UNICEF sends 2.7 million vaccines to North Korea this year to restore routine immunization SEOUL, September 02 (AJP) - North Korea has received nearly 2.72 million vaccine doses this year through UNICEF, restoring nationwide immunization services disrupted during the pandemic, A United Nations official told AJP through a written interview. Roland Kupka, UNICEF's interim representative to North Korea, said that three chartered flights delivered 1.57 million Pentavalent, 678,000 Measles-Rubella (MR), and 469,000 Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) as of August this year. The flights arrived in January, March, and May, with two additional flights scheduled later this year. Pentavalent, or Penta, protects children from five major diseases, including diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and Hib-related infections. The MR vaccine prevents measles and rubella, while the IPV vaccine guards against polio. These vaccines are central to routine immunization, scheduled childhood vaccinations delivered through the health system, and form the backbone of basic preventive care in low and middle-income countries, including North Korea. Kupka also said "two major water supply projects are under construction and expected to finish by year's end," benefiting more than 23,000 people, including five schools and four health facilities. The projects aim to expand access to safe drinking water in local communities. He added that "25 containers of essential nutrition and medical supplies have been delivered," ensuring continued treatment for malnourished children. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, said it continues to support routine immunization in North Korea through partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. "In 2024 and 2025, partners have supported several campaigns to help recover immunization coverage to pre-COVID levels," the organization said. The progress marks a sharp turnaround from the pandemic years, when North Korea's border closures cut off vaccine supplies from international organizations. Immunization coverage plummeted from 96 percent in 2019 to 42 percent in 2021, leaving hundreds of thousands of children at risk. UNICEF said the recent deliveries "enabled the successful completion of two nationwide multi-antigen catch-up campaigns," fully restoring routine immunization services. The shipments represent a major recovery since the pandemic. In 2024, UNICEF had already delivered more than 4 million vaccine doses to North Korea, launching a large-scale catch-up campaign. The 2025 shipments build on that effort to maintain immunization coverage. North Korea also faces severe food insecurity. According to a 2022 report from the World Food Programme (WFP), an estimated 10.7 million people, more than 40 percent of the population, are undernourished. The situation is also reflected in a 2025 UN food security report, which found that 16.6 percent of children under five are stunted. To address these needs, WFP is providing specialized nutritious foods to vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children through nurseries, hospitals, and schools. 2025-09-02 17:19:56

Kim Jong-un's train enters China for Beijing military parade SEOUL, September 02 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un crossed into China early Tuesday aboard his armored train, bound for Beijing to attend China's "Victory Day" military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim "left Pyongyang by his train" on Monday to join the parade, and the train "passed the border early in the morning on September 2," accompanied by senior ruling party officials. Photographs released by the state media showed Kim inside his private train with Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui and senior party official Kim Song-nam. Other images showed him smoking outside the train while speaking with aides. Neither his wife Ri Sol-ju, daughter Ju-ae, nor sister Kim Yo-jong were mentioned in the statements or seen in the photos. Pyongyang rarely confirms a leader’s overseas trip right after departure. When Kim traveled to Russia in 2023, the announcement came two days later. Kim's train is believed to have crossed the Yalu River bridge linking Sinuiju and the Chinese city of Dandong, with his delegation expected to arrive in Beijing on Tuesday. He is scheduled to attend the military parade on Wednesday, joining Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The parade is seen as underscoring a broader geopolitical divide, casting China, North Korea, and Russia on one side against Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. For the first time in 66 years, the leaders of the three countries, linked by Cold-War era ties, will share the same stage. According to the Kremlin, Xi will take center position on the reviewing stand at Tiananmen Square with Putin on his right and Kim on his left. Such arrangements are carefully staged to signal political closeness. Positioning Kim and Putin directly beside Xi highlights China’s effort to showcase a united front with its two closest partners, sending a message to Washington and its allies. Kim's trip is also seen as a possible opening for renewed dialogue with the U.S., recalling his meetings with Xi ahead of summits with then-President Donald Trump. This would be Kim's first appearance on a multilateral diplomatic stage since assuming power in late 2011. Until now, his overseas visits have been limited to bilateral summits in China, Russia, and the U.S. 2025-09-02 13:45:33

Firefighters struggle with worsening mental health as support falls short SEOUL, September 01 (AJP) - The number of South Korean firefighters struggling with mental health issues has surged in recent years, driven by exposure to traumatic incidents such as the 2022 Itaewon stampede accident, while access to professional counseling for first responders remains critically low. According to data submitted by Democratic Party lawmaker Han Byung-do, counseling sessions provided through the National Fire Agency's "visiting counseling program" rose to 79,453 cases in 2024, up 65 percent from 48,026 cases in 2020. The agency's mental health survey of 61,087 firefighters in 2024 found that 7.2 percent (4,375) suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 6.5 percent (3,937) report symptoms of depression, and 5.2 percent (3,141) are considered at risk of suicide. The mental health toll drew renewed attention after the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush, which killed 159 people during Halloween festivities in Seoul's Itaewon. Several first responders involved in the rescue operations later reported lasting trauma, and at least two rescuers -- officers in their 30s and 40s, diagnosed with depression -- have taken their own lives since the accident. The one officer repeatedly received professional counselling, while the other shared his traumatic experience with his colleagues and later applied for work-related PTSD care. Despite the mounting demand, the agency currently employs only 128 counselors for 268 fire stations nationwide, leaving many units without dedicated staff. As of late 2023, only 102 counselors were in place, with each handling an average of 779 cases annually. Police officers face similar struggles. From 2020 to 2022, the number treated for depression rose 67 percent, while PTSD treatments increased nearly 50 percent, according to the National Police Agency and the National Health Insurance Service. National Assembly records show that between 2018 and 2022, at least 105 officers took their own lives, with mental health issues cited as the cause in 44 cases. These figures highlight the heavy psychological toll of frontline duties and have fueled criticism of insufficient state support. Han said, "It is clear neglect that the state cannot properly safeguard even the mental health of its firefighters," pledging to push for at least one counselor at every fire station. 2025-09-01 17:22:54

Kim Jong-un expected to depart Pyongyang Monday by train for Beijing military parade SEOUL, September 01 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is expected to leave Pyongyang by train on Monday and arrive in Beijing the following day to attend a military parade as part of China's "Victory Day" celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. According to multiple government sources on Sunday, Kim is likely to depart Pyongyang on Monday with a special armored train, which takes about 20 to 24 hours to reach the Chinese capital. A Monday departure would allow him to arrive in Beijing on Tuesday, one day before the parade. Koo Byung-sam, spokesperson for South Korea's Ministry of Unification, said, "The specifics of Kim Jong-un's itinerary in China have not yet been confirmed," adding that the government is "closely monitoring related developments." Kim has visited China four times before. He traveled by train for his first trip in March 2018 and again in January 2019, while flying on his personal aircraft for visits in May and June 2018. However, the aging plane has not been seen in recent years, fueling speculation he will once again rely on rail transport. The armored train offers greater security, equipped with bulletproof windows and infrared coating to reduce satellite detection, though its weight limits the train's maximum speed to about 80 kilometers per hour. Security measures in Dandong, the Chinese border city with North Korea, have also been tightened, and train services to Beijing temporarily suspended, further suggesting rail travel. Kim is expected to stay at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, the Chinese government’s official reception venue for visiting leaders, where he lodged during all three of his previous visits to Beijing. Pyongyang confirmed last week that Kim will attend the parade, which would be his first appearance on a multilateral diplomatic stage since assuming power in late 2011. Until now, he has held only bilateral summits during his visits to China and Russia. With Russian President Vladimir Putin also set to attend the parade, speculation is mounting over a possible trilateral meeting among Kim, Putin and Xi. Analysts are also watching whether Kim's China trip could pave the way for dialogue with the U.S., as he has a record of meeting with Xi ahead of engaging Washington. In both 2018 and 2019, Kim met Xi shortly before holding summits with then-U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore and Hanoi, fueling speculation that Pyongyang is again seeking political leverage from Beijing before any future talks with Washington. 2025-09-01 13:43:21

Southern port city hosts cruise dating event for 84 young professionals SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - A total of 84 unmarried working people from the southern port city of Ulsan are set to join a "cruise dating" event on Friday. The Ulsan City organized the event, titled "Chilseok, Ulsan Romantic Day," to help young professionals, born between 1986 and 2000, living in the city find new connections and to encourage them to settle down in the city. Held on Chilseok, the seventh day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar, the festival is rooted in a legend of star-crossed lovers Gyeonwu and Jiknyeo, who are separated by the Milky Way and allowed to reunite only once a year when magpies and crows make a bridge across the Milky Way. In Korea, it has long been considered a day symbolizing romance and longing. The program drew strong interest, attracting 470 applicants. One even changed his or her registered address to Ulsan to participate in the event, officials said. A lottery narrowed the group down to 42 men and 42 women. The program includes speed-dating conversations, meals, a whale-watching cruise, a fireworks show, and a final couple-matching session. "Sogaeting," or blind dates typically arranged by friends or colleagues, has long been a familiar way for young people to meet outside of work or school. However, large-scale dating events hosted by local governments are relatively new to South Korea's dating culture. Ulsan's effort also reflects broader demographic challenges. According to a 2023 report by the Bank of Korea, Ulsan has experienced the fastest population decline in the nation since 2016, largely due to young people leaving to other regions amid limited job opportunities. Data from Statistics Korea show that by 2022, 11 out of 17 major cities and provinces, including Seoul, Busan and Daegu, had also entered population decline. The effort is not unique to Ulsan. Other regional cities have also experimented with creative ways to keep younger residents. Earlier this year, Seoul's Seodaemun hosted a six-hour dating program for singles in their late 20s and 30s, while Busan's Saha also organized similar matchmaking events. 2025-08-29 16:50:53

Seoul aide says Kim Jong-un may briefly greet Speaker Woo at Beijing parade SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is expected to acknowledge South Korea's National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik when the two attend a military parade in Beijing next week, a senior South Korean presidential aide said Thursday. Woo Sang-ho, senior secretary to President Lee Jae-myung, told reporters that Kim would not "snub" Speaker Woo if they come across each other during China's "Victory Day" celebrations on September 3, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The two have previously met at the 2018 inter-Korean summit. "Speaker Woo and Kim shared drinks together in 2018, and they know each other well," said the senior secretary during a Democratic Party workshop in Incheon. "Given that Speaker Woo still has family in the North and once joined reunions at Mt. Kumgang, it would be good if the two meet." However, given the strained inter-Korean ties of recent years, Woo dismissed the possibility of a formal sit-down. "North Korea would never accept such a protocol," he said, adding that any encounter would most likely be limited to a brief greeting at a reception. As floor leader of the Democratic Party in 2018, Woo Won-sik attended a welcome banquet in Pyongyang. At the time, Woo publicly shared that his family had been divided across the border, with two sisters living in North Korea. Pyongyang confirmed this week that Kim will also attend the parade, which would mark his first appearance on a multilateral diplomatic stage since assuming power. During the visit, Kim is expected to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time since Xi traveled to Pyongyang in June 2019. With Russian President Vladimir Putin also set to visit Beijing, speculation is mounting over the possibility of a trilateral meeting among Kim, Putin and Xi. Recently, North Korea and Russia have visibly strengthened their ties, holding high-level exchanges and signing defense-related agreements. China, however, has kept a cautious distance, wary of moving too closely with two heavily sanctioned countries. North Korea remains isolated over its nuclear weapons program, and Russia faces global condemnation over the war in Ukraine. For China, deeper alignment risks straining its global image and complicating its broader diplomatic strategy. The Russian Embassy in Pyongyang did not respond to Aju Press inquiries about the possibility of a trilateral meeting. 2025-08-29 14:29:47

Rights advocates criticize South Korea's decision to withhold North Korea report SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - When South Korea's Ministry of Unification said it would go ahead and compile, but not publicly release its annual report on human rights in North Korea, reversing the previous administration's policy, the move drew criticism from rights advocates and policy experts. "Refusing to make information public is generally not a desirable decision in a democracy," said Robert King, former U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights. "Anytime information is withheld for political reasons it is usually counterproductive." The ministry said this year’s report would be compiled but kept under wraps. "We continue to conduct surveys on North Korea's human rights situation, and since we have results in hand, it is natural to keep them as internal records," a ministry official said during a press briefing, adding that "The disclosure of the report has had little effect on improving the human rights situation in North Korea." The decision has not gone down well with rights activists and organizations. It amounted to "dereliction of duty for the sake of appeasement," said Greg Scarlatoiu, executive director of the U.S.-based Committee for Human Rights in North Korea. He cautioned that similar gestures in the past produced little change and warned that limiting disclosure could erode international attention on abuses. "This would amount to unconditional surrender to the North," he said. "It is an approach that has been tried many times before, an approach that always resulted in failure." Compiled annually since 2018, the reports rely mainly on testimony from defectors and other evidence. At the time, the administration of then-President Moon Jae-in (2017~2022) withheld them from the public in line with its engagement policy with Pyongyang. That was reversed by Yoon Suk Yeol's administration which published the report in 2023 for the first time. The decision to revert to the earlier approach reflects the policy swings that have long defined Seoul’s dealings with Pyongyang. Typically, administrations adopting a firmer stance on North Korea policy highlighted abuses and pushed for disclosure, while those prioritizing dialogue sought to foster engagement with the North. Since taking office in June, Lee has pursued a conciliatory approach to the North, halting propaganda broadcasts along the border, removing loudspeakers and striking a softer tone in his Liberation Day speech marking the 80th anniversary. However, critics warn that by setting aside human rights, Seoul risks weakening its leverage in future talks with Pyongyang, as it is refraining from raising human rights issues that the regime considers highly sensitive. At the same time, they argue that failing to address abuses could draw international criticism and undermine South Korea’s credibility on human rights. In acknowledging the complexity of the issue, King said it was also important to protect defectors who provide testimony for the reports. The small number of North Koreans arriving in the South makes protecting their confidentiality critical, since testimonies often include details about escape routes and could put family members in the North at risk. "My general inclination is that information should be made public when it can be, but there are certainly valid reasons to protect individuals and those that helped them," King said. For now, the ministry said it will continue documenting abuses and preserving records for legal and historical purposes. Whether keeping the findings confidential will help foster better relations with Pyongyang or merely undermine efforts to improve human rights remains an open question. 2025-08-29 14:02:54

Kim Jong-un to attend miliary parade in Beijing next week SEOUL, August 28 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will visit Beijing next week to attend a military parade as part of China's "Victory Day" celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, state media reported on Thursday. China's Foreign Ministry also unveiled on the same day the list of the event's attendees, which includes a score of heads of state and other leaders. Also among the invitees for the event scheduled for Sept. 3 at Tiananmen Square was Russian President Vladimir Putin, along with other leaders and senior officials from Belarus, Indonesia, Iran, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, and Viet Nam. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik is also expected to attend on behalf of President Lee Jae-myung. During the visit, Kim is expected to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time in several years, amid a rift with his country's traditional ally, since Xi traveled to Pyongyang in June 2019. With the leaders of China, North Korea, and Russia set to be in Beijing at the same time, speculation is already mounting over the possibility of a trilateral meeting. 2025-08-28 13:47:01

Son Heung-min gears up for ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) - Son Heung-min, who made his Major League Soccer (MLS) debut with Los Angeles FC (LAFC) earlier this month, is set to throw his ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium in California on Wednesday. Excitement has been building among his fans, as LAFC posted a couple of clips of him practicing ahead of his upcoming pitch at the Dodgers' home game against the Cincinnati Reds. With Los Angeles being home to the largest Korean community in the U.S., many compatriots and other fans are expected to pack the ballpark to catch a glimpse of their favorite star. They are also looking forward to his anticipated encounter with Japanese star and Dodgers ace Shohei Ohtani. Earlier this week, V, a member of K-pop juggernaut BTS, also threw the ceremonial first pitch at the stadium. After ending his 10-year stint with Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League, Son signed a record MLS deal worth around US$26 million on Aug. 6 to join the American club. His contract runs through 2027, with two one-year renewal options. He scored his debut goal in an away match against FC Dallas in Texas last Saturday, his third MLS appearance, though the game ended in a 1-1 draw. 2025-08-27 17:07:12

[[K-Pop]] K-pop anime becomes Netflix's most-watched movie SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) - Netflix's South Korean anime "KPop Demon Hunters" has become the global streaming giant's most-watched movie. According to Netflix's ranking website Tudum, the animation has accumulated 236 million views since its release on June 20, taking the top spot in the platform's all-time movie rankings, which are calculated "based on total views in the first 91 days of release." American action thriller "Red Notice" came in second, falling just 900,000 views short. When combined with all Netflix shows and movies, "KPop Demon Hunters" ranks third in overall rankings. It trails the first season of mega-hit series "Squid Game," which has amassed 265 million views since its release in September 2021, and American mystery "Wednesday," which has racked up 252 million views. But the 100-minute animation still has about three weeks to catch up to the South Korean dystopian thriller, which is ahead by roughly 29 million views. Although it remains to be seen whether it can close the gap and claim the top spot, the explosive popularity of the anime, which tells the story of K-pop superstars who are not just "selling out stadiums" but also "using their secret powers to protect their fans from supernatural threats," seems unstoppable, continuing to captivate fans and viewers across the world. Its K-pop-infused soundtrack has also been a hit, with the main theme song "Golden" ranking No. 1 and three other tracks such as "How It's Done," "Soda Pop," and "Your Idol" included in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart this week. 2025-08-27 14:31:09