NK weekly-external news
Summary of external news of North Korea this week
SEOUL, May 10 (Yonhap) -- The following is a summary of external news in North Korea this week.
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(LEAD) House committee passes N. Korean human rights reauthorization act
WASHINGTON -- A committee of the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill Thursday to reauthorize and update the 2004 North Korean Human Rights Act aimed at promoting rights and freedom in the reclusive state.
More than a year after its introduction, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs endorsed the bill, raising hopes for its congressional passage this year. It is led by Reps. Young Kim (R-CA) and Ami Bera (D-CA), the chairperson and the ranking member of the Indo-Pacific Subcommittee, respectively.
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U.S. announces US$5 mln reward for info on N. Korean IT workers
WASHINGTON -- The United States offered Thursday to provide a reward of up to US$5 million for information on three North Korean IT workers and their manager who were engaged in a scheme enabling the workers to get illicit telework employment with false identities belonging to U.S. citizens.
The State Department announced the reward for the workers using the aliases Han Jiho, Jun Chunji and Xu Haoran and their manager Zhonghua who were involved in the scheme that it said generated at least $6.8 million for the North Korean regime.
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U.S. sanctions 5 Russia-based individuals, entities linked to arms transfers between N. Korea, Russia
WASHINGTON -- The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on five Russia-based individuals and entities in connection with arms transfers between North Korea and Russia, the Treasury Department said, in the latest effort to disrupt and expose their military transactions.
The department's Office of Foreign Assets Control slapped sanctions on two Russian individuals and three Russia-based entities for facilitating the transfers between the two countries, which it has criticized as a violation of multiple U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions banning arms trade with Pyongyang.
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Russia, China oppose 'military intimidation' against N. Korea by U.S., allies: report
BEIJING -- The leaders of Russia and China issued a joint statement opposing what they call "acts of military intimidation" against North Korea by the United States and its allies, a Russian news report said Thursday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping issued the statement following a bilateral summit in Beijing, according to Russian news agency TASS.
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U.S. has no choice but to 'double down' on deterrence due to N.K. unwillingness to talk: official
WASHINGTON -- The United States has been left with no option but to "double down" on security cooperation with South Korea and Japan, and the enforcement of anti-North Korea sanctions due to the recalcitrant regime's rejection of dialogue, a senior U.S. diplomat said Tuesday.
Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, made the remarks, underscoring that Washington is "certainly" focusing on North Korea that he cast as one of the "most significant" security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
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Passenger rail service linking Russia to N. Korea set to resume: official
SEOUL -- The governor of a Russian northeastern region bordering North Korea has said passenger trains connecting Vladivostok to the North are set to resume after years of a COVID-19 pandemic-related suspension.
Oleg Kozhemyako, the governor of Primorsky Krai, made the remark in a Telegram post he updated Monday after he held a meeting with the chief of a visiting North Korean delegation from the border city of Rason.
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