THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: South and North Korean civic groups to meet in Shenyang this week upon North's request

South and North Korean civic groups are set to meet for the first time since the North Korea-U.S. summit in Hanoi.

According to the South Korean committee established to implement the agreements of the June 15th Declaration -- the first ever inter-Korean summit agreement -- the committee and two other South Korean civic groups will meet with their North Korean counterparts in the Chinese city of Shenyang this week.

They are expected to discuss inter-Korean joint projects, bringing back from Japan the remains of Koreans forced to work during Japan's colonial rule, and the provision of humanitarian aid to the North.

The North Korean committee asked for the meeting.

Earlier this month, it sent a letter to the South Korean committee calling for cooperation on ways to achieve peace and prosperity.


North Korean Ambassador to the UN, Kim Song held a rare news conference at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Tuesday, calling Washington's seizure of the North Korean cargo ship Wise Honest "unlawful" and demanded for immediate return of the ship.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Justice Department announced it had seized the ship, suspected of violating U.S. domestic law and international sanctions by making illicit coal transfers.

In response to North Korea's press conference, a U.S. State Department official says international sanctions remain in place and are to be enforced by all UN members.

The U.S. official was quoted in a Voice of America report and added that President Trump believes North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will fulfill his commitment to denuclearize.

Source: Arirang News