China's Xi congratulates N. Korean leader on reelection to top leadership postChinese President Xi Jinping congratulated North Korean leader Kim Jong-un Thursday on his reelection as president of the state affairs commission, a Chinese news report said. Xi delivered the message to Kim, the Xinhua News Agency said, after Kim was elected to the post for a third consecutive term at the first session of the newly formed 15th Supreme People's Assembly earlier this week. Xi called North Korea-China relations "a valuable asset," reaffirming China's "unwavering policy" to advance ties. "Xi said he attaches great importance to developing China-DPRK relations, and is willing to work with Kim to jointly advance the traditional friendship between the two countries and better benefit both countries and their peoples," Xinhua said. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.Mar 26, 2026By Yonhap
Seoul sees no reason to push UN human rights resolution against N. Korea: unification ministerUnification Minister Chung Dong-young said Thursday that South Korea sees no reason to push for a United Nations resolution denouncing human rights violations in North Korea, suggesting such a move could conflict with its commitment not to engage in hostility against Pyongyang. Chung made the remarks as Seoul is reportedly weighing the option of not co-sponsoring this year's annual human rights resolution against North Korea, scheduled for adoption at the U.N. Human Rights Council later this month. "North Korea considers (the resolution) as a major hostile policy against itself," Chung said. "We have no reason to push for it despite this." The minister, instead, emphasized the need to consistently follow through on its commitments to peaceful coexistence with North Korea, especially the pledge not to engage in hostile acts toward Pyongyang.Mar 26, 2026By Yonhap
Belarus leader says ties with N. Korea upgraded to 'new stage': reportBelarusian President Alexander Lukashenko held summit talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and bilateral relations are upgraded to a "new stage," according to a Belarusian news report Thursday. The summit talks between Kim and Lukashenko comes a day after the Belarusian leader arrived in Pyongyang for his first official visit to North Korea, aimed at expanding cooperation between their countries across various fields. "The friendly relations between our states, which originated back in the days of the Soviet Union, have never been interrupted. Today, as a result of comprehensive progressive development, we are transitioning to a fundamentally new stage. Belatedly, but nevertheless, we are transitioning to a new stage," Belarusian news agency Belta quoted Lukashenko as saying. Earlier in the day, North Korea's state media reported that Lukashenko was "warmly" greeted by Kim as he arrived at Pyongyang, but there have been no reports from the North's media about summit talks. Both North Korea and Belarus have supported Russia in its invasion against Ukraine, with Pyongyang sending troMar 26, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim welcomes Belarusian President Lukashenko in Pyongyang: KCNANorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has welcomed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Pyongyang, as the Belarusian leader made his first official visit to the North, according to the North's state media Thursday. A ceremony to welcome Lukashenko took place at Kim Il Sung Square on Wednesday as he arrived in Pyongyang by his private plane for a two-day visit at the invitation of the North's leader, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Both North Korea and Belarus have supported Russia in its invasion against Ukraine, with Pyongyang sending troops and weapons and Minsk allowing Moscow to use its territory for the invasion. During this week's talks, Kim and Lukashenko are expected to discuss ways to cooperate in various fields. When a limousine carrying Lukashenko arrived at the square, Kim "gladly met" with the Belarusian president and "warmly welcomed" his visit to North Korea, according to the KCNA. At the ceremony, the national anthems of North Korea and Belarus were played, and a 21-gun salute was fired. Guided by Kim, Lukashenko reviewed an honor guard. Accompanied byMar 26, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea forecast to boost status, role of parliament: unification ministryNorth Korea appears to be boosting the status and role of its parliament, the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), a move that may lead to increased legislation supporting ruling party policies, the unification ministry in Seoul said Wednesday. The ministry made the assessment after North Korea held the first session of the newly elected 15th SPA earlier this week, following the ruling party's first congress in five years last month. The two-day SPA session that concluded Monday included a wide-ranging personnel reshuffle among key cadres and a constitutional amendment. On paper, the SPA is the highest state organ, though it has largely served as a rubber-stamp body backing decisions by the Workers' Party of Korea. The unification ministry cited the election of former party secretary for organizational affairs Jo Yong-won as both SPA chairman and chairman of the SPA standing committee, saying it indicates an expanded role for the SPA chairman. Previously, the two seats were held separately by different individuals. The ministry pointed to the election of party secretaries as chairs of sectoralMar 25, 2026By Yonhap
Belarusian president begins official visit to N. Korea: reportBelarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has begun an official visit to North Korea to discuss cooperation in various sectors, a Belarusian news report said Wednesday. The Belarusian leader is visiting the country from Wednesday to Thursday at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for bilateral negotiations, Belta, a Belarusian news agency, reported. "Plans have been made to discuss the entire spectrum of avenues for advancing cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," the report said. The leaders will also identify key areas of mutual interest and the most promising projects for implementation, it said.Mar 25, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea omits 'Day of the Sun' reference in announcing founder's birthday eventsNorth Korea on Wednesday announced an annual springtime festival marking late state founder Kim Il-sung's birthday in April but avoided calling the anniversary by its reverent name, the "Day of the Sun." The 34th April Spring Friendship Art Festival will be staged in Pyongyang to mark the 114th anniversary of the late state founder's birthday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, as part of celebrations for the founder's birthday on April 15. The birthdays of the founder and his son, late leader Kim Jong-il, are celebrated extravagantly in North Korea, with the founder's birthday glorified as the Day of the Sun. Wednesday's KCNA report, however, did not use the reverent term and instead referred to the anniversary as "a joyous April holiday," as state media increasingly avoid the designation in an apparent effort to put the spotlight on the current leader, Kim Jong-un. The KCNA said art troupes, dancers and performers from around the world will participate in the festival. The Rodong Sinmun, the North Korean ruling party newspaper, had previously announced a flower festival for AprMar 25, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim thanks Putin for congratulating him on reelection as president of state affairsNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has expressed his gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin for congratulating him on his reelection as president of state affairs, voicing hope for continued strong ties between the two nations, state media reported Wednesday. Kim made the remarks in a reply to Putin the previous day after he was reelected as president of state affairs Sunday at the first meeting of the 15th Supreme People's Assembly, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). It marked his third consecutive term since the nation's top policy guidance body was created in 2016. "I express my sincere thanks to you for sending warm and sincere congratulations first on my re-assumption of the heavy duty" as president of state affairs, Kim was quoted as saying in his message to Putin by the KCNA. The North's leader said he's convinced that firm relations and trust between them will "undoubtedly guarantee the durability and future purposefulness" between North Korea and Russia and "powerfully promote the development and wellbeing" of the peoples of the two nations. "Pyongyang willMar 25, 2026By Yonhap
Belarus leader Lukashenko to visit N. Korea: KCNABelarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will visit North Korea at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the North's state media reported Tuesday. The North's Korean Central News Agency did not say when the Belarusian leader would visit Pyongyang, but Russia's state news agency TASS reported, citing a Telegram channel close to Lukashenko's press service, that the visit would take place on March 25-26. Kim and the Belarusian leader "will hold talks to discuss the full range of bilateral ties," TASS quoted the Telegram channel as saying. "The upcoming visit is expected to strengthen the legal framework of relations and boost bilateral cooperation," TASS reported.Mar 24, 2026By Yonhap
North Korea pushes two-state paradigm, declares South ‘most hostile state’North Korea’s designation of South Korea as “the most hostile state” signals the effective end of the “provisional special relationships” framework that has governed inter-Korean ties since 1991, experts said, urging Seoul to adapt to Pyongyang’s fundamentally redefined stance and recalibrate its approach to reflect a two-state reality. “Up until now, the North has defined the relationship with the South based on the understanding that we are the same people, seeking unification. But upon the North’s designation of the South as an independent and ‘hostile’ nation, the two countries can no longer make an agreement under the provincial special relationships written on the 1991 Basic Agreement,” Koh Yu-hwan, professor emeritus of North Korean studies at Dongguk University, told The Korea Times Tuesday. Koh said it remains unclear whether the term “hostile state” will appear in the North’s revised constitution, but he expects the document to delete language defining the two Koreas as one. “That is one of the reasons the unification ministry of South Korea had nMar 24, 2026By Park Ji-won
