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US-NK human rights probe

March 22, 2013 15:31
situation By Lee Chi-dong WASHINGTON, March 22 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. government said Friday that the creation of an independent U.N. body to look into North Korea's human rights abuses reflects the international community's interest in the problem. "The United States commends the U.N. Human Rights Council for establishing an independent commission of inquiry (COI) to investigate North Korea's grave, widespread, systemic human rights violations," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said at a press briefing.

U.S. hopeful of strong Chinese action on North Korea

March 21, 2013 23:00
By Terril Yue Jones BEIJING (Reuters) - The United States is optimistic China will take strong action against North Korea by increasing scrutiny of financial transactions with Pyongyang that could contravene fresh U.N. sanctions, a senior U.S. official said on Friday. David Cohen, the U.S. Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said he was confident Chinese banks and regulators would pay attention to the new U.N. Security Council resolution.

(News Focus) NK-hacking ability

March 21, 2013 03:15
By Park Bo-ram SEOUL, March 21 (Yonhap) -- The massive hacking attacks targeting major South Korean banks and broadcasters this week have raised the possibility of North Korea masterminding them, with analysts saying the communist country has developed powerful cyber warfare capabilities. The Web sites of major broadcasting firms MBC, KBS and YTN, as well as five financial institutions were shut down at around 2 p.m. Wednesday in simultaneous hacking attacks, prompting South Korea to open an urgent investigation.

North Korea-weekly review-4

March 20, 2013 22:16
*** FOREIGN TIPS Davies Due in Moscow, Berlin for Talks on North Korea WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- The top U.S. envoy for North Korea, Glyn Davies, will travel to Russia and Germany next week for consultations about the North Korea issue, the State Department announced on March 15. Davies, special representative for North Korea policy, will visit Moscow on Tuesday and Wednesday for meetings with senior Russian officials, including Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov, according to the department.

North Korea-weekly review-1

March 20, 2013 22:16
*** TOPIC OF THE WEEK (Part 1) Launch of U.N. Inquiry Commission on Rights Abuses in North Korea Imminent SEOUL (Yonhap) -- The U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is poised to adopt a resolution soon to establish its first commission of inquiry (COI) into widespread human rights violations in North Korea, a diplomatic source in Seoul said on March 19.

North Korea issues aid raid warning, seen as drill

March 20, 2013 21:15
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea issued an air raid warning on Thursday, South Korea's Unification Ministry said quoting a radio broadcast monitored in Seoul. A news report said the warning appeared to be part of a defence drill. The warning was issued at 12:32 a.m. British time and carried a message to military units to stand ready, but the action appeared to be a drill under an air raid scenario, Yonhap news agency said.

NK-UN sanctions drive

March 19, 2013 18:15
By Lee Chi-dong WASHINGTON, March 19 (Yonhap) -- On a trip to Northeast Asia, a couple of senior U.S. officials specializing in economic sanctions have been discussing ways to impose financial restrictions on North Korea as tough as those on Iran, multiple sources said Tuesday. David Cohen, under secretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, and Dan Fried, the State Department's sanctions coordinator, are due in Beijing following trips to Tokyo and Seoul. The two are in charge of Washington's sanctions worldwide.

NK-UN sanctions drive

March 19, 2013 17:30
By Lee Chi-dong WASHINGTON, March 19 (Yonhap) -- On a trip to Northeast Asia, a couple of senior U.S. officials specializing in economic sanctions have been discussing ways to impose financial restrictions on North Korea as tough as those on Iran, an informed source said Tuesday. David Cohen, under secretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, and Dan Fried, the State Department's sanctions coordinator, are due in Beijing following trips to Tokyo and Seoul. The two are in charge of Washington's sanctions worldwide.

N. Korea runs 'bad news' trade surplus: economists

March 19, 2013 02:00
After decades in the red, North Korea may be running a trade surplus, according to two economists who warn the breakthrough makes Pyongyang less vulnerable to pressure on its nuclear program. Marcus Noland and Stephen Haggard, both North Korea experts at the Washington-based Peterson Institute for International Economics, say their research suggests the North's current account went into surplus in 2011.

U.S. to bolster missile defences to counter North Korea threat - Hagel

March 15, 2013 15:45
By Phil Stewart and David Alexander WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced plans on Friday to bolster U.S. missile defences in response to "irresponsible and reckless provocations" by North Korea, which threatened a preemptive nuclear strike against the United States last week.
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