United States Increases Missile Defense Readiness, Surveillance After North Korean Tests
Following a “significant increase” in North Korea missile testing, the U.S. military said it increased its surveillance and reconnaissance collection in the Yellow Sea and heightened its missile defense readiness (Reuters)
Separately, South Korea returned a North Korean boat and its seven crew members after it crossed a disputed western sea boundary (Associated Press)
South Korea Fires Warning Shots at North Korean Vessel
South Korea’s defense ministry said it fired warning shots at a North Korean patrol boat that crossed the disputed western sea boundary while chasing an unarmed North Korean vessel (CBS)
Separately, satellite imagery showed construction at Pyongyang’s nuclear testing site for the first time since 2018 (Reuters)
North Korea Launches Another Ballistic Missile, Testing Satellite Systems
Regional military authorities reported a second ballistic missile test by North Korea in less than a week, which North Korean state media reported as an important test for reconnaissance satellite systems (Reuters)
The UN Security Council will discuss North Korea’s recent tests during a closed meeting (Reuters)
United States, Japan, South Korea Affirm Openness to Talks with North Korea
During a meeting in Hawaii, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea said their governments are committed to achieving complete denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and “remain open to dialogue without preconditions” (Kyodo News)
South Korea Calls for U.S.-North Korea Talks
South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who leaves office in May 2022, called for a summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to discuss easing sanctions and nuclear disarmament (Associated Press)
United States Requests United Nations Security Council Meeting on North Korea
The United States requested a United Nations Security Council meeting to discuss North Korea’s recent missile test (Reuters)
North Korea Tests Biggest Missile Since 2017
Pyongyang tested an intermediate-range ballistic missile yesterday, the largest in a string of launches this month (Nikkei)
In response, the United States reportedly called for North Korea to join direct talks on its nuclear activities (Reuters)
South Korean President Moon Jae-in said yesterday that North Korea appears to be moving closer to ending a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests (Yonhap)
North Korea Confirms Missile Tests
North Korean media said that the country conducted two rounds of missile tests this week and leader Kim Jong-un visited a munitions factory (Yonhap)
North Korea Fires Two Suspected Ballistic Missiles
The country fired two suspected ballistic missiles after Pyongyang publicly warned of a stronger response to new U.S. sanctions on five North Koreans (Yonhap)
United States to Push for More UN Sanctions on North Korea After Missile Tests
A spokesperson for South Korea’s foreign ministry said Seoul will support Washington’s effort to impose further UN sanctions on North Korea (Yonhap)
United States Imposes Sanctions on North Korea, Russia
The sanctions were imposed on North Korean and Russian individuals as well as one Russian firm that the United States accused of procuring goods for North Korea’s weapons programs (Reuters)
North Korea Tests Second Ballistic Missile in Less Than a Week
The launch came as the UN Security Council discussed North Korea’s missile activities (New York Times)
North Korea Reportedly Fires Hypersonic Missile, Per State Media
State media said North Korea test-fired a “hypersonic missile” that it first unveiled in October [Reuters]. South Korea’s military said the launch yesterday appeared to be of a ballistic missile and that it detected a different flight range than the one announced by North Korea [Yonhap]
North Korea Test-Fires Suspected Ballistic Missile
The launch came as South Korean President Moon Jae-in attended a groundbreaking ceremony for a rail line that could eventually connect North and South Korea [Reuters]
South Korean Official: Seoul, Washington Agree on Draft Declaration to End Korean War
Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong said the two countries “effectively” agreed on the draft text that would formally end the war, which began in 1950. North Korea has so far rejected the United States and South Korea’s requests to negotiate on the matter (Yonhap)
North Korean Leadership Holds Policy Meeting
Top officials are gathered for a policy meeting that is expected to lay out plans for responding to U.S. President Joe Biden’s invitation to restart nuclear talks (Yonhap)
U.S., South Korea to Update War Plans in Response to North Korean Actions
The two countries said they will update their joint wartime contingency plans in response to evolving nuclear and missile threats from Pyongyang (Yonhap)
China and Russia Push United Nations to Ease Sanctions on North Korea
China and Russia are preparing a draft UN Security Council resolution that would ease sanctions on North Korea (Reuters)
South Korea and United States Hold Joint Aerial Exercises
South Korea and the United States resumed joint aerial drills formally called Vigilant Ace, a program previously curtailed in 2017 in an effort to facilitate nuclear talks with North Korea (Reuters)
U.S. Envoy Urges North Korea to Halt Missile Tests and Resume Negotiations
Following a meeting with South Korean officials, senior U.S. diplomat Sung Kim urged North Korea to refrain from additional missile tests and return to talks on nuclear diplomacy (Politico)
UN Security Council Meets in Response to North Korean Missile Test
The UN Security Council held an emergency, closed-door meeting today following Pyongyang’s test firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (Al Jazeera)
North Korea Reportedly Fires Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile
U.S. and South Korean intelligence officials are still analyzing the details of the launch, which could be North Korea’s first test of such a missile in two years (Yonhap)
North Korea Accuses United States of Causing Instability in Korean Peninsula
At a weapons exhibition, leader Kim Jong-un called the United States “hostile” and blamed it for rising tensions in the region (CNN)
North Korea to Receive World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 Medical Supplies
The WHO has started shipping essential COVID-19 medical supplies to North Korea through the Chinese port of Dalian, a sign that Pyongyang could ease the strict border controls imposed at the start of the pandemic (National Public Radio)
Korean Cross-Border Hotline Restored
After fifty-five days of suspended direct communication, South and North Korea restored their hotlines (Yonhap)