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N. Korea sends 200 long-range artillery units to Russia for military tech transfer: Seoul
South Korea’s Defense Ministry reported Tuesday that North Korea has continued supplying military aid to Russia since last year, including 200 units of long-range artillery, likely in exchange for Moscow’s support in developing intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear submarines. In its report submitted to the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee on Tuesday, the ministry stated, "North Korea has continued supplying weapons, ammunition, and other military support to Russia follow
Feb. 11, 2025 -
N. Korea signals resolve on ‘force-for-force’ strategy amid Trump's overture
North Korea on Tuesday signaled its unwavering resolve to stick to its strategy of countering force with force against the United States, accusing Washington of seeking dominance through military might and vowing stronger countermeasures against what it calls US provocations. A spokesperson for North Korea’s Defense Ministry issued a press statement, condemning the arrival of the nuclear-powered fast attack submarine USS Alexandria in Busan a day earlier for replenishment. The statement marks th
Feb. 11, 2025 -
N. Korea bristles at US nuclear submarine in S. Korea, warns ready to use any defense means
North Korea on Tuesday denounced the recent arrival of a US nuclear-powered submarine in South Korea, accusing Washington of ignoring Pyongyang's security concerns and warning that it is ready to use any means to defend its national security. North Korea's defense ministry made the remarks a day after the USS Alexandria, a Los Angeles-class attack submarine, arrived at the Busan naval base, some 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, to replenish supplies and allow crew members to rest. In a stateme
Feb. 11, 2025 -
N. Korea's state media reports on opening of Asian Winter Games in Harbin
North Korea's state media reported Monday that the Asian Winter Games have opened in the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin, where three North Korean athletes are participating. The Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, reported the ninth Asian Games kicked off in Harbin on Friday, adding that Chinese President Xi Jinping and key international sports officials attended the opening ceremony. A North Korean delegation, led by Sports Minister Kim Il-kuk, left Pyongyang on Wednesday to compete
Feb. 10, 2025 -
North Korean leader says South Korea-US-Japan military cooperation causes regional conflict
Kim Jong-un reaffirms vow to develop ‘nuclear forces’ further as Trump, Ishiba agree to work on complete NK denuclearization North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has accused the trilateral military cooperation among South Korea, US and Japan of being a cause behind a “new conflicting structure” in the region, the North’s state media reported in English Sunday. The report came a day after US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba agreed to work towards complete denuclearizat
Feb. 9, 2025 -
Trump is open to NK engagement, but it 'takes two to tango': senior US official
US President Donald Trump is open to engaging with North Korea, but it "takes two to tango," a senior administration official said Friday, in an apparent call for a recalcitrant Pyongyang to make its own efforts for dialogue. In a telephonic press briefing, the official made the remarks, reaffirming the Trump administration's commitment to the "complete denuclearization of North Korea" and pledging to remain in "lockstep" with South Korea and Japan over diplomacy toward the North. The briefing c
Feb. 8, 2025 -
North Korea says its nuclear weapons are not bargaining chip
North Korea said Saturday its nuclear weapons are not a bargaining chip but designed for combat use against any attempts by its enemies to invade the North, reaffirming its stance to further develop its nuclear arsenal. The North's statement came after the White House has said that Washington will seek "complete denuclearization of North Korea," under US President Donald Trump, dismissing speculation that Trump may seek arms reduction rather than a long-term policy goal of denuclearization. In a
Feb. 8, 2025 -
N. Korean leader calls regional public health modernization 'top priority'
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has attended a groundbreaking ceremony for a regional hospital, highlighting the wide gap between urban and rural areas and pledging to make the modernization of regional health service a "top priority," state media reported Friday. Kim attended the ceremony Thursday, which marked the start of construction on Kangdong County Hospital and General Service Center under the "Regional Development 20X10 Policy," the Korean Central News Agency said. Kangdong County is a
Feb. 7, 2025 -
Belarus envoy 'unaware' of Lukashenko’s plans to visit North Korea
Trump-Kim meeting can ease security tensions on Korean Peninsula, says Belarusian envoy The Belarusian ambassador in Seoul said the embassy has no information about a possible visit of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to North Korea on Wednesday. “At this stage, the embassy has no information about the preparation of the visit of the President of the Republic of Belarus to the DPRK,” Belarusian Ambassador to Korea Andrew Chernetsky clarified in response to a question from The Korea Hera
Feb. 6, 2025 -
‘Three bullets, moldy rice’: N. Korean soldiers face dire conditions
North Korean conscripted soldiers endure brutal conditions, grappling with severe shortages of essentials — from bullets for training to food — and at times survive on corn powder or even moldy rice, according to a report by a South Korean state-run research institute. The Korea Institute for National Unification on Monday released a report titled "Military Life of North Korean People," detailing the harsh realities faced by North Korean conscripts under the Kim Jong-un regime. The findings are
Feb. 5, 2025 -
Kim Jong-un sends rare congratulatory message to Belarus' Lukashenko
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a rare public message congratulating Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on securing his seventh term, demonstrating closer ties between two staunch supporters of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Kim’s message notably came weeks after Pyongyang dismissed Lukashenko’s claim that North Korea had proposed a summit as baseless, yet it simultaneously signaled openness to such engagement. Kim's message to Lukashenko, sent Monday and disclosed Tuesday by North Korea’s
Feb. 4, 2025 -
N. Korea begins celebrations for late former leader Kim Jong-il's birthday
North Korea has begun celebrations for the anniversary of late former leader Kim Jong-il's birthday, a national holiday, by opening a commemorative photo exhibition, according to state media on Tuesday. The Korean Central News Agency reported that the photo exhibition commemorating Kim opened the previous day at Pyongyang's People's Palace of Culture, ahead of his birthday on Feb. 16. Both his birthday and that of late national founder Kim Il-sung, on April 15, are observed as national holidays
Feb. 4, 2025 -
N. Korea delivers 1st direct rebuke of Trump 2.0, sets hard-line tone
N. Korea appears to set terms for potential Kim-Trump summit, observers say North Korea on Monday delivered its first direct rebuke of the second Trump administration, condemning US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s characterization of the regime as a “rogue state,” calling it a “hostile remark” and a “grave political provocation.” An unnamed spokesperson for North Korea’s Foreign Ministry issued a press statement in response to Rubio’s Jan. 30 interview on "The Megyn Kelly Show," where he briefl
Feb. 3, 2025 -
Chinese travel agency opens bookings for tours to N. Korea's Rason set for this month
A Chinese tour agency specializing in North Korean tours has opened bookings for travel programs to North Korea's northeastern city of Rason, scheduled for February through April, its website showed Monday. The "Rason Kim Jong-il Birthday Tour" is scheduled to depart on Feb. 12, as well as in March and April, according to the website of Koryo Tours. This month's tour, priced at 706 euros ($722.03), includes four nights in Rason and two nights in China's Yanji, as well as visits to factories, mar
Feb. 3, 2025 -
N. Korea criticizes US missile defense plan, vows to bolster nuke deterrence
North Korea on Monday criticized the Trump administration's plan to enhance missile defense for allied territories, vowing to advance its nuclear deterrence and other military capabilities in self-defense. The North Korean foreign ministry's Institute for Disarmament and Peace issued the criticism in a press statement following President Donald Trump' executive order last week to pursue a "next-generation" missile defense shield for the US and allied territories. The plan signaled a potential ac
Feb. 3, 2025