The Korea Herald

Presumed N.K. first lady may hint at change

Jul 18, 2012

Amid slight signs of change, North Korea’s recent disclosure of its presumed de facto first lady is reinforcing the prospect of reform under the budding leadership of Kim Jong-un. Little was officially announced about her status or background, other than video footage and pictures from the communist regime’s mouthpieces. The young, elegant-looking woman, reportedly surnamed Hong, accompanied Kim during official activities such as a visit to a kindergarten and concert. Analysts see her ongoing me
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made marshal

Jul 18, 2012

Kim Jong-unNorth Korea on Wednesday announced that its leader Kim Jong-un had been given the title of marshal -- the highest military rank after grand marshal held only by his late grandfather Kim Il-sung and late father Kim Jong-il.“A decision was made to confer the title of marshal upon comrade Kim Jong-un, supreme commander of the Korean People’s Army,” the North’s state media said in a “crucia
North Korean leader’s wife confirmed: report

Jul 17, 2012

A mysterious young woman who appeared at the side of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in recent footage from the North’s state broadcaster is “confirmed to be his wife,” a South Korean channel reported on Tuesday.Quoting an unnamed source from North Korea, YTN said Kim’s wife is a 27-year-old from Cheongjin, North Hamgyeong Province. She graduated from Kim Il-sung University, married the young leader in 2009 while working on her Ph.D and gave birth to a daughter in 2010, the broadcaster said.The
N. Korea promotes Hyon to vice marshal

Jul 17, 2012

Dismissal of top military officer appears to be ‘political purge’North Korea on Tuesday announced that it had promoted longtime field commander Gen. Hyon Yong-chol to vice marshal, a day after it revealed its dismissal of General Staff Chief Ri Yong-ho.The announcement promoted speculation that Hyon, considered an obscure military figure in the South, may take up the post of the general staff chief, which is equivalent to Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman. Hyon, who is presumed to be in his
Jong-un’s wife confirmed: report

Jul 17, 2012

A mysterious young woman who appeared at the side of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in recent footage from the North’s state broadcaster is “confirmed to be his wife,” a South Korean channel reported on Tuesday.Quoting an unnamed source from North Korea, YTN said Kim’s wife is a 27-year-old from Cheongjin, North Hamgyeong Province. She graduated from Kim Il-sung University, married the young leader in 2009 while working on her Ph.D and gave birth to a daughter in 2010, the broadcaster said. The
Hyon Yong-chol named vice marshal of N. Korean military

Jul 17, 2012

North Korea announced Tuesday that it has promoted Army Gen. Hyon Yong-chol to the post of vice marshal."Hyon Yong-chol was awarded the title of vice marshal of the Korean People's Army," said the KCNA, the communist nation's state news agency."A decision on awarding the title was made by the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea and the National Defense Commission of the DPRK
N.K. dismisses top military commander

Jul 16, 2012

Removal of Ri may be part of military power struggle; reshuffle of top brass expectedNorth Korea on Monday announced that it had dismissed its military’s General Staff Chief Ri Yong-ho from all official posts due to illness, sparking speculation over a possible military power struggle.The dismissal of a leading military figure could be a prelude to another reshuffle of top brass that would help the fledging leader Kim Jong-un further tighten his grip on the 1.19-million-strong military, experts
Preparing for long-cherished national dream

Jul 16, 2012

Minister avows onset of unification preparations, calls for dialogue with North KoreaWhite porcelain ceramics represent the epitome of Korea’s traditional aesthetics ― steeped in simplicity, purity and harmony with nature. The moon jar, dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, is the most prized of its kind. Its exact symmetry, round shape and milky white hue are reminiscent of a full moon and characterize fertility and a good harvest. Due to their large size, the upper and lower parts of the
Seoul to make videos for separated families in N.K.

Jul 16, 2012

The Unification Ministry plans to produce digital albums that contain video messages from South Koreans for their relatives across the border amid stalled exchange visits of the families displaced by the Korean War, its chief Yu Woo-ik told The Korea Herald. The ministry has recently made sample compact discs and will shortly allocate money from its budget for full-fledged operations, he said, without elaborating on the exact amount. “The resumption of family reunions is the most urgent task tha
Seoul proposes talks with North

Jul 16, 2012

Unification Minister Yu optimistic on N.K. stability, signs of opennessUnification Minister Yu Woo-ik proposed unconditional talks with North Korea to discuss reunions of separated families, tours to Mount Geumgang and other stalled cross-border projects. In an interview with The Korea Herald, he expressed cautious optimism about the prospect of the reclusive country opening up to the outside world under new leader Kim Jong-un, though the signs are still meager. “I want to deliver my proposal to
N. Korea's army chief Ri Yong-ho relieved of all posts

Jul 16, 2012

North Korea said Monday that its military chief Ri Yong-ho, known as one of the closest confidants of leader Kim Jong-un, has been removed from all his posts because of his "illness.""A meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party decided to relieve Ri Yong-ho of all his posts for his illness," the North's Korean Central News Agency said in a brief dispatch from P
‘Nuke test, no visit, China tells N.K.’

Jul 15, 2012

China has reportedly demanded that North Korea pledge not to carry out a third nuclear test as a precondition to accepting the fledgling leader Kim Jong-un’s visit to Beijing.Citing multiple sources, Japan’s daily Tokyo Shimbun reported Sunday that Beijing made the request when Kim Yong-il, the international affairs secretary of the North’s ruling Workers’ Party, visited China from April 20-24.While expressing opposition to the demand, Pyongyang tried to reach a compromise with its biggest patro
Kim Jong-nam told not to criticize succession: report

Jul 15, 2012

TOKYO (Yonhap News) ― The powerful uncle of North Korea’s new leader Kim Jong-un has advised Kim’s half-brother Kim Jong-nam not to criticize the country, a news report said Saturday.Jang Song-thaek told Kim Jong-nam to refrain from making comments critical of the power succession to foreign media, Japan’s Yomiuri newspaper reported from the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, citing an unidentified source on North Korean affairs in Macao.Kim Jong-un took over the communist country following the
N. Korea leader may have first lady

Jul 15, 2012

North Korea’s state television has recently shown a series of video clips in which its young leader Kim Jong-un was accompanied by an unidentified, elegant woman during his official activities, sparking speculation that she may be his wife.The footage released by Korean Central Television on Sunday showed Kim and the lady in a formal brightly colored dress visiting a kindergarten in Pyongyang.The distance between them was far closer than other high-ranking officials including his powerful uncle
Mysterious woman again seen flanking N.K. leader

Jul 15, 2012

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (front-center) holds a child during a visit to a Pyongyang kindergarten with an unidentified woman (left) who is speculated to be his wife. (Yonhap News)A chicly-dressed woman was seen closely flanking North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his visit to a Pyongyang kindergarten in state TV footage shown Sunday, reinforcing speculation she may be the wife of the youn