John Fritze and Deirdre Shesgreen USA TODAY Published 2:53 PM EDT Mar 22, 2019 WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump overruled his own Treasury Department on Friday and withdrew new sanctions aimed at North Korea because, the White House said, the president "likes" the reclusive country's leader, Kim Jong Un. Treasury officials announced Thursday they were sanctioning two shipping companies based in China that have helped North Korea evade international sanctions. The U.S. has been increasingly pressuring Chinese firms doing businesses with Kim's regime. Less than 24 hours after those sanctions were announced, Trump abruptly announced on Twitter that he had ordered the withdrawal of those additional sanctions. “President Trump likes Chairman Kim and he doesn’t think these sanctions will be necessary,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement. The stepped up sanctions followed a high-profile summit between Trump … [Read more...] about Donald Trump ends North Korea sanctions because he ‘likes’ Kim Jong Un
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Kim Jong-un purges his personal photographer for damaging the crackpot leader’s ‘supreme dignity’ by obstructing crowd’s with his camera
KIM Jong-un has reportedly fired his personal photographer for obstructing a crowd's view of him for three seconds with his camera. The shutterbug, identified only by his surname, Ri, was accused of damaging Kim's "supreme dignity" as he scrambled for better photos of the dictator. According to Pyongyang sources quoted in NK Daily, he was guilty of "adjusting the angle so that the camera's flash covered the Dear and Respected Supreme Leader Comrade's neck." A source familiar with the situation told to the South Korea-based online newspaper the faux-pas was considered an "anti-Party act of damaging the Supreme Dignity of our Party". He was also blamed for violating two further rules - one banning photography within two metres of the tyrant, and another prohibiting pictures or video from being taken directly in front of him. As a result, the 47-year-old was fired from his job and booted out of the Workers' Party of Korea - effectively rendering him a second-class citizen. It's a hefty … [Read more...] about Kim Jong-un purges his personal photographer for damaging the crackpot leader’s ‘supreme dignity’ by obstructing crowd’s with his camera
Ex-CIA official says Kim Jong-un may visit Russia
09:00, 21 March 2019 World 37 Three senior North Korean officials made back-to-back visits to Russia earlier this month. flickr.com/Janne Wittoeck A former U.S. intelligence official said in the wake of the Hanoi summit breakdown, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may visit Russia in order to boost ties. Andrew Kim, the former head of the Central Intelligence Agency's Korea Mission Center, made these comments on Wednesday at a lecture, according to Yonhap News Agency, Business-Insider reports. Speculations have been rife regarding Kim's visit to Russia, especially after three senior North Korean officials made back-to-back visits to Russia this month. Read also Activity at 2nd North Korean missile site indicates possible launch preparations – media The second summit between North Korea and the U.S. ended abruptly in Hanoi, Vietnam, last month without any agreement regarding further steps in the denuclearization process. Many have perceived the Hanoi summit to be … [Read more...] about Ex-CIA official says Kim Jong-un may visit Russia
North Korea says Kim Jong Un mulling resumption of nuclear and missile tests
Pyongyang, North Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will soon decide whether to continue diplomatic talks and maintain his moratorium on missile launches and nuclear tests, a senior North Korean official said Friday, adding that the U.S. threw away a golden opportunity at the recent summit between their leaders. Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, addressing a meeting of diplomats and foreign media, including The Associated Press, in Pyongyang said North Korea was deeply disappointed by the failure of the two sides to reach any agreements at the Hanoi summit between Kim and President Donald Trump.She said Pyongyang now has no intention of compromising or continuing talks unless the United States takes measures that are commensurate to the changes it has taken -- such as the 15-month moratorium on launches and tests - and changes its "political calculation."Choe, who attended the Feb. 27-28 talks in Hanoi, said Kim was puzzled by what she called the "eccentric" negotiation … [Read more...] about North Korea says Kim Jong Un mulling resumption of nuclear and missile tests
North Korean official: Kim Jong Un rethinking US talks
Eric Talmadge Associated Press Published 3:44 AM EDT Mar 15, 2019 PYONGYANG, North Korea – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will soon decide whether to continue diplomatic talks and maintain his moratorium on missile launches and nuclear tests, a senior North Korean official said Friday, adding that the U.S. threw away a golden opportunity at the recent summit between their leaders. Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, addressing a meeting of diplomats and foreign media, including The Associated Press, in Pyongyang said the North was deeply disappointed by the failure of the two sides to reach any agreements at the Hanoi summit between Kim and President Donald Trump. She said Pyongyang now has no intention of compromising or continuing talks unless the United States takes measures that are commensurate to the changes it has taken – such as the 15-month moratorium on launches and tests – and changes its “political calculation.” Choe, who attended the … [Read more...] about North Korean official: Kim Jong Un rethinking US talks