Drone incursion probe focuses on 2 civilians who worked in Yoon administrationAccusations of South Korean drones entering North Korea have erupted into a political controversy after it emerged that two key suspects previously worked at the presidential office under former President Yoon Suk Yeol. One of the suspects, a man in his 30s who publicly claimed responsibility for flying the drones, worked as a contract staffer in the presidential spokesperson's office in 2022. The other suspect, who is under investigation for assembling the drones, is also known to have served in the same office during a similar period. A joint military-police investigative team said Sunday it plans to soon summon the man who claimed in a media interview that he sent drones across the inter-Korean border. In an interview with local broadcaster Channel A on Friday, the man said he personally flew drones toward North Korea three times since September 2025, claiming two crashed in the North while one returned safely. He presented what he described as aerial footage and other materials that showed the drone belonged to him. He said the flights were intended to measure radiation levels near aJan 18, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
Pyongyang briefly reports Kim's New Year's greeting to China's XiNorth Korea's leader Kim Jong-un sent a New Year's message to Chinese President Xi Jinping, state media reported Sunday, without releasing details, in a restrained move as Pyongyang deepens ties with Moscow. The Korean Central News Agency said Kim sent New Year's messages to several foreign leaders, including those of Vietnam, Singapore, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan, but referred to the Chinese leader by his title and to his wife without naming her. Earlier this month, the KCNA also reported that Xi and his wife sent a New Year's message to Kim, without providing details. The restrained coverage stands in sharp contrast to North Korea's recent portrayal of its relationship with Russia. In December, the KCNA published detailed accounts of letters exchanged between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kim described relations with Russia as a "precious common asset," while Putin was quoted as praising North Korea's "heroic" deployment of troops in Russia's war in Ukraine.Jan 18, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea would want nuclear arms acknowledgment, sanctions removal if it accedes to dialogue with US, says ex-US envoyWASHINGTON — A former U.S. nuclear envoy said Friday that North Korea would aim to have its nuclear weapons "acknowledged and accepted," like Pakistan's, and secure the lifting of sanctions should it accede to U.S. overtures for dialogue. Former U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Joseph Yun, who served as acting ambassador to Seoul from January last year to October, made the remarks during a seminar, noting that despite U.S. President Donald Trump's wishes to resume dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Kim does not appear to be ready. His remarks came amid growing speculation that Trump could seek reengagement with Kim in the coming months as Trump plans to visit China in April for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. "North Korean goals are twofold. One is to lift sanctions and second is to have their nuclear weapons acknowledged and accepted," Yun said during the seminar on the South Korea-U.S. alliance hosted by the Korea Inter-parliamentary Exchange Center. "I mean it's just a little bit different from a recognized nuclear weapons power, but I think at minimuJan 17, 2026By Yonhap
'Civilian' faces probes over drone incursion alleged by NorthA joint military-police team said Friday that it is investigating a "civilian" over a recent drone incursion alleged by North Korea. North Korea claimed early this month that South Korea infringed on its sovereignty with drone incursions in September last year and on Jan. 4, with the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong-un demanding Seoul admit and apologize for the incident. South Korea's military has denied such claims, saying the drones in question were not models operated by the military. The police did not reveal the suspect's identity and other details of the investigation. "We have summoned one civilian suspect in connection with the case and are undergoing an investigation," the National Police Agency said in a notice to reporters. President Lee Jae Myung has ordered a "thorough" investigation into the matter, warning that such acts would constitute a "grave crime" threatening peace on the Korean Peninsula, if confirmed. Following the police notice, local broadcaster Channel A aired an interview with a 30-something-year-old man, who purported to have sent the drone to the North. The mJan 16, 2026By Yonhap
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
