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
N. Korea set to convene 1st session of new Supreme People's AssemblyNorth Korea is set to hold the first session of its new Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) on Sunday amid attention on whether the regime will codify its hostile policy toward South Korea in its constitution. The parliamentary session comes after new deputies were selected following last month's Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. The country's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Tuesday the session will be held in Pyongyang "to deliberate on the election of the president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the elections of the state leadership and sub-committees of the SPA, (and) the revision and supplement of the Socialist Constitution." North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has defined the two Koreas as "two countries hostile to each other," and whether this policy will be codified in the constitution is being closely watched by officials and analysts in South Korea and other regional powers. Also of interest is whether Kim will deliver a speech addressing North Korea's relations with the South, the United States and other countries. The KCNAMar 22, 2026By Yonhap
Border mountain to host franchise cafe with panoramic view of N. KoreaMount Odu, situated just below the inter-Korean border, will host a franchise cafe offering visitors a panoramic view of North Korea's border regions, sources said Friday. A Twosome Place cafe will begin service Tuesday on the fourth floor of an observation tower on Mount Odu in the border city of Paju under a three-year contract, the sources said. Located at the confluence of the South's Han River and the Imjin River flowing from North Korea, the observation tower is the closest point to North Korea open to civilians. The observation tower is a famous tourist spot, overlooking North Korea's South Hwanghae Province. Once open, the cafe will offer special menu items featuring the region, such as Peace Set or Unification Set, along with exclusive goods for sale. In 2024, a Starbucks cafe began service at another observation tower on Aegibong Peak in the border region of Gimpo, becoming a popular tourist destination.Mar 20, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim oversees combined drill involving new main battle tanksNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw a joint offensive drill featuring new main battle tanks equipped with an "active protection system," saying ground troops will be equipped with the "superior" tank "extensively," state media reported Friday. Kim oversaw "a coordinated offensive tactical drill of infantrymen's and tankmen's sub-units" a day earlier at the Pyongyang Training Base No. 60 under the Capital City Defence Corps of the Korean People's Army, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The drill also involved "various tests" to assess the new main battle tank's active protection system, during which it intercepted all anti-tank missiles and drones attacking from different positions and directions to "prove the efficiency of its superior active protection system," the KCNA said. Kim touted the tank as "very superior" and "unequaled in the world in its striking power and mobility," as well as in its self-defense capacity. During the development of the tank, special attention was paid to improving its survivability, Kim also said, emphasizing its mobile self-defensive complex cMar 20, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea touts cement factory visited by leader Kim as exemplary case for boosting productionNorth Korea has touted a cement factory in the country's southwestern region as an exemplary case for boosting production, state media showed Thursday, in a move seen as being aimed at strengthening the people's unity following last month's key party congress. The Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, carried a report on the front page that highlights the Sangwon Cement Complex in North Hwanghae Province, calling for the people to learn about the "spirit of Sangwon." The Sangwon Cement Complex is a key cement factory in North Korea, having an annual production capacity of 2 million tons of cement. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited the factory March 1 in his first inspection of an economic site following the ninth party congress in late February. The Rodong Sinmun called for the people to learn about "infinite loyalty" from the factory that has "unconditionally" been implementing the ruling party's order to boost production. "Construction is a key sector that drives the nation's advance, development and prosperity. Cement is like ammunition," the newspaper said. "Sangwon is notMar 19, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea-China trade surpasses $427 mil. in January to February, highest in 9 yearsTrade between North Korea and China surpassed 2.94 billion Chinese yuan ($427 million) in the January-February period this year, marking the highest amount in nine years, Chinese data showed Wednesday. China's exports to North Korea amounted to 2.31 billion yuan, while imports reached 625.6 million yuan during the two-month period, marking a combined 19.6 percent increase from the trade volume recorded a year earlier, according to data from China's General Administration of Customs. The two-month figure marks the highest level since 2017, when trade reached 5.37 billion yuan, signaling a recovery in bilateral trade as the two countries move to mend ties frayed by Pyongyang's military alignment with Russia. China is by far North Korea's largest trading partner. Annual bilateral trade, however, plunged to 16.1 billion yuan in 2018 from 34.31 billion yuan in 2017 after China joined U.N. Security Council actions to impose sanctions against the North. Trade took another blow from COVID-19 border controls to further shrink to 2.05 billion yuan in 2021 before beginning a gradual rebound thereafMar 18, 2026By Yonhap
