UN report condemns forced labor in N. Korea

SEOUL, July 17 (AJU PRESS) - North Korean has committed grave human rights abuses by subjecting its people to a "controlled and exploited" system of forced labor, according to a fresh U.N. report released on Tuesday. Based on 183 interviews conducted between 2015 and 2023 with victims and witnesses of such labor system, UN Human Rights Office highlighted the renegade country's serious human rights violations in the report. "The testimonies in this repor

July 17, 2024

Russia dismisses S. Korea's warning amid strained relations

SEOUL, July 9 (AJU PRESS) - Russia has responded with diplomatic rhetoric, dismissing Korea's recent warning "not to make any mistakes" that could harm bilateral relations. According to Russia's state-run news agency Ria Novosti, Russia's presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said Monday that the Kremlin does not agree with Seoul's approach. "We are supporters of building good relations with all states in the region -- both with [North Kor

July 9, 2024

N. Korea marks 30th anniversary of regime founder's death amid tensions with S. Korea

SEOUL, July 8 (AJU PRESS) - North Korea appears to be in a festive mood on Monday, marking the 30th anniversary of regime founder Kim Il-sung's death. The North's state-run Rodong Sinmun Sunday fervently praised his achievements, calling him "a devoted leader" who ruled the renegade country for nearly half a century. All eyes are now on whether the current North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will visit his grandfather's mausoleum. Since he came into power in 201

July 8, 2024

N. Korea says it successfully test-fired new tactical ballistic missile

SEOUL, July 2 (AJU PRESS) - North Korea successfully test-fired a new tactical ballistic missile, state media reported Tuesday. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the previous day that two projectiles were fired eastwards from a launch site in South Hwanghae Province at around 5:00 a.m. (2000 GMT) and traveled about 600 kilometers (372 miles) and 120 kilometers, respectively. Pyongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the missile, codenamed "H

July 2, 2024

N. Korea fires two ballistic missiles after trilateral exercise in S. Korea

SEOUL, July 01 (AJU PRESS) - North Korea fired two ballistic missiles eastward early Monday morning, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. A short-range ballistic missile was launched from an area near South Hwanghae Province at around 5:00 a.m. and another some 15 minutes later. They flew about 600 kilometers and 120 kilometers, respectively. Monday's launch occurred just two days after a trilateral miliary exercise involving South Korea, the U.S., and Japan

July 1, 2024

S. Korea to keep eye on possible dispatch of N. Korean engineering forces to Ukraine

SEOUL, June 28 (AJU PRESS) - Following a series of news reports that North Korea could send engineering forces to Ukraine, South Korea's Ministry of Unification said Friday that it is keeping an eye on further developments. Last week, cable channel TV Chosun, citing an anonymous government official, reported that Pyongyang is likely to dispatch engineering forces to Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast, currently occupied by Russian forces, to engage in reconstruction projects there as

June 28, 2024

N. Korea, Russia to resume passenger train service next month

SEOUL, June 27 (AJU PRESS) - North Korea and Russia are set to resume passenger train services next month, amid deepening ties between the two countries. At the opening ceremony of an expo in Vladivostok early this week, Oleg Kozhemyako, the governor of Russia’s Primorsky Krai, announced the impending resumption. The development follows a recent summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang, where they agreed to strengthe

June 27, 2024

N. Korea claims 'successful launch of multi-warhead missile'

SEOUL, June 27 (AJU PRESS) - North Korea Thursday claimed that it had "successfully" conducted a missile test, contradicting South Korea's assessment that the ballistic missile, fired near Pyongyang the previous day, appeared to have "failed." According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the launch, aimed at testing the individual operation of mobile warheads including a decoy, was a "success." It hailed the achievement as a signifi

June 27, 2024

N. Korea's ballistic missile explodes shortly after launch

SEOUL, June 26 (AJU PRESS) - North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the East Sea early Wednesday morning, but the missile exploded in mid-air shortly after liftoff, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. The JCS said the missile was launched at around 5:30 a.m. from an area near Pyongyang, but it is "believed to have failed." The South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities are conducting further analysis. The missile launch follows Pyongyang'

June 26, 2024

N. Korea, Russia forge new defense alliance, raising concerns about further military cooperation

SEOUL, June 19 (AJU PRESS) - North Korea leader Kim Jong-un and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin signed a pact for a comprehensive strategic partnership after a bilateral summit in Pyongyang on Wednesday. During a joint press conference after 90-minute talks followed by a two-hour one-on-one meeting, the two leaders agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to the level of alliance through a new treaty. They also vowed to provide mutual assistance in case of aggression ag

June 19, 2024