Kim Jong-un logs busiest first half since 2014, with record military outings

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un carried out 92 publicly reported activities in the first half of this year, nearly double the 50 recorded during the same period last year, according to an analysis of state media reports. The figure marks Kim’s busiest first half since 2014, when he made 93 public appearances, and the third-highest tally since he took power in 2012, after 105 in the first half of 2013. His public activities had declined sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic, bottoming out at 21 in

2026-07-09 16:02:39:00

JCS warns against washed away North Korean mines in border areas

The Joint Chiefs of Staff on Tuesday urged the public to exercise caution in border areas during periods of heavy rainfall, warning that land mines buried near the Demilitarized Zone could be washed away and carried into civilian areas through rivers. According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korean land mines in the DMZ could be washed down south during the rainy season in areas connected to rivers shared by South and North Korea, including the Imjin River, Hantan River, Hwagang River, Bukh

2026-07-07 11:19:17:00

Lee warns against revenge-for-hire crimes

President Lee Jae Myung on Monday warned against involvement in so-called “private revenge-for-hire” crimes, stressing that such acts are serious offenses that can lead to arrest and detention. “Under no circumstances should anyone engage in revenge-for-hire,” Lee wrote in a post on X. “It is a serious crime that can result in detention.” Lee made the remarks while sharing a report from acting National Police Agency Commissioner Yoo Jae-seong on police investigations into crimes involving privat

2026-06-22 15:24:50:00

Lee says politics is about responsibility, not power

Politics is about taking responsibility for the nation, not about seizing power, President Lee Jae Myung wrote on his X account Monday, in an apparent continuation of his criticism of conflict within and among political parties. “The purpose of politics goes beyond merely taking power. It is to take responsibility for the fate of the nation and the lives of 50 million citizens,” Lee wrote. “The position held by a person in power is not something to take as an opportunity for happiness, but an en

2026-06-22 14:09:18:00

[Uzbekistan Forum] Korean ambassador highlights growing business ties at Tashkent forum

South Korea and Uzbekistan are entering a period of “unprecedented opportunity” in economic cooperation, Seoul’s ambassador to Tashkent said Tuesday, citing sharp growth in investment and trade between the two countries. In his congratulatory remarks at the Uzbekistan-Korea Business Forum, Ambassador Won Do-yeon said there were concrete signs that economic ties where growing, backed by high-level exchanges and Uzbekistan’s improving investment environment. “We are at a moment when an unprecedent

2026-06-22 10:16:30:00

[Uzbekistan Forum] Lee highlights Korea, Uzbekistan strengths, calls for closer cooperation

South Korea and Uzbekistan can turn crisis into opportunity and achieve great advancements if the two countries cooperate and combine their strengths, President Lee Jae Myung said in congratulatory remarks for the Uzbekistan-Korea Business Forum held in Tashkent on Tuesday. “I sincerely congratulate you on the Korea-Uzbekistan Business Forum. I would like to express my deep gratitude to everyone at Herald Media Group who prepared this meaningful event, as well as to officials from the Government

2026-06-21 19:40:41:00

US keeps North Korea denuclearization high on agenda, official says

The Trump administration continues to place North Korea’s denuclearization high on its policy agenda, a senior US State Department official said Thursday. David Wilezol, deputy assistant secretary of state for Korea, Japan and Mongolia, said at a forum in Washington that discussions on North Korea within the administration remain centered on denuclearization. He cited a recent fact sheet issued after a summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, as well as a joint

2026-06-19 17:52:48:00

Lee asks Pope Leo XIV to visit South Korea, DMZ for World Youth Day

President Lee Jae Myung said Friday that he asked Pope Leo XIV to visit South Korea for World Youth Day 2027 and suggested that the pontiff consider visiting the Demilitarized Zone during the trip. Speaking about his visit to the Vatican, Lee said he had paid a courtesy call on the pope and pledged cooperation with the Holy See for the successful hosting of the Catholic youth event, which is scheduled to take place in Seoul from Aug. 3-8, 2027. Lee visited the Vatican on June 14 and 15, and met

2026-06-19 16:53:09:00

Canada submarine bid hopeful but remains unclear: Lee

South Korea’s bid for Canada’s submarine project remains unclear, President Lee Jae Myung said Friday. “I met the German chancellor first, and then met the Canadian prime minister, but (I) could not get a sense about the outcome (of the bid),” Lee said during a briefing on his trip to Europe. Lee met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit held in Evian-les-Bains, France, on Tuesday, and then with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney later that day. “We

2026-06-19 16:32:58:00

Trump expressed regret for not resolving NK nuke issue sooner: Lee

US President Donald Trump expressed regret for not taking steps before North Korea became effectively a nuclear-armed state, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Friday. “(Trump said) it is regrettable that measures were not taken before North Korea effectively possessed nuclear weapons,” Lee said during a briefing on his trip to Europe. Lee and Trump met during the gala dinner for the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France. According to Lee, Trump also told him that he had posted the photogr

2026-06-19 15:52:49:00