Foreign, unification ministries at odds over consultative body on NK issuesThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Unification appear to be at odds over the planned launch of a new South Korea-U.S. consultative body on North Korea's nuclear issues. The unification ministry said Monday that it will not participate in the group, even as the foreign ministry moves ahead with plans to launch regular consultations on Tuesday. The differing positions underscore a subtle power struggle between the two ministries. Officials at the unification ministry, which is in charge of inter-Korean affairs, appear concerned that the consultative body could be heavily influenced by U.S. decision-making. The talks are intended to fine-tune the pace and direction of Seoul and Washington’s North Korea policy as the allies seek to revive dialogue with Pyongyang. According to the foreign ministry, Jeong Yeon-doo, vice minister for intelligence and North Korean nuclear issues at the ministry, and acting U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim will lead the regular consultative meeting. “As the consultations will focus on bilateral diplomatic agreements, our ministry has decidDec 15, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin
Recent legal revisions bring end to era of leaflet campaigns against N. Korea: unification ministryThe recent passage of legal revisions regulating the scattering of propaganda leaflets into North Korea has ended the era of leaflet campaigns targeting Pyongyang, the unification ministry said Monday, expressing hope for the restoration of inter-Korean ties. "The latest revisions to the Act on the Performance of Duties by Police Officers and the Aviation Safety Act have made it difficult to scatter anti-North Korea leaflets, effectively drawing the era of leaflet campaigns toward the North to a close," unification ministry spokesperson Yoon Min-ho said at a press briefing. Following the passage of a revised Aviation Safety Act in early December that more strictly regulates the airborne launch of leaflets near the border with North Korea, the National Assembly passed another revised law the previous day granting police broader legal authority to block leaflet campaigns. The spokesperson said leaflet campaigns toward the North have fueled distrust between the Koreas and undermined the peace and safety of border residents, expressing hope that the revisions could serve as a starting pointDec 15, 2025By Yonhap
Unification ministry reviewing participation in regular Seoul-Washington talks on N. Korea policyUnification Minister Chung Dong-young said Monday that the ministry is reviewing whether to participate in upcoming regular consultative talks between Seoul and Washington on coordinating their North Korea policy. The minister's remarks came as Seoul and Washington were reportedly arranging to launch regular consultations this week to fine-tune the pace and direction of their North Korea policy, as both seek to reopen dialogue with Pyongyang in an effort to address its nuclear issues. Jeong Yeon-doo, vice minister for intelligence and North Korea's nuclear issues at the foreign ministry, and acting U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kevin Kim were reportedly set to inaugurate their regular consultative meeting as early as Tuesday. "We are continuing to discuss it," Chung told reporters on his way to his office in central Seoul earlier in the morning when asked whether the ministry would take part in the regular consultations. "We will make a decision after looking into the details." The minister said that Seoul and Washington appear to have decided to change the meeting's name from the one iDec 15, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korean leader's sister spotted with what appears to be Chinese foldable smartphoneThe influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has recently been spotted holding what appeared to be a Chinese foldable smartphone, as members of the country's ruling class are frequently seen with the latest smartphone technologies. A photo published by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) showed Kim Yo-jong holding a smartphone that appeared to be a foldable model from Chinese firm Honor's Magic series as she accompanied Kim Jong-un on an inspection of a newly built regional hospital on Saturday. A pro-North Korean news outlet based in Japan has said North Korea produces smartphones under an indigenous brand. The photo provides only a rough image of the phone held by Kim Yo-jong, without revealing any information about the device's manufacturer, though it appears to be a Chinese model. If the device was imported from China, it could constitute a violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2397, which prohibits the supply of electrical equipment to North Korea amid concerns over foreign-currency earnings and technology acquisition. In 2023, Kim Jong-un and Hyon SoDec 15, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea urges completion of ruling-party projects ahead of key party congressNorth Korea on Monday urged all-out public efforts to complete major projects of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea ahead of the first party congress in five years in 2026, where a new development plan is expected to be unveiled. The Rodong Sinmun, North Korea's most widely read newspaper, issued the call in an editorial, describing the period until the ninth party congress as "a very important and responsible juncture" in implementing party decisions and transitioning to a new stage of reform. The North Korean party is expected to convene its ninth party congress in January or February, at which a new five-year development plan is expected to be formulated. It will mark the first party congress since the eighth in 2021, where a five-year economic development plan was adopted. At the upcoming party congress, leader Kim Jong-un is likely to highlight the achievements of his signature regional development drive, known as "the Regional Development 20x10 Policy," touting them as major party accomplishments. "Not even a trivial case of incompletion should be allowed" in the implementation of pDec 15, 2025By Yonhap
Nat'l Assembly passes bill allowing police to intervene in anti-NK leaflet launchesThe National Assembly passed Sunday a bill led by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) that would give police legal authority to block attempts to send anti-Pyongyang leaflets near border areas. The amendment to the Act on the Performance of Duties by Police Officers allows police to intervene in the launch of leaflets near the inter-Korean border, aiming to prevent activities that could heighten tensions between the two Koreas. The bill was passed at a plenary session, shortly after the main opposition People Power Party (PPP)'s filibuster ended through a vote 24 hours after it began. The DPK has argued that the legislation is necessary to protect the safety of border residents and to help reduce military tensions, while the PPP opposed the bill, saying it infringes on freedom of expression. The move follows the recent passage of a revision to the Aviation Safety Act, which bans the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles in restricted areas, effectively blocking the use of drones to distribute leaflets toward the North. The legislation comes as the government seeks to ease militaryDec 14, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea completes building 2nd modern regional hospitalNorth Korea has built its second modern regional hospital as part of leader Kim Jong-un's push to expand medical facilities nationwide to improve public health services, state media reported Sunday. Kim attended the inaugural ceremony of the Kusong City Hospital in North Phyongan Province to tour the facility, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The hospital follows the opening of the Kangdong County Hospital on the outskirts of Pyongyang last month. Calling the Kusong facility "another precious creation," Kim said it reflects the ruling party's determination to strengthen regional areas and advance public health across the country. He also described 2025 as "the first year of the public health revolution," the KCNA reported. At a plenary meeting last week, the Workers' Party of Korea announced plans to build modern hospitals simultaneously in 20 cities and counties starting next year, based on experience gained from this year's pilot projects. During the ceremony, Kim reaffirmed his commitment to building modern hospitals across the country to lay a solid foundDec 14, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea welcomes engineer troops' return from Russia's Kursk regionNorth Korea has held a welcoming ceremony for military engineers who returned home from Russia's western Kursk region after conducting a mine clearance mission, with its leader Kim Jong-un recognizing the sacrifices of nine personnel who were killed there. The ceremony took place in Pyongyang, Friday, welcoming the return of the troops from the 528th Regiment of Engineers, who left for Kursk in early August, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Saturday. Pyongyang sent around 1,000 military engineers to Kursk to join Russian forces working to remove mines that were planted by Ukraine soldiers. Earlier, the North deployed around 15,000 combat troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine. During the ceremony, Kim expressed his appreciation to the troops for their safe return while noting that there was the "heartrending loss of nine lives." "You could work a miracle of turning a vast area of danger zone into a safe and secure one in a matter of less than three months, the task which was believed to be impossible to be carried out even in several years," Kim said. He stresseDec 13, 2025By Yonhap
Unification minister hopes Trump’s China visit will help break inter-Korean deadlockU.S. President Donald Trump’s anticipated visit to China in April could help thaw a prolonged stalemate in inter-Korean relations and inject new momentum into cross-border engagement, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Wednesday. His remarks come as the Lee Jae Myung government's outreach to Pyongyang over the past six months has drawn no response from North Korea. Officials in Seoul are hoping that Trump's willingness to reengage with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could provide new momentum. "With President Trump's visit to China expected in April, the next four months will be a critical turning point in determining whether the situation moves toward peace or remains in the current stalemate," Chung said during a press conference in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. "I see this as a pivotal period. Active steps are needed to help create the right conditions and shift the Korean Peninsula toward peace." Chung added that he plans to communicate closely with neighboring countries to help create a favorable environment for talks before the U.S. leader's visit to Beijing, noting that heDec 11, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin
N. Korea's Kim delivers 'important conclusion' at party plenary meeting: KCNANorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reached an "important conclusion" at the ongoing plenary meeting of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea on its second day of the gathering, state media said Thursday. The ruling party launched the 13th plenary meeting of its Eighth Central Committee on Tuesday, presided over by Kim, to review this year's policy implementation results and prepare for a key party congress next year. On the second day of the meeting Wednesday, Kim "made an important conclusion on the agenda items on the review of the (policy) implementation ... this year and the preparations for the ninth congress," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The KCNA did not specify what important conclusion Kim has reached. During the meeting, the leader also assessed the implementation of this year's party and state policies and reviewed "major successes" achieved this year, it noted. Also discussed were a series of "problems" to be immediately solved before the ninth congress and the assignment of "important tasks" related to its preparations, as well as organizational matters, the implDec 11, 2025By Yonhap
