THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: UK and Germany say sanctions need to be in place until North Korea takes concrete steps

The UK and Germany have reiterated their stance that sanctions will need to be in place until North Korea takes complete denuclearization measures.

Radio Free Asia reported that this was the outcome of the meeting between Washington's Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun and his British, German and French counterparts on Tuesday.

The British foreign affairs ministry told R.F.A. that it will continue to support Washington's efforts to achieve North Korea's denuclearization.

Germany's foreign ministry called upon the North to commit to complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization, and added that unless there are concrete steps towards that, sanctions will remain in place. 


North Korea's ambassadors to China, Russia and the UN arrived in Pyeongyang on Monday, raising questions on why these diplomats had to return so suddenly.

According to sources, the envoys were spotted at Beijing Capital International Airport on Monday, heading to the North Korean capital.

A source says their return could be linked to an annual meeting of overseas diplomatic mission chiefs.

But some watchers believe that,... as China, Russia and the UN play a key role in UN Security Council discussions on international sanctions against the regime, North Korea could be reviewing its strategies on how to deal with the sanctions as well as set up plans on nuclear negotiations with the U.S. 


South Korea's Blue House says it has never proposed to the U.S the idea of holding trilateral talks with North Korea.

A local media outlet recently reported that the South Korean government offered the idea as a means to bring the North back to the negotiating table.

However, Blue House Spokesperson Kim Eui-kyeom told reporters in a text message on Wednesday, that the report is inaccurate, adding that there are no plans for such a proposal.

The report also said that National Security Advisor Chung Eui-yong proposed the North's step-by-step denuclearization during a phone conversation with his U.S. counterpart John Bolton last week.

To that, Kim said he cannot reveal the details of what was discussed. 


The National Assembly will continue with its parliamentary questioning session this afternoon, focusing on foreign affairs, unification and security.


One area of debate will likely be South Korea's next move following the breakdown of the second North Korea-U.S. summit.

The ruling party is expected to highlight Seoul's increased role in the wake of the no-deal Hanoi summit, and stress the need for dialogue between the two Koreas.

But the conservative opposition will likely criticize the government's soft stance towards North Korea, and question North Korea's sincerity in regards to complete denuclearization. 

Source: Arirang News