N. Korean media glorify leader Kim as 'greatest man in world' after reelection as party chiefNorth Korean state media on Wednesday launched a glorification campaign for leader Kim Jong-un following his recent reelection to the highest party post, calling him the "greatest man in the world" and describing his leadership as tantamount to a "miracle." "The entire people across the country were moved by endless excitement and exaltation" over Kim's reelection, said an article carried by the Rodong Sinmun, the most widely read newspaper published by the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). At the ongoing party congress, the first since 2021, Kim was reelected as general secretary of the WPK. The congress opened last Thursday to review policy results from the previous congress and set new goals for the next five years. The newspaper article said "great things," unimaginable achievements even over several centuries, had been attained in the past five years, calling the feat tantamount to "a miracle." The article lauded "the absolute defense capability," the "construction boom" and regional development as major feats under Kim's leadership. The newspaper cited a newly constructed greenhFeb 25, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea discusses draft proposals of 5-year policy goals at key congressNorth Korea's ongoing party congress discussed five-year plans and goals for key sectors, including national defense and foreign affairs, on the sixth day of the party gathering, state media reported Wednesday. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, "Study and consultative meetings in various fields," including the economy and party work, were held the previous day at the congress of the Workers' Party of Korea. Still, the North's state media made no mention of foreign policy as the first party congress in five years nears its conclusion after it opened last Thursday to review policy outcomes from the previous congress and set new goals for the next five years. Once the new policy directions are finalized, the North is expected to unveil them in the closing session of the congress. "The consultative meetings ... intensified the discussion on the orientation and plans of the work of different sectors and units," the KCNA said. "(They) discussed in detail the realistic proposals for achieving gradual and qualitative development. "The discussion focused on ensuring the scientific accuraFeb 25, 2026By Yonhap
Kim Yo-jong promoted to ministerial level, returns to N. Korea’s PolitburoKim Yo-jong, the influential younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has been promoted to department director of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, the North’s state media reported Tuesday — a move that elevates her to a ministerial rank and further consolidates her position within the inner circle of power in Pyongyang. The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said the decision followed an expanded plenary meeting of the Central Committee held a day earlier. Although the report did not specify which department Kim would lead, analysts said she was likely to take charge of the influential propaganda and agitation department, which oversees messaging, ideology and the personality cult surrounding the leadership. Kim previously served as a deputy director in that office and has long been seen as a key architect of the regime’s public statements and media strategy. The reshuffle also restores Kim as an alternate member of the Politburo, the party’s top decision-making body. She had held a seat there until 2020, and her omission fromFeb 24, 2026By Anna J. Park
InterviewRussian Embassy banner mirrors Kremlin playbook for intimidationThe Embassy of Russia in Seoul has drawn the ire of many South Koreans over a controversial banner displayed on its building. The 15-meter banner, written in Russian and translated into English as “Victory will be ours,” was installed despite mounting calls from South Korean citizens and several European diplomatic missions in Seoul to remove it. The embassy has refused to back down, stating that the banner was put up to commemorate “Defender of the Fatherland Day.” It argued that other diplomatic missions also display banners and promotional materials on their premises and maintained that the banner helps strengthen bonds among Russians. The embassy said it would take the banner down once the celebrations are over. There was initially an event to celebrate Defender of the Fatherland Day scheduled for Tuesday, but the embassy cancelled it. Chris Monday, an economics professor at Dongseo University in Busan, said the embassy banner reflects Russian President Vladimir Putin’s broader political strategy. “Intimidation and veiled threats are integral to Putin’s playbook,” hFeb 24, 2026By Kang Hyun-kyung
Russia says Moscow, Pyongyang jointly 'safeguarding' world from enemyA Russian official praised Moscow-Pyongyang relations, saying they are "safeguarding" world justice against an enemy at a banquet in Pyongyang hosted by the Russian Embassy, a North Korean newspaper reported Tuesday. "(North Korea and Russia) are safeguarding the world's peace and justice in opposition to their common enemy," the Rodong Sinmun newspaper quoted Russian Defense Attache Alexei Bartusov as saying at a banquet hosted by the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang the previous day. The banquet at the Taedonggang Diplomatic Club marked Russia's Feb. 23 Defender of the Fatherland Day, which commemorates the founding of the Red Army, and was also attended by Russia's acting ambassador to Pyongyang and North Korean officials. The Russian military official emphasized the bilateral solidarity forged through Pyongyang's dispatch of troops to support Russia in its war with Ukraine, saying, "Russia will forever remember the great service of North Korean soldiers in the operation to liberate the Kursk region." He said bilateral ties have been elevated to an unprecedentedly high level in line withFeb 24, 2026By Yonhap
S. Korea's nuclear envoy urges N. Korea to comply with UNSC resolutions, return to dialogueSouth Korea's nuclear envoy has called on North Korea to comply with U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions on the North's nuclear and missile programs and return to the dialogue table, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday. Jeong Yeon-doo, vice minister for diplomatic strategy and intelligence, made the call at the high-level segment of the Conference on Disarmament held Monday in Geneva, Switzerland, according to the ministry. "We call upon the DPRK to respond to our sincere efforts and to engage constructively in dialogue, and also to return to full compliance with the NPT and relevant UNSC resolutions," Jeong said, referring to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. DPRK is the acronym of North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Jeong also voiced "deep" concerns about North Korea's illegal military cooperation with Russia, stressing that such cooperation must "cease immediately" as it seriously undermines international peace and security, the ministry said. Seoul's envoy said while the government maintains the goal of "complete denucleFeb 24, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim says no shifting environment can deter country's progress at party congressNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said the country's progress would not be deterred by any changes in the security environment at the ongoing party congress, state media reported Tuesday. But he did not issue any message to South Korea or the United States despite their continued overtures to resume dialogue, in a possible sign that the North may leave room for a policy shift amid the fluid international situation. "No challenge or change in the situation can delay or check our advance," Kim told the congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea the previous day, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. He also called for more boldness in "overcoming and eliminating backwardness and evil practices" in his "concluding" speech to the congress, according to the KCNA. The party congress opened Thursday to review policy outcomes from the previous 2021 congress and set new goals for the next five years. But in a speech, Kim made no mention of South Korea and the U.S., which have extended overtures to resume diplomacy with Pyongyang. It is rare for the North Korean party congress to avoid sFeb 24, 2026By Yonhap
China's Xi congratulates Kim on reelection to top party post, vows to advance tiesChinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a congratulatory letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on his reelection as the ruling party's general secretary, vowing to strengthen strategic cooperation with Pyongyang, a Chinese news report said. Xi sent the celebratory telegram to Kim after the North Korean leader was reelected as general secretary of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea during the ongoing party congress, Xinhua News Agency reported. Xi touted Kim for "achieving new results in building a Korean socialist country" and said his reelection reflects "the high trust and heartfelt support" of the party, the government and the people, according to the report. Xi described China and North Korea as "friendly socialist neighbors," reaffirming his party and government's "unwavering policy" to maintain and solidly advance bilateral ties. The Chinese leader also recalled his recent meetings with Kim, proposing that the two leaders implement major agreements reached during the meetings so as to "open a new chapter" in bilateral relations. The North's official Korean Central News AgencFeb 23, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea's parliamentary chief, other seniors excluded from list of party central committee membersChoe Ryong-hae, the 76-year-old chairman of the North Korean parliament who once served as the top military leader, has been excluded from members of the country's ruling party central committee, along with other senior officials, signaling a major generational shift in leadership. Choe, party secretary Pak Jong-chon, party adviser for defense Ri Pyong-chol and other senior officials were not included in a new list of members of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). On the fourth day of the ninth party congress on Sunday, the party elected 138 members and 111 alternate members of its central committee. Including Choe, Pak and Ri, nearly 70 members of the central committee were replaced compared with the list from the eighth congress in 2021, marking a significant reshuffle of the top leadership body. Membership in the party central committee is almost a prerequisite for assuming a major official post in North Korea. Choe has served as director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army and then chairman oFeb 23, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim reelected as general secretary of ruling party at key congressNorth Korea's ruling party reelected Kim Jong-un as its general secretary at the ongoing party congress, state media reported Monday, as the event is expected to unveil major policy goals for the next five years. "The Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) decided to reelect Comrade Kim Jong-un as the WPK's general secretary ... for our party's enforcement and development and our nation's prosperity," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, citing "unwavering" consent from party members, people and soldiers. The KCNA reported the congress decision made the previous day, the fourth day of what is typically several days of meetings, at the end of which key policy goals for the next five years are announced, including on the economy, defense and diplomacy.Feb 23, 2026By Yonhap
