Seoul's surveillance of Pyongyang unaffected by US intelligence sharing restrictions: sourceSouth Korea's surveillance of North Korea has not been disrupted by U.S. restrictions on intelligence sharing about the North following the unification minister's disclosure of Pyongyang's nuclear facility site in Kusong, a government source said Tuesday. The source acknowledged some "partial" restrictions on intelligence sharing from the U.S. but said Seoul's satellite assets have kept its intelligence gathering capabilities intact. According to the source, a military surveillance satellite launched in November is set to become fully operational this month following deployment tests, bringing the total number of surveillance satellites capable of distinguishing individual vehicles on the ground to five. In addition, Arirang 7, the country's multipurpose satellite launched in December, is scheduled for deployment in July. The satellite is equipped with an ultrahigh-resolution electro-optical camera and an infrared sensor, offering high-quality imagery for environmental and disaster monitoring. The remarks came after Washington reportedly complained about Unification Minister Chung Dong-yApr 28, 2026By Yonhap
S. Korean envoy calls N. Korea's nukes 'most urgent' challenge to nonproliferation regimeSouth Korea's top nuclear envoy has stressed the need to swiftly resolve the North Korean nuclear issue, calling it the "most urgent" challenge to the nonproliferation regime, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. Jeong Yeon-doo, vice foreign minister for diplomatic strategy and intelligence, made the remarks in a keynote speech during the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) conference held in New York on Monday (U.S. time), according to the ministry. "The DPRK is the only case that has benefited from the NPT regime, announced its withdrawal, and openly continued the development of nuclear weapons, thereby remaining the most pressing challenge to the nonproliferation regime," Jeong said. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name. Jeong called on the international community to send a clear message that only a return to the treaty can ensure security and prosperity. The official also urged Russia "to cease its illegal military cooperation" with the North, which violates United Nations Security Council resolutions, and "to fulfill its responsibiliApr 28, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea's executions for watching S. Korean cultural content surged during COVID-19 pandemic: reportExecutions rose sharply in North Korea for offenses including watching South Korean cultural content during the COVID-19 pandemic, a report showed Tuesday. The report, released by the Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG), a Seoul-based NGO, examines executions and death sentences over the 13 years of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's rule from 2011 to 2024. Of the 144 confirmed executions during the period, 65 occurred after the North closed its borders at the start of the pandemic. The findings are based on testimonies from 265 North Korean defectors and reporting from five media organizations covering North Korea through in-country contacts. Executions had declined from 2015 to 2019 amid heightened international scrutiny following the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on human rights in North Korea, according to the report. But they surged again after the COVID-19 border closure in 2020. Over the five years that followed, executions and death sentences rose by 116.7 percent and the number of individuals affected also rose by 247.7 percent. Notably, executions linked to South KoApr 28, 2026By Yonhap
Ex-President Moon urges N. Korean leader to return to dialogue on summit anniversaryFormer President Moon Jae-in on Monday urged North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to resume inter-Korean talks, calling it the "fastest and safest" way to overcome the current deadlock. Moon made the call during a ceremony held at the National Assembly to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the Panmunjom Declaration, a landmark agreement signed by Moon and Kim during their summit at the truce village of Panmunjom in April 2018. "I ask you to return to the spirit of the April 27 Panmunjom summit and open the door to dialogue, and to work together with the Lee Jae Myung government to once again build a vision of 'peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula' and to live as a proud member of the international community," Moon said. "Inter-Korean dialogue is the fastest and safest breakthrough to overcome the current deadlock." Moon also stressed that Pyongyang cannot be ensured "genuine security" by continuing to bolster its military capabilities and opting for isolation. "Engaging in communication and expanding exchanges with the outside world, instead, is the most effective way to safeguardApr 27, 2026By Yonhap
US restricts intelligence-sharing with S. Korea on N. Korea's nuclear facilities: sourcesThe United States has restricted South Korea's access to intelligence related to North Korea's nuclear facilities in protest over the unification minister's disclosure of the country's uranium enrichment facility in Kusong, sources said Monday. The South Korean military has claimed its readiness posture remains unhindered by Washington's decision, but concerns remain over a potential vacuum in Seoul's surveillance capabilities against the North. The U.S. has restricted information sharing with Seoul on the North's nuclear facilities collected via satellites, including on a facility located in the western city of Kusong. The move came as Unification Minister Chung Dong-young referred to North Korea's Kusong region as one of the three sites hosting the country's uranium enrichment facilities at a parliamentary session last month in a rare public disclosure of information on North Korea. The U.S. is known to have complained about Chung's disclosure of the information, which it believes was based on intelligence shared by Washington. The unification ministry said last week Chung made the remApr 27, 2026By Yonhap
North Korea sends envoys to key posts in bid to act like ‘normal state’North Korea is replacing people in decade-old ambassadorial posts across multiple countries in a diplomatic reshuffling, which analysts say is designed to project the image of "a normal state" and diversify its foreign ties beyond its heavy reliance on China and Russia. The moves include a series of appointments announced in quick succession. On April 7, Pyongyang named Song Se-il as ambassador to Brazil, followed by Ji Kyoung-su to Belarus on April 12. On April 18, Jo Yong-sam was appointed ambassador to Nigeria. On April 21, Hong Kwang-il was named ambassador to Indonesia and Mun Myong-sin to the United Kingdom. On Saturday, Kim Chol-hae was appointed ambassador to Sweden. The U.K. appointment is among the most significant. Mun will take over a key strategic mission handling North Korea's relations with the West, replacing Choe Il, who has held the post since 2016. Mun reportedly served as a second secretary at the North Korean Embassy in London alongside Thae Yong-ho — a high-profile defector to South Korea and former People Power Party lawmaker, who was then deputy to the ambassaApr 27, 2026By Park Ji-won
Lee reaffirms commitment to restoring inter-Korean trust, calls for Pyongyang's responsePresident Lee Jae Myung on Monday reaffirmed his commitment to taking proactive steps to restore trust with North Korea and promote peace on the Korean Peninsula, calling on Pyongyang to respond to Seoul's overtures. Lee made the remarks in a message sent to a ceremony commemorating the eighth anniversary of the Panmunjeom Declaration, a landmark agreement signed in April 2018 by then President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the truce village of Panmunjeom. "The government will steadfastly pursue a policy of peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula," Lee said in the message, which was read on his behalf by presidential senior secretary for political affairs Hong Ihk-pyo during the ceremony held at the National Assembly. "We will proactively take steps that we can initiate first to restore inter-Korean trust and achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula," the president added. "We hope the North will also trust our government's sincerity and respond." Lee said establishing a permanent peace regime, and achieving coexistence and shared prosperity between the two Koreas rApr 27, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea opens memorial honoring own troops killed in Russia's war with UkrainePyongyang has opened a memorial honoring North Korean troops killed while fighting alongside Russia in the war against Ukraine, with leader Kim Jong-un stressing the need to strengthen Pyongyang-Moscow ties into a "powerful bulwark" in a ceremony marking its opening, state media reported Monday. The North held the opening ceremony of the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations in Pyongyang the previous day on the occasion of the first anniversary of the "liberation" of the Kursk region from Ukraine forces, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The ceremony was held to mark Russia's recapture on April 26, 2025, of the front-line Kursk region from Ukraine, attended by key officials from North Korea and Russia, including Russia's parliamentary speaker and defense minister, the report said. Since 2024, North Korea has sent around 15,000 combat troops and conventional weapons to Russia to support Moscow's war against Ukraine. Seoul's spy agency earlier said about 6,000 North Korean soldiers were estimated to have been killed or injured in the prolongApr 27, 2026By Yonhap
NK's Kim meets visiting Russian defense minister, Duma speaker amid stronger military tiesNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un met with the speaker of Russia's lower house and the defense minister in Pyongyang on Sunday, foreign media reports said, reaffirming the close military alliance between the two nations. Kim met Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, who visited the country to attend the opening ceremony of a memorial museum honoring soldiers killed while fighting for Russia in its war with Ukraine, according to Russia's Tass news agency. During the meeting, Volodin conveyed Russian President Vladimir Putin's congratulations on Kim's reelection as chairman of the State Affairs Commission. He also expressed gratitude for North Korea's "fraternal support" for Russia, saying: "We jointly honor the memory of those heroes who gave their lives for the freedom of our homeland. This is truly a gesture from a friend," according to Tass. Bilateral ties between Kim and Putin "have become key to building the future, especially during the most difficult times," Volodin added. North Korea was set to open the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats in Overseas Military Operations in PyongApr 26, 2026By Yonhap
Russian delegation visits N. Korea for opening of museum honoring soldiers killed in Ukraine warA Russian delegation led by the country's Duma speaker arrived in Pyongyang to attend a ceremony marking the opening of a memorial museum honoring soldiers killed while fighting for Russia in its war with Ukraine, North Korea's state media reported Sunday. The delegation led by Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament, arrived in Pyongyang on Saturday and was greeted by Jo Yong-won, chairman of the North's Supreme People's Assembly, the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. North Korea is set to open the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations in Pyongyang, honoring North Korean troops killed while fighting for Russia in the war against Ukraine. The North deployed around 15,000 combat troops to support Russia in the war after leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a strategic partnership treaty in June 2024. On April 26 last year, Russia declared it had recaptured the Kursk region from Ukrainian forces, with North Korean troops reportedly playing a role in the operation. Jo and Volodin held talks at theApr 26, 2026By Yonhap
