N. Korea defeats Netherlands to win Under-17 Women's World CupNorth Korea defeated the Netherlands 3-0 in the final of the Under-17 Women's World Cup to win its second straight championship and a record fourth overall. The match took place Saturday at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, where the North Koreans scored all three goals in the first half to secure the victory over the Netherlands, which was making its debut in the tournament. North Korea has now won the tournament four times — in 2008, 2016, 2024 and 2025 — a record high. This year marked the first time the U-17 women's tournament was held annually. FIFA changed the format last year from a biennial event to an annual one to provide more opportunities for young players. North Korean players also dominated the individual awards. Yu Jong-hyang received both the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player and the Golden Boot as the top scorer with eight goals. Kim Won-sim earned the Silver Ball and Silver Boot after scoring seven. North Korea became the second country to win every match en route to the title, following Japan's undefeated run in 2014.Nov 9, 2025By Yonhap
NK slams S. Korea-US annual security talks, vows 'more offensive' actionsNorth Korea denounced this week's annual security talks between South Korea and the United States, Saturday, as an "intentional" expression of the allies' "hostile" nature against it, vowing to take "more offensive" actions against enemy threats. North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang-chol said in a statement that the North has "correctly" understood U.S. hostility toward Pyongyang as the defense chiefs of South Korea and the U.S. held the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss key alliance and defense issues. No also denounced Washington's latest joint air drills with Seoul and the recent visit to South Korea by the USS George Washington, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, saying the U.S. has been "intentionally" escalating political and military tensions on the Korean Peninsula. "We have correctly understood the hostility of the U.S. to stand in confrontation with the DPRK to the last and will never avoid the response to it," No said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the NortNov 8, 2025By Yonhap
Defense ministry condemns N. Korea's launch of short-range ballistic missileSouth Korea's defense ministry "strongly denounced" North' Korea, Saturday, over a suspected ballistic missile launch, calling for the North to halt acts that heighten tension between the Koreas. "The South's military strongly condemns the recent ballistic missile launch by the North, and expresses deep regret for the (North's) statement denouncing South Korea-U.S. annual exercises and conference," the ministry said in a notice to the press. It also called on North Korea to "immediately halt" all acts heightening tensions on the peninsula. The statement came a day after Pyongyang launched one suspected short-range ballistic missile toward the East Sea, Friday, a day after it warned of "proper measures" against the latest U.S. sanctions. In a separate statement, the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) also said it is aware of the North's ballistic missile launch and its pursuit of long-range missile capabilities. "We are consulting closely with the Republic of Korea. Our focus is on maintaining the readiness required to defend the U.S. homeland and our allies in the region," the USFK said. Meanwhile,Nov 8, 2025By Yonhap
Presidential office holds emergency meeting over N. Korea's missile launchThe presidential Office of National Security (ONS) said Friday it held an emergency meeting to discuss North Korea's latest launch of what is presumed to be a short-range ballistic missile. The North fired the missile toward the East Sea just past noon, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, the second such launch following its test-firing of short-range ballistic missiles on Oct. 22. "The ONS reviewed response measures and instructed relevant agencies to take necessary actions," the presidential office said in a release. It also urged Pyongyang to cease actions that threaten peace on the Korean Peninsula and condemned its ballistic missile launches violating U.N. Security Council resolutions. The ONS immediately reported the missile launch to President Lee Jae Myung, it added.Nov 7, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea fires suspected short-range ballistic missile toward East Sea: JCSNorth Korea launched one suspected short-range ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Friday, South Korea's military said, a day after the North warned of proper measures against the latest U.S. sanctions on Pyongyang. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch from near Taegwan County in North Phyongan Province at 12:35 p.m., without providing further details. The missile flew about 700 kilometers before splashing into the sea, the JCS said, adding further analysis is under way with the U.S. side to determine its specifications. South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities detected signs of the North's missile launch preparations in advance and had been closely monitoring the situation, it added, noting relevant information has been shared with the U.S. and Japan. The North last fired short-range ballistic missiles northeastward on Oct. 22 ahead of South Korea's hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to the country. Friday's launch also marked the sixth ballistic missile launch by the North this year and secondNov 7, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea, Russia discuss cooperation, exchanges between their military-political organsNorth Korea and Russia have discussed ways to strengthen cooperation among their military-political organs, state media reported Friday, amid signs of the North's deployment of additional troops to aid Russia's war with Ukraine. Pak Yong-il, vice director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army, held talks with Russian Deputy Defense Minister Viktor Goremykin on Wednesday in Pyongyang, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "At the meeting, both sides discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and exchanges between military-political organizations" amid deepening bilateral ties between the two countries, according to the report. North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang-chol met with a Russian military delegation, led by Goremykin, the previous day and held talks in a "friendly atmosphere," the KCNA said in a separate dispatch. Goremykin serves as the chief of the Main Military-Political Directorate of Russia's armed forces. It marked the first time that a Russian military brass with such a title has visited North Korea. The visit came as South Korea's spy agenNov 7, 2025By Yonhap
Russian military delegation arrives in N. Korea: KCNAA Russian military delegation has arrived in North Korea, the North's state media reported Thursday, as Pyongyang and Moscow have been deepening military cooperation. The delegation, led by Russian Deputy Defense Minister Viktor Goremykin, arrived in Pyongyang the previous day, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). It did not disclose other details, such as the itinerary and the purpose of the visit. He was welcomed by Pak Yong-il, vice director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army, and other military officials. South Korea's unification ministry said the trip appears to be a reciprocal visit after Pak's trip to Russia in April as both nations have been deepening military ties. Since the two nations signed a mutual defense treaty in June last year, North Korea has sent around 15,000 troops and conventional weapons to Russia to aid Moscow's war with Ukraine. South Korea's spy agency said Tuesday that around 5,000 North Korean construction troops have been moving to Russia since September and are likely to be mobilized for infrastructure reconstruction pNov 6, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea holds state funeral for late ex-ceremonial head of state Kim Yong-namNorth Korea has held a state funeral for former ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong-nam, attended by the North's leader Kim Jong-un, state media reported Thursday. The ceremony for Kim Yong-nam, former president of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, took place at the Patriotic Martyrs Cemetery in Pyongyang's Sinmi-ri the previous day, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim Yong-nam died Monday at the age of 97 from multiple organ failure while battling colorectal cancer. He served in key diplomatic posts spanning the regimes of state founder Kim Il-sung, former leader Kim Jong-il and the current leader Kim. The North's leader Kim Jong-un was standing at the entrance to the cemetery together with key officials when the coffin arrived and paid silent tribute, according to the KCNA. In a eulogy, Premier Pak Thae-song lauded the late Kim for his patriotism for the country. "All the participants prayed for the immortality of the pure soul and revolutionary spirit of Kim Yong Nam, who made a distinguished contribution to laying everlasting foundations forNov 6, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea slams US sanctions on Pyongyang, vows proper responseNorth Korea on Thursday denounced the latest U.S. sanctions on Pyongyang as a demonstration of Washington's hostile policy, vowing to take proper measures to counter it with patience. The North's reaction came as the U.S. announced Tuesday that it had imposed sanctions on eight North Korean individuals and two entities for their involvement in laundering money stolen through illicit cyber activities. The sanctions came even as U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his wish to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to resume stalled diplomacy with Pyongyang. Kim Un-chol, North Korea's vice foreign minister in charge of U.S. affairs, said in a statement that by imposing fresh sanctions, the U.S. has showed its "invariable hostile" intents toward North Korea in an "accustomed and traditional way," according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "Now that the present U.S. administration has clarified its stand to be hostile towards the DPRK to the last, we will also take proper measures to counter it with patience for any length of time," the statement showed. Denouncing the U.S. fNov 6, 2025By Yonhap
Unification minister calls for EU support in building peace on Korean PeninsulaUnification Minister Chung Dong-young met Wednesday with the European Union's (EU) new Ambassador to South Korea Ugo Astuto to discuss cooperation in building peace on the Korean Peninsula, the ministry said. Chung explained the government's policy toward North Korea and unification, aimed at rebuilding trust with Pyongyang and fostering a peaceful environment, according to the ministry. The minister also emphasized the need for dialogue and negotiations to create a peaceful environment on the peninsula, calling for the proactive support of the international community and the EU for Seoul's efforts. The EU ambassador shared his views on the security situation on the peninsula, pledging the bloc's continued communication and cooperation in building peace in the region, the ministry said.Nov 5, 2025By Yonhap
