Kim Jong-un tests new pistol with daughter Kim Ju-ae, stresses arms production

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected a key military production facility and tested a newly developed pistol this week, state media reported Thursday, once again appearing in public with his young daughter Kim Ju-ae. According to Rodong Sinmun, Kim visited a munitions factory and stressed the importance of the factory’s role in producing portable light weapons, including pistols, saying such arms are essential for strengthening combat capabilities. During the visit, Kim tested the new pistol

2026-03-12 15:48:12:00

Senior US diplomat to discuss alliance issues in Seoul

Michael DeSombre, the US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, is scheduled to visit South Korea on Wednesday for talks on a range of alliance issues, officials said. According to South Korea’s Foreign Ministry and diplomatic sources, DeSombre will stay in the country through March 15, with his official schedule beginning Thursday. During the visit, he is expected to meet with senior South Korean officials, including Jeong Yeon-doo, Seoul’s chief representative for Nor

2026-03-11 16:59:25:00

Former lawmaker's sentence confirmed over Moon-Trump call in 2019

South Korea’s Supreme Court has finalized a suspended prison sentence for former lawmaker Kang Hyo-sang for leaking the contents of a confidential phone call between then-President Moon Jae-in and former US President Donald Trump. The Supreme Court in January upheld a lower court ruling sentencing Kang, a former member of the Liberty Korea Party — the predecessor of the People Power Party — to six months in prison, suspended for one year, on charges including leaking diplomatic secrets. A former

2026-03-11 14:09:40:00

'Ghana Chocolate' for Ghana's president

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung presented Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama with specially produced chocolate during their summit in Seoul, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday. Mahama arrived in South Korea a day earlier for talks with Lee. According to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung, Ghana chocolate was chosen as a symbolic gift because in South Korea, Ghana is closely associated with the popular brand, which uses over 80 percent Ghanaian cacao beans in its product. The packaging was

2026-03-11 14:03:45:00

Lee cautions against ‘burning down the house’ in prosecution overhaul

President Lee Jae Myung on Monday warned that prosecution reform should be carried out with precision, cautioning against attempts that “burn down the house to get rid of bedbugs,” in remarks widely seen as directed at hard-line lawmakers within the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. “To solve a problem, one must accurately identify its cause and clearly distinguish what should and should not be addressed,” Lee wrote in a post on X. “In carrying out necessary reforms, caution is needed to avoid b

2026-03-10 16:01:21:00

Attacks reported near South Korean overseas units amid Middle East conflict

Attacks have occurred near South Korean overseas military units following the outbreak of war in the Middle East, with the units maintaining heightened protection measures to ensure the safety of personnel, according to government data released Tuesday. Data submitted by the Defense Ministry to Rep. Hwang Hee of the Democratic Party of Korea showed that a strike occurred about 31 kilometers northeast of the Dongmyeong Unit in Lebanon on Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel carried out airs

2026-03-10 11:04:27:00

Lee thanks UAE and Qatar, calls for sustained evacuation efforts

President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday called on government agencies to continue efforts to evacuate Korean nationals from the Middle East and thanked foreign governments for their support. Speaking at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Lee said hundreds of South Koreans had safely returned home in recent evacuation operations facilitated by the United Arab Emirates and Qatar amid escalating conflict in the region. “Early yesterday morning, 203 of our nationals who had been staying in the UAE returned home

2026-03-10 10:49:15:00

Lee Jae Myung to send special envoy to Chile for presidential inauguration

Rep. Chung Il-young of the ruling Democratic Party will attend the inauguration of Chile's new president Jose Antonio Kast as President Lee Jae Myung's special envoy, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday. According to Cheong Wa Dae, Chung will travel to Chile from March 10 to March 12 as Lee's special envoy for the presidential inauguration. Chung, who serves as a board member of the Korea-Chile Parliamentary Friendship Association, is expected to meet Kast and deliver a personal letter from Lee. During th

2026-03-09 14:21:00:00

Koreans flee Middle East conflict, government pledges further support

South Koreans escaping the conflict in the Middle East have begun arriving back in Korea, with the government pledging to direct all necessary resources to ensure the safety of Korean nationals in the region. A direct flight carrying South Korean nationals departed Dubai International Airport at 3:50 a.m. local time Sunday, scheduled to arrive at Incheon Airport at around 5 p.m. Korea time. Another commercial flight that had been urgently arranged earlier left Abu Dhabi and landed in South Korea

2026-03-08 16:50:54:00