NATO chief says he can confirm North Korean troops are in Russia's Kursk

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed on Monday that North Korean troops have been sent to Russia and that North Korean military units have been deployed to the Kursk region. "The deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea is a threat to both Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic security," Rutte told reporters after NATO officials and diplomats received a briefing from a South Korean delegation. Ukrainian forces staged a major incursion into Kur

Oct. 28, 2024

[Contribution] Advancing justice for the DPRK's human rights abuses

Ten years after the release of the groundbreaking United Nations Commission of Inquiry report on Human Rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which concluded that the regime is committing crimes against humanity, we traveled to the Republic of Korea (South Korea's official name) to meet with victims and survivors, ROK government officials and activists. Our goal was to promote justice and accountability for those responsible for the widespread and systematic abuses

Oct. 28, 2024

Signs point to N. Korean troops in Russia-Ukraine combat zone

Growing indications suggest that North Korean troops are on the brink of deployment to support Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine, as North Korean soldiers have reportedly arrived in Russia's Kursk region, where Russian and Ukrainian forces have been battling for control of key strategic border location. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that Russia is expected to deploy the first contingent of North Korean soldiers to combat zones as early as Sunday and Monday, based on an

Oct. 27, 2024

N. Korea slams Seoul-Washington joint air exercise

North Korea lambasted South Korea and the United States on Saturday for staging a joint air exercise, accusing Washington of driving the Korean Peninsula into an "uncontrollable" situation. The Freedom Flag exercise kicked off this week to run through next Friday, with the air forces of South Korea and the US, as well as Australia, participating. The two-week joint drill, which is taking place for the first time, replaces regular large-scale air exercises between South Korea and the

Oct. 26, 2024

N. Korea says troop dispatch to Russia, if true, falls in line with int'l law

North Korea's foreign ministry said Friday any alleged deployment of North Korean troops to Russia would align with international law, making the first official comment over the issue. A senior official from North Korea's foreign ministry said in a statement issued through the Korean Central News Agency if international media's reports about North Korea's troop dispatch were accurate, such action would "comply with international law and norms." The official respon

Oct. 25, 2024

N. Korea's parliament adopts new law on national anthem

North Korea's parliament has convened a meeting to adopt a new law on its national anthem, state media reported Friday, in what observers believe was aimed at upholding leader Kim Jong-un's "two hostile states" stance. The Standing Committee of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly held its 33rd session in Pyongyang on Thursday, according to the Korean Central News Agency. The report did not provide details about the new law on the national anthem, but observers speculated

Oct. 25, 2024

First unit of N. Korean troops deployed to front lines in western Russia: reports

The first batch of North Korean troops sent to Russia to support its war in Ukraine has reportedly arrived in Russia's western border region near Ukraine, according to Ukrainian media on Friday. The North Korean military unit was spotted Wednesday in the "war zones" of Russia's Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have been conducting operations since launching an incursion in August, Ukrainian media outlets, including Ukrainska Pravda, reported, citing Ukrainian intelligence

Oct. 25, 2024

What would N. Korean troops mean for the war with Ukraine?

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — US and South Korean officials said Wednesday that there’s evidence North Korea has dispatched troops to Russia in a potential escalation of the nearly 3-year-old war with Ukraine. If the soldiers’ goal is fighting with Russia in Ukraine, it would be the first time a third country puts boots on the ground in the war. Other countries on both sides of the divide have sent military aid, including weapons and training: Iran has supplied Russia with drones, and W

Oct. 24, 2024

N. Korea installing unidentified structures on disconnected inter-Korean road: source

North Korea is building unidentified structures on an eastern inter-Korean road that it blew up last week, a source said Thursday, amid heightened cross-border tensions over the North's border activities. Last Tuesday, North Korea blew up sections of the eastern Donghae Line and the western Gyeongui Line, just north of the border, days after vowing to cut off all roads and railways linked to the South and build front-line defense structures. Since the explosions, South Korea's border s

Oct. 24, 2024

NATO says has 'confirmed evidence' N.Korea troops in Russia

NATO countries have confirmed evidence that North Korea has sent troops to Russia, an alliance spokeswoman said Wednesday, warning it would be a major escalation if they head to Ukraine. "Allies have confirmed evidence of a DPRK troop deployment to Russia. If these troops are destined to fight in Ukraine, it would mark a significant escalation in North Korea's support for Russia's illegal war and yet another sign of Russia's significant losses on the front lines," Farah

Oct. 23, 2024

N. Korea's support puts Putin in its debt: experts

North Korea's dispatch of personnel to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine -- even if their military involvement is limited or indirect -- could put Russian President Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang's debt, experts said. The development may also set the stage for reciprocal support from Moscow for Kim Jong-un's aggressive ambitions, especially if North Korean casualties occur in the Ukraine war. Whether North Korea has dispatched troops to Russia remains a hotly debated issue, w

Oct. 23, 2024

N. Korean leader urges bolstering war deterrence, citing US nuclear threats

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has once again called for enhancing the country's war deterrence, including the readiness of its nuclear capabilities, in response to what he described as growing nuclear threats from the United States, state media said Wednesday. Kim made the remarks during his inspection of "strategic missile bases," the Korean Central News Agency said in an English-language dispatch. The report did not specify the location or the date of the inspection. "As

Oct. 23, 2024

NK leader's sister accuses S. Korea, Ukraine of provocation, likens them to 'bad dogs bred by the US'

The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un slammed South Korea and Ukraine on Tuesday for what she claimed was a military provocation against Pyongyang, likening the two countries to "bad dogs bred by the US." The statement by Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the central committee of the ruling Workers' Party, came days after South Korea's spy agency said the North was sending troops to fight alongside Russia in the war in Ukraine. "A military provoca

Oct. 22, 2024

S. Korea, UK to initiate 2+2 talks, boost defense ties

Top diplomats of South Korea and the United Kingdom have agreed to launch foreign and defense ministerial "2+2" talks early next year in a bid to strengthen their joint response to regional and global security threats, while pledging further cooperation on co-developing defense capabilities, according to a joint statement released Tuesday. South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy met for the 9th Korea-UK Foreign Ministers' Strategi

Oct. 22, 2024

Russian, N. Korean flags displayed together on Ukraine battlefield

A pro-Russia Telegram account has posted a photo showing the Russian and North Korean flags side by side on a Ukrainian battlefield, indicating that North Korea has likely sent troops to support Russia in its prolonged war with Ukraine. The image, shared by a blogger named @rvvoenkor_bot on Monday, showed the two flags raised together over a mine in Pokrovsk, one of the strongholds on Ukraine's eastern front. The blogger said that the North Korean flag has recently been raised on a hill at

Oct. 22, 2024

N. Korea sends about 20 trash balloons toward S. Korea: JCS

North Korea has floated about 20 balloons carrying trash toward South Korea since Saturday night, and some 10 objects from the balloons were found in the border county of Cheorwon, the South Korean military said Sunday. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said the trash-loaded balloons were sent across the border between Saturday night and early Sunday and the fallen objects were household waste, such as paper and vinyl, and included no hazardous items. The number of dropped items does not necessarily cor

Oct. 20, 2024

Russia prepares Korean-language questionnaire for N. Korean soldiers: CNN

Russia appears to have prepared a Korean-language questionnaire to facilitate the distribution of military equipment to North Korean soldiers deployed in its territory, CNN reported. The questionnaire, provided by the Ukrainian Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security (SPRAVDI), is seen as further evidence that North Korean troops may be joining Russian forces in the conflict in Ukraine. The questionnaire includes instructions requesting soldiers to provide their hat, uniform

Oct. 20, 2024

Xi expresses willingness to promote regional, global peace in message to NK leader

Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a message to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, expressing a willingness to move relations between the two countries further forward and to promote regional and global peace, Pyongyang's state media reported Sunday. Xi sent the message on Wednesday in response to a message that Kim had earlier sent on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of China's founding in 1949, according to the North's Korean Central News Agency. "China and the DPRK ar

Oct. 20, 2024

N. Korea warns countries joining US-led sanctions monitoring team will pay 'dear price'

North Korea's top diplomat has criticized a new multilateral sanctions monitoring team led by the United States as "unlawful and illegitimate" and warned the participating countries will "pay a dear price," state media reported Sunday. North Korea's Foreign Minister Choi Sun-hui issued a statement condemning the sanctions regime after South Korea, the US, and Japan on Thursday announced the launch of the monitoring mechanism with eight other countries, following Rus

Oct. 20, 2024

N. Korea claims discovering remains of drone sent from S. Korea in Pyongyang

      North Korea claimed Saturday it has discovered remains of at least one drone sent from South Korea, describing it as the same type displayed on the South's Armed Forces Day in Seoul earlier this month. Pyongyang has accused Seoul of sending drones carrying anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets over the capital. But South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun said that he could not confirm the North's allegations. A North Korean defense ministry spokesperson said in a stateme

Oct. 19, 2024