President Biden dismissed the idea that North Korea’s launch of two short-range cruise missiles on Sunday was a provocation, saying that the Pentagon considered the move “business as usual.” It was North Korea’s first missile test since Biden took office (BBC)
U.S. Considers Response After North Korea Rejects Talks
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said today that the United States is weighing pressure and diplomacy toward North Korea (Reuters)
Hours earlier, a senior North Korean diplomat, Choe Son-hui, said Pyongyang will not dialogue with Washington unless the United States “rolls back its hostile policy” (Yonhap)
North Korea Warns U.S. in First Comments Toward Biden Administration
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, criticized U.S.-South Kore joint military exercises and threatened the Joe Biden administration against “causing a stink” (New York Times)
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said today that the United States is reviewing its policy toward North Korea (Yonhap)
U.S., South Korea Agree on Sharing Defense Costs
South Korea said it reached a deal with the United States on sharing the costs for U.S. troops based in South Korea. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said that the countries came to an agreement that includes a “meaningful increase” in South Korea’s contributions (Yonhap)
The United States unsealed charges against three North Korean military intelligence officers whom it accused of carrying out multiple cyberattacks and attempting to steal more than $1.3 billion worth of cash and cryptocurrency from banks and businesses (New York Times)
Biden, Moon Agree to Counter North Korea
In their first call since the U.S. presidential inauguration, President Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in agreed to work together on North Korea, among other issues. Seoul said the countries will develop a “comprehensive” strategy on Pyongyang, aim to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, and seek to promote lasting regional peace (Yonhap)
North Korea Shows Off New Weapons
North Korea unveiled a new submarine-launched missile during a military parade. The event came on the heels of the country’s party congress, during which leader Kim Jong-un pledged to bolster North Korea’s nuclear arsenal (Yonhap)
North Korea Closes Party Congress
Leader Kim Jong-un closed the country’s first party congress in five years with a call to strengthen North Korea’s nuclear capabilities and fulfill a new five-year development plan (Yonhap)
North Korea’s Kim Admits Failure in Reaching Goals
In a rare admission of failure, leader Kim Jong-un acknowledged that North Korea did not meet economic development goals as he opened the country’s first party congress since 2016 (Yonhap)
North Korea to Hold Party Congress
The country’s leader, Kim Jong-un, presided over a politburo meeting of the Workers’ Party and decided to hold a party congress in early January, according to state media. The government has said it will unveil an economic development plan at the congress, the first such meeting in four years (Yonhap)
South Korea Bans Sending Leaflets Into North Korea
The country’s parliament passed a controversial bill that bans sending anti–North Korea leaflets across their shared border. The move comes six months after Pyongyang threatened to scrap a no-hostility military pact with Seoul over such leaflets (Yonhap)
United States to Hand Over Military Sites to South Korea
The United States agreed to hand over twelve military sites it has held since the Korean War to South Korea. Half are in the capital, Seoul. Talks on the sites began in the early 2000s and have been hampered by disagreements, including over who is responsible for environmental cleanup (Yonhap)
North Korean Man Captured After Crossing into South Korea
A North Korean man was captured after crossing into South Korea in an apparent bid to defect, South Korean officials said (Yonhap)
North Korea Stirs Concern by Parading Large Missile
U.S. and South Korean authorities are analyzing new weapons unveiled by North Korea, including an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The weapon, featured in a military parade on Saturday, is believed to be one of the world’s largest road-mobile missiles, though it is unclear whether it is real or a mock-up (Yonhap)
North Korea last tested an ICBM in 2017. That missile, the Hwasong-15, had an estimated range of eight thousand miles, capable of striking the United States. The new missile could carry more fuel and bigger engines, increasing the weapon’s payload (Washington Post)
Seoul urged Pyongyang yesterday to abide by its previous disarmament pacts and to resume negotiations. Some experts say North Korea could test the new missile after the U.S. presidential election in November in order to gain leverage in future talks (Associated Press)
North Korea Reportedly Planning on Unveiling New Missile
The country could unveil a new missile during a military parade on Saturday celebrating the seventy-fifth anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers’ Party, sources said. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is expected to deliver an address (Yonhap)
North Korea Claims ‘War Deterrent’
The country’s ambassador to the United Nations said North Korea has secured a “reliable and effective war deterrent.” His statement comes a month after UN monitors reported the country was continuing its nuclear program. North Korea will now focus on economic development (Reuters)
Kim Jong-un Apologizes for Killing of South Korean Official
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un apologized for his military’s killing of a South Korean official at sea, South Korea’s presidential office said. In a notice released by South Korean officials, North Korea detailed its findings about the incident (Yonhap)
South Korea Accuses North Korea of Killing Would-Be Defector
South Korea’s defense ministry alleged that North Korea shot, killed, and burned the body of a South Korean official believed to have been trying to defect to the North. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the incident would not be tolerated (Yonhap)
U.S. Files Forfeiture Complaint Against North Korea–Tied Cryptocurrency Accounts
The U.S. Justice Department moved to seize 280 cryptocurrency accounts tied to two hacks in which North Korean entities allegedly stole millions of dollars in cryptocurrency. A day earlier, U.S. authorities warned of North Korean cyberattacks on banks (Yonhap)
North Korea Promises New Economic Plan
In a rare move, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un admitted the country’s current economic development plan has failed to deliver on its goals, state media said. Kim promised a replacement plan in January 2021, when experts say he could also unveil new policies toward the United States (Yonhap)
North Korea Dealing With Escalating Coronavirus Outbreak
A state news agency said officials ordered aid for the city of Kaesong, which is locked down due to the coronavirus (Yonhap)
A report filed to the World Health Organization revealed North Korea has quarantined thousands of people in state facilities after a reported coronavirus case (Associated Press)
UN Report Details Advances in North Korea Nuclear Weapons
Several unnamed countries believe North Korea has engineered miniaturized nuclear devices for the warheads of its ballistic missiles, according to a report submitted to the UN Security Council (Reuters)
North Korea Touts Nuclear Weapons
Leader Kim Jong-un called North Korea’s nuclear weapons a “reliable, effective” way to prevent future wars, signaling that Pyongyang is unlikely to resume nuclear talks with Washington anytime soon (Associated Press)
North Korea Declares Emergency Over Coronavirus
The country implemented a “maximum emergency system” after someone who had previously defected to South Korea returned with coronavirus symptoms, according to state media. North Korea, which has not reported any coronavirus cases, implemented strict measures, including border closures, earlier this year to control the virus (Yonhap)
South Korea Opens Investigation Into Demolition of Inter-Korean Liaison Office
Prosecutors in Seoul opened an investigation of Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, for her alleged role in blowing up an inter-Korean liaison office last month (Yonhap)