N. Korea unveils first 'tactical nuclear attack submarine'

North Korea has unveiled its first-ever operational submarine, purportedly capable of launching nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, while the country's leader, Kim Jong-un, has urged for intensified efforts to expeditiously arm the Navy with nuclear weapons against the evolving nature of military actions by adversaries. But South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff have dismissed the claim, assessing that the submarine does not seem to be capable of normal operation. North Korea conducted a ceremony t

Sept. 8, 2023

3 minor natural earthquakes strike near N. Korea's nuclear test site

Three minor earthquakes struck North Korea's northeastern county of Kilju, home to the country's nuclear testing site, but all of them were natural tremors, South Korea's state weather agency said Friday. The first quake occurred about 38 km north of Kilju at 3:29 a.m., while the second and third ones struck nearby areas at 4:01 a.m. and 5:12 a.m., respectively, with their magnitudes ranging between 2.1 and 2.3, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. The KMA said al

Sept. 8, 2023

N. Korea-Russia partnership may benefit both but will have limits: former intelligence officer

North Korea and Russia may be seeking to improve their relations since it may offer benefits to both but the level of their cooperation, especially in advanced military technology such as nuclear weapons, will likely be limited, a former US intelligence officer on North Korea said Thursday. Sydney Seiler, former national intelligence officer on North Korea at the National Intelligence Council, also argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite being desperate for North Korea's suppo

Sept. 8, 2023

China's vice premier set to visit N. Korea

A high-level Chinese delegation, led by Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, is set to visit North Korea to participate in events commemorating the 75th anniversary of the country's foundation, North Korean state media said Thursday. But all eyes are fixed on the reasoning behind China's decision to send a seemingly lower-ranking delegation compared to the previous occasion to commemorate North Korea's Sept. 9 anniversary. In September 2018, General Secretary Xi Jinping dispatched Li Zhansh

Sept. 7, 2023

N. Korea will face 'repercussions' if it provides weapons to Russia: Kirby

North Korea will face repercussions from the United States and other countries should it provide weapons to Russia that can kill innocent people in Ukraine, a White House official said Wednesday. John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, also called on North Korea to stop its negotiations with Russia for a potential arms deal. "We are not seeing them provide any wholesale assistance to the Russian military, and we continue to urge North Korea not to do

Sept. 7, 2023

N. Korea will pay a price if it provides weapons to Russia: NSA Sullivan

The top US national security adviser urged North Korea not to provide any lethal weapons to Russia on Tuesday, saying it will pay a price if it decides to do so. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said there were no indications that the North has provided large amounts of weapons to Russia but that negotiations toward that end between the two countries are "actively advancing." "Providing weapons to Russia for use on the battlefield to attack grain silos and the heating infra

Sept. 6, 2023

Potential Kim-Putin summit raises possibility of arms deals

South Korea is looking closely into momentum for tighter ties between North Korea and Russia ahead of their potential “leader-level talks” over the North getting technology to advance its nuclear arsenal in return for supplying Moscow with weapons to support its war in Ukraine. A senior official at the Unification Ministry in Seoul said Tuesday that cooperation involving North Korea and its neighbors along its northern border should take place in a way that does not violate “in

Sept. 5, 2023

Premature to say Kim Jong-un's daughter an heir: Seoul

North Korean state media's ongoing efforts to spotlight Kim Ju-ae, the daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, primarily serve to underscore Pyongyang's commitment to upholding fourth-generation hereditary succession, rather than indicating her formal designation as the heir apparent, South Korea's Unification Ministry said Tuesday. The Rodong Sinmun, an organ of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea that mainly targets North Korean audiences, reported a total of 15 public

Sept. 5, 2023

N. Korean leader Kim may visit Russia for talks with Putin on arms deal: report

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may soon travel to Russia to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and discuss a possible arms deal, a news report said Monday. The New York Times reported that Kim may travel to Vladivostok next week to meet with Putin. "In a rare foray from his country, Mr. Kim would travel from Pyongyang, North Korea's capital, probably by armored train, to Vladivostok, on the Pacific Coast of Russia, where he would meet with Mr. Putin," said the report, quo

Sept. 5, 2023

N.Korea continues simulating tactical nuclear attacks

North Korea conducted a purported live-fire drill simulating a "tactical nuclear attack" early Saturday by launching long-range strategic cruise missiles toward the West Sea, its state media claimed Sunday. However, the South Korean military dismissed the report as an "exaggeration," saying that North Korea may have failed to detonate a mock nuclear warhead in midair. The latest drill is the second nuclear attack simulation in three days, which North Korean state media has la

Sept. 3, 2023

NSC convenes emergency meeting after N. Korea's missile launch

The presidential National Security Council held an emergency meeting Saturday after North Korea fired several cruise missiles toward the Yellow Sea, according to a presidential official. The NSC meeting was led by Deputy National Security Adviser Lim Jong-deuk to discuss the readiness posture, the official said. The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced the North's launch took place at around 4 a.m., days after South Korea and the United States wrapped up their major joint military drills. South

Sept. 2, 2023

N. Korea fires several cruise missiles into Yellow Sea: JCS

North Korea fired several cruise missiles toward the Yellow Sea on Saturday, Seoul's military said, days after South Korea and the US wrapped up their major joint military drills. The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced the North's launch took place at around 4 a.m. but did not elaborate further, pending an analysis. "While strengthening our monitoring and vigilance, our military is maintaining a full readiness posture in close cooperation with the US," the JCS said in a text mes

Sept. 2, 2023

S. Korea sanctions N. Korean drone maker

South Korea has rolled out sanctions on North Korea’s company and workers there for developing weapons including drones and using IT staff to bankroll the country’s weapons programs -- the latest ban aimed at curbing Pyongyang’s aggression. The Foreign Ministry in Seoul said Friday that any exchanges with Ryugyong, the firm, and its five employees -- the chief and four other senior officials -- will result in punishment unless they are approved in advance by authorities. The ba

Sept. 1, 2023

US imposes sanctions on two individuals, one entity for funding N. Korea's illegal weapons program

The US Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions Thursday on two individuals including a North Korean national and one entity in Russia for helping to finance North Korea's illegal weapons development program. The move comes in response to North Korea's failed attempt to launch a reconnaissance satellite last week, according to the office. "In coordination with the Republic of Korea and Japan, the United States sanctioned two individuals and one entity -- J

Sept. 1, 2023

S. Korea, U.S. stage joint live-fire air exercise

South Korea and the United States staged combined live-fire air drills Thursday to bolster their precision strike capabilities, as part of the allies' key annual military exercise. Seoul's Air Force said the drills mobilized some 30 aircraft, including South Korean F-35A radar-evading jets, armed with various missiles, in connection with the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise set to end Thursday. During the live-fire exercise over the Yellow Sea, the South's F-35A, F-15K and KF-16 figh

Aug. 31, 2023

NK holds military drills simulating occupation of S. Korea

North Korea has publicly launched military exercises that involve simulating the occupation of the entirety of South Korean territory through armed attacks in case of contingencies in the presence of the country's leader, Kim Jong-un, its state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Thursday. The General Staff of the Korean People’s Army on Tuesday commenced a command post exercise, or CPX, involving its entire army. The CPX aims to evaluate and examine the operational planning, orga

Aug. 31, 2023

N. Korea to hold key parliamentary meeting on Sept. 26

North Korea plans to convene a key parliamentary meeting next month to mainly discuss organizational matters, state media said Thursday, amid speculation that the country might replace its premier over flood damage. The standing committee of the Supreme People's Assembly decided the previous day to hold the ninth session of the 14th SPA on Sept. 26, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency. The upcoming session will discuss organizational matters and the issue of ex

Aug. 31, 2023

N. Korea in active negotiations with Russia for arms deal: White House

WASHINGTON -- A group of Russian officials recently trip to North Korea, indicating a potential arms deal between the two countries, a US National Security Council official said Wednesday. John Kirby, NSC coordinator for strategic communications, said the trip may be followed by high-level discussions that could lead to the provision of North Korean weapons to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine. "We have new information, which we are able to share today, that arms negotiations betwee

Aug. 31, 2023

N.Korea fires ballistic missiles after US sends bombers

North Korea fired two ballistic missiles toward the waters off its east coast late Wednesday night in an apparent protest against the ongoing regular military exercises conducted by South Korea and the US. The two short-range ballistic missiles were launched from the area of Sunan district in the capital city of Pyongyang between 11:40 p.m. and 11:50 p.m., according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff. The missiles flew around 360 kilometers before splashing down in the East Sea, the JCS said

Aug. 31, 2023

S. Korea holds drills as North vows nuclear buildup

South Korea, the US and Japan held joint missile defense drills off the Korean Peninsula on Tuesday to counter North Korea’s aggression, as the North vowed to expand its capability to use nuclear weapons at sea. The exercises in international waters off Jeju Island focused on tracking projectiles and sharing information about such potential launches by North Korea. Destroyers equipped with the Aegis system to shoot down missiles were used, South Korea’s Navy said. The aim is to &ldq

Aug. 29, 2023