Former North Korean diplomat peels back curtain on Pyongyang’s foreign policy apparatusNorth Korea’s diplomats are often seen delivering rigid statements from behind podiums, but a new insider account suggests the real work of Pyongyang’s foreign service happens far from public view. Drafting reports for Kim Jong-un. Navigating turf battles between rival state and party organs. Moving hard currency through overseas embassies under mounting pressure. That is how Han Jin-myung, a former third secretary at North Korea’s embassy in Vietnam who defected in 2014, describes the inner workings of Pyongyang’s foreign policy apparatus, based on a series of conversations with Nicholas Levi, a senior researcher at the Institute of Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures at the Polish Academy of Sciences. Those accounts underpin a new English-language book, “I Was a North Korean Diplomat: Inside the Secret World of Pyongyang’s Foreign Service,” published independently in late March. It offers a rare inside look at one of the world’s most opaque diplomatic systems, portraying North Korea’s embassies and foreign ministry as instruments of regime survival as much as channelMay 4, 2026By NK News
N. Korea slams Japan's move to revise key security documentsNorth Korea on Monday criticized Japan over its move to overhaul key security legislation, calling it "a brazen challenge to global peace and humanity." The North's criticism came as Japan has been seeking to revise its three key security documents — the National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy and Defense Buildup Program — within this year. The effort is widely seen as a response to China's growing military presence in the region and other regional security threats. Pyongyang denounced the move as a "sly scheme" by Japan to "realize their ambition of reinvasion amid escalating global tensions," according to an article published by Rodong Sinmun, the official mouthpiece of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. The article stressed the revision's core provisions include an increased defense budget, the lifting of restrictions on arms exports and the expansion of military capabilities, concluding the changes are "undoubtedly aimed at reviving its arms industry and increasing its war capability."May 4, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea shoots back at hacking allegationsNorth Korea on Sunday dismissed allegations that it had been the mastermind behind a recent international hacking case, accusing the United States of pushing "an absurd slander to tarnish the image of our country" by spreading false information. In a response provided to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a spokesperson for the North's foreign ministry claimed that the U.S. was building a narrative about the unfounded "cyber threat" from Pyongyang. "Recently, the U.S. government organs, reptile media organs and plot-breeding organizations are trying to spread incorrect understanding of the DPRK to the international community, talking about the non-existent 'cyber threat' from the DPRK," the spokesperson said, referring to North Korea by its official name, Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "One common point in their unilateral assertion is that all cyber-related frauds in different parts of the world are related to us and that the U.S. boasting of the world's best cyber technical power is the world's greatest 'victim.' "It is quite unreasonable for the U.S., which resoMay 3, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim calls for active role of young generation in party affairsNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for a greater role of the young people in achieving national development, state media reported Sunday, following a meeting of the country's largest youth group last week. Kim made the call Saturday while meeting with the participants of the 11th congress of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim underscored the need for the younger generation to play a more proactive and courageous role in advancing party objectives, citing what he described as "new and enormous tasks" facing the party and the revolution. He insisted that "the noble traits and iron-willed combat efficiency of the young people unprecedented in any other country are a proud symbol of our national power," adding that their patriotism and enthusiasm revolution are now evident across all sectors of socialist construction. Kim was accompanied by Kim Jae-ryong, Ri Il-hwan and Ju Chang-il, secretaries of the central committee of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), among others, the KCNA said. The youth league was hostMay 3, 2026By Yonhap
Russia blocks release of North Korean defector movie starring Kim Min-haThe Russian government blocked the screening of a movie about a North Korean defector a week before its scheduled release, according to the film’s Moscow-based distributor. "Hana Korea," a movie inspired by a North Korean defector’s account of adjusting to life in South Korea, was denied a license required for screening, distribution company U Films said in a statement Thursday. The specific reason for the denial is unclear, U Films said, with authorities citing the Russian culture ministry’s regulation allowing for broad refusals under unspecified provisions of federal law. “We are very sorry that Russian audiences will not be able to watch this movie legally,” the distributor said. U Films unveiled the film’s trailer on YouTube on April 6. It was originally scheduled for release April 30. South Korean films unrelated to defection continue to be screened in Russia. The Russian culture ministry didn’t respond to NK News’ request for comment at the time of publication. The film, directed by Danish filmmaker Frederik Schøllberg, tracks the life of Hyesun (a pseudonym), who nApr 29, 2026By NK News
Bukhan or Joson? Seoul debates official name of North Korea“I have never thought of or called North Korea as 'Joson' in my life. Joson for me is the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910),” said Lee Ye-seul, 37, a South Korean office worker. Like Lee, most South Koreans would never consider calling North Korea by its official name — the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or "Joson" in its shortened Korean form. The familiar term here is "Bukhan," meaning North Korea in Korean. North Korea, for its part, calls itself Joson or the Republic and refers to its southern counterpart as "Namjoson," meaning South Joson. That ingrained habit is now the subject of a formal public debate. The Ministry of Unification has opened discussions on what South Korea should officially call its northern neighbor, after Unification Minister Chung Dong-young spent recent months consistently using the North's official name of Joson. Chung pointed to a reciprocal shift already underway in the North, where the former designation of Namjoson has gradually given way to the South's official name, "Daehanminguk," or its abbreviation "Hanguk." The move appears to align with the gApr 29, 2026By Park Ji-won
N. Korea's Kim attends concert marking 80th founding anniversary of key military bandNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has attended a concert marking the 80th founding anniversary of a key military band, calling it a symbol of the country's armed forces, state media reported Wednesday. The concert was held the previous day to commemorate the founding anniversary of the Central Military Band of the Ministry of National Defense, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The event was also attended by key military and party officials, including Defense Minister No Kwang-chol and Kim Song-gi, director of the military's general political bureau. The North Korean leader praised the military band as displaying a "tremendous might incomparable with any military hardware," noting it has encouraged the Korean People's Army (KPA) with revolutionary military music for decades. Kim "highly appreciated that the Central Military Band ... is the face of our state and symbol of the KPA," according to the KCNA. Kim has recently ramped up inspections of military units to encourage troops in an apparent bid to boost internal solidarity on the occasion of the country's key anniversariApr 29, 2026By Yonhap
Calling N. Korea by its official name subject of public debate: ministryThe unification ministry said Tuesday the question of whether South Korea should use North Korea's official name is a matter that warrants broad public debate amid criticism that such a reference constitutes a violation of the Constitution. The debate was ignited last month when Unification Minister Chung Dong-young used North Korea's official name at an academic forum for the first time. South Korea currently refers to the North as "North Korea" rather than its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or "Joson" in Korean, as Seoul does not recognize its ties with North Korea as state-to-state relations under the Constitution. The use of North Korea's official name remains contentious as well, as critics argue that it amounts to accepting North Korea's "two-state policy" antagonizing the South. "It will be determined through public deliberation via various channels," an official at the unification ministry told reporters on condition of anonymity. Chung has, on various occasions, suggested Seoul follow Pyongyang's lead in using the other side's official name. He said PyoApr 28, 2026By Yonhap
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
