PN's Voice 30

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PN's Voice 30, 16-02-2015
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PN's Voice No. 30, 16.02.2015

Kim Jong-Un & Putin in Regular Contact

Moscow and Pyongyang are communicating on a regular basis Alexander Motsegora, the Russian Ambassador to North Korea, said last Thursday. In a recent interview with Russian news agency Itar-Tass, Motsegora said that Russia and North Korea are maintaining high-level talks, including between the top leaders, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-Un:

"An active political dialogue is maintained at the highest and high levels between the two countries…I believe a lot can be done to improve Russia-North Korea ties " Matsegora said. He added Moscow has high hopes for economic cooperation.

Motsegora said that this year will be significant for relations between the two countries, as it marks the 70th anniversary of both Russia’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II and Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule. Putin has invited both Kim and President Park Geun-Hye to celebrations marking the event.
Source : KBS News, Chosun Ilbo


North Reveals Plans to Develop More Precise & Lightweight Weapons

North Korea’s state-run Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) reported last week that the country plans to develop high-tech weapons that are automated, precise and lightweight.

During a meeting of the political bureau of the Central Committee on Feb. 10, the Korea Workers’ Party (KWP) adopted a resolution commemorating the 70th anniversary of the party’s establishment. In said resolution, North Korea focused on independently strengthening its military, vowing to continue developing its own “powerful high-tech military equipment that would be more precise, lightweight, automated, intelligent and in line with the needs of warfare today.”

With North Korea openly referring to its successful launch of a long-range missile in Dec. 2012 and to making lightweight, precision weapons, this recent news has been interpreted as a potential call to develop and enhance the North’s nuclear weapons and missiles.

“North Korea’s capacity to develop high-tech missiles remains unknown. We will probably have to wait and see whether this is anything more than rhetoric,” a South Korean military officer was quoted as saying.

The resolution also declared that a large festival would be organized to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the KWP on Oct. 10 as well as the 70th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial occupation. “Service members in the army, air force, anti-air force, and strategic force will take part in a military review and parade in Pyongyang,” North Korea said, suggesting that a new weapon could be unveiled on the anniversary of the party’s establishment.
Source : The Hankyoreh


N. Korea Issues Fresh Threats Toward S. Korea

North Korea issued a fresh set of threats to attack South Korea last week, if Seoul continues to align itself with U.S. policies aimed at pressuring the Pyongyang regime. In a special statement delivered through the Korean Central Television and other outlets Wednesday night, North Korea’s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland denounced South Korea, saying it is being blindly servile to the U.S., in an apparent reference to upcoming joint military exercises. A clip from the North’s Korean Central Television, broadcast on the South’s KBS News featured the following quote from the statement:

“There is no need to hide that South Korea will become a target of our retaliatory attacks if its belligerent fanatics present themselves as bullet bait for the U.S.’s invasion of the North...the South Korean authorities will not be able to escape the most miserable end if they persistently join the U.S. moves for a war of aggression."

Amid both strained Washington-Pyongyang relations and hopes for improved inter-Korean relations, the North has argued that sincere that improving North-South Korean relations is impossible as long as Seoul continues to place its relations with Pyongyang as subordinate to its ties with Washington.

In Seoul, a government official expressed regret over the North repeating distorted and threatening remarks. The official then urged the North to immediately stop saber-rattling against the Korean people. The official also stressed that Seoul will sternly respond to the North’s provocations based on its airtight cooperation with the U.S.
Source : KBS News


U.S. Against Park Visiting Moscow

The U.S. appears to be pressing South Korean President Park Geun-Hye not to attend the 70th anniversary celebration of the Soviet Union's World War II victory in Moscow on May 9. When asked what the White House's response would be if Park attends the event, Deputy U.S. National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes told reporters on Monday that although it is up to individual leaders to decide, it is important to deliver a "unified voice" against Russia, which is stoking a civil war in Ukraine.

The U.S. is South Korea's staunchest ally, and Seoul and Washington usually maintain a unified voice on major international issues; Washington has been spearheading sanctions against Russia since last year. Russia is enticing Park to the event with the prospect of a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on the sidelines. Amid diplomatic isolation from the international community due to the Ukraine situation, Moscow invited Kim and he has apparently accepted. Last Tuesday, South Korean lawmakers called on Foreign Minister Yun Byung-Se not to be swayed by U.S. pressure and use the Russian celebration as an opportunity for a meeting between Park and Kim.

In his New Year's address, Kim hinted at a summit with Park provided joint South Korea-U.S. military drills are scrapped, but the regime has not shown any great enthusiasm for any form of dialogue.
Source : Chosun Ilbo


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