SEOUL, January 6 (AJP) - Frequent public appearances of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's daughter Ju-ae are believed to be intended to project a "prominent family" image rather than groom her as the next leader for a hereditary transfer of power, the Unification Ministry here speculated on Tuesday. As many pundits closely watch Kim's activities for clues in the reclusive country, where even small details can matter, a ministry official said, "We cannot sing

SEOUL, January 5 (AJP) - North Korea has tested "hypersonic missiles" with its leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, state media reported on Monday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the hypersonic missiles were fired the previous day from a site near Pyongyang as part of a missile-launching drill and "hit targets" in the East Sea as Kim "oversaw" the drill along with senior military officials. The KCNA said, "Imp

SEOUL, January 4 (AJP) - North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the East Sea, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Sunday. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected several projectiles, believed to be ballistic missiles, launched around 7:50 a.m. from a site near Pyongyang, but provided no further details as it analyzes the launch site and missile type. It was North Korea's first ballistic missile launch this year and came about two months after it fired a short-range bal

SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ushered in the new year with a visit to the mausoleum where the embalmed bodies of his grandfather and regime founder Kim Il-sung, and his father Kim Jong-il lie in state, state media reported on Friday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), he "paid New Year greetings to the great leaders" at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun the previous day, accompanied by senior officials and top mili

SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - That North Korea’s supreme leader Kim Jong Un favors symbolism is hardly surprising. But his latest gesture suggests a particular flair for political semiotics. Kim has reportedly replaced the license plate on his state limousine — a Russian-made Aurus Senat gifted by President Vladimir Putin — with one bearing the number “7·27 0001.” The first three digits mark July 27, 1953, the date of the Korean War armistice. The r

SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - South Korea has lifted long-standing restrictions on access to Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of North Korea’s Workers’ Party, allowing the public to read it uncensored at designated institutions, the Unification Ministry said Tuesday. Under the revised rules, South Koreans can access the newspaper at facilities that handle special materials — including the Unification Ministry’s North Korea Information Center and the Nationa

SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has urged officials to "bring about a revolution" in upgrading an artillery weapons system while inspecting a munitions factory that produces multiple rocket launchers, state media reported on Tuesday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim, accompanied by a slew of military brass and key officials, visited the factory last Sunday and inspected the "production of weapons and combat e

SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - North Korea test-fired long-range cruise missiles toward the West Sea, state media said on Monday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), they flew along a preset route "for 10,199 seconds and 10,203 seconds" before striking their targets. The launch, which was conducted the previous day with the country's leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, was part of drills aimed at checking the strategic weapons system

SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Ministry of Unification (MOU) held a joint workshop on Friday to prepare for potential military dialogue with North Korea, despite the lack of a response from Pyongyang regarding recent proposals. The session, held at the Office of Inter-Korean Dialogue in central Seoul, focused on inter-agency coordination and reviewing readiness measures for future negotiations. During the workshop, defen