North Korea on Tuesday (Nov 3) strongly rejected US allegations linking it to the theft of $6 billion from cryptocurrency exchange Binance, accusing Washington of trying to damage its international reputation. Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, described the allegations as a “grave political provocation”.In a statement released by the state-run KCNA news agency on Tuesday, she dismissed the FBI’s claims as “absurd rhetoric and nothing new”, arguing that Washington was attempting to portray Pyongyang as responsible for cybercrimes across the world.Kim Yo Jong said the latest allegations had once again confirmed Washington’s hostility towards North Korea.“We have issues to reconsider in diverse aspects as regards the very unpleasant US hostile attitude,” she added.<h2>What did FBI accuse?</h2>The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said on Saturday (Oct 31) that a North Korea-affiliated hacking group, known as TraderTraitor, was responsible for the Binance attack. The same group was previously blamed for stealing $1.5 billion from cryptocurrency platform Bybit in February last year. That incident was considered the largest cryptocurrency theft until the latest Binance hack.Kim accused the US of using the allegations to undermine North Korea’s standing internationally.“This is a sinister attempt to damage the international image of the DPRK and undermine its dignity and national prestige and another grave violation of the sovereignty of the DPRK,” she said.She also insisted that Pyongyang opposed cybercrime, saying it was the government’s “consistent policy stand” to reject “all sorts of malicious acts in cyberspace”.<h2>What Trump said over North Korea’s involvement</h2>When asked about the hack, US President Donald Trump on Saturday (Oct 31) expressed uncertainty over North Korea’s involvement, saying that he was “not concerned”.“I’m not concerned. We’re learning about it. We don’t know if it’s North Korea,” Trump told reporters at his Florida residence.Trump has repeatedly signalled his willingness to engage with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un since returning to office, even expressing interest in meeting him this year. However, Pyongyang has remained silent on those overtures.

North Korea has rejected FBI allegations linking it to the $6 billion Binance hack, with Kim Yo Jong calling the accusations a "grave political provocation" and accusing Washington of hostility.

North Korea on Tuesday (Nov 3) strongly rejected US allegations linking it to the theft of $6 billion from cryptocurrency exchange Binance, accusing Washington of trying to damage its international reputation. Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, described the allegations as a “grave political provocation”. In a statement released by the state-run KCNA news agency on Tuesday, she dismissed the FBI’s claims as “absurd rhetoric and nothing new”, arguing that Washington was attempting to portray Pyongyang as responsible for cybercrimes across the world. Kim Yo Jong said the latest allegations had once again confirmed Washington’s hostility towards North Korea. “We have issues to reconsider in diverse aspects as regards the very unpleasant US hostile attitude,” she added. What did FBI accuse? The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said on Saturday (Oct 31) that a North Korea-affiliated hacking group, known as TraderTraitor, was responsible for the Binance attack. The same group was previously blamed for stealing $1.5 billion from cryptocurrency platform Bybit in February last year. That incident was considered the largest cryptocurrency theft until the latest Binance hack. Kim accused the US of using the allegations to undermine North Korea’s standing internationally. “This is a sinister attempt to damage the international image of the DPRK and undermine its dignity and national prestige and another grave violation of the sovereignty of the DPRK,” she said. She also insisted that Pyongyang opposed cybercrime, saying it was the government’s “consistent policy stand” to reject “all sorts of malicious acts in cyberspace”. What Trump said over North Korea’s involvement When asked about the hack, US President Donald Trump on Saturday (Oct 31) expressed uncertainty over North Korea’s involvement, saying that he was “not concerned”. “I’m not concerned. We’re learning about it. We don’t know if it’s North Korea,” Trump told reporters at his Florida residence. Trump has repeatedly signalled his willingness to engage with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un since returning to office, even expressing interest in meeting him this year. However, Pyongyang has remained silent on those overtures.

North Korea has rejected FBI allegations linking it to the $6 billion Binance hack, with Kim Yo Jong calling the accusations a "grave political provocation" and accusing Washington of hostility.

‘Grave provocation’: North Korea slams US after FBI alleges $6 billion Binance hack

US President Donald Trump said on Monday (October 12) that he may meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his upcoming visit to Asia, fuelling speculation about a possible revival of high-level diplomatic engagement between Washington and Pyongyang. Asked by a reporter at the White House whether he planned to meet Kim during the trip, Trump replied, "I may," adding, "That'll be exciting, won't it? But I get along with him."&nbsp;Trump is scheduled to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China on November 18-19, with Shenzhen set to host the event. The US president's latest remarks have renewed attention on the possibility of another meeting with Kim, following their three face-to-face encounters during Trump's first term. In August, Trump said he hoped to meet the North Korean leader later this year, prompting speculation that he could seek to revive the personal diplomacy that previously shaped relations between the two countries. Trump and Kim first met in Singapore in June 2018, followed by a second summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, in February 2019. Their third meeting took place at the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom in June 2019.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-am-thoroughly-unamused-judge-slams-trump-administration-after-400-trees-cut-at-washington-golf-course-1791842358886">'I am thoroughly unamused': Judge slams Trump administration after 400 trees cut at Washington golf course</a><h2>Trump highlights personal ties with Kim</h2>Trump reiterated his positive assessment of his relationship with Kim during a campaign rally in Ohio on Saturday, saying he ‘gets along great’ with the North Korean leader. He also emphasised the importance of maintaining constructive relationships with leaders of countries possessing nuclear weapons, underscoring the potential role of direct diplomacy in managing international security challenges. However, neither Washington nor Pyongyang has confirmed that a meeting has been scheduled during the upcoming Asia trip.<h2>US signals openness to talks with North Korea</h2>The Trump administration has also suggested that it remains open to diplomatic engagement with North Korea. Tommy Pigott, a spokesperson for the US State Department, said earlier that Trump does not regard talks with Pyongyang as a ‘concession’ and is prepared to engage with the North Korean government if doing so serves US national interests.

Donald Trump says he may meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his Asia trip, raising hopes of renewed diplomacy over North Korea's nuclear programme

US President Donald Trump said on Monday (October 12) that he may meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his upcoming visit to Asia, fuelling speculation about a possible revival of high-level diplomatic engagement between Washington and Pyongyang. Asked by a reporter at the White House whether he planned to meet Kim during the trip, Trump replied, "I may," adding, "That'll be exciting, won't it? But I get along with him." Trump is scheduled to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China on November 18-19, with Shenzhen set to host the event. The US president's latest remarks have renewed attention on the possibility of another meeting with Kim, following their three face-to-face encounters during Trump's first term. In August, Trump said he hoped to meet the North Korean leader later this year, prompting speculation that he could seek to revive the personal diplomacy that previously shaped relations between the two countries. Trump and Kim first met in Singapore in June 2018, followed by a second summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, in February 2019. Their third meeting took place at the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom in June 2019. Also Read: 'I am thoroughly unamused': Judge slams Trump administration after 400 trees cut at Washington golf course Trump highlights personal ties with Kim Trump reiterated his positive assessment of his relationship with Kim during a campaign rally in Ohio on Saturday, saying he ‘gets along great’ with the North Korean leader. He also emphasised the importance of maintaining constructive relationships with leaders of countries possessing nuclear weapons, underscoring the potential role of direct diplomacy in managing international security challenges. However, neither Washington nor Pyongyang has confirmed that a meeting has been scheduled during the upcoming Asia trip. US signals openness to talks with North Korea The Trump administration has also suggested that it remains open to diplomatic engagement with North Korea. Tommy Pigott, a spokesperson for the US State Department, said earlier that Trump does not regard talks with Pyongyang as a ‘concession’ and is prepared to engage with the North Korean government if doing so serves US national interests.

Donald Trump says he may meet Kim Jong-un during his upcoming Asia trip, reviving speculation about renewed US-North Korea nuclear diplomacy

Trump says he 'may' meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during upcoming Asia trip

The leader of nuclear-armed North Korea has blamed the united state for tensions in the Korean peninsula. He has defended Pyongyang's weapon program, claiming it is necessary in the face of hostile united States.

Kim Jong Un: US reason for tension in Korean peninsula

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

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

The statement by Ri Son Gwon came a day after the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un issued a message saying that US expectations of talks would “plunge them into a greater disappointment”.

North Korea rejects any talks with US

Officials from the United States, Japan and South Korea met and showed a united front Friday on concerns about North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes.

The meeting came as a review by the Biden administration on how to deal with North Korea is in its final stages, following Donald Trump's unusually personal diplomacy with Kim Jong-un.

Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden's national security advisor, held a rare in-person meeting jointly with his counterparts from South Korea and Japan, Suh Hoon and Shigeru Kitamura, at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

The three officials said in a joint statement that they "shared their concerns about North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs" and promised "concerted trilateral cooperation towards denuclearisation."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-aide-to-meet-japan-south-korea-on-next-steps-on-the-north-374870">Also read |&nbsp;Biden aide to meet Japan, South Korea on next steps on the North</a>

"They agreed on the imperative for full implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions by the international community, including North Korea, preventing proliferation and cooperating to strengthen deterrence and maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," the statement said.

The security officials also discussed the fights against Covid-19 and climate change, and ways to restore democracy in Myanmar.

Biden has sharply criticised Trump's meetings with Kim, saying he legitimised one of the world's most ruthless leaders, but has also said he is open to diplomacy.

Biden administration officials are widely expected to support a resumption of lower-level talks rather than high-stakes, high-drama summits.

Biden has also warned North Korea of consequences for violations of UN Security Council resolutions after Pyongyang recently tested what US officials judged to be ballistic missiles.

Media reports added Sullivan also spoke to Japan and South Korea about the global shortage of semiconductors, as supply chains have been disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Annapolis talks mark rare in-person diplomacy for the Biden administration amid the pandemic and Sullivan's first trilateral since taking office. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin last month jointly visited both Tokyo and Seoul on their first foreign trips.

Officials from the United States, Japan and South Korea met and showed a united front Friday on concerns about North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes. The meeting came as a review by the Biden administration on how to deal with North Korea is in its final stages, following Donald Trump's unusually personal diplomacy with Kim Jong-un.

Officials from the United States, Japan and South Korea met and showed a united front Friday on concerns about North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes. The meeting came as a review by the Biden administration on how to deal with North Korea is in its final stages, following Donald Trump's unusually personal diplomacy with Kim Jong-un. Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden's national security advisor, held a rare in-person meeting jointly with his counterparts from South Korea and Japan, Suh Hoon and Shigeru Kitamura, at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. The three officials said in a joint statement that they "shared their concerns about North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs" and promised "concerted trilateral cooperation towards denuclearisation." Also read | Biden aide to meet Japan, South Korea on next steps on the North "They agreed on the imperative for full implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions by the international community, including North Korea, preventing proliferation and cooperating to strengthen deterrence and maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," the statement said. The security officials also discussed the fights against Covid-19 and climate change, and ways to restore democracy in Myanmar. Biden has sharply criticised Trump's meetings with Kim, saying he legitimised one of the world's most ruthless leaders, but has also said he is open to diplomacy. Biden administration officials are widely expected to support a resumption of lower-level talks rather than high-stakes, high-drama summits. Biden has also warned North Korea of consequences for violations of UN Security Council resolutions after Pyongyang recently tested what US officials judged to be ballistic missiles. Media reports added Sullivan also spoke to Japan and South Korea about the global shortage of semiconductors, as supply chains have been disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Annapolis talks mark rare in-person diplomacy for the Biden administration amid the pandemic and Sullivan's first trilateral since taking office. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin last month jointly visited both Tokyo and Seoul on their first foreign trips.

US, Japan, South Korea officials show united front on the North

Top security officials of the United States, Japan and South Korea are set to meet on Friday to discuss next steps on North Korea.

The highly anticipated meeting comes in the wake of US President Joe Biden completing a policy review.

Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security advisor, will huddle with his counterparts from South Korea and Japan, Suh Hoon and Shigeru Kitamura, at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

The Annapolis talks mark rare in-person diplomacy for the Biden administration amid the pandemic and Sullivan's first trilateral since taking office. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin last month jointly visited both Tokyo and Seoul on their first foreign trips.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-accuses-biden-admin-of-provocation-after-missile-test-373537">Also read |&nbsp;North Korea accuses Biden admin of 'provocation' after missile test</a>

"Denuclearisation will remain at the center of American policy towards North Korea. We also know that any approach to North Korea, in order to be effective, will be one that we will have to execute in lockstep with our close allies," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters on Thursday.

The Biden administration is looking at how to move forward after former president Donald Trump's unusually personal diplomacy with North Korea which included three meetings with strongman Kim Jong-un.

Biden has sharply criticised Trump's meetings, saying he legitimised one of the world's most ruthless leaders, but has also said he is open to diplomacy.

Biden has also warned North Korea of consequences for violations of Security Council resolutions after Pyongyang recently tested what US officials judged to be ballistic missiles.

Top security officials of the United States, Japan and South Korea are set to meet on Friday to discuss next steps on North Korea. The highly anticipated meeting comes in the wake of US President Joe Biden completing a policy review.

Top security officials of the United States, Japan and South Korea are set to meet on Friday to discuss next steps on North Korea. The highly anticipated meeting comes in the wake of US President Joe Biden completing a policy review. Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security advisor, will huddle with his counterparts from South Korea and Japan, Suh Hoon and Shigeru Kitamura, at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. The Annapolis talks mark rare in-person diplomacy for the Biden administration amid the pandemic and Sullivan's first trilateral since taking office. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin last month jointly visited both Tokyo and Seoul on their first foreign trips. Also read | North Korea accuses Biden admin of 'provocation' after missile test "Denuclearisation will remain at the center of American policy towards North Korea. We also know that any approach to North Korea, in order to be effective, will be one that we will have to execute in lockstep with our close allies," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters on Thursday. The Biden administration is looking at how to move forward after former president Donald Trump's unusually personal diplomacy with North Korea which included three meetings with strongman Kim Jong-un. Biden has sharply criticised Trump's meetings, saying he legitimised one of the world's most ruthless leaders, but has also said he is open to diplomacy. Biden has also warned North Korea of consequences for violations of Security Council resolutions after Pyongyang recently tested what US officials judged to be ballistic missiles.

Biden aide to meet Japan, South Korea on next steps on the North

North Korea on Saturday said the administration of US President Joe Biden had taken a wrong first step and revealed "deep-seated hostility" by criticising its self-defensive missile test.

North Korea on Friday said it had launched a new type of tactical short-range ballistic missile. Biden, in response, said the test violated UN Security Council resolutions.

The US president, however, added&nbsp;he remained open to diplomacy with Pyongyang.

The nuclear-armed North has a long history of using weapons tests to ramp up tensions, in a carefully calibrated process to try to forward its objectives.

Pyongyang had been biding its time since the new administration took office in Washington, not even officially acknowledging its existence until last week.

Ri Pyong Chol, secretary of the North's ruling Worker's Party's Central Committee, Biden's remarks were an "undisguised encroachment on our state's right to self-defence and provocation," and that the test was self-defensive against threats posed by South Korea and the United States with their joint military exercises and advanced weapons.

He added Washington might face "something that is not good" if it continues to make "thoughtless remarks."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-fires-suspected-ballistic-missile-into-the-sea-reports-say-37296">Also read |&nbsp;North Korea fires suspected ballistic missile into the sea, reports say</a>&nbsp;

"We express our deep apprehension over the U.S. chief executive faulting the regular testfire, exercise of our state's right to self-defence, as the violation of U.N. 'resolutions' and openly revealing his deep-seated hostility," Ri said in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency.

"I think that the new US administration obviously took its first step wrong."

He further accused the Biden administration of "exploiting every opportunity" to provoke Pyongyang by branding it as a "security threat."

The test came just days after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed to work to denuclearise North Korea and criticised its "systemic and widespread" human rights abuses during a visit to Seoul with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

North Korea has also slammed the South Korea-US military exercises which ended last week, even though they were repeatedly scaled back to facilitate a restart of denuclearization talks with Pyongyang.

Ri said Washington insisted on a "gangster-like logic" to be able to bring strategic nuclear assets to South Korea and test intercontinental ballistic missiles at its convenience, but ban North Korea from testing even a tactical weapon.

Experts, to this end, said Ri's remarks meant North Korea would potentially ramp up military tension in the coming months by developing and testing advanced weapons.

Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies said in a report on Friday that commercial satellite imagery showed North Korea has continued to produce uranium concentrate, used to build nuclear weapons, over the past eight months, though it has not tested any bombs since 2017.

Thursday's launch, and an earlier test of short-range, non-ballistic missiles at the weekend, came after joint exercises by the US and South Korean militaries and a visit to the region by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

(with inputs from agencies)

North Korea on Saturday said the administration of US President Joe Biden had taken a wrong first step and revealed "deep-seated hostility" by criticising its self-defensive missile test.

North Korea on Saturday said the administration of US President Joe Biden had taken a wrong first step and revealed "deep-seated hostility" by criticising its self-defensive missile test. North Korea on Friday said it had launched a new type of tactical short-range ballistic missile. Biden, in response, said the test violated UN Security Council resolutions. The US president, however, added he remained open to diplomacy with Pyongyang. The nuclear-armed North has a long history of using weapons tests to ramp up tensions, in a carefully calibrated process to try to forward its objectives. Pyongyang had been biding its time since the new administration took office in Washington, not even officially acknowledging its existence until last week. Ri Pyong Chol, secretary of the North's ruling Worker's Party's Central Committee, Biden's remarks were an "undisguised encroachment on our state's right to self-defence and provocation," and that the test was self-defensive against threats posed by South Korea and the United States with their joint military exercises and advanced weapons. He added Washington might face "something that is not good" if it continues to make "thoughtless remarks." Also read | North Korea fires suspected ballistic missile into the sea, reports say "We express our deep apprehension over the U.S. chief executive faulting the regular testfire, exercise of our state's right to self-defence, as the violation of U.N. 'resolutions' and openly revealing his deep-seated hostility," Ri said in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency. "I think that the new US administration obviously took its first step wrong." He further accused the Biden administration of "exploiting every opportunity" to provoke Pyongyang by branding it as a "security threat." The test came just days after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed to work to denuclearise North Korea and criticised its "systemic and widespread" human rights abuses during a visit to Seoul with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. North Korea has also slammed the South Korea-US military exercises which ended last week, even though they were repeatedly scaled back to facilitate a restart of denuclearization talks with Pyongyang. Ri said Washington insisted on a "gangster-like logic" to be able to bring strategic nuclear assets to South Korea and test intercontinental ballistic missiles at its convenience, but ban North Korea from testing even a tactical weapon. Experts, to this end, said Ri's remarks meant North Korea would potentially ramp up military tension in the coming months by developing and testing advanced weapons. Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies said in a report on Friday that commercial satellite imagery showed North Korea has continued to produce uranium concentrate, used to build nuclear weapons, over the past eight months, though it has not tested any bombs since 2017. Thursday's launch, and an earlier test of short-range, non-ballistic missiles at the weekend, came after joint exercises by the US and South Korean militaries and a visit to the region by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. (with inputs from agencies)

North Korea accuses Biden admin of 'provocation' after missile test

The Olympic torch relay set off from Fukushima on Thursday, beginning a four-month countdown to the Summer Games in Tokyo, delayed from 2020 and the first-ever organised during a global pandemic.

Casting a pall over celebrations, North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles before the relay began.

About 10,000 runners will carry the torch across Japan`s 47 prefectures and far-flung islands, starting from the site of the 2011 quake and tsunami that killed about 20,000 people and sent tens of thousands fleeing radioactive plumes.

"For the past year, as the entire world underwent a difficult period, the Olympic flame was kept alive quietly but powerfully," Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto said at the opening ceremony, which was closed to spectators.

"The small flame did not lose hope, and just like the cherry blossom buds that are ready to bloom, it was waiting for this day," Hashimoto said.

After the North Korean missile launch, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga assured reporters the national government was cooperating with Tokyo and the International Olympic Committee to host a secure Games.

"We will do our utmost in terms of coronavirus measures and continue to work with related areas to contain the spread of infections and hope to work towards a safe and secure Games," Suga said.

Japan has fared better than most countries during the pandemic, with fewer than 9,000 coronavirus deaths, but Tokyo reported 420 cases on Wednesday, the highest single-day figure this month.

The majority of the public is against the Olympics being held as scheduled, polls show.

NO CROWDS OR CHEERING

The relay, which will culminate with the Olympic opening ceremony on July 23, has been hit by several high-profile runner cancellations as celebrities and top-level athletes have pulled out, citing late notice and worries over the pandemic.

The starting ceremony was held at J-Village in Fukushima, a sports complex converted for several years into a staging ground for workers decommissioning the crippled nuclear power plant.

"For the torch relay viewing, please ensure you are wearing a mask, keep a proper distance, don`t stand close to each other and support with things like clapping, instead of using a loud voice," an announcer at the site said.

The brief and solemn ceremony - originally planned for thousands of fans as a celebration of Japan`s recovery - was closed to the public.

It featured several low-key events, including a drum concert and dance performances by a group of residents from Fukushima, followed by a children`s choir.

Members of the Japanese national women`s soccer team used the Olympic flame, flown in from Greece last year, to light the torch.

The runners, some wearing masks and white uniforms decorated with red ran out of J-Village and passed on the flame to the next runner. About a dozen staff escorted the runner, racing together and following a van guiding the relay.

"I’m convinced that, under this coronavirus pandemic, the Olympics will surely bring courage and vigour to people in east Japan, where recovery is still halfway through," Norio Sasaki, coach of the women`s soccer team that won the 2011 World Cup, said after running the first leg of the relay.

Television helicopters followed the run and the number of roadside spectators, waving Olympic flags, increased as the day went on. But they were masked and kept apart.

Organisers have said that the relay will skip areas that are too crowded, or pause until people disperse.

'YOU MUST BE JOKING'

"Fukushima`s recovery is going steadily," Fukushima governor Masao Uchibori said at the launch ceremony.

"But there are still many people who can`t return to their homes, and many difficult issues such as reviving these areas, rebuilding the lives of their residents," he said.

The torch will travel through some of the worst-hit areas first.

Japan has spent nearly $300 billion to revive the region, but many locals are apprehensive about the Games, as areas in Fukushima remain off-limits, worries about radiation linger and many who left have settled elsewhere. Decommissioning will take up to a century and cost billions of dollars.

A protester driving a silver van near the relay shouted over a loudspeaker, questioning how the Olympics could contribute to the region`s recovery.

"You must be joking," the man yelled. "Everyone knows we can`t have the Olympics," he shouted.

The organisers insist the Olympics will go ahead, but doctors and nurses have complained about the strain on hospitals and experts warn about the spread of virus variants.

Adding to the challenge, Japan was the last of the Group of Seven industrialised nations to launch a vaccine drive. Only 700,000 people have been inoculated so far, most of the medical workers.

The Olympic torch relay set off from Fukushima on Thursday, beginning a four-month countdown to the Summer Games in Tokyo, delayed from 2020 and the first-ever organised during a global pandemic.

The Olympic torch relay set off from Fukushima on Thursday, beginning a four-month countdown to the Summer Games in Tokyo, delayed from 2020 and the first-ever organised during a global pandemic. Casting a pall over celebrations, North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles before the relay began. About 10,000 runners will carry the torch across Japan`s 47 prefectures and far-flung islands, starting from the site of the 2011 quake and tsunami that killed about 20,000 people and sent tens of thousands fleeing radioactive plumes. "For the past year, as the entire world underwent a difficult period, the Olympic flame was kept alive quietly but powerfully," Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto said at the opening ceremony, which was closed to spectators. "The small flame did not lose hope, and just like the cherry blossom buds that are ready to bloom, it was waiting for this day," Hashimoto said. After the North Korean missile launch, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga assured reporters the national government was cooperating with Tokyo and the International Olympic Committee to host a secure Games. "We will do our utmost in terms of coronavirus measures and continue to work with related areas to contain the spread of infections and hope to work towards a safe and secure Games," Suga said. Japan has fared better than most countries during the pandemic, with fewer than 9,000 coronavirus deaths, but Tokyo reported 420 cases on Wednesday, the highest single-day figure this month. The majority of the public is against the Olympics being held as scheduled, polls show. NO CROWDS OR CHEERING The relay, which will culminate with the Olympic opening ceremony on July 23, has been hit by several high-profile runner cancellations as celebrities and top-level athletes have pulled out, citing late notice and worries over the pandemic. The starting ceremony was held at J-Village in Fukushima, a sports complex converted for several years into a staging ground for workers decommissioning the crippled nuclear power plant. "For the torch relay viewing, please ensure you are wearing a mask, keep a proper distance, don`t stand close to each other and support with things like clapping, instead of using a loud voice," an announcer at the site said. The brief and solemn ceremony - originally planned for thousands of fans as a celebration of Japan`s recovery - was closed to the public. It featured several low-key events, including a drum concert and dance performances by a group of residents from Fukushima, followed by a children`s choir. Members of the Japanese national women`s soccer team used the Olympic flame, flown in from Greece last year, to light the torch. The runners, some wearing masks and white uniforms decorated with red ran out of J-Village and passed on the flame to the next runner. About a dozen staff escorted the runner, racing together and following a van guiding the relay. "I’m convinced that, under this coronavirus pandemic, the Olympics will surely bring courage and vigour to people in east Japan, where recovery is still halfway through," Norio Sasaki, coach of the women`s soccer team that won the 2011 World Cup, said after running the first leg of the relay. Television helicopters followed the run and the number of roadside spectators, waving Olympic flags, increased as the day went on. But they were masked and kept apart. Organisers have said that the relay will skip areas that are too crowded, or pause until people disperse. 'YOU MUST BE JOKING' "Fukushima`s recovery is going steadily," Fukushima governor Masao Uchibori said at the launch ceremony. "But there are still many people who can`t return to their homes, and many difficult issues such as reviving these areas, rebuilding the lives of their residents," he said. The torch will travel through some of the worst-hit areas first. Japan has spent nearly $300 billion to revive the region, but many locals are apprehensive about the Games, as areas in Fukushima remain off-limits, worries about radiation linger and many who left have settled elsewhere. Decommissioning will take up to a century and cost billions of dollars. A protester driving a silver van near the relay shouted over a loudspeaker, questioning how the Olympics could contribute to the region`s recovery. "You must be joking," the man yelled. "Everyone knows we can`t have the Olympics," he shouted. The organisers insist the Olympics will go ahead, but doctors and nurses have complained about the strain on hospitals and experts warn about the spread of virus variants. Adding to the challenge, Japan was the last of the Group of Seven industrialised nations to launch a vaccine drive. Only 700,000 people have been inoculated so far, most of the medical workers.

Olympics torch relay starts in Fukushima as North Korea launches missiles

North Korea fired two suspected ballistic missiles into the sea Thursday, in its first substantive provocation to the new US administration of Joe Biden.

They may have been ballistic missiles, a spokesman for Japan's defence ministry said. "It has not fallen within Japanese territory and is not believed to have come down within Japan's exclusive economic zone," he said.

North Korea's ballistic missiles are banned under United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and if the launch is confirmed it would represent a new challenge to Biden's efforts to engage with Pyongyang, which have so far been rebuffed.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported at least two "unidentified projectiles" were fired into the sea from North Korea's South Hamgyong Province on the east coast.

South Korean and US&nbsp;intelligence authorities were analysing the data of the launch for additional information, the JCS said in a statement.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-tested-two-short-range-missiles-white-house-372639">Also read |&nbsp;North Korea tested two short-range missiles: White House</a>

Earlier the Japanese coast guard warned ships against coming close to any fallen objects and instead asked them to provide information to the coast guard.

Over the weekend North Korea fired two short-range cruise missiles, US and South Korean officials said, but Biden played down&nbsp;those tests as "business as usual" and officials in Washington said they were still open to dialogue with Pyongyang.

Biden's diplomatic overtures to North Korea have gone unanswered, and Pyongyang said it would not engage until Washington drops hostile policies, including carrying out military drills with South Korea.

The nuclear-armed North has a long history of using weapons tests to ramp up tensions, in a carefully calibrated process to try to forward its objectives.

Donald Trump's first year in office was marked by a series of escalating launches, accompanied by a war of words between him and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Pyongyang had been biding its time since the new administration took office, not even officially acknowledging its existence until last week.

(with inputs)

North Korea fired two suspected ballistic missiles into the sea Thursday, in its first substantive provocation to the new US administration of Joe Biden. They may have been ballistic missiles, a spokesman for Japan's defence ministry said.

North Korea fired two suspected ballistic missiles into the sea Thursday, in its first substantive provocation to the new US administration of Joe Biden. They may have been ballistic missiles, a spokesman for Japan's defence ministry said. "It has not fallen within Japanese territory and is not believed to have come down within Japan's exclusive economic zone," he said. North Korea's ballistic missiles are banned under United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and if the launch is confirmed it would represent a new challenge to Biden's efforts to engage with Pyongyang, which have so far been rebuffed. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported at least two "unidentified projectiles" were fired into the sea from North Korea's South Hamgyong Province on the east coast. South Korean and US intelligence authorities were analysing the data of the launch for additional information, the JCS said in a statement. Also read | North Korea tested two short-range missiles: White House Earlier the Japanese coast guard warned ships against coming close to any fallen objects and instead asked them to provide information to the coast guard. Over the weekend North Korea fired two short-range cruise missiles, US and South Korean officials said, but Biden played down those tests as "business as usual" and officials in Washington said they were still open to dialogue with Pyongyang. Biden's diplomatic overtures to North Korea have gone unanswered, and Pyongyang said it would not engage until Washington drops hostile policies, including carrying out military drills with South Korea. The nuclear-armed North has a long history of using weapons tests to ramp up tensions, in a carefully calibrated process to try to forward its objectives. Donald Trump's first year in office was marked by a series of escalating launches, accompanied by a war of words between him and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Pyongyang had been biding its time since the new administration took office, not even officially acknowledging its existence until last week. (with inputs)

North Korea fires suspected ballistic missile into the sea, reports say

North Korea might begin flight testing an improved design for its inter-continental ballistic missiles "in the near future," the head of the US military's Northern Command has said.

Air Force General Glen VanHerck made the remarks on Tuesday -- a day ahead of a debut trip by US President Joe Biden's top diplomat and defence secretary to South Korea.

The warning wasn't exactly based on specific intelligence about an imminent launch, but rather on North Korea's October unveiling at a parade of what would be its largest ICBM yet.

Even during the testing lull, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for continued production of nuclear weapons for his arsenal, launched a series of smaller missiles and unveiled the ICBM.

VanHerck told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Pyongyang's "considerably larger and presumably more capable" ICBM further increased the threat to the United States. Still, he expressed confidence in US missile defenses.

The US general also noted that Kim released himself from a moratorium on testing over a year ago.

"The North Korean regime has also indicated that it is no longer bound by the unilateral nuclear and ICBM testing moratorium announced in 2018, suggesting that Kim Jong Un may begin flight testing an improved ICBM design in the near future," VanHerck said in his written testimony.

Jenny Town, director of 38 North, a US-based website that tracks North Korea, speculated that North Korea would be more likely to restart test launches with shorter-range missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

"It seems more likely that if North Korea is going to start testing missiles again, it will start with ones where testing has been almost normalised," Town said.

The White House on Monday confirmed a Reuters report that the Biden administration sought to reach out to North Korea but had received no response, extending a chill in relations that began at the end of Donald Trump's administration.

After the White House remarks, North Korean state news reported that the sister of the North Korean leader Kim Yo Jong, criticised the Biden Administration for ongoing military drills in South Korea.

(with inputs)

North Korea might begin flight testing an improved design for its inter-continental ballistic missiles "in the near future," the head of the US military's Northern Command has said.

North Korea might begin flight testing an improved design for its inter-continental ballistic missiles "in the near future," the head of the US military's Northern Command has said. Air Force General Glen VanHerck made the remarks on Tuesday -- a day ahead of a debut trip by US President Joe Biden's top diplomat and defence secretary to South Korea. The warning wasn't exactly based on specific intelligence about an imminent launch, but rather on North Korea's October unveiling at a parade of what would be its largest ICBM yet. Even during the testing lull, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for continued production of nuclear weapons for his arsenal, launched a series of smaller missiles and unveiled the ICBM. VanHerck told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Pyongyang's "considerably larger and presumably more capable" ICBM further increased the threat to the United States. Still, he expressed confidence in US missile defenses. The US general also noted that Kim released himself from a moratorium on testing over a year ago. "The North Korean regime has also indicated that it is no longer bound by the unilateral nuclear and ICBM testing moratorium announced in 2018, suggesting that Kim Jong Un may begin flight testing an improved ICBM design in the near future," VanHerck said in his written testimony. Jenny Town, director of 38 North, a US-based website that tracks North Korea, speculated that North Korea would be more likely to restart test launches with shorter-range missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles. "It seems more likely that if North Korea is going to start testing missiles again, it will start with ones where testing has been almost normalised," Town said. The White House on Monday confirmed a Reuters report that the Biden administration sought to reach out to North Korea but had received no response, extending a chill in relations that began at the end of Donald Trump's administration. After the White House remarks, North Korean state news reported that the sister of the North Korean leader Kim Yo Jong, criticised the Biden Administration for ongoing military drills in South Korea. (with inputs)

US general says North Korea might flight test new ICBM design 'in near future'

North Korea has not responded to behind-the-scenes diplomatic outreach since mid-February by President Joe Biden`s administration, including to Pyongyang`s mission to the United Nations, a senior Biden administration official told Reuters on Saturday.

The disclosure of the so-far unsuccessful U.S. outreach, which has not been previously reported, raises questions about how Biden will address mounting tensions with Pyongyang over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

It also adds a new dimension to a visit America`s top diplomat and defense secretary will make next week to South Korea and Japan, where concerns over North Korea`s nuclear arsenal are expected to be high on the agenda.

The senior Biden administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, offered few details on the diplomatic push. But the official said there had been efforts to reach out to the North Korean government "through several channels starting in mid-February, including in New York."

"To date, we have not received any response from Pyongyang," the official said.

North Korea`s mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Biden administration has so far been cautious in publicly describing its approach to North Korea, saying it is carrying out a comprehensive policy review following former President Donald Trump`s unprecedented engagement with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump`s efforts failed to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons.

The Biden administration official said it appeared there had been no active dialogue between the United States and North Korea for more than a year, including at the end of Trump`s administration, "despite multiple attempts during that time by the United States to engage."

The U.S. official declined to speculate about how the silence from Pyongyang would impact the Biden administration`s North Korea policy review, which was expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

During his election campaign, Biden described Kim as a "thug" and said he would only meet him "on the condition that he would agree that he would be drawing down his nuclear capacity."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has held out the possibility of additional sanctions, in coordination with allies, to press North Korea to denuclearise.

Sanctions have so far failed to convince Kim to give up his nuclear weapons.

Blinken is slated to host the first face-to-face discussions between senior Biden administration and Chinese officials on March 18 in Alaska. The Trump administration accused China of failing to enforce sanctions against North Korea.

A confidential U.N. report found that North Korea maintained and developed its nuclear and ballistic missile programs throughout 2020 in violation of international sanctions, helping fund them with some $300 million stolen through cyber hacks.

The report by independent sanctions monitors said Pyongyang "produced fissile material, maintained nuclear facilities and upgraded its ballistic missile infrastructure" while continuing to seek material and technology for those programs from abroad.

North Korea has not responded to behind-the-scenes diplomatic outreach since mid-February by President Joe Biden`s administration, including to Pyongyang`s mission to the United Nations, a senior Biden administration official told Reuters on Saturday.

North Korea has not responded to behind-the-scenes diplomatic outreach since mid-February by President Joe Biden`s administration, including to Pyongyang`s mission to the United Nations, a senior Biden administration official told Reuters on Saturday. The disclosure of the so-far unsuccessful U.S. outreach, which has not been previously reported, raises questions about how Biden will address mounting tensions with Pyongyang over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. It also adds a new dimension to a visit America`s top diplomat and defense secretary will make next week to South Korea and Japan, where concerns over North Korea`s nuclear arsenal are expected to be high on the agenda. The senior Biden administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, offered few details on the diplomatic push. But the official said there had been efforts to reach out to the North Korean government "through several channels starting in mid-February, including in New York." "To date, we have not received any response from Pyongyang," the official said. North Korea`s mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Biden administration has so far been cautious in publicly describing its approach to North Korea, saying it is carrying out a comprehensive policy review following former President Donald Trump`s unprecedented engagement with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump`s efforts failed to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. The Biden administration official said it appeared there had been no active dialogue between the United States and North Korea for more than a year, including at the end of Trump`s administration, "despite multiple attempts during that time by the United States to engage." The U.S. official declined to speculate about how the silence from Pyongyang would impact the Biden administration`s North Korea policy review, which was expected to be completed in the coming weeks. During his election campaign, Biden described Kim as a "thug" and said he would only meet him "on the condition that he would agree that he would be drawing down his nuclear capacity." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has held out the possibility of additional sanctions, in coordination with allies, to press North Korea to denuclearise. Sanctions have so far failed to convince Kim to give up his nuclear weapons. Blinken is slated to host the first face-to-face discussions between senior Biden administration and Chinese officials on March 18 in Alaska. The Trump administration accused China of failing to enforce sanctions against North Korea. A confidential U.N. report found that North Korea maintained and developed its nuclear and ballistic missile programs throughout 2020 in violation of international sanctions, helping fund them with some $300 million stolen through cyber hacks. The report by independent sanctions monitors said Pyongyang "produced fissile material, maintained nuclear facilities and upgraded its ballistic missile infrastructure" while continuing to seek material and technology for those programs from abroad.

North Korea unresponsive to behind-the-scenes Biden administration outreach, report says

Eight countries have denounced North Korea's human rights record after a closed-doors videoconference at the UN Security Council organised by Germany.

The list of countries includes the United States, France, Britain, Japan, Estonia, Belgium and the Dominican Republic.

"The situation of human rights in the DPRK is appalling and gets worse by the day," the eight said in a joint declaration read by German ambassador Christoph Heusgen, referring to North Korea by the initials of its formal name.

"Individuals in the DPRK are stripped of nearly all their human rights, their freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, association, movement, and religion or belief, among many others," the statement said.

"Media freedom is non-existent, neither is there any possibility of a political opposition to the regime's tight grip on its people," it added.

The joint declaration was particularly critical of North Korea's "long-standing system of political prison camps where hundreds of thousands of North Koreans, including children, have died as a consequence of torture, forced labor, summary executions, starvation, sexual and gender-based violence and other forms of inhumane treatment."

It added that "as we speak, 100,000 prisoners are being detained, suffering from the horrors of being maltreated and abused on a daily basis."

"The multiple and grave human rights violations women are subjected to by the hands of the State, in particular sexual and gender-based violence, are unimaginable. They must stop immediately," the eight states demanded.

They also called for the release of "abducted Japanese and South Korean citizens."

It concluded that "the dire, if not tragic situation of the North Korean population is due exclusively to the regime's cynical policies, putting nuclear weapons first and food for its people last."

Between 2014 and 2017, the UN Security Council held an annual public meeting on human rights violations in North Korea.

Since 2018, opposition by Russia, China and a small number of members of the council has prevented these public sessions.

Eight countries have denounced North Korea's human rights record after a closed-doors videoconference at the UN Security Council organised by Germany. The list of countries includes the United States, France, Britain, Japan, Estonia, Belgium and the Dominican Republic.

Eight countries have denounced North Korea's human rights record after a closed-doors videoconference at the UN Security Council organised by Germany. The list of countries includes the United States, France, Britain, Japan, Estonia, Belgium and the Dominican Republic. "The situation of human rights in the DPRK is appalling and gets worse by the day," the eight said in a joint declaration read by German ambassador Christoph Heusgen, referring to North Korea by the initials of its formal name. "Individuals in the DPRK are stripped of nearly all their human rights, their freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, association, movement, and religion or belief, among many others," the statement said. "Media freedom is non-existent, neither is there any possibility of a political opposition to the regime's tight grip on its people," it added. The joint declaration was particularly critical of North Korea's "long-standing system of political prison camps where hundreds of thousands of North Koreans, including children, have died as a consequence of torture, forced labor, summary executions, starvation, sexual and gender-based violence and other forms of inhumane treatment." It added that "as we speak, 100,000 prisoners are being detained, suffering from the horrors of being maltreated and abused on a daily basis." "The multiple and grave human rights violations women are subjected to by the hands of the State, in particular sexual and gender-based violence, are unimaginable. They must stop immediately," the eight states demanded. They also called for the release of "abducted Japanese and South Korean citizens." It concluded that "the dire, if not tragic situation of the North Korean population is due exclusively to the regime's cynical policies, putting nuclear weapons first and food for its people last." Between 2014 and 2017, the UN Security Council held an annual public meeting on human rights violations in North Korea. Since 2018, opposition by Russia, China and a small number of members of the council has prevented these public sessions.

Eight countries, including US, denounce human rights record in North Korea

Satellite imagery suggests recent flooding in North Korea may have damaged pump houses connected to the country's main nuclear facility, a US-based think-tank said on Thursday.

Analysts at 38 North, a website that monitors North Korea, said commercial satellite imagery from August 6-11 showed how vulnerable the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center`s nuclear reactor cooling systems are to extreme weather events.

The Korean peninsula has been hammered by one of the longest rainy spells in recent history, with floods and landslides causing damage and deaths in both North and South Korea.

Located on the bank of the Kuryong River about 100 km (60 miles) north of North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang, Yongbyon is home to nuclear reactors, fuel re-processing plants and uranium enrichment facilities that are thought to be used in the country's nuclear weapons programme.

The five-megawatt reactor - believed to be used to produce weapons-grade plutonium - does not appear to have been operating for some time, and an Experimental Light Water Reactor (ELWR) has not yet come online, but such flooding in the future would likely force a shutdown, the 38 North report said.

"Damage to the pumps and piping within the pump houses presents the biggest vulnerability to the reactors," the report said. "If the reactors were operating, for instance, the inability to cool them would require them to be shut down."

While there was further flooding downstream, it did not appear to reach the Yongbyon facility`s Uranium Enrichment Plant and by August 11 the waters appear to have somewhat receded, 38 North said.

South Korea's Ministry of Defence declined to comment on the report, but said it is always monitoring developments related to North Korea`s nuclear and missile programmes and maintaining close cooperation with the U.S. government.

At a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Vietnam in 2019, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un offered to dismantle&nbsp;Yongbyon in exchange for relief from a range of international sanctions imposed over North Korea`s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes.

At the time Trump said he rejected that deal because Yongbyon is only one part of the North's nuclear programme, and was not enough of a concession to warrant loosening so many sanctions.

Satellite imagery suggests recent flooding in North Korea may have damaged pump houses connected to the country's main nuclear facility, a US-based think-tank said on Thursday.

Satellite imagery suggests recent flooding in North Korea may have damaged pump houses connected to the country's main nuclear facility, a US-based think-tank said on Thursday. Analysts at 38 North, a website that monitors North Korea, said commercial satellite imagery from August 6-11 showed how vulnerable the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center`s nuclear reactor cooling systems are to extreme weather events. The Korean peninsula has been hammered by one of the longest rainy spells in recent history, with floods and landslides causing damage and deaths in both North and South Korea. Located on the bank of the Kuryong River about 100 km (60 miles) north of North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang, Yongbyon is home to nuclear reactors, fuel re-processing plants and uranium enrichment facilities that are thought to be used in the country's nuclear weapons programme. The five-megawatt reactor - believed to be used to produce weapons-grade plutonium - does not appear to have been operating for some time, and an Experimental Light Water Reactor (ELWR) has not yet come online, but such flooding in the future would likely force a shutdown, the 38 North report said. "Damage to the pumps and piping within the pump houses presents the biggest vulnerability to the reactors," the report said. "If the reactors were operating, for instance, the inability to cool them would require them to be shut down." While there was further flooding downstream, it did not appear to reach the Yongbyon facility`s Uranium Enrichment Plant and by August 11 the waters appear to have somewhat receded, 38 North said. South Korea's Ministry of Defence declined to comment on the report, but said it is always monitoring developments related to North Korea`s nuclear and missile programmes and maintaining close cooperation with the U.S. government. At a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Vietnam in 2019, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un offered to dismantle Yongbyon in exchange for relief from a range of international sanctions imposed over North Korea`s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes. At the time Trump said he rejected that deal because Yongbyon is only one part of the North's nuclear programme, and was not enough of a concession to warrant loosening so many sanctions.

North Korea nuclear reactor site threatened by recent flooding, US think-tank says

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has downplayed the possibility of another summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un before the US presidential election. He said Trump would only want to engage if there were real prospects of progress.

Pompeo's comments come in the aftermath of repeated statements by North Korean leadership insisting it would no longer have high-profile meetings with Trump.

"The North Koreans have given mixed signals, but the truth is President Donald Trump only wants to engage in a summit if we believe there's a sufficient likelihood that we can make real progress in achieving the outcomes that were set forth in Singapore," Mike Pompeo said during the event hosted by The Hill, referring to the first Trump-Kim summit in June 2018.

"You need to have a willing partner, and the North Koreans have chosen at this point in time not to engage in a way that can lead to a potential solution. We hope they'll change their mind," he said.

Kim and US President Donald Trump first met in Singapore two years ago but talks over Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal have been stalled since their Hanoi summit collapsed in early 2019.

In February 2019, the Americans rejected North Korean demands for major sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capability.

Trump said earlier this month he would "certainly" meet with Kim again if he thought it was going to be helpful.

Analysts believe North Korea will avoid serious talks with the Americans for now before attempting an eventual return to negotiations after the US election in November.&nbsp;

The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said there was "no need" for another summit with the United States unless Washington offered a "decisive change" in approach.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kim-jong-uns-sister-says-no-need-for-another-us-n-korea-summit-312159">Also read | Kim Jong-un's sister says 'no need' for another US-N Korea summit</a>

Kim Yo Jong -- who has emerged as one of her brother's closest advisors -- said, "There is no need for us to sit across with the US right now."

Kim Jong-un declared in December an end to moratoriums on nuclear and ballistic missile tests, and Pyongyang has repeatedly said it has no intention to continue talks unless Washington drops what it describes as "hostile" policies towards the North.

Washington stations 28,500 troops in the South to defend it against its neighbour, and has a range of military assets in Japan and the wider Pacific region. 
&nbsp;

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has downplayed the possibility of another summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un before the US presidential election.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has downplayed the possibility of another summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un before the US presidential election. He said Trump would only want to engage if there were real prospects of progress. Pompeo's comments come in the aftermath of repeated statements by North Korean leadership insisting it would no longer have high-profile meetings with Trump. "The North Koreans have given mixed signals, but the truth is President Donald Trump only wants to engage in a summit if we believe there's a sufficient likelihood that we can make real progress in achieving the outcomes that were set forth in Singapore," Mike Pompeo said during the event hosted by The Hill, referring to the first Trump-Kim summit in June 2018. "You need to have a willing partner, and the North Koreans have chosen at this point in time not to engage in a way that can lead to a potential solution. We hope they'll change their mind," he said. Kim and US President Donald Trump first met in Singapore two years ago but talks over Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal have been stalled since their Hanoi summit collapsed in early 2019. In February 2019, the Americans rejected North Korean demands for major sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capability. Trump said earlier this month he would "certainly" meet with Kim again if he thought it was going to be helpful. Analysts believe North Korea will avoid serious talks with the Americans for now before attempting an eventual return to negotiations after the US election in November. The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said there was "no need" for another summit with the United States unless Washington offered a "decisive change" in approach. Also read | Kim Jong-un's sister says 'no need' for another US-N Korea summit Kim Yo Jong -- who has emerged as one of her brother's closest advisors -- said, "There is no need for us to sit across with the US right now." Kim Jong-un declared in December an end to moratoriums on nuclear and ballistic missile tests, and Pyongyang has repeatedly said it has no intention to continue talks unless Washington drops what it describes as "hostile" policies towards the North. Washington stations 28,500 troops in the South to defend it against its neighbour, and has a range of military assets in Japan and the wider Pacific region.

US Secy of State Pompeo downplays possibility of summit with North Korea

The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said there was "no need" for another summit with the United States unless Washington offered a "decisive change" in approach.

Kim Yo Jong -- who has emerged as one of her brother's closest advisers -- said: "There is no need for us to sit across with the US right now."

If a summit was held, she said, "it is too obvious that it will only be used as boring boasting coming from someone's pride".

Kim and US President Donald Trump first met in Singapore two years ago but talks over Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal have been stalled since their Hanoi summit collapsed in early 2019.

Trump said this week he would "certainly" meet with Kim again if he thought it was going to be helpful.

Denuclearisation, Kim Yo Jong added, was "not possible at this point", and could only happen alongside parallel "irreversible simultaneous major steps" by the other side.

Pyongyang insists that it needs its nuclear arsenal to deter against a possible US invasion.

Kim Yo Jong's statement was only her personal view, she said.

Kim Jong-un declared in December an end to moratoriums on nuclear and ballistic missile tests, and Pyongyang has repeatedly said it has no intention to continue talks unless Washington drops what it describes as "hostile" policies towards the North.

Washington stations 28,500 troops in the South to defend it against its neighbour, and has a range of military assets in Japan and the wider Pacific region.

 
&nbsp;

The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said there was "no need" for another summit with the United States unless Washington offered a "decisive change" in approach.

The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said there was "no need" for another summit with the United States unless Washington offered a "decisive change" in approach. Kim Yo Jong -- who has emerged as one of her brother's closest advisers -- said: "There is no need for us to sit across with the US right now." If a summit was held, she said, "it is too obvious that it will only be used as boring boasting coming from someone's pride". Kim and US President Donald Trump first met in Singapore two years ago but talks over Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal have been stalled since their Hanoi summit collapsed in early 2019. Trump said this week he would "certainly" meet with Kim again if he thought it was going to be helpful. Denuclearisation, Kim Yo Jong added, was "not possible at this point", and could only happen alongside parallel "irreversible simultaneous major steps" by the other side. Pyongyang insists that it needs its nuclear arsenal to deter against a possible US invasion. Kim Yo Jong's statement was only her personal view, she said. Kim Jong-un declared in December an end to moratoriums on nuclear and ballistic missile tests, and Pyongyang has repeatedly said it has no intention to continue talks unless Washington drops what it describes as "hostile" policies towards the North. Washington stations 28,500 troops in the South to defend it against its neighbour, and has a range of military assets in Japan and the wider Pacific region.

Kim Jong-un's sister says 'no need' for another US-N Korea summit

The United States has stressed the importance of resuming talks with North Korea, South Korea said on Thursday, even though North Korea has said it has no intention of returning to the negotiating table.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, who wound up three days of talks in Seoul, earlier rejected speculation he was seeking to meet North Korean officials during his visit, but said the United States was open to talks.

“Biegun emphasised the importance of reopening dialogue with North Korea,” the office of South Korean President Moon Jae-in said in a statement.

Biegun, the top U.S. envoy on efforts to press North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons, met South Korea’s national security adviser, Suh Hoon.

Biegun is due to arrive in Japan later on Thursday.

South Korea has been trying to promote peace efforts and Suh was instrumental in arranging summits between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump and Kim met for the first time in 2018 in Singapore, raising hopes for a negotiated end to North Korea’s nuclear programme. But their second summit, in 2019 in Vietnam, and later working-level talks, fell apart.

Trump said on Tuesday he was open to another meeting with Kim and thought it might be helpful, Voice of America said, citing a transcript of Trump interview with Gray Television, due to be aired on Sunday.

But North Korea, apparently frustrated that there’s been no sign of any easing of punishing sanctions against it, has said in recent weeks it had no intention of sitting down again with the United States.

Tension flared last month when North Korea blew up a joint North-South liaison office on its side of the border, before just as suddenly dropping a threat of military action against the South.

Biegun has led working-level talks with North Korea but the negotiations have been stalled since the two sides last met in Sweden in October.

The United States has stressed the importance of resuming talks with North Korea, South Korea said on Thursday, even though North Korea has said it has no intention of returning to the negotiating table.

The United States has stressed the importance of resuming talks with North Korea, South Korea said on Thursday, even though North Korea has said it has no intention of returning to the negotiating table. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, who wound up three days of talks in Seoul, earlier rejected speculation he was seeking to meet North Korean officials during his visit, but said the United States was open to talks. “Biegun emphasised the importance of reopening dialogue with North Korea,” the office of South Korean President Moon Jae-in said in a statement. Biegun, the top U.S. envoy on efforts to press North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons, met South Korea’s national security adviser, Suh Hoon. Biegun is due to arrive in Japan later on Thursday. South Korea has been trying to promote peace efforts and Suh was instrumental in arranging summits between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump and Kim met for the first time in 2018 in Singapore, raising hopes for a negotiated end to North Korea’s nuclear programme. But their second summit, in 2019 in Vietnam, and later working-level talks, fell apart. Trump said on Tuesday he was open to another meeting with Kim and thought it might be helpful, Voice of America said, citing a transcript of Trump interview with Gray Television, due to be aired on Sunday. But North Korea, apparently frustrated that there’s been no sign of any easing of punishing sanctions against it, has said in recent weeks it had no intention of sitting down again with the United States. Tension flared last month when North Korea blew up a joint North-South liaison office on its side of the border, before just as suddenly dropping a threat of military action against the South. Biegun has led working-level talks with North Korea but the negotiations have been stalled since the two sides last met in Sweden in October.

US sees importance of North Korea talks despite tension, South says

US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun on Wednesday refuted reports that he was seeking to meet North Korean officials during a visit to South Korea this week. He, however, said Washington was open to resuming talks.

Biegun’s visit had sparked speculation about a last-ditch effort to revive the North Korea talks ahead of the US presidential election in November, but he played down expectations for new meetings.

Biegun met South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha briefly before holding longer meetings with Vice Foreign Minister Cho Sei-young and chief nuclear negotiator Lee Do-hoon.

The US official for North Korea, Biegun was in Seoul for meetings with South Korean officials. The meeting was, however, overshadowed by North Korea’s insistence that it has no intention of returning to denuclearisation negotiations as long as the United States clings to “hostile policies”.

North Korea dominated the agenda, South Korean officials said

Biegun said he was ready to resume talks at any time the North Koreans designate.

“We look forward to continuing our work for a peaceful outcome of the Korean peninsula, I believe this is very much possible,” he said, noting that US President Donald Trump had given his full support.

Biegun is also likely to meet Suh Hoon, Moon’s new national security advisor who, as spy chief, was instrumental in facilitating summits between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a South Korean official said.

Talks with North Korea have since stalled, and its officials say they have no intention of sitting down with the United States.

Trump said on Tuesday he was open to another meeting with Kim and thought it might be helpful, Voice of America reported, citing a transcript of an interview Trump gave to Gray Television, due to be aired on Sunday.

US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun on Wednesday refuted reports that he was seeking to meet North Korean officials during a visit to South Korea this week.

US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun on Wednesday refuted reports that he was seeking to meet North Korean officials during a visit to South Korea this week. He, however, said Washington was open to resuming talks. Biegun’s visit had sparked speculation about a last-ditch effort to revive the North Korea talks ahead of the US presidential election in November, but he played down expectations for new meetings. Biegun met South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha briefly before holding longer meetings with Vice Foreign Minister Cho Sei-young and chief nuclear negotiator Lee Do-hoon. The US official for North Korea, Biegun was in Seoul for meetings with South Korean officials. The meeting was, however, overshadowed by North Korea’s insistence that it has no intention of returning to denuclearisation negotiations as long as the United States clings to “hostile policies”. North Korea dominated the agenda, South Korean officials said Biegun said he was ready to resume talks at any time the North Koreans designate. “We look forward to continuing our work for a peaceful outcome of the Korean peninsula, I believe this is very much possible,” he said, noting that US President Donald Trump had given his full support. Biegun is also likely to meet Suh Hoon, Moon’s new national security advisor who, as spy chief, was instrumental in facilitating summits between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a South Korean official said. Talks with North Korea have since stalled, and its officials say they have no intention of sitting down with the United States. Trump said on Tuesday he was open to another meeting with Kim and thought it might be helpful, Voice of America reported, citing a transcript of an interview Trump gave to Gray Television, due to be aired on Sunday.

US envoy denies wanting North Korea meet, but says ready to talk

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Friday said Washington had been surprised by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un&#39;s willingness to hold direct talks with the US on the nuclear standoff in the Korean peninsula.

&quot;What changed was his posture in a fairly dramatic way,&quot; Tillerson said in Djibouti during a five-nation Africa tour.

&quot;In all honesty, that came as a little bit of a surprise to us, as well that he was so forward-leaning in his conversations with the delegation from South Korea.&quot;

Tillerson&#39;s comments came after President Trump agreed to a historic meeting with Kim, the first ever between a US president and a North Korean leader.

The meeting is due to take place by the end of May.

News of the summit, which South Korean President Moon Jae-in said was &quot;like a miracle&quot;, is the latest step in a quickening detente after a period of heightened rhetoric and extreme tension between Washington and Pyongyang.

Just hours before the summit announcement, Tillerson had said that the United States was &quot;a long way&quot; from talking directly to North Korea.

&quot;In terms of direct talks... we&#39;re a long way from negotiations, we just need to be very clear-eyed and realistic about it,&quot; Tillerson had said in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on Thursday.

A first step would be &quot;talks about talks&quot; to see if &quot;conditions are right to even begin thinking about negotiations,&quot; Tillerson had said.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Friday said Washington had been surprised by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's willingness to hold direct talks with the US on the nuclear standoff in the Korean peninsula

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Friday said Washington had been surprised by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's willingness to hold direct talks with the US on the nuclear standoff in the Korean peninsula. "What changed was his posture in a fairly dramatic way," Tillerson said in Djibouti during a five-nation Africa tour. "In all honesty, that came as a little bit of a surprise to us, as well that he was so forward-leaning in his conversations with the delegation from South Korea." Tillerson's comments came after President Trump agreed to a historic meeting with Kim, the first ever between a US president and a North Korean leader. The meeting is due to take place by the end of May. News of the summit, which South Korean President Moon Jae-in said was "like a miracle", is the latest step in a quickening detente after a period of heightened rhetoric and extreme tension between Washington and Pyongyang. Just hours before the summit announcement, Tillerson had said that the United States was "a long way" from talking directly to North Korea. "In terms of direct talks... we're a long way from negotiations, we just need to be very clear-eyed and realistic about it," Tillerson had said in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on Thursday. A first step would be "talks about talks" to see if "conditions are right to even begin thinking about negotiations," Tillerson had said.

US surprised at North Korea's offer of talks: Rex Tillerson

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-stakes-claim-to-form-government-in-meghalaya-34582">Congress stakes claim to form </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-stakes-claim-to-form-government-in-meghalaya-34582">government</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-stakes-claim-to-form-government-in-meghalaya-34582"> in Meghalaya</a>

The Congress has staked its claim to form the next government in Meghalaya. Senior party leaders met Meghalaya Governor Ganga Prasad last night to stake claim.

In its letter to the Governor, the Congress said that it was the single largest party in the state and should be invited to form government at the earliest.

&quot;Congress has become the single largest party in the state and constitutional propriety dictates that the Congress be invited to form the government at the earliest. Majority would be proven on the floor House at the date and time decided by you (Governor)&quot;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-demolishes-left-citadel-in-tripura-certain-to-be-part-of-government-in-nagaland-34576">BJP demolishes Left citadel in Tripura, certain to be part of </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-demolishes-left-citadel-in-tripura-certain-to-be-part-of-government-in-nagaland-34576">government</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-demolishes-left-citadel-in-tripura-certain-to-be-part-of-government-in-nagaland-34576"> in Nagaland</a>

Riding the crest of a Modi wave, the BJP on Saturday demolished the communist citadel of Tripura, winning a two-third majority with ally IPFT and ending 25 years of uninterrupted rule of the CPI(M)-led Left Front.

In Nagaland, though the BJP-NDPP alliance failed to secure a majority with the state throwing up a hung Assembly, the party&#39;s participation in the future government looks certain.

The ruling NPF, which emerged as the single largest party, extended invitation to the BJP to join the new dispensation, though the BJP-NDPP combine might be able to form a government with help from smaller parties like the NPP, JD(U) and an Independent.

The NPF is the single largest party in the House with 27 seats.

The BJP-NDPP combine has won 29 seats (BJP 12, NDPP 17). The NPP of Conrad Sangma, an NEDA partner of the BJP, has won two seats and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar&#39;s JD(U) one.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-threatens-us-of-counter-attack-for-joint-military-exercises-with-south-korea-34579">North Korea threatens </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-threatens-us-of-counter-attack-for-joint-military-exercises-with-south-korea-34579">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-threatens-us-of-counter-attack-for-joint-military-exercises-with-south-korea-34579"> against joint military exercises with South Korea</a>

A North Korean official on Sunday threatened the US yet again if it takes part in the joint military exercises with South Korea in the coming months.

The United States is due to start joint exercises in early April, a South Korean presidential security adviser said this week according to Yonhap news agency - the latest in a series of drills that the north has regularly described as a threat.

&ldquo;If the U.S. finally holds joint military exercises while keeping sanctions on the DPRK, the DPRK will counter the U.S. by its own mode of counteraction and the U.S. will be made to own all responsibilities for the ensuing consequences,&rdquo; North Korea&rsquo;s official KCNA news agency said in its commentary, saying the drills would harm reconciliation efforts on the peninsula.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-threatens-us-of-counter-attack-for-joint-military-exercises-with-south-korea-34579">Gunman shoots himself outside White House</a>

The authorities on Sunday confirmed the death of the gunman, who had shot himself in front of the White House on Saturday.

&quot;Adult male has been declared deceased,&quot; the Washington, DC Police Department said on Twitter. &nbsp;

The gunman has been identified by the Secret service and the Metropolitan Police Department, but his name has not been disclosed citing security reasons.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/issf-world-cup-shooter-shahzar-rizvi-grabs-maiden-gold-jitu-rai-and-mehuli-ghosh-settle-for-bronze-34578">ISSF World Cup: Shooter </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/issf-world-cup-shooter-shahzar-rizvi-grabs-maiden-gold-jitu-rai-and-mehuli-ghosh-settle-for-bronze-34578">Shahzar</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/issf-world-cup-shooter-shahzar-rizvi-grabs-maiden-gold-jitu-rai-and-mehuli-ghosh-settle-for-bronze-34578"> Rizvi grabs maiden gold</a>

India shooter Shahzar Rizvi made his maiden International Shooting Sports Federation World Cup appearance a memorable one by winning the gold medal in the 10m air pistol event at Guadalajara in Mexico on Saturday.

Rizvi shot a world record score of 242.3 points in the final to beat Christian Reitz of Germany, 239.7 points, to win the top honour.

Ace India shooter Jitu Rai won the bronze in the event with a score of 219 points. In the Women&#39;s 10M Air Rifle, Mehuli Ghosh grabbed bronze for India.

Congress stakes claim to form government in Meghalaya The Congress has staked its claim to form the next government in Meghalaya. Senior party leaders met Meghalaya Governor Ganga Prasad last night to stake claim. In its letter to the Governor, the Congress said that it was the single largest party in the state and should be invited to form government at the earliest. "Congress has become the single largest party in the state and constitutional propriety dictates that the Congress be invited to form the government at the earliest. Majority would be proven on the floor House at the date and time decided by you (Governor)" BJP demolishes Left citadel in Tripura, certain to be part of government in Nagaland Riding the crest of a Modi wave, the BJP on Saturday demolished the communist citadel of Tripura, winning a two-third majority with ally IPFT and ending 25 years of uninterrupted rule of the CPI(M)-led Left Front. In Nagaland, though the BJP-NDPP alliance failed to secure a majority with the state throwing up a hung Assembly, the party's participation in the future government looks certain. The ruling NPF, which emerged as the single largest party, extended invitation to the BJP to join the new dispensation, though the BJP-NDPP combine might be able to form a government with help from smaller parties like the NPP, JD(U) and an Independent. The NPF is the single largest party in the House with 27 seats. The BJP-NDPP combine has won 29 seats (BJP 12, NDPP 17). The NPP of Conrad Sangma, an NEDA partner of the BJP, has won two seats and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U) one. North Korea threatens US against joint military exercises with South Korea A North Korean official on Sunday threatened the US yet again if it takes part in the joint military exercises with South Korea in the coming months. The United States is due to start joint exercises in early April, a South Korean presidential security adviser said this week according to Yonhap news agency - the latest in a series of drills that the north has regularly described as a threat. “If the U.S. finally holds joint military exercises while keeping sanctions on the DPRK, the DPRK will counter the U.S. by its own mode of counteraction and the U.S. will be made to own all responsibilities for the ensuing consequences,” North Korea’s official KCNA news agency said in its commentary, saying the drills would harm reconciliation efforts on the peninsula. Gunman shoots himself outside White House The authorities on Sunday confirmed the death of the gunman, who had shot himself in front of the White House on Saturday. "Adult male has been declared deceased," the Washington, DC Police Department said on Twitter. The gunman has been identified by the Secret service and the Metropolitan Police Department, but his name has not been disclosed citing security reasons. ISSF World Cup: Shooter Shahzar Rizvi grabs maiden gold India shooter Shahzar Rizvi made his maiden International Shooting Sports Federation World Cup appearance a memorable one by winning the gold medal in the 10m air pistol event at Guadalajara in Mexico on Saturday. Rizvi shot a world record score of 242.3 points in the final to beat Christian Reitz of Germany, 239.7 points, to win the top honour. Ace India shooter Jitu Rai won the bronze in the event with a score of 219 points. In the Women's 10M Air Rifle, Mehuli Ghosh grabbed bronze for India.

WION news brief, March 4, 2018

US President Donald Trump gave a cautious response to North Korea&#39;s offer of talks Monday, saying they would take place &quot;only under the right conditions.&quot;

&quot;We have been very tough with them,&quot; Trump said at the White House, after Pyongyang signaled its willingness to return to the negotiating table.

Also&nbsp;read - <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/north-korea-willing-to-hold-talks-with-us-says-seoul-34014">North Korea willing to hold talks with </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/north-korea-willing-to-hold-talks-with-us-says-seoul-34014">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/north-korea-willing-to-hold-talks-with-us-says-seoul-34014">, says Seoul</a>

&quot;So they want to talk &quot; Trump said, claiming that as a &quot;first&quot; and adding &quot;we&#39;ll see what happens.&quot;

He did not spell out his conditions for talks.

North Korea&#39;s offer is a barbed one, coming as allies Seoul and Washington struggle to agree on how to deal with the rogue nuclear power.

US officials fret that the offer could be an effort to drive a wedge between the allies or to buy time.

Trump&#39;s administration has embarked on a policy of &quot;maximum pressure&quot; to convince the North to abandon threatening missile and nuclear programs.

Trump has pointedly refused to rule out military action, much to the concern of South Korea.

On Monday South Korean President Moon Jae-in urged the United States to &quot;lower the threshold for talks.&quot;

&quot;It&#39;s important that the US and the North sit together as soon as possible,&quot; Moon said.

Washington has long insisted that Pyongyang takes steps towards denuclearization before any talks take place.

'So they want to talk' Trump said, claiming that as a 'first' and adding 'we'll see what happens'

US President Donald Trump gave a cautious response to North Korea's offer of talks Monday, saying they would take place "only under the right conditions." "We have been very tough with them," Trump said at the White House, after Pyongyang signaled its willingness to return to the negotiating table. Also read - North Korea willing to hold talks with US, says Seoul "So they want to talk " Trump said, claiming that as a "first" and adding "we'll see what happens." He did not spell out his conditions for talks. North Korea's offer is a barbed one, coming as allies Seoul and Washington struggle to agree on how to deal with the rogue nuclear power. US officials fret that the offer could be an effort to drive a wedge between the allies or to buy time. Trump's administration has embarked on a policy of "maximum pressure" to convince the North to abandon threatening missile and nuclear programs. Trump has pointedly refused to rule out military action, much to the concern of South Korea. On Monday South Korean President Moon Jae-in urged the United States to "lower the threshold for talks." "It's important that the US and the North sit together as soon as possible," Moon said. Washington has long insisted that Pyongyang takes steps towards denuclearization before any talks take place.

North Korea talks only under 'right conditions': North Korea

After North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un&#39;s message that he was <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/nuclear-button-is-always-on-my-table-north-koreas-kim-jong-un-28204">always within reach of the nuclear button</a> comes President Trump&#39;s tweet that the &quot;US nuclear button is bigger and more powerful one than his.&quot;

Trump tweeted: &quot;North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the &quot;Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.&quot; Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger &amp; more powerful one than his, and my Button works!&quot;

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the &ldquo;Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.&rdquo; Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger &amp; more powerful one than his, and my Button works!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/948355557022420992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&quot;The nuclear button is always on my table. The US must realise this is not blackmail but reality, Kim Jong-Un had said while reiterating his claims that North Korea was a nuclear state.

&quot;(The North) can cope with any kind of nuclear threats from the US and has a strong nuclear deterrence that is able to prevent the US from playing with fire,&quot; Kim said in his annual address to the nation.

He also said that North Korea must mass-produce nuclear weapons and missiles.

&quot;We must mass-produce nuclear warheads and ballistic missile and speed up their deployment,&quot; said Kim.

On Tuesday, US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, warned North Korea against staging another missile test.

Nikki Haley told the press the United States was hearing reports that North Korea might be preparing to fire another missile.

&quot;I hope that doesn&#39;t happen. But if it does, we must bring even tougher measures to bear against the North Korean regime,&quot; Haley said.

The US envoy said Washington would not take any talks between North and South Korea seriously if they did not do something to get Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons.

Trump and Kim&#39;s latest remarks come after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-says-us-threats-make-war-unavoidable-26132">months of escalating tensions</a> over North Korea&#39;s country&#39;s weapons programme. &nbsp;&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump has responded to each test with his own counter-threats, threatening to &quot;totally destroy&quot; Pyongyang and saying Kim Jong-Un was on &quot;a suicide mission&quot;.

Kim Jong-Un has presided over multiple missile tests in recent months and the North&#39;s sixth and most powerful nuclear test -- which it said was a hydrogen bomb -- in September.&nbsp;

In December the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed new, US-drafted sanctions to restrict oil supplies vital for the impoverished state. The sanctions also received the backing of China, the North&#39;s sole major ally and economic lifeline&nbsp;

The third raft of sanctions imposed last year, which the North slammed as an &quot;act of war&quot;.

(With inputs from&nbsp; agencies)

President Trump's tweet comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un's New Year address that he was always within reach of the nuclear button

After North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un's message that he was always within reach of the nuclear button comes President Trump's tweet that the "US nuclear button is bigger and more powerful one than his." Trump tweeted: "North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the "Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times." Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!" North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the “Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.” Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018 × "The nuclear button is always on my table. The US must realise this is not blackmail but reality, Kim Jong-Un had said while reiterating his claims that North Korea was a nuclear state. "(The North) can cope with any kind of nuclear threats from the US and has a strong nuclear deterrence that is able to prevent the US from playing with fire," Kim said in his annual address to the nation. He also said that North Korea must mass-produce nuclear weapons and missiles. "We must mass-produce nuclear warheads and ballistic missile and speed up their deployment," said Kim. On Tuesday, US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, warned North Korea against staging another missile test. Nikki Haley told the press the United States was hearing reports that North Korea might be preparing to fire another missile. "I hope that doesn't happen. But if it does, we must bring even tougher measures to bear against the North Korean regime," Haley said. The US envoy said Washington would not take any talks between North and South Korea seriously if they did not do something to get Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons. Trump and Kim's latest remarks come after months of escalating tensions over North Korea's country's weapons programme. US President Donald Trump has responded to each test with his own counter-threats, threatening to "totally destroy" Pyongyang and saying Kim Jong-Un was on "a suicide mission". Kim Jong-Un has presided over multiple missile tests in recent months and the North's sixth and most powerful nuclear test -- which it said was a hydrogen bomb -- in September. In December the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed new, US-drafted sanctions to restrict oil supplies vital for the impoverished state. The sanctions also received the backing of China, the North's sole major ally and economic lifeline The third raft of sanctions imposed last year, which the North slammed as an "act of war". (With inputs from agencies)

My nuclear button 'bigger, more powerful' than North Korea's, says Trump

The United States warned the North Korean leadership that it would be &quot;utterly destroyed&quot; if war were to break out, after Pyongyang test-fired its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile, putting the US mainland within range.&nbsp;

The Trump administration has repeatedly said all options were on the table in dealing with North Korea&#39;s ballistic and nuclear weapons programme, including military ones, but that it still prefers a diplomatic option.

Still, speaking at an emergency UN Security Council meeting, US ambassador Nikki Haley warned:&nbsp;

&quot;We have never sought war with North Korea, and still today we do not seek it. If war does come, it will be because of continued acts of aggression like we witnessed yesterday ... And if war comes, make no mistake, the North Korean regime will be utterly destroyed.&quot;

Haley said the United States has asked China to cut off oil supply to North Korea, a drastic step that Beijing - the North&#39;s neighbour and sole major trading partner - has so far refrained from doing. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping talked on the phone earlier on Wednesday.

&quot;Just spoke to President Xi Jinping of China concerning the provocative actions of North Korea. Additional major sanctions will be imposed on North Korea today. This situation will be handled!&quot; Trump wrote on Twitter.

Previous US administrations have failed to stop North Korea from developing nuclear weapons and a sophisticated missile programme. Trump has also struggled to contain Pyongyang since he came to office in January.

Urging China to use its leverage on Pyongyang and promising more sanctions against North Korea are two strategies that have borne little fruit so far.

In a speech in Missouri about taxes, Trump, who has traded insults with the North in the past, referred to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un with a derisive nickname. &quot;Little Rocket Man. He is a sick puppy,&quot; Trump said.

The latest missile was fired a week after Trump put North Korea back on a US list of countries it says support terrorism, allowing it to impose more sanctions.&nbsp;

United Nations political affairs chief Jeffrey Feltman met with North Korea&#39;s Ambassador Ja Song Nam on Wednesday to tell him Pyongyang must &quot;desist from taking any further destabilizing steps&quot; after the country launched another ballistic missile.

North Korea, which conducted its sixth and largest nuclear bomb test in September, has tested dozens of ballistic missiles under Kim`s leadership in defiance of international sanctions.

Pyongyang has said its weapons programmes are a necessary defence against US&nbsp;plans to invade. The United States, which has 28,500 troops in South Korea as a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War, denies any such intention.

Russia&#39;s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia called on North Korea on Wednesday to stop its missile and nuclear tests and for the United States and South Korea not to hold military drills in December as it would &quot;inflame an already explosive situation.&quot; 
 
North Korea said the new missile soared to an altitude of about 4,475 km (2,780 miles) - more than 10 times the height of the International Space Station - and flew 950 km (590 miles) during its 53-minute flight.

It flew higher and longer than any North Korean missile before, landing in the sea near Japan. Missile experts said the new &quot;Hwasong-15&quot; missile theoretically gave North Korea the ability to hit the United States, including the East Coast, although it was not clear whether it could carry a nuclear weapon.&nbsp;

Photos released by North Korean state media appeared to show a missile being positioned on the launch site by a mobile vehicle, designed to allow the missile to be fired from a wider number of areas to prevent it being intercepted before launch.

Kim is shown laughing and smiling with officials both next to the missile as it is readied, and in a control booth. The launch itself shows the missile lifting off amid smoke and fire, with Kim watching from a field in the distance.

US intelligence analysts have concluded from satellite and other data that the test missile was fired from a fixed position, not a mobile launcher, three U.S. officials said on Wednesday.

Two of the officials, who both follow developments in North Korea closely, said that while the test appears to demonstrate a more powerful North Korean solid-fuel propulsion system, especially in its second stage rocket, it is far from clear that North Korea has developed a weapon that could reliably deliver a nuclear weapon to the U.S. mainland.

The two officials also said the North has not proved it has an accurate guidance system for an intercontinental ballistic missile or a re-entry vehicle capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and surviving a return from space through Earth&rsquo;s atmosphere. 
 
The photos revealed some developments in missile technology, including a larger diameter, which could allow the missile to carry a larger warhead and use a more powerful engine, said David Wright of the Union of Concerned Scientists, a US-based nonprofit science advocacy group.

&#39;Threaten everywhere&#39;

US, Japanese and South Korean officials all agreed the missile, which landed within Japan`s exclusive economic zone, was likely an ICBM.&nbsp;

&quot;It went higher, frankly, than any previous shot they&#39;ve taken, a research and development effort on their part to continue building ballistic missiles that can threaten everywhere in the world, basically,&quot; US&nbsp;Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters at the White House.

An international meeting in Canada in January is designed to produce &quot;better ideas&quot; to ease tensions over Pyongyang&#39;s nuclear and ballistic missile tests, Canadian officials said on Wednesday, although North Korea itself will not be invited.&nbsp;

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Wednesday the United States has &quot;a long list of additional potential sanctions, some of which involve potential financial institutions, and the Treasury Department will be announcing those when they&rsquo;re ready to roll those out.&quot;&nbsp;

The new Hwasong-15, named after the planet Mars, was a more advanced version of an ICBM tested twice in July, North Korea said. It was designed to carry a &quot;super-large heavy warhead&quot; 
. 
Based on its trajectory and distance, the missile would have a range of more than 13,000 km (8,100 miles) - more than enough to reach Washington D.C. and the rest of the United States, the Union of Concerned Scientists said.&nbsp; 
However, it was unclear how heavy a payload the missile was carrying, and it was uncertain if it could carry a large nuclear warhead that far, the group said.

In just three months, South Korea hosts the Winter Olympics at a resort just 80 km (50 miles) from the heavily fortified border with North Korea.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

The United States warned the North Korean leadership that it would be 'utterly destroyed' if war were to break out, after Pyongyang test-fired its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile, putting the US mainland within range

The United States warned the North Korean leadership that it would be "utterly destroyed" if war were to break out, after Pyongyang test-fired its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile, putting the US mainland within range. The Trump administration has repeatedly said all options were on the table in dealing with North Korea's ballistic and nuclear weapons programme, including military ones, but that it still prefers a diplomatic option. Still, speaking at an emergency UN Security Council meeting, US ambassador Nikki Haley warned: "We have never sought war with North Korea, and still today we do not seek it. If war does come, it will be because of continued acts of aggression like we witnessed yesterday ... And if war comes, make no mistake, the North Korean regime will be utterly destroyed." Haley said the United States has asked China to cut off oil supply to North Korea, a drastic step that Beijing - the North's neighbour and sole major trading partner - has so far refrained from doing. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping talked on the phone earlier on Wednesday. "Just spoke to President Xi Jinping of China concerning the provocative actions of North Korea. Additional major sanctions will be imposed on North Korea today. This situation will be handled!" Trump wrote on Twitter. Previous US administrations have failed to stop North Korea from developing nuclear weapons and a sophisticated missile programme. Trump has also struggled to contain Pyongyang since he came to office in January. Urging China to use its leverage on Pyongyang and promising more sanctions against North Korea are two strategies that have borne little fruit so far. In a speech in Missouri about taxes, Trump, who has traded insults with the North in the past, referred to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un with a derisive nickname. "Little Rocket Man. He is a sick puppy," Trump said. The latest missile was fired a week after Trump put North Korea back on a US list of countries it says support terrorism, allowing it to impose more sanctions. United Nations political affairs chief Jeffrey Feltman met with North Korea's Ambassador Ja Song Nam on Wednesday to tell him Pyongyang must "desist from taking any further destabilizing steps" after the country launched another ballistic missile. North Korea, which conducted its sixth and largest nuclear bomb test in September, has tested dozens of ballistic missiles under Kim`s leadership in defiance of international sanctions. Pyongyang has said its weapons programmes are a necessary defence against US plans to invade. The United States, which has 28,500 troops in South Korea as a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War, denies any such intention. Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia called on North Korea on Wednesday to stop its missile and nuclear tests and for the United States and South Korea not to hold military drills in December as it would "inflame an already explosive situation." North Korea said the new missile soared to an altitude of about 4,475 km (2,780 miles) - more than 10 times the height of the International Space Station - and flew 950 km (590 miles) during its 53-minute flight. It flew higher and longer than any North Korean missile before, landing in the sea near Japan. Missile experts said the new "Hwasong-15" missile theoretically gave North Korea the ability to hit the United States, including the East Coast, although it was not clear whether it could carry a nuclear weapon. Photos released by North Korean state media appeared to show a missile being positioned on the launch site by a mobile vehicle, designed to allow the missile to be fired from a wider number of areas to prevent it being intercepted before launch. Kim is shown laughing and smiling with officials both next to the missile as it is readied, and in a control booth. The launch itself shows the missile lifting off amid smoke and fire, with Kim watching from a field in the distance. US intelligence analysts have concluded from satellite and other data that the test missile was fired from a fixed position, not a mobile launcher, three U.S. officials said on Wednesday. Two of the officials, who both follow developments in North Korea closely, said that while the test appears to demonstrate a more powerful North Korean solid-fuel propulsion system, especially in its second stage rocket, it is far from clear that North Korea has developed a weapon that could reliably deliver a nuclear weapon to the U.S. mainland. The two officials also said the North has not proved it has an accurate guidance system for an intercontinental ballistic missile or a re-entry vehicle capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and surviving a return from space through Earth’s atmosphere. The photos revealed some developments in missile technology, including a larger diameter, which could allow the missile to carry a larger warhead and use a more powerful engine, said David Wright of the Union of Concerned Scientists, a US-based nonprofit science advocacy group. 'Threaten everywhere' US, Japanese and South Korean officials all agreed the missile, which landed within Japan`s exclusive economic zone, was likely an ICBM. "It went higher, frankly, than any previous shot they've taken, a research and development effort on their part to continue building ballistic missiles that can threaten everywhere in the world, basically," US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters at the White House. An international meeting in Canada in January is designed to produce "better ideas" to ease tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile tests, Canadian officials said on Wednesday, although North Korea itself will not be invited. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Wednesday the United States has "a long list of additional potential sanctions, some of which involve potential financial institutions, and the Treasury Department will be announcing those when they’re ready to roll those out." The new Hwasong-15, named after the planet Mars, was a more advanced version of an ICBM tested twice in July, North Korea said. It was designed to carry a "super-large heavy warhead" . Based on its trajectory and distance, the missile would have a range of more than 13,000 km (8,100 miles) - more than enough to reach Washington D.C. and the rest of the United States, the Union of Concerned Scientists said. However, it was unclear how heavy a payload the missile was carrying, and it was uncertain if it could carry a large nuclear warhead that far, the group said. In just three months, South Korea hosts the Winter Olympics at a resort just 80 km (50 miles) from the heavily fortified border with North Korea.

US warns North Korean leadership will be 'utterly destroyed' if war breaks out

North Korea has been moving airplanes and boosting defences on its east coast after the United States dispatched B-1B bombers to the Korean peninsula over the weekend, South Korea&#39;s Yonhap News Agency reported on Tuesday, citing the country&#39;s spy agency.

The United States seemed to have disclosed the flight route of the bombers intentionally because North Korea seemed to be unaware, the report said.

South Korea&#39;s National Intelligence Service was unable to confirm the report immediately.

Earlier, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-declared-war-on-our-country-north-korea-20647">North Korea&#39;s foreign minister said on Monday that US&nbsp;President Donald Trump had declared wa</a>r on North Korea and that Pyongyang reserved the right to take countermeasures, including shooting down US&nbsp;bombers even if they are not in its airspace.

The North Korean foreign minister&#39;s statement that the United States has declared war on Pyongyang is &quot;absurd,&quot; the White House said on Monday. 
 
&quot;We&#39;ve not declared war on North Korea. Frankly, the suggestion of that is absurd,&quot; White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters. 
&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

North Korea has been moving airplanes and boosting defences on its east coast after the United States dispatched B-1B bombers to the Korean peninsula over the weekend, South Korea said

North Korea has been moving airplanes and boosting defences on its east coast after the United States dispatched B-1B bombers to the Korean peninsula over the weekend, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported on Tuesday, citing the country's spy agency. The United States seemed to have disclosed the flight route of the bombers intentionally because North Korea seemed to be unaware, the report said. South Korea's National Intelligence Service was unable to confirm the report immediately. Earlier, North Korea's foreign minister said on Monday that US President Donald Trump had declared war on North Korea and that Pyongyang reserved the right to take countermeasures, including shooting down US bombers even if they are not in its airspace. The North Korean foreign minister's statement that the United States has declared war on Pyongyang is "absurd," the White House said on Monday. "We've not declared war on North Korea. Frankly, the suggestion of that is absurd," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters.

'Absurd': US on North Korea's allegations of Trump declaring war

Gold on Thursday held steady near two-month highs hit the session before, bolstered by safe-haven demand triggered by rising tensions on the Korean peninsula. 
North Korea dismissed on Thursday warnings by US&nbsp;President Donald Trump that it would face &quot;fire and fury&quot; if it threatened the United States as a &quot;load of nonsense&quot;, and outlined detailed plans for a missile strike near the Pacific territory of Guam.

&quot;(Safe-haven demand) has settled down to a certain extent, but the market is still expecting more news to come,&quot; said Brian Lan, managing director at gold dealer GoldSilver Central in Singapore.

&quot;North Korea doesn&#39;t seem like they&#39;re going to back down and the US&nbsp;has also made a very strong stance this time.&quot;

Geopolitical risk can boost demand for assets seen as safe-havens such as gold.

Spot gold had eased 0.1 per cent to $1,276.40 per ounce at 0322 GMT. The precious metal climbed 1.3 per cent in the previous session, its biggest gain since mid-May, and touched $1,278.66 an ounce, it highest level since June 14. 
 
US&nbsp;gold futures for December delivery rose 0.2 per cent to $1,281.90 per ounce on Thursday.

Asian stocks steadied and US&nbsp;Treasury bond prices fell slightly on Thursday as the risk aversion triggered by tensions between the United States and North Korea began to settle.

&quot;Amid all the sabre-rattling, we expect gold prices to continue to move higher and likely cross the $1,300 an ounce mark in relative short order,&quot; said INTL FCStone analyst Edward Meir.

The market was also waiting for data that would offer clues about the extent to which the strengthening US&nbsp;labour market is spilling over into inflation.

&quot;Investors tend to be more cautious ahead of economic data, especially when the prices are high. They might take profits first and wait to see what&#39;s going to happen before they move into the market again,&quot; said GoldSilver&#39;s Lan.

In other precious metals, silver was nearly flat at $16.90 per ounce after hitting its highest since June 15 earlier in the session.

Platinum was also almost unchanged at $971.75 per ounce. In the previous session, it marked its highest since April 21 at $980.60. 
Palladium prices were flat at $891.00 per ounce.

The market was also waiting for data that would offer clues about the extent to which the strengthening US labour market is spilling over into inflation.

Gold on Thursday held steady near two-month highs hit the session before, bolstered by safe-haven demand triggered by rising tensions on the Korean peninsula. North Korea dismissed on Thursday warnings by US President Donald Trump that it would face "fire and fury" if it threatened the United States as a "load of nonsense", and outlined detailed plans for a missile strike near the Pacific territory of Guam. "(Safe-haven demand) has settled down to a certain extent, but the market is still expecting more news to come," said Brian Lan, managing director at gold dealer GoldSilver Central in Singapore. "North Korea doesn't seem like they're going to back down and the US has also made a very strong stance this time." Geopolitical risk can boost demand for assets seen as safe-havens such as gold. Spot gold had eased 0.1 per cent to $1,276.40 per ounce at 0322 GMT. The precious metal climbed 1.3 per cent in the previous session, its biggest gain since mid-May, and touched $1,278.66 an ounce, it highest level since June 14. US gold futures for December delivery rose 0.2 per cent to $1,281.90 per ounce on Thursday. Asian stocks steadied and US Treasury bond prices fell slightly on Thursday as the risk aversion triggered by tensions between the United States and North Korea began to settle. "Amid all the sabre-rattling, we expect gold prices to continue to move higher and likely cross the $1,300 an ounce mark in relative short order," said INTL FCStone analyst Edward Meir. The market was also waiting for data that would offer clues about the extent to which the strengthening US labour market is spilling over into inflation. "Investors tend to be more cautious ahead of economic data, especially when the prices are high. They might take profits first and wait to see what's going to happen before they move into the market again," said GoldSilver's Lan. In other precious metals, silver was nearly flat at $16.90 per ounce after hitting its highest since June 15 earlier in the session. Platinum was also almost unchanged at $971.75 per ounce. In the previous session, it marked its highest since April 21 at $980.60. Palladium prices were flat at $891.00 per ounce.

Gold inches down from near-two month high

Tokyo stocks opened higher Thursday as worries about US-North Korea tensions eased while the yen&#39;s appreciation against the dollar peaked out.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 0.18 per cent, or 35.87 points, to 19,774.58 in the first few minutes while the Topix index of all first-section issues was up 0.07 per cent, or 1.12 points, at 1,619.02.

The slight rally came after world stock markets slid Wednesday on concerns linked to the harsh threats and sabre rattling from US President Donald Trump against Pyongyang.

Trump warned North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un that he faced &quot;fire and fury&quot; over his weapons and ballistic missile programs.

Trump, enjoying a working holiday at his New Jersey golf course, went on to boast that the US nuclear arsenal was &quot;more powerful than ever.&quot; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson took a very different tone, insisting there was &quot;no immediate threat&quot; from North Korea.

&quot;The comments by the State Secretary is a message that nothing important has been decided on North Korea,&quot; Haruki Kawaguchi, a manager in the stock trading department at Marusan Securities, told Bloomberg News.

Separately, however, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who has often emphasised the devastating costs any conflict with North Korea could have, delivered a statement underscoring his boss&#39;s language.

The dollar fetched 110.09 yen in early Asian trade Thursday, slightly up from 110.02 yen in New York on Wednesday but down from 109.74 yen in Tokyo time Wednesday.

&quot;Amid tensions in the international arena, it&#39;s difficult to seek higher prices ahead of three days of holidays,&quot; Kawaguchi added.

The Tokyo markets will be closed on Friday for a national holiday and will reopen Monday.

Japan Display dropped 5.12 per cent to 185 yen after the smartphone screen maker said it would slash 3,700 jobs, or about 40 per cent of its workforce, adding the total restructuring costs would be about 170 billion yen ($1.5 billion).

Toyota was up 0.59 per cent at 6,273 yen, Panasonic was up 0.50 per cent at 1,494 yen, and SoftBank was up 0.31 per cent at 8,832 yen.

Toyota was up 0.59 per cent at 6,273 yen, Panasonic was up 0.50 per cent at 1,494 yen, and SoftBank was up 0.31 per cent at 8,832 yen.

Tokyo stocks opened higher Thursday as worries about US-North Korea tensions eased while the yen's appreciation against the dollar peaked out. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 0.18 per cent, or 35.87 points, to 19,774.58 in the first few minutes while the Topix index of all first-section issues was up 0.07 per cent, or 1.12 points, at 1,619.02. The slight rally came after world stock markets slid Wednesday on concerns linked to the harsh threats and sabre rattling from US President Donald Trump against Pyongyang. Trump warned North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un that he faced "fire and fury" over his weapons and ballistic missile programs. Trump, enjoying a working holiday at his New Jersey golf course, went on to boast that the US nuclear arsenal was "more powerful than ever." Secretary of State Rex Tillerson took a very different tone, insisting there was "no immediate threat" from North Korea. "The comments by the State Secretary is a message that nothing important has been decided on North Korea," Haruki Kawaguchi, a manager in the stock trading department at Marusan Securities, told Bloomberg News. Separately, however, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who has often emphasised the devastating costs any conflict with North Korea could have, delivered a statement underscoring his boss's language. The dollar fetched 110.09 yen in early Asian trade Thursday, slightly up from 110.02 yen in New York on Wednesday but down from 109.74 yen in Tokyo time Wednesday. "Amid tensions in the international arena, it's difficult to seek higher prices ahead of three days of holidays," Kawaguchi added. The Tokyo markets will be closed on Friday for a national holiday and will reopen Monday. Japan Display dropped 5.12 per cent to 185 yen after the smartphone screen maker said it would slash 3,700 jobs, or about 40 per cent of its workforce, adding the total restructuring costs would be about 170 billion yen ($1.5 billion). Toyota was up 0.59 per cent at 6,273 yen, Panasonic was up 0.50 per cent at 1,494 yen, and SoftBank was up 0.31 per cent at 8,832 yen.

Tokyo stocks open higher as worries about US-North Korea tensions ease

The US Navy&#39;s top officer asked his Chinese counterpart to exert influence on North Korea to help rein in its advancing nuclear and missile programs, a US official said on Thursday.

Chief of US Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson spoke with his Chinese counterpart Vice Admiral Shen Jinlong via a video teleconference.

&quot;Richardson voiced his concern about the nuclear and missile programs and emphasized that China should use its unique influence over North Korea,&quot; said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The call lasted for an hour and the two talked about the need to &quot;work together to address the provocative and unacceptable military behaviour by North Korea,&quot; the US Navy said in a statement.

Last month US President Donald Trump said Chinese efforts to persuade North Korea had failed.

Trump has hoped for greater help from China to exert influence over North Korea, leaning heavily on Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders had a high-profile summit in Florida in April and Trump has frequently praised Xi while resisting criticism of Chinese trade practices.

North Korea recently said it conducted its first test of an intercontinental ballistic missile, and that it had mastered the technology to mount a nuclear warhead on the missile.

The United States has remained technically at war with North Korea since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty. The past six decades have been punctuated by periodic rises in antagonism as well as rhetoric that has stopped short of a resumption of active hostilities.

Tensions rose sharply after North Korea conducted two nuclear weapons tests last year and carried out a steady stream of ballistic missile tests.

The two talked about working together 'to address the provocative and unacceptable military behaviour by North Korea'

The US Navy's top officer asked his Chinese counterpart to exert influence on North Korea to help rein in its advancing nuclear and missile programs, a US official said on Thursday. Chief of US Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson spoke with his Chinese counterpart Vice Admiral Shen Jinlong via a video teleconference. "Richardson voiced his concern about the nuclear and missile programs and emphasized that China should use its unique influence over North Korea," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. The call lasted for an hour and the two talked about the need to "work together to address the provocative and unacceptable military behaviour by North Korea," the US Navy said in a statement. Last month US President Donald Trump said Chinese efforts to persuade North Korea had failed. Trump has hoped for greater help from China to exert influence over North Korea, leaning heavily on Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders had a high-profile summit in Florida in April and Trump has frequently praised Xi while resisting criticism of Chinese trade practices. North Korea recently said it conducted its first test of an intercontinental ballistic missile, and that it had mastered the technology to mount a nuclear warhead on the missile. The United States has remained technically at war with North Korea since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty. The past six decades have been punctuated by periodic rises in antagonism as well as rhetoric that has stopped short of a resumption of active hostilities. Tensions rose sharply after North Korea conducted two nuclear weapons tests last year and carried out a steady stream of ballistic missile tests.

US Navy chief seeks China's help in tackling North Korea threat

The US military said Tuesday it had intercepted a mock-up of an intercontinental ballistic missile in a first-of-its-kind test that comes amid concerns over North Korea&#39;s weapons program.

A ground-based interceptor launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California &quot;successfully intercepted an intercontinental ballistic missile target&quot; fired from the Reagan Test Site in the Marshall Islands, the military said in a statement.

&quot;This system is vitally important to the defense of our homeland, and this test demonstrates that we have a capable, credible deterrent against a very real threat,&quot; Vice Admiral Jim Syring, director of the US Missile Defense Agency, was quoted as saying.

The exercise aimed to check the performance of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system, which has had a checkered record in previous tests.

Though it succeeded in the last test in 2014, it failed during the three prior attempts against slower-moving, non-ICBM missiles.

&quot;The intercept of a complex, threat-representative ICBM target is an incredible accomplishment for the GMD system and a critical milestone for this program,&quot; said Syring.

The success of Tuesday&#39;s test marks a key step for the US military&#39;s effort to establish an effective -- though limited -- ground-based defense against ICBMs.&nbsp;

It comes a day after North Korea test-fired yet another ballistic missile, the latest in a series of launches that have ratcheted up tensions over Pyongyang&#39;s quest to develop weapons capable of hitting the United States.

Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis had said the test was not timed specifically in response to tensions with Pyongyang but that &quot;in a broad sense, North Korea is one of the reasons why we have this capability.&quot;

The technology behind the GMD is extremely complex, and the system uses globally deployed sensors to detect and track ballistic missile threats.&nbsp;

In a move that the Pentagon says is akin to hitting a bullet with another bullet -- though at far higher speeds -- the missile launches into space, then deploys an &quot;Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle&quot; that uses kinetic energy to destroy the incoming target.

&quot;Initial indications are that the test met its primary objective, but program officials will continue to evaluate system performance based upon telemetry and other data obtained during the test,&quot; said the US military statement.

The missile defense system will comprise 44 interceptors by the end of the year, so it could thwart an attack from a rogue state or a volley of rockets.

But the interceptors, based in California and Alaska, would be overwhelmed by a full-scale attack from countries like Russia or China, which could fire dozens of missiles at a time.

(AFP)

The test comes amid concerns over North Korea's nuclear programme

The US military said Tuesday it had intercepted a mock-up of an intercontinental ballistic missile in a first-of-its-kind test that comes amid concerns over North Korea's weapons program. A ground-based interceptor launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California "successfully intercepted an intercontinental ballistic missile target" fired from the Reagan Test Site in the Marshall Islands, the military said in a statement. "This system is vitally important to the defense of our homeland, and this test demonstrates that we have a capable, credible deterrent against a very real threat," Vice Admiral Jim Syring, director of the US Missile Defense Agency, was quoted as saying. The exercise aimed to check the performance of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system, which has had a checkered record in previous tests. Though it succeeded in the last test in 2014, it failed during the three prior attempts against slower-moving, non-ICBM missiles. "The intercept of a complex, threat-representative ICBM target is an incredible accomplishment for the GMD system and a critical milestone for this program," said Syring. The success of Tuesday's test marks a key step for the US military's effort to establish an effective -- though limited -- ground-based defense against ICBMs. It comes a day after North Korea test-fired yet another ballistic missile, the latest in a series of launches that have ratcheted up tensions over Pyongyang's quest to develop weapons capable of hitting the United States. Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis had said the test was not timed specifically in response to tensions with Pyongyang but that "in a broad sense, North Korea is one of the reasons why we have this capability." The technology behind the GMD is extremely complex, and the system uses globally deployed sensors to detect and track ballistic missile threats. In a move that the Pentagon says is akin to hitting a bullet with another bullet -- though at far higher speeds -- the missile launches into space, then deploys an "Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle" that uses kinetic energy to destroy the incoming target. "Initial indications are that the test met its primary objective, but program officials will continue to evaluate system performance based upon telemetry and other data obtained during the test," said the US military statement. The missile defense system will comprise 44 interceptors by the end of the year, so it could thwart an attack from a rogue state or a volley of rockets. But the interceptors, based in California and Alaska, would be overwhelmed by a full-scale attack from countries like Russia or China, which could fire dozens of missiles at a time. (AFP)

US successfully tests rocket that can intercept ICBM

The US military is due Tuesday to fire an interceptor rocket at an intercontinental ballistic missile in a first-of-its-kind test that comes amid concerns over North Korea&#39;s weapons program.

Experts will launch a ground-based interceptor from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California at a mock-up of an ICBM fired from the Reagan Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, the Pentagon said, with the launch slated for between 2200 and 0200 GMT.

The test comes a day after North Korea test-fired yet another ballistic missile, the latest in a series of launches that have ratcheted up tensions over its quest to develop weapons capable of hitting the United States.

Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davies said Tuesday&#39;s US test was not timed specifically to the current tensions in North Korea but said that &quot;in a broad sense, North Korea is one of reasons why we have this capability.&quot;

&quot;North Korea has expanded the size and the sophistication of its ballistic missile forces,&quot; Davis said.&nbsp;

&quot;They continue to conduct test launches, as we saw this weekend, while also using dangerous rhetoric that suggests they would strike the United States homeland.&quot;

Davis also pointed to Iran&#39;s increasing missile capabilities as threatening US strategic interests in the Middle East.

The exercise will check the performance of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system, which has had a checkered record in previous tests.

Though it succeeded in the last test in 2014, it failed during the three prior attempts against slower-moving, non-ICBM missiles.

The technology behind the GMD is extremely complex, and the system uses globally deployed sensors to detect and track ballistic missile threats.&nbsp;

In a move that the Pentagon says is akin to hitting a bullet with another bullet -- though at far higher speeds -- the missile launches into space, then deploys an &quot;Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle&quot; that uses kinetic energy to destroy the incoming target.

If the test is successful, it will prove that America has an effective ground-based defense against ICBMs, albeit on a limited scale.&nbsp;

The system will comprise 44 interceptors by the end of the year, so it could thwart an attack from a rogue state or a volley of rockets.

But the interceptors, based in California and Alaska, would be overwhelmed by a full-scale attack from countries like Russia or China, which could fire dozens of missiles at a time.

(AFP)

The trial comes amid inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) being test-fired by nuclear-armed North Korea

The US military is due Tuesday to fire an interceptor rocket at an intercontinental ballistic missile in a first-of-its-kind test that comes amid concerns over North Korea's weapons program. Experts will launch a ground-based interceptor from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California at a mock-up of an ICBM fired from the Reagan Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, the Pentagon said, with the launch slated for between 2200 and 0200 GMT. The test comes a day after North Korea test-fired yet another ballistic missile, the latest in a series of launches that have ratcheted up tensions over its quest to develop weapons capable of hitting the United States. Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davies said Tuesday's US test was not timed specifically to the current tensions in North Korea but said that "in a broad sense, North Korea is one of reasons why we have this capability." "North Korea has expanded the size and the sophistication of its ballistic missile forces," Davis said. "They continue to conduct test launches, as we saw this weekend, while also using dangerous rhetoric that suggests they would strike the United States homeland." Davis also pointed to Iran's increasing missile capabilities as threatening US strategic interests in the Middle East. The exercise will check the performance of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system, which has had a checkered record in previous tests. Though it succeeded in the last test in 2014, it failed during the three prior attempts against slower-moving, non-ICBM missiles. The technology behind the GMD is extremely complex, and the system uses globally deployed sensors to detect and track ballistic missile threats. In a move that the Pentagon says is akin to hitting a bullet with another bullet -- though at far higher speeds -- the missile launches into space, then deploys an "Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle" that uses kinetic energy to destroy the incoming target. If the test is successful, it will prove that America has an effective ground-based defense against ICBMs, albeit on a limited scale. The system will comprise 44 interceptors by the end of the year, so it could thwart an attack from a rogue state or a volley of rockets. But the interceptors, based in California and Alaska, would be overwhelmed by a full-scale attack from countries like Russia or China, which could fire dozens of missiles at a time. (AFP)

US to fire interceptor rocket in landmark ICBM test

The US military will try to intercept an intercontinental ballistic missile in a landmark test of a defense system that comes amid broad tensions over North Korea&#39;s weapons program, the Pentagon said Friday.

Scheduled for Tuesday, the test is the first time the military will attempt to intercept an ICBM. Previous trials have been against intermediate-range missiles, which are slower.

Experts will launch a ground-based interceptor from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California at a mock-up of an ICBM fired from the Reagan Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, the Missile Defense Agency said in a statement.&nbsp;

The exercise will check the performance of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system, which has had a checkered record in previous tests.

Though it succeeded in the last test in 2014, it failed during the three prior attempts.

The technology behind the GMD is extremely complex, and the system uses globally deployed sensors to detect and track ballistic missile threats.&nbsp;

In a move that the Pentagon says is akin to hitting a bullet with another bullet -- though at far higher speeds -- the missile launches into space, then deploys an &quot;Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle&quot; that uses kinetic energy to destroy the incoming target.

If the test is successful, it will prove that America has an effective ground-based defense against ICBMs, albeit on a limited scale.&nbsp;

The system will comprise 44 interceptors by the end of the year, so it could thwart an attack from a rogue state or a volley of rockets.

But the interceptors, based in California and Alaska, would be overwhelmed by a full-scale attack from countries like Russia or China, which could fire dozens of missiles at a time.

North Korea this year has conducted a series of missile tests as it strives to build an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of hitting the United States.

Pyongyang carried out two atomic tests last year, and has accelerated its missile launch program, despite tough UN sanctions aimed at denying Kim the hard currency needed to fund his weapons ambitions.

President Donald Trump has called Kim a &quot;madman with nuclear weapons.&quot;

(AFP)

The test is the first time the US military will attempt to intercept an ICBM

The US military will try to intercept an intercontinental ballistic missile in a landmark test of a defense system that comes amid broad tensions over North Korea's weapons program, the Pentagon said Friday. Scheduled for Tuesday, the test is the first time the military will attempt to intercept an ICBM. Previous trials have been against intermediate-range missiles, which are slower. Experts will launch a ground-based interceptor from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California at a mock-up of an ICBM fired from the Reagan Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, the Missile Defense Agency said in a statement. The exercise will check the performance of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system, which has had a checkered record in previous tests. Though it succeeded in the last test in 2014, it failed during the three prior attempts. The technology behind the GMD is extremely complex, and the system uses globally deployed sensors to detect and track ballistic missile threats. In a move that the Pentagon says is akin to hitting a bullet with another bullet -- though at far higher speeds -- the missile launches into space, then deploys an "Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle" that uses kinetic energy to destroy the incoming target. If the test is successful, it will prove that America has an effective ground-based defense against ICBMs, albeit on a limited scale. The system will comprise 44 interceptors by the end of the year, so it could thwart an attack from a rogue state or a volley of rockets. But the interceptors, based in California and Alaska, would be overwhelmed by a full-scale attack from countries like Russia or China, which could fire dozens of missiles at a time. North Korea this year has conducted a series of missile tests as it strives to build an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of hitting the United States. Pyongyang carried out two atomic tests last year, and has accelerated its missile launch program, despite tough UN sanctions aimed at denying Kim the hard currency needed to fund his weapons ambitions. President Donald Trump has called Kim a "madman with nuclear weapons." (AFP)

US to test anti-ICBM system as North Korea threat looms

&nbsp;The US&nbsp;House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation on Thursday to tighten&nbsp;sanctions&nbsp;on&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;by targeting its shipping industry and companies that do business with the reclusive state.

The vote was 419 to 1.

Supporters said the legislation was intended to send a strong message to&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea, amid international concern over the escalation of its nuclear programme.

The measure would have to be approved by the Senate before it could be sent to the White House for President Donald Trump to sign into law.

Although legislation addressing&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;has been introduced in the Senate, there was no immediate word on when or if the Senate might take up a bill.

Any new US&nbsp;sanctions&nbsp;against&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;would likely affect China, the&nbsp;North&#39;s most important trade partner.

While China has been angered by&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&#39;s nuclear and missile tests, it has signed up for increasingly tough UN&nbsp;sanctions&nbsp;against it, and says it is committed to enforcing them.

Asked about the latest US&nbsp;legislation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang reiterated that China opposed other countries using their own domestic law to impose unilateralsanctions.

With the situation tense on the&nbsp;Korean Peninsula, all sides need to exercise restraint and not irritate each other to avoid the situation worsening, he said.

(Reuters)

The US House of Representatives approved a legislation targeting shipping industry and companies that do business with the reclusive state

The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation on Thursday to tighten sanctions on North Korea by targeting its shipping industry and companies that do business with the reclusive state. The vote was 419 to 1. Supporters said the legislation was intended to send a strong message to North Korea, amid international concern over the escalation of its nuclear programme. The measure would have to be approved by the Senate before it could be sent to the White House for President Donald Trump to sign into law. Although legislation addressing North Korea has been introduced in the Senate, there was no immediate word on when or if the Senate might take up a bill. Any new US sanctions against North Korea would likely affect China, the North's most important trade partner. While China has been angered by North Korea's nuclear and missile tests, it has signed up for increasingly tough UN sanctions against it, and says it is committed to enforcing them. Asked about the latest US legislation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang reiterated that China opposed other countries using their own domestic law to impose unilateralsanctions. With the situation tense on the Korean Peninsula, all sides need to exercise restraint and not irritate each other to avoid the situation worsening, he said. (Reuters)

US House tightens sanctions on nuclear-armed North Korea

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Biden aide to meet Japan, South Korea on next steps on the North

North Korea accuses Biden admin of 'provocation' after missile test

Olympics torch relay starts in Fukushima as North Korea launches missiles

North Korea fires suspected ballistic missile into the sea, reports say

US general says North Korea might flight test new ICBM design 'in near future'

North Korea unresponsive to behind-the-scenes Biden administration outreach, report says

Eight countries, including US, denounce human rights record in North Korea

Eight countries, including US, denounce human rights record in North Korea

North Korea nuclear reactor site threatened by recent flooding, US think-tank says

US Secy of State Pompeo downplays possibility of summit with North Korea

Kim Jong-un's sister says 'no need' for another US-N Korea summit

US sees importance of North Korea talks despite tension, South says

US envoy denies wanting North Korea meet, but says ready to talk

US surprised at North Korea's offer of talks: Rex Tillerson

WION news brief, March 4, 2018

North Korea talks only under 'right conditions': North Korea

My nuclear button 'bigger, more powerful' than North Korea's, says Trump

US warns North Korean leadership will be 'utterly destroyed' if war breaks out