S. Koreans allowed to access N. Korean propaganda newspaper starting TuesdaySouth Koreans can now read Rodong Sinmun, the main newspaper of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party, without prior approval from the authorities, following the government's relaxation of a decades-long restriction on Pyongyang's publications, the Ministry of Unification said Tuesday. Under the new policy, Rodong Sinmun — long classified as a "special publication" — has been reclassified as a "general publication," allowing the public to access issues at libraries without special approval procedures. "Starting today, visitors to institutions authorized to handle the newspaper will be able to access Rodong Sinmun in the same manner as general publications, without the need for separate identity verification or application procedures," Vice Unification Minister Kim Nam-jung said at a briefing. Kim said the change is intended to guarantee the public free access to information about North Korea, moving away from the current system in which the government controls and selectively provides that information. According to the ministry, 181 institutions nationwide hold copies of Rodong Sinmun,Dec 30, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin
N. Korean officials' license plates indicate power hierarchy in regimeCar license plates used by ranking North Korean officials may point to their power hierarchy in the regime, according to an analysis of state media Tuesday, with Premier Pak Thae-song appearing to be second in the order of precedence. Since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was seen riding the Aurus luxurious limousine having the license plate "7•27 0001," questions have arisen over which North Korean official holds a license plate bearing the following number. Premier Pak was detected riding a vehicle with the plate number "7•27 0002" and that of Choe Ryong-hae, chairman of the North's parliamentary standing committee, was identified as "0003," according to state TV network footage analyzed by Yonhap News Agency. Experts said Pak's license plate may indicate the political status of the Cabinet has grown in North Korea as the North Korean leader has empowered the Cabinet to take more responsibility for implementing the economic policy as the "economic control tower." The status of a premier has been enhanced under Kim's rule as he has focused on improving the people's livelihoods, highDec 30, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea completes building factories, hospital planned for this year under Kim's regional policyNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has attended a ceremony to open a hospital and light-industry factories in the western city of Nampho, state media reported Tuesday, marking the completion of building such modern facilities in 20 cities and counties planned for this year. The inauguration ceremony took place in Ryonggang County the previous day, opening up a "new phase" for advancing the comprehensive development of socialist construction, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "The inauguration of the Ryonggang County Hospital and regional-industry factories successfully concluded the construction of model hospitals and leisure complexes and regional-industry factories in 20 cities and counties planned for this year," Kim said. In January last year, the North's leader unveiled his signature regional development policy to build modern factories in 20 cities and counties each year over a 10-year period to improve the living conditions of people in regional areas. In February, North Korea unveiled a plan to build hospitals in three counties in a pilot project this year and consDec 30, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim inspects factory producing multiple rocket launchersNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited a munitions factory producing multiple rocket launchers, calling for more production of the weapon system that can be used as a "strategic attack means," state media reported Tuesday. Kim visited a major munitions industry enterprise Sunday to review the production of weapons and combat equipment, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, without disclosing the location of the factory. Ahead of next year's key party congress, the North's leader has ramped up his military-related inspections, including a visit to the site of building a nuclear-powered submarine and overseeing launches of anti-air missiles and cruise missiles. Noting the multiple rocket launcher system will be the primary strike capability, Kim called for a "revolution in upgrading the artillery weapon system," according to the KCNA. "The weapon system, which will be used in large quantities for concentrated attack in military operations, is a super-powerful weapon system as it can annihilate the enemy through sudden precise strike with high accuracy and devastating power and cDec 30, 2025By Yonhap
Spy agency to drop complaints against ex-top officials over alleged cover-up of border killing by N. KoreaThe National Intelligence Service (NIS) said Monday it will drop complaints against former top security officials following their recent acquittal for involvement in an alleged cover-up of the 2020 murder of a South Korean fisheries official by North Korea. The spy agency said the decision was made after conducting a special audit and inspection of the complaints raised against former National Security Adviser Suh Hoon and former NIS Director Park Jie-won from former President Moon Jae-in's administration. In July 2022, the NIS filed complaints against them under the instruction by then President Yoon Suk Yeol after it conducted an internal audit into the alleged cover-up of the 2020 killing of the South's official by North Korea near the western sea border and the Moon administration's 2019 repatriation of two North Korean fishermen against their will. The NIS said its own inspection carried out after the launch of the Lee Jae Myung administration has found there were problems in "factual and legal aspects" related to details of the complaints. "We sincerely apologize to Suh and Park foDec 29, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim attends opening of new paper millNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has attended the inauguration ceremony of a paper mill in South Phyongan Province, state media reported Monday, as new factories are being opened under his signature regional development policy. Kim cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony for a new paper mill in Unsan County the previous day and toured the factory, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The Unsan mill is among the factories completed under Kim's regional development policy. In January last year, he ordered the building of modern factories in 20 cities and counties each year over a 10-year period to improve the living conditions of people in regional areas. Kim said the construction of the Unsan paper mill provides a "model experience" for other provinces to build such factories by themselves, according to the KCNA. "We should maintain the clear goal and orientation of our-style papermaking method based on locally available raw materials and the development of papermaking technology," he said. Ahead of the ninth party congress set for early next year, North Korea has been focusinDec 29, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim oversees firing of long-range strategic cruise missilesNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has overseen launches of long-range strategic cruise missiles, calling for the "unlimited and sustained" development of state nuclear combat forces, state media reported Monday. The missile tests came days after Kim inspected an 8,700-ton "nuclear-powered strategic guided missile submarine" under construction in a show of military prowess. The missile launching drills took place Sunday in the Yellow Sea, demonstrating "the absolute reliability and combat readiness of the North's strategic counterattack capability," according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The strategic cruise missiles flew along the preset flight orbit for 10,199 seconds and 10,203 seconds to hit a target, it said, without disclosing the flight distance. Kim affirmed that North Korea would "as ever devote all their efforts to the unlimited and sustained development of the state nuclear combat force," the KCNA said. He stressed the importance of checking the reliability and rapid response of components of North Korea's nuclear deterrent on a regular basis as Pyongyang is facing vaDec 29, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim attends Constitution Day ceremonyNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has attended a ceremony marking the country's promulgation of its Socialist Constitution more than half a century ago, the North's state media reported Sunday. A national flag-raising and oath-taking ceremony was held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall the previous day to mark Constitution Day, with Kim in attendance, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. North Korea observes Dec. 27 as Constitutional Day in commemoration of the promulgation of its constitution on the same day in 1972. Kim made a commemorative oath marking Constitution Day, followed by participants who vowed to "dedicate themselves ... by always remaining faithful to promoting the people's well-being and the growth and development of the state," the KCNA said. Kim also commended labor innovators and meritorious persons invited to the event, for helping make this year "one of a great turn to be specially recorded in the history of the development" of North Korea. "The country is prospering and our cause is dynamically advancing without a moment's stagnation, thanks to the well-known and unsDec 28, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim logs most public appearances in nine years in 2025North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made the most public appearances in nine years in 2025, as he increased diplomatic engagement and on-site supervision of the implementation of a five-year national development plan, data showed Sunday. Kim's public appearances, as reported by North Korea's state media, totaled 118 as of the end of November, according to data from the Korea Institute for National Unification. Including additional public activities reported by state media between Dec. 1 and 27, the total number rose to 131. This year's total marks a slight increase from last year's 127 and matches the previous high recorded in 2016. According to the institute, Kim's public activities have been steadily rising since hitting a low of 55 in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This year's result came as Kim sought to broaden his diplomatic landscape, including making his multilateral diplomatic debut, and to step up implementation of the country's five-year development plan, which concludes this year. Of this year's public activities till Dec. 27, 30 involved public ceremonies, 23 on-site inspectionsDec 28, 2025By Yonhap
