-
N. Korea designated 'high-risk jurisdiction' for money laundering, terrorism financing for 15th year
North Korea has been designated a "high-risk jurisdiction" for money laundering and terrorism financing for the 15th consecutive year, according to a Paris-based intergovernmental body. The Financial Action Task Force, which is tasked with combating money laundering and terrorism financing, said it decided at a plenary session Friday (local time) to put North Korea in the highest risk category along with Iran and Myanmar. "The FATF remains concerned by the DPRK's continued failure to address the
Feb. 22, 2025 -
Ukraine official says sending of N.K. POWs to S. Korea 'possible'
A Ukrainian defense intelligence official has mentioned the possibility of sending North Korean soldiers captured during combat to South Korea, in the first such acknowledgment by Kyiv. Andriy Chernyak, the representative of defense intelligence of Ukraine, made the remark in an exclusive interview with Yonhap News Agency in Kyiv on Friday (local time) when asked about the two North Korean soldiers held in Ukraine amid the ongoing war with Russia. "Everything is possible," Chernyak said in the i
Feb. 22, 2025 -
N. Korea seen using ChatGPT in AI education
North Korea is apparently using ChatGPT, a generative artificial intelligence service developed by OpenAI of the United States, in its higher education AI studies, according to a media report Saturday. According to the report from Voice of Korea, a Pyongyang external propaganda outlet, members of an AI research institute at Kim Il Sung University were seen learning ChatGPT and its functionalities. Learning material used by the institute explained how ChatGPT generates text based on user input. G
Feb. 22, 2025 -
S. Korea to lead new N. Korea sanctions watchdog, replacing UN panel
Seoul sees 1st MSMT meeting in Washington under Trump as pivotal after launch under Biden South Korea will take the lead this year in operating a new multilateral sanctions monitoring body and publishing its reports, filling the gaps in sanctions enforcement and monitoring on North Korea left by the dissolution of the UN Panel of Experts following Russia's veto. The outcome came after the inaugural meeting of the steering committee of the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team or MSMT in Washing
Feb. 21, 2025 -
Swiss ambassador to N. Korea assumes post as embassy reopens after COVID-19
Switzerland's top envoy to North Korea has begun his duties after submitting his credentials to Choe Ryong-hae, chairman of the North's parliamentary standing committee, according to the North's state media Friday. Choe was presented with credentials from Jurg Burri, Switzerland's ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to North Korea, at Mansudae Assembly Hall on Thursday on behalf of state leader Kim Jong-un, the Korean Central News Agency reported. Choe and the ambassador had talks, whic
Feb. 21, 2025 -
N. Korean defense chief reaffirms friendship with Russia during banquet for Russian holiday
North Korea's defense minister has reaffirmed "invincible" friendship with Russia during a banquet celebrating Russia's Defender of the Fatherland Day, hosted by the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang, state media reported Friday. The banquet, hosted Thursday by Russian Ambassador Alexandr Matsegora and a defense attache, was attended by Defense Minister No Kwang-chol, Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jong-gyu and other military and diplomatic officials, the Korean Central News Agency said. Russia's Defender
Feb. 21, 2025 -
Born in Pyongyang, Kim Jong-un annointed heir to father at 8 years old, say relatives
New book reveals Kim Jong-un’s birthplace for first time, based on interviews with aunt and uncle Born in 1984 in northeastern Pyongyang, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was secretly anointed as the future heir to his father, Kim Jong-il, at the age of 8, according to the statements of Kim's aunt and her husband, as detailed in a newly published book. The book also discloses that the initiation of his hereditary succession was outwardly marked by the airing of a glorification song dedicated to h
Feb. 20, 2025 -
S. Korea willing to accept all N. Korean POWs from Ukraine upon request
The South Korean government will accept any North Korean soldier captured by Ukraine upon their request of asylum, a position that has already been communicated to the Ukrainian government, Seoul's Foreign Ministry announced Wednesday. The announcement followed a North Korean prisoner of war in Ukraine expressing his desire to settle in South Korea in an interview with the Chosun Ilbo newspaper released earlier in the day. The North Korean soldier, at the same time, raised questions about whethe
Feb. 19, 2025 -
1 of 2 N. Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine voices intent to go to S. Korea: report
One of the two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine has expressed his wish to go to South Korea, a news report said Wednesday, in what would be the first known case for a North Korean captive to voice an intent to defect to the South. A North Korean solider, identified only by his surname Ri, said in an interview with the Chosun Ilbo that he never knew he would engage in combat against Ukraine as he was told that he would be sent to Russia for training as an overseas student. "I have made u
Feb. 19, 2025 -
Kim Jong-un lays out grand vision to expand, reshape Pyongyang
Seoul says Kim's strategy focuses on achieving tangible results quickly through housing construction North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has laid out a blueprint to expand Pyongyang’s urban core eastward and push for a full-scale transformation, calling it the ruling party’s next key project after completing his 2021-2025 plan to build 50,000 housing units in the capital. Kim outlined his grand vision for the capital city during Sunday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the final phase of Pyongyang's 50,
Feb. 17, 2025 -
N. Korea's Kim visits mausoleum for 1st time in 4 yrs to mark late leader's birthday
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has paid his respects at the mausoleum of his father, late leader Kim Jong-il, on the anniversary of his birthday, state media reported Monday, marking his first reported visit to the family mausoleum on the late leader's birth anniversary in four years. Kim visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun the previous day, on the late leader's birthday, known as the Day of the Shining Star, accompanied by his powerful sister Kim Yo-jong, party secretaries, Defense Minister
Feb. 17, 2025 -
Trump 2.0 codifies ‘complete denuclearization’ of N. Korea amid fears of US policy shift
‘Complete denuclearization of North Korea’ has been used in official statements, replacing peninsula-wide term The Trump administration has set forth a commitment to North Korea’s “complete denuclearization” and to the preservation of sanctions and pressure to that end in a joint statement with South Korea and Japan, assuaging Seoul’s mounting concerns over Washington’s potential shift in North Korea policy. The joint statement came after the first meeting among South Korea’s Foreign Minister Ch
Feb. 16, 2025 -
N. Korea vows stronger defense against 'provocative attempts' by S. Korea, US
North Korea on Saturday reaffirmed its commitment to bolstering its defensive capabilities to deter what it calls "provocative attempts" by South Korea and the United States, the North's state media reported Saturday. "The DPRK's bolstering of its self-defensive capabilities is an essential requirement for deterring rivals' ever-increasing various provocative attempts and ensuring the security of the state," read a press statement of Pyongyang's defense policy chief, released by the Korean Centr
Feb. 15, 2025 -
N. Korea's Kim attends groundbreaking ceremony for offshore fish farm, urges regional economic development: KCNA
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the country's second offshore fish farm in the east coastal city of Rakwon and called for regional development to achieve regional economic self-reliance, state media reported Saturday. Kim attended the ceremony for the Rakwon County Offshore Farm on Friday, after he ordered the construction of the farm last year, the Korean Central News Agency said. The North's leader said offshore farming will open a new era for the fis
Feb. 15, 2025 -
N. Korea bristles at deepening S. Korea-US alliance under South's acting leadership
North Korea on Friday accused South Korea and the United States of deepening their alliance against its regime even under Seoul's acting leadership, warning it cannot sit idly by amid their "recklessness." The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) cited the South Korean Navy's recent adoption of MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and the launch earlier this month of the Navy Task Fleet Command, as it denounced the South's military in a commentary of escalating confrontational plots against Pyongyang. "Even
Feb. 14, 2025