Summary of external news of North Korea this week

NK weekly-external news

Summary of external news of North Korea this week

SEOUL, March 6 (Yonhap) -- The following is a summary of external news on North Korea this week.

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IAEA chief says N. Korea continues uranium enrichment, voices 'serious concern'

SEOUL -- The chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said North Korea is continuing to operate uranium enrichment facilities in Yongbyon and Kangson, calling it a "serious concern."

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi made the remarks during an introductory statement to the board of governors Monday in Vienna, Austria, saying, "The IAEA continues to monitor the nuclear program of the DPRK."

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Trump might find it 'much more difficult' to consider military option against N. Korea than Iran: expert

WASHINGTON -- A security expert said Tuesday that it would be "much more" difficult for U.S. President Donald Trump to consider the possibility of a military option against North Korea, citing Pyongyang's nuclear arms, its ties with China and Russia and geographic proximity to South Korea and Japan.

Ellen Kim, director of academic affairs at the Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI), made the remarks during a forum, amid questions over how Trump will address the North's growing nuclear threats following U.S. military operations that have led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

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Colby calls N. Korean, Russian nuclear weapons 'primary existential threat'

WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon's top policy official on Tuesday described North Korean and Russian nuclear weapons as the "primary existential threat," while stressing America is "not pulling out" but asking allies to "take the lead" for their own defense.

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby made the remarks during a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee on the Pentagon's new National Defense Strategy (NDS), which stresses burden sharing with allies and calls on Seoul to take "primary" responsibility to deter North Korea with "critical but more limited" U.S. support.

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Hegseth says U.S. effort to address Iran's nuclear ambitions will send 'plenty of signals' amid N.K. criticism

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that U.S. efforts to deal with Iran's nuclear ambitions will send "plenty of signals," as he addressed a question related to North Korea's criticism of the ongoing U.S. military operation against the Islamic Republic.

Hegseth made the remarks during a press briefing on the military operation, codenamed "Operation Epic Fury," which kicked off in coordination with Israel on Saturday.

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Colby says Trump gov't is 'well aware' of N. Korean nuclear issue amid Iran operation

WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is "well aware" of North Korea's nuclear program, the Pentagon's top policy official said Wednesday, reiterating its approach to "be strong but be open to dialogue."

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby made the remarks during a forum hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations, as the United States and Israel are conducting a coordinated military operation against Iran following an impasse in indirect nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran.

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