North Korea launches trash-filled balloons toward South for 5th consecutive day

SEOUL, Sept. 8 (AJP) -- North Korea launched trash-filled balloons across the border for the fifth consecutive day on Sunday, South Korea's military said. The Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that North Korea began releasing the balloons around 9 a.m. "We will respond resolutely and calmly according to our response manual, with the utmost priority on public safety," the JCS said. It marks the 17th such incident since May 28, when the North began the launches in ret

September 8, 2024

Unification Ministry to boost North Koreans' exposure to outside world through radio broadcasts

SEOUL, August 30 (AJP) - The Unification Ministry here said Friday that it plans to support civic groups' efforts to increase North Koreans' access to outside information, particularly through radio broadcasts. The move follows President Yoon Suk Yeol's vision for reunification between the two Koreas, which he outlined during his Liberation Day speech earlier this month. Yoon’s vision emphasizes expanding North Koreans' exposure to international information

August 30, 2024

Russia deepens ties with North Korea as trade officials arrive for talks

SEOUL, August 28 (AJP) - Russian officials arrived in North Korea for talks, the isolated country's state media reported on Wednesday. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a Russian delegation led by Roman Chekushov, Vice Minister of Industry and Trade, met with North Korean Premier Kim Tok-hun and other officials to discuss expanding economic cooperation. Their meeting is the latest development in the rapidly strengthening military and economic ties between th

August 28, 2024

Kim Jong-un inspects test of new drones amid ongoing South Korea-US joint drill

SEOUL, August 26 (AJU PRESS) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un watched a test of new drones and vowed to develop more such weapons to boost the isolated country's war readiness, state media reported Monday. "It is necessary to develop and produce more suicide drones of various types to be used in tactical infantry and special operation units, as well as strategic reconnaissance and multi-purpose attack drones," Kim was quoted as saying by Pyongyang's state-run Kore

August 26, 2024

N. Korean soldier defects across border to South

SEOUL, August 20 (AJU PRESS) - A North Korean soldier defected to South Korea by crossing the border in Goseong, Gangwon Province, military authorities here said on Tuesday. The soldier, identified as a sergeant, was monitored as he moved south from the military demarcation line (MDL) in the eastern frontline within the operational area of the 22nd Infantry Division. The defector has been handed over to relevant authorities for investigation and apparently expressed his intention

August 20, 2024

Unification Ministry clarifies Yoon's vision for reunification between two Koreas

SEOUL, August 16 (AJU PRESS) - The Unification Ministry here Friday clarified President Yoon Suk Yeol's vision for reunification between the two Koreas, following his address during a ceremony marking Liberation Day the previous day. Yoon outlined his reunification strategy centered on three key principles: "freedom values," "changes in the North Korean populace," and "international solidarity." "Koreans must firmly establish the values an

August 16, 2024

Kim Jong-un blames S. Korea to divert public attention from flood damage

SEOUL, August 12 (AJU PRESS) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's recent harsh tirade against South Korea is a deliberate attempt to shift the focus of flood-damaged people away from their devastated situation, the Ministry of Unification here suggests. During an inspection of flood-hit areas in North Pyongan Province, Kim labeled South Korea a "trash country" and accused its media of spreading "malicious propaganda." According to North Korea's state-

August 12, 2024

Seoul ponders if N. Korean athletes' acceptance of Samsung phones violates UN sanctions

SEOUL, August 8 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea will figure out whether North Korean athletes participating at the Summer Olympics in Paris, France violate United Nations Security Council resolutions by accepting smartphones from Samsung Electronics, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Thursday. Samsung, the official sponsor of this year's Olympics, provided its special edition "Galaxy Z Flip 6" foldable smartphones to all athletes and personnel participating in the

August 8, 2024

N. Korean envoy arrives in Viet Nam amid Pyongyang's move to resume diplomacy

SEOUL, August 8 (AJU PRESS) - North Korea's new ambassador to Viet Nam arrived in Hanoi earlier this week, becoming the isolated country's first envoy abroad since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Ri Sung-kuk replaces his predecessor Kim Myong-gil, who returned to Pyongyang in April 2019. The post had remained vacant since then. His appointment and arrival at the overseas mission came after Ri Ryong-nam was appointed as ambassador to China in 2021. Vietnam'

August 8, 2024

N. Korea deploys hundreds of missile launchers to frontline units

SEOUL, August 5 (AJU PRESS) - North Korea said it has deployed 250 new mobile launchers for ballistic missiles to frontline military units, the reclusive country said Monday. Pyongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim attended a ceremony the previous day to commemorate the transfer of the new launchers. It quoted Kim as saying, "If the U.S. ignores our repeated warnings and continues to attempt to undermine the security of the region, it will have di

August 5, 2024