IAEA chief notes 'strong' water release from N. Korea's Yongbyon nuclear reactor

The UN nuclear watchdog chief has reported a "strong" water outflow from a reactor's cooling system at North Korea's key nuclear complex in Yongbyon, hinting at the possible test-running of the facility suspected to be designed to produce more fissile material for nuclear bombs. International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi explained his agency's observation of the light water reactor at the nuclear complex, 100 kilometers north of Pyongyang, during t

Nov. 23, 2023

N. Korea vows to restore all military measures halted under inter-Korean military accord

North Korea said Thursday it will immediately restore all military measures halted under a 2018 inter-Korean military accord after South Korea suspended part of the tension reduction deal following the North's launch of a military spy satellite. The North's defense ministry said it will "never be bound" by the military agreement any more, effectively scrapping the deal that calls for a series of tension reduction measures along the heavily armed border, and warned that the South must &

Nov. 23, 2023

N. Korean spy satellite seems to have entered into orbit: Seoul military

North Korea's military spy satellite appears to have entered into orbit, but more time would be needed to determine if it is operating properly, Seoul's military said Wednesday. The North launched the Malligyong-1 satellite from the country's west coast late Tuesday in its third attempt this year, claiming it has successfully entered into orbit. "After a comprehensive analysis of its flight track data and other signs, the satellite is assessed to have entered into orbit,&qu

Nov. 22, 2023

Envoys condemn NK’s spy satellite launch

The chief nuclear envoys for North Korea from South Korea, the US and Japan strongly condemned the regime for launching what it claims to be a spy satellite, which has now been placed into orbit according to the North. In a phone call Wednesday, Kim Gunn -- South Korea’s special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs -- was joined by his US and Japanese counterparts in warning of action following Pyongyang’s latest provocation a day earlier. Jung H. Pak, deput

Nov. 22, 2023

N. Korea says it successfully placed spy satellite into orbit, will launch more

North Korea said Wednesday it has successfully placed a spy satellite into orbit and will launch several more satellites "in a short span of time" to secure its reconnaissance capabilities against South Korea. The state-run Korean Central News Agency said that the North launched a reconnaissance satellite called the Malligyong-1 on a new type of Chollima-1 rocket from a launch site in Tongchang-ri on the west coast at 10:42 p.m. Tuesday. The purported success followed two earlier botch

Nov. 22, 2023

S. Korea hints at halt to 2018 inter-Korean military accord in event of NK satellite launch

LONDON -- South Korea's presidential office suggested Tuesday that a 2018 inter-Korean military tension reduction agreement could be suspended in the event North Korea goes ahead with its planned space rocket launch. The remark by a senior presidential official came after North Korea reportedly notified Japan of its plan to launch a space rocket between Wednesday and Dec. 1, in what would likely be its third attempt to put a military spy satellite into orbit. "If you read carefully t

Nov. 21, 2023

North notifies of satellite launch amid concerns

North Korea on Tuesday notified Japan that its satellite launch would take place between Nov. 22 and Dec. 1 in a third attempt this year, amid concerns that Pyongyang is seeking to advance the country’s weapons technologies. The notice prompted immediate protest from chief nuclear envoys from South Korea, the US and Japan. In a phone call, Kim Gunn -- special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs -- was joined by his US and Japanese counterparts in urging the North

Nov. 21, 2023

S. Korea issues navigation warning amid planned N.K. rocket launch

South Korea's oceans ministry said Tuesday it has issued a navigation warning for ships, responding to North Korea's upcoming space rocket launch set to take place in less than two weeks. The notification, issued at 2:30 a.m., came after the reclusive regime informed Japan that the planned launch is expected to take place between Wednesday and Dec. 1. The North has been gearing up for its third attempt to launch a spy satellite into orbit. North Korea mentioned three maritime zones tha

Nov. 21, 2023

S. Korea warns N. Korea over satellite launch

South Korea said it would take action against North Korea for launching what it claims to be a spy satellite, potentially within the next week, in the starkest warning yet over what the South believes is a violation of UN Security Council resolutions banning missile tests. At a briefing Monday, Kang Ho-pil, chief director of operations at the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, urged the North to immediately stop preparations for another launch after two previous failures this year. “The

Nov. 20, 2023

S. Korea warns N. Korea to 'immediately stop' preparations for military spy satellite launch

The South Korean military warned North Korea on Monday to "immediately stop" preparations for another military spy satellite launch, vowing to take "necessary measures" if it presses ahead with the launch. Kang Ho-pil, chief director of operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made the warning, a day after South Korea's defense chief said Pyongyang may make another satellite launch attempt as early as "this week or so." "(We) sternly warn North Korea to im

Nov. 20, 2023

Vice defense chief calls for int'l cooperation against N. Korea nuclear threats

Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho called for strengthening international cooperation against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats at an international security meeting led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, his ministry said Friday. Kim made the call at the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus in Jakarta on Thursday, attended by top defense officials from nine ASEAN countries and eight others, including U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, according to the ministry.

Nov. 17, 2023

N. Korea, Russia sign cooperation protocol after talks on economy, science: KCNA

North Korea and Russia have signed a protocol on expanding cooperation in various fields following bilateral talks on economy, science and technology held in Pyongyang, the North's state media reported Thursday. The agreement was signed after the two countries held the 10th meeting of the Committee for Cooperation in Trade, Economy, Science and Technology on Wednesday, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said without specifying details. The meeting was a follow-up to the rare sum

Nov. 16, 2023

Russian delegation arrives in Pyongyang for trade, science talks: KCNA

A Russian government delegation has arrived in Pyongyang for talks on trade and science cooperation, the North's state media said Wednesday, as the two countries seek to strengthen ties following the rare summit between their leaders in September. The delegation, led by its Natural Resources Minister Alexander Kozlov, arrived Tuesday to take part in the 10th meeting of the Committee for Cooperation in Trade, Economy, Science and Technology between the two countries, according to the Korean

Nov. 15, 2023

Unification minister discusses NK issues with Canadian envoy

South Korea's point man on North Korea met with the Canadian ambassador to South Korea on Monday and called for the country's support in helping resolve dire human rights conditions in the North, the unification ministry said. Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho made the request in a meeting with Canadian Ambassador Tamara Mawhinney as he explained South Korea's efforts to address the forced repatriation of North Korean defectors in China, as well as North Korea's denuclearizati

Nov. 13, 2023

N. Korea slams S. Korea-UNC defense chief meeting as attempt for 'new war of aggression'

North Korea on Monday renewed its calls for dissolving the US-led United Nations Command, claiming that a plan by South Korea and UNC member states to hold the inaugural defense ministerial meeting this week is a "dangerous" scheme to spark a "new war of aggression" against the North. South Korea and 17 member states of the UNC will hold their first meeting of defense chiefs and representatives Tuesday in Seoul to explore the role of the UNC in deterring war on the Korean Pen

Nov. 13, 2023

N. Korea chides US over relations with Russia

North Korea criticized US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for “irresponsible and provocative” remarks last week about deepening military ties between the North and Russia, saying destabilizing actions by the US and its partners on the Korean Peninsula would be met with strong countermeasure. The top US diplomat said Pyongyang is providing military equipment to Moscow to use for its war in Ukraine, while the North in return receives technical support to advance its military programs

Nov. 12, 2023

Pyongyang reconfirms stronger ties with Russia despite warning

North Korea said Saturday that its relations with Russia will remain strong despite the United States' warning against their arms transfers. In a statement issued by a spokesperson for the North's foreign ministry, Pyongyang also said the US should be accustomed to the new reality of growing relations between the North and Russia. On Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Seoul that Russia is providing "technology and support" for North Korea's military programs, as Pyong

Nov. 11, 2023

US envoy calls for human rights dialogue with N. Korea after regime's criticism

The new US special envoy for North Korean human rights made an overture for dialogue with the recalcitrant regime Wednesday, after Pyongyang accused her of "distorting and slandering" its rights records. Ambassador Julie Turner made the call, underscoring that the North Korean rights records have been "well documented" as highlighted in the 2014 report by the UN Commission of Inquiry on the situation in the reclusive country. "I would welcome the opportunity to have a co

Nov. 9, 2023

N. Korea still has goal of normalizing ties with US: KINU president

North Korea's top foreign policy imperative continues to revolve around the pursuit of normalized relations with the United States. The strategic goal is seen as the linchpin to unlocking the potential for lifting economic sanctions while retaining its nuclear arsenal, the president of the state-funded Korea Institute for National Unification said. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in unambiguous pronouncements, has characterized the prevailing global geopolitical landscape as a "new Co

Nov. 8, 2023

S. Korea, US weigh curbs on N. Korea cyberattacks

South Korea and the United States discussed bolstering steps to curb North Korean cyberattacks that the two allies say are meant to bankroll the isolated country’s nuclear and missile programs. The two-day meeting that ended Tuesday in Washington focused on coordinating policy on sharing information about tactics Pyongyang has been using, such as deploying its overseas information technology workers. They work remotely through freelance platforms to steal cryptocurrencies, among other hack

Nov. 8, 2023