N. Korea, Russia's largest labor unions sign cooperation agreementThe largest umbrella labor unions of North Korea and Russia held talks in Pyongyang and signed an agreement to boost cooperation, the North's state media said Wednesday. Ri Won-jong, head of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, and Sergei Chernogayev, head of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia, signed a memorandum of understanding on friendship and cooperation during talks in Pyongyang the previous day, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. "The talks discussed ways to expand and strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the two countries' trade unions in line with the North Korea-Russia friendship which has entered a new stage," the KCNA said. A delegation from the Russian trade union, which has a reported membership of 19 million workers, has been visiting North Korea since Monday. The move came as the two countries have aligned closely in various sectors following the North's deployment of troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine, which has also led to Russia providing vital military technology and resources to Pyongyang.Apr 15, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea calls for loyalty to leader Kim on founder's birth anniversaryNorth Korea called on party members and citizens for increased loyalty to leader Kim Jong-un on Wednesday, the birth anniversary of state founder Kim Il-sung, highlighting the two leaders' shared people-centered policies. The ruling Workers' Party of Korea's newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, made the call in an article as the country marks the 114th birth anniversary of founder Kim Il-sung, the current leader's grandfather. The newspaper said the founder's policy of serving the people as "the sky" lives on under the current leader's leadership, calling the people-centered approach a "perpetual political philosophy" of the ruling party and the state. "With unwavering loyalty, (we) should uphold the ideology and leadership of respected general secretary (Kim Jong-un), who carries forward the sacred history of supreme leader (Kim Il-sung)'s" people-centered policy, the newspaper said. The newspaper also called for greater resolve and a march toward the day when the ruling party's top priority of improving people's welfare is fully realized. North Korea observes the founder's birthday, known as the "Apr 15, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korean leader's 1st public reference to 'one-China' principle points to closer bilateral ties: SeoulNorth Korean state media have recently reported on leader Kim Jong-un's reference to the "one-China" principle for the first time in a sign that Pyongyang and Beijing are closely aligning, South Korea's unification ministry said Tuesday. In a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday, the North's leader said his country would "fully support" China's policies aimed at realizing its territorial integrity on the basis of the "one-China principle," the Korean Central News Agency said Saturday. Kim appears to be referring to China's territorial claim to Taiwan. "North Korea and China appear to be drawing far closer to each other. Kim's mentioning of the 'one-China' (principle) is a case in point," an official at the unification ministry said in regard to his assessment of Wang's visit to Pyongyang from April 9-10. The official said North Korea treated Wang with special courtesy, indicating that the two nations have been strengthening cooperation and communication. Since Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping held summit talks in Beijing last September, the two nations appear to beApr 14, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim sends educational aid to pro-Pyongyang ethnic Koreans in JapanNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sent an educational aid fund and stipends to an association of pro-Pyongyang residents in Japan to mark this week's 114th birthday of late state founder Kim Il-sung, the North's state media reported Tuesday. Kim sent 316.4 million yen ($1.98 million) in such funds to the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan for "democratic national education of Korean children in Japan" to mark the founder's birthday that falls on April 15, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Since taking office in late 2011, Kim has sent educational aid funds and scholarships every year to the association around his late grandfather's birthday. Kim Il-sung; Kim Jong-il, late father of the incumbent leader; and Kim Jong-un have sent a total of 50.3 billion yen on 172 occasions to children of pro-Pyongyang ethnic Koreans in Japan, the KCNA said. Experts said Kim Jong-un appears to have an intent to use the education aid to elicit loyalty from young ethnic Koreans in Japan. His late mother Ko Yong-hui was a Korean resident in Japan, which North Korea views asApr 14, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim observes test-firing of cruise, anti-warship missiles from key destroyerNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has overseen a test-firing of strategic cruise and anti-warship missiles from the destroyer Choe Hyon, stressing the country's top priority is to bolster a nuclear war deterrent "without limit," state media reported Tuesday. North Korea conducted the launches of two strategic cruise missiles and three anti-warship missiles from the naval destroyer Sunday in its "operational efficiency test," according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). In March, North Korea conducted similar strategic cruise missile tests from the 5,000-ton warship on two occasions ahead of its commissioning, also observed by Kim. Pyongyang's reference to "strategic" weapons suggests that they could have nuclear capabilities. During the latest test, Kim said, "The preparedness of our army's strategic action has been strengthened in a qualitative way with various achievements recently made in the field of defense science," according to the KCNA. He also called for "bolstering up the powerful and reliable nuclear war deterrent steadily and without limit" as the nation's "most importanApr 14, 2026By Yonhap
Switzerland to reopen cooperation office in North Korea after 6 yearsSwitzerland plans to reopen its international cooperation office in North Korea this year, after a six-year absence due to the pandemic. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) confirmed to NK News on Thursday that it plans to resume operations at the Pyongyang office of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). “The FDFA is reactivating the office in 2026 by reestablishing a permanent Swiss presence,” a department spokesperson said. The FDFA visited Pyongyang in Nov. 2024 to assess the feasibility of reactivating the Swiss cooperation office, but did not follow through on it at the time. Switzerland does not operate a formal mission in Pyongyang and maintains diplomatic relations through its embassy in Beijing. Instead, the SDC resident office — which primarily operates under the FDFA — effectively represents Bern in North Korea. “The Swiss Office in Pyongyang serves to facilitate bilateral dialogue between Switzerland and North Korea as well as coordinate possible Swiss humanitarian programs in North Korea,” the FDFA stated. “Switzerland remains commiApr 13, 2026By NK News
Pro-N. Korea paper claims reliance on US-led order risks national interests amid Mideast warA pro-North Korea newspaper based in Japan on Monday called for countries to distance themselves from the United States in a bid to defend their national interests amid the U.S.-Iran war and Tehran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Choson Sinbo claimed in its commentary that the blockade of the crucial waterway and volatile oil prices showed that the more countries depend on U.S.-led international order, the greater they could face the risk of their national interests being undermined. "It remains uncertain regarding how the situation will unfold following a two-week ceasefire. But it would be wise of countries to distance themselves from a belligerent country that only cares about interests of itself and some allies, and to walk on the path to protecting their own interests," the newspaper said. North Korea appears to be reiterating its long-standing stance of rejecting the U.S.-led international order while supporting the multipolar world order. Still, the North's state media have not directly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump by name. The Rodong Sinmun, the North's maiApr 13, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea sends new envoy to Belarus amid warming tiesNorth Korea has sent a new ambassador to Belarus, Pyongyang's state media reported Sunday, in a sign of deepening bilateral ties following Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's visit to Pyongyang last month. Ji Kyong-su, a former vice minister of external economic relations, presented his credentials to Lukashenko on Friday, according to the Korean Central News Agency. During the ceremony, Ji conveyed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's "warm greeting," to which Lukashenko expressed his gratitude, the report said. Lukashenko visited North Korea on March 25 and 26, holding summit talks with Kim in Pyongyang. The two sides signed a treaty on friendship and cooperation aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and expanding collaboration across various sectors. Observers say North Korea and Belarus have been drawing closer as both countries align diplomatically and politically, particularly in their support for Russia amid the war in Ukraine. Belarus plans to open an embassy in North Korea by Aug. 1, according to a Belarusian news report.Apr 12, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim says Pyongyang puts 'top priority' on developing ties with China in meeting with WangNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has stressed the North places "top priority" on further developing traditional ties with China during his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, state media reported Saturday. Their meeting took place Friday, the last day of Wang's two-day visit to Pyongyang, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). It marked his first trip to the North since 2019. The meeting came months after Kim held summit talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing last September to discuss ways to deepen bilateral ties, which were seen as strained amid North Korea's military and diplomatic alignment with Russia. During the talks with Wang, Kim affirmed that North Korea's steadfast stance is to "place the greatest value on and give top priority to further developing the DPRK-China friendly relations with socialism as their core," the KCNA said. DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. He also underscored the need to "further intensify the visits and contacts at different levels and boost mutual support and cooperaApr 11, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea celebrates late founder Kim Il-sung's birth anniv. with cultural eventsNorth Korea is marking the upcoming birth anniversary of its late founder Kim Il-sung with various cultural events honoring his achievements, according to state media Friday. The country launched a film week to mark the April 15 anniversary Thursday, along with art exhibitions, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. North Korea observes April 15, the birthday of founder Kim, as one of its biggest national holidays, often marked by extravagant events honoring his achievements and aimed at boosting national unity. Following a ceremony launching the cinema week at the International Cinema Hall in Pyongyang, participants watched a film praising Kim, while art exhibitions showcased works depicting his life, the KCNA said. North Korea, however, appears to have reduced its use of the honorific term for the founder's birthday, the "Day of the Sun," in recent years, including this year, as it seems to be shifting allegiance to his grandson, the current leader Kim Jong-un.Apr 10, 2026By Yonhap
