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K-pop Sounding in North Korea, Series of Unusual Moves

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K-pop Sounding in North Korea, Series of Unusual Moves

K-pop stars landed on North Korea. The 120-member group including popular girlband Red Velvet arrived in Pyongyang for cross-border cultural performances, under the theme title “Spring is Coming”.

This is not the first time that K-pop is ever heard in North Korea.

In 2015 when the tension between two Koreas was increasing, South Korea adopted a strategy against North Korea by playing famous K-pop songs through loudspeakers along the border of South and North Korea.

However on 1 April, 2018, the purpose for the sound of K-pop was different from 3 years back. Not for psychological warfare but for peace, the performance is reply from South Korea only after two weeks that North Korea’s arts group finished their last performance at Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea.

K-pop Sounding in North Korea, Series of Unusual MovesThe world is paying attention to the change of atmosphere between South and North Korea after Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.  North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, has sent high ranking officials of his government body to South Korea during the Olympics.

Among the special envoys, he included his younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, who is director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the Workers’ Party of Korea. Kim Yong-nam, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of North Korea, went along with her.

During Ms. Kim’s visit in South Korea, she delivered a personally handwritten letter from Kim Jong Un to South Korean President, Moon Jae-in and invited President Moon to North Korea. Answering this exceptional willingness of North Korea for mutual exchange, South Korea rapidly carried out the procedure not to miss this opportunity to have Kim present in the place of conversation.

On 5th of March, President Moon sent his delegation of 5 people to North Korea including Chung Eui-yong, the Director of the National Security Office, and Chun Hae-sung, vice unification minister.

After two days of stay in North Korea, they returned with more than hoped-for message from Mr. Kim which is the willingness of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The 3rd inter-Korean summit, planned to be held on 27 April, is another achievement from this meeting.

Soon after, President Moon sent special envoy led by Kang Kyung-wha, Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Korea, to the US. Kim’s invitation was delivered to the US President, Mr. Donald Trump. As President Trump accepted Kim’s offer to meet, the two leaders’ landmark talk is likely to take place at the end of May.

India welcomed the first historical meeting between US and North Korea. At the same time, India emphasised that the proliferation linkages of North Korea’s nuclear and missile programme needs to be dealt with care.

On 9 March, Indian foreign ministry spokesman, Raveesh Kumar said: “We welcome these developments. India supports all the efforts to bring about peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy. We hope that such engagement will help in reducing tensions and pave the way for lasting peace and reconciliation in the Korean peninsula.”

“As we have said before, we also believe that any solution to the issues in Korean Peninsula must also take into account and address concerns about the proliferation linkages of DPRK’s (North Korea’s) nuclear and missile programme,” Kumar said.

Even though not directly mentioned, Kumar’s word are seen as India’s suspicions and concerns over possible conjunction between North Korea and Pakistan for nuclear and missile program. Since February 2013, India has insisted that North Korea has imported highly enriched uranium from Pakistan for its nuclear and missile programme.

The international society is welcoming the sudden change of North Korea but remains in the standpoint of sanctions against the provocation from North Korea with its nuclear missile.

Reuters reported on 30 March that the UN Security Council has added a great number of shipping and trading companies which seems to have violated sanctions against North Korea to their blacklist. The numbers are highest ever totalling 47 including 27 ships related with North Korea, 21 shipping and trading companies, and 1 personal vessel.

These are on the list of those who helped North Korea with oil and coal smuggling through the sea. While North Korea is actively engaging in diplomacy regarding denuclearization, it is noted that the United Nations has raised its bar for sanctions against North Korea.

The place for the summit meeting between North and South Korea and between the US and North Korea is becoming an issue. The North and South Korea summit will occur at the House of Peace located towards south of the Panmunjum(the Joint Security Area of Panmunjeom).

The two summits that are held previously between North and South Korea was different from the one that was held in Pyeongyang. South Korea will suggest North Korea representatives to come into the meeting room by their feet.

The meeting place for The US and North Korea is undecided. As far as need for a neutral place is concerned, Beijng, Vladivostok, and Ulaanbaatar are strong candidates.

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India envoy Dinesh Trivedi meets PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman 

India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman amid diplomatic tensions.

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India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday, a day after his meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka.

According to the High Commission of India in Bangladesh, Trivedi sought PM Modi’s guidance on further strengthening the bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh through a constructive and people-centric approach.

The meeting came a day after Trivedi held discussions with Tarique Rahman on matters of mutual interest and ways to advance ties between the two neighbouring countries.

Dinesh Trivedi Meets Bangladesh PM

During his meeting with Tarique Rahman on Monday, Trivedi conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Modi and reiterated India’s commitment to working with the Bangladeshi administration and its people in a positive, constructive and forward-looking manner.

The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest and explored avenues for strengthening India-Bangladesh relations with a people-centric approach.

The engagement took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Trivedi also shared his experience of serving in Dhaka over the previous two months.

Sheikh Hasina Extradition Request

The meeting assumed significance as Bangladesh has expressed hope that India will expedite the extradition process involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted following a student-led uprising in 2024.

According to a statement issued by the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office, Dhaka also reiterated its request for India to return individuals it alleges were involved in the killing of Shahid Osman Hadi, a prominent figure associated with the July uprising who was shot on December 12, 2025.

Tarique Rahman stressed the need to create a suitable environment to take forward relations between Bangladesh and India.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and other officials attended the meeting.

India-Bangladesh Ties Amid Diplomatic Friction

The latest high-level engagements come amid diplomatic tensions between the two countries following a virtual press interaction by Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi on August 5.

The event, organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia to mark the second anniversary of her ouster, prompted strong objections from Dhaka.

During the interaction, Hasina said she remained determined to return to Bangladesh in December and restore democracy, while acknowledging the possibility of imprisonment or a death sentence upon her return.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently registered a strong protest and said the development had affected public sentiment and complicated efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

India has said the government had no involvement in the event. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said it was organised by a private media entity and clarified that New Delhi did not endorse views expressed at the forum.

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Trump, PM Modi will resolve tariff issue over Russian oil trade, says US official

White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue over US tariff threats linked to India’s Russian oil trade.

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US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue surrounding the threat of US tariffs linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil, White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said on Tuesday.

Navarro’s remarks came days after the US Senate passed a bill authorising the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the top five purchasers of Russian oil. The measure argues that such purchases directly contribute to financing Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Navarro comments on India’s Russian oil trade

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Navarro said India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia before the Ukraine war began in 2022.

He alleged that India became heavily involved in the trade after Russia’s invasion and sold refined products on behalf of Russia, which he said helped support the Russian war effort.

“Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia, but afterwards it got heavily involved,” Navarro said.

The White House adviser also claimed that the issue had since been resolved and attributed some of the shift in India’s Russian oil trade to an opinion article he recently wrote in the Financial Times.

Trump and Modi will resolve issue, Navarro says

Navarro said the relationship between Trump and Modi would help address the tariff-related issue.

“The president and your prime minister have a very good working relationship. They are going to work that out amongst themselves,” he said, adding that it was not his place to intervene.

His comments come amid US concerns over countries purchasing Russian oil and proposed measures aimed at imposing additional tariffs on major buyers.

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US Senate passes Russia sanctions bill, India-China face 100% tariff risk

The US Senate has passed a Russia sanctions bill that could allow 100% tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including India and China.

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The US Senate has approved a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that could allow President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil or natural gas, including India and China.

The legislation was passed by an 86-11 vote and will now move to the US House of Representatives, which is scheduled to reconvene on August 31.

The bill is named in honour of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a strong supporter of Ukraine who died on July 11. Graham had pushed for tougher sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine.

India and China among major Russian energy buyers

The legislation gives the US president the power to impose tariffs on the world’s top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas.

India and China are among those countries, along with Azerbaijan, Hungary and Slovakia.

The bill also contains an exception for countries importing less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and taking steps to reduce their dependence on Russian supplies.

What does the Russia sanctions bill contain?

Apart from the proposed tariffs, the legislation includes sanctions targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian political and military officials, financial institutions and energy projects.

The bill would also expand US sanctions to older and reflagged oil tankers allegedly used by Moscow to bypass existing restrictions on Russian oil and energy revenues.

At the same time, the White House would have the option to waive sanctions or restrictions if the president certifies to Congress that doing so is in the national interest.

Bill also extends Iran sanctions law

The legislation also contains a provision related to Iran. It would extend the expiration date of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 until 2031.

The law penalises companies that invest in Iran’s energy sector.

The bill’s passage in the Senate marks the next step in the US legislative process, but it still needs approval from the House of Representatives before it can move forward.

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