N. Korea releases rare photo of leader's daughter firing rifleNorth Korea released a rare solo photo, Saturday, of leader Kim Jong-un's daughter Ju-ae taking aim at a target with a sniper rifle, after she took center stage with her father at a key military parade. In a photo released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Ju-ae, wearing a leather coat, was seen taking aim at a target and firing the rifle, marking an unusual instance in which she appeared alone without Kim or other officials in an image distributed by Pyongyang. The KCNA also released a photo of Ju-ae checking a target through a telescope beside her father. "(The photos) emphasize that Kim Ju-ae knows how to fire a gun, implying she is undergoing training as a successor," said Yang Moo-jin, a senior professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul. The photos add further weight to the South Korean spy agency's recent assessment that the teenager may be positioned to succeed her father as state leader.Feb 28, 2026By Yonhap
NK leader's sister confirmed to serve as director of ruling party's general affairs departmentKim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was confirmed to have taken the post of director of the general affairs department of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), according to state media Saturday. Kim was promoted to a party department chief at the WPK's plenary meeting Monday held in the midst of the ninth party congress that concluded a weeklong run Wednesday, but details of her official title were not disclosed at that time. But the North's state media called her "director of the General Affairs Department of the WPK Central Committee" for the first time in its Saturday report, listing her as one of the major party cadres and military commanders who received a new type of sniper rifle from the North's leader as "special gifts." The North's leader met with major leading cadres and military commanding officers at the headquarters building of the WPK the previous day and gave the "new-generation" sniper rifle to each of them, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim Yo-jong, formerly the vice director of the party's propaganda and agitatiFeb 28, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim uses party congress to consolidate his long-term grip on power: SeoulNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has used the latest party congress as an occasion for consolidating his base for a long-term grip on power, effectively declaring his own era in earnest, Seoul's unification ministry said Friday. In an assessment of North Korea's ninth party congress that concluded its seven-day run Wednesday, the ministry said in his 15th year in office, the incumbent leader declared "the full-fledged Kim Jong-un era." At the first party congress in five years, Kim was reelected as the general secretary of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) for reinforcing the country's nuclear deterrence under his leadership. As for the grounds for such an evaluation, the ministry cited the omission of "deference" expressions toward late state founder Kim Il-sung and late former leader Kim Jong-il in Kim Jong-un's opening speech. The ministry also mentioned North Korea's touting of Kim Jong-un's achievements that the North said surpassed those of his predecessors. Meanwhile, the unification ministry said North Korea replaced about half of the party officials in the central leadershiFeb 27, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim visits family mausoleum with newly elected party officials after congressNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited a mausoleum for his late grandfather and father with newly elected party officials after the country wrapped up a key party congress, state media reported Friday. Kim visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun the previous day with newly-elected members of the central leadership of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). North Korea concluded the weeklong ninth party congress Wednesday, the first since 2021, where it set new policy goals on diplomacy, defense, the economy and other areas for the next five years. The KCNA said the members of the party central leadership "solemnly hardened their firm will to fulfill their heavy duty in the responsible journey for brilliantly carrying out the fighting program of the WPK." In a separate dispatch, the KCNA said Kim held a photo session with participants in the party congress against the background of the April 25 House of Culture, the venue of the party event. Kim expressed "belief and conviction that all the participants would play a vanguard role in the sFeb 27, 2026By Yonhap
April NK-US summit looms as both sides signal opennessSpeculation is growing over a possible summit between North Korea and the United States as both sides have recently signaled a willingness to engage in dialogue. Analysts say a bilateral meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may be possible in line with Trump’s planned visit to China in April. But they also say the chances of a summit resulting in tangible outcomes remain uncertain, as Pyongyang implied talks could take place only if certain conditions are met. The signal for potential talks came in Kim’s remarks during a policy review session from Friday to Saturday at the Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. "There is no reason for the two countries not to get along if the U.S. respects our country's current state as defined in the constitution and withdraws its hostile policy toward North Korea," Kim was quoted as saying by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Thursday. "The prospect of North Korea-U.S. relations totally depends on the U.S.' attitude ... We are prepared for peaceful coexistence or eternal conFeb 26, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Lee reaffirms commitment to improve ties with N. Korea after Pyongyang snubs dialogue offerPresident Lee Jae Myung on Thursday vowed to continue efforts to normalize relations with North Korea despite Pyongyang's rejection of his dialogue overture, saying the two Koreas should move beyond past confrontation and pursue peace and stability. Lee reaffirmed his commitment to improving ties after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un dismissed dialogue with Seoul, describing the South's overture as deceptive while appearing to leave the door open for talks with Washington as he wrapped up the North's key party congress the previous day. "We should pursue such values as peace and stability," Lee said at a meeting with senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae. "We should decisively put an end to the past that was racing toward confrontation and war." He also called for sober reflection on past approaches that have stoked tensions on the Korean Peninsula. "We need to seriously consider whether previous acts of humiliation or threats toward North Korea have truly contributed to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula or served the Republic of Korea's interests and security," he said. To normalize inFeb 26, 2026By Yonhap
Rubio signals US openness to dialogue with N. KoreaU.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday signaled Washington's openness to dialogue with Pyongyang, as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has indicated his willingness to reengage with the United States if it drops its "hostile" policy toward his regime. Rubio briefly touched on the potential engagement with the reclusive regime during a press availability in Frigate Bay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, as Kim recently issued the message toward the U.S. during a key party congress, saying the prospects of U.S.-North Korea relations "entirely depend on the attitude of the U.S." "Suffice it to say that the United States is always prepared to talk to officials from any government that have information to share with us or viewpoints they want to share with the U.S., and that's my job to do that," Rubio said, according to a transcript released by the State Department. "So whether it's someone in Cuba or potentially one day someone in North Korea or right now in Iran, we are always open to listen. That's different from a negotiation, obviously, but we're prepared to listen to viewpoints that otheFeb 26, 2026By Yonhap
S. Korea regrets NK's hostile policy declaration toward Seoul, vows to pursue reconciliationThe unification ministry said Thursday it regrets North Korea's declaration to maintain a hostile policy toward South Korea but added that Seoul will continue its reconciliatory approach toward the regime. The ministry issued the response to the results of the ninth congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, during which North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said the country will "have no business dealing with South Korea," in rejection of dialogue overtures by President Lee Jae Myung's administration. "The ministry finds it very regrettable that North Korea unveiled a stance to continue the two hostile states (policy) without responding to our government's efforts for peaceful coexistence," the unification ministry said. The government will not be deterred by North Korea's attitude but will continue to pursue its policy of seeking peaceful coexistence with the North, the ministry said, reaffirming Seoul's stance not to seek unification by force or hostile actions against the regime. At the party congress, the North's leader said the current state of having nullified all conditions connected witFeb 26, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim says willing to get along with US if Washington drops hostile policyNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said Pyongyang has no reason not to get along with the United States if Washington withdraws its hostile policy against the North, but rejected Seoul's overtures for talks as "deceptive," according to the North's state media Thursday. Kim made the remarks during a policy review session held Friday-Saturday at the Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, which concluded its weeklong run the previous day, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. "We have no reason not to get along with the United States if it respects our country's current status, as defined in the North Korean constitution, and drops its hostile policy toward North Korea," Kim was quoted as saying. "The prospects of North Korea-U.S. relations entirely depend on the attitude of the U.S.," Kim said, adding the regime will take "corresponding" responses if Washington maintains its confrontational stance. "Whether it's peaceful coexistence or eternal confrontation, we are prepared for both, and the choice is not ours," he said. The remarks suggest the North is leaving the dooFeb 26, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim warns of 'terrible' retaliation against hostile military acts at military paradeNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has warned that "terrible retaliatory attacks" will be carried out against any force that commits hostile military acts against his country during a military parade marking a key party congress, state media reported Thursday. Kim made the remarks at the nighttime parade in Pyongyang on Wednesday as the high-profile ruling party gathering drew to a close that day, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "Our armed forces are fully ready to cope with any circumstances," Kim said in a speech carried by the KCNA. "Our army will deliver terrible retaliatory attacks to any forces the moment they commit hostile military acts of infringing upon our national sovereignty and security interests." "In this world of today, it is the topmost, overriding task of our state and the duty of our armed forces, which no one else could perform for them, to reliably defend the rights to existence and development of our state and people." Meanwhile, the parade at Kim Il Sung Square featured various troops, including an overseas operation unit and a mechanized infantryFeb 26, 2026By Yonhap
