SEOUL, Feb. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — North Korea has begun the construction of factories, state media reported Thursday, as its leader Kim Jong-un called for the development of backward provinces amid prolonged economic difficulties. Kim attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the regional industrial factories in Songchon County, South Pyongan Province, on Wednesday, [...]
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (Korea Bizwire) — With South Korea and the United States estranged from North Korea, cautious hopes are reemerging that Japan’s diplomatic outreach to Pyongyang could lead to an opening for the resumption of long-stalled diplomacy for peace with the recalcitrant regime. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has repeatedly expressed his intention to [...]
SEOUL, Feb. 20 (Korea Bizwire) — North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has received a Russian-made car from Russian President Vladimir Putin as a gift demonstrating the special bonds between the two leaders, state media reported Tuesday. The gift serves as a “clear demonstration of the special personal relations between the two leaders and as the [...]
SEOUL, Feb. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — North Korea has given no reaction yet to South Korea’s establishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba, but the surprise announcement is a blow to Pyongyang that has long boasted brotherly ties with the Caribbean nation. South Korea forged diplomatic ties with Cuba on Wednesday (New York time), making Cuba [...]
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — Former President Donald Trump’s recent controversial remarks on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is stoking a renewed yet consequential question for South Korea: Would America’s security commitment remain steadfast in the midst of seemingly unbridled North Korean threats? During a campaign rally in South Carolina on Saturday, Trump [...]
SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — North Korea’s provincial committees have discussed measures to carry out the national policy of developing regional economies, state media said Tuesday, amid worsening inequality in the North’s capital and rural areas. The respective committees held enlarged plenary meetings to discuss measures to “establish realistic goals corresponding to regional traits” [...]
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (Korea Bizwire) — A U.S. diplomat on Monday highlighted America’s commitment to working in tandem with South Korea and Japan to address growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, which he said serves only to prolong Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Speaking at a forum, Robert Koepcke, deputy assistant secretary of state [...]
PYONGYANG, Feb. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – In North Korea, the Lunar New Year, a significant cultural holiday, is observed with traditional customs similar to those in South Korea, including the exchange of bows (sebae) and sharing rice cake soup (tteokguk) with family. However, the state promotes a distinct celebration of the holiday in line with [...]
SEOUL, Feb. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – North Korea appears to be setting its sights on Fourth Industrial Revolution technology, such as artificial intelligence, in a bid to explore ways to expand its applications. The Rodong Sinmun, North Korea’s main newspaper, reported Dec. 24 that global competition for science and technology has been intensifying, citing efforts [...]
VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Feb. 9 (Korea Bizwire) – Russian tourists on Friday departed for their first group trip to North Korea since the pandemic amid deepening ties between the two countries. A total of 97 Russian nationals were expected to join the four-day trip that will take them to Pyongyang and the Masikryong Ski Resort in [...]