Inter-Korean tensions rise as S. Korea resumes propaganda broadcasts

SEOUL, June 10 (AJU PRESS) - Inter-Korean tensions are escalating as South Korea resumed propaganda broadcasts near the border with North Korea on Sunday in a tit-for-tat action after North Korea re-launched balloons carrying trash and garbage southwards. As Pyongyang has shown histrionics toward the propaganda broadcasts, some have warned of potential local skirmishes or clashes in the demilitarized zone (DMZ). According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the broadcasts went

June 10, 2024

South Korea to resume military drills near border with N. Korea

SEOUL, June 04 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea’s military will resume artillery firing and other training exercises near the border with North Korea, following the government’s suspension of the Sept. 19, 2018 inter-Korean military agreement. The move came in response to a series of North Korean provocations, including last November’s launch of a military spy satellite and recent landings of trash-carrying balloons in South Korea. The resumption of military drills

June 4, 2024

S. Korea mulls resuming propaganda broadcasts along border

SEOUL, June 03 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea is considering resuming loudspeaker broadcasts in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) as a countermeasure against North Korea's balloons carrying garbage and feces, the presidential office said on Sunday. A high-ranking official said that Seoul is not ruling out the possibility of resuming psychological warfare using loudspeakers to respond to North Korea's garbage balloons and is preparing for it. "We will come up with a measure soon

June 3, 2024

N. Korea fires barrage of short-range missiles into East Sea

SEOUL, May 30 (AJU PRESS) - North Korea fired a barrage of missiles into the East Sea, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Thursday. According to the JCS, North Korea launched about 10 projectiles, presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs), from Sunan near Pyongyang at around 6:14 a.m. (2114 GMT) on Thursday. The missiles flew approximately 350 kilometers (217 miles) before crashing into the sea. South Korea's military authorities speculated that

May 30, 2024

N. Korea's attempt to launch another spy satellite fails

SEOUL, May 28 (AJU PRESS) - North Korea's attempt to launch a space rocket carrying a military spy satellite ended in failure, the renegade country said Tuesday. The attempt came just several hours after Pyongyang informed of its plan to launch a satellite into orbit by June 4. "The launch of the new satellite carrier rocket failed when it exploded in mid-air during the flight of the first stage," the North's state-run Korean News Agency reported. Earlier,

May 28, 2024

N. Korea to launch another satellite this week

SEOUL, May 27 (AJU PRESS) - North Korea is poised to launch a space rocket carrying a military spy satellite sometime this week, Japan's news agency Kyodo News and public broadcaster NHK reported Monday, citing the Cabinet Secretariat of Japan. The launch plan came just hours before President Yoon Suk Yeol is about to hold a trilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Seoul on Monday. Japan has confirmed that North Korea inf

May 27, 2024

N. Korean propaganda song praising Kim Jong-un goes viral on TikTok

SEOUL, May 17 (AJU PRESS) - A propaganda song praising North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has gone viral online. Intrigued by its up-tempo beat and repetitive rhythm, combined with unfamiliar and laughable background scenes, the three-minute clip for "Friendly Father," first uploaded in April, has garnered 880,600 views on TikTok as of this week, with heart emojis next to the portly leader's name. About 155,000 people have clicked on another video introducing the song wit

May 20, 2024

N. Korean leader inspects test-firing of new multiple rocket launcher shell

SEOUL, April 26 (AJU PRESS) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reportedly overseen a test-firing of a new 240-millimeter (9.4 inches) shell for multiple rocket launchers (MRLs), which can target South Korea’s capital area. The state-run Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Friday Kim attended the evaluation of the new precision-guided MRL rocket the previous day. The North announced the development of the weapon in February. During the test, Kim said the new rocke

April 26, 2024

N. Korean leader praises accuracy of short-range ballistic missiles

SEOUL, April 23 (AJU PRESS) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has praised the accuracy of Pyongyang's short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) after guiding a nuclear counterattack drill on Monday. Kim said that the drill was part of efforts to enhance its tactical nuclear strike capabilities, which are being developed as deterrents against hostile activities by South Korea and its allied forces. According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea fired multiple SR

April 23, 2024

South Korea's second homegrown spy satellite successfully launched

SEOUL, April 08 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea has successfully launched its second domestically built military reconnaissance satellite on Sunday. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 7:17 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, separating the first and second stages as planned after 2 minutes and 18 seconds. This launch marks a significant step in South Korea's program to acquire five spy satellites by 2025, enhancing its ability to monitor North Korea

April 8, 2024