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Tensions on the Korean Peninsula

South Korean reporters depart for North Korea without paying $10,000 for visas

Pyongyang earlier several times refused to accept Seoul’s list of journalists without explanation

© EPA-EFE/CHUNG SUNG-JUN/POOL

SEOUL, May 23. /TASS/. North Korea did not demand South Korean journalists, set to cover the dismantling of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, pay $10,000 each for visas, a source in the South Korean Ministry of Unification told TASS.

"A number of media outlets reported that foreign reporters had been allegedly asked to pay $10,000 for the trip. We don’t have such information," the source said, adding that North Korea had not put forward any financial demands to South Korean reporters. The source also confirmed that eight journalists from South Korea had departed for North Korea.

The South Korean government hastily arranged a charter flight to take the reporters to the North Korean city of Wonsan from an air base located in the Seongnam city near Seoul. They will return via Beijing alongside other foreign journalists who have already arrived in North Korea.

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North Korea receives list of journalists from South Korea to cover nuclear site closure

Pyongyang earlier several times refused to accept Seoul’s list of journalists without explanation. The joint South Korean-US military drills may be the reason, which North Korea believes to be a violation of the agreements reached at the April inter-Korean summit.

On May 12, North Korean’s Foreign Ministry announced that a public dismantling ceremony would take place at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site between May 23 and 25, depending on weather conditions. The ministry also said that journalists from Russia, Great Britain, China, South Korea and the United States would be allowed to cover the ceremony.

An agreement to close the nuclear test site and hold a public ceremony was made at talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in on April 27.

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Situation on the Korean Peninsula

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Larry Johnson also noted that the Russian forces manage to advance recently despite the slush on the roads

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Central African Republic expects Russia to supply weapons, munitions — defense minister

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Andrey Babenko said that after a crash course in Britain he had been sent to the frontline near Liman

US draft on nukes in space seeks to go beyond legal framework Russia adheres to — MFA

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US will have to take Russia into account and find common ground with it — Putin

Russian President said in an interview with Rossiya-1 TV channel journalist Pavel Zarubin

Ukraine’s draft dodger makes attempt to cross Dniester into Moldova on air mattress

Men of conscription age try to leave the country in every possible way, often putting their lives at risk

Russia maintains position on 'buffer zone' in Ukraine to counter missile threats

Dmitry Peskov added that the issue of fighting against long-range weapons being supplied to Ukraine and potential strikes on the areas where they are concentrated "is rather under the purview of <…> the armed forces"

Russia’s top brass reports destroying US-made Hawk air defense system in Ukraine operation

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Switzerland unblocks Russia-related assets worth 290 mln Swiss francs

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IAEA chief to have working contacts with Rosatom, no meeting with Putin is planned

Rafael Grossi may visit Russia in late May

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Timur Ivanov was arrested by Moscow’s Basmanny Court

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Russian athletes have right to decide on Olympic participation — aide

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Senior Russian, Tajikistani diplomats talk about fighting terrorists, radicals

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko emphasized the importance of creating a new architecture of Eurasian security as one of the elements of a multipolar world

Russian court blocks JPMorgan’s funds in VTB lawsuit

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White House alleges that Russia working on satellite carrying nuclear device

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Modern weapons make up 82% in Russian air defense troops — Shoigu

"The Kiev regime has failed to achieve the goals of its counteroffensive prepared by NATO instructors," the defense minister said

Russia ready to cooperate with all interested partners to ensure security — Putin

The Russian leader expressed confidence that the the 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues "will bolster cooperation for the mutual benefit of our countries and peoples"

US State Department confirms secret shipments of long-range ATACMS missiles to Kiev

Joe Biden directed to send ATACMS to Ukraine in February, the Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State Vedant Patel said

Houthis attack two commercial ships, US destroyer — statement

Simultaneously, the Air Force conducted two more military operation using a huge number of drones to target a US destroyer in the Gulf of Aden

Russia’s victory in Ukraine to change course of history in Europe — von der Leyen

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Radicals, intel services behind terror attacks in various countries, says Putin

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Russia to submit its own resolution on nuclear weapons in outer space to UNSC

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Ukraine turns into testing ground for future world order, says Belarus president

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US shifted conflict in Europe onto EU, NATO shoulders to weaken Russia, says Lukashenko

The Belarusian leader specified that the US had organized the conflict in Europe, in this case in Ukraine, and "shifted it onto the shoulders of the European Union and NATO, promising to help with money"

No response from West to killing of Izvestia war reporter Eremin — diplomat

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Russia dissatisfied with UN’s activity under grain deal — senior diplomat

Alexander Pankin noted that during his visit to New York he did not have any talks with UN officials on the Russian-UN memorandum

Potential nuclear facilities in Poland to be military target for Russia — senior diplomat

According to Sergey Ryabkov, discussions around the deployment of NATO nuclear facilities in Poland are an "unfolding story"

Russia’s Viner vows to set up International League of Rhythmic Gymnastics Clubs

Gymnasts from the world’s strongest clubs will be able to participate in this league

Top US diplomat Blinken arrives in Shanghai

A State Department spokesperson told a special briefing previewing Blinken’s trip earlier that the Secretary of State would visit Shanghai and Beijing to "build on our intensive diplomacy [with China] over the past year"

Top Russian security official meets with counterparts at international security meeting

Nikolay Patrushev met with the heads of delegations from BRICS states

Annual inflation in Russia gearing down to 7.82% over week — Economy Ministry

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Kremlin vows to resolve situation with Turkish Airlines refusing service to Russians

Russia has "very constructive and friendly relations" with Turkey, Dmitry Peskov stressed

Transfer of US ATACMS missiles to Ukraine cannot be justified — Russian ambassador

"Neither these missiles nor other weapons can help defeat the Russian Federation," Anatoly Antonov said

Ukrainian troops in Kharkov Region lift antennas with kites to get better signal

Military expert Andrey Marochko speculated that the Ukrainian army had to resort to this tactic because the TV tower in Kharkov was damaged

Radioactive cloud from Ukraine’s eliminated munitions drifts to Europe — Security Council

"An increase in radiation levels has already been registered in Poland," Nikolay Patrushev warned