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S. Korea to resume inter-Korean projects when contact with N. Korea reestablished: unification minister
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Monday the government plans to resume using the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund for humanitarian projects in North Korea once bilateral contact is restored. "It is shocking that none of the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund was executed last year," Chung said during a meeting with the NGO Council for Inter-Korean Cooperation. The fund, established in 1991, supports economic cooperation as well as social and cultural exchanges between the two Koreas. Its budge
Aug. 4, 2025 -
South Korea begins dismantling border loudspeakers to ease tensions with the North
South Korea began dismantling its loudspeakers near the border used for anti-Pyongyang propaganda in a "practical step" to ease tensions with North Korea, Seoul's Defense Ministry said Monday. “The removal is a follow-up measure to the suspension of loudspeaker broadcasts in June,” said Col. Lee Kyung-ho, vice spokesperson of the Defense Ministry, during a press briefing. “It is being carried out within a scope that does not affect our military's readiness.” The ministry's vice spokesperson adde
Aug. 4, 2025 -
N. Korea slams Japan's reported move to deploy upgraded anti-ship missiles in Kumamoto
North Korea on Monday lambasted Japan over a reported move to deploy upgraded surface-to-ship missiles in western coastal Kumamoto Prefecture near China as Tokyo continued to strengthen its defense posture. The Korean Central News Agency issued the criticism following a recent Japanese news report that the country's defense ministry is finalizing a plan to deploy locally produced Type-12 anti-ship missiles at Camp Kengun in Kumamoto during the current fiscal year that runs through March 31. The
Aug. 4, 2025 -
N. Korea urges loyalty to leader Kim ahead of 80th anniv. of Korean liberation
North Korea on Sunday invoked state founder Kim Il-sung as a "historic hero" of Korea's liberation and urged loyalty to his grandson, current leader Kim Jong-un, ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Korean Peninsula's liberation from the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule. The North's state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper invoked the state founder's role in the liberation struggle, praising him as "a legendary hero in fighting Japanese (colonial) rule" and a "historic patriot." The article subsequently
Aug. 3, 2025 -
Head of N. Korea's assembly holds talks with Russia, 3 other nations in Geneva
Pak In-chol, chairman of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly, has held talks with his counterparts from Russia and three other countries in Geneva, Switzerland, on the sidelines of a global meeting of assembly chiefs, state media reported Sunday. Pak met with the chairperson of Russia's Federation Council, as well as the heads of the Mongolian and Vietnamese assemblies and a deputy chairperson of the Lao parliament, during his attendance at the World Conference of Speakers of Parliament from
Aug. 3, 2025 -
N. Korea accuses US drills with S. Korea, Japan as practice for 'preemptive strikes'
North Korea on Saturday lambasted recent US military drills with South Korean and Japanese forces, accusing them of being preparations for "preemptive strikes" against it. The Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, made the accusation in an article, taking issue with US-led air drills that began last month near Japan and recent air logistics drills between South Korean and US Marines. "(They) are aimed at conducting pre-emptive strikes against our Republic," the article read. "To ensure peac
Aug. 2, 2025 -
Russia's resources minister visits N. Korea on 1st direct Moscow-Pyongyang flight
Russia's natural resources minister has visited North Korea for a meeting on trade and technology cooperation, traveling aboard the first flight of the resumed direct air route between Moscow and Pyongyang, state media reported Tuesday. Yun Jong-ho, North Korea's external economic relations minister, held a meeting with Russia's Natural Resources Minister Alexander Kozlov in Pyongyang the previous day, the Korean Central News Agency said. Yun and Kozlov each head the North Korean and Russian sid
July 29, 2025 -
Lee reaffirms push for peace as Pyongyang rejects overtures
President Lee Jae Myung reaffirmed his administration's push for peace on the Korean Peninsula on Monday as Pyongyang rejected Seoul's gestures for an inter-Korean thaw. The liberal president highlighted the importance of "restoring trust" between the divided Koreas and building towards peace on the Korean peninsula, during a ceremony at the presidential office to present a letter of appointment to Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a briefing.
July 28, 2025 -
Russia to launch first Moscow-Pyongyang direct flights in decades: report
Russia was set to start operating direct passenger flights between Moscow and North Korea's Pyongyang for the first time in about three decades, Reuters reported Sunday. The inaugural flight, operated by Nordwind Airlines, is scheduled to depart from Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow at 7 p.m. (local time), marking the first regular air connection between the two capitals since the mid-1990s, Reuters said, citing Russia's RIA state news agency. The eight-hour flight will be operated by a Boeing 777
July 27, 2025 -
N. Korea's Kim vows not to forget Chinese war dead on armistice anniversary
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited the Friendship Tower in Pyongyang on the anniversary of the signing of an armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War, pledging not to forget the contributions of fallen Chinese soldiers, state media reported Sunday. Kim also appeared to refrain from criticizing South Korea or the United States, as state media made no mention of him making such remarks during the ceremony. Kim laid a wreath before the tower the previous day, saying that North Korea "wo
July 27, 2025 -
Trump remains open to dialogue with Kim to achieve 'fully denuclearized' N. Korea: White House
WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump remains open to engagement with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to achieve a "fully denuclearized" North Korea, a White House official said Friday, a day after his administration announced a raft of actions to disrupt Pyongyang's illicit revenue generation schemes. The Trump administration unveiled a package of actions against North Korea on Thursday, including offering rewards for information about seven North Korean nationals involved in a scheme believe
July 26, 2025 -
N. Korea set to celebrate 72nd anniversary of armistice signing
North Korea is set to hold a series of events Saturday to celebrate the 72nd anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War, the North's media reported. North Korea will hold celebrations for the anniversary to mark the country's victory in the Fatherland Liberation War in Pyongyang, and participants invited to the event arrived in the capital Thursday, according to the Korean Central Television. The media said nighttime fireworks, a parade and a variety of perform
July 26, 2025 -
High-level presence at PLA banquet signals NK-China thaw
North Korea dispatched senior officials to a Chinese Embassy reception in Pyongyang marking the anniversary of China’s armed forces — one of several emerging signs of thawing ties between the two countries after a period of diplomatic chill. Chinese Ambassador to North Korea Wang Yajun hosted the event at the embassy on Tuesday to mark the 98th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army, which falls on August 1, North Korean state media reported Wednesday. "The banquet participa
July 23, 2025 -
N. Korea eyes third large warship in growing naval buildup: report
North Korea has pledged to build a third 5,000-ton-class destroyer by next year as part of its continued push to improve its naval capabilities, state media reported Tuesday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, workers at the Nampo Shipyard — one of the country’s key naval production hubs — held a rally Monday, vowing to complete the new warship by Oct. 10, 2026, the founding anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea. Yun Chi-gol, director of the shipyard, was quoted a
July 22, 2025 -
N. Korea slams Japan’s fighter jet project with UK, Italy as revival of ‘wartime alliance’
North Korea on Monday denounced Japan’s joint next-generation fighter jet project with the United Kingdom and Italy, accusing Tokyo of attempting to revive its past military alliances and imperial ambitions. In a commentary published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency, Pyongyang described Japan as “an Asian war criminal state dreaming of restoring its former wartime alliance,” and claimed the country was “recklessly sharpening the blade of reinvasion in collusion with foreign forces, dr
July 21, 2025