In letter to quake-hit Syria, N. Korean leader wishes swift recovery work: media

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sent a letter to his Syrian counterpart hoping the country makes a speedy recovery from damage wrought by a devastating earthquake that recently struck the region, Pyongyang's state media said Friday. In the message sent to President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday, Kim also expressed "deep appreciation" to Syria for extending warm congratulations on the occasion of the 81st birth anniversary of his late father Kim Jong-il last week, according to t

Feb. 24, 2023

N. Korea to hold key party meeting amid severe food shortages

North Korea is expected to hold a key party meeting later this month to solely discuss agricultural issues amid keen attention to whether it will unveil any practical measures to address its serious food shortages. The secretive country earlier announced its plan to hold a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea in late February to discuss "immediate farming issues and long-term goals for the agricultural development." It stopped short of specifying the date. The Nor

Feb. 23, 2023

Joint development of cargo aircraft with UAE is KAI’s top priority: CEO

The priority of South Korean defense company Korea Aerospace Industries in the Middle East is to advance the project to co-develop multirole transport aircraft with the United Arab Emirates, KAI CEO Kang Goo-young said Monday. Speaking at the region’s largest international defense exhibition in UAE capital Abu Dhabi, he said the KAI was also eyeing opportunities to export combat helicopters and fighter jets to the Middle East. Kang said the KAI’s top priority in the Middle East would

Feb. 21, 2023

[From the Scene] Koreas back to square one as detente fades

PAJU, Gyeonggi Province -- Panmunjom, the Joint Security Area straddling the military demarcation line separating the two Koreas, was eerily quiet on Tuesday afternoon. Outsiders seeing the surroundings for the first time were greeted by near-perfect serenity in the place where the two Koreas vowed peace in April 2018. A historic summit that took place two months later in Singapore between then-US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un raised hopes for detente that many belie

Feb. 20, 2023

N.Korea fires ballistic missiles in tit-for-tat after alliance air exercise

North Korea on Monday fired two ballistic missiles, which the country claimed is capable of destroying an “enemy operational airfield,” a day after South Korea and the US staged combined aerial drills in a show of the alliance’s readiness to respond to Pyongyang’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. The two missiles were fired toward the East Sea from the area of Sukchon County, South Pyongan Province, between 7 a.m. and 7:11 a.m. The two traveled around 390

Feb. 20, 2023

N. Korea fires 2 short-range ballistic missiles toward East Sea: S. Korean military

North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Monday, Seoul's military said, a day after South Korea and the United States staged joint air drills, involving B-1B bombers, in response to the North's long-range missile launch. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the launch from the Sukchon area in South Pyongan Province between 7 a.m. and 7:11 a.m. It did not immediately provide details. "While strengthening its monitoring and vigilance, our military is m

Feb. 20, 2023

Tensions rise as allies stage drills over NK missile launch

South Korea and the US staged combined air drills Sunday, a day after North Korea aggravated inter-Korean tensions by firing an intercontinental ballistic missile that South Korea believes could reach anywhere in the continental United States. The launch came ahead of Seoul-Washington nuclear drills scheduled for this week and their annual field exercises for next month -- both of which are intended to help deal with Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions. The Hwasong-15 launch, the first ICBM firi

Feb. 19, 2023

N. Korea fires 1 long-range ballistic missile into East Sea: S. Korean military

North Korea fired a long-range ballistic missile into the East Sea on Saturday, according to South Korea's military. The North's second ballistic missile provocation this year came as the South and the United States plan to hold a joint military training next week against Pyongyang's potential use of nuclear weapons. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the launch from the Sunan area in Pyongyang at 5:22 p.m. and that the missile, fired at a lofted angle, flew some 900 kil

Feb. 18, 2023

ASEAN-Korea Center kicks off annual council meeting

The ASEAN-Korea Center kicked off its annual council meeting in Seoul to review programs hosted in the fiscal year 2022 and discuss the budget for this year. Held after 3 years due to the pandemic, the offline meeting was attended by high level officials from governments, academia and the media of 10 ASEAN member countries. According to the AKC, the annual meeting is significant for ASEAN countries and Korea to bolster international cooperation efforts in the post-COVID era. The center will

Feb. 16, 2023

ASEAN-Korea Center kicks off annual council meeting

The ASEAN-Korea Center kicked off its annual council meeting in Seoul to review programs hosted in the fiscal year 2022 and discuss the budget for this year. Held after 3 years due to the pandemic, the offline meeting was attended by high level officials from governments, academia and the media of 10 ASEAN member countries. According to the AKC, the annual meeting is significant for ASEAN countries and Korea to bolster international cooperation efforts in the post-COVID era. The center will pl

Feb. 16, 2023

S. Korea redeclares N.Korea as ‘enemy’ in defense white paper

South Korea has redesignated the North Korean regime and its military as its “enemy” for the first time in six years, in the first defense white paper issued under the conservative Yoon Suk Yeol government. The Yoon government has decided to bring back the expression in light of North Korea’s antagonistic strategy toward South Korea, its continuing advancement of nuclear capabilities and persisting military provocations against South Korea, the Defense Ministry said Thursday. &

Feb. 16, 2023

[Korean History] NK commandos’ failed attempt to assassinate Park Chung-hee in 1968

"History through The Korea Herald” revisits significant events and issues over the seven decades through articles, photos and editorial pieces published in the Herald and retell them from a contemporary perspective. – Ed. It was one of the most daring infiltrations by North Koreans into South Korea after the war of 1950-53 -- 31 commandos on a mission to break into the presidential office in Seoul and assassinate then President Park Chung-hee. On the night of Jan. 21, 1968,

Feb. 16, 2023

Waitingi Day celebrations in Korea

The New Zealand Embassy in Seoul commemorated Waitangi Day at the ambassador’s residence in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Tuesday. Waitangi Day is celebrated as New Zealand's national day to commemorate the first signing of New Zealand's founding document, known as the Treaty of Waitangi, signed between the British Crown and about 540 Maori rangatira on Feb. 6, 1840. The commemoration was followed by a reception to bid farewell to friends in Seoul for New Zealand ambassador to Korea Phillip Turner.

Feb. 16, 2023

N. Korean leader calls for strong defense power in meeting with army activists

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for the strengthening of the country's defense during a meeting with local activists who support the nation's army, according to Pyongyang's state media Wednesday. Kim made the remarks in a photo session Tuesday with "activists in the traits of assisting the army," who were invited to Pyongyang as special delegates to last week's military parade marking the 75th founding anniversary of the armed forces, according to the Kor

Feb. 15, 2023

China's defense chief sends congratulatory message to N. Korea over army anniversary

China's defense minister has sent a congratulatory message to his North Korean counterpart on the occasion of the North's 75th founding anniversary of its armed forces last week, Pyongyang's state media said Tuesday. In the letter to North Korean Defense Minister Kang Sun-nam, China's defense chief Wei Fenghe pledged efforts to promote the ties of the two nations' armies and defend regional peace, according to the Korean Central News Agency. The message said the two coun

Feb. 14, 2023

N. Korea 'expands, reorganizes' military units with operational combat missions: KCNA

North Korea has "expanded and reorganized" many of its military units in accordance with new security situations, assigning operational combat missions to them, state media said Monday. The report came after North Korea held a massive military parade last week to mark the 75th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Army, displaying intercontinental ballistic missiles and other advanced weaponry, as well as new military units. "Many units of services and arms of the KPA h

Feb. 13, 2023

NK media urges thorough quarantine efforts amid 'very unstable' virus situation

A North Korean state broadcaster called Sunday for thorough quarantine efforts, pointing to the "very unstable" situation marked by the spread of COVID-19, seasonal flu and other contagious illnesses. The North's official Korean Central Television said the country's entire society should continue to maintain the antivirus campaign by blocking all virus transmission routes, including border and coastal areas, until the world's public health crisis ends. "Even into th

Feb. 12, 2023

Kim’s ‘respected’ daughter: Heir apparent or propaganda vehicle?

North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, placed his young daughter, Kim Ju-ae, front and center at high-profile events last week, rekindling the debate on whether North Korea carves out a path to position Ju-ae as Kim’s heir apparent. Some experts said North Korea has signaled that Ju-ae has been internally decided as the next leader, while others point out Ju-ae has been used as a propaganda vehicle to send a message that nuclear weapons can protect the safety of the younger generations and high

Feb. 12, 2023

S. Korea sanctions N. Korea over cybertheft for first time

South Korea has imposed sanctions on North Korean individuals and groups for stealing cryptocurrency assets and coordinating cyberattacks, the first independent steps to curb cybercrimes that Seoul says are linked to bankrolling Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs. Four North Korean computer programmers and seven entities associated with North Korea’s top military intelligence agency -- the Reconnaissance General Bureau -- face the ban, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said Friday

Feb. 10, 2023

Finnish minister visits Seoul to discuss technology cooperation with S. Korea

The Finnish minister of transport and communication visited Seoul to expand technological exchanges with South Korea in the fields of 6G, quantum computing and space, the Finnish Embassy in Seoul said Tuesday. Minister Timo Harakka, addressing the previous cooperation between the two countries on 5G network development at a roundtable held under the theme of "Building Digital Capability," said Finland has already taken steps toward 6G. The minister joined discussions with representativ

Feb. 9, 2023