N. Korea confirms integration of inter-Korean affairs functions into foreign ministryA recent North Korean statement confirmed that the country has reorganized its unit dealing with inter-Korean relations in line with its policy of defining South Korea as a "hostile" nation and integrated it into the foreign ministry, experts said Wednesday. In a rare late-night statement Tuesday, Jang Kum-chol, a senior North Korean official long involved in inter-Korean affairs, issued a press statement refuting Seoul's claim of "meaningful progress" in relations with Pyongyang. Jang called it a "world-startling fools' hope-filled dream reading," reacting to the South Korean unification ministry's assessment that party department head Kim Yo-jong's swift response Monday to President Lee Jae Myung's expression of regret over drone incursions into the North constituted "meaningful progress" toward peace on the Korean Peninsula. The statement referred to Jang, formerly head of the ruling party's United Front Department, as first vice foreign minister and director general of the foreign ministry's "Tenth Department," confirming his appointment to the new post for the first time. It also maApr 8, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea conducts back-to-back ballistic missile launches in show of forceNorth Korea fired another short-range ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Wednesday afternoon after launching multiple such missiles earlier in the day, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, in a rare back-to-back launch that came amid Pyongyang's hostile stance toward Seoul. The JCS said it detected the missile launched from the Wonsan area in the North at around 2:20 p.m. and it flew over 700 kilometers. The provocation came just hours after the JCS said it detected the short-range ballistic missiles also launched from the Wonsan area at around 8:50 a.m., which flew around 240 km before splashing into the sea. It marked the North's fifth confirmed ballistic missile launch this year. On Tuesday, the North also fired an unidentified projectile from the Pyongyang area, which is currently pending analysis by South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities. The projectile, believed to have been launched Tuesday morning, disappeared shortly after it was fired in an apparent failure. The back-to-back launches came as President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret over drone flights by individualsApr 8, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles in back-to-back launchNorth Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Wednesday, South Korea's military said, in a back-to-back launch that came after President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret over drone flights by individuals into the North. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the missiles launched from the Wonsan area in the North at around 8:50 a.m. They flew some 240 kilometers. It marked the North's fourth confirmed ballistic missile launch this year. "Our military is closely monitoring North Korea's various movements under a robust South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture and maintains the capabilities and posture to respond to any provocation in an overwhelming manner," the JCS said. South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities have tracked the launch movement and closely shared relevant information, it added. The launch came just a day after the North fired an unidentified projectile from the Pyongyang area Tuesday, which is currently pending analysis by South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities. The projectile, believed to have been launched TuesdayApr 8, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea holds party committee meetings to spur efforts to implement policy decisionsNorth Korea has convened meetings of ruling party committees under government ministries to discuss the implementation of decisions reached at a parliamentary session last month, state media reported Wednesday. Ruling party committees established within the rail, transportation, culture and sports ministries, as well as two other state agencies, held expanded plenary meetings to advance pledges made by leader Kim Jong-un during a speech to the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The first session of the 15th SPA, held last month, discussed a revision to the country's constitution while pledging to advance its nuclear deterrence and implement policies for the people, among other decisions. Holding a ruling party congress in February for the first time in five years, the North also outlined a five-year national development plan and has since stepped up efforts to implement it. The recent party committee meetings discussed draft resolutions in depth on achieving the goals of their respective sectors, the KCNA said. The land and ocean transportation miApr 8, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea launched projectile Tuesday: JCSNorth Korea launched an unidentified projectile from its capital area Tuesday, South Korea's military said, in a move that came just a day after President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret over drone flights by individuals into the North. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) confirmed Wednesday it detected the launch from the Pyongyang area the previous day and that South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities are analyzing it, without providing further details. Tuesday's launch of the projectile, believed to have taken place in the morning, apparently failed shortly after it was fired. On Monday, Lee expressed regret over the drone flights, saying that the incidents have caused unnecessary military tension with Pyongyang. His remarks came after prosecutors last week indicted three individuals accused of flying drones into North Korea between September and January. The North last fired multiple ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on March 14 as annual springtime military drills by South Korea and the United States were under way.Apr 8, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim congratulates Vietnam's To Lam on election as presidentNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un congratulated Vietnam's Communist Party chief To Lam on his election as president, pledging stronger relations between the two countries, the North's state media reported Wednesday. Kim sent the congratulatory message to To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. "Your assumption of the heavy responsibility as president of the country is an expression of deep trust and expectation ... about you who have successfully guided the work for national development and prosperity and promotion of the people's wellbeing," Kim was quoted as saying in the message carried by the KCNA. Kim also expressed belief that "the traditional friendly and cooperative relations" between the two countries "would grow stronger in conformity with the aspirations and desires of the two peoples," based on an agreement reached in Pyongyang last year. Lam was among the few state leaders invited to attend a military parade in Pyongyang last October marking the 80th anniversary of the North Korean ruling party's establishmenApr 8, 2026By Yonhap
S. Korea sees NK's swift response to Lee's regret over drone flights as 'meaningful progress'President Lee Jae Myung's recent expression of regret over drone flights by individuals into North Korea demonstrated his "strong" will to restore trust between the two Koreas and ease military tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Lee's chief of staff said Tuesday. Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik made the remarks at a press briefing a day after Lee expressed his regret at a Cabinet meeting over the drone incidents causing unnecessary military tensions on the Korean Peninsula. In a swift response, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of the North's leader Kim Jong-un, issued a statement late Monday that read North Korea's head of state called Lee "frank and broad-minded." "As the top official in charge of state affairs, President Lee expressed his strong will to restore trust between the two Koreas and voiced the need to ease military tensions," Kang said. But the top aide dismissed as "groundless" speculation that Lee expressed the regret with intent to send a special envoy to North Korea. "It is more important than ever to stably manage the situation on the Korean Peninsula during thiApr 7, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea holds workshop of party officials over regional development policyNorth Korea has held a workshop involving chief secretaries of the ruling party's city and county committees in a bid to stress the faithful implementation of leader Kim Jong-un's regional development policy, state media reported Tuesday. The North held the third workshop of officials from the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK)'s city and county committees from Saturday through Monday, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Participants "reaffirmed their will to faithfully fulfill their heavy responsibilities in a sacred struggle to achieve the historic task of regional transformation," the KCNA said. The meeting came as the North's leader Kim called for "bolder" efforts to implement the country's key regional development policy at a key party congress in late February. In 2024, Kim unveiled a policy to build modern factories in 20 cities and counties each year over a 10-year period to improve the living conditions of people in regional areas. Meanwhile, the North's state media officially confirmed party secretary Kim Jae-ryong as doubling as director of the WPK's Organizational LApr 7, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim congratulates Laos' president on his reelection as nation's leaderNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has congratulated Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith on his reelection as the nation's leader, expressing his hope for further developing ties with Laos, state media reported Tuesday. Kim sent a congratulatory message to Sisoulith, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, on April 1, as he was reelected as president of Laos at the first session of a new parliament March 23, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The North's leader called his reelection an expression of "deep trust and strong support" by Laos' ruling party, government and people toward Sisoulith. Kim expressed his conviction that "friendly and cooperative relations between our two parties and two countries will continue to deepen and develop in accordance with the spirit of an agreement reached at our meeting in October last year in Pyongyang," the KCNA said. The North's leader held talks with Sisoulith in Pyongyang in October on the occasion of the 80th founding anniversary of North Korea's Workers' Party, and they agreed to strengthenApr 7, 2026By Yonhap
AnalysisWhat's behind North Korea's sudden push to deepen ties with China, Russia?North Korea has launched a diplomatic sprint in recent weeks, deepening ties with both China and Russia in what experts describe as a calculated bid to strengthen its bargaining position ahead of any engagement with the United States. Long regarded as one of the world's most isolated states — a reputation reinforced by years of pandemic-era border closures — Pyongyang moved quickly to normalize relations with its two most important partners while quietly maintaining outreach to Southeast Asian nations. The moves come against the backdrop of a planned U.S.-China summit in May that is expected to touch on North Korea's nuclear program and growing speculation about the possibility of a U.S.-North Korea summit in the second half of the year. Restoring China channel On the China front, North Korea has moved to mend ties after years of pandemic-era isolation. Passenger train services between Pyongyang and Beijing resumed on March 12, followed by the return of direct flights on March 30, both after six years of suspension. The countries' two leaders have also maintained a steady exchange ofApr 7, 2026By Park Ji-won
