N. Korea pauses blaring noise southward for 2nd straight dayNorth Korea has halted its loudspeaker broadcasts of noises toward South Korea for a second straight day Friday, the South's military said, after Seoul suspended its yearlong anti-Pyongyang broadcasts along the border earlier this week. Pyongyang has not blasted loud noises toward the South since late Wednesday, after President Lee Jae-myung ordered the suspension of anti-Pyongyang loudspeaker broadcasts in a move aimed at easing tensions and rebuilding trust. The South's military halted its loudspeaker broadcasts in the border areas at 2 p.m. Wednesday. "There are no changes to the situation," a military official said, when asked about a possible resumption of Pyongyang's loudspeaker campaign. "Our military is closely monitoring the movements of the North Korean military." On Thursday, the South's military said there were no areas where such broadcasts were heard since they were last conducted in the western border area Wednesday night. North Korea has bristled at South Korea's loudspeaker campaign, which had resumed for the first time in June last year following a yearslong hiatus, inJun 13, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea steps up anti-American indoctrination of students ahead of Korean War anniversaryNorth Korea is stepping up anti-American indoctrination of students on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War, state media showed Friday. "Education on anti-imperialism and anti-Americanism is being solidly carried out at all basic education units in Pyongyang, tailored to the emotional characteristics of each student age group," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. As part of the education, students in the capital, including those from a high school and an elementary school in Pyongyang's Sosong and Daesong districts, respectively, toured an education hall or watched video clips highlighting the "aggressive nature of imperialists," the KCNA said. Through the education, "students are embracing the unwavering perspective that the enemy's aggressive nature will never change," it said. Each year, North Korea steps up anti-American campaigns around the anniversary of the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War on June 25. The month following the anniversary is typically designated as the month of joint struggle against the United States to highlightJun 13, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim attends launch ceremony of repaired destroyer, plans to build 2 more such warshipsNorth Korea said Friday it has launched a 5,000-ton destroyer that was damaged during its first launch attempt in May after repair work, with leader Kim Jong-un attending the launching ceremony and unveiling a plan to build two more such destroyers next year. The launch ceremony was held at the Rajin shipyard the previous day, overseen by Kim, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, announcing the destroyer is named the Kang Kon. Kang Kon was North Korea's first chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army and was killed in action during the Korean War. "In about two weeks, the vessel was brought upright safely and set afloat, accomplishing its complete restoration today as planned," the KCNA quoted Kim as saying at the ceremony. He again denounced the accident during the first launch attempt as an "intolerable" criminal act that "plunged the country's honor and pride at once." In late May, the 5,000-ton destroyer tipped over and became partially submerged during the launch ceremony in the northeastern port city of Chongjin. Kim blamed the accident on "absolute carelessness"Jun 13, 2025By Yonhap
Satellite imagery shows suspected uranium enrichment building at Yongbyon: US monitorRecent satellite imagery indicates the construction of a suspected uranium enrichment plant at North Korea's main nuclear complex in Yongbyon, north of Pyongyang, a U.S. monitor said Thursday, in what could be a sign of the recalcitrant regime's effort to boost its nuclear arsenal. Beyond Parallel, a project of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, released its analysis of Maxar satellite imagery taken on June 6, which it said supports a recent statement by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi. On Monday, the IAEA chief said that "the agency is monitoring the construction of a new building at Yongbyon which has dimensions and features similar to the Kangson enrichment plant." Kangson near Pyongyang is where an undeclared enrichment facility is located. "A review of available Maxar satellite imagery indicates the construction of a structure that is likely to be a new uranium enrichment plant to produce fissile material for nuclear weapons," Beyond Parallel said in an article on its website. It added, "If the building at YoJun 13, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea's damaged warship launched 23 days after failed first attemptNorth Korea said Friday it has launched a 5,000-ton destroyer that was damaged during its first launch attempt in May, with leader Kim Jong-un attending the launching ceremony and unveiling a plan to build two more such destroyers next year. The launch ceremony was held at the Rajin shipyard the previous day, overseen by Kim, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, announcing the destroyer is named the Kang Kon. In late May, the 5,000-ton destroyer tipped over and became partially submerged during the launch ceremony in the northeastern port city of Chongjin. Kim had ordered the full restoration of the warship before a key party meeting set for late June. Kim met with scientists, technicians and workers who contributed to the destroyer's construction and restoration, the KCNA said. The KCNA also said Kim has approved a plan to build two more 5,000-ton destroyers next year.Jun 13, 2025By Yonhap
Possible inter-Korean thaw sparks surge in reunification-related stocksStocks related to inter-Korean economic cooperation surged as signs of easing military tensions between North and South Korea emerged, market analysts said Thursday. According to the Korea Exchange, shares of Ananti closed at 9,870 won ($7.27), a whopping 26.7 percent increase from the previous day. The resort hotel operator previously built a golf course and resort in North Korea's Mount Geumgang. Hyundai Elevator, which holds a stake in Hyundai Asan — the company that owns the rights to the Mount Geumgang tourism project and the development of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex — also closed at 84,300 won, marking a 7.25 percent increase from the previous session. Other related stocks also posted strong gains. Good People, In the F and Ilshin Stone rose by 7.28 percent, 12.67 percent and 5.39 percent, respectively, due to their past operations in the Gaeseong Industrial Complex. The upward momentum was sparked by President Lee Jae-myung’s directive on Wednesday to suspend loudspeaker broadcasts toward the North. In response, North Korea halted its own propaganda broadcasts toward thJun 12, 2025By Lee Yeon-woo
S. Korea to repatriate 4 N. Korean nationals found adrift in East SeaSouth Korea will work toward the prompt and safe repatriation of four North Korean nationals who were rescued while adrift on the South Korean side of the East Sea last month, a government official said Thursday. South Korea's military and Coast Guard rescued the four North Koreans on May 27 while they were drifting about 100 kilometers south of the Northern Limit Line, the de facto inter-Korean maritime border, in the East Sea aboard a small wooden boat. A unification ministry official said all of them have expressed a wish to return to North Korea during a government investigation. "The ministry will work to have them return to North Korea promptly and safely in a humanitarian manner in cooperation with other relevant government agencies," the official told reporters. It remains, however, unclear whether North Korea will respond to Seoul's approach to discuss their repatriation. Two separate North Korean nationals were rescued in the Yellow Sea in a similar case in March, but they have remained in South Korea for more than three months amid North Korea's continued silence on Seoul's effJun 12, 2025By Yonhap
NK's suspension of noise broadcasts 'meaningful' in restoring inter-Korean trust: SeoulNorth Korea's suspension of its loudspeaker noise broadcasts along the inter-Korean border is a "meaningful opportunity" to restore mutual trust between the two Koreas, Seoul's unification ministry said Thursday. South Korea's military said North Korea appeared to have paused its broadcasts of disturbing noises along the border as of Thursday morning, a day after Seoul halted its own loudspeaker broadcasts of propaganda messages and music. The North's suspension "helped relieve the suffering of residents in (South Korea's) border areas and has become a meaningful opportunity to ease inter-Korean military tensions and restore mutual trust," the ministry official told reporters on condition of anonymity. The previous day, President Lee Jae-myung ordered the suspension of loudspeaker broadcasts targeting North Korea, in line with his presidential campaign pledges to ease military tensions and halt loudspeaker and leaflet campaigns against the North. The North's broadcasts of loud noises were last heard in the western border area late Wednesday night, and the shrieking and screeching soundsJun 12, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea renovates train station ahead of Kalma tourist district launchNorth Korea has completed renovations on a train station in the newly developed eastern coastal tourist region of Kalma as the country is set to open a much-publicized beach resort complex there this month, state media reported Thursday. A ceremony marking the completion of renovations on Kalma Station was held on-site the previous day, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, describing the station as the key to public transportation for the coastal tourist district. "Reasonably equipped with waiting halls, information desks and other facilities, the train station has been uniquely established to ensure a high level of convenience for visitors to the beach tourist district," the KCNA noted. Known for its long stretch of silvery sand, the Kalma peninsula has been under development since 2014 as a tourist destination, with North Korea pledging to open it for service in June. North Korea initially aimed to open it in April 2019, but construction was delayed due to international sanctions that hindered material procurement, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic. North Korean leader Kim Jong-uJun 12, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea appears to halt broadcasts of loud noises toward S. KoreaNorth Korea appears to have paused its broadcasts of loud noises toward South Korea on Thursday, the South's military said, a day after Seoul suspended its yearlong anti-Pyongyang broadcasts along the border. "There were no areas where North Korea's loudspeaker broadcasts were detected Thursday," the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, adding it is closely monitoring related movements in North Korea. The North's broadcasts of loud noises were last heard in the western border area late Wednesday night, a military official said on condition of anonymity. On Wednesday, President Lee Jae-myung ordered the suspension of loudspeaker broadcasts targeting North Korea in a move aimed at easing tensions and rebuilding trust. The presidential office also cited the need to ease the suffering of border area residents who have been severely affected by the noise involving the sounds of sirens and traditional drums. Upon Lee's order, the military has halted its loudspeaker broadcasts in the border areas since 2 p.m. Wednesday. The suspension came a year after the military resumed the campaign for the firJun 12, 2025By Yonhap
