North Korea official says not interested in Iran-style deal

North Korea will continue to claim its development of nuclear weapons as self-defense against the United States, a nuclear power with a considerable military present on the Korean Peninsula.

“The erection of the statues in the province is a noteworthy event in glorifying the revolutionary careers and feats of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il”, the state-run Korea Central News Agency reported this week when new statues in Phyongsong were unveiled.

The U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced global Studies says commercial satellite imagery taken July 21 shows Pyongyang has made quick work since spring of constructing a support building on the launch pad where rockets would be prepared.

Pyongyang and also other locations around North Korea were decked-out using flags and ads as North Koreans clustered to devoted gatherings and size party parties to draw the wedding of the September 27, 1953, agreement that added the three-year Korean war to a conclusion having an armistice, not just a peace treaty.

At the same time, North Korea is also apparently attempting to improve its ties with Beijing, which have deteriorated somewhat since Kim Jong Un took power in 2011.

Substantive talks between the U.S. and North Korea on its nuclear program have been largely frozen in recent years, with the last major talks held back in 2009. North Koreans gathered to offer flowers and pay their respects… It was then director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) Choe Ryong-hae who spoke up to thank the Chinese volunteers for their sacrifice in helping North Korea fight the South Korean and US-led United Nations forces.

“That’s what caused them some real concern”.

Seoul and its partners have been seen exploring ways to forge momentum to address Pyongyang’s nuclear issue, which was given fresh attention following the landmark deal earlier this month on Iran’s nuclear program.

By sanctioning Banco Delta Asia, a small bank based in Macau that handled North Korean money, the United States effectively cut off North Korea’s access to the global financial system.

“Iran’s deal demonstrates the value and possibilities the negotiations bring”.

“Exposing their terrible human rights record similarly puts them on the defensive, and, unlike with nukes, they have no counterargument to justify their actions that anyone could buy”, he said.

From 2011 to 2014, Seiler served as Director for Korea at the National Security Council, where he advised the White House on issues concerning North and South Korea.