North Korea fires 1 ballistic missile toward East Sea: South Korean military North Korea's state media reported that the country conducted a test-firing of a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), March 24. North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Wednesday, South Korea's military said. YonhapNorth Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Wednesday, South Korea's military said, in the recalcitrant regime's latest saber-rattling that comes less than a week before President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's inauguration.The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch from the Sunan area in Pyongyang at 12:03 p.m. Other details were not immediately available."Our military is tracking and monitoring related movements and maintaining a readiness posture," the JCS said in a text message sent to reporters.The latest launch marks the North's 14th show of force this year. It came after the North test-fired what it claimed to be a tactical guided weapon on April 16.Concerns have persisted that the North could continue to carry out provocations, such as another intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or a nuclear test. May 4, 2022
US wants UN Security Council vote on North Korea sanctions in May This undated photo provided by the North Korean government shows a firing of a weapon an undisclosed location in North Korea, April 17. The United States would like the U.N. Security Council to vote during May to further sanction North Korea over its renewed ballistic missile launches. AP-YonhapThe United States would like the U.N. Security Council to vote during May to further sanction North Korea over its renewed ballistic missile launches, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said on Tuesday.The United States circulated an initial draft resolution to the 15-member council last month that proposed banning tobacco and halving oil exports to North Korea and blacklisting the Lazarus hacking group.However, Russia and China have already signaled opposition to boosting sanctions in response to Pyongyang's March launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile - its first since 2017. A Security Council resolution needs nine "yes" votes to pass, without a veto by Russia, China, France, Britain or the United States."It is our plan to move forward with that resoMay 4, 2022
North Korean leader praises youth for their role in recent military parade North Korean leader Kim Jong-un praises students and young workers who participated in a massive military parade for demonstrating ardent patriotism, May 1. YonhapNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un praised students and young workers who participated in a massive military parade for demonstrating ardent patriotism like no other country, state media reported Monday.At the photo session held Sunday, Kim noted the "rosy future" of "our-style socialism" belongs to the youth and urged them to hasten their efforts toward this "sacred patriotic cause," according to the official Korean Central News Agency."Our youths have regarded the loyalty to the Party and revolution as their high honor and pride and spent their youthful days with ardent patriotism and high enthusiasm for the revolution and struggle," Kim was quoted as saying.He stressed such proud traits are "peculiar to the Korean youths that can neither be seen nor be imitated in any society of the world."Kim also expressed appreciation for their contribution in glorifying the anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army (KPRA) asMay 2, 2022
Pyongyang continues strict COVID-19 measures as Seoul lifts mask requirement outdoors North Korean quarantine officials march during a military parade at Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang, April 25, in commemoration of the 90th anniversary of founding of Korean People's Revolutionary Army. Screenshot from North Korea's Korean Central TelevisionBy Ko Dong-hwanWhile South Korea's central disease control authority will be lifting the face mask mandate on May 2, as the daily numbers of COVID-19 infections have been gradually declining from their peak in March, the situation in North Korea appears to be quite the opposite.North Korean daily newspaper Rodong Shimmun, which is the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, released a story on May 1 headlined, “Let's stay vigilant and strictly abide by quarantine regulations.”The story said that new variants that keep emerging are raising international concerns. Variants such as Omicron have increasingly infected or killed people in North Korea and countries nearby, making the disease's highly contagious situation very bad, according to the report. Observers have said that “couMay 1, 2022By Ko Dong-hwan
North Korean leader vows to 'preemptively' contain nuclear threats by hostile forces Soldiers march in a military parade held to celebrate the 90th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army, at Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, April 25, in this photo released by the official North Korean Central News Agency. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stressed the need to bolster the country's military power to "preemptively and thoroughly contain" nuclear threats from hostile forces, according to Pyongyang's state media Saturday. EPA-Yonhap North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stressed the need to bolster the country's military power to "preemptively and thoroughly contain" nuclear threats from hostile forces, according to Pyongyang's state media Saturday.This was said during a meeting with top military commanders who organized a massive street parade in Pyongyang earlier this week, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.Kim was quoted as calling on his military commanders to maintain the "absolute superiority" of the armedApr 30, 2022
Continued restoration work spotted at North Korea's nuclear test site: report The North Portal, also known as Tunnel No. 2, of North Korea's only known nuclear test site at Punggye-ri, is blown up, May 24, 2018, in this press pool file photo. Yonhap North Korea appears to be continuing its work to restore the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, which it ostensibly demolished in 2018 ahead of a historic summit with the United States, according to a North Korea information provider citing satellite photos.Commercial satellite imagery taken April 26 of the site in Kilju, North Hamgyong Province, indicates ongoing work to restore access to the site's Tunnel No. 3 complex, with the construction of a new portal, or entrance, and support structures, 38 North noted."It is unclear if the portal has been completed yet, given the small amount of spoil that has been observed so far," it added. "The area outside the new portal has been leveled and stabilized. At the east end of the leveled area, the construction of a small support building has been completed." Apr 29, 2022
North Korea-China trade fair resumes after 7-year halt over UN sanctions North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, wearing a white marshal uniform, stands in front of soldiers during a photo session, April 27, in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency. Yonhap An international trade fair co-hosted by North Korea and China opened for the first time in seven years, according to Pyongyang's state media Friday.It had been suspended since 2016 after China, the North's traditional ally and biggest trade partner, voted in favor of United Nations sanctions against Pyongyang.Showcased online during the two-month event that kicked off Thursday were products ranging from agriculture, light industry, construction, fisheries and medicine, the official Korean Central News Agency reported."The trade fair will contribute to boosting cooperation between North Korea and China in the field of economics and science and technology," the Korean Central Broadcasting Station also said.Pyongyang and Beijing jointly held the trade fair every year from 2012 tApr 29, 2022
NK leader calls for bolstering military strength in photo session with parade participants A military parade is held at Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang, April 25, 2022, celebrating the 90th anniversary of the founding of North Korea's army, with the North's leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, in this photo released the following day by the state-run Korean Central News Agency. Yonhap North Korean leader Kim Jong-un again called for the bolstering of his country's military strength to "annihilate the enemy,” as he held a photo session with participants in a military parade held earlier this week, state media reported Friday.During the session held Wednesday, Kim praised the soldiers for "fully demonstrating" the "modernity, heroism and radical development" of the North's military forces and their "matchless military and technological superiority" during the event held Monday night, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)."He underlined the need for all the service personnel of the entire army to fully cherish the soul and spirit of the DPRK and boApr 29, 2022
Seoul urges Pyongyang to stop escalating tensions over Kim's pledge to bolster nuclear power A photo released by the official North Korean Central News Agency shows its leader Kim Jong-un, center, presiding over a military parade held to celebrate the 90th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army at Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, April 25. EPA-YonhapThe Korean government called Thursday on North Korea to refrain from escalating tensions in the region, responding to a threat by its leader Kim Jong-un to strengthen the regime's nuclear capabilities."Our government and the international community have maintained the stance that North Korea should stop all acts that heighten tensions, including the advancement of its nuclear capabilities, and to return to the negotiating table," a unification ministry official said. South Korea will continue efforts to achieve denuclearization and bring peace to the Korean Peninsula in close coordination with Washington while keeping a close eye on the North, the official added.On Monday, North Korea showcased a massive intercontinental ballistic missile and other strategic weapons at a military parade, durinApr 28, 2022
Defectors' group sends balloons carrying propaganda leaflets to North Korea A balloon carrying leaflets is seen in this photo, provided by a North Korean defectors' group in South Korea, April 28. The group, the Fighters for a Free North Korea, said its members sent 20 such balloons to North Korea across the western inter-Korean border. Yonhap A North Korean defectors' group has sent 20 large balloons carrying propaganda leaflets, including news of Yoon Suk-yeol's election as president, to the North across the western inter-Korean border, the group said Thursday.Some 1 million anti-Pyongyang leaflets were sent over to North Korea in the latest leaflet campaign carried out in Gimpo, west of Seoul, Monday and Tuesday, the Fighters for a Free North Korea (FFNK) said in a press release. Some of the leaflets were carrying the news of Yoon's election as president and his photo, the group said "A great nation where a prosecutor has become a national leader," some of the leaflets read.Through a revision of the Development of Inter-Korean Relations Apr 28, 2022
