뉴스

Ahead of Xi visit, North Korea signals denuclearization is off the table

Just one day before Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to arrive in Pyongyang for a rare state visit, North Korea on Sunday delivered an unmistakable message: Its nuclear weapons program is not up for negotiation. A strongly worded statement by the North Korean leader's influential sister, Kim Yo-jong, and Kim Jong-un's inspection of nuclear and missile production facilities appear to be an attempt to define the terms of the summit before Xi even lands, making clear that any discussion of denuc

What to watch as Xi heads to Pyongyang for summit with Kim

When Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Pyongyang on Monday, what matters may not be what he and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un say behind closed doors, but what they choose to show the world, according to experts on Sunday. Will Kim's daughter, known as Ju-ae, appear alongside the two leaders? Will the summit avoid any mention of denuclearization? Will Beijing signal it is reclaiming influence over a North Korea that has grown increasingly close to Russia? Experts say the rare visit from

Kim Yo-jong Reaffirms N. Korea's Nuclear Status Ahead of Chinese President's Visit

[Inter-Korea] : Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has reaffirmed that Pyongyang's status as a nuclear-armed state is "absolutely irreversible." In a statement published Saturday by the ruling party newspaper Rodong Sinmun, Kim rejected a United States claim that Chinese ... [more...]

N. Korea's Kim Yo-jong says Pyongyang's nuclear status 'irreversible'

The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said her country's status as a nuclear-armed state is "absolutely irreversible" and vowed not to tolerate any threats against it, the North's state media reported Sunday. Kim Yo-jong made the remarks in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency, in which she reiterated Pyongyang's position that its nuclear weapons program is nonnegotiable while rejecting international efforts aimed at denuclearization. "Our status as a nuclea

"좋은 기록물이 아니라, 등재될 이유를 써라"

세계의 기억이 되려는 기록들이 한자리에 모였다. 국가유산청은 6월 5일 금요일 오후 2시 서울 명동 유네스코회관에서 '세계기록유산 등재추진기관 대상 역량강화 워크숍'을 열었다. 유네스코 세계기록유산(Memory of the World) 국제목록 등재를 준비하는 전국의 추진기관 20여 곳의 실무자들이 모여, 등재신청서 작성의 실무 지침과 심사의 관점을 배우는 자리였다. 필자는 세계기록유산 등재 추진 대표 기록물인 월인천강지곡(1447년 무렵, 세종 친제) 추진위원들과 함께 직접 참관했다. 워크숍은 개회 및 인사말에 이어 세 건의 발표와 등재신청서 작성 사례 분석, 질의응답 순으로 진행됐다. 이날 워크숍의 화두는 분명했다. 신청서 작성의 효율성을 높여 실무 부담을 덜고, 국제 기준에 부합하는 논리 구조로 등재 성공률을 끌어올리며, 무엇보다 심사위원과 신청기관 사이의 간극을 좁히자는 것이다. 기록유산을 아끼는 마음만으로는 부족하다. 그 마음을 유네스코가 읽을 수 있는 언어로 옮기는 기술, 이날 세 발표자가 각자의 자리에서 짚어낸 것이 바로 그 '제대로 옮기기'의 기술이었다. 김귀배 부위원장 "국제자문위원은 한국 전문가가 아니다" 첫 발표는 김귀배 세계기록유산한국위원회 부위원장이 맡았다. '세계기록유산 등재 신청서 작성 실무 가이드'라는 제목 그대로, 신청서 양식의 1번 항목(제목)부터 11번 항목(신청을 지지하는 기타 정보)까지 조목조목 짚어 내려간 축조 해설이었다. 김 부위원장은 시작 전 유의사항부터 못 박았다. 반드시 최신 버전의 등재 신청 양식을 사용할 것, 일반 가이드라인(General Guidelines)과 등재 안내서(Register Companion), 작성 지침(Guiding Notes)을 모두 활용할 것, 그리고 최근 성공한 국내 등재 사례를 예시로 삼아 자문을 받을 것. 그중에서도 청중의 표정을 바꿔 놓은 한마디는 이것이었다. "국제자문위원은 한국 역사와 문화 전문가가 아님을 기억하십시오." 우리에게 자명한 가치도 바깥의 눈에는 낯설다는 것, 신청서는 바로 그 낯선 눈을 향해 쓰는 글이라는 것이다. 등재 절차의 골격도 명료하게 정리됐다. 등재 공고는 2년마다 나오고, 국가당 최대 2건까지 신청할 수 있되 공동 등재는 수량 제한이 없다. 누구나 신청할 수 있으나 제출은 반드시 MoW 국가위원회를 통해야 하고, 소유자와 보관자의 동의는 필수다. 제출된 신청서는 등재소위원회(RSC)의 평가와 질의, 국제자문위원회(IAC)의 권고를 거쳐 유네스코 집행이사회가 최종 승인한다. 김 부위원장은 "등재 과정은 최소 2년이 소요된다"라고 강조했다. 좋은 신청서의 기준으로는 4C를 제시했다. 모든 항목이 채워져야 하고(Complete), 정보가 올바르고 증명 가능해야 하며(Correct), 논리가 분명하고 쉬워야 하고(Clear), 불필요한 사족 없이 핵심만 간결하게(Concise) 담겨야 한다는 것이다. 200단어 이내로 쓰는 요약(Summary)은 "다른 모든 섹션을 완료한 후 가장 마지막에 작성하라"라는 실전 요령도 곁들였다. 항목별 해설에서도 실무자들이 놓치기 쉬운 대목들을 짚었다. 희귀성(7.2.1)에 대해서는 "희귀함과 독특함은 동일한 의미가 아니다"라며 "겸손할 필요는 없지만 과장하지 말라"라고 했고, 위험 평가(9.0)에 대해서는 "유네스코는 실제 상황을 알아야 한다"라며 솔직한 기술을 주문했다. 유네스코의 글로벌 우선 순위인 성평등(7.1.4) 항목은 기록유산이 여성의 역사적 역할과 삶에 대해 무엇을 알려주는지 상세히 기술하라고 했다. 전문가 추천(6.7)에 적는 최대 3명의 독립 전문가 이름과 연락처는 공개되지 않는다는 점, 이해관계자 협의(8.0)에는 지지 서한(Letters of support)을 추가하라는 점도 일러두었다. 기억은 박제된 과거가 아니다... 이현경 위원의 '세계적 중요성' 작성 전략 전체 내용보기

Mostly Sunny Conditions Forecast for Weekend

[Science] : Skies will be mostly clear across the country, although Jeju Island is expected to remain under partly cloudy conditions. Saturday will begin with fair weather in the central region before clouds move in later in the day, while southern areas and Jeju will see cloudy periods. Morning fog is forecast ... [more...]

Kim Jong-un puts nuclear program front and center ahead of summit with Xi

Lee Jun-seok calls for National Assembly probe into ballot shortages

Rep. Lee Jun-seok, chair of the minor conservative Reform Party, on Friday called for a parliamentary investigation into ballot shortages reported during Wednesday's local elections. Lee urged both the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and the main opposition People Power Party to take a clear position on the issue, including the possibility of holding reelections. In a Facebook post, Lee said the ruling party should immediately accept a National Assembly probe, while the People Power Party shoul

Michelle Steel clears Senate panel for Seoul envoy post vacant for 1.5 years

The nomination of Michelle Steel, President Donald Trump's pick for US ambassador to South Korea, cleared a Senate committee, leaving only a full Senate vote before she can take up the post in Seoul. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 14-8 to advance Steel's nomination on Thursday, around two months after Trump nominated the former two-term Republican congresswoman from California on April 13. If confirmed by the full Senate and formally appointed, Steel would fill a diplomatic post th

South Korea, US agree to accelerate nuclear cooperation discussions

South Korea and the United States have agreed to accelerate talks, following the first working-level consultations this week on plans for Seoul's acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines. According to Seoul's Foreign Ministry on Friday, the two countries held a two-day meeting in Seoul this week to launch follow-up discussions on nuclear cooperation outlined in a joint fact sheet released after last year's summit between President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump. The consultations b

S. Korean, Turkish FMs discuss investment, nuclear energy, regional issues

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, discussed regional security issues and ways to bolster cooperation in trade, nuclear energy and infrastructure during their talks in Seoul on Thursday, Seoul's foreign ministry said. The meeting was meant to review progress on follow-up measures from the summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held in November. Fidan's visit marked the first trip by a Turkish foreign ministe

NK leader inspects new material plant, calls for rapid expansion of arsenal

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected a newly opened nuclear material production facility and called for a faster expansion of the country’s nuclear arsenal, state media said Thursday. The move appeared to be the latest indication of Pyongyang's intention to press ahead with its weapons program despite international pressure. The Korean Central News Agency said Kim visited the facility on Wednesday, accompanied by senior officials from the ruling Workers’ Party’s munitions industry departmen

Ruling party concedes key battlegrounds after tight race

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea largely prevailed in Wednesday's local elections, but it was not a win without costs, as the party lost some key battlegrounds. In particular, the ruling party's narrow yet crucial loss in the Seoul mayoral election prompted a blame game within the liberal camp, raising questions as to whether the results indeed represent a clear victory for the party. The Democratic Party envisioned wins in tight races involving Seoul mayoral candidate Chong Won-o, Daegu may

Unification Ministry: N. Korean Leader’s Nuclear Facility Visit Signals Continued Nuclear Buildup

[Inter-Korea] : A unification ministry official says North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s latest visit to a newly opened nuclear material production facility demonstrates North Korea’s continued commitment to building stronger nuclear capabilities while reaffirming its claim to nuclear-armed state status. The official ... [more...]

NK Leader Inspects New Nuclear Material Production Facility

[Inter-Korea] : North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has inspected a new nuclear material production facility and declared his resolve to strengthen the regime’s nuclear force. The North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency said Thursday that Kim conducted a field inspection the previous day at the newly opened plant, but ... [more...]

Kim Jong-un inspects new nuclear material production facility

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited a newly launched nuclear material production facility, state media reported Thursday, as he vowed to press ahead with expanding the country's nuclear arsenal. Kim made the visit the previous day, accompanied by key party officials, the Korean Central News Agency said, where he outlined plans to "exponentially" bolster the country's nuclear forces. The report did not disclose the facility's location or other details. Kim said the country's "weapons-grad

Ruling party set for landslide with wins in Seoul, Busan: exit polls

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea is projected to take at least 11 top executive posts out of the 16 for metropolitan cities and provinces that were at stake, exit polls showed Wednesday. Only one People Power Party incumbent of 12 was clearly projected to be reelected in the key municipalities. Nationwide exit polls put the left-leaning party's candidates ahead of conservative rivals in the mayoral races for Daejeon, Gwangju, Incheon, Seoul, Sejong and Ulsan. For gubernatorial elections, the

Allies seek early ‘tangible outcomes’ on nuclear submarines, fuel autonomy

South Korea and the United States have agreed to move quickly to produce “tangible outcomes” from their nuclear cooperation initiatives after holding their first launch meeting in Seoul, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. The announcement came after the two countries held the inaugural two-day meeting starting Tuesday to officially kick off discussions on Seoul’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines and greater autonomy over the nuclear fuel cycle, as outlined in the Nov. 14 Joint F

[Richard Haass] Building alliances of US allies

US President Donald Trump’s second administration has been clear from the outset that it would recast American foreign policy in fundamental ways. Its National Security Strategy, released last November, declared that “The days of the United States propping up the entire world order like Atlas are over” — a shift that is especially significant for America’s many allies and partners, which have long made dependence on the US the central tenet of their national security. The most recent articulatio

[Wang Son-taek] A hope for a Hormuz coalition

Nearly two months have passed since the April 7 ceasefire in the Iran war. Yet negotiations aimed at turning that pause into a durable settlement remain stalled. The fighting may have slowed, but a viable political endgame remains elusive. That reality deserves not only frustration but sober recognition. Why has diplomacy become trapped? One clear reason appears to be the negotiating style of US President Donald Trump. His approach toward Iran has relied on a familiar formula: maximalist demands