N. Korea's premier highlights leader Kim's regional development drive as top priorityNorth Korean Premier Pak Thae-song has highlighted the regional development initiative being pushed for by leader Kim Jong-un as the state's top priority, calling on officials to devote themselves to the plans, its state media reported Sunday. Pak made the remarks during a groundbreaking ceremony of a construction project in Pyongwon County, South Phyongan Province, the previous day, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. In a speech at the event, Pak described the "Regional Development 20X10 Policy" as the highest priority for the party and the state, urging officials to commit themselves to implementing the policy, the KCNA reported. The state media also quoted Pak as calling for "patriotic strength and enthusiasm" to make this year "a new year of victory for the regional revolution." Since 2024, North Korea has been pushing for regional development aimed at building modern industrial plants in 20 cities and counties every year, seeking to narrow the gap between urban and rural areas in the next 10 years. Last week, Kim attended a groundbreaking event for a construction projectFeb 1, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim attends ceremony for this year's 1st regional development projectNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has attended the groundbreaking ceremony for a construction project, the first this year under his regional development drive, saying his policy will transform one-third of the country, state media said Friday. Kim attended the ceremony the previous day to mark the start of a regional development construction project in Unnyul County in South Hwanghae Province, and dug the first spadeful of earth, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, announcing the first regional construction campaign for 2026. Kim began his signature regional development policy in 2024, pledging to build modern factories in 20 cities and counties across the country every year for a 10-year period, in a bid to improve living standards for the people. "This is the third year for implementing the regional development policy, and public health facilities and leisure complexes, together with regional-industry factories, will be built in 20 regions of the country including this Unnyul County," the KCNA quoted Kim as saying at the ceremony. "This means that nearly one-third of the citiesJan 30, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korean ruling party's central committee elects delegates to upcoming congressThe central committee of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) has elected its delegates for the party's upcoming congress, state media reported Friday, signaling that the key event is near. The party held a conference of the headquarters of the party's Central Committee on Wednesday and elected delegates to be sent to the ninth party congress, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The election of central committee delegates typically indicates that working-level preparations for a party congress are in the final stage, a sign that the party congress is likely to take place soon. Last week, North Korea said its city and county party committees had elected representatives to a meeting of lower-level provincial organizations as part of preliminary congress preparations. Given typical procedures leading up to a party congress, North Korea is expected to convene a meeting of the WPK's politburo to set the date of the impending congress after electing final delegates at meetings of province-level party representatives. South Korea's intelligence agency and government have prJan 30, 2026By Yonhap
Unification ministry says DMZ access bills do not conflict with armisticeThe unification ministry said Thursday pending bills granting the South Korean government control of non-military access to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) do not conflict with the armistice as the bills require advance consultation with the United Nations Command (UNC). The ministry's stance came a day after the UNC voiced strong opposition to the bills, calling them "completely at odds" with the armistice agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War. "The ongoing parliamentary discussion on DMZ-related bills requires advance consultations with the UNC for approval of DMZ access, and therefore does not conflict with the armistice at all," the unification ministry said in a notice to the press. The ministry said it will continue to cooperate on the DMZ access bills, in respect of the National Assembly's legislative rights. The ministry has thrown its support behind the bills, proposed by ruling party lawmakers, aiming to give the government the authority to regulate non-military access to the DMZ, as part of efforts to promote the peaceful use of the military buffer zone separating the two KJan 29, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea assesses last year's agricultural output as 'proud outcome' ahead of party congressNorth Korea has held a Cabinet meeting to assess last year's agricultural output and resolve to meet this year's production target, the North's main newspaper said Thursday, as the country is preparing for a key party congress. The 2025 agriculture assessment meeting was held virtually from Tuesday to Wednesday and overseen by Premier Pak Thae-song, party secretary Jo Yong-won and Vice Premier Ri Chol-man, who also serves as chair of the agricultural committee, according to the Rodong Sinmun. The daily is North Korea's most widely read newspaper and is published by the ruling party. The meeting brought together agricultural officials from the ruling party, the Cabinet, as well as from cities, provinces and counties across the country. The KCNA quoted Ri as reporting to the meeting that the country saw "a step forward" in fulfilling its grain production target last year thanks to the adoption of scientific crop placement, new agricultural methods and other advanced technologies. Ri described the result as a "proud outcome brought about by the efforts and struggle of agricultural workers,"Jan 29, 2026By Yonhap
New Iranian ambassador to N. Korea takes office after presenting credentialsIran's new ambassador to North Korea has taken office after presenting his letter of credence, the North's state media reported Thursday. Choe Ryong-hae, chairman of the standing committee of North Korea's parliament, received the credentials of new Iranian Ambassador Abbas Talebifar, sent by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the previous day, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. Choe and Talebifar subsequently held talks, with Vice Foreign Minister Pak Sang-gil and members of the Iranian Embassy also in attendance, the KCNA said. North Korea and Iran have traditionally maintained close ties rooted in their shared antagonism toward the United States, and have been suspected of illicit cooperation in ballistic missile and nuclear technology. Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, both countries have supplied weapons to Russia, further cementing their military and economic ties.Jan 29, 2026By Yonhap
S. Korea confirms talks with US, Japan over NK missile launchSouth Korea, the United States and Japan discussed North Korea's latest missile launch and coordination efforts in three-way phone talks the previous day, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday. Baek Yong-jin, director general for the Korean Peninsula policy, spoke by phone with Dan Cintron, acting U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state, and Otsuka Kengo, deputy director general of the Japanese foreign ministry's Asia and Oceania bureau, the ministry said. On Tuesday, South Korea's military said the North fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, in yet another military muscle-flexing by Pyongyang ahead of its upcoming key party congress. North Korean state media said Wednesday it has test-fired an upgraded large-caliber multiple rocket launcher system, with leader Kim Jong-un in attendance. Seoul confirmed the phone talks with Washington and Tokyo only after it was first made public in Japan earlier Wednesday, a move seen as rare considering that such trilateral consultations on North Korea's provocations had mostly been released to media promptly. "South KoreJan 28, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea test-fires large-caliber multiple rocket launcher with Kim in attendanceNorth Korea has test-fired an upgraded large-caliber multiple rocket launcher system (MRLS) to assess its effectiveness, overseen by leader Kim Jong-un, state media said Wednesday. Kim called Tuesday's test of "great significance in improving the effectiveness of our strategic deterrent," saying the weapon system could be used for "specific attacks," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The weapons test came as North Korea is widely expected to convene its first ruling party congress in five years early next month. The upcoming ninth congress "will clarify the next-stage plans for further bolstering up the country's nuclear deterrent," Kim was quoted as saying by the KCNA. The previous day, South Korea's military said it detected multiple short-range ballistic missiles launched from north of Pyongyang toward the East Sea. The KCNA quoted Kim as saying, "All the indexes have been improved to maximize its strike capability, and the mobility, intelligence and hitting accuracy of the rockets, in particular, have remarkably been upgraded." e also described the weapon's "self-steered precJan 28, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles toward East Sea: JCSNorth Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Tuesday, South Korea's military said, in Pyongyang's apparent military muscle-flexing ahead of its upcoming key party congress. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the missiles launched from an area north of Pyongyang at around 3:50 p.m. "Our military maintains a firm readiness posture while closely sharing North Korean ballistic missile information with the U.S. and Japan sides amid a heightened surveillance posture against additional launches," the JCS said. North Korea is widely expected to hold the ruling party's first congress in five years early next month where the North will unveil its major policy lines on defense, diplomacy and the economy. The latest launch came as U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby wrapped up his three-day visit to South Korea earlier in the day to leave for Japan, the second leg of his Asia trip. Colby met with key South Korean security officials, including the national security adviser and the defense and foreign ministers, to discuss alliance issues rangJan 27, 2026By Yonhap
British agency seeks to hold int'l amateur golf contest in N. KoreaA British tourism agency is seeking to host an international competition for amateur golfers in North Korea this year, a website for the event showed Tuesday, in what would mark the resumption of such a golf contest after a decade should it take place. "The next North Korean Amateur Open is hoped to take place in 2026. The event will be over two days, with one day practice and one day stroke play," according to the website for the event, sponsored by Britain-based Lupine Travel. "The tournament is open to amateur golfers of all nationalities (except South Korean and U.S. citizens)," it showed, adding the event is expected to take place at Pyongyang Golf Complex, located some 25 kilometers away from the North Korean capital. The amateur golf competition took place for six consecutive years from 2011 to 2016 but has since been suspended due to a renovation at the golf course and the COVID-19 pandemic, which prompted the North to shut down its border. The website did not provide further details on whether arrangements for the envisioned competition have been made with Pyongyang. North KoreaJan 27, 2026By Yonhap
