Ukraine pledges to consider non-refoulement for detained N. Korean soldiers: civic groupThe Ukrainian government has affirmed that it will consider the humanitarian principle of not transferring prisoners of war against their will in the handling of two North Korean soldiers captured during its war with Russia, a civic group said Tuesday. The legal support bureau of Ukraine's defense ministry pledged to consider the non-refoulement principle for captured North Korean soldiers, a civic group supporting the prisoners of war said, citing a reply it received from Ukraine. The two young North Korean soldiers have been held in Ukraine for more than a year following Ukrainian forces' capture of them in January last year in what was once the front-line region of Russia's Kursk. Through South Korean media, the North Korean soldiers expressed a wish to come to South Korea, with Seoul voicing its willingness to receive them through consultations with Ukraine. It marks the first time that the Ukrainian government has expressed to a South Korean civic organization its willingness to consider the non-refoulement principle for the soldiers. The group still voiced lingering concerns that thMar 24, 2026By Yonhap
Is North Korea preparing for first female leader?Kim Ju-ae, the daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has been appearing with increasing frequency in state media. As of March, she had already appeared in 13 North Korean state media photos, surpassing her total number of public appearances in 2024. Wearing a leather jacket strikingly similar to her father’s, Ju-ae was recently seen firing a sniper rifle and sitting atop a tank. According to Hankook Ilbo’s analysis of Korean Central News Agency reports, the number of public appearances so far this year already approaches 80 percent of her average annual exposure over the past four years. She appeared twice in 2022, the year of her public debut. That number rose to 18 in 2023, before falling to 13 in 2024 and rising again to 17 in 2025. Given those relatively even numbers, this year already stands out. Although the National Intelligence Service noted in its recent report to the National Assembly that Ju-ae is undergoing preparation to become a successor, the exact succession scenario remains unclear. Experts still remain divided over how to read state media images of her, withMar 24, 2026By Hankookilbo
N. Korea to introduce police system in apparent bid to project itself as normal stateNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has unveiled a plan to introduce a police system in what might be a bid to shed its image as a reclusive country, where public security forces have traditionally carried out policing roles. The Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) will review the introduction of the "police system" at a future session, Kim said Monday on the second and final day of the first session of the newly elected 15th SPA, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The move is aimed at "further solidifying and developing our legal and social systems by revamping legal regulations and establishing more effective and practical organizational systems to guarantee national security and social stability," Kim noted. He called a police system "essential" to state operations, emphasizing the need to advance the maintenance of public order to a higher level. The leader called for thorough preparations to transform social security forces into police forces once a police system is formally established, signaling that the Ministry of Social Security, which oversees public order, might be cMar 24, 2026By Yonhap
S. Korea weighs co-sponsoring UN resolution on NK rightsSouth Korea is considering whether to join a co-sponsor of this year's U.N. resolution on North Korean human rights, diplomatic sources said Tuesday. Seoul is weighing whether to drop out as a co-sponsor of the resolution on the human rights situation in North Korea, a draft of which has been submitted for adoption at the 61st U.N. Human Rights Council later this month, sources familiar with the matter said. If finalized, the move would mark a departure from its co-sponsorship last year, which was seen as unexpected for the new liberal government of President Lee Jae Myung, as it seeks to restore badly frayed ties with Pyongyang. South Korea was among the 61 co-sponsors for the resolution adopted at the U.N. General Assembly Third Committee last December. The potential shift over this year's resolution comes as Seoul has made little headway in improving its relations with the recalcitrant regime and could be seen as yet another gesture of rapprochement toward the North. It remains doubtful, however, if such a conciliatory move would help appease Pyongyang since the North has maintained itMar 24, 2026By Yonhap
Ex-US official sees 'low' possibility for Trump-Kim summit during Trump's anticipated China tripA former senior U.S. official said Monday the possibility of U.S. President Donald Trump having a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his anticipated trip to China is "somewhat low" due to the ongoing war with Iran and the need to focus on the summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He made the remarks on condition of anonymity during a virtual forum, voicing skepticism that Pyongyang is as motivated as it was in the first Trump administration to seek diplomacy with Washington, given its rising reliance on Russia and China for support. Speculation has persisted that Trump might seek to rekindle his personal diplomacy with Kim when he visits China as the White House has said he remains open to dialogue with Kim "without any preconditions." Trump had reportedly planned to visit China from March 31 to April 2, but his trip has been postponed because of the war with Iran. "My sense is that there is still definitely interest in certain parts of the Trump administration for reopening lines of communication with Pyongyang and potentially pursuing some kind of diplomacy with NoMar 24, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim formally calls S. Korea 'most hostile' nationNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has formally recognized South Korea as the "most hostile state" and warned of merciless consequences if provoked by Seoul, while reaffirming the North's status as a nuclear state, Pyongyang's state media reported Tuesday. Kim also said the North's constitution was revised to reflect the necessary demands of national development, delivering a speech Monday, the second and final day of the first session of the newly elected 15th Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). North Korea "officially recognized" South Korea "as the most hostile nation and will thoroughly ignore and disregard it through the clearest remarks and actions," Kim was quoted as saying by the KCNA. He also warned of "merciless" consequences against South Korea if Seoul carries out any acts that provoke North Korea. The KCNA reported that North Korea had discussed a revision of its constitution, but it was not known whether such a revision officially recognized South Korea as a "hostile state." North Korea's constitution calls for the peaceful reuniMar 24, 2026By Yonhap
NK leader's sister rejects Japan's summit proposalThe powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Monday rejected Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's hopes for summit talks, saying Japan must first abandon "anachronistic practices." According to a pool report, Takaichi expressed "a very strong desire" to meet directly with the North Korean leader during her talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington last week. "This is not the one that comes true, as wanted or decided by Japan," Kim Yo-jong, a department director in the North's ruling party, said in a statement released by the North's Korean Central News Agency. "If the prime minister of Japan seeks to resolve its unilateral matter not recognized by us, our state leadership will have no intention to meet or sit face to face with her. For top leaders of the two countries to meet, Japan should first break with its anachronistic practices and habits," she added. Kim also said Pyongyang has "nothing to discuss face to face with such a party still keen on obsolete thinking and impossible ideas." "I don't want to see the prime minister of Japan coming to Pyongyang," KiMar 23, 2026By Yonhap
Putin congratulates NK's Kim on reelection, voices hope for closer tiesRussian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on his reelection as chairman of the State Affairs Commission, expressing hope for stronger bilateral relations, the Kremlin said Monday. According to the North's Korean Central News Agency, Kim was reappointed to the highest post of the commission at the first session of the Supreme People's Assembly held on Sunday. It marked his third consecutive term since the commission was created in 2016 as the country's top policy guidance body. "Dear Comrade Kim Jong Un, please accept my heartfelt congratulations on your reelection as Chairman of State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," Putin said in a message posted on the Kremlin's Telegram channel. "Russia highly values your personal contribution to strengthening the friendly, allied relationship between our countries. We will naturally continue our close cooperation to further develop the comprehensive strategic partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang. This undoubtedly serves the fundamental interests of both our nations," he added. Russia aMar 23, 2026By Yonhap
25% of N. Korean defectors from near Punggye-ri nuclear test site show chromosome mutations: dataA quarter of North Korean defectors from regions near the northeastern Punggye-ri nuclear test site have shown chromosome mutations possibly attributable to exposure to radioactivity, data showed Monday. Radioactive exposure tests conducted in 2024 by the Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences (KIRAMS) on 35 North Korean defectors from eight regions near the Punggye-ri nuclear test site found that 12 of them, or 34 percent, showed chromosome mutations possibly linked to radiation exposure, according to the unification ministry. The regions include Kilju, Kimchaek and Paekam. Since 2006, the North has conducted all of its six nuclear tests at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, located in Kilju County. In similar tests conducted last year, 15 of 59 defectors tested showed possible chromosome mutations, bringing the total number of North Korean defectors with such findings to 44 out of 174 individuals tested between 2023-25, or 25 percent. The tests measure levels of chromosome aberration in individuals to assess their accumulated radiation exposure, with the minimum detectable rMar 23, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim reappointed as president of state affairsNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un was reappointed as president of the state affairs commission at the first session of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) following last month's ruling party congress, state media reported Monday. "The SPA reelected Comrade Kim Jong-un as president the state affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at the first session, the first state affairs activity of its 15th term" the previous day, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, referring to the country by its official name. Kim's reappointment to the highest post of the state affairs commission marks his third consecutive term since the commission was created in 2016 as the country's top policy guidance body. "The greatness of Comrade Kim is per se the strongest national power" of North Korea, the KCNA quoted party secretary Ri Il-hwan as saying ahead of the appointment. "We respect, follow and admire him so much." During the meeting, Jo Yong-won, known as one of Kim's closest aides, was also elected chairman of the SPA standing committee, the top parliamentary post, replacing Choe Ryong-hae,Mar 23, 2026By Yonhap
