US special representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun was set to arrive in Seoul on Wednesday evening to discuss Pyongyang’s recent firing of short-range projectiles and possibly food aid to the North.During his four-day visit, Biegun is expected to meet with his South Korean counterpart Lee Do-hoon, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs at the Foreign Ministry, and attend a joint working group session on denuclearization and inter-Korean relations, where food

Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul crossed the inter-Korean border Wednesday to visit a joint liaison office in North Korea's border town of Kaesong in his first trip to the communist state since taking office last month.Kim plans to meet South Korean officials stationed there and check progress in their work before returning to Seoul in the afternoon."This visit is aimed at encouraging our staff working at the liaison office as it has been playing an important role in inter-Korean relations," a

 US President Donald Trump expressed support Tuesday for South Korea's possible humanitarian food assistance for North Korea in phone talks with President Moon Jae-in, Cheong Wa Dae said. During the 35-minute conversation, Moon briefed Trump on his government's position on North Korea's launch of "short-range projectiles," including a tactical guided weapon, over the weekend.(Yonhap)And they discussed ways to keep Pyongyang on the dialogue track despite the firing, the presidential office added.

North Korea's state media highlighted the importance of "self-reliance" on Tuesday, calling it a "treasure sword" for the communist state's survival and prosperity.North Korea has recently intensified calls for independence from outside help in building a strong economy amid little sign that global sanctions will be eased anytime soon after the breakdown of leader Kim Jong-un's summit in February with US President Donald Trump. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (Yonhap)"The people in the DPRK rega

President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump will hold a telephone conversation to discuss issues surrounding the Korean Peninsula, Cheong Wa Dae announced Tuesday.  Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Ko Ming-jung announces the plans for President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump`s telephone conversation on Tuesday. Yonhap“(Moon and Trump) will exchange views on matters related to the Korean Peninsula, and discuss ways to make progress in the current situation,” Cheong Wa Dae spokesperso

South Korean President Moon Jae-in will have phone talks with US President Donald Trump on North Korea later Tuesday, Moon's office announced, days after Pyongyang's firing of several "projectiles" into the East Sea.In the phone conversation slated for Tuesday night (Seoul time), the leaders plan to "exchange opinions on the Korean Peninsula security conditions" following their White House summit on April 11 and discuss ways to move the denuclearization process forward, according to Cheong Wa Da

US President Donald Trump said Monday that he had a "very good conversation" with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe about North Korea and trade.The phone call happened days after North Korea fired multiple short-range projectiles into the East Sea in apparent frustration over stalled nuclear negotiations with the United States."Just spoke to Prime Minister Abe of Japan concerning North Korea and Trade. Very good conversation!" Trump tweeted.(AP-Yonhap)Hours later, the White House released a sta

South Korea's spy agency said Monday it does not see North Korea's firing of short-range projectiles last week as provocative as they appear to have been "ground-to-ground" weapons.(Yonhap)The National Intelligence Service delivered an initial analysis of the North's projectiles fired into the sea off its east coast on Saturday in a briefing to Lee Hye-hoon, a representative of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party, at the National Assembly. The NIS didn't specify the type of the ground-to-grou

North Korea’s recent launch of projectiles could have been a move to pressure rival states and may not be a signal that it wants to break off negotiations, South Korea’s spy agency told lawmakers during a parliamentary briefing on Monday.Pyongyang also appears to be adjusting the intensity of the message it is sending to the US, Rep. Lee Hye-hoon, head of the intelligence committee, told reporters after a parliamentary session with the National Intelligence Service here. (Yonhap)North Korea fire

"Unidentified projectiles" that North Korea fired this weekend were believed to have involved tactical guided weapons and multiple rocket launchers, the defense ministry here said Sunday.On Saturday, the communist country fired several short-range projectiles over the East Sea from its east coast town of Wonsan over a 20-minute period starting at 9:06 a.m., according to Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff.A photograph released by North Korea shows a projectile taking off (top), and a photograph of the

North Korea has conducted a "strike drill" for multiple rocket launchers and tactical guided weapons to test their performance, state media reported Sunday, a day after the communist nation fired unidentified short-range projectiles into the East Sea.North Korean leader Kim Jong-un supervised the "strike drill of defense units in the forefront area and on the eastern front which took place in the East Sea of Korea on Saturday," according to the Korean Central News Agency.North Korean leader Kim

US President Donald Trump expressed confidence on Saturday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will keep his promise on denuclearization despite Pyongyang's firing of unidentified projectiles."Anything in this very interesting world is possible, but I believe that Kim Jong-un fully realizes the great economic potential of North Korea, & will do nothing to interfere or end it," Trump tweeted. "He also knows that I am with him & does not want to break his promise to me. Deal will happen!"US Presi

South Korea's presidential office said Saturday that North Korea's firing of short-range projectiles is contrary to the purpose of inter-Korean military accords last year.It urged Pyongyang to stop acts of escalating military tensions on the Korean Peninsula, briefing media on the results of an emergency meeting of top security officials held hours after North Korea fired unidentified projectiles into the East Sea.Chung Eui-yong, director of Cheong Wa Dae's National Security Office, presided ove

South Korea's presidential office convened an emergency meeting of top security officials Saturday after North Korea fired unidentified projectiles into the East Sea earlier in the day.Chung Eui-yong, director of Cheong Wa Dae's National Security Office, presided over the session, according to presidential spokesperson, Ko Min-jung.Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and National Intelligence Service chief Suh Hoon joined the meeting.The participants are "monitoring the current situation and close

The top diplomats of South Korea and the United States agreed Saturday to "prudently" handle North Korea's launch of short-range projectiles during their telephone talks, Seoul's foreign ministry said.Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke by phone hours after the North fired the projectiles into the East Sea in an apparent show of growing impatience over stalled nuclear negotiations with Washington. (Yonhap)"Regarding today's launch, the two sides agreed to