approved a request from the prosecutor to drop the murder charge. He granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal.

"She can leave now."

In his request to withdraw the charge, prosecutor Muhammad Iskandar Ahmad did not give a reason for the move in court. He said Aisyah was free to leave the country.

Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia Rusdi Kirana told reporters: "We are pleased with the court decision. We will try to fly Siti back to Indonesia today or as soon as possible."

It was a surprise move as the court had been scheduled to hear Huong -- who was in court alongside Aisyah -- testify on Monday.&nbsp;

A Malaysian court Monday freed an Indonesian woman accused of assassinating the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's half-brother after prosecutors withdrew the murder charge against her.

A Malaysian court Monday freed an Indonesian woman accused of assassinating the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's half-brother after prosecutors withdrew the murder charge against her. Siti Aisyah had been accused alongside Doan Thi Huong from Vietnam of killing Kim Jong Nam by smearing VX nerve agent on his face at Kuala Lumpur airport in February 2017, in a brazen Cold War-style hit that shocked the world. "Siti Aisyah is freed," judge Azmin Ariffin told the Shah Alam High Court, as he approved a request from the prosecutor to drop the murder charge. He granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal. "She can leave now." In his request to withdraw the charge, prosecutor Muhammad Iskandar Ahmad did not give a reason for the move in court. He said Aisyah was free to leave the country. Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia Rusdi Kirana told reporters: "We are pleased with the court decision. We will try to fly Siti back to Indonesia today or as soon as possible." It was a surprise move as the court had been scheduled to hear Huong -- who was in court alongside Aisyah -- testify on Monday.

Malaysia court frees Indonesian in Kim Jong Nam murder case

North Koreans go to the polls Sunday for an election in which there can be only one winner.

Leader Kim Jong Un's ruling Workers' Party has an iron grip on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as the isolated, nuclear-armed country is officially known.

But every five years it holds an election for the rubber stamp legislature, known as the Supreme People's Assembly.

And in keeping with one of Pyongyang's most enduring slogans -- "Single-minded unity" -- there is only one approved name on each of the ballot papers.

Voters have the opportunity to cross it out before casting their ballot, but in practice that is unknown.

Turnout last time was 99.97 per cent, according to the official KCNA news agency –- only those who were abroad or "working in oceans" did not take part. And the vote was 100 per cent in favour of the named candidates.

"We regard all the people in our country as one family so we will unite with one mind and we will vote for the agreed candidate," Socialist Women's Union official Song Yang Ran, 57, told AFP ahead of this year's poll.

Ordinary North Koreans always express total support for the authorities when speaking to foreign media.

"Our system is the best," Song said when asked her opinion of elections that have several names on the ballot paper.

"We acknowledge no one but the Supreme Leader," she added, referring to Kim Jong Un.&nbsp;

"And we will hold the respected Marshal in high esteem forever."

Ritual exercise&nbsp; 
With a total absence of electoral competition, analysts say the vote is held largely as a political rite to enable the authorities to claim a mandate from the people.

It was the result of "established institutional inertia and a need to legitimise the government by simulating democratic procedure", said Andrei Lankov of Korea Risk Group.

Soviet-style Communist states had a long tradition of holding general elections, he said, even if the ruling party ignored its own rules about holding regular congresses –- something the North skipped for more than 30 years.

"North Korea is just emulating all other Communist states," he said.

"The early Communists sincerely believed that they were producing a democracy the world had never seen. So they needed elections and it became a very important part of self-legitimisation."

The last significant government of a major country to dispense with elections altogether was Nazi Germany, he pointed out.

The North is divided into constituencies for the vote –- there were 686 at the last election in 2014 when Kim stood in Mount Paektu, a dormant volcano on the border with China revered as the spiritual birthplace of the Korean people.&nbsp;

He received a 100 per cent turnout and 100 per cent in favour according to KCNA.

Some of the seats are allocated to two minor parties, the Korean Social Democratic Party and the Chondoist Chongdu Party, which has its roots in a 20th-century Korean religious movement.

They are both in a formal alliance with the ruling party and analysts and diplomats say they exist largely on paper, with only small central offices maintained for propaganda purposes.

Even so, participation in the poll, like other "obligatory rituals" in the North, does reinforce loyalty to the government and social unity, Lankov said, "because humans love symbolism".

In an article headlined "Superior Election System of DPRK", KCNA said the vote was an important occasion "displaying the solidity and invincibility of the socialist system in which the leader, the party and the masses form a harmonious whole".

North Koreans go to the polls Sunday for an election in which there can be only one winner. Leader Kim Jong Un's ruling Workers' Party has an iron grip on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as the isolated, nuclear-armed country is officially known.

North Koreans go to the polls Sunday for an election in which there can be only one winner. Leader Kim Jong Un's ruling Workers' Party has an iron grip on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as the isolated, nuclear-armed country is officially known. But every five years it holds an election for the rubber stamp legislature, known as the Supreme People's Assembly. And in keeping with one of Pyongyang's most enduring slogans -- "Single-minded unity" -- there is only one approved name on each of the ballot papers. Voters have the opportunity to cross it out before casting their ballot, but in practice that is unknown. Turnout last time was 99.97 per cent, according to the official KCNA news agency –- only those who were abroad or "working in oceans" did not take part. And the vote was 100 per cent in favour of the named candidates. "We regard all the people in our country as one family so we will unite with one mind and we will vote for the agreed candidate," Socialist Women's Union official Song Yang Ran, 57, told AFP ahead of this year's poll. Ordinary North Koreans always express total support for the authorities when speaking to foreign media. "Our system is the best," Song said when asked her opinion of elections that have several names on the ballot paper. "We acknowledge no one but the Supreme Leader," she added, referring to Kim Jong Un. "And we will hold the respected Marshal in high esteem forever." Ritual exercise With a total absence of electoral competition, analysts say the vote is held largely as a political rite to enable the authorities to claim a mandate from the people. It was the result of "established institutional inertia and a need to legitimise the government by simulating democratic procedure", said Andrei Lankov of Korea Risk Group. Soviet-style Communist states had a long tradition of holding general elections, he said, even if the ruling party ignored its own rules about holding regular congresses –- something the North skipped for more than 30 years. "North Korea is just emulating all other Communist states," he said. "The early Communists sincerely believed that they were producing a democracy the world had never seen. So they needed elections and it became a very important part of self-legitimisation." The last significant government of a major country to dispense with elections altogether was Nazi Germany, he pointed out. The North is divided into constituencies for the vote –- there were 686 at the last election in 2014 when Kim stood in Mount Paektu, a dormant volcano on the border with China revered as the spiritual birthplace of the Korean people. He received a 100 per cent turnout and 100 per cent in favour according to KCNA. Some of the seats are allocated to two minor parties, the Korean Social Democratic Party and the Chondoist Chongdu Party, which has its roots in a 20th-century Korean religious movement. They are both in a formal alliance with the ruling party and analysts and diplomats say they exist largely on paper, with only small central offices maintained for propaganda purposes. Even so, participation in the poll, like other "obligatory rituals" in the North, does reinforce loyalty to the government and social unity, Lankov said, "because humans love symbolism". In an article headlined "Superior Election System of DPRK", KCNA said the vote was an important occasion "displaying the solidity and invincibility of the socialist system in which the leader, the party and the masses form a harmonious whole".

Democracy, DPRK style: North Korea holds election

Reports: North Korea reportedly restoring rocket launch site after Trump-Kim summit failure

The armoured train carrying North Korea's&nbsp;leader <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-leader-kim-jong-un-leaves-for-pyongyang-after-vietnamese-state-visit-200721">Kim Jong Un</a> on his way back from the Hanoi summit on Monday travelled past the Chinese capital on its journey back to Pyongyang, ending speculation about a possible meeting with the Chinese president.

The train went through the port city of Tianjin (southeast of Beijing) at 7 am and continued north towards Liaoning province, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.

Kim's train departed from the Vietnamese village of Dong Dang on Saturday, two days after the abrupt ending of his summit with the United States President, Donald Trump, which closed without any agreements signed on North Korean denuclearization or the lifting of sanctions on Pyongyang.

The fact that the presidential train did not stop in Beijing excluded the possibility of a meeting between Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

There had been speculation about a possible meeting because Kim has always met with the leadership in Beijing - the main ally of Pyongyang - before or after summits with Trump in 2018 or South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

It was initially thought that the train would stop in Guangzhou either before or after the Hanoi summit in Vietnam.

Kim travelled 60 hours by train on the 4,500-kilometer journey from Pyongyang to Vietnam to attend the summit.&nbsp;

The train was expected to reach Dandong in the Chinese province of Liaoning bordering North Korea before crossing over the border to continue towards Pyongyang.

The US president returned home after the US delegation left Hanoi on Thursday hours ahead of schedule and without declaration being signed on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

Before his departure, Trump attributed the lack of an agreement to North Korea's insistence that the US lift all sanctions on the isolated North-East Asian nation, although he said that he and Kim had said goodbye on good terms.

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho contradicted Trump's remarks shortly afterwards, saying that Pyongyang had only sought partial sanctions relief.

Following the summit with Trump, Kim held meetings with the Vietnamese leadership.

The armoured train carrying North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un on his way back from the Hanoi summit on Monday travelled past the Chinese capital on its journey back to Pyongyang, ending speculation about a possible meeting with the Chinese president.

The armoured train carrying North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un on his way back from the Hanoi summit on Monday travelled past the Chinese capital on its journey back to Pyongyang, ending speculation about a possible meeting with the Chinese president. The train went through the port city of Tianjin (southeast of Beijing) at 7 am and continued north towards Liaoning province, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported. Kim's train departed from the Vietnamese village of Dong Dang on Saturday, two days after the abrupt ending of his summit with the United States President, Donald Trump, which closed without any agreements signed on North Korean denuclearization or the lifting of sanctions on Pyongyang. The fact that the presidential train did not stop in Beijing excluded the possibility of a meeting between Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping. There had been speculation about a possible meeting because Kim has always met with the leadership in Beijing - the main ally of Pyongyang - before or after summits with Trump in 2018 or South Korean President Moon Jae-in. It was initially thought that the train would stop in Guangzhou either before or after the Hanoi summit in Vietnam. Kim travelled 60 hours by train on the 4,500-kilometer journey from Pyongyang to Vietnam to attend the summit. The train was expected to reach Dandong in the Chinese province of Liaoning bordering North Korea before crossing over the border to continue towards Pyongyang. The US president returned home after the US delegation left Hanoi on Thursday hours ahead of schedule and without declaration being signed on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. Before his departure, Trump attributed the lack of an agreement to North Korea's insistence that the US lift all sanctions on the isolated North-East Asian nation, although he said that he and Kim had said goodbye on good terms. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho contradicted Trump's remarks shortly afterwards, saying that Pyongyang had only sought partial sanctions relief. Following the summit with Trump, Kim held meetings with the Vietnamese leadership.

No meeting with China as North Korea leader Kim Jong Un's train makes no stop in Beijing

The world this week, in pictures

Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un meet for second summit in Hanoi

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Thursday he fully backed <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-deal-with-kim-thwarted-by-north-korean-sanction-demands-200231">US President Donald Trump`s decision</a> to end his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un without an agreement.&nbsp;

"I fully support President Trump`s decision not to make the easy choice," Abe said following a telephone call with Trump.

"I am determined that I must meet Chairman Kim next," he added, reiterating his desire to have a summit with the North Korean leader.

Abe said Trump, at his meeting with Kim in Vietnam, had raised the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Koreans agents.&nbsp;

Abe has said Japan would not normalise diplomatic ties with Pyongyang or provide economic assistance until North Korea gave a full accounting of all those taken and return any abductees who are still alive.&nbsp;

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Thursday he fully backed US President Donald Trump`s decision to end his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un without an agreement.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Thursday he fully backed US President Donald Trump`s decision to end his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un without an agreement. "I fully support President Trump`s decision not to make the easy choice," Abe said following a telephone call with Trump. "I am determined that I must meet Chairman Kim next," he added, reiterating his desire to have a summit with the North Korean leader. Abe said Trump, at his meeting with Kim in Vietnam, had raised the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Koreans agents. Abe has said Japan would not normalise diplomatic ties with Pyongyang or provide economic assistance until North Korea gave a full accounting of all those taken and return any abductees who are still alive.

Japanese PM Abe says fully backs Trump over North Korea no deal

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will begin a two-day official visit to Vietnam on Friday, Vietnam`s foreign ministry said in a statement shortly after Kim`s second summit with US President Donald Trump in Hanoi ended without agreement.

Trump said on Thursday he had walked away from a nuclear deal at the summit with Kim in the Vietnamese capital because of unacceptable North Korean demands to lift punishing US-led sanctions.

While Trump left Hanoi later to return to Washington, Kim is staying on in Vietnam, for a two-day official visit.

Kim will meet President Nguyen Phu Trong, who is also general secretary of Vietnam`s ruling Communist Party, on Friday afternoon, according to a copy of Kim`s schedule seen by Reuters.

He is then due to attend a state banquet at a convention centre in central Hanoi in the evening.

On Saturday, Kim will lay a wreath at the mausoleum of Vietnam`s founding president, Ho Chi Minh, and meet Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, before leaving Vietnam that evening.

Kim arrived in Vietnam on Tuesday, after travelling from North Korea by train.

Media has reported his train was scheduled to leave the Vietnamese border station of Dong Dang, where he arrived, at 6.30 p.m. (1130 GMT) on Saturday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will begin a two-day official visit to Vietnam on Friday, Vietnam`s foreign ministry said in a statement shortly after Kim`s second summit with US President Donald Trump in Hanoi ended without agreement.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will begin a two-day official visit to Vietnam on Friday, Vietnam`s foreign ministry said in a statement shortly after Kim`s second summit with US President Donald Trump in Hanoi ended without agreement. Trump said on Thursday he had walked away from a nuclear deal at the summit with Kim in the Vietnamese capital because of unacceptable North Korean demands to lift punishing US-led sanctions. While Trump left Hanoi later to return to Washington, Kim is staying on in Vietnam, for a two-day official visit. Kim will meet President Nguyen Phu Trong, who is also general secretary of Vietnam`s ruling Communist Party, on Friday afternoon, according to a copy of Kim`s schedule seen by Reuters. He is then due to attend a state banquet at a convention centre in central Hanoi in the evening. On Saturday, Kim will lay a wreath at the mausoleum of Vietnam`s founding president, Ho Chi Minh, and meet Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, before leaving Vietnam that evening. Kim arrived in Vietnam on Tuesday, after travelling from North Korea by train. Media has reported his train was scheduled to leave the Vietnamese border station of Dong Dang, where he arrived, at 6.30 p.m. (1130 GMT) on Saturday.

North Korea's Kim on official Vietnam visit March 1-2: Ministry

South Korea's presidential office expressed regret after the summit between <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-deal-with-kim-thwarted-by-north-korean-sanction-demands-200231">US President Donald Trump </a>and North Korea's Kim Jong Un ended without a deal but said "meaningful progress" had been made.

"It is regrettable President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un did not reach a complete agreement on today's summit," Blue House spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said in a statement.

"But it appears clear that more meaningful progress was made than at any other point in the past."

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had failed to reach an agreement due to North Korean demands to lift punishing US-led sanctions.

Earlier, both Trump and Kim had expressed hope for progress on improving relations and on the key issue of denuclearisation, in their talks in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, their second summit in eight months.

Both leaders left the venue of their talks, the French-colonial-era Metropole hotel, without attending a planned lunch together, and returned to their hotels.

Failure to reach an agreement marks a setback for Trump, a self-styled dealmaker under pressure at home over his ties to Russia and testimony from Michael Cohen, his former personal lawyer, accusing him of breaking the law while in office.

South Korea's presidential office expressed regret after the summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un ended without a deal but said "meaningful progress" had been made.

South Korea's presidential office expressed regret after the summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un ended without a deal but said "meaningful progress" had been made. "It is regrettable President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un did not reach a complete agreement on today's summit," Blue House spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said in a statement. "But it appears clear that more meaningful progress was made than at any other point in the past." US President Donald Trump said on Thursday his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had failed to reach an agreement due to North Korean demands to lift punishing US-led sanctions. Earlier, both Trump and Kim had expressed hope for progress on improving relations and on the key issue of denuclearisation, in their talks in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, their second summit in eight months. Both leaders left the venue of their talks, the French-colonial-era Metropole hotel, without attending a planned lunch together, and returned to their hotels. Failure to reach an agreement marks a setback for Trump, a self-styled dealmaker under pressure at home over his ties to Russia and testimony from Michael Cohen, his former personal lawyer, accusing him of breaking the law while in office.

North Korea summit outcome 'regrettable' but progress made: Seoul

Asia expresses mixed reactions over Trump-Kim summit

Stocks staged a strong comeback in early trade Wednesday, with the BSE Sensex rebounding over 256 points and the Nifty recapturing the 10,900-mark on unabated foreign capital inflows amid short covering.

Asian markets were also trading in the green ahead of the second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un&nbsp; 
in Vietnam.

The 30-share Sensex rose by 256.18 points, or 0.73 per cent, to 36,226.89 in early trade. The gauge had lost 239.67 points Tuesday after India carried out air strikes on a terrorist camp in Pakistan.

All the sectoral indices, led by auto, metal, bankex, FMCG and healthcare, were trading in the green with gains of up to 1.32 per cent.

The broad-based NSE Nifty went up by 70.80 points or 0.66 per cent to 10,906.10.

Prominent gainers that supported the recovery were Yes Bank, Sun Pharma, Bajaj Auto, M&amp;M, Asian Paints, Hero moto corp, Bajaj Finance, Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, SBI, RIL, ONGC, IndusInd Bank, L&amp;T, Coal India and Vedanta Ltd, rising up to 2.83 per cent.

Brokers said continued pumping of investments by foreign funds and fresh spell of buying by domestic investors amid a firm trend at other Asian bourses led the markets higher.

Besides, covering-up of short positions by speculators ahead of February month expiry in the derivatives segment on Thursday, too supported the upside in select stocks, they added.

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 1,674.17 crore, while domestic institutional investors sold equities to the tune of Rs 720.27 crore Tuesday, provisional data showed.

In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 0.44 per cent, Japan's Nikkei rose 0.53 per cent and Shanghai Composite Index was up by 0.79 per cent in early trade. Korea's KOSPI too gained 0.24 per cent.&nbsp;

The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.13 per cent higher in Tuesday's trade.&nbsp;

Stocks staged a strong comeback in early trade Wednesday, with the BSE Sensex rebounding over 256 points and the Nifty recapturing the 10,900-mark on unabated foreign capital inflows amid short covering.

Stocks staged a strong comeback in early trade Wednesday, with the BSE Sensex rebounding over 256 points and the Nifty recapturing the 10,900-mark on unabated foreign capital inflows amid short covering. Asian markets were also trading in the green ahead of the second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Vietnam. The 30-share Sensex rose by 256.18 points, or 0.73 per cent, to 36,226.89 in early trade. The gauge had lost 239.67 points Tuesday after India carried out air strikes on a terrorist camp in Pakistan. All the sectoral indices, led by auto, metal, bankex, FMCG and healthcare, were trading in the green with gains of up to 1.32 per cent. The broad-based NSE Nifty went up by 70.80 points or 0.66 per cent to 10,906.10. Prominent gainers that supported the recovery were Yes Bank, Sun Pharma, Bajaj Auto, M&M, Asian Paints, Hero moto corp, Bajaj Finance, Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, SBI, RIL, ONGC, IndusInd Bank, L&T, Coal India and Vedanta Ltd, rising up to 2.83 per cent. Brokers said continued pumping of investments by foreign funds and fresh spell of buying by domestic investors amid a firm trend at other Asian bourses led the markets higher. Besides, covering-up of short positions by speculators ahead of February month expiry in the derivatives segment on Thursday, too supported the upside in select stocks, they added. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 1,674.17 crore, while domestic institutional investors sold equities to the tune of Rs 720.27 crore Tuesday, provisional data showed. In the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng was up 0.44 per cent, Japan's Nikkei rose 0.53 per cent and Shanghai Composite Index was up by 0.79 per cent in early trade. Korea's KOSPI too gained 0.24 per cent. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.13 per cent higher in Tuesday's trade.

Sensex rebounds 256 points, Nifty above 10,900-mark

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