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N. Korean defense chief reaffirms friendship with Russia during banquet for Russian holiday
North Korea's defense minister has reaffirmed "invincible" friendship with Russia during a banquet celebrating Russia's Defender of the Fatherland Day, hosted by the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang, state media reported Friday. The banquet, hosted Thursday by Russian Ambassador Alexandr Matsegora and a defense attache, was attended by Defense Minister No Kwang-chol, Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jong-gyu and other military and diplomatic officials, the Korean Central News Agency said. Russia's Defender
Feb. 21, 2025 -
Born in Pyongyang, Kim Jong-un annointed heir to father at 8 years old, say relatives
New book reveals Kim Jong-un’s birthplace for first time, based on interviews with aunt and uncle Born in 1984 in northeastern Pyongyang, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was secretly anointed as the future heir to his father, Kim Jong-il, at the age of 8, according to the statements of Kim's aunt and her husband, as detailed in a newly published book. The book also discloses that the initiation of his hereditary succession was outwardly marked by the airing of a glorification song dedicated to h
Feb. 20, 2025 -
S. Korea willing to accept all N. Korean POWs from Ukraine upon request
The South Korean government will accept any North Korean soldier captured by Ukraine upon their request of asylum, a position that has already been communicated to the Ukrainian government, Seoul's Foreign Ministry announced Wednesday. The announcement followed a North Korean prisoner of war in Ukraine expressing his desire to settle in South Korea in an interview with the Chosun Ilbo newspaper released earlier in the day. The North Korean soldier, at the same time, raised questions about whethe
Feb. 19, 2025 -
1 of 2 N. Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine voices intent to go to S. Korea: report
One of the two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukraine has expressed his wish to go to South Korea, a news report said Wednesday, in what would be the first known case for a North Korean captive to voice an intent to defect to the South. A North Korean solider, identified only by his surname Ri, said in an interview with the Chosun Ilbo that he never knew he would engage in combat against Ukraine as he was told that he would be sent to Russia for training as an overseas student. "I have made u
Feb. 19, 2025 -
Kim Jong-un lays out grand vision to expand, reshape Pyongyang
Seoul says Kim's strategy focuses on achieving tangible results quickly through housing construction North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has laid out a blueprint to expand Pyongyang’s urban core eastward and push for a full-scale transformation, calling it the ruling party’s next key project after completing his 2021-2025 plan to build 50,000 housing units in the capital. Kim outlined his grand vision for the capital city during Sunday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the final phase of Pyongyang's 50,
Feb. 17, 2025 -
N. Korea's Kim visits mausoleum for 1st time in 4 yrs to mark late leader's birthday
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has paid his respects at the mausoleum of his father, late leader Kim Jong-il, on the anniversary of his birthday, state media reported Monday, marking his first reported visit to the family mausoleum on the late leader's birth anniversary in four years. Kim visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun the previous day, on the late leader's birthday, known as the Day of the Shining Star, accompanied by his powerful sister Kim Yo-jong, party secretaries, Defense Minister
Feb. 17, 2025 -
Trump 2.0 codifies ‘complete denuclearization’ of N. Korea amid fears of US policy shift
‘Complete denuclearization of North Korea’ has been used in official statements, replacing peninsula-wide term The Trump administration has set forth a commitment to North Korea’s “complete denuclearization” and to the preservation of sanctions and pressure to that end in a joint statement with South Korea and Japan, assuaging Seoul’s mounting concerns over Washington’s potential shift in North Korea policy. The joint statement came after the first meeting among South Korea’s Foreign Minister Ch
Feb. 16, 2025 -
N. Korea vows stronger defense against 'provocative attempts' by S. Korea, US
North Korea on Saturday reaffirmed its commitment to bolstering its defensive capabilities to deter what it calls "provocative attempts" by South Korea and the United States, the North's state media reported Saturday. "The DPRK's bolstering of its self-defensive capabilities is an essential requirement for deterring rivals' ever-increasing various provocative attempts and ensuring the security of the state," read a press statement of Pyongyang's defense policy chief, released by the Korean Centr
Feb. 15, 2025 -
N. Korea's Kim attends groundbreaking ceremony for offshore fish farm, urges regional economic development: KCNA
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the country's second offshore fish farm in the east coastal city of Rakwon and called for regional development to achieve regional economic self-reliance, state media reported Saturday. Kim attended the ceremony for the Rakwon County Offshore Farm on Friday, after he ordered the construction of the farm last year, the Korean Central News Agency said. The North's leader said offshore farming will open a new era for the fis
Feb. 15, 2025 -
N. Korea bristles at deepening S. Korea-US alliance under South's acting leadership
North Korea on Friday accused South Korea and the United States of deepening their alliance against its regime even under Seoul's acting leadership, warning it cannot sit idly by amid their "recklessness." The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) cited the South Korean Navy's recent adoption of MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and the launch earlier this month of the Navy Task Fleet Command, as it denounced the South's military in a commentary of escalating confrontational plots against Pyongyang. "Even
Feb. 14, 2025 -
S. Korea urges N. Korea to stop demolishing reunion site
South Korea on Thursday urged North Korea to immediately halt the demolition of facilities used for reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War, denouncing it as an “inhumane act” that crushes the long-held hopes of aging Koreans longing to be reunited with loved ones across the heavily fortified border. The Unification Ministry in Seoul confirmed that North Korea has begun demolishing the family reunion center and its auxiliary buildings in the Mount Kumgang Tourist Region — a symb
Feb. 13, 2025 -
N. Korea chides Trump over Gaza, Greenland, ‘Gulf of America’ and Panama
North Korea chided US President Donald Trump over his repeatedly stated expansionist ambitions to own the Gaza Strip, purchase Greenland and regain control of the Panama Canal as well as his order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America." In a Korean Central News Agency commentary released Wednesday titled “Oppressive and Ruthless Plunderer— This Is America,” the Kim Jong-un regime on Wednesday criticized Trump’s unorthodox foreign policy — notably without once mentioning Trump's na
Feb. 12, 2025 -
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