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Laos' FM visits N. Korea following summit talks in Oct.
The foreign minister of Laos has arrived in Pyongyang, North Korea's state media reported Wednesday, just about a month after the leaders of the two countries held summit talks in the North in October. A delegation, led by Thongsavanh Phomvihane, the foreign minister of the Southeast Asian country, arrived in Pyongyang the previous day upon invitation by the North's foreign ministry, the Korean Central News Agency said. The KCNA did not provide further details on the purpose or duration of the v
Nov. 12, 2025 -
Media outlet launched to bring news tailored to N. Koreans abroad
A group of North Korean defectors and human rights activists has launched an online media platform aimed at delivering information to North Koreans living and working abroad, with the long-term goal of reaching audiences inside North Korea. The new outlet, called Korea Internet Studio, was officially launched Tuesday amid the shutdown of multiple radio and broadcast services long operated by the US and South Korean governments to deliver information to North Korean audiences. These include the U
Nov. 11, 2025 -
Yoon indicted over Pyongyang drone operation
South Korea’s special counsel on Monday indicted former President Yoon Suk Yeol and two of his aides on charges of “benefiting the enemy,” accusing them of ordering an unauthorized drone operation over Pyongyang in October 2024 to create grounds for declaring martial law. The operation, prosecutors said, heightened inter-Korean tensions and undermined national security. The investigation team, led by special prosecutor Cho Eun-suk, concluded that Yoon directed the drone missions to fabricate a p
Nov. 10, 2025 -
NK hackers hijack Google, KakaoTalk accounts to control phones: report
North Korean state-sponsored hackers hijacked Google accounts to remotely control and wipe smartphones and tablets held by individuals in South Korea, then exploited their KakaoTalk messenger as a channel to spread malware to their contacts, a report said Monday. The attack marks the first confirmed case of a North Korean state-sponsored hacking group compromising Google accounts to gain remote control over smart devices, according to South Korean cybersecurity firm Genians. The attack was ident
Nov. 10, 2025 -
US military calls NK missile launch 'destabilizing,' reaffirms readiness to defend allies
A US military command on Friday reiterated America's readiness to defend its homeland and allies, stressing that North Korea's ballistic missile launch this week underscores the "destabilizing" impact of Pyongyang's actions. The Indo-Pacific Command released a statement after Pyongyang fired one suspected short-range ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Friday (Korean time). "We are aware of the missile launch and are consulting closely with our allies and partners," the command said. "While
Nov. 8, 2025 -
Defense ministry condemns N. Korea's launch of short-range ballistic missile
South Korea's defense ministry on Saturday "strongly denounced" the North's suspected ballistic missile launch, calling for the North to halt acts that heighten tension between the Koreas. "The South's military strongly condemns the recent ballistic missile launch by the North, and expresses deep regret for (the North's) statement denouncing South Korea-US annual exercises and conference," the ministry said in a notice to the press. It also called on North Korea to "immediately halt" all acts he
Nov. 8, 2025 -
N. Korea slams S. Korea-US annual security talks, vows 'more offensive' actions
North Korea on Saturday denounced this week's annual security talks between South Korea and the United States as an "intentional" expression of the allies' "hostile" nature against it, vowing to take "more offensive" actions against enemy threats. North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang-chol said in a statement that the North has "correctly" understood US hostility toward Pyongyang as the defense chiefs of South Korea and the US held the Security Consultative Meeting in Seoul on Tuesday to discus
Nov. 8, 2025 -
North Korea launches ballistic missile into East Sea: JCS
North Korea fired at least one suspected ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Friday, in what observers say appears to be a protest against the latest US sanctions. According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the launch took place around 12:35 p.m. from the area of Daegwan in North Pyongan Province. The projectile, believed to be a ballistic missile, was detected heading eastward toward the sea, the JCS said, adding that the South Korean military is closely analyzing the missile’s spec
Nov. 7, 2025 -
N. Korea, Russia discuss cooperation, exchanges between their military-political organs
North Korea and Russia have discussed ways to strengthen cooperation among their military-political organs, state media reported Friday, amid signs of the North's deployment of additional troops to aid Russia's war with Ukraine. Pak Yong-il, vice director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army, held talks with Russian Deputy Defense Minister Viktor Goremykin on Wednesday in Pyongyang, according to the Korean Central News Agency. "At the meeting, both sides discussed ways to
Nov. 7, 2025 -
Seoul open to reviewing sanctions on N. Korea over cryptocurrency theft if needed: official
Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Ji-na said Thursday that South Korea is open to reviewing sanctions against North Korea when necessary, following the announcement of fresh U.S. sanctions on North Korean individuals and entities over illicit cyber activities. "In cases of cryptocurrency theft by Pyongyang, coordination between South Korea and the U.S. is important, as it can be used to fund North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and pose a threat to our digital ecosystem," Kim said during an
Nov. 6, 2025 -
North Korea vows to match US ‘hostility’ with patience after new sanctions
North Korea denounced the US’ latest sanctions as evidence of its “unchanging hostility” toward the country, vowing to respond with patience and corresponding measures for as long as such a policy continues. North Korea’s Vice Minister for US Affairs at the Foreign Ministry Kim Un-chol issued a press statement titled "We clarify our clear stance as we confirmed again the US ulterior intention to be hostile towards our state to the last" on Thursday morning. The press statement came after the US
Nov. 6, 2025 -
N. Korea holds state funeral for late ex-ceremonial head of state Kim Yong-nam
North Korea has held a state funeral for former ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong-nam, attended by the North's leader Kim Jong-un, state media reported Thursday. The ceremony for Kim Yong-nam, former president of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, took place at the Patriotic Martyrs Cemetery in Pyongyang's Sinmi-ri the previous day, according to the Korean Central News Agency. Kim Yong-nam died Monday at the age of 97 from multiple organ failure while battling colorectal c
Nov. 6, 2025 -
US tightens sanctions on N. Korea after Trump-Kim summit snub
The Trump administration has announced new sanctions on North Korea, tightening pressure after US President Donald Trump’s trip to South Korea ended without the long-sought meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The US Treasury Department on Tuesday announced sanctions on two North Korean financial institutions and eight individuals for helping the regime launder funds obtained through cybercrime and illicit overseas IT-worker schemes. “North Korean state-sponsored hackers steal and laund
Nov. 5, 2025 -
Doubts grow over ‘world-class’ claims of Pyongyang General Hospital
North Korea’s newly opened Pyongyang General Hospital, hailed by state media as a facility at the “world's best level,” is drawing skepticism after Seoul officials and observers said it appears to lack even basic modern medical equipment. The hospital, which began admitting patients Monday, according to the North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency, after more than five years of construction, was touted by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as the heart of national health modernization. Yet phot
Nov. 5, 2025 -
N. Korea mourns death of former ceremonial leader, joined by Chinese, Vietnamese envoys
North Korean officials have mourned the death of the country's former ceremonial leader, Kim Yong-nam, joined by the Chinese and Vietnamese ambassadors, according to state media Wednesday. Kim, former chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, died Monday at the age of 97 from multiple organ failure while battling colorectal cancer. North Korean officials from the ruling party, government, armed forces and other state organizations visited the funeral facility in Pyongy
Nov. 5, 2025