Latest news with #RodongSinmun
Korea Herald
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Senior N. Korean presence at PLA banquet marks thaw in China Ties
North Korea dispatched senior officials to a Chinese Embassy reception in Pyongyang marking the anniversary of China's armed forces — one of several emerging signs of thawing ties between the two countries after a period of diplomatic chill. Chinese Ambassador to North Korea Wang Yajun hosted the event at the embassy on Tuesday to mark the 98th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army, which falls on August 1, North Korean state media reported Wednesday. "The banquet participants raised their glasses for … the militant friendship and unity between the armies of the DPRK and China, and for the continuous strengthening and development of the Chinese People's Liberation Army,' the Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, reported. DPRK is the abbreviation for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The celebration was notably attended by senior North Korean officials, including Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang-il, Deputy Director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army Pak Yong-il, Deputy Director of the Party Central Committee Mun Song-hyok and Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong-ho. Pak Yong-il delivered a congratulatory speech at the reception, according to the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang. 'He stated that the Chinese and Korean militaries fought side by side in multiple wars to resist imperialist invaders, standing shoulder to shoulder in the same trench and creating a shining example of friendly unity,' Pak was quoted as saying in a Chinese-language statement provided by the Chinese embassy. 'The DPRK side is willing to work together with the Chinese side, in accordance with the noble will of the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, to jointly make efforts to provide solid support for the development of DPRK–China friendly relations and the socialist cause of both countries," Pak was quoted as saying in the statement. North Korea has marked the PLA anniversary in various ways — though not consistently each year — such as publishing occasional editorials in the Rodong Sinmun or dispatching envoys to banquets hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang. Although this year did not mark a quinquennial milestone such as the 90th or 95th anniversary, North Korea still dispatched senior officials to the PLA event. The move echoed the 2017 reception for the 90th anniversary, which was attended by then–Deputy Minister of the People's Armed Forces Kang Sun-nam. Beijing and Pyongyang reconnect Tuesday's event was one of the emerging signs of thawing ties between China and North Korea, following a period of strained relations that overlapped with North Korea's closer alignment with Russia. North Korea on July 9 sent higher-ranking officials than in previous years to a banquet hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang, commemorating the 64th anniversary of the 1961 Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the two countries. While last year's event was attended by Kim Sung-chan, president of Kim Il Sung University and chair of the DPRK-China Friendship Parliamentary Group under the rubber-stamp Supreme People's Assembly, this year saw the presence of Kang Yun-sok, vice president of the SPA Presidium — a notable upgrade in diplomatic protocol. The Rodong Sinmun published the article "DPRK-China Friendship and Cooperation Strengthening Along the Socialist Path," highlighting the enduring significance of the treaty on July 11, the day the treaty was forged. The Rodong Sinmun has traditionally carried an article marking the anniversary of the 1961 pact. Speculation of strained ties arose when no such article appeared last year. However, this year, the coverage reappeared. Although 2024 was designated as the "Year of DPRK-China Friendship" to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, no high-profile events took place that year. Separately, North Korea's state-run tourism website DPRK Tourism posted a schedule of international train routes in mid-July. The list included round trips between Pyongyang and Beijing, Pyongyang and Dandong, and Pyongyang and Moscow. All three routes had been suspended since February 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Service on the Moscow line resumed in mid-June this year, while the Beijing and Dandong routes to China remain inactive. If resumed, cross-border passenger rail service with China would return more than after five and a half years.
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
N. Korea slams Japan's fighter jet project with UK, Italy as revival of ‘wartime alliance'
North Korea on Monday denounced Japan's joint next-generation fighter jet project with the United Kingdom and Italy, accusing Tokyo of attempting to revive its past military alliances and imperial ambitions. In a commentary published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency, Pyongyang described Japan as 'an Asian war criminal state dreaming of restoring its former wartime alliance,' and claimed the country was 'recklessly sharpening the blade of reinvasion in collusion with foreign forces, driven by feverish militarism.' The commentary criticized Japan's growing defense cooperation with its former World War II allies and NATO, which it labeled 'the world's largest war bloc and worst confrontation group in history," calling such ties a dangerous trend aimed at preparing for future aggression. In December 2023, Japan, the UK and Italy signed the Global Combat Air Programme treaty to jointly develop a sixth-generation fighter jet with advanced supersonic performance and radar evasion capabilities, targeting deployment by 2035. The initiative was widely seen as Japan's move to expand its presence in the European defense market. Earlier this month, a joint venture backed by companies from the three nations was established in the UK, and the countries' defense ministers held a virtual meeting to discuss progress, signaling continued momentum behind the project. On the same day, Rodong Sinmun, the North's ruling party newspaper, also denounced the trilateral project, saying Japan — once forced to renounce its right to wage war under international scrutiny — is now actively pursuing preemptive strike capabilities and advanced offensive weapons, in violation of its postwar constitution and international law. The paper further argued that Tokyo's pursuit of 'military modernization under the guise of international research and development' is part of a broader effort to rebuild a military bloc favorable to launching future wars of aggression. 'If Japan, blinded by its ambition to become the 'leader of the East,' continues to cling to outdated alliances and military cooperation, it will ultimately face the fate of self-destruction,' it said.
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Climate
- The Guardian
Death toll grows from torrential rains in South Korea with thousands unable to return home
Torrential rains that lashed South Korea for a fourth day on Saturday kept nearly 3,000 people from returning to their homes, as the death toll reached four people. Rain is forecast to last until Monday in some areas, as officials urged extreme caution against the risk of landslides and flooding, with warnings issued across most of the country. By 6am on Saturday, 2,816 people were still out of their homes, the interior ministry said, from a total of more than 7,000 evacuated during the prior days of heavy rain, in which four people have died and two people are missing. Rainfall since Wednesday reached a record of more than 500mm at Seosan, in the South Chungcheong province south of Seoul. Elsewhere in the province cows were desperately trying to keep their heads above water after sheds and stables flooded. The tally of water-damaged structures stood at more than 641 buildings, 388 roads and 59 farms, the ministry said. Rains were also expected in neighbouring North Korea. From Sunday to Tuesday 150-200mm of rain could fall in some northern areas, rising to 300mm in some remote regions, according to state newspaper Rodong Sinmun.
AsiaOne
4 days ago
- Climate
- AsiaOne
Damage mounts in South Korea as torrential rains enter 4th day, Asia News
SEOUL - Torrential rains that lashed South Korea for a fourth day on Saturday (July 19) kept nearly 3,000 people from returning to their homes, while livestock were stranded up to the neck in rising waters as the death toll reached four with two missing, authorities said. Rain will last until Monday in some areas, weather officials said, urging extreme caution against the risk of landslides and flooding, with warnings across most of the nation. By 6 am on (5am Singapore time) Saturday, 2,816 people were still out of their homes, the interior ministry said, from a total of more than 7,000 evacuated during the prior days of heavy rain, in which four have died and two are missing. Rainfall since Wednesday reached a record of more than 500 mm (20 inches) at Seosan, in the South Chungcheong province south of the capital, Seoul, it added. Elsewhere in the province cows were desperately trying to keep their heads above water after sheds and stables flooded. The tally of water-damaged structures stood at more than 641 buildings, 388 roads and 59 farms, the ministry said. Rains were also expected in neighbouring North Korea. From Sunday to Tuesday 150 mm to 200 mm (6 inches to 8 inches) of rain could fall in some northern areas, rising to 300 mm (12 inches) in some remote regions, the weather agency said, according to state newspaper Rodong Sinmun. [[nid:720360]]
Reuters
4 days ago
- Climate
- Reuters
Damage mounts in South Korea as torrential rains enter fourth day
SEOUL, July 19 (Reuters) - Torrential rains that lashed South Korea for a fourth day on Saturday kept nearly 3,000 people from returning to their homes, while livestock were stranded up to the neck in rising waters as the death toll reached four with two missing, authorities said. Rain will last until Monday in some areas, weather officials said, urging extreme caution against the risk of landslides and flooding, with warnings across most of the nation. By 6 a.m. on Saturday, 2,816 people were still out of their homes, the interior ministry said, from a total of more than 7,000 evacuated during the prior days of heavy rain, in which four have died and two are missing. Rainfall since Wednesday reached a record of more than 500 mm (20 inches) at Seosan, in the South Chungcheong province south of the capital, Seoul, it added. Elsewhere in the province cows were desperately trying to keep their heads above water after sheds and stables flooded. The tally of water-damaged structures stood at more than 641 buildings, 388 roads and 59 farms, the ministry said. Rains were also expected in neighbouring North Korea. From Sunday to Tuesday 150 mm to 200 mm (6 inches to 8 inches) of rain could fall in some northern areas, rising to 300 mm (12 inches) in some remote regions, the weather agency said, according to state newspaper Rodong Sinmun.
