| April 1 | Kim Yo
Jong, the vice department director of the Central Committee of
the WPK, accused Ukraine of calling for nuclear weapons (Korea
Central News Agency) |
| April
4 | North Korea conducted an
enlarged plenary meeting of the Cabinet through video
conferencing (April 5, Rodong) |
|
April 4 | The UN Human Rights
Council adopted a resolution on North Korea’s human rights
･ △ For 21 consecutive years △ Co-sponsored by 57
countries, including South Korea, the U.S., and Japan △ Approved
by consensus |
| April 4
| The Unification Ministry approved
humanitarian aid to North Korea
･ 240 million won of
nutritional aid |
| April 4 to
7 | North Korea tested the
underwater strategic weapon system (April 8, Rodong/Korea
Central News Agency) |
| April
6 | North Korean ambassador to the
UN Office in Geneva denounced the resolution on North Korea’s
human rights (April 6, Korea Central News Agency) |
| April 6 | EU
introduced “exemptions to sanctions against legal humanitarian
assistance” (RFA) |
| April 7
| Top nuke envoys of South Korea, the
U.S., and Japan held trilateral talks (Seoul)
< Joint Statement by the Republic of Korea, the United
States, and Japan Special Representatives for the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea (April 7) >
･ “We strongly
condemn North Korea’s repeated ballistic missile launches as
well as rhetoric related to the use of nuclear weapons. We
commit ourselves to further strengthening and diversifying
security cooperation to counter the threat the DPRK poses. The
U.S. Special Representative reiterates that the U.S. commitments
to defend the ROK and Japan are ironclad.”
･ “We deplore
the human rights violations and abuses in the DPRK and
underscore the importance of strengthening cooperation to
improve the human rights situation in the DPRK. We express
serious concern over the issue of enforced disappearances
including the abductions of citizens of the ROK and Japan by the
DPRK, as well as unrepatriated prisoners of war.” |
| April 7 | China’s ambassador to North Korea presented
credentials to Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme
People’s Assembly of North Korea Choe Ryong-hae (April 7,
Rodong) |
| April 7 | Unification Minister met with United States
Special Representative for North Korea |
| From April 7 | North
Korea remained unresponsive to regular daily routine calls via
an inter-Korean liaison communication channel and a military
hotline
･ Unilateral cut-off of the liaison communication
channel after nearly a year and a half since the resumption on
October 4, 2021
< The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Unification
(April 10) >
o “Calls through an inter-Korean liaison
communication channel and a military hotline went unanswered for
the fourth straight day. The ministry is seriously considering
that the North has moved to unilaterally block the liaison
communication channel, and it is reviewing how to respond while
monitoring the situation.” |
|
April 7 | Japan extended
sanctions against North Korea for 2 years |
| April 7 | Chinese
President Xi Jinping sent a letter to North Korean leader Kim
Jong Un (April 8, Rodong/Korea Central News Agency) |
| April 10 | The Ministry of Unification held the 1st North
Korea Human Rights Policy Council in 2023 |
| April 10 | Chairman
of the State Affairs Committee Kim Jong Un chaired the 6th
enlarged plenary meeting of the 8th Party Central Military
Commission (April 11, Rodong/Korea Central News Agency) |
| April 11 | Unification Minister issued a statement
regarding Pyeongyang being unresponsive to Seoul’s calls via
inter-Korean hotlines and its unauthorized use of the Gaeseong
Industrial Complex
o North Korea has consistently been
insincere and unwilling to make contact with the South, refusing
to receive telephone messages, and it is not even responding to
regular calls of the inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office and the
military communications channels since April 7 without any
explanation.
o The government expresses strong regret
over North Korea’s unilateral and irresponsible attitude, and
strongly warns that the North will eventually be isolated and
put itself in a predicament.
o Despite numerous calls and
warnings, the North is operating facilities in the GIC without
permission, infringing on the property of South Korean
companies.
o The government strongly condemns such
illegal acts of violating the Agreement on Inter-Korean
Investment Protection reached between the two Koreas and the
Gaeseong Industrial Complex Act of North Korea. We clearly state
that the North will be solely responsible for the consequences.
o As announced on April 6, the ROKG will pursue all
necessary measures, including legal action, to hold North Korea
accountable for its illegal activities, and will also actively
cooperate with the international community. |
| April 12 | Presidium
of the Supreme People’s Assembly held the 25th plenary meeting
of the 14th Central Committee of the WPK (April 12, Rodong/Korea
Central News Agency) |
| April
12 | Chinese President Xi Jinping
sent a replay message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (April
18, Rodong/Korea Central News Agency) |
| April 13 | North
Korea fired an IRBM toward the East from Pyeongyang (April 14,
Rodong/Korea Central News Agency)
< Press Release of the NSC (April 13) >
o
“The NSC has pointed out that the North’s ballistic missile
launch is a grave violation of the UN Security Council
resolutions as well as a serious provocation for the escalation
of tension in the region and the Korean Peninsula. The NSC
strongly condemned the North for firing an intermediate- or
longer-range ballistic missile, following the launch of
long-range ballistic missiles in February and March.”
o
“In particular, the participants deplored the continued reckless
nuclear threats and missile provocations by the Kim Jong Un
regime in disregard of their people’s human rights and
livelihoods.”
o “The NSC officials decided to closely
monitor the North’s nuclear and missile-related facilities and
take multifaceted countermeasures against possible further
provocations based on Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation.” |
| April 14 | The Ministry of Unification released its 2023
Unification White Paper |
| April
15 | North Korean patrol boat
crossed NLL in the West Sea |
|
April 16 | North Korean leader
Kim Jong Un attended the completion ceremony of building 10,000
new homes in the Hwasong district as the first stage of the
housing project (April 17, Rodong/Korea Central News
Agency) |
| April 16 to 18
| The foreign ministers from the G7
countries released a joint communiqué (Karuizawa, Nagano
Prefecture, Japan)
･ “We strongly condemn North Korea’s
unprecedented number of unlawful ballistic missile launches,
including the April 13 launch that North Korea claimed was a
solid-fuel ICBM.” |
| April
(Local) | The UNSC held an open
briefing on Non-proliferation/DPRK, including the North’s ICBM
launch (New York) |
| April
17 | Vice-chairman of the North’s
Central Military Commission Ri Pyong-chol (member of the
Presidium of the Political Bureau) condemned the UNSC (April 17,
Korea Central News Agency) |
|
April 17 | South Korea-Japan
Security Policy Meeting (“2+2” security talks of diplomats) |
| April 18 | North Korean leader Kim Jong Un guided the
National Aerospace Development Administration on-site (April 19,
Rodong/Korea Central News Agency)
･ Kim Jong Un “set
forth the task to organize a non-permanent satellite-launching
preparatory committee to make sure that the military
reconnaissance satellite No. 1 completed as of April will be
launched at the planned date.”
< The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Unification
(April 20) >
o “Any satellite launch by the North
using the ballistic missile technology is a violation of UNSC
resolutions.” “We must once again make it clear that North Korea
must immediately stop its provocations that threaten peace and
security in the region.”
< Foreign Ministry Official (April 19) <
o
“We strongly urge North Korea to accept the international
community’s concerns and warnings, immediately withdraw its
plans to launch the military reconnaissance satellite No. 1, and
comply with the international obligations.” “The Korean
government will work with the international community to ensure
that North Korea pays the price for its illegal provocations
while maintaining a firm ROK-U.S. alliance defense
posture.” |
| April 21 |
Remarks by Foreign Minister of North Korea
Choe Son-hui on nuclear weapons (Korea Central News Agency) |
| April 24 | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the U.S.
Treasury Department imposed additional sanctions against North
Korea
･ (1 individual) Shim Hyung-seop, the first case in
which South Korea and the U.S. have simultaneously sanctioned
the same target in the cyber field. |
| April 24 to 29 (Local) | President Yoon Suk Yeol made a state visit to
the U.S.
･ April 26 △ Leaders’ joint statement in
commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the alliance between
the Republic of Korea and the United States of America △
Adoption of the Washington Declaration. April 27 △ Address to a
joint session of U.S. Congress |
|
April 28 | Kim Yo Jong, the
vice department director of the Central Committee of the WPK,
issued a statement on the Washington Declaration adopted by
leaders of South Korea and the U.S. (April 29, Korea Central
News Agency; April 30, Rodong)
< Opinions of the Ministry of Unification (April 29)
>
o “We condemn Kim Yo Jong’s far-fetched claims on
the U.S.-Korea Summit.”
o “North Korea’s hasty release,
immediately on the heels of the Washington Declaration, appears
to suggest the regime’s anxiety and frustration over the
significant strengthening of nuclear deterrence in the South
Korea-U.S. alliance.”
o “North Korea will face an even
stronger and overwhelming response if it continues to follow the
wrong path while the lives of its citizens will become more
impoverished.”
o “Kim Yo Jong’s language slandering the
leaders of South Korea and the U.S. displays the North’s vulgar
standards, and will only be the laughing stock of the
international community.” |
