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N. Korea's Kim supervises special operations' drills, urges full preparations for war
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has supervised combined tactical drills of special operations, stressing that the most "crucial" task for the North's armed forces is to make full preparations for war, state media reported Wednesday. The combined tactical drills of special operations and tank subunits' joint fire strike demonstration took place the previous day, according to the Korean Central News Agency. "Saying that our revolutionary armed forces are now in charge of not a few fronts, but the
May 14, 2025 -
UN to host 1st high-level meeting on N. Korea's human rights violations
The United Nations General Assembly will hold its first high-level meeting next week over human rights abuses and violations by North Korea, diplomatic and civic group sources said Monday. In a circulated letter, UNGA President Philemon Yang announced a plan to convene a high-level plenary meeting on May 20 to address North Korea's human rights violations, in accordance with a relevant UNGA resolution adopted in December last year, the sources said. It marks the first time that a high-level meet
May 12, 2025 -
N. Korea's Kim says participation in Russia's war against Ukraine justified
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said the North's deployment of troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine was justified, defending his country's participation in the war as an exercise of its sovereign rights, Pyongyang's state media reported Saturday. Kim made the remarks during his visit to the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang the previous day to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany during World War II, known as Victory Day, according to the Korean Ce
May 10, 2025 -
S. Korea voices regret over China, Russia defending N. Korea in joint statement
South Korea expressed regret Friday over China and Russia's defense of North Korea in a joint leaders' statement despite its nuclear ambitions, urging them to "persistently" press Pyongyang to return to denuclearization talks. In the joint statement issued after the summit in Moscow between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, the two countries called on "relevant countries to abandon policies of unilateral coercive measures and pressure" against the Nor
May 9, 2025 -
Russian envoy touts NK troop deployment as demonstration of bilateral partnership: KCNA
Russia's top envoy to North Korea has touted Pyongyang's troop deployment as a demonstration of the two countries' partnership during a reception marking the 80th anniversary of Moscow's World War II victory over Nazi Germany, the North's state media said Friday. Russian Ambassador Alexandr Matsegora made the remarks during a reception marking the 80th anniversary of Russia's Victory Day, held the previous day at a hotel in Pyongyang, the Korean Central News Agency said. "The operations for libe
May 9, 2025 -
N. Korea's Kim oversees missile test, emphasizes combat readiness of nuclear forces
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has overseen a joint strike drill involving long-range artillery and a short-range tactical ballistic missile while emphasizing the combat readiness of its nuclear forces, state media reported Friday, a day after the country launched multiple ballistic missiles. The drill was aimed at familiarizing military units with the weapons' operations, and the test-fire verified the reliability of the command and mobilization system to quickly react during a nuclear crisis,
May 9, 2025 -
North Korea fires SRBMs into East Sea amid speculation over missile exports
North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Thursday morning, marking its first missile launch in about two months. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message to the press that it detected the launches between approximately 8:10 a.m. and 9:20 a.m. from the area near Wonsan, a coastal city about 180 kilometers east of Pyongyang. The missiles flew up to 800 kilometers before falling into the East Sea, the military said. The launch raised speculatio
May 8, 2025 -
N. Korea holds economic talks with Belarus, hopes for 'vibrant' cooperation: KCNA
North Korea and Belarus have held economic talks in Pyongyang as the North has expected "vibrant" bilateral cooperation and exchanges, state media reported Thursday. A government delegation from Belarus, led by Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Shuleiko, arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday to attend the third meeting of the intergovernmental joint committee for trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. North Korea and Belarus held sectoral economic talks Wednesday to discuss ways to promote
May 8, 2025 -
N. Korea fires ballistic missile into East Sea
North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea at around 8:10 a.m. Thursday, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message to the press in Seoul. The JCS said it detected the missiles being launched from the area around Wonsan, a coastal city about 180 kilometers east of Pyongyang. The military added that it has strengthened surveillance and vigilance in preparation for additional launches and is maintaining a full readiness posture while closely sharing
May 8, 2025 -
North Korean leader, troops to skip Russia’s Victory Day despite deepening military ties
The Kremlin has confirmed that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his troops will not attend Russia’s May 9 Victory Day celebrations, despite growing attention over whether Kim would appear in Red Square alongside other leaders, amid Pyongyang’s deepening military alignment with Moscow. Kim, however, has notably continued to publicly give "field guidance" at weapons factories at home — a move observers in Seoul interpret as signaling North Korea’s intent to sustain military support for Russia’s
May 7, 2025 -
N. Korea pushes ahead with final phase of Pyongyang housing project
North Korea is pressing ahead with efforts to complete the last stage of a five-year housing project to build 50,000 homes in Pyongyang by the end of this year, state media said Monday. The structural construction for 10,000 apartments in the Hwasong area in Pyongyang is fully under way as part of the housing project launched in 2021, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The KCNA said special military units have made improvements in construction procedures to reduce the time it ta
May 5, 2025 -
NK leader inspects tank factory, voices satisfaction over indigenous tanks
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has inspected a tank factory and expressed satisfaction over the upgraded structural design of indigenous tanks, while emphasizing the need to modernize the military with advanced tanks, the North's state media reported Sunday. Kim inspected the factory's production status, modernization and progress in implementing research tasks related to core tank technology, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. It did not disclose the name or location of the factory or
May 4, 2025 -
Russia-N. Korea partnership will impact Trump's leverage in diplomacy toward Pyongyang: expert
WASHINGTON -- North Korea's deepening partnership with Russia is a variable that will impact US President Donald Trump's leverage in future diplomacy with Pyongyang, a US expert said Friday, as the reclusive regime's reliance on Moscow has significantly lessened the need for dialogue with the United States. During a podcast, Sydney Seiler, former intelligence officer at the US National Intelligence Council, made the remarks amid expectations that Trump might seek to revive his personal diplomacy
May 3, 2025 -
Road bridge linking N. Korea, Russia to bolster economic cooperation: KCNA
North Korea said Thursday the construction of a road bridge linking the North and Russia across the Tumen River will provide a "substantial guarantee" for bolstering economic cooperation between the two nations. North Korea and Russia held a ceremony simultaneously in their respective border cities of Rason and Khasan on Wednesday to launch the construction of the motor bridge linking the two nations, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). In June last year, North Korea and Russia a
May 1, 2025 -
N. Korea tests new 5,000-ton destroyer amid suspicions of Russian tech support
North Korea has conducted weapons tests of its new 5,000-metric-ton multipurpose destroyer, a Choe Hyon-class vessel, state media reported Wednesday, marking a major step in its naval modernization and fueling speculation of technological support from Russia. According to The Rodong Sinmun, the tests were carried out over two days on Monday and Tuesday, following the ship’s launch ceremony Friday. The trials were intended to evaluate the vessel’s weapon systems and overall combat performance. On
April 30, 2025