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N. Korea condemns Japan's opening of NATO mission as escalating regional military tension
North Korea on Monday denounced Japan's recent opening of a new diplomatic mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, accusing the country of dangerously escalating the military tension in the region. The North's official Korean Central News Agency issued the criticism in an article attributed to an international security analyst, following Japan's formal inauguration of an independent mission to NATO last week to bolster cooperation. "Japan set up its independent mission in NATO at a ti
Jan. 20, 2025 -
North Korea reports on Yoon being taken into custody as first sitting president
North Korea’s state media on Friday reported on impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol’s detention by the South’s anti-corruption agency over his botched Dec. 3 martial law imposition. "The international community is shining a spotlight on the chaotic situation in puppet South Korea by publishing breaking news on puppet Yoon Suk Yeol's detention as a sitting president for the first time and his transfer to investigative authorities," reported the Rodong Sinmun, Pyongyang’s daily newspaper for general
Jan. 17, 2025 -
S. Korean military official urges international cooperation against NK-Russia alliance threats
The head of strategic planning at the Joint Chiefs of Staff called for “close coordination” among the international community against threats stemming from North Korea’s military support to Russia at a recent NATO meeting. The JCS said Friday that Lt. Gen. Son Jeong-hwan, head of strategic planning for the South Korean military, explained to top military officials around the world, that “North Korea’s recent military support to Russia and missile launch provocations are becoming a big threat to
Jan. 17, 2025 -
NK troops dissipated as 'expendables,' treated as 'cynical' means of sustaining Kim regime: Seoul envoy
South Korea's top envoy to the United Nations said Thursday that North Korean troops are being dissipated as "expendables" in Russia's war against Ukraine and treated as a "cynical" means of sustaining the North Korean regime. During a UN Security Council meeting, Ambassador Hwang Joon-kook made the remarks, citing Seoul's casualty assessment that of some 12,000 North Korean troops dispatched to Russia, more than 300 were killed with around 2,700 injured. "The testimonies of two North Korean sol
Jan. 17, 2025 -
N. Korea warns of taking action 'more intensively' over S. Korea, US, Japan's air drills
North Korea warned Friday it will "more intensively" exercise the right to self-defense, denouncing South Korea, the United States and Japan for staging combined air drills, involving US B-1B bombers. The North's foreign ministry issued the statement as the three countries held joint trilateral air drills, involving two US B-1B bombers, Wednesday over the Korean Peninsula following North Korea's recent launches of hypersonic and short-range ballistic missiles. The chief of the ministry's externa
Jan. 17, 2025 -
US sanctions 2 individuals, 4 entities to target NK IT worker network
The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on two North Koreans and four entities to target a network that uses North Korean information technology workers to generate revenue for the recalcitrant regime's weapons programs. The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Department 53 of the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces, a North Korean state arms trading entity; two of its front companies -- Korea Osong Shipping Co and Chonsurim Trading Corporation -- and Liao
Jan. 17, 2025 -
Defense Ministry vows continuation of NCG under Trump 2.0
South Korea’s Defense Ministry on Thursday pledged to build a system that would help Seoul’s key nuclear deterrence talks with the US to continue in a “sustainable and stable manner.” The vow was included in the policy direction for this year outlined by the ministry during a briefing to acting President Choi Sang-mok. It was also announced amid growing concerns that the Nuclear Consultative Group, the allies' nuclear deterrence body launched during the Biden administration, could dissolve under
Jan. 16, 2025 -
Seoul eyes revival of US-North Korea, inter-Korean talks under Trump 2.0
US secretary of state nominee signals shifts in N. Korea policy toward stabilization, risk reduction Seoul’s Foreign and Unification ministries on Thursday unveiled their 2025 policy priorities, pledging to “proactively” prepare for the potential revival of US-North Korea nuclear talks under a second Donald Trump administration, while gearing up for the possible resumption of inter-Korean dialogue. South Korea is bracing for a potential seismic shift in the overall Korean Peninsula landscape wit
Jan. 16, 2025 -
Seoul rejects Pete Hegseth’s ‘nuclear power’ label for North Korea
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Pentagon chief, referred to North Korea as a “nuclear power” in a written statement for Tuesday’s confirmation hearing – shattering a longstanding taboo by granting such a designation to Kim Jong-un’s regime and drawing considerable attention in Seoul. Seoul's Defense, Foreign and Unification ministries immediately dismissed Hegseth’s statement when asked for comment, each emphasizing in their respective statements that North Korea can never
Jan. 15, 2025 -
S. Korea says N. Korea can never be recognized as nuclear power after Trump nominee refers to Pyongyang as one
North Korea cannot be recognized as a nuclear-armed state under the international nonproliferation treaty, and its denuclearization is a principle shared by all parties involved, including South Korea and the United States, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday. The ministry made the comments after US Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth described the North as a nuclear power in his written answers submitted to the US Senate for his confirmation hearing Tuesday. The former Fox News host said
Jan. 15, 2025 -
Zelenskyy releases additional video of captured NK soldier
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has released another video showing a captured North Korean soldier undergoing interrogation, accusing Russia of using North Korean troops to "prolong and escalate" its war against Ukraine. "Communication between captured North Korean soldiers and Ukrainian investigators continues. We are establishing the facts. We are verifying all the details," Zelenskyy wrote on X on Tuesday, posting a four-minute-long video clip. The post follows Zelenskyy's earlier rev
Jan. 15, 2025 -
N. Korea remains 'same menace' it has been across many administrations: Sullivan
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Monday North Korea remains the "same menace" it has been across many previous administrations, while stressing America has the capacity and the wherewithal and allies to meet the challenge. Sullivan made the remarks, pointing to a litany of "serious and ongoing" challenges around the world, including those from North Korea and China, which the administration of incoming President Donald Trump will face upon assuming office on Jan. 20. "North Korea
Jan. 14, 2025 -
Captured NK soldier says he wishes to remain in Ukraine
Ukraine has released a rare video of two captured North Korean soldiers under interrogation, in which one of them said he wants to remain in Ukraine when asked if he wishes to return home. The soldier with bandages on his hands made the remarks in the nearly three-minute footage released by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on X on Sunday, a day after he announced the two North Koreans' capture in Russia's western Kursk region. During the interrogation, the soldier asked in Korean if Ukrai
Jan. 13, 2025 -
Zelenskyy: Ukraine ready to hand over captured NK soldiers in exchange for Ukrainian captives
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine is prepared to hand over captured North Korean soldiers in exchange for Ukrainian captives in Russia, a day after revealing the country's seizure of two wounded North Korean soldiers. Zelenskyy made the proposal in his account on the social media platform X on Sunday in English, Ukrainian and Korean, following his announcement the previous day that two wounded North Korean soldiers had been captured in Russia's western Kursk region. "
Jan. 13, 2025 -
North Korean soldiers believed they were sent to Russia for training, not war: NIS
Two North Korean soldiers deployed in the Ukraine-Russia war claimed they believed they were participating in a military exercise, not a war, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service reported on Sunday. According to the NIS, the North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian military forces in the Kursk region of western Russia on Thursday and are currently in the custody of the Ukrainian government. The NIS stated that one of the detainees testified they arrived in Russia in November last
Jan. 12, 2025