The United States and South Korea have agreed to consider scrapping a working group established to coordinate North Korea policy, Seoul's foreign ministry said on Tuesday, after it became seen as a way for Washington to block inter-Korean projects. 
 
During talks between US&nbsp;special representative for North Korea Sung Kim and his South Korean counterpart Noh Kyu-duk on Monday, the two agreed to 'look into terminating the working group' while reinforcing coordination at other levels, the ministry said in a statement. 
 
On Monday, Kim said he was willing to meet with the North Koreans 'anywhere, anytime without preconditions' and that he looks forward to a 'positive response soon'. He was scheduled to meet with South Korean Unification Minister Lee In-young, who handles relations with the North, on Tuesday. 
 
The working group was set up in 2018 to help the two allies coordinate their approaches to issues, such as denuclearisation talks, humanitarian aid, sanctions enforcement and inter-Korean relations amid a flurry of diplomatic engagement with North Korea at the time. 
 
When asked last year about Seoul's proposals, such as reopening individual tourism to its northern neighbour, US&nbsp;ambassador to South Korea at the time, Harry Harris, said that 'in order to avoid a misunderstanding later that could trigger sanctions... it’s better to run this through the working group'. 
 
Though Harris added that it was not the United States’ place to approve South Korean decisions, the remarks caused controversy in Seoul and a former aide to South Korean President Moon Jae-in later told parliament the working group was increasingly seen as an obstacle to inter-Korean relations. 
 
The Moon administration would see ending the working group as a goodwill gesture from new US&nbsp;President Joe Biden, said Ramon Pacheco Pardo, a Korea expert at King's College London. 
 
"From a South Korean perspective, this was basically a mechanism for the US&nbsp;to block inter-Korean projects during the Trump years," he said. "It would be a clever political move for the Biden administration to end the group, since consultation between Washington and Seoul will take place anyway." 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The United States and South Korea have agreed to consider scrapping a working group established to coordinate North Korea policy, Seoul's foreign ministry said on Tuesday, after it became seen as a way for Washington to block inter-Korean projects.

The United States and South Korea have agreed to consider scrapping a working group established to coordinate North Korea policy, Seoul's foreign ministry said on Tuesday, after it became seen as a way for Washington to block inter-Korean projects. During talks between US special representative for North Korea Sung Kim and his South Korean counterpart Noh Kyu-duk on Monday, the two agreed to 'look into terminating the working group' while reinforcing coordination at other levels, the ministry said in a statement. On Monday, Kim said he was willing to meet with the North Koreans 'anywhere, anytime without preconditions' and that he looks forward to a 'positive response soon'. He was scheduled to meet with South Korean Unification Minister Lee In-young, who handles relations with the North, on Tuesday. The working group was set up in 2018 to help the two allies coordinate their approaches to issues, such as denuclearisation talks, humanitarian aid, sanctions enforcement and inter-Korean relations amid a flurry of diplomatic engagement with North Korea at the time. When asked last year about Seoul's proposals, such as reopening individual tourism to its northern neighbour, US ambassador to South Korea at the time, Harry Harris, said that 'in order to avoid a misunderstanding later that could trigger sanctions... it’s better to run this through the working group'. Though Harris added that it was not the United States’ place to approve South Korean decisions, the remarks caused controversy in Seoul and a former aide to South Korean President Moon Jae-in later told parliament the working group was increasingly seen as an obstacle to inter-Korean relations. The Moon administration would see ending the working group as a goodwill gesture from new US President Joe Biden, said Ramon Pacheco Pardo, a Korea expert at King's College London. "From a South Korean perspective, this was basically a mechanism for the US to block inter-Korean projects during the Trump years," he said. "It would be a clever political move for the Biden administration to end the group, since consultation between Washington and Seoul will take place anyway." (With inputs from agencies)

US, South Korea consider ending controversial North Korea coordinating group

North Korea has told the World Health Organization that it tested more than 30,000 people for the coronavirus through June 10, but has yet to find a single infection.

The WHO said in a monitoring report on Tuesday that North Korea's testing figures included 733 people, who were tested during June 4-10, of which 149 were with influenza-like illnesses or severe respiratory infections.

Experts widely doubt North Korea's claim that it has not had a single case of the virus, given its poor health infrastructure and porous border with China, its major ally and economic lifeline.

Describing its anti-virus efforts as a 'matter of national existence',&nbsp;the North has banned tourists, jetted out diplomats and severely restricted cross-border traffic and trade. The self-imposed lockdown has caused further strain on an economy already battered by decades of mismanagement and crippling US-led sanctions over the country's nuclear weapons programme.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a political conference last week called for officials to brace for prolonged COVID-19 restrictions, indicating that the country isn't ready to open its borders anytime soon.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

North Korea has told the World Health Organization that it tested more than 30,000 people for the coronavirus through June 10, but has yet to find a single infection.

North Korea has told the World Health Organization that it tested more than 30,000 people for the coronavirus through June 10, but has yet to find a single infection. The WHO said in a monitoring report on Tuesday that North Korea's testing figures included 733 people, who were tested during June 4-10, of which 149 were with influenza-like illnesses or severe respiratory infections. Experts widely doubt North Korea's claim that it has not had a single case of the virus, given its poor health infrastructure and porous border with China, its major ally and economic lifeline. Describing its anti-virus efforts as a 'matter of national existence', the North has banned tourists, jetted out diplomats and severely restricted cross-border traffic and trade. The self-imposed lockdown has caused further strain on an economy already battered by decades of mismanagement and crippling US-led sanctions over the country's nuclear weapons programme. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a political conference last week called for officials to brace for prolonged COVID-19 restrictions, indicating that the country isn't ready to open its borders anytime soon. (With inputs from agencies)

North Korea tells WHO it has detected no virus cases

A senior North Korean official ridiculed American hopes for talks on Tuesday, as the United States and South Korea agreed to consider scrapping a controversial working group established to coordinate their policy toward Pyongyang. 
 
Kim Yo Jong, a senior official in the ruling party and sister of leader Kim Jong Un, released a statement in state media on Tuesday saying the United States appears to be interpreting signals from Pyongyang in a way that would lead to disappointment. 
 
She was responding to US&nbsp;National Security adviser Jake Sullivan, who on Sunday said, he saw as an 'interesting signal' in a recent speech by Kim Jong Un on preparing for both confrontation and diplomacy with the United States. 
 
"It seems that the US&nbsp;may interpret the situation in such a way as to seek a comfort for itself," she said in a statement carried by KCNA. "The expectation, which they chose to harbour the wrong way, would plunge them into a greater disappointment." 
 
Kim's statement came during a visit to Seoul by recently appointed US&nbsp;special representative for North Korea Sung Kim, who was scheduled to meet with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Unification Minister Lee In-young, who handles relations with the North, on Tuesday. 
 
On Monday, Sung Kim said he was willing to meet with the North Koreans 'anywhere, anytime without preconditions' and that he looks forward to a 'positive response soon'. 
 
During talks between Kim and his South Korean counterpart Noh Kyu-duk, the two agreed to 'look into terminating the working group' while reinforcing coordination at other levels, the South Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement. 
 
The working group was set up in 2018 to help the two allies coordinate their approaches to issues, such as denuclearisation talks, humanitarian aid, sanctions enforcement and inter-Korean relations amid a flurry of diplomatic engagement with North Korea at the time. 
 
When asked last year about Seoul's proposals, such as reopening individual tourism to its northern neighbour, US&nbsp;ambassador to South Korea at the time, Harry Harris, said that 'in order to avoid a misunderstanding later that could trigger sanctions... it’s better to run this through the working group'. 
 
Though Harris added that it was not the United States’ place to approve South Korean decisions, the remarks caused controversy in Seoul and a former aide to South Korean President Moon Jae-in later told parliament the working group was increasingly seen as an obstacle to inter-Korean relations. 
 
The Moon administration would see ending the working group as a goodwill gesture from new US&nbsp;President Joe Biden, said Ramon Pacheco Pardo, a Korea expert at King's College London. 
 
"From a South Korean perspective, this was basically a mechanism for the US&nbsp;to block inter-Korean projects during the Trump years," he said. "It would be a clever political move for the Biden administration to end the group, since consultation between Washington and Seoul will take place anyway." 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

A senior North Korean official ridiculed American hopes for talks on Tuesday, as the United States and South Korea agreed to consider scrapping a controversial working group established to coordinate their policy toward Pyongyang.

A senior North Korean official ridiculed American hopes for talks on Tuesday, as the United States and South Korea agreed to consider scrapping a controversial working group established to coordinate their policy toward Pyongyang. Kim Yo Jong, a senior official in the ruling party and sister of leader Kim Jong Un, released a statement in state media on Tuesday saying the United States appears to be interpreting signals from Pyongyang in a way that would lead to disappointment. She was responding to US National Security adviser Jake Sullivan, who on Sunday said, he saw as an 'interesting signal' in a recent speech by Kim Jong Un on preparing for both confrontation and diplomacy with the United States. "It seems that the US may interpret the situation in such a way as to seek a comfort for itself," she said in a statement carried by KCNA. "The expectation, which they chose to harbour the wrong way, would plunge them into a greater disappointment." Kim's statement came during a visit to Seoul by recently appointed US special representative for North Korea Sung Kim, who was scheduled to meet with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Unification Minister Lee In-young, who handles relations with the North, on Tuesday. On Monday, Sung Kim said he was willing to meet with the North Koreans 'anywhere, anytime without preconditions' and that he looks forward to a 'positive response soon'. During talks between Kim and his South Korean counterpart Noh Kyu-duk, the two agreed to 'look into terminating the working group' while reinforcing coordination at other levels, the South Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The working group was set up in 2018 to help the two allies coordinate their approaches to issues, such as denuclearisation talks, humanitarian aid, sanctions enforcement and inter-Korean relations amid a flurry of diplomatic engagement with North Korea at the time. When asked last year about Seoul's proposals, such as reopening individual tourism to its northern neighbour, US ambassador to South Korea at the time, Harry Harris, said that 'in order to avoid a misunderstanding later that could trigger sanctions... it’s better to run this through the working group'. Though Harris added that it was not the United States’ place to approve South Korean decisions, the remarks caused controversy in Seoul and a former aide to South Korean President Moon Jae-in later told parliament the working group was increasingly seen as an obstacle to inter-Korean relations. The Moon administration would see ending the working group as a goodwill gesture from new US President Joe Biden, said Ramon Pacheco Pardo, a Korea expert at King's College London. "From a South Korean perspective, this was basically a mechanism for the US to block inter-Korean projects during the Trump years," he said. "It would be a clever political move for the Biden administration to end the group, since consultation between Washington and Seoul will take place anyway." (With inputs from agencies)

North Korea ridicules US hopes for talks as allies rethink approach

After the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, said he was ready for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-must-prepare-for-dialogue-and-confrontation-with-the-us-kim-jong-un-392280">"dialogue and confrontation"</a>, the White House believes it is an "interesting signal".

"His comments this week we regard as an interesting signal and we will wait to see whether they are followed up with any kind of more direct communication to us about a potential path forward," US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told a local media house.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-kim-jong-uns-weight-loss-sparks-speculations-392493">WATCH |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-kim-jong-uns-weight-loss-sparks-speculations-392493/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Kim Jong Un’s communication comes as the US President Joe Biden said that his government is ready to carry out principled negotiations with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un to discuss the challenges regarding North Korea’s nuclear "program towards the ultimate objective of the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Sullivan said.

This is the first time Kin Jong Un has asked his government to prepare for "both dialogue and confrontation" with the US since Joe Biden took over the White House.

However, the White House is still waiting for direct communication from North Korea to officially and formally begin discussions about the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

After the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, said he was ready for "dialogue and confrontation", the White House believes it is an "interesting signal". "His comments this week we regard as an interesting signal and we will wait to see whether they are followed up with any kind of more direct communication to us about a potential path forward," US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told a local media house.

After the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, said he was ready for "dialogue and confrontation", the White House believes it is an "interesting signal". "His comments this week we regard as an interesting signal and we will wait to see whether they are followed up with any kind of more direct communication to us about a potential path forward," US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told a local media house. WATCH | Kim Jong Un’s communication comes as the US President Joe Biden said that his government is ready to carry out principled negotiations with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un to discuss the challenges regarding North Korea’s nuclear "program towards the ultimate objective of the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," Sullivan said. This is the first time Kin Jong Un has asked his government to prepare for "both dialogue and confrontation" with the US since Joe Biden took over the White House. However, the White House is still waiting for direct communication from North Korea to officially and formally begin discussions about the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

'Interesting signal' from North Korea's Kim Jong Un, says White House

The US&nbsp;special representative for North Korea, Sung Kim, said on Monday, he looks forward to a positive response on dialogue from North Korea, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported. 
 
Sung Kim is in South Korea for a five-day visit, with no word of any planned efforts to contact the North.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/denuclearisation-is-the-goal-biden-moon-express-willingness-for-dialogue-with-north-korea-386632">'Denuclearisation is the goal': Biden, Moon express willingness for dialogue with North Korea</a>

Earlier, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had said his country needs to prepare for 'both dialogue and confrontation' with the United States under President Joe Biden, state media had reported.

At a plenary meeting of the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, Kim outlined his strategy for relations with Washington, and the 'policy tendency of the newly emerged US administration', the Korean Central News Agency said.

Kim 'stressed the need to get prepared for both dialogue and confrontation, especially to get fully prepared for confrontation to protect the dignity of our state' and reliably guarantee a 'peaceful environment', KCNA reported.

The North Korean leader "called for sharply and promptly reacting to and coping with the fast-changing situation and concentrating efforts on taking stable control of the situation on the Korean peninsula", the agency said.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-accuses-the-us-of-using-spurious-diplomacy-to-cover-up-hostile-acts-382073">North Korea accuses the US of using 'spurious' diplomacy to 'cover up hostile acts'</a>

Pyongyang had already accused Biden of pursuing a 'hostile policy' and saying it was a 'big blunder' for the veteran Democrat to say he would deal with the threat posed by the North's nuclear programme 'through diplomacy as well as stern deterrence'.

In 2019, the North said Biden should be 'beaten to death with a stick'.

(With inputs from agencies)

The US special representative for North Korea, Sung Kim, said on Monday, he looks forward to a positive response on dialogue from North Korea, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

The US special representative for North Korea, Sung Kim, said on Monday, he looks forward to a positive response on dialogue from North Korea, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported. Sung Kim is in South Korea for a five-day visit, with no word of any planned efforts to contact the North. Also read | 'Denuclearisation is the goal': Biden, Moon express willingness for dialogue with North Korea Earlier, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had said his country needs to prepare for 'both dialogue and confrontation' with the United States under President Joe Biden, state media had reported. At a plenary meeting of the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, Kim outlined his strategy for relations with Washington, and the 'policy tendency of the newly emerged US administration', the Korean Central News Agency said. Kim 'stressed the need to get prepared for both dialogue and confrontation, especially to get fully prepared for confrontation to protect the dignity of our state' and reliably guarantee a 'peaceful environment', KCNA reported. The North Korean leader "called for sharply and promptly reacting to and coping with the fast-changing situation and concentrating efforts on taking stable control of the situation on the Korean peninsula", the agency said. Also read | North Korea accuses the US of using 'spurious' diplomacy to 'cover up hostile acts' Pyongyang had already accused Biden of pursuing a 'hostile policy' and saying it was a 'big blunder' for the veteran Democrat to say he would deal with the threat posed by the North's nuclear programme 'through diplomacy as well as stern deterrence'. In 2019, the North said Biden should be 'beaten to death with a stick'. (With inputs from agencies)

US nuclear envoy says looking forward to positive response on dialogue from N Korea: Report

US President Joe Biden's special envoy to North Korea Sung Kim is currently in South Korea for a five-day visit. During a trilateral meet in Seoul, Kim said that he looks forward to a 'positive response soon' on dialogue from North Korea.

New US envoy Kim hopes to get positive response from North Korea

The United States' new top envoy for North Korea was scheduled to meet counterparts from South Korea and Japan during a visit to Seoul on Monday, amid an impasse in denuclearisation talks with Pyongyang. 
 
US&nbsp;special representative for North Korea Sung Kim is in South Korea for a five-day visit, with no word of any planned efforts to contact the North. 
 
Kim, who doubles as ambassador to Indonesia, had back-to-back meetings scheduled with South Korea's top nuclear envoy, Noh Kyu-duk, as well as a trilateral session involving his Japanese counterpart, Takehiro Funakoshi. 
 
Noh and Funakoshi were also scheduled to have a bilateral meeting to discuss North Korea. 
 
Kim's appointment came after US&nbsp;President Joe Biden's administration conducted a review of North Korea policy that concluded the United States would seek to find practical ways of inducing Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons. 
 
In his first direct comments on Biden's administration, which took office in January, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un urged preparation for both dialogue and confrontation with the United States, particularly the latter, state news agency KCNA said on Friday. 
 
The United States said on Sunday it saw Kim's comments as an 'interesting signal',&nbsp;but added that Washington was still waiting for direct communication from Pyongyang to start any talks relating to denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The United States' new top envoy for North Korea was scheduled to meet counterparts from South Korea and Japan during a visit to Seoul on Monday, amid an impasse in denuclearisation talks with Pyongyang.

The United States' new top envoy for North Korea was scheduled to meet counterparts from South Korea and Japan during a visit to Seoul on Monday, amid an impasse in denuclearisation talks with Pyongyang. US special representative for North Korea Sung Kim is in South Korea for a five-day visit, with no word of any planned efforts to contact the North. Kim, who doubles as ambassador to Indonesia, had back-to-back meetings scheduled with South Korea's top nuclear envoy, Noh Kyu-duk, as well as a trilateral session involving his Japanese counterpart, Takehiro Funakoshi. Noh and Funakoshi were also scheduled to have a bilateral meeting to discuss North Korea. Kim's appointment came after US President Joe Biden's administration conducted a review of North Korea policy that concluded the United States would seek to find practical ways of inducing Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons. In his first direct comments on Biden's administration, which took office in January, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un urged preparation for both dialogue and confrontation with the United States, particularly the latter, state news agency KCNA said on Friday. The United States said on Sunday it saw Kim's comments as an 'interesting signal', but added that Washington was still waiting for direct communication from Pyongyang to start any talks relating to denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. (With inputs from agencies)

New US envoy for North Korea to huddle with South Koreans, Japanese

The United States said on Sunday it saw as an "interesting signal" North Korean leader&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;Jong Un's comments that he is ready for "dialogue and confrontation," but added that Washington was still waiting for direct communication from Pyongyang to start any talks relating to the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.

In his first direct comments on US President Joe Biden's administration,&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;urged preparation for both dialogue and confrontation with the United States, particularly the latter, state news agency KCNA said on Friday.

Speaking in an interview with ABC News, US National Security adviser Jake Sullivan said Washington would still need a direct and clear response from Pyongyang expressing its willingness for talks.

"His comments this week we regard as an interesting signal and we will wait to see whether they are followed up with any kind of more direct communication to us about a potential path forward," Sullivan said. "The clear signal they could send is to say 'yes, let's do it. Let's sit down and begin negotiations.'"

Kim's remarks came two days before the newly appointed US envoy for North Korea, Sung&nbsp;Kim, was set to arrive in South Korea on his first visit since taking up the role last month.

He will hold talks with South Korean and Japanese counterparts and meet other Seoul officials during his stay until June 23, the State Department said on Thursday.

North Korea lashed out at the United States and its ally, South Korea, last month, saying Washington's comments on its North Korean policy were proof of a hostile approach that required a corresponding response from Pyongyang.

The United States said on Sunday it saw as an "interesting signal" North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's comments that he is ready for "dialogue and confrontation," but added that Washington was still waiting for direct communication from Pyongyang to start any talks relating to the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.

The United States said on Sunday it saw as an "interesting signal" North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's comments that he is ready for "dialogue and confrontation," but added that Washington was still waiting for direct communication from Pyongyang to start any talks relating to the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. In his first direct comments on US President Joe Biden's administration, Kim urged preparation for both dialogue and confrontation with the United States, particularly the latter, state news agency KCNA said on Friday. Speaking in an interview with ABC News, US National Security adviser Jake Sullivan said Washington would still need a direct and clear response from Pyongyang expressing its willingness for talks. "His comments this week we regard as an interesting signal and we will wait to see whether they are followed up with any kind of more direct communication to us about a potential path forward," Sullivan said. "The clear signal they could send is to say 'yes, let's do it. Let's sit down and begin negotiations.'" Kim's remarks came two days before the newly appointed US envoy for North Korea, Sung Kim, was set to arrive in South Korea on his first visit since taking up the role last month. He will hold talks with South Korean and Japanese counterparts and meet other Seoul officials during his stay until June 23, the State Department said on Thursday. North Korea lashed out at the United States and its ally, South Korea, last month, saying Washington's comments on its North Korean policy were proof of a hostile approach that required a corresponding response from Pyongyang.

White House says comments by N.Korea's Kim are 'interesting signal'

A visibly thinner Kim Jong Un has sparked speculations online. Is the North Korean dictator unwell, or did he intentionally lose weight to get healthier? Kim's weight loss coincides with a food crisis in North Korea. Palki Sharma has a report.

Gravitas: Kim Jong Un's weight loss sparks speculations

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reinforced the ruling Workers' Party discipline and appointed new members of its powerful politburo, state media KCNA reported on Saturday. 
 
The party's central committee held a plenary meeting for a fourth and last day where it reviewed organisational and ideological issues for its central leadership organ. 
 
Some members of the leadership expressed 'remorse for failing to live up to the expectations',&nbsp;after Kim pointed out 'serious problems' with their lifestyle, KCNA said, without elaborating. 
 
The central committee's powerful politburo also elected Thae Hyong Chol, vice president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, as a new member, and U Sang Chol, an official at the party's Central Auditing Commission, as an alternate member, KCNA said. 
 
The party gathering kicked off on Tuesday. 
 
During earlier sessions, Kim called for measures to tackle the 'tense' food situation, blaming the coronavirus pandemic and last year's typhoons, and urged preparation for both dialogue and confrontation with the United States in his first direct comment on US&nbsp;President Joe Biden's administration. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reinforced the ruling Workers' Party discipline and appointed new members of its powerful politburo, state media KCNA reported on Saturday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reinforced the ruling Workers' Party discipline and appointed new members of its powerful politburo, state media KCNA reported on Saturday. The party's central committee held a plenary meeting for a fourth and last day where it reviewed organisational and ideological issues for its central leadership organ. Some members of the leadership expressed 'remorse for failing to live up to the expectations', after Kim pointed out 'serious problems' with their lifestyle, KCNA said, without elaborating. The central committee's powerful politburo also elected Thae Hyong Chol, vice president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, as a new member, and U Sang Chol, an official at the party's Central Auditing Commission, as an alternate member, KCNA said. The party gathering kicked off on Tuesday. During earlier sessions, Kim called for measures to tackle the 'tense' food situation, blaming the coronavirus pandemic and last year's typhoons, and urged preparation for both dialogue and confrontation with the United States in his first direct comment on US President Joe Biden's administration. (With inputs from agencies)

Kim Jong Un tightens ruling party discipline, appoints new politburo members

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

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

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

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

In 2018-2019, Kim held a series of high-stakes summit meetings with Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, to discuss the future of his advancing nuclear arsenal.

N Korea's Kim vows to be ready for confrontation with US

North Korea has provided $300,000 to an UN-led humanitarian aid initiative for Myanmar, marking its first donation to other countries since 2005, UN&nbsp;data showed on Thursday. 
 
The UN&nbsp;Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)` financial tracking service showed that North Korea paid the contribution on May 24 to the Myanmar Humanitarian Fund. 
 
The fund calls for some $276 million to help Myanmar, where hundreds of people have died since the military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February and began a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests, adding to the country`s struggle with the coronavirus pandemic. 
 
North Korea last offered financial aid to the United Nations in 2005, when it gave $150,000 for Indonesia, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Maldives and Sri Lanka - all of which were hit by a devastating tsunami in December 2004. 
 
North Korea has longstanding relations with Myanmar, and UN&nbsp;monitors have said Pyongyang supplies weapons to the Southeast Asian nation. It has said it is investigating missile cooperation between the two countries. 
 
South Korea has also provided $600,000 to the UN&nbsp;efforts to support Myanmar but has suspended defence exchanges and banned exports of arms and other strategic items to the Southeast Asian country.

North Korea has provided $300,000 to an UN-led humanitarian aid initiative for Myanmar, marking its first donation to other countries since 2005, UN data showed on Thursday.

North Korea has provided $300,000 to an UN-led humanitarian aid initiative for Myanmar, marking its first donation to other countries since 2005, UN data showed on Thursday. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)` financial tracking service showed that North Korea paid the contribution on May 24 to the Myanmar Humanitarian Fund. The fund calls for some $276 million to help Myanmar, where hundreds of people have died since the military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February and began a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests, adding to the country`s struggle with the coronavirus pandemic. North Korea last offered financial aid to the United Nations in 2005, when it gave $150,000 for Indonesia, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Maldives and Sri Lanka - all of which were hit by a devastating tsunami in December 2004. North Korea has longstanding relations with Myanmar, and UN monitors have said Pyongyang supplies weapons to the Southeast Asian nation. It has said it is investigating missile cooperation between the two countries. South Korea has also provided $600,000 to the UN efforts to support Myanmar but has suspended defence exchanges and banned exports of arms and other strategic items to the Southeast Asian country.

North Korea gives $300,000 for Myanmar in first financial aid since 2005

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said the country`s economy improved this year but called for measures to tackle the "tense" food situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic and last year`s typhoons, state media said on Wednesday. 
 
Kim chaired a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers` Party`s central committee on Tuesday to review progress on major policies and craft measures to resolve economic issues, according to the official KCNA news agency. 
 
The committee set goals and tasks to achieve its new five-year economic plan outlined at its previous session in February, including increased food and metal production. 
 
Kim said the overall economy had improved in the first half of the year, with the total industrial output growing 25% from a year before, KCNA said. 
 
But there was "a series of deviations" in the party`s efforts to implement the plans due to several obstacles, he said, singling out tight food supplies. 
 
"The people`s food situation is now getting tense as the agricultural sector failed to fulfil its grain production plan due to the damage by a typhoon last year," Kim said. 
 
The party vowed to direct all efforts to farm this year and discuss ways to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, KCNA said. 
 
Kim called for steps to minimise impacts of natural disasters as a lesson from last year and key to attaining this year`s goal. 
 
In January, Kim said his previous five-year economic plan had failed in almost every sector, amid chronic power and food shortages exacerbated by sanctions, the pandemic and floods. 
 
He also the protracted pandemic required the party to step up efforts to provide food, clothing and housing for the people, KCNA said. 
 
North Korea has not officially confirmed any COVID-19 cases, a claim questioned by Seoul officials. But the reclusive country has imposed strict anti-virus measures including border closures and domestic travel restrictions. 
 
COVAX, a global initiative for sharing COVID-19 vaccines with poor countries, has said it will provide nearly 2 million doses to North Korea but the shipment has been delayed amid protracted consultations.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said the country`s economy improved this year but called for measures to tackle the "tense" food situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic and last year`s typhoons, state media said on Wednesday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said the country`s economy improved this year but called for measures to tackle the "tense" food situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic and last year`s typhoons, state media said on Wednesday. Kim chaired a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers` Party`s central committee on Tuesday to review progress on major policies and craft measures to resolve economic issues, according to the official KCNA news agency. The committee set goals and tasks to achieve its new five-year economic plan outlined at its previous session in February, including increased food and metal production. Kim said the overall economy had improved in the first half of the year, with the total industrial output growing 25% from a year before, KCNA said. But there was "a series of deviations" in the party`s efforts to implement the plans due to several obstacles, he said, singling out tight food supplies. "The people`s food situation is now getting tense as the agricultural sector failed to fulfil its grain production plan due to the damage by a typhoon last year," Kim said. The party vowed to direct all efforts to farm this year and discuss ways to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, KCNA said. Kim called for steps to minimise impacts of natural disasters as a lesson from last year and key to attaining this year`s goal. In January, Kim said his previous five-year economic plan had failed in almost every sector, amid chronic power and food shortages exacerbated by sanctions, the pandemic and floods. He also the protracted pandemic required the party to step up efforts to provide food, clothing and housing for the people, KCNA said. North Korea has not officially confirmed any COVID-19 cases, a claim questioned by Seoul officials. But the reclusive country has imposed strict anti-virus measures including border closures and domestic travel restrictions. COVAX, a global initiative for sharing COVID-19 vaccines with poor countries, has said it will provide nearly 2 million doses to North Korea but the shipment has been delayed amid protracted consultations.

North Korea’s Kim says food situation ‘tense’ due to pandemic, typhoons

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

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

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

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

A few months after the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un&nbsp;disappeared from the public eye, there are new speculations about his sudden weight loss.

Kim is known to have a heavy frame and has been the point of discussion many times because of this. However, recent photographs show him much slimmer, which has sparked speculations about his health.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-bans-mullet-haircuts-nose-piercings-and-skinny-jeans-in-the-fight-against-capitalism-387760">&nbsp;North Korea bans mullet haircuts, nose piercings, and skinny jeans in the fight against capitalism</a>

The images that appeared in South Korea's&nbsp;state-run media house Yonhap showed that the leader has had to readjust the strap of his watch tightened on his left wrist.

The North Korean leader is a chain smoker and has, in the recent past, faced a few medical problems, some reportedly leading to surgeries.

His father, Kim Jong-il, &nbsp;passed away due to a suspected heart attack in December 2011, which many believe was due to the bad lifestyle that he followed.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kim-jong-un-presents-plans-to-stabilise-battered-north-korean-economy-390070">Kim Jong Un presents plans to stabilise battered North Korean economy</a>

It is believed that the apple did not fall far from the tree, as Kim Jong Un is also infamous for his unhealthy lifestyle.

While many think the weight loss might be a result of some health problem, some also speculate that it might be a conscious decision to protect his reputation and improve his standing in North Korea.

The country has been suffering from food shortage as the economic crisis has worsened since the trade relationship with China took a dramatic fall, and the natural disasters and international sanctions made things worse.

A few months after the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un disappeared from the public eye, there are new speculations about his sudden weight loss. Kim is known to have a heavy frame and has been the point of discussion many times because of this.

A few months after the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un disappeared from the public eye, there are new speculations about his sudden weight loss. Kim is known to have a heavy frame and has been the point of discussion many times because of this. However, recent photographs show him much slimmer, which has sparked speculations about his health. Also read | North Korea bans mullet haircuts, nose piercings, and skinny jeans in the fight against capitalism The images that appeared in South Korea's state-run media house Yonhap showed that the leader has had to readjust the strap of his watch tightened on his left wrist. The North Korean leader is a chain smoker and has, in the recent past, faced a few medical problems, some reportedly leading to surgeries. His father, Kim Jong-il, passed away due to a suspected heart attack in December 2011, which many believe was due to the bad lifestyle that he followed. Also read | Kim Jong Un presents plans to stabilise battered North Korean economy It is believed that the apple did not fall far from the tree, as Kim Jong Un is also infamous for his unhealthy lifestyle. While many think the weight loss might be a result of some health problem, some also speculate that it might be a conscious decision to protect his reputation and improve his standing in North Korea. The country has been suffering from food shortage as the economic crisis has worsened since the trade relationship with China took a dramatic fall, and the natural disasters and international sanctions made things worse.

Kim Jong Un's sudden weight loss sparks rumours about his health

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un presented economic plans to senior ruling party officials before an upcoming meeting to review the nation’s efforts to overcome severe hardships amid a prolonged COVID-19 crisis, state media said Tuesday.&nbsp;

The Korean Central News Agency said Kim held his consultations Monday in preparation for a meeting of the Workers' Party’s powerful Central Committee to discuss state affairs for the first half of 2021. The meeting was set for early June and could take place as early as this week.&nbsp;

Kim’s plans were not specified but were described as intending to bring “tangible change" to stabilising the economy and people’s living conditions.&nbsp;

The North Korean economy has been crippled by decades of mismanagement, U.S.-led sanctions over Kim’s nuclear weapons program and the coronavirus pandemic. South Korean officials say there are no signs North Korea is easing the border controls it imposed at the start of the pandemic to import more industrial and agricultural materials to boost production.&nbsp;

The Workers'' Party last held a plenary meeting of Central Committee members in February, when Kim ripped into state economic agencies for their “passive and self-protecting tendencies” in setting their annual goals.&nbsp;

Earlier in the year, at the party’s first congress since 2016, Kim urged his people to be resilient in the struggle for economic self-reliance and called for reasserting greater state control over the economy, boosting agricultural production and prioritizing the development of chemicals and metal industries. Those sectors have been critically depleted by sanctions and halted imports of factory materials amid the pandemic.&nbsp;

The economic setbacks have left Kim with nothing to show for his ambitious diplomacy with former President Donald Trump, which failed to bring the North sanctions relief, and the North has so far ignored the Biden administration’s calls to resume dialogue.&nbsp;

Some experts say Kim could use the upcoming Central Committee meeting to address the stalled nuclear diplomacy.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un presented economic plans to senior ruling party officials before an upcoming meeting to review the nation’s efforts to overcome severe hardships amid a prolonged COVID-19 crisis, state media said Tuesday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un presented economic plans to senior ruling party officials before an upcoming meeting to review the nation’s efforts to overcome severe hardships amid a prolonged COVID-19 crisis, state media said Tuesday. The Korean Central News Agency said Kim held his consultations Monday in preparation for a meeting of the Workers' Party’s powerful Central Committee to discuss state affairs for the first half of 2021. The meeting was set for early June and could take place as early as this week. Kim’s plans were not specified but were described as intending to bring “tangible change" to stabilising the economy and people’s living conditions. The North Korean economy has been crippled by decades of mismanagement, U.S.-led sanctions over Kim’s nuclear weapons program and the coronavirus pandemic. South Korean officials say there are no signs North Korea is easing the border controls it imposed at the start of the pandemic to import more industrial and agricultural materials to boost production. The Workers'' Party last held a plenary meeting of Central Committee members in February, when Kim ripped into state economic agencies for their “passive and self-protecting tendencies” in setting their annual goals. Earlier in the year, at the party’s first congress since 2016, Kim urged his people to be resilient in the struggle for economic self-reliance and called for reasserting greater state control over the economy, boosting agricultural production and prioritizing the development of chemicals and metal industries. Those sectors have been critically depleted by sanctions and halted imports of factory materials amid the pandemic. The economic setbacks have left Kim with nothing to show for his ambitious diplomacy with former President Donald Trump, which failed to bring the North sanctions relief, and the North has so far ignored the Biden administration’s calls to resume dialogue. Some experts say Kim could use the upcoming Central Committee meeting to address the stalled nuclear diplomacy.

Kim Jong Un presents plans to stabilise battered North Korean economy

North Korea's state media on Monday criticised the recent termination of a pact between the United States and South Korea that capped the development of South Korea's ballistic missiles, calling it a sign of Washington's 'shameful double-dealing'. 
 
South Korean President Moon Jae-in announced the abolishment of the joint missile guidelines that had limited the country's development of ballistic missiles to a range of 800 km (500 miles) after his first summit with US&nbsp;President Joe Biden earlier this month. 
 
North Korea's official KCNA news agency carried an article by Kim Myong Chol, who it described as an 'international affairs critic'," to accuse the United States of applying a double standard as it sought to ban Pyongyang from developing ballistic missiles. 
 
The United States is "engrossed in confrontation despite its lip-service to dialogue," Kim said. "The termination step is a stark reminder of the US&nbsp;hostile policy towards the DPRK and its shameful double-dealing." 
 
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is North Korea's official name. 
 
North Korea's target is the United States, not South Korea's military, and it will counter the States on 'the principle of strength for strength',&nbsp;Kim said. 
 
Kim also criticised Moon for welcoming the termination of the guidelines, calling it 'disgusting, indecent'. 
 
"Now that the US&nbsp;and the South Korean authorities made clear their ambition of aggression, they are left with no reasons whatsoever to fault the DPRK bolstering its capabilities for self-defence," Kim added. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

North Korea's state media on Monday criticised the recent termination of a pact between the United States and South Korea that capped the development of South Korea's ballistic missiles, calling it a sign of Washington's 'shameful double-dealing'.

North Korea's state media on Monday criticised the recent termination of a pact between the United States and South Korea that capped the development of South Korea's ballistic missiles, calling it a sign of Washington's 'shameful double-dealing'. South Korean President Moon Jae-in announced the abolishment of the joint missile guidelines that had limited the country's development of ballistic missiles to a range of 800 km (500 miles) after his first summit with US President Joe Biden earlier this month. North Korea's official KCNA news agency carried an article by Kim Myong Chol, who it described as an 'international affairs critic'," to accuse the United States of applying a double standard as it sought to ban Pyongyang from developing ballistic missiles. The United States is "engrossed in confrontation despite its lip-service to dialogue," Kim said. "The termination step is a stark reminder of the US hostile policy towards the DPRK and its shameful double-dealing." The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is North Korea's official name. North Korea's target is the United States, not South Korea's military, and it will counter the States on 'the principle of strength for strength', Kim said. Kim also criticised Moon for welcoming the termination of the guidelines, calling it 'disgusting, indecent'. "Now that the US and the South Korean authorities made clear their ambition of aggression, they are left with no reasons whatsoever to fault the DPRK bolstering its capabilities for self-defence," Kim added. (With inputs from agencies)

North Korea slams end to US guidelines limiting South Korea missile range

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un recently announced a list of banned fashion and hairstyles in the region’s state-run newspaper, with skinny jeans and ripped denim among the symbols of a “capitalistic lifestyle” that are now deemed illegal.

The country has also banned mullets and&nbsp;certain piercings in a bid to keep the country free from "decadent" Western fashion trends.

It comes after North Korea's state-run newspaper, Rodong Sinmum, published a warning earlier this month saying capitalism needed to be prevented from "seeping" into the country.

The newspaper published an article expressing concern about young North Koreans increasingly embracing Western fashion trends.

The Rodong Sinmum report said: “History teaches us a crucial lesson that a country can become vulnerable and eventually collapse like a damp wall regardless of its economic and defence power if we do not hold on to our lifestyle.”

Kim Jong-un is known for issuing bizarre orders to his countrymen.

North Korea has one of the worst healthcare systems in the world and many hospitals do not have access to running water or electricity. The self-inflicted isolation from the world means North Korea's medical institutes do not have the know-how to match the world.

It has never developed a vaccine of its own. The WHO has been supplying vaccines and immunisation to North Korea as it is a poor country.

Food shortages have become worse due to bad weather, lack of fertiliser and a drop in international donation. One out of three people lives on less than one dollar per day.

(With inputs from agencies)

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un recently announced a list of banned fashion and hairstyles in the region’s state-run newspaper, with skinny jeans and ripped denim among the symbols of a “capitalistic lifestyle” that are now deemed illegal.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un recently announced a list of banned fashion and hairstyles in the region’s state-run newspaper, with skinny jeans and ripped denim among the symbols of a “capitalistic lifestyle” that are now deemed illegal. The country has also banned mullets and certain piercings in a bid to keep the country free from "decadent" Western fashion trends. It comes after North Korea's state-run newspaper, Rodong Sinmum, published a warning earlier this month saying capitalism needed to be prevented from "seeping" into the country. The newspaper published an article expressing concern about young North Koreans increasingly embracing Western fashion trends. The Rodong Sinmum report said: “History teaches us a crucial lesson that a country can become vulnerable and eventually collapse like a damp wall regardless of its economic and defence power if we do not hold on to our lifestyle.” Kim Jong-un is known for issuing bizarre orders to his countrymen. North Korea has one of the worst healthcare systems in the world and many hospitals do not have access to running water or electricity. The self-inflicted isolation from the world means North Korea's medical institutes do not have the know-how to match the world. It has never developed a vaccine of its own. The WHO has been supplying vaccines and immunisation to North Korea as it is a poor country. Food shortages have become worse due to bad weather, lack of fertiliser and a drop in international donation. One out of three people lives on less than one dollar per day. (With inputs from agencies)

North Korea bans mullet haircuts, nose piercings, and skinny jeans in the fight against capitalism

Nuclear-armed North Korea is advancing on the front lines of cyberwarfare, analysts say, stealing billions of dollars and presenting a clearer and more present danger than its banned weapons programmes.

Pyongyang is under multiple international sanctions over its atomic bomb and ballistic missile programmes, which have seen rapid progress under North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

But while the world's diplomatic focus has been on its nuclear ambitions, the North has been quietly and steadily building up its cyber capabilities, and analysts say its army of thousands of well-trained hackers are proving to be just as dangerous.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/denuclearisation-is-the-goal-biden-moon-express-willingness-for-dialogue-with-north-korea-386632">'Denuclearisation is the goal': Biden, Moon express willingness for dialogue with North Korea</a>

"North Korea's nuclear and military programmes are long-term threats, but its cyber threats are immediate, realistic threats," said Oh Il-seok, a researcher at the Institute for National Security Strategy in Seoul.

Pyongyang's cyberwarfare abilities first came to global prominence in 2014 when it was accused of hacking into Sony Pictures Entertainment as revenge for "The Interview", a satirical film that mocked leader Kim.

The attack resulted in the posting of several unreleased movies online as well as a vast trove of confidential documents.

Since then the North has been blamed for a number of high-profile cyberattacks, including a $81 million heist from the Bangladesh Central Bank as well as the 2017 WannaCry global ransomware attack, which infected some 300,000 computers in 150 nations.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-accuses-the-us-of-using-spurious-diplomacy-to-cover-up-hostile-acts-382073">North Korea accuses the US of using 'spurious' diplomacy to 'cover up hostile acts'</a>

Pyongyang has denied any involvement, describing US allegations over WannaCry as "absurd" and a foreign ministry spokesman declaring: "We have nothing to do with cyberattacks."

But the US Justice Department in February indicted three North Koreans on charges of "participating in a wide-ranging criminal conspiracy to conduct a series of destructive cyberattacks".

In its 2021 Annual Threat Assessment Report, Washington acknowledged that Pyongyang "probably possesses the expertise to cause temporary, limited disruptions of some critical infrastructure networks" across the United States.

The North's cyber programme "poses a growing espionage, theft, and attack threat," said the document from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

It accused Pyongyang of stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges, "probably to fund government priorities, such as its nuclear and missile programs".

'The best defence'

North Korea's cyber-programme dates back to at least the mid-1990s, when then-leader Kim Jong Il reportedly said "all wars in future years will be computer wars".

Today Pyongyang's 6,000-strong cyberwarfare unit, known as Bureau 121, operates from several countries including Belarus, China, India, Malaysia and Russia, according to a US military report published in July 2020.

Scott Jarkoff of cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike rates them highly: "They are extremely sophisticated, dedicated, and capable of conducting advanced attacks."

Bureau 121 recruits are trained in different coding languages and operating systems at special establishments such as Mirim University, said former student Jang Se-yul, who defected in 2007.

Now known as the University of Automation, it takes in only 100 students a year from among the North's highest-scoring schoolchildren.

"We were taught that we had to be prepared against America's cyberwarfare capabilities," Jang told AFP.

"Ultimately, we were taught that we had to develop our own hacking programmes since attacking the enemy's operating system is the best defence."

Cyberwarfare is particularly appealing for small, poor countries like the North that are "outgunned in terms of equipment such as planes, tanks and other modern weapons systems", said Stimson Center researcher Martyn Williams.

"Hacking just requires a computer and Internet connection."

Keyboards over guns

Most state-sponsored hacking groups are mainly used for espionage purposes, but experts say North Korea is unusual in also deploying its cyber capabilities for financial gain.

Pyongyang has blockaded itself to protect against the coronavirus pandemic, adding to the pressure on its economy, and has for years sought to earn foreign currency by multiple means.

And Williams added: "Stealing it is a lot faster and potentially more lucrative than doing business, especially if you have skilled hackers."

The February US indictment accused the three North Koreans of stealing more than $1.3 billion worth of money and cryptocurrency from financial institutions and companies.

When it was issued Assistant Attorney General John Demers called North Korea's operatives &nbsp;"the world's leading bank robbers", adding they were "using keyboards rather than guns, stealing digital wallets of cryptocurrency instead of sacks of cash".

The rise of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin have presented hackers globally with a whole new range of increasingly lucrative targets.

In addition, said Jarkoff, their decentralised networks were a particular bonus for the North, offering a way to circumvent financial sanctions.

"This allows North Korea to easily launder money back into the country, outside the control of the global banking system," he said.

"Cryptocurrency is attractive because it is uncontrolled, borderless, and relatively anonymous."

Nuclear-armed North Korea is advancing on the front lines of cyberwarfare, analysts say, stealing billions of dollars and presenting a clearer and more present danger than its banned weapons programmes.

Nuclear-armed North Korea is advancing on the front lines of cyberwarfare, analysts say, stealing billions of dollars and presenting a clearer and more present danger than its banned weapons programmes. Pyongyang is under multiple international sanctions over its atomic bomb and ballistic missile programmes, which have seen rapid progress under North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. But while the world's diplomatic focus has been on its nuclear ambitions, the North has been quietly and steadily building up its cyber capabilities, and analysts say its army of thousands of well-trained hackers are proving to be just as dangerous. Also read | 'Denuclearisation is the goal': Biden, Moon express willingness for dialogue with North Korea "North Korea's nuclear and military programmes are long-term threats, but its cyber threats are immediate, realistic threats," said Oh Il-seok, a researcher at the Institute for National Security Strategy in Seoul. Pyongyang's cyberwarfare abilities first came to global prominence in 2014 when it was accused of hacking into Sony Pictures Entertainment as revenge for "The Interview", a satirical film that mocked leader Kim. The attack resulted in the posting of several unreleased movies online as well as a vast trove of confidential documents. Since then the North has been blamed for a number of high-profile cyberattacks, including a $81 million heist from the Bangladesh Central Bank as well as the 2017 WannaCry global ransomware attack, which infected some 300,000 computers in 150 nations. Also read | North Korea accuses the US of using 'spurious' diplomacy to 'cover up hostile acts' Pyongyang has denied any involvement, describing US allegations over WannaCry as "absurd" and a foreign ministry spokesman declaring: "We have nothing to do with cyberattacks." But the US Justice Department in February indicted three North Koreans on charges of "participating in a wide-ranging criminal conspiracy to conduct a series of destructive cyberattacks". In its 2021 Annual Threat Assessment Report, Washington acknowledged that Pyongyang "probably possesses the expertise to cause temporary, limited disruptions of some critical infrastructure networks" across the United States. The North's cyber programme "poses a growing espionage, theft, and attack threat," said the document from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. It accused Pyongyang of stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges, "probably to fund government priorities, such as its nuclear and missile programs". 'The best defence' North Korea's cyber-programme dates back to at least the mid-1990s, when then-leader Kim Jong Il reportedly said "all wars in future years will be computer wars". Today Pyongyang's 6,000-strong cyberwarfare unit, known as Bureau 121, operates from several countries including Belarus, China, India, Malaysia and Russia, according to a US military report published in July 2020. Scott Jarkoff of cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike rates them highly: "They are extremely sophisticated, dedicated, and capable of conducting advanced attacks." Bureau 121 recruits are trained in different coding languages and operating systems at special establishments such as Mirim University, said former student Jang Se-yul, who defected in 2007. Now known as the University of Automation, it takes in only 100 students a year from among the North's highest-scoring schoolchildren. "We were taught that we had to be prepared against America's cyberwarfare capabilities," Jang told AFP. "Ultimately, we were taught that we had to develop our own hacking programmes since attacking the enemy's operating system is the best defence." Cyberwarfare is particularly appealing for small, poor countries like the North that are "outgunned in terms of equipment such as planes, tanks and other modern weapons systems", said Stimson Center researcher Martyn Williams. "Hacking just requires a computer and Internet connection." Keyboards over guns Most state-sponsored hacking groups are mainly used for espionage purposes, but experts say North Korea is unusual in also deploying its cyber capabilities for financial gain. Pyongyang has blockaded itself to protect against the coronavirus pandemic, adding to the pressure on its economy, and has for years sought to earn foreign currency by multiple means. And Williams added: "Stealing it is a lot faster and potentially more lucrative than doing business, especially if you have skilled hackers." The February US indictment accused the three North Koreans of stealing more than $1.3 billion worth of money and cryptocurrency from financial institutions and companies. When it was issued Assistant Attorney General John Demers called North Korea's operatives "the world's leading bank robbers", adding they were "using keyboards rather than guns, stealing digital wallets of cryptocurrency instead of sacks of cash". The rise of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin have presented hackers globally with a whole new range of increasingly lucrative targets. In addition, said Jarkoff, their decentralised networks were a particular bonus for the North, offering a way to circumvent financial sanctions. "This allows North Korea to easily launder money back into the country, outside the control of the global banking system," he said. "Cryptocurrency is attractive because it is uncontrolled, borderless, and relatively anonymous."

'World's leading bank robbers': North Korea's hacker army

Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has accused President Alexander Lukashenko of turning the country&nbsp;into "North Korea of Europe".

Speaking to the European Parliament via video link on Wednesday, Tikhanovskaya called for a series of concrete measures, including a ban on new foreign investments and on Belarus's main exports like oil and metal products, potash fertilisers and wood.

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She also said that&nbsp;the opposition was preparing to stage a new phase of active anti-government protests in&nbsp;Belarus.

The European Union said it was eyeing fresh sanctions on Lukashenko's regime after the plane incident.

European leaders have also demanded the release of Roman Protasevich, the opposition activist who was on board the plane and arrested by Belarus authorities in Minsk.

The 26-year-old activist co-ran the Nexta Telegram channels, prominent voices of the opposition that helped mobilise and coordinate protesters.

Meanwhile,&nbsp;Lukashenko has accused the West of trying to use the diversion of a Ryanair plane at the weekend to wage hybrid war against him and said it had falsely portrayed his handling of the incident.

In his first comments after what some European politicians described as a "state-sponsored hijacking" on Sunday, Lukashenko said he had acted legally and in accordance with all international norms, but that 'ill-wishers' were trying to use the plane episode to try to undermine his rule.

"As we predicted our ill-wishers from outside the country and from inside the country changed their methods of attack on the state," Lukashenko told parliament.

"They (the ill-wishers) have crossed many red lines and have abandoned common sense and human morals."

Airlines re-routed flights to avoid&nbsp;Belarus's airspace on Tuesday and&nbsp;Belarusian planes faced a possible ban from Europe, as international outrage mounted over Minsk forcing down a jetliner and arresting a dissident journalist on board.

Belarusian air control advised the Ryanair flight from Athens to Vilnius to divert to Minsk, according to a transcript, due to what turned out to be a hoax bomb threat.&nbsp;Belarus&nbsp;also scrambled a MiG-29 fighter jet to escort the passenger plane.

Belarusian authorities then swiftly detained Roman Protasevich, a dissident journalist who had been travelling on board the plane, along with his girlfriend. Both face criminal charges.

Lukashenko, according to Russia's TASS news agency, said Protasevich had planned a "bloody rebellion" in&nbsp;Belarus.

The Western response to the plane diversion was part of a "hybrid war" against his country and he would respond harshly to any sanctions or provocations, the Belta news agency reported him as telling parliament.

Mass protests erupted against President Alexander Lukashenko last summer after he declared victory in a presidential election that his opponents said was rigged, but they lost momentum amid a sweeping crackdown by the authorities.

Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has accused President Alexander Lukashenko of turning the country into "North Korea of Europe". Speaking to the European Parliament via video link on Wednesday, Tikhanovskaya called for a series of concrete measures, including a ban on new foreign investments and on Belarus's main exports like oil and metal products, potash fertilisers and wood.

Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has accused President Alexander Lukashenko of turning the country into "North Korea of Europe". Speaking to the European Parliament via video link on Wednesday, Tikhanovskaya called for a series of concrete measures, including a ban on new foreign investments and on Belarus's main exports like oil and metal products, potash fertilisers and wood. She also said that the opposition was preparing to stage a new phase of active anti-government protests in Belarus. The European Union said it was eyeing fresh sanctions on Lukashenko's regime after the plane incident. European leaders have also demanded the release of Roman Protasevich, the opposition activist who was on board the plane and arrested by Belarus authorities in Minsk. The 26-year-old activist co-ran the Nexta Telegram channels, prominent voices of the opposition that helped mobilise and coordinate protesters. Meanwhile, Lukashenko has accused the West of trying to use the diversion of a Ryanair plane at the weekend to wage hybrid war against him and said it had falsely portrayed his handling of the incident. In his first comments after what some European politicians described as a "state-sponsored hijacking" on Sunday, Lukashenko said he had acted legally and in accordance with all international norms, but that 'ill-wishers' were trying to use the plane episode to try to undermine his rule. "As we predicted our ill-wishers from outside the country and from inside the country changed their methods of attack on the state," Lukashenko told parliament. "They (the ill-wishers) have crossed many red lines and have abandoned common sense and human morals." Airlines re-routed flights to avoid Belarus's airspace on Tuesday and Belarusian planes faced a possible ban from Europe, as international outrage mounted over Minsk forcing down a jetliner and arresting a dissident journalist on board. Belarusian air control advised the Ryanair flight from Athens to Vilnius to divert to Minsk, according to a transcript, due to what turned out to be a hoax bomb threat. Belarus also scrambled a MiG-29 fighter jet to escort the passenger plane. Belarusian authorities then swiftly detained Roman Protasevich, a dissident journalist who had been travelling on board the plane, along with his girlfriend. Both face criminal charges. Lukashenko, according to Russia's TASS news agency, said Protasevich had planned a "bloody rebellion" in Belarus. The Western response to the plane diversion was part of a "hybrid war" against his country and he would respond harshly to any sanctions or provocations, the Belta news agency reported him as telling parliament. Mass protests erupted against President Alexander Lukashenko last summer after he declared victory in a presidential election that his opponents said was rigged, but they lost momentum amid a sweeping crackdown by the authorities.

Belarus opposition leader accuses Lukashenko of turning country into 'North Korea of Europe'

US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday injected fresh urgency into attempts to engage North Korea in dialogue over its nuclear weapons, with Biden saying he would meet its leader Kim Jong Un under the right conditions.

Joe Biden appoints a new envoy to Pyongyang

US President Joe Biden has announced the appointment of a special envoy for North Korea after he hosted his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-In at the White House. The two leaders also unveiled a new vaccine partnership to expand manufacturing and scale up global vaccine supply.

Biden appoints a new envoy to North Korea after meeting South Korean President

US&nbsp;President Joe Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday injected fresh urgency into attempts to engage North Korea in dialogue over its nuclear weapons, with Biden saying he would meet its leader Kim Jong Un under the right conditions. 
 
At a joint news conference, Biden and Moon both said the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula is their goal. Biden said he was "under no illusions" about the difficulty of getting North Korea to give up its nuclear arsenals after his predecessors failed. 
 
"We both are deeply concerned about the situation," Biden said, adding that he and Moon shared a willingness to engage diplomatically with the North "to take pragmatic steps to reduce tensions." 
 
North Korea thus far has rebuffed US&nbsp;entreaties for diplomacy since Biden took over from Donald Trump, who had three summits with Kim and the two famously exchanged "beautiful letters." 
 
Kim nonetheless refused to give up his nuclear weapons but did impose a freeze on testing them. He has not tested a nuclear bomb nor launched an inter-continental ballistic missile since 2017, although experts believe his arsenal has steadily grown. 
 
Biden said he would be willing to meet Kim under the right conditions - if he agreed to discuss his nuclear program and that his advisers first met with their North Korean counterparts to lay the groundwork. 
 
Biden said a veteran State Department official, Sung Kim, would serve as special US&nbsp;envoy for North Korea. 
 
South Korea had been pushing for the appointment of an envoy, and Moon, for whom engagement with North Korea is a legacy issue before he leaves office next year, said Sung Kim would help explore whether North Korea is willing to engage diplomatically. He said he expected a positive response. 
 
Sung Kim is a Korean-American diplomat who served as special envoy for North Korea under President Barack Obama and helped set up Trump`s summits with Kim Jong Un. 
 
He has also been ambassador to South Korea, the Philippines and Indonesia and most recently served in an acting capacity as the top US&nbsp;diplomat for East Asia. 
 
Biden said that for him to meet with Kim there would have to be a commitment from the North Korean leader "that there`s discussion about his nuclear arsenal." 
 
"I would not do what had been done in the recent past; I would not give him all he`s looking for - international recognition as legitimate and allow him to move in the direction of appearing to be more ... serious about what he wasn`t at all serious about," he said. 
 
Biden`s comments appeared to reflect a shift in his thinking. The White House had said in March it was not Biden`s intention to meet with Kim. 
 
Jenny Town of 38 North, a Washington-based North Korea-watching project, said Sung Kim`s appointment was positive given the Biden administration had signalled it was in no hurry to fill the post. However, it has given no indication of what concessions it might offer to bring about talks. 
 
"The problem has been that the administration has only talked about denuclearization and continues to characterize any interactions with North Korea as nuclear negotiations," she said. "So it`s still a tough sell to get the North Koreans back to the table, but obviously Moon is going to push very hard." 
 
Moon said Biden had expressed support for intra-Korean dialogue and cooperation, but Town said this would not mean much unless Washington, which has refused to ease sanctions on Pyongyang, allowed Seoul the space to move forward with this. 
 
Biden`s administration undertook a broad review of North Korea policy but has said little about what its new policy actually entails. 
 
US&nbsp;officials have said only that it would not be the approach favoured by Obama of refusing to engage the North, or Trump`s flashy summitry. 
 
In their day of talks, Biden and Moon reaffirmed a strong alliance between the two countries after the strains created by Trump, who badgered Moon as weak and threatened to pull US&nbsp;troops out of South Korea. 
 
Moon was the second foreign leader - after Japan`s prime minister - to visit the White House since Biden took office in January, and Biden said their conversations were those of "old friends." 
 
The two also discussed China and Taiwan. Taiwan has complained of repeated military pressure from Beijing with China’s air force making frequent forays into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone. 
 
"We`ve shared the view that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is extremely important, and we agreed to work together on that matter while considering special characteristics in relations between China and Taiwan," Moon said. 
 
In another win for Moon, who has faced pressure at home over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said the United States and South Korea had agreed a vaccine partnership that would combine US&nbsp;expertise and Korean production capacity. 
 
He said this would help supply COVID-19 vaccines in the Indo-Pacific region, while Biden said the United States would provide vaccinations for 550,000 South Korean soldiers.

US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday injected fresh urgency into attempts to engage North Korea in dialogue over its nuclear weapons, with Biden saying he would meet its leader Kim Jong Un under the right conditions. At a joint news conference, Biden and Moon both said the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula is their goal. Biden said he was "under no illusions" about the difficulty of getting North Korea to give up its nuclear arsenals after his predecessors failed. "We both are deeply concerned about the situation," Biden said, adding that he and Moon shared a willingness to engage diplomatically with the North "to take pragmatic steps to reduce tensions." North Korea thus far has rebuffed US entreaties for diplomacy since Biden took over from Donald Trump, who had three summits with Kim and the two famously exchanged "beautiful letters." Kim nonetheless refused to give up his nuclear weapons but did impose a freeze on testing them. He has not tested a nuclear bomb nor launched an inter-continental ballistic missile since 2017, although experts believe his arsenal has steadily grown. Biden said he would be willing to meet Kim under the right conditions - if he agreed to discuss his nuclear program and that his advisers first met with their North Korean counterparts to lay the groundwork. Biden said a veteran State Department official, Sung Kim, would serve as special US envoy for North Korea. South Korea had been pushing for the appointment of an envoy, and Moon, for whom engagement with North Korea is a legacy issue before he leaves office next year, said Sung Kim would help explore whether North Korea is willing to engage diplomatically. He said he expected a positive response. Sung Kim is a Korean-American diplomat who served as special envoy for North Korea under President Barack Obama and helped set up Trump`s summits with Kim Jong Un. He has also been ambassador to South Korea, the Philippines and Indonesia and most recently served in an acting capacity as the top US diplomat for East Asia. Biden said that for him to meet with Kim there would have to be a commitment from the North Korean leader "that there`s discussion about his nuclear arsenal." "I would not do what had been done in the recent past; I would not give him all he`s looking for - international recognition as legitimate and allow him to move in the direction of appearing to be more ... serious about what he wasn`t at all serious about," he said. Biden`s comments appeared to reflect a shift in his thinking. The White House had said in March it was not Biden`s intention to meet with Kim. Jenny Town of 38 North, a Washington-based North Korea-watching project, said Sung Kim`s appointment was positive given the Biden administration had signalled it was in no hurry to fill the post. However, it has given no indication of what concessions it might offer to bring about talks. "The problem has been that the administration has only talked about denuclearization and continues to characterize any interactions with North Korea as nuclear negotiations," she said. "So it`s still a tough sell to get the North Koreans back to the table, but obviously Moon is going to push very hard." Moon said Biden had expressed support for intra-Korean dialogue and cooperation, but Town said this would not mean much unless Washington, which has refused to ease sanctions on Pyongyang, allowed Seoul the space to move forward with this. Biden`s administration undertook a broad review of North Korea policy but has said little about what its new policy actually entails. US officials have said only that it would not be the approach favoured by Obama of refusing to engage the North, or Trump`s flashy summitry. In their day of talks, Biden and Moon reaffirmed a strong alliance between the two countries after the strains created by Trump, who badgered Moon as weak and threatened to pull US troops out of South Korea. Moon was the second foreign leader - after Japan`s prime minister - to visit the White House since Biden took office in January, and Biden said their conversations were those of "old friends." The two also discussed China and Taiwan. Taiwan has complained of repeated military pressure from Beijing with China’s air force making frequent forays into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone. "We`ve shared the view that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is extremely important, and we agreed to work together on that matter while considering special characteristics in relations between China and Taiwan," Moon said. In another win for Moon, who has faced pressure at home over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said the United States and South Korea had agreed a vaccine partnership that would combine US expertise and Korean production capacity. He said this would help supply COVID-19 vaccines in the Indo-Pacific region, while Biden said the United States would provide vaccinations for 550,000 South Korean soldiers.

'Denuclearisation is the goal': Biden, Moon express willingness for dialogue with North Korea

North Korea has warned its citizens on Thursday to stay away from leaflets that were sent via balloon from the South, saying they could carry coronavirus.&nbsp;

An anti-North Korea activist group said it had sent balloons into the North last week with dollar bills and leaflets denouncing the government in Pyongyang.

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="http://wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-how-did-north-korea-become-the-worlds-most-isolated-country-375342/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

North Korea's state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper said when a "strange object" comes across through wind, it should be considered as a potential route of the "malicious virus", according to news agency Yonhap.&nbsp;

It advised people to "think and move" as per the coronavirus guidelines.

The warning comes on a day when South Korean police raided the office of the activist group behind the release of balloons.

Also read | <a href="http://wionews.com/world/kim-jong-uns-sister-warns-south-korea-after-anti-north-korea-leaflets-circulated-382250">Kim Jong Un's sister warns South Korea after anti-North Korea leaflets circulated</a>

Police said they carried a raid on the basis of a search and seizure warrant against the Seoul office of Fighters for Free North Korea.&nbsp;

The group is led by Park Sang-hak, who defected from North Korea in 2000.&nbsp;

"Seven police officers raided my office around 10:10 am," Park told news agency Reuters.

The group claimed that it had released launched 10 advertising balloons from border regions which contain 500,000 leaflets, 500 booklets and 5,000 one-dollar bills.

Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/kim-jong-un">Kim Jong-un</a>, in a statement strongly condemned the move, calling the acts by "human wastes in the South" is a "serious provocation" and warned of a "corresponding action".&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

North Korea has warned its citizens on Thursday to stay away from leaflets that were sent via balloon from the South, saying they could carry coronavirus. An anti-North Korea activist group said it had sent balloons into the North last week with dollar bills and leaflets denouncing the government in Pyongyang.

North Korea has warned its citizens on Thursday to stay away from leaflets that were sent via balloon from the South, saying they could carry coronavirus. An anti-North Korea activist group said it had sent balloons into the North last week with dollar bills and leaflets denouncing the government in Pyongyang. Watch | North Korea's state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper said when a "strange object" comes across through wind, it should be considered as a potential route of the "malicious virus", according to news agency Yonhap. It advised people to "think and move" as per the coronavirus guidelines. The warning comes on a day when South Korean police raided the office of the activist group behind the release of balloons. Also read | Kim Jong Un's sister warns South Korea after anti-North Korea leaflets circulated Police said they carried a raid on the basis of a search and seizure warrant against the Seoul office of Fighters for Free North Korea. The group is led by Park Sang-hak, who defected from North Korea in 2000. "Seven police officers raided my office around 10:10 am," Park told news agency Reuters. The group claimed that it had released launched 10 advertising balloons from border regions which contain 500,000 leaflets, 500 booklets and 5,000 one-dollar bills. Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in a statement strongly condemned the move, calling the acts by "human wastes in the South" is a "serious provocation" and warned of a "corresponding action".

North Korea says propaganda leaflets from South could carry coronavirus

A South Korean publisher's defiant move to release the memoirs of the North's founder Kim Il Sung has triggered a heated debate over Seoul's decades-old ban on Pyongyang's propaganda under national security laws.

Critics of the measure say Southerners are politically mature enough to judge such material for themselves and argue it amounts to unnecessary censorship in a vibrant democracy that is one of the most wired and educated countries in the world.

But the South remains officially at&nbsp;war with its nuclear-armed and impoverished neighbour, with legislation to match.

The national security&nbsp;law dates from 1948, before the outbreak of the Korean War, and still blocks ordinary citizens from accessing most North Korean-produced content, including its official Rodong Sinmun newspaper.

Reproducing or possessing banned pro-Pyongyang materials is punishable by up to seven years in prison.&nbsp;

Even so publisher Kim Seung-kyun in April released the North Korean founder's eight-volume memoirs, titled "With the Century", said&nbsp;he did so to promote inter-Korean reconciliation.

An anti-North civic group filed a criminal complaint, police launched an investigation and within days the country's major bookstores, who had received it via a publishers' association -- pulled it from their shelves.

It briefly remained available online for 280,000 won ($250) for the full set, but by last week it was no longer available from popular web portal Naver, while searches on local bookselling platforms Kyobo and Yes24 showed no results.

The moves triggered a debate over censorship and whether people really needed to be protected from reading the words of Kim Il&nbsp;Sung.

"South Koreans already have a high level of&nbsp;judgement," said&nbsp;Ha Tae-keung, a lawmaker from the conservative People Power Party, who was jailed under the national security law as a student activist.&nbsp;

"No one is going to be deceived by a fantasy-like memoir of Kim Il Sung&nbsp;anymore," said. "We now need to actively guarantee freedom of expression."

Personality cult&nbsp;

Kim Il Sung, the grandfather of the North's current&nbsp;leader Kim Jong Un,&nbsp;ruled the world's most reclusive country for nearly five decades until his death in 1994, with a mixture of his own brand of Stalinism and an unabashed personality&nbsp;cult.

The memoir, first published by Pyongyang in 1992 and available in around 20 languages around the world,&nbsp;portrays him as a heroic Korean guerilla leader against Japanese colonial forces, often denying and downplaying his Chinese and Soviet connections.

Researchers describe it as largely a "work of fiction" with archival Soviet evidence disproving some of its key claims, but add that it has value regardless of historical inaccuracies.

Despite its "mind-numbing prose", the book revealed Pyongyang's "propensity to falsehoods" and "cult of personality", said Sung-yoon Lee, a Korean studies professor at Tufts University in the United States.

Suzy Kim,&nbsp;a Korean history professor at&nbsp;Rutgers University, said it demonstrated how the regime in Pyongyang "traces its legitimacy to its anticolonial roots".

To this day, she added, many of the North's challenges are "often justified as sacrifices made for standing up to continued imperialist policies imposed by the Japanese and US governments".

Democracy and war

The national security law technically makes mere possession of pro-North materials punishable by up to seven years in prison, while visiting the country without government permission has a maximum 10 year sentence.

The United Nations has said&nbsp;the act poses a "seriously problematic" challenge to freedom of expression in the South, and the US State department regularly criticises it in its annual human rights reports.&nbsp;

Thousands were imprisoned under the legislation by the authoritarian military governments that ruled the South for decades, often accused of engaging in pro-Pyongyang activities or spying for the North.

Publisher Kim -- who originally obtained the text several years ago for a government-authorised restricted distribution to research institutions --&nbsp;said he had no intention of benefitting Pyongyang.

Releasing the text was "a way to love my country" by promoting inter-Korean understanding, the 82-year-old said&nbsp;at his home in Goyang.

"If that is deemed a crime, I am willing to be punished."

Police confirmed&nbsp;that their investigation into whether Kim had violated the national security law was continuing.

New Paradigm of Korea, the group that filed the complaint, insisted that the general public was susceptible to "totalitarian propaganda manipulation".

Allowing the book's distribution would be "comparable to handing a nuclear bag to the enemy on a spiritual level", it added.

But Professor Lee said: "Let the publisher and consumer act freely and allow the market, including the market of ideas, determine the book's fate.

"The freedom of speech, even false and outrageous speech that beautifies the despicable, should be protected in a genuine democracy."

(With inputs from agencies)

A South Korean publisher's defiant move to release the memoirs of the North's founder Kim Il Sung has triggered a heated debate over Seoul's decades-old ban on Pyongyang's propaganda under national security laws.

A South Korean publisher's defiant move to release the memoirs of the North's founder Kim Il Sung has triggered a heated debate over Seoul's decades-old ban on Pyongyang's propaganda under national security laws. Critics of the measure say Southerners are politically mature enough to judge such material for themselves and argue it amounts to unnecessary censorship in a vibrant democracy that is one of the most wired and educated countries in the world. But the South remains officially at war with its nuclear-armed and impoverished neighbour, with legislation to match. The national security law dates from 1948, before the outbreak of the Korean War, and still blocks ordinary citizens from accessing most North Korean-produced content, including its official Rodong Sinmun newspaper. Reproducing or possessing banned pro-Pyongyang materials is punishable by up to seven years in prison. Even so publisher Kim Seung-kyun in April released the North Korean founder's eight-volume memoirs, titled "With the Century", said he did so to promote inter-Korean reconciliation. An anti-North civic group filed a criminal complaint, police launched an investigation and within days the country's major bookstores, who had received it via a publishers' association -- pulled it from their shelves. It briefly remained available online for 280,000 won ($250) for the full set, but by last week it was no longer available from popular web portal Naver, while searches on local bookselling platforms Kyobo and Yes24 showed no results. The moves triggered a debate over censorship and whether people really needed to be protected from reading the words of Kim Il Sung. "South Koreans already have a high level of judgement," said Ha Tae-keung, a lawmaker from the conservative People Power Party, who was jailed under the national security law as a student activist. "No one is going to be deceived by a fantasy-like memoir of Kim Il Sung anymore," said. "We now need to actively guarantee freedom of expression." Personality cult Kim Il Sung, the grandfather of the North's current leader Kim Jong Un, ruled the world's most reclusive country for nearly five decades until his death in 1994, with a mixture of his own brand of Stalinism and an unabashed personality cult. The memoir, first published by Pyongyang in 1992 and available in around 20 languages around the world, portrays him as a heroic Korean guerilla leader against Japanese colonial forces, often denying and downplaying his Chinese and Soviet connections. Researchers describe it as largely a "work of fiction" with archival Soviet evidence disproving some of its key claims, but add that it has value regardless of historical inaccuracies. Despite its "mind-numbing prose", the book revealed Pyongyang's "propensity to falsehoods" and "cult of personality", said Sung-yoon Lee, a Korean studies professor at Tufts University in the United States. Suzy Kim, a Korean history professor at Rutgers University, said it demonstrated how the regime in Pyongyang "traces its legitimacy to its anticolonial roots". To this day, she added, many of the North's challenges are "often justified as sacrifices made for standing up to continued imperialist policies imposed by the Japanese and US governments". Democracy and war The national security law technically makes mere possession of pro-North materials punishable by up to seven years in prison, while visiting the country without government permission has a maximum 10 year sentence. The United Nations has said the act poses a "seriously problematic" challenge to freedom of expression in the South, and the US State department regularly criticises it in its annual human rights reports. Thousands were imprisoned under the legislation by the authoritarian military governments that ruled the South for decades, often accused of engaging in pro-Pyongyang activities or spying for the North. Publisher Kim -- who originally obtained the text several years ago for a government-authorised restricted distribution to research institutions -- said he had no intention of benefitting Pyongyang. Releasing the text was "a way to love my country" by promoting inter-Korean understanding, the 82-year-old said at his home in Goyang. "If that is deemed a crime, I am willing to be punished." Police confirmed that their investigation into whether Kim had violated the national security law was continuing. New Paradigm of Korea, the group that filed the complaint, insisted that the general public was susceptible to "totalitarian propaganda manipulation". Allowing the book's distribution would be "comparable to handing a nuclear bag to the enemy on a spiritual level", it added. But Professor Lee said: "Let the publisher and consumer act freely and allow the market, including the market of ideas, determine the book's fate. "The freedom of speech, even false and outrageous speech that beautifies the despicable, should be protected in a genuine democracy." (With inputs from agencies)

North Korean founder Kim Il Sung's memoir triggers censorship debate in Seoul

North Korea has branded the US diplomacy as "spurious", dismissing the idea of talks with Washington a day after the Biden administration said it was open to diplomatic negotiations on denuclearization.

North Korea accuses the US of using 'spurious' diplomacy

North Korea branded US diplomacy "spurious" on Sunday, dismissing the idea of talks with Washington a day after the Biden administration said it was open to diplomatic negotiations on denuclearization, state media reported.

Diplomacy was a "spurious signboard" for the United States to "cover up its hostile acts," the North Korean foreign ministry said in a statement run by the KCNA news agency.

It also warned President Joe Biden that he had made a "big blunder" with his "outdated" stance towards the country.

In a separate statement also run by KCNA, the foreign ministry accused Biden of insulting Kim Jong-Un, and added: "We have warned the US sufficiently enough to understand that it will get hurt if it provokes us."

Biden had said in his first address as president to Congress on Wednesday that he would use "diplomacy as well as stern deterrence" to contain North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

The White House said Friday that its goal remains "the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula."

US policy will see "a calibrated, practical approach that is open to and will explore diplomacy" with North Korea, Biden's press secretary Jen Pskai told reporters.

Psaki gave little indication of what kind of diplomatic initiative this could entail, but suggested that Biden had learned from the experience of previous administrations, who have struggled for decades to deal with the dictatorship in North Korea or, in recent years, its growing nuclear arsenal.

She said Washington would not "focus on achieving a grand bargain," apparently referring to the kind of dramatic over-arching deal that former president Donald Trump initially suggested was possible when he met with North Korea's leader.

Neither would the White House follow the more standoff approach called "strategic patience," espoused by Barack Obama, Psaki said.

In April, South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who is due to visit the White House on May 21, urged Biden to engage directly with Kim on denuclearization.

Moon told the newspaper he favoured "top-down diplomacy."

North Korea branded US diplomacy "spurious" on Sunday, dismissing the idea of talks with Washington a day after the Biden administration said it was open to diplomatic negotiations on denuclearization, state media reported.

North Korea branded US diplomacy "spurious" on Sunday, dismissing the idea of talks with Washington a day after the Biden administration said it was open to diplomatic negotiations on denuclearization, state media reported. Diplomacy was a "spurious signboard" for the United States to "cover up its hostile acts," the North Korean foreign ministry said in a statement run by the KCNA news agency. It also warned President Joe Biden that he had made a "big blunder" with his "outdated" stance towards the country. In a separate statement also run by KCNA, the foreign ministry accused Biden of insulting Kim Jong-Un, and added: "We have warned the US sufficiently enough to understand that it will get hurt if it provokes us." Biden had said in his first address as president to Congress on Wednesday that he would use "diplomacy as well as stern deterrence" to contain North Korea's nuclear ambitions. The White House said Friday that its goal remains "the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula." US policy will see "a calibrated, practical approach that is open to and will explore diplomacy" with North Korea, Biden's press secretary Jen Pskai told reporters. Psaki gave little indication of what kind of diplomatic initiative this could entail, but suggested that Biden had learned from the experience of previous administrations, who have struggled for decades to deal with the dictatorship in North Korea or, in recent years, its growing nuclear arsenal. She said Washington would not "focus on achieving a grand bargain," apparently referring to the kind of dramatic over-arching deal that former president Donald Trump initially suggested was possible when he met with North Korea's leader. Neither would the White House follow the more standoff approach called "strategic patience," espoused by Barack Obama, Psaki said. In April, South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who is due to visit the White House on May 21, urged Biden to engage directly with Kim on denuclearization. Moon told the newspaper he favoured "top-down diplomacy."

North Korea accuses the US of using 'spurious' diplomacy to 'cover up hostile acts'

Almost a day after a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/defector-group-launches-anti-north-korea-leaflets-despite-ban-381740">defector group</a> launched anti-North Korea leaflets, Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, has warned South Korea about the incident.

On April 30, Park Sang-hak, an activist who had led a similar campaign in 2000, announced that he launched 10 advertising balloons carrying 500,000 leaflets, 500 mini booklets and nearly 5,000 $1 bills in border provinces. The act took place between Sunday and Thursday.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kim-jong-uns-sister-kim-yo-jong-slams-south-korea-for-criticising-recent-missile-test-374160">Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong slams South Korea for criticising recent missile test</a>

"We regard the manoeuvres committed by the human&nbsp;scum in the south&nbsp;as a serious provocation against our state and will look into an action corresponding to them," Kim Yo-jong warned.

"We have already seriously warned the South Korean authorities of the consequences to be entailed by their wrong act of giving a silent approval to the human scum's wild moves for North-South relations," she added.

The act took place despite a ban from South Korea against spreading anti-Pyongyang literature after North Korea had warned that it will cut all communication with South Korea if any leaflets or other literature material against Kim Jong Un or the country is circulated.

Any violation of the law is punishable by up to three years in prison or 30 million won ($27,500) in fines.

Almost a day after a defector group launched anti-North Korea leaflets, Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, has warned South Korea about the incident. On April 30, Park Sang-hak, an activist who had led a similar campaign in 2000, announced that he launched 10 advertising balloons carrying 500,000 leaflets, 500 mini booklets and nearly 5,000 $1 bills in border provinces.

Almost a day after a defector group launched anti-North Korea leaflets, Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, has warned South Korea about the incident. On April 30, Park Sang-hak, an activist who had led a similar campaign in 2000, announced that he launched 10 advertising balloons carrying 500,000 leaflets, 500 mini booklets and nearly 5,000 $1 bills in border provinces. The act took place between Sunday and Thursday. Also read | Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong slams South Korea for criticising recent missile test "We regard the manoeuvres committed by the human scum in the south as a serious provocation against our state and will look into an action corresponding to them," Kim Yo-jong warned. "We have already seriously warned the South Korean authorities of the consequences to be entailed by their wrong act of giving a silent approval to the human scum's wild moves for North-South relations," she added. The act took place despite a ban from South Korea against spreading anti-Pyongyang literature after North Korea had warned that it will cut all communication with South Korea if any leaflets or other literature material against Kim Jong Un or the country is circulated. Any violation of the law is punishable by up to three years in prison or 30 million won ($27,500) in fines.

Kim Jong Un's sister warns South Korea after anti-North Korea leaflets circulated

The White House is keen on changing the country's approach to deal with North Korea and the goal of denuclearisation in the region. President Joe Biden’s approach primarily involves “diplomacy” as opposed to looking to make “grand bargains” with the North Korean administration, the White House said on Friday.

The major challenge for the US has been to make North Korean leader Kim Jong Un give up nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. On this front, the US has witnessed multiple setbacks.

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According to Jen Psaki, the White House Press Secretary, Biden administration had undertaken a months-long review of North Korean policy, after which they decided to pursue the route of diplomacy.

"Our policy will not focus on achieving a grand bargain, nor will it rely on strategic patience," Psaki said during a press conference. Psaki added that the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula remains the goal. She noted, however that the former four presidents have been unable to get North Korea to denounce nuclear weapons.

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Owing to such past failures, the Biden administration it trying to butter the middle ground; attempting to strike a balance between the goals pursued by Biden’s recent predecessors.

Former US President Donald Trump held three summit meetings with Kim Jong Un to no end, for no goal was achieved. Even then, the meetings helped pause testing of intercontinental ballistic and nuclear missiles. Democrat Barack Obama chose a different direction by not pursuing any diplomatic engagement with the country.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/north-korea-completes-assembly-of-3000-tonne-submarine-report-376990" hreflang="en">North Korea completes assembly of 3,000-tonne submarine: Report</a>

Psaki added that the US intends to pursue a “calibrated practical approach that is open to and will explore diplomacy with" the country. She further said that the US wants to make “practical progress” which would facilitate the improvement of security for both the United States and its allies.

So far, North Korea has refused diplomatic interaction the the new US administration. Pyongyang wants Biden to start by lifting economic sanctions imposed on North Korea’s weapons programmes.

(With inputs from agencies)

The White House is keen on changing the country's approach to deal with North Korea and the goal of denuclearisation in the region. President Joe Biden’s approach primarily involves “diplomacy” as opposed to looking to make “grand bargains” with the North Korean administration, the White House said on Friday.

The White House is keen on changing the country's approach to deal with North Korea and the goal of denuclearisation in the region. President Joe Biden’s approach primarily involves “diplomacy” as opposed to looking to make “grand bargains” with the North Korean administration, the White House said on Friday. The major challenge for the US has been to make North Korean leader Kim Jong Un give up nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. On this front, the US has witnessed multiple setbacks. According to Jen Psaki, the White House Press Secretary, Biden administration had undertaken a months-long review of North Korean policy, after which they decided to pursue the route of diplomacy. "Our policy will not focus on achieving a grand bargain, nor will it rely on strategic patience," Psaki said during a press conference. Psaki added that the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula remains the goal. She noted, however that the former four presidents have been unable to get North Korea to denounce nuclear weapons. Also read: Defector group launches anti-North Korea leaflets despite ban Owing to such past failures, the Biden administration it trying to butter the middle ground; attempting to strike a balance between the goals pursued by Biden’s recent predecessors. Former US President Donald Trump held three summit meetings with Kim Jong Un to no end, for no goal was achieved. Even then, the meetings helped pause testing of intercontinental ballistic and nuclear missiles. Democrat Barack Obama chose a different direction by not pursuing any diplomatic engagement with the country. Also read: North Korea completes assembly of 3,000-tonne submarine: Report Psaki added that the US intends to pursue a “calibrated practical approach that is open to and will explore diplomacy with" the country. She further said that the US wants to make “practical progress” which would facilitate the improvement of security for both the United States and its allies. So far, North Korea has refused diplomatic interaction the the new US administration. Pyongyang wants Biden to start by lifting economic sanctions imposed on North Korea’s weapons programmes. (With inputs from agencies)

Biden wants to pursue 'practical diplomacy' with North Korea over 'grand bargains'

Challenging the North Korean dictator, an activist group in South Korea has released balloons into North Korea denouncing the government led by Kim Jong Un.

Park Sang-hak is an activist who had led a similar campaign in 2000. He has now announced that he launched 10 advertising balloons carrying 500,000 leaflets, 500 mini booklets and nearly 5,000 $1 bills in border provinces. The act took place between Sunday and Thursday.

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In images released by the Fighters For Free North Korea group, Park can be seen launching the said balloons at night.

The group has demanded an end to the "hereditary dictatorship" of Kim Jong Un and his family, through this act.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kim-jong-uns-sister-kim-yo-jong-slams-south-korea-for-criticising-recent-missile-test-374160">Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong slams South Korea for criticising recent missile test</a>

A video also shows Park holding a large poster of Kim Jong Un’s drawing in which the North Korean leader can be seen holding missiles in both fists. The activist also presented slogans denouncing Kim as a ‘lunatic’ carrying out nuclear missile provocations.

This incident has taken a place almost a year after North Korea had threatened cutting all communication with South Korea in case of any leaflets or other literature material is circulated. Following the threat, the South Korean government had passed a law in December banning distribution or scattering of any printed material, goods, money, and more across the border.

Any violation of the law is punishable by up to three years in prison or 30 million won ($27,500) in fines.

Challenging the North Korean dictator, an activist group in South Korea has released balloons into North Korea denouncing the government led by Kim Jong Un. Park Sang-hak is an activist who had led a similar campaign in 2000.

Challenging the North Korean dictator, an activist group in South Korea has released balloons into North Korea denouncing the government led by Kim Jong Un. Park Sang-hak is an activist who had led a similar campaign in 2000. He has now announced that he launched 10 advertising balloons carrying 500,000 leaflets, 500 mini booklets and nearly 5,000 $1 bills in border provinces. The act took place between Sunday and Thursday. Also read | North Korea facing its 'worst-ever situation', admits Kim Jong Un In images released by the Fighters For Free North Korea group, Park can be seen launching the said balloons at night. The group has demanded an end to the "hereditary dictatorship" of Kim Jong Un and his family, through this act. Also read | Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong slams South Korea for criticising recent missile test A video also shows Park holding a large poster of Kim Jong Un’s drawing in which the North Korean leader can be seen holding missiles in both fists. The activist also presented slogans denouncing Kim as a ‘lunatic’ carrying out nuclear missile provocations. This incident has taken a place almost a year after North Korea had threatened cutting all communication with South Korea in case of any leaflets or other literature material is circulated. Following the threat, the South Korean government had passed a law in December banning distribution or scattering of any printed material, goods, money, and more across the border. Any violation of the law is punishable by up to three years in prison or 30 million won ($27,500) in fines.

Defector group launches anti-North Korea leaflets despite ban

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