NK weekly-external news
Summary of external news of North Korea this week
SEOUL, Jan. 17 (Yonhap) -- The following is a summary of external news on North Korea this week.
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U.S. sanctions 2 individuals, 4 entities to target N.K. IT worker network
WASHINGTON -- The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on two North Koreans and four entities to target a network that uses North Korean information technology (IT) workers to generate revenue for the recalcitrant regime's weapons programs.
The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Department 53 of the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces, a North Korean state arms trading entity; two of its front companies -- Korea Osong Shipping Co and Chonsurim Trading Corporation -- and Liaoning China Trade Industry Co., Ltd, a China-based firm.
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(LEAD) CIA director nominee calls N. Korea 'destabilizing force'
WASHINGTON -- Incoming President Donald Trump's nominee for Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director assessed Wednesday that North Korea remains a "destabilizing" force, as he stressed America faces what may be the "most challenging" national security environment in its history.
John Ratcliffe, former director of national intelligence (DNI), made the remarks during his confirmation hearing at the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, pointing to a series of security challenges, including those from China and Iran.
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(2nd LD) Rubio decries 'dictators' in N.K., Russia, Iran, accuses China of 'stealing' its way to superpower status
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio on Wednesday accused "rogue states" and "dictators" in North Korea, Russia and Iran of sowing "chaos" and "instability," and China of having "lied, cheated and stolen" its way into a global superpower status at the expense of the United States.
During a confirmation hearing at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Florida senator emphasized his commitment to incoming President Donald Trump's America First agenda, saying placing the interest of America and Americans "above all else" has never been "more relevant or more necessary" than it is at present.
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(2nd LD) S. Korea, U.S., Japan stage joint air drills involving B-1B bomber after N.K. missile launches
SEOUL -- South Korea, the United States and Japan on Wednesday held combined air drills, involving two B-1B bombers, officials said, following North Korea's recent launches of hypersonic and short-range ballistic missiles.
The trilateral drills, the first such exercise held this year, also involved South Korean F-15K and Japanese F-2 fighter jets, according to Seoul's defense ministry. The three sides last held such drills in November last year.
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(3rd LD) Pentagon chief nominee depicts N. Korea as 'nuclear power,' calls for allies' increased 'burden sharing'
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth has described North Korea as a "nuclear power" that poses a threat to global stability, while highlighting the need for U.S. allies to increase "burden sharing" in pursuit of what he termed "healthy" partnerships.
Hegseth made the remarks in written answers submitted to the Senate Armed Services Committee ahead of his confirmation hearing on Tuesday. Incoming President Donald Trump nominated Hegseth -- a former Fox News Channel host and Army veteran with tours in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq and Afghanistan -- in November.
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S. Korea, U.S., Japan identify N. Korea behind US$659 million crypto theft in 2024
SEOUL -- North Korean hackers stole some US$659 million worth of crypto assets through multiple hacks in 2024 as it continues its malicious cyber activities to fund its illicit weapons programs, a joint statement by South Korea, the United States and Japan showed Tuesday.
It marked the first time the three countries have jointly identified North Korea-linked cryptocurrency thefts and their targeted entities in a public statement.
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S. Korea to consult with Ukraine if captured N.K. soldiers seek defection to South: Seoul
SEOUL -- The South Korean government plans to consult with Ukraine about bringing North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine to the South if they request defection, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong made the remarks during a regular press briefing following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent revelation that two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukraine in Russia's western Kursk region while fighting for Russia.
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(LEAD) Around 300 N.K. soldiers killed, 2,700 wounded during fight against Ukraine: S. Korea's spy agency
SEOUL -- At least 300 North Korean soldiers dispatched to support Moscow's war in Ukraine have been killed, with some 2,700 others injured, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers Monday.
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) shared the information with lawmakers during a closed-door meeting by the parliamentary intelligence committee, according to Rep. Lee Seong-kweun of the ruling People Power Party.
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Zelenskyy: Ukraine ready to hand over captured N.K. soldiers in exchange for Ukrainian captives
SEOUL -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine is prepared to hand over captured North Korean soldiers in exchange for Ukrainian captives in Russia, a day after revealing the country's seizure of two wounded North Korean soldiers.
Zelenskyy made the proposal in his account on the social media platform X on Sunday (local time) in English, Ukrainian and Korean, following his announcement the previous day that two wounded North Korean soldiers had been captured in Russia's western Kursk region.
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