Latest news with #NorthKorea-focused
Miami Herald
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Purged North Korean Official Reappears in State Media
The former commander of North Korea's navy has reemerged in state media just weeks after being scrubbed from official photographs over the botched launch of a warship in May. The ex-commander, Kim Myong Sik, appeared alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in a documentary that aired on state television over the weekend, according to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency. The news unfolded as North Korea presses forward with upgrades to the country's military forces. These efforts extend to North Korea's modest navy, with Kim previously calling for the addition of nuclear-capable warships. North Korea analysts have speculated that the public management of the aftermath of the botched launch and how officials were disciplined—or, in Kim Myong Sik's case, at least partially rehabilitated—is closely tied to Kim Jong Un's attempts to portray an image of strong leadership and control over the military modernization efforts. The documentary marked Kim Myong Sik's first public appearance since his name and image were deleted from earlier broadcasts and he was confirmed removed from the top naval post following a May 21 incident, which left a new destroyer damaged and partially submerged. Kim Jong Un was infuriated by the debacle, labeling it "a serious accident and criminal act caused by sheer carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism which should never occur and could not be tolerated," the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported. Subsequently, Kim Myong Sik and Hong Gil Ho, then manager of Chongjin Shipyard, were erased from photos of earlier inspection visits shown by Korean Central Television in mid-June. This type of removal from official imagery had not occurred since the 2013 execution of Jang Song Thaek, the leader's uncle and a high-ranking official. The fate of the ousted navy chief drew speculation from analysts, especially after state media said he had been replaced by Park Kwang Seop. Both Kim Myong Sik and Hong were "conspicuously absent" from the destroyer's relaunch ceremony. The former commander's presence in the documentary, where he appeared at official events with Kim Jong Un, contrasts sharply with his earlier erasure from state coverage. Kim Myong Sik's public reappearance is being viewed by analysts as a sign Kim's anger has subsided or as a tactical effort to maintain continuity among the military's upper ranks. The Korean Central News Agency previously wrote of the ship incident: "Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un made a stern assessment, saying that it was a serious accident and criminal act caused by sheer carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism which should never occur and could not be tolerated." 38 North, a North Korea-focused program of the Stimson Center think tank, wrote in June: "It may be some time before the North Korean navy becomes a credible threat to the region, but North Korea's latest feat—successfully refloating a 5,000-tonne destroyer after a failed launch attempt in a matter of just 15 days—only reminds us that the country tends sooner or later to achieve in at least some form what it sets out to do." The destroyer at the center of the accident is reportedly undergoing repairs at the Rajin Dockyard. The timeline for the warship's entry into service, or for any forthcoming statements about the ultimate fate of Kim Myong Sik or other individuals involved, has not been announced. North Korean media have not clarified whether Kim Myong Sik will return to a senior leadership post, continue to face internal sanctions, or serve in another capacity inside the regime. Related Articles Question for the Experts: If the Iranians Can't Make a Nuke, Can They Buy One? | OpinionUS Citizen Charged in North Korean IT Employment SchemeNorth Korea Ignores Trump's OverturesAmericans Detained After Trying to Send Over 1,000 Bibles to North Korea 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
North Korea Ignores Trump's Overtures
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. North Korea continues to give the United States the cold shoulder, despite President Donald Trump's apparent willingness to resume dialogue with the country's supreme leader, Kim Jong Un. State media has branded Washington a "hostile force" after Trump expressed confidence in his ability to end a potential conflict on the Korean Peninsula. Why It Matters Trump claims to have considerable leverage over Kim, citing their correspondence during his first term in office. During this period, he also met with Kim face-to-face in a failed effort to entice the North Korean leader to draw down his regime's United Nations-sanctioned nuclear weapons program, which Pyongyang claims is necessary to deter aggression by the U.S. and its South Korean ally. The stalled talks sent bilateral ties into a chill, with North Korea moving to enshrine its nuclear weapons capability into its constitution and resuming its ballistic missile launches and bellicose rhetoric that drove up tensions with the South. Newsweek reached out to the North Korean embassy in China by email with a request for comment. What To Know Rodong Sinmun, the official mouthpiece of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party, took aim at the U.S.—without mentioning it by name—in an editorial published Sunday. "Hostile forces have, for over 10 years, clung to unprecedentedly harsh sanctions and blockades in an attempt to make us abandon the path of self-reliance," the article said. It went on to praise North Korea's continued determination to resist "imperialists," saying that their designs can only be countered by "stockpiling strong power to defend the nation's sovereignty and security." The article was published just two days after Trump touted his "good relationship" with Kim, but did not confirm or deny he had reached out to the North Korean strongman. Trump also expressed confidence he could resolve any conflict that might break out between Pyongyang and Seoul. Because Korean War hostilities ended with an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty, the neighbors technically remain in a state of war. Earlier this month, North Korea-focused outlet NK News reported Trump had written a letter to Kim, seeking to open the door for renewed dialogue. According to an "informed high-level source" cited by the outlet, in-person attempts to deliver the letter were rebuffed by staff members of North Korea's U.N. office. What's Next The conditions in which Kim would agree on returning to the negotiating table remain unclear, but analysts widely concur North Korea is unlikely to accept any deal that demands full denuclearization. Meanwhile, Russia's war in Ukraine and heightened tensions in the Middle East in the wake of the war between Iran and Israel are likely to keep North Korea off the White House's list of immediate priorities. What People Have Said Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Friday: "If there is a conflict, I get along with him very, very well. And we'll get the conflict solved. "I've had a good relationship with Kim Jong Un [...] but somebody's saying if there's a potential conflict—I think we'll work it out, and if there is it wouldn't involve us." Andrei Lankov, visiting research fellow for the Seoul-based Sejong Institute think tank, wrote in a June analysis: "Under current circumstances, compared with 2019, North Korea is under much less pressure to engage in negotiations with the United States. "This might mean that the North Korean side will not start where the talks ended in 2019, and will make a few steps back, withdrawing some of their 2019 proposals which might be seen now as excessively generous [...] This might mean that the U.S. delegation would have to accept the conditions it rejected in Hanoi in 2019 or accept the collapse of the talks."
Miami Herald
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Kim Jong Un Quietly Advances North Korea's Nuclear Program
North Korea has begun work on a new facility at its main nuclear complex, according to the head of the United Nations-backed atomic watchdog. The facility, which reportedly resembles a suspected enrichment plant just outside of the capital of Pyongyang, could eventually provide fissile material to expand the country's nuclear arsenal. North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to continue building his UN-sanctioned nuclear arsenal, citing the "grave threat" posed by the U.S. and its allies, according to the U.S. Director of National Intelligence. North Korea is estimated to have around 50 nuclear warheads and enough fissile material for as many as 90. Kim's emphasis on expanding this capability—along with frequent ballistic missile tests and the abandonment of reunification as a long-term goal—has driven inter-Korean tensions to their highest level in decades. Newsweek reached out to the North Korean embassy in China and the U.S. Department of Defense with emailed requests for comment. Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said in a June 9 statement that the agency is "monitoring" a new construction at the Yongbyon nuclear complex, located about 60 miles north of Pyongyang. The new building has features and dimensions closely resembling those of the Kangson site, a facility west of the capital long suspected to be a uranium enrichment plant believed to produce uranium-235, the fissile material essential for nuclear weapons. "The continuation and further development of the DPRK's (Democratic People's Republic of Korea's) nuclear programme are clear violations of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and are deeply regrettable," Grossi said, using North Korea's official name. The report comes after news late last year that Kim Jong Un visited the Kangson facility. During the visit, he called for an increase in centrifuge production for weapons-grade material and warned against complacency, according to state media. In April, Grossi warned North Korea's progress on its nuclear agenda was "completely off the charts," with no effective way to monitor its activities. Attempts to stem the flow of materials that could aid Kim's nuclear program became even more problematic last year when Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have extended the mandate of a panel of experts enforcing sanctions on North Korea. Jenny Town, director of the Stimson Center think tank's Korea Program and North Korea-focused analysis group 38 North, wrote for the Hudson Institute think tank: "Changing how the United States approaches its bilateral relationship with North Korea, not just the nuclear issue, will require enormous political capital, leadership, and resilience to criticism. "The nuclear issue will still need to be part of the discussion, but keeping it as the main determinant of relations will prolong the stalemate and worsen the security environment." U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard warned lawmakers in March that North Korea is "probably prepared" to conduct a seventh nuclear test on short notice. Members of President Donald Trump's team have reportedly discussed reopening dialogue with Kim, according to sources familiar with the discussions. During his first term, Trump met with Kim on three occasions in a failed bid to persuade the North Korean leader to walk back his nuclear weapons program. Related Articles Satellite Image Hints at North Korea's Biggest Military FactoryNorth Korea Airbrushes Commander From Photos After Warship FailKim Jong Un Doubles Down on Destroyers for North Korea's NavyNorth Korea Rejects Trump's Letter to Kim: Report 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Miami Herald
18-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Satellite Image Hints at North Korea's Biggest Military Factory
North Korea has begun work on what could become the country's largest military production facility, according to analysis of satellite images captured by Planet Labs. The planned site is expected to dwarf the nearby weapons-producing machine factory—where leader Kim Jong Un recently praised efforts to modernize the nation's defense industry. The project comes amid heightened tensions with U.S.-allied South Korea, as Pyongyang continues a steady spate of ballistic missile tests and expands the Kim regime's nuclear missile program and naval capabilities. North Korea's munitions factories were "operating at full capacity" last year, according to the South, whose defense ministry says the country has delivered millions of shells and rockets to Russian forces fighting against Ukraine. Pyongyang has also sent thousands of troops to aid in that conflict, now in its fourth year. Newsweek reached out to the North Korean embassy in China by email with a request for comment outside of office hours. Satellite photos analyzed by the North Korea-focused specialist website NK News show that several buildings have already been demolished in preparation for new construction. Based on a 3D rendering displayed during Kim Jong Un's recent visit to the existing factory near the new site—in the city of Huichon, Jagang Province, about 80 miles northeast of Pyongyang—the new facility is estimated to eventually boast at least twice the floor space of the current plant. If the planned complex ultimately matches the scale shown in the illustration, it will cover between 12 and 25 acres, although this would require the demolition of an additional dozen large structures and some leveling of the surrounding mountainside, NK News reported. The U.S. and South Korea believe the North is receiving aid—including technical assistance and parts for weapons manufacturing—in exchange for its military assistance to Russia. North Korea, like other socialist states before it, maintains an unofficial "second economy" built largely on arms production. Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Un's grandfather and the country's founder, prioritized the development of this munitions industry as part of a dual policy of economic defense and growth, fueling the rise of the second economy, or an unofficial military economy. However, North Korean defectors who previously worked for the regime have said resources are prioritized for the second economy over the people's economy, according to a report by the analysis group 38 North last year. Colin Zwirko, senior analytic correspondent for NK News,wrote: "Only a few factory buildings in the country feature a single, uninterrupted production floor of a comparable but still smaller size, like the Taedonggang Battery Factory in the capital or the newly remodeled Kumsong Tractor Factory, but the new Huichon Ryonha facility may become the largest to boast an explicit military production function." North Korea is almost certain to continue its military buildup, which it says is necessary to deter "provocations" by U.S. and South Korean forces. However, South Korea's newly elected president, Lee Jae-myung, has signaled he aims to ease tensions with North Korea. Last week, for example, he ordered the shutdown of loudspeakers broadcasting daily anti-North Korean propaganda near the border. Related Articles North Korea Airbrushes Commander From Photos After Warship FailKim Jong Un Doubles Down on Destroyers for North Korea's NavyNorth Korea Rejects Trump's Letter to Kim: ReportUS Ally Seeks China's Help in Dealing With North Korea 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
18-06-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Satellite Image Hints at North Korea's Biggest Military Factory
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. North Korea has begun work on what could become the country's largest military production facility, according to analysis of satellite images captured by Planet Labs. The planned site is expected to dwarf the nearby weapons-producing machine factory—where leader Kim Jong Un recently praised efforts to modernize the nation's defense industry. Why It Matters The project comes amid heightened tensions with U.S.-allied South Korea, as Pyongyang continues a steady spate of ballistic missile tests and expands the Kim regime's nuclear missile program and naval capabilities. North Korea's munitions factories were "operating at full capacity" last year, according to the South, whose defense ministry says the country has delivered millions of shells and rockets to Russian forces fighting against Ukraine. Pyongyang has also sent thousands of troops to aid in that conflict, now in its fourth year. Newsweek reached out to the North Korean embassy in China by email with a request for comment outside of office hours. Imagery provided by Google Earth shows the grounds of the Huichon Ryonha machine factory in North Korea's northern Jagang province, where analysis by the specialist website NK News says work has begun to create what... Imagery provided by Google Earth shows the grounds of the Huichon Ryonha machine factory in North Korea's northern Jagang province, where analysis by the specialist website NK News says work has begun to create what could become the country's biggest weapons plant. More Aribus/Google Earth What To Know Satellite photos analyzed by the North Korea-focused specialist website NK News show that several buildings have already been demolished in preparation for new construction. Based on a 3D rendering displayed during Kim Jong Un's recent visit to the existing factory near the new site—in the city of Huichon, Jagang Province, about 80 miles northeast of Pyongyang—the new facility is estimated to eventually boast at least twice the floor space of the current plant. If the planned complex ultimately matches the scale shown in the illustration, it will cover between 12 and 25 acres, although this would require the demolition of an additional dozen large structures and some leveling of the surrounding mountainside, NK News reported. The U.S. and South Korea believe the North is receiving aid—including technical assistance and parts for weapons manufacturing—in exchange for its military assistance to Russia. This photo released by state media shows Kim Jong Un on his May 7 visit to the Huichon Ryonha General Machine Plant in North Korea's Jagang Province. This photo released by state media shows Kim Jong Un on his May 7 visit to the Huichon Ryonha General Machine Plant in North Korea's Jagang Province. Korean Central News Agency North Korea, like other socialist states before it, maintains an unofficial "second economy" built largely on arms production. Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Un's grandfather and the country's founder, prioritized the development of this munitions industry as part of a dual policy of economic defense and growth, fueling the rise of the second economy, or an unofficial military economy. However, North Korean defectors who previously worked for the regime have said resources are prioritized for the second economy over the people's economy, according to a report by the analysis group 38 North last year. What People Are Saying Colin Zwirko, senior analytic correspondent for NK News,wrote: "Only a few factory buildings in the country feature a single, uninterrupted production floor of a comparable but still smaller size, like the Taedonggang Battery Factory in the capital or the newly remodeled Kumsong Tractor Factory, but the new Huichon Ryonha facility may become the largest to boast an explicit military production function." What's Next North Korea is almost certain to continue its military buildup, which it says is necessary to deter "provocations" by U.S. and South Korean forces. However, South Korea's newly elected president, Lee Jae-myung, has signaled he aims to ease tensions with North Korea. Last week, for example, he ordered the shutdown of loudspeakers broadcasting daily anti-North Korean propaganda near the border.
