North Korea feared to stage provocation around Seoul-Washington summit
Posted : 2021-05-02 16:52
Updated : 2021-05-02 17:00
What is assumed to be a new intercontinental ballistic missile is displayed during a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of North Korea s ruling Workers Party of Korea in this capture image of Korea Central Television broadcasting, Oct. 10, 2020. Yonhap
By Nam Hyun-woo
North Korea spouted bellicose rhetoric against both Seoul and Washington, Sunday, following President Joe Biden s address to both houses of Congress, and his administration s completion of a policy review on the North, breaking its weeks-long wait-and-see stance.
Experts said Pyongyang may attempt to rattle its neighbors and the U.S. with a number of low-profile provocations before the May 21 summit between Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. These could involve the closure of North Korea s own organization on inter-Korean relations or the launch of short-range missiles.
North Korea lashed out at the United States and its allies in South Korea on Sunday in a series of statements saying recent comments from Washington are proof of a hostile policy that requires a corresponding response from Pyongyang.
Biden vows to use diplomacy, deterrence with N.Korea N.Korea says U.S. may end up in very grave situation (Adds U.S. national security adviser s comments, paragraph 3)
By Josh Smith
SEOUL, May 2 (Reuters) - North Korea lashed out at the United States and its allies in South Korea on Sunday in a series of statements saying recent comments from Washington are proof of a hostile policy that requires a corresponding response from Pyongyang.
The statements, carried on state news agency KCNA, come after the White House on Friday said U.S. officials had completed a months-long review of North Korean policy, and underscore the challenges U.S. President Joe Biden faces as he seeks to distinguish his approach from the failures of his predecessors.
North Korea blasts Biden’s Congress speech, warns of ‘grave situation’ for US
North Korea’s foreign ministry also called U.S. State Department criticism of DPRK human rights a “political trick”
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Image: The White House (file photo)
North Korea’s foreign ministry issued two statements on Sunday, slamming U.S. President Joe Biden’s most recent speech to Congress and a State Department press statement condemning North Korean human rights abuses.
Kwon Jong Gun, the foreign ministry’s Director-General of the Department of U.S. Affairs, said Biden’s characterization of North Korea as a “serious threat” was “illogical and an encroachment upon the DPRK’s right to self-defense.”
Dr. Andrei Lankov,
director of Korea Risk Group and professor of history at Kookmin University, will participate in the discussion.
Mason Richey, Asia Society Korea s senior contributor and associate professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, will moderate the conversation. This event is open to the audience by invitation only.
About the Guest Speakers
Gen. (Ret.) In-Bum Chun
Lieutenant General (Ret.) In-Bum Chun is a graduate of the Korea Military Academy in 1977. As aide to the Chairman of the ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff, Chun saved the Chairman from the infamous Rangoon bombing in 1983.
Previously, LTG (Ret.) Chun was assigned as Chief of the Election Support Branch at the Multi-National Force in Iraq. He also served as Director of U.S. Affairs at the defense ministry and was involved in negotiations with the U.S. on wartime OPCON. Chun commanded the 27th Infantry Division and was a Senior Member of the UNC Military Armistice Commission. In 2013, he was promoted