| May
2 | - Seoul and Teheran share an
understanding that nuclear development will never strengthen
security, and Iran expresses support for the Korean people’s
yearning for peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula
(in a joint statement at the summit talks between South
Korea and Iran).
|
| May 2 |
- The ROK Minister of Unification
emphasizes that South Korea should first lead North Korea to
move toward denuclearization through strong security
measures and tough sanctions and then engage in
principle-based dialogue and exchanges if the North makes
changes (in a keynote speech at the College Students’ Debate
on Security hosted by Army Headquarters).
|
| May 2 | - North Korea
accuses the Park Geun-hye group of turning the whole of
South Korea into a world of darkness, criticizing the ROK
President by name (in a white paper by the Secretariat of
the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the
Fatherland (CPRF)).
|
| May
3 | - The United States stresses
that it will never accept a nuclear North Korea, urging the
North to walk down the path of denuclearization (in a
keynote speech by Daniel Russel, U.S. Assistant Secretary of
State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, at the JoongAng
Ilbo-CSIS Forum 2016 entitled “Exploring a New Paradigm on
the Korean Peninsula).
|
| May
3 | - The colleagues and families
of the North Korean restaurant workers who defected to the
South in April condemn the group defection at a press
conference (Pyongyang).
|
| May
5 | - North Korea warns that the
U.S.’s continued hostile policy toward the North and nuclear
threat, and the ROK government’s consistent efforts to make
the North give up its nuclear program will only accelerate
North Korea’s nuclear deterrence (in a statement by a
spokesperson for the CPRF).
|
| May 5 | - Regarding the ROK
President’s remarks (“laying the foundation for unification”
made on March 30 and April 29), North Korea considers them a
form of “system unification” and issues a warning (in
information bulletin No. 1105 by the Secretariat of the
CPRF).
|
| May 6 | - North Korea holds the 7th Congress of
the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) (May 6-9).
- At the
Party Congress, North Korea elects Kim Jong-un as the
chairman of the WPK; maintains the Byungjin line of
developing nuclear weapons and the economy simultaneously,
defining North Korea as a nuclear state by default; calls
for the reestablishment of relationships with neighboring
countries as a nuclear state; and carries out a peace
offensive by the United Front Department while continuing
its threat of provocations against the South.
|
| May 6 |
- Regarding the North’s claim on its successful nuclear
and missile tests at the seventh Party Congress, the U.S.
urges North Korea to come out of the wilderness, calling on
the North to refrain from provocative acts (in a regular
briefing by White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest).
|
| May 7 |
- Seoul and Washington exchange opinions on the trends
evident from the seventh Party Congress of North Korea and
agree to closely cooperate in responding to the North (in a
telephone call between the Foreign Ministers of South Korea
and the U.S.).
|
| May 8 |
- The ROK government assesses the
North’s mention of dialogue and negotiation as part of a
peace offensive without sincerity, stressing that North
Korea should stop threatening the South and go down the path
toward denuclearization (in a commentary by a spokesperson
for the Ministry of Unification in response to a report on
the work and activities of the WPK Central Committee at the
seventh Party Congress).
|
| May
9 | - Regarding the North’s claim
that it has nuclear weapons, the ROK government responds by
stating that the claim is a challenge that poses a threat to
world peace and stability, stressing that the international
community should create an international environment that
forces North Korea to give up its nuclear program and asking
Kuwait to take an interest in this effort (at a meeting with
Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, the Prime
Minister of Kuwait).
|
| May
9 | - Regarding the North’s
declaration that it has nuclear weapons, the ROK government
makes it clear that South Korea does not acknowledge the
DPRK as a nuclear state and dismisses the North’s proposal
for inter-Korean military talks to ease tensions, saying
that the proposal lacks sincerity, while stating that it
will consistently exert efforts to make the North give up
its nuclear program through sanctions and pressure (in a
regular briefing by a spokesperson for the Ministry of
National Defense).
|
| May
9 | - Regarding North Korea’s
seventh Party Congress (expressing its willingness to engage
in nuclear nonproliferation), the U.S. emphasizes that once
the North fulfills its international obligations, the U.S.
and the international community will engage in negotiations
with North Korea and prepare to allow the North to rejoin
the international community (in a regular briefing by White
House Press Secretary Josh Earnest).
|
| May 9 | - Regarding the
North’s claim that it has nuclear weapons, China stresses
the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, calling on the
North to abide by the UNSC resolutions related to the North
Korean nuclear issue (in a regular briefing by Chinese
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang).
|
| May 10 | - The ROK
President criticizes North Korea for declaring that it has
nuclear weapons instead of pushing for sincere change at the
seventh Party Congress, stressing that the South should pull
together its national capabilities and that people should
remain united (at a Cabinet meeting).
|
| May 10 | - In response to
the North’s proposal for a peace treaty, the U.S. states
that the onus is on North Korea to take meaningful action to
verifiable denuclearization and refrain from any rhetoric or
provocative activity, making it clear that denuclearization
should come before a peace treaty (in a regular briefing by
State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau).
|
| May 12 |
- Seoul and Washington share an understanding that North
Korea’s repeated provocations pose a serious threat to
regional and world peace and stability as well as the
ROK-U.S. alliance, urging the North to abandon its nuclear
program in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner
(a joint statement by the 9th Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense
Dialogue).
|
| May 13 |
- Kim Jong-un tours a machine and
equipment exhibition and poses for a commemorative photo
with participants from the seventh Party Congress (in a
report by the North Korean media).
|
| May 15 | - Kim Jong-un
provides field guidance on Tree Nursery No. 122 of the
Korean People’s Army (KPA) (in a report by the North Korean
media).
|
| May 15 | - Regarding the group defection of
overseas North Korean restaurant workers, North Korea raises
an issue with the United Nations and international human
rights organizations, arguing for the need to take measures
to repatriate them to the North (in a Q&A session with
KCNA reporters by a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs).
|
| May 16 | - Seoul and Jakarta agree to continuously
make efforts for the denuclearization of North Korea while
maintaining close communication with each other at various
meetings including meetings related to ASEAN (at a summit
meeting between the heads of state of South Korea and
Indonesia).
|
| May 16 |
- Incheon City and the Ministry of
Unification sign an agreement to strengthen settlement
support for North Korean refugees.
|
| May 16 | - North Korea
releases water from the Hwanggang Dam on the Imjin River
twice (on May 16 and 17). *The Military confirms the release
on May 18.
|
| May 16 |
- North Korea appeals for support for
the reunification line and policy presented by Kim Jong-un
at the seventh Party Congress, saying that it is a
“reunification outline for the nation” while arguing that if
South Korean authorities propose a policy for the great
solidarity of the nation, the North would be willing to
implement the policy in conjunction with the South” (in a
joint statement by the North Korean government, political
parties, and organizations).
|
| May 16 | - In response to
the North’s joint statement released on May 16, the ROK
government calls on North Korea to halt its scheme to
instigate conflicts in South Korean society and
substantially improve inter-Korean relations by giving up
its nuclear program and making changes (the Unification
Ministry’s Position on the North’s Joint Statement).
|
| May 17 | - The ROK President states that South
Korea will open up a new era of peaceful and successful
unification by creating an environment on the Korean
Peninsula that forces North Korea to give up its nuclear
program, urging the North to move toward a path of change
and reform by following in the footsteps of Iran (in
“Unification Dialogue” with members of the National
Unification Advisory Council in America).
|
| May 17 | - Indian
Foreign Secretary Dr. S. Jaishankar expresses grave concerns
about North Korea’s nuclear and missile development, making
it clear that it will actively participate in the
international community’s efforts to pressure the North such
as implementing UNSC resolutions (at a meeting with the ROK
Foreign Minister).
|
| May
17 | - The U.S. states that it
will cooperate with the international community to isolate
North Korea until the North fulfills the denuclearization of
the Korean Peninsula and stops its provocative acts,
emphasizing that the possibility for change in U.S. policy
toward North Korea is dependent on North Korea (in a regular
briefing by White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest).
|
| May 17 | - North Korea adopts the “Act on
Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism”
(in a report by KCNA).
|
| May
18 | - The ROK government
expresses strong regret over the North’s unilateral water
release from the Hwanggang Dam on the Imjin River by
ignoring an agreement with the South, calling on the North
to prevent any recurrence (in a regular briefing by a
spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification).
|
| May 18 |
- Switzerland fully implements comprehensive sanctions on
North Korea.
|
| May 19 |
- South Korea and Mongolia agree
that both countries should closely cooperate on North Korean
nuclear and North Korea issues (at a summit meeting between
the heads of state of South Korea and Mongolia).
|
| May 19 |
- Kim Jong-un provides field guidance on a machine plant
managed by Ho Chol-yong (in a report by the North Korean
media).
|
| May 20 | - North Korea urges the South to respond
to practical measures to ease military tensions and address
the risk of conflict on the Korean Peninsula (in an open
letter by the National Defense Commission).
|
| May 20 | - Regarding
the open letter by the National Defense Commission, the ROK
government stresses that North Korea should first exhibit
substantial changes in a move toward denuclearization before
proposing inter-Korean military talks (the ROK Ministry of
National Defense’s Position on the Open Letter by the DPRK
National Defense Commission).
|
| May 20 | - The death of Kang
Sok-ju, Secretary of the WPK and Director of International
Affairs, is announced.
|
| May
21 | - Kim Jong-un provides field
guidance on the Natural Museum and Central Zoo, which are
nearing completion.
|
| May
21 | - North Korea maintains that
the South Korean government must faithfully respond to
dialogue and negotiations to improve inter-Korean relations
(in a statement by Kim Ki-nam, Vice Chairman of the
WPK).
|
| May 21 | - North Korea expresses support for Kim
Jong-un’s national reunification line, policy and plan,
arguing that it will be fully committed to nationwide
struggle for self-reliant reunification (in a statement by
the Central Committee of the Anti-Imperialist National
Democratic Front (AINDF).
|
| May 21 | - North Korea sends
a message (from the Ministry of People's Armed Forces to the
ROK Ministry of National Defense), proposing a working-level
contact for inter-Korean talks between military authorities
in late May or early June.
|
| May 22 | - U.S. President
Obama emphasizes the need to thoroughly monitor North Korea
and implement sanctions on North Korea (in an interview with
NHK).
|
| May 22 | - North Korea stresses that inter-Korean
relations should be improved through dialogue and
negotiation, calling on the South to hold inter-Korean
military talks as soon as possible (in a statement by Won
Dong-yeon, Director at the Secretariat of the CPRF).
|
| May 22 | - North Korea continues to insist that the
group defection of overseas North Korean restaurant workers
is an act of kidnapping by South Korean authorities, warning
that if the South refuses to repatriate them immediately,
“an official at the highest level must take responsibility”
(in a written protest to the ROK President by the DPRK
Emergency Measure Committee for Rescuing Abductees).
|
| May 23 | - South Korea sends a message (from the
ROK Ministry of National Defense to the Ministry of People's
Armed Forces), reaffirming its existing position that North
Korea’s denuclearization is a top priority for inter-Korean
dialogue and asking for the North’s position on
denuclearization.
|
| May 23 |
- China states that issues should
be resolved through dialogue and negotiation to protect
peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, stressing that
Beijing remains steadfast to the goal of denuclearizing the
Korean Peninsula (in a keynote speech by Liu Qibao, Head of
the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China
(CPC) Central Committee at the 8th Korea-China Media
High-level Dialogue).
|
| May
23 | - North Korea sends a letter
to the U.N., requesting the opinion of the U.N. Secretary
General and arguing that there is a serious legal
contradiction in the U.N. Security Council’s sanctions
resolutions (from the Permanent Representative of the DPRK
at the U.N. to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon).
|
| May 24 | - Kim Jong-un provides field guidance on
the Kwisong Saltern and highlights the production of salt by
underground ultra-saline water resources run by the KPA (in
a report by the North Korean media).
|
| May 24 | - North Korea
sends a message (from the Ministry of People's Armed Forces
to the ROK Ministry of National Defense), repeating a
proposal for a working-level contact for inter-Korean talks
between military authorities in late May or early June.
|
| May 24 | - North Korea stresses the great solidary
of the nation for reunification, arguing for the need to
create an environment for reconciliation and solidarity
through contact and exchanges between South and North Korean
political parties and organizations (in a statement by the
Chairman of the Central Committee of the Democratic Front of
the Reunification of the Fatherland).
|
| May 25 | - The
Unification Minister emphasizes that peace on the Korean
Peninsula can be guaranteed only when North Korea gives up
its nuclear program (in a welcoming speech at the Jeju Forum
for Peace and Prosperity).
|
| May 25 | - Washington and
Tokyo agree to strengthen nuclear deterrence and defense
capacity against the threat posed by the North (at a summit
meeting between the heads of state of the U.S. and
Japan).
|
| May 26 | - The Prime Minister of Ethiopia mentions
that the country will continue to support the
denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and is concerned
about North Korea causing instability on the Korean
Peninsula, stressing that the UNSC resolutions should be
faithfully implemented in line with their purpose (at a
summit meeting between the heads of state of South Korea and
Ethiopia).
|
| May 26 |
- U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
mentions issues related to dialogue with North Korea and
humanitarian aid to the North, urging the North to halt
provocations and comply with international obligations (in a
keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Jeju Forum for
Peace and Prosperity).
|
| May
26 | - North Korea holds a meeting
between the WPK, the government, and economic and military
officials to undertake the tasks announced at the seventh
Party Congress (May 26-28 in Pyongyang).
- Discuss
measures and action plans to carry out the five-year
economic program and launch the 200-day campaign of
loyalty
|
| May 27 | - The ROK President calls for African
support regarding the North Korean nuclear issue (in a
special speech at the African Union).
|
| May 27 | - The Ministry
of Unification, the Presidential Committee for Unification
Preparation, and the National Unification Advisory Council
cohost Unification Expo 2016 (May 27-29 in Gwanghwamun
Square and Sejongro Park).
|
| May 27 | - The ROK
government devises a plan to provide support and
compensation for companies that operated within the Gaeseong
Industrial Complex (GIC) for damages affecting investment
assets, current assets and resident employees residing
within the GIC (at the 6th meeting of the Government Joint
Task Force to Support GIC Companies presided over by the
Minister of the Office for Government Policy
Coordination).
- The government plans to 1) (for
investment assets) pay KRW 386.5 billion including the
economic cooperation insurance payouts already paid and
those yet to be paid, 2) (for current assets) provide
support up to a limit of KRW 2.2 billion per company by
making use of the trade insurance system, and 3) (support
resident employees within the GIC) pay KRW 11 billion in
consideration of material and psychological damage suffered
and livelihood-related hardship.
|
| May 27 | - The G7 denounces
North Korea for conducting its fourth nuclear test and
missile launch in the strongest terms and for violating UNSC
resolutions, calling on the North to stop further
provocations (in a G7 statement).
|
| May 27 | - U.S. President
Obama states that North Korea’s nuclear and missile program
poses a threat to the U.S. and the world as well as the
Asia-Pacific region, stressing that Washington will never
accept a nuclear North Korea and will continue to pursue the
denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula (in a written
interview with Asahi Shimbun).
|
| May 27 | - A North Korean
patrol boat and ship cross the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in
the West Sea but retreat after the South Korean navy fires
warning shots.
|
| May 27 |
- The EU announces additional
sanctions on North Korea (in a statement by the Council of
the EU).
- Increasing the list of items to be banned
from entry into North Korea including luxuries and
strengthening regulations on money transfers and financial
services
|
| May 27 | - Kim Jong-un provides field guidance on
the construction of the Ryugyong General Ophthalmic Hospital
(in a report by the North Korean media).
|
| May 27 | - North
Korea condemns the ROK military’s warning shots fired at the
North Korean patrol boat and ship crossing the NLL as a
premeditated military provocation, warning that KPA units on
the southwestern front are waiting for an order to launch an
annihilating attack and ready to undertake retaliatory
strikes (in an important report by the Supreme Command of
the KPA).
|
| May 27 |
- North Korea argues that
businesspeople from North and South Korea should go beyond
the difference in ideologies and ideas and move toward the
path of reunification and patriotism under the banner of
national self-reliance while stressing the solidarity of the
nation (in a statement by the Chairman of the National
Economic Cooperation Committee).
|
| May 28 | - Regarding the
important report by the Supreme Command of the KPA (May 27),
the ROK military points out that the North’s claim about the
South Korean navy’s warning shots fired at the North Korean
patrol boat and ship crossing the NLL in the West Sea being
a provocation is irrational (the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s
Position).
|
| May 28 |
- North Korea argues that the ROK
military’s warning shots (May 27) are part of a premeditated
scheme by Cheongwadae, warning that "From this time on,
there will be unannounced targeted strikes against puppet
navy vessels that violate even 0.001 mm of our military’s
maritime border along the west coast's hotspot waters” (in a
notice by the General Staff Department of the KPA).
|
| May 28 | - North Korea criticizes U.S. President
Obama’s comment at the G7 summit on the North Korean nuclear
issue and denuclearization, expressing its will to
“strengthen its nuclear weapons capabilities” (in a Q&A
session with KCNA reporters by a spokesperson for the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
|
| May 29 | - Uganda declares
the suspension of security and military cooperation with
North Korea (at a summit meeting between the heads of state
of South Korea and Uganda).
|
| May 30 | - Kim Jong-un
provides field guidance on the construction of a medical
oxygen factory and watches a friendly basketball game
between the DPRK and China (in a report by the North Korean
media).
|
| May 30 | - North Korea holds the 61st Expanded
Plenary Meeting of the Central Committee of the Kim Il Sung
Socialist Youth League.
- Conduct discussions to
carry out the tasks presented by Kim Jong-un at the seventh
Party Congress
|
| May 30 |
- North Korea condemns the EU’s
adoption of additional sanctions on the North as “blatantly
jumping on the bandwagon of the U.S.’s hostile policy toward
North Korea,” arguing that “Sanctions will only strengthen
our will for self-development” (in a Q&A session with
KCNA reporters by a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs).
|
| May 31 | - North Korea fires a single missile from
Wonsan, presumed to have been a failed missile launch.
|
| May 31 | - The U.S. denounces North Korea’s missile
launch, calling on the North to halt provocative acts
immediately (in a regular briefing by White House Press
Secretary Josh Earnest).
|
| May
31 | - Ri Su-yong, Vice Chairman
of the WPK, visits China (May 31-June 2).
|
| May 31 | - The Kenyan
President expresses deep concern about North Korea’s fourth
nuclear test and long-range missile launch and criticizes
provocative acts by the North that escalate tensions in the
region, urging Pyongyang to halt such behavior (at a summit
meeting between the heads of state of South Korea and
Kenya).
|
