N. Korea slams France for staging joint air drills with S. Korea

North Korea on Wednesday lambasted France for holding a combined air exercise with South Korea for the first time last week, decrying it as an "undisguised military provocation" threatening the North's security. A researcher at Pyongyang's Korea-Europe Association made the criticism in a statement released by the North's Korean Central News Agency after the two countries kicked off the two-day drills last Tuesday at an air base in the South's southeastern city of Gi

Aug. 2, 2023

Possible weapons trade between Russia, N. Korea shows difficulties facing Moscow: Pentagon

The potential weapons trade between North Korea and Russia demonstrates the dire situation Russia finds itself in amid its ongoing war against Ukraine, a Pentagon spokesperson said Tuesday. Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder made the remark after a news report suggested that North Korea may be sending weapons to Russia. "Russia maintains a relationship with North Korea," the Department of Defense spokesperson told a daily press briefing when asked about possible weapons trade between the two countri

Aug. 2, 2023

N. Korea frequently releases water from dam near inter-Korean border in July: Seoul

North Korea frequently released water from a dam near the inter-Korean border in July despite South Korea's request for prior notice, Seoul's unification ministry said Tuesday. Some of the floodgates of the Hwanggang Dam were opened to discharge water on July 20, 24 and 27, without the North notifying the South of its release plan in advance, according to a report by US-based media outlet Radio Free Asia last week. "The North was found to have frequently discharged water (from the

Aug. 1, 2023

N. Korea looks to cement Russia ties amid tension

North Korea is stepping up efforts to forge stronger ties with Russia, as the North pursues a bigger presence in a Russia-led coalition against the US. This comes amid an anniversary meant to celebrate what the North refers to as its victory against the US-led United Nations forces in the 1950-53 Korean War. The North’s state media said Saturday, two days after the celebrations, that the regime will bolster exchanges with Russia and China, its two biggest allies, to deal with the changin

July 30, 2023

N. Korea slams S. Korea in human rights report

North Korea retaliated to a human rights report released by South Korea’s Unification Ministry early this year with its own, criticizing human rights conditions in the South. Pyongyang Publishing Co., an organ of the North's ruling Workers' Party, published a book that roughly translates to "Barren Land of Human Rights" and is full of disparaging remarks on human rights conditions in South Korea, on July 21. “We will examine the human rights condition in South Kor

July 30, 2023

N. Korea registers 7 judokas for Asian Games

North Korea has registered seven judokas to compete in the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, the roster showed Sunday. The North's planned participation in the Sept. 23-Oct. 8 event marks its first registration in a major international sporting event since the 2018 Jakarta Palembang Asian Games. North Korea has skipped key sporting events as it imposed strict restrictions and closed its border over the pandemic. North Korea will send three judokas for the men's division -- Chae

July 30, 2023

Satellite photos reveal N. Korea discharged dam water without notice: report

Satellite photos have detected signs of North Korea releasing water from a dam in the border area despite South Korea's request to give prior notice, a US-based radio company reported Saturday. The release of water from North Korea's Hwanggang Dam has raised concerns about potential flooding in areas located south of the border every summer in recent years. The dam is located in the upper region of the Imjin River, which flows through the Korean Peninsula from the north to the south.

July 29, 2023

NK leader meets with Chinese delegation after armistice anniv.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has met with a Chinese delegation, a day after commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, the North's state media reported Saturday. During Friday's meeting, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing their bilateral relations, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The Chinese party-government delegation arrived in Pyongyang on Wednesday to attend anniversary celebrations held the following day. Led by Li

July 29, 2023

Unification Ministry abolishes inter-Korean dialogue organizations

South Korea's Unification Ministry on Friday unveiled its plan to shut down four organizations responsible for inter-Korean dialogue amid the ongoing deadlock in relations between the two Koreas. The ministry will proceed with merging these entities into a single unit, resulting in large-scale layoffs. The four organizations include the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Bureau, the Inter-Korean Cooperation District Policy Planning Directorate within the Unification Ministry, the Office

July 28, 2023

S. Korean ambassador says N. Korean threats will only lead to stronger deterrence from S. Korea-US alliance

South Korea's ambassador to the United States stressed the importance of the South Korea-US alliance Thursday, highlighting the 70th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement that ended the Korean War. Ambassador Cho Hyun-dong also said that the alliance will continue to strengthen in the face of North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats. "Even as I speak, Pyongyang is raising tensions by launching ballistic missiles and using brazen language threatening the use of nu

July 28, 2023

N. Korea stages military parade to mark war anniversary

North Korea held a military parade Thursday night, a widely expected event to mark what it calls “Victory Day” against the US-led United Nations forces in the 1950-53 Korean War, sources with knowledge of the matter said. It was not immediately clear whether North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended the parade, a venue to showcase its latest weapons and rally North Koreans. Delegations from China and Russia, who arrived in Pyongyang the previous day for the July 27 celebrations, are b

July 27, 2023

Pakistan eyes Korean investments, suggests potential sectors

Officials and representatives from Pakistan showcased trade and investment potential at the Pakistan-Korea trade and investment conference seeking Korean investments at the Ambassador Hotel in Seoul, Thursday. Attendees shared diverse ideas and business solutions in energy, construction, minerals, agriculture, food processing, textiles, automobiles, information technology and telecommunications to reach out to investors and key figures taking the lead. Underscoring Pakistan’s economic outl

July 27, 2023

N. Korea warmly receives Chinese delegation in Pyongyang for Victory Day celebrations: state media

North Korea has extended its "warm welcome" to a Chinese delegation that arrived in Pyongyang this week to attend the North's commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, according to state media Thursday. The party-government delegation led by Li Hongzhong, a Chinese Communist Party Politburo member, arrived in the North's capital Wednesday to attend this week's celebrations of Victory Day, according to the state-run Korean Central Broadcasting St

July 27, 2023

Chinese and Russian officials to join North Korean commemorations of Korean War armistice

Russia and China are sending government delegations to North Korea this week for events marking the 70th anniversary of the armistice that halted fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War. The visits suggest North Korea is further opening up after years of pandemic isolation and is eager to showcase its partnerships with authoritarian neighbors in the face of deepening nuclear tensions with Washington, Seoul and Tokyo. North Korea’s state media said Wednesday that a Russian delegation led by Defe

July 26, 2023

NK leader pays respects to fallen soldiers ahead of Korean War armistice anniv.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited cemeteries to pay respects to the country's soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War and to commemorate the anniversary of the signing of the armistice, state media said Wednesday. The Korean War ended with an armistice agreement on July 27, 1953. The North calls the war the Great Fatherland Liberation War and designated the armistice signing date as Victory Day. Kim visited the Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery in Pyongyang on Tuesd

July 26, 2023

N. Korea revs up festive mood ahead of Victory Day

North Korea will hold a grand ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the armistice of the Korean War, state media reported Tuesday, including celebrations that will bring its first known official foreign guests in years. North Korea is set to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, signed July 27, 1953, this week. The North refers to the conflict as the Great Fatherland Liberation War and the day of the armistice signing as Victory Day. "Celebrations marking the 70th a

July 25, 2023

N. Korea remains unresponsive to inquiries about US service member in custody: state dept.

The United States has not had any substantive response from North Korea about the safety of a US service member who crossed the inter-Korean border into the reclusive state last week, a state department spokesperson said Monday. Matthew Miller also said the North has not responded to any requests, including those from United Nations Command, to confirm the whereabouts or well-being of the US soldier. "It is my understanding that there has been no new communication since last week. communica

July 25, 2023

N. Korea invites Chinese delegation as 1st known foreign guests since pandemic

North Korea said Monday it has invited a Chinese party and government delegation as part of commemorations for the 70th anniversary of the armistice of the Korean War, marking the first known invitation of official foreign guests since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. The North's Korean Central News Agency said the Chinese delegation led by Li Hongzhong, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, will visit the country to take part in celebration

July 24, 2023

UN Command in talks with NK over detained US soldier

The UN Command has initiated a dialogue with its North Korean counterpart concerning the American soldier Travis King, who crossed the inter-Korean border on July 18 and is in the custody of North Korean authorities, the deputy commander of the UN Command said Monday. "A conversation has commenced with the Korean People's Army through the mechanism of the armistice agreement," Lt. Gen. Andrew Harrison, the deputy commander of the UN Command, told foreign media outlets in Seoul. Ha

July 24, 2023

N. Korea says 'no end' to bolstering military power ahead of key anniversary

North Korea said Monday that there is "no end" to strengthening its military power in an apparent attempt to justify the development of its nuclear and missile programs ahead of a key anniversary this week. The recalcitrant regime has been ramping up sharp-tongued rhetoric and launching missiles ahead of the 70th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War on July 27, celebrated as Victory Day in North Korea. "There can be no end to strengthening

July 24, 2023