North Korea sends protest to US Congress over sanctions

Pyongyang’s state-run media, KCNA news agency, said the crimes committed by the most recent detainees would soon be disclosed, adding that USA statements that the arrests are simply being used as a bargaining chip for North Korea are “pure ignorance”.

Moon has also criticized the US military’s hurried installation of a missile-defense system in South Korea in recent weeks, scoffing at Trump’s suggestion that the South Korean government pay $1 billion for the system and calling for a thorough review of the deployment.

In this photo released by North Korea’s Central News Agency (KCNA), ballistic missiles are shown being displayed through Kim Il-Sung square in Pyongyang, Apr. 15, 2017.

Of course, the desire for renewed or increased attention on North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs is hardly surprising.

Last month, the state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun claimed US-Australian military exercises in northern Australia were preparation for nuclear war against North Korea and threatened Darwin with a potential retaliatory strike.

During his campaign, many conservatives anxious that Moon’s election would cause problems with Washington, Seoul’s most important ally, because of his engagement policy on North Korea would clash with Trump’s push to maximize pressures on the country. One slight problem with this plan is that North Korea’s neighbor, a US ally for more than six decades, just chose a leader who opposes much of it. US and South Korean intelligence officials dismissed the accusations. The ministry said on Tuesday that North Korea would send a delegation to the summit but gave no other details.

On that front, Moon’s options to generate major change could be severely limited by South Korea’s alliance with the United States and whatever position toward North Korea that President Donald Trump decides to take.

“The terrorists were infiltrated by the CIA of the US and the puppet National Intelligence Service of South Korea in a bid to commit state-sponsored terrorism against the supreme leadership of (North Korea) by use of a biochemical substance”, KCNA said.

Lt. Gen. Vincent Stewart, the Defense Intelligence Agency’s director, said North Korea was at the same time developing a nuclear device and processing fissile material, aiming to miniaturize a device for a warhead to mount on such missiles. Ltd., met Kim in Dandong, on North Korea’s border with China, to give him communications equipment and cash.

“They’re going to look for somebody with serious gravitas, who has connections and knows the players”, he said.

The North’s Central Public Prosecutors Office said Friday it was opening the prosecution of those responsible for what it called “state-sponsored terrorism” against Kim Jong-Un.

North Korea has threatened to “mercilessly punish” their American prisoners if they are found guilty of plotting to carry out “hostile acts” against the state and the country’s leadership.

North Korea said USA and South Korean agents bribed and coerced a North Korean man into joining the plot which was foiled by its state security ministry. The House bill bars ships owned by North Korea or by countries that refuse to comply with United Nations resolutions against it from operating in American waters or docking at USA ports.

The United States did not think it would be appropriate for North Korea to play a prominent role at the Belt and Road Forum, according to one of the sources familiar with the US concerns.

They are also concerned at the presence of leaders from countries with poor human rights records.