New Defense Minister Lee takes office, warns of 'stern' response to possible NK provocations

New South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup took office Wednesday, vowing to "sternly" respond to North Korea's possible provocations and cement the alliance with the United States. In his inauguration speech, Lee, a retired three-star Army general, stressed his commitment to ensuring a "robust" defense as he pointed to the "very grave" security context marked by the North's evolving nuclear and missile threats and an intensifying Sino-US rivalry. "If North

May 11, 2022

N. Korea likely to continue nuclear, missile development in 2022: US military

North Korea is expected to continue advancing its nuclear and missile capabilities this year to increase its leverage in any potential negotiations with the United States, the top US military intelligence official said Tuesday. The remarks by Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, director of the US Defense Intelligence Agency, come amid speculation that Pyongyang may conduct a nuclear test as early as this month. "We expect North Korea to continue its nuclear, missile, and military modernization efforts

May 11, 2022

N. Korean leader sends 'Victory Day' message to Putin

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un expressed his country's "firm solidarity" with Russia in a congratulatory message sent to President Vladimir Putin over Moscow's celebration of its "Victory Day" holiday, the North's state media reported Tuesday. In the message sent the previous day, Kim congratulated Putin on the anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, according to the Rodong Sinmun, an organ of the ruling Workers' Party, and the Korean Cen

May 10, 2022

N. Korea urges tighter steps against coronavirus amid speculation on possible outbreak

North Korea again called Monday for stepped-up efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 amid growing cases of fever patients there, while the secretive nation has claimed to be coronavirus free. South Korea's spy agency said earlier that a temporary lockdown imposed in the North last Wednesday is suspected to have been related to COVID-19, though it also raised the possibility of an outbreak of waterborne diseases, such as typhoid. The Rodong Sinmun, an organ of the ruling Workers' Party, urged

May 9, 2022

Pyongyang ramps up provocations in run-up to Yoon’s inauguration

North Korea is ramping up provocations in the run-up to the inauguration of Yoon Suk-yeol, who is more hawkish towards North Korea than the outgoing president, on Tuesday. On Saturday, the North fired an apparent submarine-launched ballistic missile in the waters off its east coast, three days after launching an intercontinental ballistic missile. According to the South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the suspected SLBM was launched at 2:07 p.m. on Saturday into the waters off the North

May 8, 2022

NK state media outlets remain silent about SLBM launch

North Korea's official news agency and other state media outlets remained silent Sunday about a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) that the country fired the previous day in its latest saber-rattling ahead of the inauguration of South Korea's incoming President Yoon Suk-yeol. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Pyongyang's official mouthpiece, usually begins its morning news cycle with reports on major events that happened the previous day, such as leader Kim Jong-un's activity or ma

May 8, 2022

N. Korea could stage nuclear test this month: US State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- North Korea may be preparing to stage a nuclear test as early as this month, a state department spokesperson said Friday. Jalina Porter said the US has also shared the information with allies and partners. “The United States assesses that the DPRK is preparing its Punggye-ri test site and could be ready to conduct a test there as early as this month, which would be its seventh test,” the principal deputy spokesperson said in a telephonic press briefing. DPRK stands

May 7, 2022

Unification ministry to hold cultural events for N. Korean defectors next week

South Korea's unification ministry said Friday its inter-Korean culture center will hold a series of events next week as part of efforts to boost a rapport between South Koreans and North Korean defectors living in the country. The Inter-Korean Cultural Integration Center, located in western Seoul, plans to host various events to be attended by defectors, such as plays, concerts and exhibitions, from Monday to Saturday on the occasion of the 2nd anniversary of the center's opening, according to

May 6, 2022

N. Korea's media mute about latest missile test

North Korea's state-controlled news outlets were unusually silent Thursday morning about the country's latest ballistic missile test the previous day. There were no related reports by the secretive nation's media, including the Korean Central News Agency and the Rodong Sinmun, as of 9:30 a.m., unlike Pyongyang's usual practice of quickly boasting publicly about its major weapons tests. On Wednesday, the North launched a ballistic missile, which flew 470 kilometers at a maximum altitude of 780 km

May 5, 2022

N.Korea fires a ballistic missile eastward from Pyongyang: JCS

North Korea launched a ballistic missile eastward from the capital city of Pyongyang on Wednesday afternoon, in continuation of actions raising tension in the run-up to the inauguration of the Yoon Suk-yeol government and the South Korea-US summit. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the military “detected one ballistic missile being fired from the Sunan area in Pyongyang city toward the East Sea at around 12:03 p.m.” The missile traveled around 470 kilometers at an alti

May 4, 2022

US plans to move forward with UNSC resolution on N. Korea in May: US ambassador

The United States plans to move forward with a US-drafted UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution condemning North Korea's recent missile activities, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Monday. The move comes as the US assumed the presidency of the 15-member UNSC for the month. "We do have a resolution that is being discussed in the council on DPRK, and it is our plan to move forward with that resolution during this month," Thomas-Greenfield said when asked if the US wil

May 4, 2022

China’s top nuclear envoy to discuss political solutions to NK issues on Seoul visit

China’s top nuclear envoy is set to discuss political solutions with South Korean officials amid a continuing tug of war among countries over how to respond to a series of advanced weapons tests by North Korea. Liu Xiaoming, special representative of the Chinese government on Korean Peninsula affairs, arrived in South Korea on Sunday. Liu’s first visit to Seoul after his appointment in April 2021 comes at a critical juncture when North Korea has ratcheted up tension on the Korean

May 2, 2022

NK leader praises youth for their role in recent military parade

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un praised students and young workers who participated in a massive military parade for demonstrating ardent patriotism like no other country, state media reported Monday. At the photo session held Sunday, Kim noted the "rosy future" of "our-style socialism" belongs to the youth and urged them to hasten their efforts toward this "sacred patriotic cause," according to the official Korean Central News Agency. "Our youths have regarded

May 2, 2022

N. Korean leader vows to 'preemptively' contain nuclear threats by hostile forces

  North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stressed the need to bolster the country's military power to "preemptively and thoroughly contain" nuclear threats from hostile forces, according to Pyongyang's state media Saturday. He met with top military commanders who organized a massive street parade in Pyongyang earlier this week, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. Kim was quoted as calling on his military commanders to maintain the "absolute superiority" of the arm

April 30, 2022

Continued restoration work spotted at N. Korea's nuclear test site: report

North Korea appears to be continuing its work to restore the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, which it ostensibly demolished in 2018 ahead of a historic summit with the United States, according to a North Korea information provider that cited satellite photos. Commercial satellite imagery taken on April 26 of the site in Kilju, North Hamgyong Province, indicates ongoing work to restore access to the site's Tunnel No. 3 complex, with the construction of a new portal, or entrance, and support structu

April 29, 2022

S. Korea urges N. Korea to stop escalating tensions over Kim's pledge to bolster nuclear power

The South Korean government called Thursday on North Korea to refrain from escalating tensions in the region, responding to a threat by its leader Kim Jong-un to strengthen the regime's nuclear capabilities. "Our government and the international community have maintained the stance that North Korea should stop all acts that heighten tensions, including the advancement of its nuclear capabilities, and to return to the negotiating table," a unification ministry official said. South Korea

April 28, 2022

N. Korea plays up Kim Jong-un’s leadership in building ‘absolute power’ against threats

A North Korean newspaper claimed Wednesday that Kim Jong-un’s leadership enabled the country to develop “absolute” military power and protect the North Korean people from external threats and danger of invasion. The Rodong Sinmun, an organ of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, highlighted the North Korean leader’s purported achievement in bolstering military strength two days after the massive military parade held in Pyongyang to commemorate the 90th anniversary

April 27, 2022

US objective remains complete denuclearization of Korean Peninsula: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- The United States' objective remains the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, a state department spokesperson said Tuesday, despite North Korea's pledge to further strengthen its nuclear capabilities. Ned Price also reiterated the US holds no hostility toward the North, urging the reclusive country to return to dialogue. "Our goal remains the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,:" the department press secretary said in a press briefing. The rem

April 27, 2022

N.Korean leader pledges to strengthen nuclear forces at ‘fastest possible speed’

The North Korean leader pledged to further reinforce and develop nuclear-armed forces “at the fastest possible speed,” suggesting that North Korea can launch a preemptive nuclear strike if adversaries violate the country’s “fundamental interests.” General Secretary Kim Jong-un on Monday delivered a speech during a nighttime massive military parade held at the Kim Il-sung Square in the capital Pyongyang, North Korea state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Tues

April 26, 2022

N.Korea, Russia develop ‘strongest ever’ mutual support on global issues: state media

North Korea and Russia have developed their ties and sent the strongest ever support to each other on the international stage, as their reinforced relations have contributed to ensuring peace and security in Northeast Asia, the North Korean state newspaper said Monday in a special article. The Rodong Sinmun, an organ of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, published the special article to mark the three-year anniversary of the summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian Pres

April 25, 2022