Page 29 - North Korea

US expands sanctions on Myanmar, North Korea's aviation, defence sectors

The Biden administration is expanding sanctions against the aviation and defense sectors of North Korea and Myanmar as it continues to punish the two countries for weapons-related violations of US and United Nations regulations and human rights abuses. The Treasury Department announced Tuesday that it had imposed penalties on two agents for North Korea's state-owned airline Air Koryo and redesignated a previously sanctioned North Korean cyber agency that it said launders profits from cryptocurrency heists to further Pyongyang's weapons programs. Treasury also announced sanctions against the Myanmar aviation firm Sky Aviator Company Limited and its owner for facilitating weapons purchases for the country's military government to crackdown on protesters following a February 2021 coup. North Korean agents Ri Sok, an Air Koryo representative based in China, and Yan Zhihong, an airline logistics manager, were targeted with sanctions for their support for for North Korea's nuclear weapons

North Korea slams US for raising alleged weapons transfer to Russia

North Korea on Tuesday accused the United States of cooking up a plot-breeding story on its alleged arms transfer to Russia, arguing it has never sent artillery shells to Moscow. Last week, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby accused North Korea of covertly supplying a significant number of the ammunition to Russia. He said the United States believes North Korea was trying to obscure the transfer route by making it appear the weapons were being sent to countries in the Middle East or North Africa. We regard such moves of the US as part of its hostile attempt to tarnish the image of (North Korea) in the international arena," an unidentified vice director at the ministry's military foreign affairs office said in a statement carried by state media. We once again make clear that we have never had arms dealings' with Russia and that we have no plan to do so in the future, the vice director said. In September, US officials confirmed a newly downgraded US intelligence findi

Missile tests were practice to attack South Korea, US, says North Korea

North Korea's military said Monday its recent barrage of missile tests were practices to attack its rivals' air bases and warplanes and paralyse their operation command systems, showing Pyongyang's resolve to counter provocative U.S.-South Korean military drills more thoroughly and mercilessly. North Korea fired dozens of missiles and flew warplanes last week, triggering evacuation alerts in some South Korean and Japanese areas, in response to massive U.S.-South Korean air force drills that the North views as an invasion rehearsal. U.S. and South Korean officials strongly condemned the North's missile launches, saying their drills were defensive in nature. The recent corresponding military operations by the Korean People's Army are a clear answer of (North Korea) that the more persistently the enemies' provocative military moves continue, the more thoroughly and mercilessly the KPA will counter them, the General Staff of the Korean People's Army said in a statement carried by state

United States flies supersonic bomber amid joint drills against North Korea

At least one B-1B aircraft participated from the US side during the joint drills which culminated on Saturday, Al Jazeera reported citing South Korea's defence ministry

North Korea fires four missiles toward Yellow Sea, says South Korea

The North Korea's latest 'provocation' came on the last day of the extended large-scale combined air drills of the South Korea and the US

North Korea fires ballistic missiles into sea amid US-South Korea drills

South Korea's military says North Korea has fired four short-range ballistic missiles into the sea, adding to its barrage of weapons demonstrations this week that has raised tensions in the region. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Saturday that the missiles flew around 130 kilometers (80 miles) toward the North's western sea. North Korea this week launched dozens of missiles into the sea, including an intercontinental ballistic missile that triggered evacuation warnings in northern Japan, and flew warplanes inside its territory. North Korea has described its military actions as an appropriate response to a combined U.S.-South Korea aerial drills, which it called a display of U.S. military confrontation hysteria. The United States flew two B-1B supersonic bombers on Saturday over South Korea on the final days of the joint drills, in a show of force meant to intimidate North Korea over its intensifying testing activity.

US urges UNSC action to punish North Korea over recent provocations: Report

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield on Friday also stressed the importance of fully implementing the existing UNSC sanctions on the recalcitrant country, Yonhap news agency reported.

UN chief condemns N Korea launches, urges to resume denuclearisation talks

Earlier on Thursday, it was reported that Pyongyang had fired an unknown ballistic missile on the Sea of Japan.

US and its allies clash with China, Russia over North Korea missiles

The United States and its allies clashed with China and Russia on Friday over North Korea's escalating ballistic missile launches and American-led military exercises in South Korea, again preventing any action by the deeply divided UN Security Council. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said North Korea's staggering 59 ballistic missile launches this year, including 13 since Oct. 27 and one that made an unprecedented impact about 50 kilometers (30 miles) from South Korea's shore, are about more than advancing Pyongyang's military capabilities and seek to raise tensions and stoke fear in its neighbours. She said 13 of the 15 Security Council members have condemned North Korea's actions since the beginning of the year, but Pyongyang has been protected by Russia and China who have bent over backwards to justify repeated violations of UN sanctions by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK, the country's official name. And, in turn, they have enabled the DPRK and made a ..

S Korea scrambles jets after detecting 180 N Korean warplanes in airspace

The North Korean aircraft flew north of the so-called tactical measure line, drawn to up 20 kilometres (12 miles) north of the Military Demarcation Line, South Korea's military said in a statement

US, South Korea jointly warn Pyongyang against nuclear weapons use

The US and South Korea jointly warned North Korea on on Thursday that use of any kind of nuclear weapon against Seoul or other regional allies would result in the end of Kim Jong Un's regime, as Pyongyang continued to rattle the peninsula with escalating missile tests. North Korea has launched more than two dozen missiles over the last two days in response to US-South Korean military exercises that began on Monday. The launches have sent South Koreans scrambling for shelter and further frayed the nerves of a population already mourning the loss of more than 150 people at a horrific Halloween crowd crush. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and South Korean Defence Minister Lee Jong-sup, after meeting on Thursday at the Pentagon, released a joint statement saying they strongly condemned North Korea's escalating military flexing, including ballistic missile test launches, multiple rocket launches and coastal artillery. Any use of nuclear weapons, including lower-yield tactical nuclear ...

Biden govt offers up to $5 million for information on North Korean shipper

The Biden administration is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information about a Singapore-based businessman already accused by the Justice Department of facilitating fuel shipments to North Korea in violation of UN sanctions. Kwek Kee Seng, who directs a shipping agency and terminal operations company, was charged last year with arranging the deliveries, with prosecutors alleging that he used front companies and false documentation to hide the scheme. Officials say that business helps enable North Korea's nuclear proliferation programmes. Kwek remains at large despite a warrant that has been issued for his arrest. The State Department on Thursday said it was offering up to $5 million through its Rewards for Justice program. The announcement of a reward came amid heightened tensions with North Korea, which on Thursday fired at least six missiles into the sea, including an intercontinental ballistic missile that triggered evacuation warnings and halted trains in northern ...

Geopolitical situation a bigger worry for markets than rate hikes: Analysts

According to reports, North Korea has fired at least one ballistic missile toward its eastern sea, the latest in a series of weapons tests that have raised tensions in the region

North Korea fires suspected ICBM, warns US against 'dangerous' choices

On Oct 4, North Korea launched a ballistic missile over Japan for the first time in five years

US condemns North Korea's launch of intercontinental ballistic missile

This action underscores the need to implement North Korea's related UNSC resolutions, which are intended to prohibit the country from acquiring the technologies needed to carry out missile tests

North Korea fires over 20 missiles towards South Korean border: What now?

For days North Korean officials have raged over US-South Korean military drills, promising a violent response. That response came this week, when the North fired more than 20 missiles one of which splashed down near the South Korean sea border. It was a significant escalation in a year that has already seen the most North Korean missile test launches ever, and it raises an important question: How much further will they go? North Korea's playbook has traditionally been to continually ratchet up provocations until it gets US attention and can then negotiate for sanctions relief or other concessions from what it sees as a position of power. The bar for getting attention these days may be higher, with the United States focused on upcoming elections and Russia and the West consumed by the war in Ukraine. That could mean the North has to do more to get the reaction it wants but it also increases the possibility that Pyongyang could end up pushing South Korea too far. Already there is .

North Korea has test-fired another missile toward eastern sea: South Korea

South Korea's military says North Korea has fired at least one ballistic missile toward its eastern sea, the latest in a series of weapons tests that have raised tensions in the region. Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff didn't immediately confirm what type of missile was fired Thursday or how far the weapon flew. The launch came a day after North Korea fired more than 20 missiles, the most it has fired in a single day ever. One of those missile flew in the direction of a populated South Korean island and landed near the rivals' tense sea border, triggering air raid sirens and forcing residents in Ulleung island to evacuate. South Korea quickly responded by launching its own missiles in the same border area. Wednesday's launches came hours after North Korea threatened to use nuclear weapons to get the US and South Korea to pay the most horrible price in history in protest of ongoing South Korean-US military drills that it views as a rehearsal for a potential invasion.

North Korea continues ballistic missile barrage with test over Japan

Japan says missiles fired by North Korea flew over northern Japan on Thursday, the latest in a series of weapons tests that have raised tensions in the region. The announcement by Japan's Prime Minister's Office came shortly after South Korea's military said it detected North Korea launching at least one ballistic missile toward its eastern sea. Japan said more than one missile was fired, although it didn't immediately say how many. It said the missiles landed in the Pacific Ocean, and triggered alerts in three northern prefectures. Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff didn't immediate confirm what type of missile it detected or how far the weapon flew. The launches came a day after North Korea fired more than 20 missiles, the most it has fired in a single day ever. One of those missile flew in the direction of a populated South Korean island and landed near the rivals' tense sea border, triggering air raid sirens and forcing residents in Ulleung island to evacuate. South Korea quickly ..

White House accuses North Korea of covertly shipping artillery to Russia

The White House on Wednesday accused North Korea of covertly shipping a significant number of artillery shells to Russia in support of its invasion of Ukraine. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the US believes North Korea is trying to make it appear as though they're being sent to countries in the Middle East or North Africa. He declined to provide a specific estimate on the quantity of ammunition being sent to bolster the Russian effort. Kirby said North Korea is covertly supplying the ammunition to Russia, but that, we're still monitoring this to determine whether the shipments are actually received." Kirby insisted that the North Korean shipments are not going to change the course of the war," citing Western efforts to resupply the Ukrainian military. The White House would not specify the mode of transportation or whether the U.S. or other nations would attempt to interdict the shipments to Russia.

North Korea fires 23 missiles, air-raid alert in South, residents evacuate

Air raid sirens sounded on a South Korean island and residents there evacuated to underground shelters after North Korea fired more than 20 missiles Wednesday, at least one of them in its direction and landing near the rivals' tense sea border. South Korea quickly responded by launching its own missiles in the same border area. The launches came hours after North Korea threatened to use nuclear weapons to get the US and South Korea to pay the most horrible price in history in protest of the ongoing South Korean-US military drills that it views as an invasion rehearsal. The White House maintained that the United States has no hostile intent toward North Korea and vowed to work with allies to curb North Korea's nuclear ambitions. The North's barrage of missile tests also came as world attention was focused on South Korea following a weekend Halloween tragedy that saw more than 150 people killed in a crowd surge in Seoul in what was the country's largest disaster in years. South Korea'