NK weekly-external news

Summary of external news of North Korea this week

SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- The following is a summary of external news in North Korea this week.

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(3rd LD) N. Korean Olympic athletes receiving Samsung smartphones could violate U.N. sanctions: Seoul

SEOUL -- The provision of Samsung smartphones to North Korean Olympic athletes in Paris is subject to a possible violation of U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions banning the North's access to industrial equipment, Seoul officials said Thursday.

Samsung Electronics, an Olympic partner, has distributed the Olympic edition of its latest Galaxy Z Flip 6 smartphones to all athletes participating in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

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(LEAD) Military intelligence official referred to prosecution over alleged leak of 'black agents' info

SEOUL -- A military intelligence official has been referred to the prosecution for allegedly leaking information of South Korean espionage agents operating overseas, the defense ministry said Thursday.

The Defense Counterintelligence Command has referred the civilian official at the Korea Defense Intelligence Command to the military prosecution on charges of violating the Military Secret Protection Act and espionage charges, the defense ministry said in a statement.

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U.S. extends N.K. travel restriction by another year, cites 'serious' risk of arrest, long-term detention

WASHINGTON -- The United States has extended its travel restriction for North Korea by another year, the State Department said Wednesday, citing a "serious" risk to its citizens of arrest and long-term detention in the reclusive state.

The department posted on the Federal Register the decision to extend the restriction until Aug. 31 next year. Since it was imposed in September 2017, the restriction has been extended annually.

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S. Korea, U.S., Japan discuss launching mechanism to monitor UNSC sanctions against N. Korea within this year

SEOUL -- South Korea, the United States and Japan agreed Wednesday to accelerate discussions on establishing an alternative mechanism to monitor the implementation of U.N. Security Council (UNSC) sanctions against North Korea within this year, Seoul's foreign ministry said.

The agreement, reached during phone talks between the nuclear envoys of the three countries, came as a U.N. expert panel monitoring the enforcement of anti-North Korea sanctions has been disbanded due to Russia's veto of a resolution on its mandate renewal earlier this year.

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U.S. calls on N. Korea to stop 'unproductive' steps after event for tactical missile launcher transfer

WASHINGTON -- The United States called on North Korea Monday to stop "provocative" and "unproductive" steps and return to dialogue after Pyongyang said it held a ceremony over the weekend for transferring 250 new tactical missile launchers to frontline military units.

Matthew Miller, the State Department's spokesperson, made the call as the North's Korean Central News Agency reported Monday that leader Kim Jong-un attended the ceremony for the transfer of the launchers, which it portrayed as "new pivotal attack" weapons.

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