News Story: Top diplomats of S. Korea, U.S. discuss Kim Jong-un's threat of highest-level action

SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Yonhap) -- The top diplomats of South Korea and the United States have briefly met in New York and discussed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's threat to take the highest-level action in response to the U.S. president's recent speech, the foreign ministry here said Friday.

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson "exchanged primary analysis and opinions of Kim's statement ... and agreed to carry out further close study of it," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un vowed to consider "with seriousness exercising of a corresponding, highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history," in a statement released in English by his country's state-run news media.

The words were in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to "totally destroy" the North Korean regime during his address at the United Nations General Assembly earlier in the week.

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho, who is currently visiting New York, later said the action might be the testing of a hydrogen bomb in the Pacific Ocean.

Read the full story at YonhapNews

News Report: India to Investigate Pakistan’s Alleged Role in DPRK Nuclear Program

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has announced that they will be conducting an investigation into potential links between India’s rival Pakistan and the North Korean nuclear programs, promising to “hold accountable” those who have assisted North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj "deplored North Korea's recent actions and stated that its proliferation linkages must be explored and those involved must be held accountable," according to Foreign Ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar on Monday.

While Kumar did not directly name Pakistan in his comment, he did say that he was "giving you enough material to try to figure out what we are talking about."

Pakistan, a nuclear power, has been accused on many occasions of assisting North Korea in its nuclear ambitions. In 2004, Abdul Qadeer Khan, the founder and chief scientist of Pakistan's nuclear program, claimed that he had sold nuclear secrets to North Korea, Libya, and Iran. 

News Report: US - Nuclear Ban Treaty Undermines International Security

Lisa Schlein

GENEVA — A senior U.S. arms control official said Friday that Washington would never become a party to the treaty banning nuclear weapons because the accord undermines international security and does nothing to resolve threats posed by North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is set to open for signature at the U.N. General Assembly in New York next week. If 50 countries sign it, the treaty will go into force.

The U.S. permanent representative to the Conference on Disarmament, Ambassador Robert Wood, said at a news conference Friday that he considered the treaty a bad idea. He said prohibiting nuclear weapons would not make the world a safer place or reduce stockpiles by even one weapon.

He warned that the treaty would exacerbate divisions that already exist in the nonproliferation and disarmament communities.

"We are now facing the greatest nuclear challenge that we have faced for quite some time in North Korea's nuclear weapons program and its ballistic missile activities," he said. "And, the ban treaty does nothing and cannot do anything to impact and improve the situation with regard to that challenge that we face."

News Story: China supports UN Security Council resolution on DPRK

BEIJING, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- China supports the UN Security Council in taking necessary measures regarding the DPRK's nuclear test, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said Tuesday morning.

The UN Security Council Monday unanimously adopted a resolution to impose fresh sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) over its nuclear test on Sept. 3 for violation of previous Security Council resolutions.

Geng said the resolution reflected the unanimous stance of Security Council members in safeguarding peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, advancing denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and upholding international non-proliferation.

He said the resolution called for a peaceful settlement through diplomatic and political means, supported the resumption of six-party talks and stressed measures to de-escalate tension on the peninsula.

"The Chinese side hopes that this resolution will be implemented comprehensively and completely," the spokesperson said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: China remains persistent in denuclearizing Korean Peninsula - Xi

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping

BEIJING, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping told his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, in a telephone conversation late Wednesday that Beijing remains persistent on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

During the phone conversation, Xi and Trump exchanged their views on the current situation on the peninsula.

Xi said China has been adamant in preserving international nuclear non-proliferation regime, maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula, and resolving the nuclear issue through talks.

The Chinese president said the general direction should head toward a peaceful settlement of the issue, adding that dialogue combined with a set of comprehensive measures is best for seeking a long-term solution.

Trump said Washington has been deeply concerned over the ongoing situation on the Korean Peninsula, and attaches importance to China's essential role in resolving the issue.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Global Effort To Disrupt Proliferation/Illicit Trade Of Weapons Of Mass Destruction

The Australian Government is joining forces with countries from around the world to conduct Exercise Pacific Protector 2017, as part of an ongoing major international commitment to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their delivery systems and related materials.

Exercise Pacific Protector will be held in Cairns, Queensland from 6–9 September 2017 as part of the Asia-Pacific Exercise Rotation—a flagship event of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), which is a global effort by 105 partner countries to build networks, tools and capabilities to counter illicit WMD-related trade across the globe.

Across the four days, participants will take part in a number of different activities, including academic sessions, a table top exercise, a subject matter exchange training program, a live exercise and demonstrations that will facilitate the sharing of intelligence, enhance quick decision-making processes, and deploy capabilities to conduct interdictions that will increase the capacity of PSI countries within the Indo-Pacific.

The live exercise will comprise a Royal Australian Navy Frigate, a Japanese P-3C Orion aircraft, and a Queensland Police vessel in a scenario that will involve the tracking of ships suspected of carrying materials related to weapons of mass destruction.

News Report: DPRK H-Bomb - Chinese President Says ‘Dark Shadow Looms’ Over the World

After half a century of peace, a “dark shadow looms” over the world, following an announcement of the successful detonation of a hydrogen bomb by North Korea, according to a statement from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

While addressing the annual meeting of the BRICS economic alliance, Chinese President Xi Jinping — while not directly referring to the Sunday morning nuclear explosion — made note of an increasing unease in the region and around the globe.

In a tacit acknowledgement that Pyongyang's continued weapon and missile development was destabilizing hopes for nuclear non-proliferation, Xi spoke of using negotiation and dialog to put out "the flame of war," cited by The Guardian.

"Thanks to the joint effort of all countries, global peace has reigned for more than half a century. However, incessant conflicts in some parts of the world and hotspot issues are posing challenges to world peace," Xi asserted during a speech to the annual BRICS summit attended by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

News Story: China firmly opposes and strongly condemns DPRK nuclear test

BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- China's Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Sunday, expressing firm opposition to and strong condemnation of a nuclear test undertaken by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The DPRK Sunday successfully detonated an H-bomb, a hydrogen bomb that can be carried by an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), DPRK's Central Television announced. This was the sixth nuclear test the DPRK has undertaken.

"Today, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, despite universal opposition from the international community, conducted another nuclear test. The Chinese government expresses firm opposition to and strong condemnation of the test," said the statement of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

China's firm stance, as well as the common goal of the international community, is achieving denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, protecting the nuclear non-proliferation mechanism and maintaining peace and stability in northeast Asia, the statement said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: UN Security Council condemns DPRK missile launch

UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Tuesday strongly condemned Monday's missile launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) as well as several launches on Friday, demanding the country immediately cease such "outrageous actions."

"The Security Council expresses its grave concern that the DPRK is, by conducting such a launch over Japan as well as its recent actions and public statements, deliberately undermining regional peace and stability and has caused grave security concerns around the world," said the Security Council in a president's statement, which was released after closed-door consultations by council members.

The Security Council stressed that those DPRK actions are not just a threat to the region, but to all UN member states, demanding the country comply with relevant Security Council resolutions and not conduct any further launches using ballistic missile technology.

It also requested that the DPRK should abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs in a "complete, verifiable and irreversible manner" and not conduct any future nuclear tests or any further provocation.

The council called on all UN member states to "strictly, fully and expeditiously" implement all relevant Security Council resolutions concerning the DPRK, reiterating the importance of maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia at large.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: China Ready to Pay Price for Sanctions Against N.Korea for Stability in Region

China as the main trade partner of North Korea is ready to pay high price for the new UN Security Council sanctions against Pyongyang for the sake of denuclearization and stabilization on the Korean peninsula, according to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

BEIJING (Sputnik) — China as the main trade partner of North Korea is ready to pay high price for the new UN Security Council sanctions against Pyongyang for the sake of denuclearization and stabilization on the Korean peninsula, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday.

"If we consider traditional economic relations between China and North Korea, it is China that will have to pay most of the price for implementation of the latest resolution. However, for the sake of supporting international system of nuclear non-proliferation and to maintain peace and stability in the region, China, as always, will strictly and fully comply with respective resolutions," Wang said during the ASEAN forum in Manila, as quoted in the statement released by the ministry.

On Saturday, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2371, tightening sanctions against North Korea after the latter’s recent missile tests. The restrictions, targeting coal, iron, iron ore, lead and seafood imports from North Korea to UN member states, are expected to reduce Pyongyang’s foreign currency earnings by $1 billion from the current level of some $3 billion.

This story first appeared on Sputnik & is reposted here with permission.

News Report: Chain Reaction - Seoul Getting Nukes 'Would Put Pressure on Japan to Follow Suit'

There is "broad public support" for having nuclear weapons among South Koreans, but the country's ruling elite is less keen, Dr. Ralph Cossa of the Center for Strategic and International Studies told Radio Sputnik.

North Korea has carried out a total of five nuclear tests, most recently in September 2016. Last week, South Korea's Defense Ministry said that Pyongyang will likely conduct a sixth nuclear test and another intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test launch, in the wake of two controversial launches in July.

"There is a possibility that North Korea is likely to test its nuclear warhead and missile capabilities through a nuclear test with more explosive power," the Ministry of National Defense warned at an emergency meeting of the National Assembly’s Defense Committee, adding that Pyongyang could carry out such a test at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site at any time.

USA: U.S.-Australia Hold Counterproliferation Dialogue in Canberra

The United States and Australia held their sixth annual Counterproliferation Dialogue in Canberra on August 2-3. The annual meeting is one of several exchanges held by the United States and Australia each year to strengthen bilateral cooperation to address the threat posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery, and sensitive dual-use technologies.

Interagency experts from both sides met to discuss a range of counterproliferation and strategic trade control challenges, and to identify avenues to best address those challenges. The 2017 Dialogue placed special emphasis on U.S. and Australian efforts to promote effective third country implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions concerning North Korea, opportunities to improve enforcement of strategic trade controls, and the upcoming Proliferation Security Initiative Exercise Pacific Protector, which Australia will host in September 2017. Both sides agreed to meet again next year.

US State Department

News Story: Restraint, dialogue essential to solving the crisis on the Korean Peninsula

BEIJING, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Tensions have been escalating on the Korean Peninsula with the test-launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on July 4 by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and a combined ballistic missile exercise a day later by the United States and South Korea aimed at sending Pyongyang a warning.

But there's one simple way to diffuse tensions on the peninsula and in the region, and that is both sides showing restraint.

On Saturday, Joe Dunford, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the DPRK is able to launch a "limited" missile attack and the United States stands ready to defend itself, South Korea and Japan should such an event occur.

At present, there's a dire need for all sides concerned to refrain from actions that may worsen an already fragile and complicated situation. A peaceful settlement must be reached through dialogue and consultation.

The root cause of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula is, as political analysts have pointed out, mutual strategic suspicions between the DPRK and the United States.

Read the full story at Xinhua

USA: Conclusion of UN Negotiations on a Treaty to Ban Nuclear Weapons

Negotiations on a treaty purporting to ban nuclear weapons concluded in New York on July 7. The United States did not participate in these negotiations and will not support the treaty. Over many years and under various Administrations, we have made clear our willingness to work together with all states to improve international security and reduce the risk of nuclear war. However, this proposed treaty – which ignores the current security challenges that make nuclear deterrence necessary – will not result in the elimination of a single nuclear weapon, nor will it enhance the security of any state. No state that possesses nuclear weapons participated in these negotiations, and no U.S. ally that relies on extended nuclear deterrence supported the final text.

News Story: North Korea Closes Off Diplomacy, Military Options on Table, US UN Ambassador

North Korea's destabilizing actions are closing off the possibility of a diplomatic solution and could force the United States to take military action, US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said on Wednesday.

"North Korea's destabilizing escalation is a threat to all nations, in the region and beyond. Their actions are quickly closing off the possibility of a diplomatic solution. The United States is prepared to use the full range of our capabilities to defend ourselves and our allies. One of our capabilities lies with our considerable military forces. We will use them if we must," Haley said at an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

Further, the UN Security Council should demonstrate its strong condemnation of the latest North Korean missile launch by adopting a new resolution that will tighten the sanctions against Pyongyang, French Ambassador to the United Nations Francois Delattre told reporters on Wednesday.

News Story: Duterte, US envoy discuss counterterrorism

By Alexis Romero and Pia Lee Brago

MANILA, Philippines - The United States yesterday renewed its commitment to help the Philippines in its fight against terrorism as the fighting in Marawi City entered its seventh week.

US Ambassador Sung Kim relayed his country’s commitment to President Duterte during their meeting at Malacañang yesterday afternoon, where they discussed combating terrorism and the rehabilitation of battle-ravaged Marawi City.

“Great discussion with President Duterte: Shared concerns regarding terrorist threat; reaffirmed our support for C/T (counterterrorism) and rehabilitation efforts in Marawi,” Kim said in a tweet.

Malacañang has yet to issue a statement about the meeting.

The US embassy has confirmed that American soldiers are providing technical assistance to government troops in Marawi.

Philippine officials clarified though that no American serviceman was directly involved in combat operations, as prohibited by the 1987 Constitution.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: China hails "positive signals" on Korean Peninsula nuclear issue

BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday hailed recent "positive signals" on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and called for addressing concerns of various parties in a balanced way.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang made the comments in response to a question regarding remarks by a number of diplomats concerned about the issue.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) ambassador to India Kye Chun Yong said Wednesday the DPRK would not rule out suspending nuclear and missile tests if the United States abandoned the practice of holding large-scale military drills, according to media reports. The ambassador said Pyongyang was ready for negotiations with the United States at any time and without preconditions.

Meanwhile, a special advisor to President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea (ROK) indicated a reduction of joint war games with the United States if the DPRK stopped nuclear and missile activities.

"China believes these positive messages are important for easing tension on the peninsula and for a solution to the issue through dialogue," Geng said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: 'Defensive Play' - Pyongyang's Nuclear Umbrella Almost Ready in Face of US Threat

Commenting on North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch, Russian experts noted that it reflects Pyongyang's drive to complete the creation of a multi-layer nuclear umbrella in order to tackle what Pyongyang sees as a regional threat emanating from Washington and its allies.

On Monday morning, South Korean media reported that the country's military had detected what was believed to be a missile launch by North Korea.

It was later confirmed by the US as a short-range ballistic missile, which flew about 450 kilometers before landing in the Sea of Japan, approximately 300 kilometers off the coast of Japan.

South Korea' Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the projectile is "estimated to be a Scud type [missile]," and that the South Korean President "was immediately notified of the situation".

News Report: Trump May Have Limited Options Dealing with North Korean Nuke Program

Brian Padden

SEOUL — Bomb. Acquiesce. Or negotiate. These are probably the only options available to prevent North Korea from developing a nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM.) And the only option that has any reasonable chance of success is to pursue a deal similar to the 2015 Iran nuclear accord that was called “the worst deal ever” by U.S. President Donald Trump.

These are some of the insights and recommendations made by non-proliferation expert Robert Litwak during a recent talk he gave at an East Asia Foundation Seminar in Seoul about his book entitled Preventing North Korea’s Nuclear Breakout. Litwak is director of international security studies with the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars and served as director for non-proliferation under former President Bill Clinton.

The U.S. can no longer wait for the repressive North Korean state to collapse under the weight of international sanctions, Litwak argued, but instead must make a realistic deal that would allow Pyongyang to maintain its current nuclear and ballistic missile arsenal in exchange for suspending further tests and development.

“The narrative would be that the United States is not accepting North Korea as a nuclear weapons state but rather this was an interim step, freezing capabilities towards the long-term objective of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula,” he said.

News Story: Japan calls for strengthening NPT regime amid growing N. Korea threat

VIENNA (Kyodo) -- Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida called on the international community Tuesday to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation regime, citing the growing threat posed by North Korea's nuclear and missiles development programs.

Taking part in the preparatory committee for the 2020 review conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in Vienna, the first Japanese foreign minister to do so, Kishida also urged cooperation between nuclear weapons states and non-nuclear weapons states to prevent the spread of nuclear arms.

"North Korea has conducted two nuclear tests and launched more than 30 ballistic missiles since last year. Its nuclear and missile development has reached a new level and is posing a real threat to the region and beyond in the international community," Kishida told the preparatory committee.

Kishida, a veteran House of Representatives lawmaker from Hiroshima, which was devastated by a U.S. atomic bombing in 1945, condemned North Korea's aggressive pursuit of nuclear development as posing a "challenge" to the disarmament and non-proliferation regime under the NPT.

The efforts toward a world without nuclear weapons should be "carried out in a realistic manner, while taking into account the security environment that is becoming increasingly severe, including that of North Korea," Kishida said.

Read the full story at The Mainichi