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
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
