| July
1. | - President Moon Jae-in makes
remarks at the 26th Cabinet Meeting.
- “For the first
time in 66 years since the Armistice Agreement was signed,
the leaders of North Korea and the United States, the
parties concerned, clasped hands over the Military
Demarcation Line, and the US President, without any special
security protection, was guided by the North Korean leader
to step across the MDL to set foot on the soil of North
Korea.”
- “At the same time and place, a brief meeting
among the three leaders of the two Koreas and the United
States took place as well. With these actions, it can be
said that – following the example of the two Koreas North
Korea and the United – States declared a de facto end to
hostilities and the full-fledged beginning of a new era of
peace, even though a document was not signed.”
|
| July 2. |
- The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
expresses concern that the rapid spread of African swine
fever (ASF) is threatening the food security of the most
vulnerable people in North Korea.
- “The outbreak of
ASF in May has led to a significant decline in pork
production in North Korea. Since pork is mostly consumed by
the poor, it will adversely impact the food security of the
most vulnerable people” (in its Early Warning Early Action
(EWEA) report). |
| July 2. |
- The US Department of State
distributes a written briefing on President Trump’s visit to
South Korea.
- “Presidents Trump and Moon emphasized
the need for continued close coordination in dealing with
North Korea and reaffirmed their commitment to FFVD (final,
fully verified denuclearization) and the complete
implementation of the UN Security Council sanctions
resolutions on North Korea.”
- “President Trump met
with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the DMZ and agreed
to resume working-level negotiations. Mr. Trump emphasized
that he continues to work hard to achieve the goals set with
Chairman Kim in Singapore, including change in relations
between the US and North Korea, establishment of permanent
peace, and complete denuclearization of North Korea.”
|
| July 3. | - The permanent representative of the DPRK
to the United Nations issues a statement.
- Regarding
the United States circulating a letter to all U.N. member
states on June 29 calling for the implementation of
sanctions resolutions on the DPRK, the North accused the
Trump administration of “talking about dialogue but being
more and more hell-bent on hostile acts,” adding, “as we
stated on several occasions, we do not thirst for lifting of
sanctions.” |
| July 4. |
- Alek Sigley, an Australian student
detained in North Korea, arrives in Beijing by Air
Koryo.
|
| July 6. | - South Korean citizen Choi In-guk, the
son of Ryu Mi Yong, chairwoman of the Central Committee of
the Chondoist Chongu Party, arrives in Pyeongyang to
permanently reside in North Korea (reported by Uriminzokkiri
on July 7).
|
| July 8. |
- Hanawon, the Settlement Support
Center for North Korean Refugees, marks the 20th anniversary
of its founding.
|
| July
11. | - The policy research
director of the Institute for American Studies of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK issues a statement
(reported by KCNA). - “There is no room for doubt that the
delivery of the F-35A is aimed at securing military
supremacy over the neighboring countries in the region and
especially opening a ‘gate’ to invading the North in a time
of emergency on the Korean Peninsula.”
|
| July 11. | - North
Korea releases the full text of the Socialist Constitution
amended in 2019 (released on Naenara, an official
website).
- * It was amended at the first session of
the 14th Supreme People’s Assembly (April 11-12, 2019).
|
| July 16. | - A spokesperson for the DPRK Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, in a statement, states, “The ROK-US joint
military exercises are a violation of the June 12 DPRK-US
Joint Statement and blatant pressure on North Korea”
(reported by KCNA).
|
| July
16. | - A spokesperson for the
DPRK Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a Q&A session with
KCNA reporters, says, “The US is attempting to stage joint
military drills ‘DongMaeng 19-2’ with South Korea, violating
the commitment made at the top level. If they become a
reality, it will affect the DPRK-U.S. working-level
negotiations” (reported by KCNA).
|
| July 19. | - The FAO
places North Korea on a list of nine countries at high risk
of a food crisis in the third quarter of the year.
|
| July 22. | - US President Trump, in a press
conference before the talks with the Pakistani Prime
Minister, says, “There was a little correspondence recently
— very positive correspondence — with North Korea….Probably
they would like to meet. And we’ll see what happens.”
|
| July 23. | - North Korea hints that a submarine will
be deployed in the East Sea (reported by KCNA).
|
| July 24-26. |
- Gyeonggi Province and the Asia Pacific Interchange
Association host the International Convention for Asia
Pacific Peace and Prosperity in Manila.
|
| July 25. | - North
Korea test-fires two short-range ballistic missiles from
Wonsan, Gangwon Province.
|
| July 27. | - North Korea
holds a meeting marking the 66th anniversary of the signing
of the Armistice Agreement.
|
| July 28. | - A Russian
vessel and all crew including two Korean nationals return
safely to the port of Sokcho, Gangwon Province.
|
| July 29. |
- The US Department of Treasury designates Kim Su Il, an
employee of the Munitions Industry Department of the DPRK,
as a sanctions target for his ties to the Workers’ Party of
Korea.
|
| July 29. | - The ROK government repatriates a North
Korean vessel and three crewmen that crossed the Northern
Limit Line on the East Sea to the North.
|
| July 31. | - North
Korea test-fires two short-range ballistic missiles from
Hodo Peninsula, South Hamgyeong Province.
o The
committee members expressed great concern about today’s
firing of two short-range ballistic missiles following the
July 25 firing in that they may negatively impact the
efforts to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula, and they
emphasized that the South Korean military should monitor the
situation and maintain its (defense) posture.
o They
also agreed to continue their diplomatic efforts to not lose
the momentum for resumption of negotiations for
denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula created after the
historic trilateral meeting between the leaders of the two
Koreas and the US held in Panmunjeom on June 30.
|
| July 31. |
- A North Korean soldier defects to the South via the
Imjin River.
|
