Kim Jong-un struggles to sell '2 Koreas' narrative at home

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has not yet mustered public support for his bid to redefine the two Koreas as separate, hostile states -- a sharp break from his predecessors’ vision of a unified peninsula under a single nation and state -- former North Korean diplomats said. Some warned that Kim may ramp up military threats against South Korea to push his agenda forward. Seven of 12 former North Korean diplomats who have publicly defected to South Korea gathered on Thursday for a rare foru

Oct. 14, 2024

N. Korea appears to be preparing for explosions on roads connected to S. Korea: JCS

North Korea appears to be preparing to carry out explosions at roads connected to South Korea, the South's military said Monday, just days after Pyongyang vowed to cut off all inter-Korean roads and railways. On Wednesday, the North's Korean People's Army announced the measure that will "completely separate" North Korea's territory from that of South Korea and said it sent a telephone message to the US military in the South to "prevent any misjudgment and accid

Oct. 14, 2024

N. Korea says it ordered front-line artillery units to fully prepare to open fire

North Korea's military has ordered artillery units along the border with South Korea to be fully ready to open fire, state media has reported, after the North warned of a "horrible disaster" over the alleged flight of drones over its capital. North Korea's defense ministry issued the statement Sunday night, days after the recalcitrant regime claimed South Korea had sent unmanned drones carrying anti-North Korea propaganda leaflets over Pyongyang three times this month. "

Oct. 14, 2024

S. Korea warns N. Korea will see 'end of its regime' if it harms its people

South Korea warned North Korea on Sunday that it will see "the end of its regime" if it causes any harm to its people, after the North threatened a "horrible disaster" over the alleged flight of drones over its capital. The South's Defense Ministry issued the statement after Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of the North's leader Kim Jong-un, made the threat in a commentary carried by its state media, just a day after the reclusive state claimed the South had sent

Oct. 13, 2024

Confusion over alleged S. Korean drone intrusion: Who's behind it?

North Korea's recent claim that the South had sent uncrewed aerial vehicles over Pyongyang three times since last week has stirred a contentious debate on the veracity of the claim and the implications. As of Sunday, the South Korean government has maintained a noncommittal stance, neither confirming nor denying the allegations, while North Korea has yet to present definitive evidence. In a message delivered Friday through the Korean Central News Agency, the North's Foreign Ministry cl

Oct. 13, 2024

Some of N. Korea's trash balloons equipped with GPS transmitters: S. Korean military

Some of the balloons floated by North Korea to dump trash across South Korea have been equipped with GPS transmitters, South Korea's military said Sunday. According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, GPS transmitters were found in some of the North Korean balloons, and Pyongyang may be using them to look into the balloons' flight data. A South Korean military official said the military is "tracking North Korea's possible development of balloon flotation technology a

Oct. 13, 2024

N. Korean leader's sister warns of 'horrible disaster' if S. Korean drones found again

The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un warned Sunday that South Korea will face a "horrible disaster" if South Korean drones are flown again over the North's capital. Kim Yo-jong made the remark in a statement carried by the North's Korean Central News Agency, just a day after the reclusive regime floated trash balloons toward South Korea, claiming the South had sent unmanned drones over Pyongyang three times this month. "We have no concern about who i

Oct. 13, 2024

N. Korean media report claim that Seoul sent drones over Pyongyang

North Korea's news media for the domestic audience on Saturday reported the reclusive regime's claim that the South sent unmanned drones carrying anti-North propaganda leaflets over Pyongyang three times this month. The Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, as well as the country's state radio and TV, reported the news by carrying a statement from the North's foreign ministry issued the previous day. It is unusual for North Korea to publicize the South's sendin

Oct. 12, 2024

N. Korea sends 20 more trash balloons toward S. Korea: JCS

North Korea has floated more trash balloons toward South Korea, the military said Saturday, after the reclusive regime claimed the South had sent unmanned drones over Pyongyang three times since last week. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea sent around 20 balloons starting late Friday until early Saturday morning, with some 10 of them landing in the inter-Korean border county of Cheorwon in Gangwon Province. The JCS said the bundles consisted of household garbage, such as scrap paper and

Oct. 12, 2024

Russian ambassador to N. Korea hosts reception to mark diplomatic ties

The Russian ambassador to North Korea has hosted a reception to reaffirm bilateral ties ahead of the 76th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Pyongyang's state media reported Saturday. The event, hosted by Russian Ambassador Alexandr Matsegora, was held in Pyongyang on Friday, with the attendance of Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, ahead of the anniversary, which falls on Saturday, according to the Korean Central News Agency. North Korea and Russia have been bolstering military ties, as well

Oct. 12, 2024

North Korean man crosses sea boundary to escape to South

A North Korean escaped to the South last month despite Pyongyang closing inter-Korean paths and fortifying areas around the line dividing the Korean Peninsula. According to the South Korean military on Friday, a North Korean man crossed the maritime boundary in the sea west of the country on a small wooden boat in the early hours of Sept. 17. The South Korean military said it captured the man sailing by himself after guiding him over to the south of the boundary. This marks the third known North

Oct. 11, 2024

DP leader urges NK to withdraw move to cut off roads, railways connected to S. Korea

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung on Friday urged North Korea to retract its recent move to cut off all roads and railways connected to South Korea, voicing concerns over the North's "explicit intent" to completely sever inter-Korean ties. On Wednesday, North Korea's military said it will "permanently shut off and block the southern border" with South Korea by cutting off all roads and rail links with the South and building frontline defense structures. "We deman

Oct. 11, 2024

Teenage N. Korean defector shares horrific story of life in reclusive regime

A North Korean teenage defector on Thursday shared her horrific story of life in the reclusive regime during a forum hosted by South Korea's unification ministry. "I wear makeup and go out here in South Korea, but my friends in North Korea can't even wash properly, let alone wear makeup. Some friends smell because they can't bathe, but we live understanding each other," Noh Jin-hae recalled. The 16-year-old girl, who defected from North Korea in 2019, recalled her harsh

Oct. 10, 2024

North Korea notifies UN Command of plans to fortify border with South

The North Korean Army has informed the United Nations Command of plans to fortify the shared border with the South, Seoul defense authorities said Wednesday, confirming a Pyongyang state agency report earlier the same day. The General Staff of the Korean People’s Army said it would completely cut off roads and railways connecting to South Korea and build fortifications along the border in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency on Wednesday. The KPA said it had communicated t

Oct. 9, 2024

N. Korea amends constitution at parliamentary meeting without disclosing details

North Korea has convened a key parliamentary meeting to revise the constitution, state media reported Wednesday, without disclosing details about whether it removed unification-related clauses or stipulated territorial boundaries in line with an order by leader Kim Jong-un. At the 11th session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly Monday and Tuesday in Pyongyang, North Korea unanimously decided to amend and supplement parts of the country's socialist constitution, according to the Kore

Oct. 9, 2024

Kim Jong-un vows to thwart S. Korea-US 'nuclear alliance'

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un warned Monday that Pyongyang would "not tolerate" any disruption to the Korean Peninsula's balance of power, which he claimed is upheld by North Korea's nuclear arsenal and threatened by the growing "nuclear alliance" between South Korea and the United States. However, Kim simultaneously asserted that North Korea had no intention of attacking the South, North Korea's state media reported Tuesday. The remarks came during his 60th-

Oct. 8, 2024

N. Korea sends trash balloons toward S. Korea for 2nd straight day: JCS

North Korea floated trash balloons toward South Korea early Tuesday, the South's military said, marking the second consecutive day of such provocation. The Joint Chiefs of Staff raised the possibility of the balloons drifting toward northern Gyeonggi Province and other parts of the Seoul metropolitan area, advising citizens not to touch the balloons and to be cautious of any potential drops. Since late May, North Korea has sent over 5,000 balloons across the border into South Korea. In Mond

Oct. 8, 2024

S. Korea to maintain readiness against potential N. Korean provocations: FM

South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul said Monday that the government will maintain readiness against potential North Korean provocations through close cooperation with the United States. Cho made the remarks during a parliamentary hearing, citing a series of provocations from North Korea, such as the launch of balloons toward the South and missile tests. "The government will maintain a thorough readiness posture against various potential provocations from North Korea, while ensur

Oct. 7, 2024

China, N. Korea mark 75th anniversary of ties with little fanfare

China and North Korea marked their 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations Sunday with no publicly reported major events, in contrast to earlier pledges from both leaders to celebrate the milestone with displays of camaraderie in the designated "Year of Friendship." In their New Year messages, Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un pledged to organize activities throughout the "Year of Friendship" and deepen cooperation across various sectors, inclu

Oct. 7, 2024

NK resumes trash balloon campaign, 25th launch this year

North Korea sent yet another fleet of garbage-filled balloons southward early Monday, marking the 25th such provocation this year and potentially adding to the property damage and injuries the balloons have caused already. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the balloons, presumed to be filled with trash, are projected to move toward the greater Seoul area, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province. The JCS advised citizens not to approach the balloons and warned of potential danger when they fall to the gr

Oct. 7, 2024