N. Korea's Kim pays condolatory visit to Russian embassy to mourn envoy's deathNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has paid a condolatory visit to the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang to mourn the death of Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Matsegora, the North's state media reported Thursday. Kim's condolatory visit to the embassy the previous day came a day after the North confirmed the sudden death last Saturday of the Russian ambassador, who had served in the country for more than 10 years. Kim "laid a bunch of flowers and observed a moment's silence in memory of Aleksandr Ivanovich Matsegora, who devoted his noble life to boosting and developing the DPRK-Russia friendship," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, referring to North Korea by the acronym of its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim also met with members of the bereaved family and members of the embassy, expressing deep condolences to them. Kim eulogized Matsegora as "an able diplomat" who contributed to the history of the North Korea-Russia friendly relations. His death is "a deep sorrow and great loss" to Russian as well as North Korea, especially at a time when the two countries hDec 11, 2025By Yonhap
S. Korea, US maintaining 'very close' cooperation on all N. Korea-related issues: US envoySouth Korea and the United States are maintaining a "very close" partnership on all North Korea-related issues, acting U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Kevin Kim said Wednesday, as the allies are seeking a regular meeting on coordinating their policy on the North. Kim made the remark after he met Jeong Yeon-doo, head of the office of strategy and intelligence at the foreign ministry, to discuss Seoul and Washington's policy on North Korea. "The United States and Korea are closely coordinating on all issues, but it's very productive as always, and we have a very close partnership on all North Korea-related issues," Kim told reporters, when asked if the two diplomats discussed launching a task force on North Korea policy. But Kim declined to comment when asked whether the U.S. is concerned about Lee's proposed policy goal to seek a "nuclear-free Korean Peninsula." The allies are in talks to hold a regular meeting on coordinating their policy on North Korea as the Lee Jae Myung administration seeks to mend frayed ties with the North and resume inter-Korean talks. Last month, Jeong was appointed to tDec 10, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea fires artillery rockets in presumed military training Tuesday: JCSNorth Korea fired around 10 artillery shells from its multiple rocket launcher system earlier this week, in what appeared to be part of its regular wintertime drills, military officials said Wednesday. "The military detected around 10 artillery rockets launched toward the northern waters of the Yellow Sea at around 3 p.m. Tuesday," the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, adding a detailed analysis of the launch is under way. The rockets were presumed to be launched from the 240mm multiple rocket launcher that puts Seoul and its adjacent areas in target range. A military official said the artillery launch appeared to be part of North Korea's regular wintertime exercises that usually start in December. "Our military is closely monitoring North Korea's various movements under a firm South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture and maintains capabilities and posture that can overwhelmingly respond to any provocation," the JCS said. Last month, Pyongyang fired the artillery rockets, shortly before a joint visit by the defense chiefs of South Korea and the United States to the Demilitarized Zone sepDec 10, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea begins ruling party meeting to prepare for key party congressNorth Korea has launched a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, state media reported Wednesday, as Pyongyang prepares for a key party congress that could offer glimpses into North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's plans for military and economy. The enlarged 13th plenary meeting of the party's Eighth Central Committee was convened the previous day, presided over by Kim and attended by key central committee members, government ministry officials and observers, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The meeting approved five agenda items for discussion, including the review of the implementation of this year's party and state policies and other major issues related to the preparations for the party's ninth congress, according to the KCNA. The year-end plenary party meeting usually runs for several days to review the year's policy implementation and set the direction for future policies. This year's meeting carries added significance as it was held in the run-up to the party's ninth congress, which South Korean intelligence authorities expect to take place in February, wherDec 10, 2025By Yonhap
S. Korea, US in talks for regular meeting on coordinating N. Korea policySouth Korea and the United States are in discussions to hold a regular meeting on coordinating the allies' policy on North Korea, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday. Park Il, the foreign ministry spokesperson, made the remarks in a regular press briefing, saying working-level talks have been under way for months to hash out the details of the proposed meeting. "Through the meeting, we plan to discuss overall policy toward North Korea, including ways to bring the North back to the dialogue table," Park said. Seoul and Washington have reportedly reached a consensus on the need to have such a regular channel to enable timely consultations on North Korea-related issues. However, the two sides are not considering setting up a permanent consultative body, according to officials. The move comes as the Lee Jae Myung administration seeks to mend frayed ties with North Korean and resume dialogue despite Pyongyang's silence toward Seoul's peace overtures. U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his intent to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to resume stalled diplomacy. Acting U.S. AmbasDec 9, 2025By Yonhap
Tickets for 2026 int'l marathon in N. Korea sold out: tour agencyTickets for North Korea's 2026 Pyongyang International Marathon, set for April 5 in the country's capital, have sold out just a few hours after sales opened, a Beijing-based tour agency said Tuesday. Koryo Tours, which specializes in travel to North Korea, broke the news on its social media account, saying, "After less than 5 hours the Pyongyang Marathon trips sold out completely, 500 spots on the trips are now all taken." The agency said it is working to open additional spots for the trip and urged readers to join a waiting list. The tour agency's website earlier announced that next year's Pyongyang International Marathon will be held on April 5, with departures for the trip available from Beijing, Shanghai and Shenyang. The event offers four courses, from the full 42-kilometer run to the half marathon, 10 km and 5 km races, and is also open to runners with disabilities, including wheelchair users and those with visual impairments. Holders of South Korean, U.S., Malaysian or Japanese passports, as well as members of the press, are prohibited, it said. The international event, previously nDec 9, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea may stipulate Kim Jong-un's guiding ideology in party charter at congress: expertNorth Korea may stipulate leader Kim Jong-un's guiding ideology in the ruling Workers' Party of Korea's charter at next year's party congress, while also promoting him to the highest rank of grand marshal, an expert predicted Tuesday. Yang Moo-jin, a senior professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, offered the assessment during a forum on the security outlook for the Korean Peninsula. The North Korean ruling party is expected to hold its ninth congress early next year to set the country's key policy stance, the first such meeting since the eighth congress in 2021. Yang said the party event may stipulate the "Kim Jong-un revolutionary ideas" in the party's charter and confer the highest reverence title, "grand marshal of the republic," on Kim. Kim Jong-un revolutionary ideas generally refer to the leader's guiding ideology, centered on nationalism and the wellbeing of the people, which has been promoted to the public to drum up loyalty and glorify his regime. Both Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, the two late former North Korean leaders, were conferred the title of grand maDec 9, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim sends condolences to Putin over death of Russian envoy to PyongyangNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sent a message of condolence to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the death of Russian Ambassador Aleksandr Matsegora, the North's state media reported Tuesday. "Kim ... sent a message of condolence to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin ... on December 8 as regards the demise of Aleksandr Ivanovich Matsegora, Russian extraordinary ambassador to the DPRK, on December 6, 2025," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the official name of North Korea. In the message, Kim expressed "deep condolences" to Putin, the Russian leadership and Matsegora's bereaved family over his "sudden demise," the KCNA said. "Comrade Matsegora was a close friend and comrade of the DPRK people who devoted his whole life to the development of the DPRK-Russia friendly relations for over 30 years," Kim said. The bilateral relations between the countries that have developed into the present "firm alliance" are clearly associated with Matsegora's "devoted efforts," he also noted. "The sudden demise of the ambassador at theDec 9, 2025By Yonhap
What options does Seoul have to bring NK to negotiating table?South Korea’s options for coaxing North Korea back to the negotiating table appear to be narrowing after its national security adviser ruled out scaling back joint military exercises with the United States — a step some officials had floated as a possible incentive for talks. Diplomatic observers said Monday that Seoul’s remaining options include reviving an inter-Korean military agreement with Pyongyang intended to reduce tensions along the border, and bolstering its diplomatic leverage with China and Russia, the North’s traditional patrons. At a press conference the previous day, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said scaling back annual South Korea-U.S. joint exercises to revive inter-Korean dialogue was not under consideration. His remarks pushed back against suggestions from senior officials, including Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, who hoped that such a move could help draw Pyongyang back to the table. "We have no specific comment on the national security adviser's remarks. However, the joint drills carry important implications not only for military affairs butDec 8, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin
N. Korea says 50,000-unit housing project in Pyongyang reaches final stageNorth Korea's high-profile party project to build 50,000 new housing units in Pyongyang has entered its final stage, state media reported Monday, as the country is set to hold a general party meeting this month. "The fifth-stage construction of 10,000 housing units in the Hwasong district is being carried out in its finalizing stage," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, citing interior work currently under way on the structures. The construction is the final leg of the five-year project to build a combined 50,000 housing units in Pyongyang, laid out by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the eighth congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea in January 2021. With the proclaimed aim of resolving housing issues for Pyongyang residents, the first batch of 10,000 units was built in the capital's Songsin and Songhwa districts in 2022 under the project, following by 40,000 units constructed in four stages in the northeastern Hwasong district, including the 10,000 now being completed. The KCNA's emphasis on the project's near completion comes as North Korea accelerates efforts to accoDec 8, 2025By Yonhap
