Russia, China unite against U.S. THAAD despite North’s test

Russia, China unite against U.S. THAAD despite North’s test

Special to WorldTribune.com By EastAsiaIntel.com On April 29, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi issued a joint statement objecting to the contemplated deployment in South Korea of the U.S. Theater High Altitude Area Defense [THAAD] missile interceptor system. But what is unusual is that the joint Russian-Chinese objection to THAAD […]

Nuclear Kim: Leader launches ‘Byongjin’ doctrine to mark his era

Nuclear Kim: Leader launches ‘Byongjin’ doctrine to mark his era

Special to WorldTribune.com By Lee Jong-Heon, EastAsiaIntel.com On the heels of the Party Congress in which North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un presented a five-year economic plan, North Korea has kicked off tougher “work-harder campaigns.” North Koreans, already struggling with hunger and the stresses of survival in the repressive society, are being mobilized for new construction […]

N. Korea plans extended SLBM range, large subs for nuclear attacks

N. Korea plans extended SLBM range, large subs for nuclear attacks

Special to WorldTribune.com By Lee Jong-Heon, EastAsiaIntel.com SEOUL — North Korea has prioritized increasing the rage of its submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) to 2,000 kilometers, a military source here said. The North is also said to be building 3,000-ton submarines that can carry multiple SLBMs, the source said. “North Korea is believed to have made […]

Sports at center of Kim Jong-Un’s new communication strategy at home and abroad

Sports at center of Kim Jong-Un’s new communication strategy at home and abroad

Special to WorldTribune.com By Lee Jong-Heon, East-Asia-Intel.com SEOUL — The regime of North Korean ruler Kim Jong-Un has turned to sports as the tool to shape his image of a genial and friendly leader at home and mend fences with South Korea and the United States, officials and analysts here say. The initiatives range from inviting former […]

Kim Jong-Un’s powerful aunt disappears from public view

Kim Jong-Un’s powerful aunt disappears from public view

Special to WorldTribune.com By Lee Jong-Heon, East-Asia-Intel.com SEOUL — North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Un’s powerful aunt has not been seen in public for nearly three months and is believed to be critically ill. If so, the development could significantly impact the young leaders’ underlying power base among family members, sources and analysts here say. Kim Kyong-Hui has […]

Summit documents reveal N. Korea’s fears of being absorbed by China

Summit documents reveal N. Korea’s fears of being absorbed by China

Special to WorldTribune.com By Lee Jong-Heon, East-Asia-Intel.com SEOUL — North Korean leaders have been living in fear of coming under Chinese control but had no option but to rely on the economic giant for much-needed hard currency, documents and sources said. According to the 2007 inter-Korean summit transcript disclosed by South Korea’s spy agency, then North Korean […]

North Korea missile tests seen advancing the threat south of Seoul

North Korea missile tests seen advancing the threat south of Seoul

Special to WorldTribune.com By Lee Jong-Heon, East-Asia-Intel.com SEOUL — North Korea is thought to be progressing with the development of KN-02 ballistic missiles and is also testing longer range 300 mm-caliber rockets that can reach beyond Seoul to strike U.S. bases, military sources here said. The North launched six short-range projectiles from the country’s east coast — […]

Kim Jong-Un’s dangerous nuclear game with world seen signaling uncertainty at home

Kim Jong-Un’s dangerous nuclear game with world seen signaling uncertainty at home

Special to WorldTribune.com By Lee Jong-Heon, East-Asia-Intel.com SEOUL — North Korea’s high-profile nuclear threats despite international warnings of consequences that could jeopardize the country’s economic future signals instability in Kim Jong-Un’s regime that could trigger internal backlash, an analyst here said. The destitute nation, during its final stage of preparations for a third nuclear test, […]

Remnants from latest missile launch reveal significant N. Korean ICBM capability

Remnants from latest missile launch reveal significant N. Korean ICBM capability

Special to WorldTribune.com By Lee Jong-Heon, East-Asia-Intel.com North Korea independently built most of the key parts of the long-range rocket it launched in December 2012, indicating that the destitute nation has the capacity to build intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of delivering a nuclear weapon to the U.S., South Korean official said. After analyzing the […]

Fewer escaped N. Korea in 2012 as Kim Jong-Un hardened borders, tightened internal security

Fewer escaped N. Korea in 2012 as Kim Jong-Un hardened borders, tightened internal security

Special to WorldTribune.com By Lee Jong-Heon, East-Asia-Intel.com Fleeing North Korea has been increasingly difficult due to tightened border controls and stronger internal security measures since the country’s new ruler Kim Jong-Un assumed power a year ago, South Korean officials and sources say. But defectors in Seoul say that desperate North Koreans will keep trying to […]