Unification, foreign ministries launch regular consultative channel on N. Korea policyThe unification and foreign ministries launched their vice ministerial-level consultative channel to coordinate policies on North Korea on Friday, officials said. Vice Unification Minister Kim Nam-jung and Jeong Yeon-doo, vice minister for diplomatic strategy and intelligence at the foreign ministry, held a luncheon meeting earlier in the day in the inaugural session of regular consultations, according to the unification ministry. The consultative channel was launched after a subtle mismatch emerged between the ministries over which should lead consultations with the United States on North Korea policy. Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said his ministry would handle consultations with the U.S. on policies related to the Korean Peninsula and inter-Korean relations when the foreign ministry launched a regular consultative body with the U.S. Embassy in Seoul on North Korea policy last month. "(The officials) agreed to meet frequently in the future to share information on North Korea's latest moves, as well as views on North Korea policy," the unification ministry said in a press releasJan 16, 2026By Yonhap
S. Korea to simplify import procedures for N. Korean processed foodsSouth Korea will simplify the import procedures for North Korean processed food in an effort to help resume inter-Korean trade at the private level, the unification ministry said Friday. The unification ministry, in consultation with other government agencies, drew up revisions to the enforcement decree related to inter-Korean exchange and other regulations in a bid to help facilitate imports of North Korean processed foods, according to ministry officials. Under the revised measure, importers of North Korean foods will be required to submit import documents at the import approval stage, rather than at the import declaration state, to prevent delays that have often occurred when importers failed to meet import declaration requirements even after obtaining approval. The envisioned laws also allow importers of North Korean foods to use alternative documents when registering production facilities with the food safety agency, rather than the government documents generally required from exporting countries. The revisions reflect the currently suspended state of inter-Korean relations, which mJan 16, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea to stage large-scale youth events ahead of party congressNorth Korea will stage large-scale events marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of its largest youth organization, state media reported Friday, in what is seen as an effort to drum up youth loyalty ahead of a key party congress. Exemplary youth and army service members from across the country arrived in Pyongyang the previous day to participate in various events marking the 80th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. All students and young people aged between 14-30, except those with party membership, are required to join the organization of the four key labor groups affiliated with the ruling party. The youth league is designed to instill party ideology and loyalty. Its membership is estimated at some 5 million. The participants are expected to take part in government-organized events marking the Jan. 17 founding anniversary of the league. The party department director for labor groups, Kim Jong-sun, and officials of the league welcomed them at Pyongyang Station, the KCNA said. The celebration comes ahead of tJan 16, 2026By Yonhap
Over 100,000 registered S. Koreans with separated families in N. Korea die of old ageMore than 100,000 South Koreans who registered as having family members in North Korea separated by the 1950-53 Korean War have died of old age, government data showed Thursday, highlighting the urgency of arranging family reunions. Of the total 134,516 people registered as separated families, 101,148 have died as of the end of 2025, according to the unification ministry data. Two people newly registered last month as having family members separated in the North, while 292 others died, leaving only 34,368 survivors, down 2,573 from the end of 2024. The brutal three-year civil war left many people separated from their families, while ongoing inter-Korean tensions have long halted once-regular family reunion events with relatives in the North. With family reunions remaining halted, around 200 people die each month while waiting to reunite with relatives in the North. Only one South Korean succeeded last year in reaching out to a family member in North Korea and confirmed the relative's whereabouts through privately arranged assistance, in an exceptional case, the ministry said. The person, aJan 15, 2026By Yonhap
S. Korea considers restoring pact reducing military tension with N. KoreaSouth Korea has been considering restoring a suspended pact with North Korea on reducing military activities along their border and relevant discussions were under way, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said Wednesday. The pact was signed in 2018 between former President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, but it was fully suspended in 2024 due to heightened tensions between Seoul and Pyongyang. Asked whether the government is moving to restore the pact, Wi replied that the government has been holding internal discussions, calling the effort the government's "basic direction." "No final conclusion has been reached yet, and consultations are currently in progress," Wi told reporters. Regarding Pyongyang's accusation that Seoul sent drones into the North on two occasions in September and earlier this month, Wi said the government is conducting an internal investigation to determine who was behind the alleged drone incursions. If civilians are found to have sent the drones, Wi said it would "highly likely violate current law and constitute a breach of the armistice agreementJan 14, 2026By Yonhap
Seoul to take corresponding action after probe into drone incursions alleged by North: ministerSouth Korea will take action corresponding to the results of its ongoing investigation into drone incursions alleged by North Korea, the unification minister said Wednesday. Unification Minister Chung Dong-young made the remarks at a policy briefing by agencies affiliated with the ministry, a day after Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, again demanded that Seoul apologize for violating the North's sovereignty. On Saturday, North Korea's military accused Seoul of sending drones carrying surveillance equipment across the border in September and on Jan. 4, claiming the country's sovereignty had been violated. South Korea immediately launched an investigation into the allegations, including the possibility that civilians may have been behind the claimed drone incursions, while saying the South's military has not sent the drones or operated the models found in the North. "The military-police fact-finding team is currently working swiftly. As soon as the results are released, (the government) will take corresponding action," Chung said. The minister also descriJan 14, 2026By Yonhap
What Minneapolis ICE shooting reveals about law and accountabilityFor more than two decades, I have lived and worked in Minneapolis. During that time, I have seen communities withstand floods, protests and a pandemic. I have also seen how quickly tragedy can divide us. The killing of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old Minnesota resident and mother of three, by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on Jan. 7 has become one of those moments. In confronting it, we must adhere to the facts, understand the law and remember the humanity of everyone involved. According to federal officials and multiple news reports, Good was fatally shot during a federal immigration operation in south Minneapolis. Video recorded by bystanders shows several ICE agents surrounding her sport utility vehicle. As she tried to leave the scene, one agent fired into the driver’s side window. The vehicle rolled into parked cars and came to a stop. The Department of Homeland Security described the agent’s actions as self-defense and characterized Good’s behavior as an act of domestic terrorism. Local officials disagreed. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the vidJan 14, 2026By Massoud Amin
N. Korea slams UNSC meeting on Russia's strike on UkraineNorth Korea on Tuesday denounced a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on Russia's recent air strike on Ukraine, defending Moscow's action as a just exercise of the right to self-defense. Kim Song, North Korea's permanent representative to the U.N. issued a statement condemning the UNSC meeting Monday (New York time) after Russia launched a barrage of missile attacks on Ukraine last week. "It is just an extension of the customary practice of the Western cavilers who used to groundlessly slander the just exercise of the right to self-defense of a sovereign state," read the statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency. The North's envoy denounced Ukraine's military action against Russia as a "terrorist act" as Moscow earlier warned of a response against Ukraine following Kyiv's drone attacks in early January. "The terrorist act targeting the absolute sovereignty of a country can never be justified, and retaliation of justice can never be demonized by any assertion," Kim said. North Korea has sent thousands of troops and weapons to support Russia's war with Ukraine amid deeJan 13, 2026By Yonhap
Seoul views Pyongyang as leaving room for communication over drone incursions claimThe unification ministry on Tuesday assessed North Korea as leaving room for "communication," referring to a recent statement by the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un over South Korea's alleged drone incursions. Kim Yo-jong issued a statement Sunday demanding Seoul's detailed explanation, a day after North Korea claimed South Korea violated the North's airspace by sending drones across the border in September and on Jan. 4. An official at the unification ministry said it assessed the fact that North Korea has not issued a further statement following Kim's as Pyongyang's intention to monitor Seoul's response. "Depending on the government's reaction, we are evaluating (North Korea as leaving) room for easing inter-Korean tensions and having communication," the official told reporters on condition of anonymity. "The ministry will continue efforts to improve inter-Korean relations even with a chance of 1 percent," he added. After the North's claim of the drone incursions, President Lee Jae Myung ordered the creation of a joint military-police investigation team to look intJan 13, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea replaces top military officials guarding Kim Jong-un: unification ministryNorth Korea has replaced its top military officials in charge of guarding leader Kim Jong-un, the unification ministry said Tuesday, with Seoul's spy agency assessing the North as raising the level of security for Kim on assassination concerns. North Korea has changed the chiefs of three major North Korean units defending the security of the North's leader — the Guard Office of the ruling party, the Guard Department of the State Affairs Commission and the Bodyguard Command — the ministry said in its analysis of the major reshuffle of North Korean officials in 2025. The ministry did not disclose the exact timing or the reason for the replacement, but it said the changed chiefs of such agencies were detected during a military parade marking the 80th founding anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) in October 2025. Song Jun-sol serves as the chief of the Guard Office in charge of protecting Kim and his family members. Ro Kyong-chol was appointed to lead the Guard Department tasked with guarding Kim during public events. Ra Chol-jin assumed the chief of the Bodyguard Command ofJan 13, 2026By Yonhap
