N. Korea launches 5th-stage construction of Pyongyang housing projectNorth Korea has launched the fifth-stage construction of its housing development project in Pyongyang, state media reported Thursday, just days after the completion of the fourth stage. "A ceremony of declaring the start of the fifth-stage construction in the Hwasong area took place with splendor" the previous day, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, adding the new construction starts in the run-up to the ninth congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). North Korea completed the fourth and the final stage of a major construction project to build 50,000 housing units in Pyongyang on Monday, aimed at addressing housing shortages and enhancing living standards. Under the pet project of leader Kim Jong-un, unveiled at the party congress in 2021, 10,000 living units were constructed in Pyongyang's Songsin and Songhwa districts in 2022 and an additional 40,000 units in the Hwasong district from 2023 to early 2026. The report came as North Korea is set to host the ninth party congress in late February, signaling the regime may unveil large-scale construction projects, along wFeb 19, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea presents 600 mm-caliber multiple rocket launchers ahead of party congressNorth Korea has staged a display of munition workers presenting 600 millimeter-caliber multiple rocket launchers to an upcoming key party congress, with leader Kim Jong-un vowing to unveil next-stage plans to strengthen the country's defense capabilities, state media reported Thursday. Workers of a leading munitions company manufactured 50 units of the main strike weapon and presented them to the Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea at a ceremony in Pyongyang the previous day, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The 600 mm-caliber multiple rocket launcher, last tested in January with Kim present, has a range of about 400 kilometers, and the KCNA report indicates it may now be ready for field deployment. Photos released showed rows and columns of multiple rocket launchers in the yard of the April 25 House of Culture, the venue of the party congress, which the North has said will be held in late February. Delivering a speech, the North's leader hailed the weapon as the "world's most advantageous weapon for concentrated super-powerful attack," and said the upcoming cFeb 19, 2026By Yonhap
NK leader's sister hails Seoul's pledge to prevent drone incursions, vows stronger border vigilance: KCNAThe powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said Thursday she "highly appreciates" South Korea's pledge to prevent a recurrence of drone incursions into the North, vowing to step up the country's vigilance along the border with the South. Kim Yo-jong, a party vice department director, issued the statement via the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) a day after Unification Minister Chung Dong-young expressed "regret" over drone incursions into the North and announced a series of measures aimed at preventing a recurrence. "I highly appreciate Chung Dong-young, minister of unification of the ROK, officially acknowledged the ROK-born drone's provocative intrusion into the airspace of our country, expressing regret once again and willingness to prevent a recurrence," Kim said in the statement. ROK stands for the Republic of Korea, South Korea's official name. At a press conference the previous day, Chung acknowledged that, based on the results of an investigation, drones were sent to the North by South Korean individuals four times between last September and February, including two oFeb 19, 2026By Yonhap
S. Korea seeks to reinstate 'no-fly zone' to prevent civilian drone incursions into N. KoreaSouth Korea will actively seek to reinstate no-fly zones along its border with North Korea in a partial revival of the suspended 2018 inter-Korean military pact, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Wednesday, in a move aimed at preventing civilian drone flights into the North. The Ministry of National Defense also said it is reviewing the partial restoration of the military agreement in consultation with relevant government agencies and the United States. The announcement came five days after Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, urged Seoul to take steps to prevent further incursions. Speaking at a press conference, Chung said the government is reviewing steps to partially revive the military agreement from Sept. 19, 2018, which created buffer zones and flight restrictions aimed at reducing the risk of accidental clashes. "In coordination with military authorities, the government will proactively review and pursue the restoration of the Sept. 19 inter-Korean military agreement, including the possible reestablishment of no-fly zones, in order to pFeb 18, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
N. Korea completes 50,000-unit housing construction project in Pyongyang: KCNANorth Korea said Tuesday it has completed a landmark housing project to build 50,000 apartment units in Pyongyang ahead of a party congress later this month. "The construction of 50,000 flats in Pyongyang, powerfully carried on as the top-priority task of the historic eighth congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, has been successfully concluded to be an epoch-making success in the new era of the comprehensive national rejuvenation," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The housing construction is a pet project of leader Kim Jong-un, unveiled at the 2021 congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, aimed at addressing housing shortages and enhancing living standards. Under the project, a total of 40,000 units were constructed in Pyongyang's Songsin and Songhwa districts in 2022 and in the Hwasong District from 2023 to 2025, with the remaining 10,000 completed recently. Kim attended an inauguration ceremony for the completion of the project with his daughter Ju-ae, Monday, according to the KCNA. At the ceremony, Kim said the North will unfold a "more gigantic construction project," addFeb 17, 2026By Yonhap
North Korea opens street for families of soldiers killed in Russia-Ukraine warNorth Korea has built new homes in Pyongyang for the bereaved family members of North Korean soldiers who died during the Russia-Ukraine war, its state media said Monday. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended the opening ceremony of the new street called Saeppyol Street, Sunday, accompanied by his daughter Ju-ae and officials. In his speech at the ceremony, Kim said the new street "has been built thanks to the ardent desire of our motherland that wishes that the precious lives of its excellent sons, who defended the most sacred things by sacrificing their most valuable things, will live forever." Describing the street as "a source of honor for our generation and a pride of Pyongyang and our state," he said it is for "the bereaved family members of the fallen soldiers and other combatants, as well as the combatants of the regiment of the engineers, who have been dispatched to the overseas military operations." "The Party and the government will take all necessary steps to ensure that these families lead a proud and worthwhile life while enjoyiFeb 16, 2026By Yonhap
Chinese officials visit N. Korean tourism zone for Lunar New YearChina's Ambassador to North Korea Wang Yajun and other embassy officials have visited a beach resort area in North Korea on the occasion of the Lunar New Year, state media reported Sunday, raising views on whether Pyongyang is seeking to attract Chinese tourists. Wang and other members of the Chinese Embassy in North Korea attended the friendly meeting that took place at the Wonsan-Kalma beach resort area the previous day, also attended by the North's Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong-ho, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Pyongyang's foreign ministry hosted a banquet to mark the Lunar New Year at a landmark hotel in the coastal tourist district, the KCNA said. During the gathering, participants expressed their "will to further advance the friendly ties between their two nations by upholding the noble intentions of their top leaders," it added. It marked the first time the North's state media carried a report on Chinese Embassy officials visiting the Wonsan-Kalma tourism zone that opened in July last year, which is known to accommodate up to around 20,000 visitors. North KoFeb 15, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea observes longer Lunar New Year holiday this year, combined with late leader's birthdayNorth Korea is expected to observe a longer Lunar New Year holiday this year, as it immediately follows the national holiday marking the birthday of late former leader Kim Jong-il. North Korea observes a one-day Lunar New Year holiday, which falls on Tuesday this year, shorter than South Korea's three-day holiday. This year's Lunar New Year falls a day after the late leader's birthday, Monday following Sunday, giving North Koreans a three-day holiday. Generally, North Koreans observe the new year according to the Western calendar, while South Koreans celebrate Lunar New Year more extravagantly. The socialist North Korea initially renounced the traditional Korean holiday as a feudal vestige before reinstating it in 1989, along with the other traditional holiday of Chuseok, under the Kim Jong-il regime. North Korea now uses the traditional holiday as an occasion not only to honor families' ancestors but also to celebrate the achievements of its two late leaders, including state founder Kim Il-sung, and to bolster allegiance to the current leader, Kim Jong-un. On Lunar New Year, North KoreansFeb 15, 2026By Yonhap
NK leader again inspects construction of memorial for troops deployed for Russia's war against UkraineNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has again visited the site of a memorial under construction for troops killed while fighting alongside Russia against Ukraine, state media reported Saturday. Kim inspected construction efforts for the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations the previous day after the project broke ground last October, according to the Korean Central News Agency. "He called upon the service personnel, designers and creators, involved in the construction of the memorial museum, to deeply cherish the profound feelings of respect of the Party and people and successfully build the museum into a sacred monument," it said. It marked Kim's third visit to the memorial under construction after attending last year's groundbreaking and a tree planting ceremony last month. Since October 2024, North Korea has sent more than 10,000 troops and conventional weapons to support Russia's war efforts, with thousands believed to have been killed.Feb 14, 2026By Yonhap
Cheong Wa Dae expresses hopes of restoring trust with N. Korea following Pyongyang's statementCheong Wa Dae expressed hope Friday for restoring mutual trust with North Korea and easing tensions, after the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called the unification minister's recent expression of regret over alleged civilian drone flights into the North "sensible." The response came hours after Kim Yo-jong assessed Unification Minister Chung Dong-young voicing regret over drone incursions into North Korea as "sensible behavior" and urged Seoul to take steps to prevent a recurrence. "The two Koreas need to restore trust by easing tensions through mutual communication," a senior presidential official said, adding the two sides "should refrain from actions that undermine the precious peace between them." During a speech at a Catholic Mass on Tuesday, Chung expressed regret over the drone dispatches from the South on Jan. 4 and in September, claimed by Pyongyang last month. The recent exchange of messages between Seoul and Pyongyang was seen as a positive development in the frayed inter-Korean ties, as the Lee Jae Myung administration seeks to resume dialogue to ease milFeb 13, 2026By Yonhap
