N. Korea says it tested 2 hypersonic projectiles, successfully hit targetNorth Korea said Thursday it has successfully tested two hypersonic projectiles, calling them a new "important" weapon system, adding that the "cutting-edge" missiles strengthen the North's war deterrence. "Two hypersonic projectiles launched from the Ryokpho District, Pyongyang Municipality, toward the northeast direction hit the target point on the tableland of Kwesang Peak in Orang County, North Hamgyong Province," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The test, conducted the previous day by the Missile Administration, was part of a defense capability development program aimed at enhancing the sustainability and effectiveness of its strategic deterrence against potential enemies, the KCNA reported. The previous day, South Korea's military said North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles northeastward at around 8:10 a.m., which flew about 350 kilometers. Military sources said the weapons may have been the tactical ballistic missile, known as the Hwasongpho-11-Da-4.5, tested by the North in September last year, adding that the missiles landed inland, not in the EastOct 23, 2025By Yonhap
Sanctions watchdog links N. Korean hackers to $1.65 bil. in crypto theft this year aloneNorth Korea has stolen an estimated $2.84 billion (3.9 trillion won) worth of cryptocurrency since early 2024, including $1.65 billion this year alone, according to a new report released Wednesday by a South Korea-led multinational sanctions monitoring team. The report, which focuses on Pyongyang's illicit cyber activities, marks the second publication by the Multinational Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) since its launch in October 2024. The team tracks North Korea's sanctions evasion activities and cyber threats. According to the findings, North Korean hackers stole about $1.19 billion in digital assets throughout 2024, accounting for roughly one-third of the regime's total foreign currency income that year. They stole an additional $1.65 billion between January and September this year. The reclusive regime uses the illicit income to fund its sanctioned weapons programs. The hackers breached major exchanges including Bybit in the United Arab Emirates, DMM Bitcoin in Japan, WazirX in India and BingX and Phemex in Singapore. The stolen cryptocurrency was laundered and cashed out via brokeOct 22, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin
Ex-ICC president says now is right time to refer Kim Jong-un to justice for aiding Putin's aggressionNow is the right time to refer North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for aiding Russian President Vladimir Putin's aggression against Ukraine, a former ICC president said Wednesday. Song Sang-hyun, former president of the Hague-based ICC, made the remarks in a copy of his speech to the 2025 Seoul World Convention on North Korean Human Rights, which was released in advance. "If the main culprit in the war with Ukraine is Russia, the North Korean regime, responsible for supplying weapons and ammunition, would be no less than an accessory or contributor," Song said. "Now is the right time to refer Kim Jong-un to the ICC." He said Kim's deployment of troops to support Russia in the war constitutes an act serious enough to make him a joint principal offender alongside Putin. In March 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over suspected war crimes connected to Russia's war against Ukraine. Since October last year, North Korea has deployed 15,000 troops to Russia in support of its war with Ukraine, as well as ammunition anOct 22, 2025By Yonhap
Presidential office holds emergency meeting on N. Korea's missile launchThe presidential Office of National Security (ONS) said Wednesday it held an emergency meeting following North Korea's launch of short-range ballistic missiles. The meeting came shortly after the North fired the missiles toward the East Sea, its first such launch since President Lee Jae Myung took office in June. The meeting was attended by ONS officials, and those from the defense ministry and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "The office reviewed the military's response measures and assessed the potential impact on the situation on the Korean Peninsula," it said in a press release. "The government will closely monitor related developments, including the possibility of additional missile launches by North Korea and consider necessary measures," it said. The office added that it monitored the launch in real time and reported relevant details to the president. The latest launch came about a week before South Korea is set to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit on Oct. 31-Nov. 1.Oct 22, 2025By Yonhap
S. Korea, Singapore agree on close coordination against NK cyber threatsSouth Korea and Singapore have agreed to closely work together for an "effective joint response" to North Korea's evolving illicit cyber activities, including its crypto thefts, and on other cyber-related policies, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday. The inaugural cyber policy dialogue took place in Singapore, led by Lee Tae-woo, ambassador for international cyber affairs at the foreign ministry, and Chua Kuan Seah, deputy chief executive for development at Singapore's Cyber Security Agency, on Tuesday. The two sides shared assessments on recent cyber threat cases, including North Korea's attempts to steal virtual assets, and examined threat patterns by different actors involved, the ministry said in a release. "They agreed on the need for close coordination to ensure an effective joint response to evolving (North Korean) cyber risks," it said. The dialogue included discussions on the development of the cybersecurity ecosystem and the two countries' bilateral arrangement on the Internet of Things (IoT) security certification, under which consumer IoT security products are mutually rOct 22, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea fires 1st ballistic missiles in 5 months ahead of Trump's trip to APEC summitNorth Korea fired its first ballistic missiles in five months Wednesday, about a week before South Korea is scheduled to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and U.S. President Donald Trump's visit on the occasion. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected multiple short-range ballistic missiles launched northeastward at about 8:10 a.m. from Junghwa in North Korea's southern North Hwanghae Province. The missiles flew about 350 kilometers, the JCS said, adding that further analysis is under way with the U.S. side to determine its specifications. Officials were weighing the possibility that the missiles were the same tactical ballistic one North Korea test-fired in September 2024. Sources suggested the missiles may have landed somewhere in North Hamgyong Province rather than in the East Sea. The North last fired short-range ballistic and cruise missiles toward the East Sea on May 8 and May 22, respectively. "The South Korean and U.S. intelligence officials had detected signs of North Korea's missile launch preparations in advance and had been monitoring the situatOct 22, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim tells Lao president bilateral friendship will further advanceNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has told Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith that the friendship between the two countries will continue to advance across all sectors, in a recent message to him, the North's state media reported Wednesday. Kim delivered the message in a letter sent to the Lao president on Sunday, in response to his congratulatory telegram marking the recent 80th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. "I express confidence that the friendly and cooperative relations between our two parties and the two countries, which have a long-standing history and tradition, will further strengthen and advance across all sectors," Kim was quoted as saying. Kim also wished the Lao president "great success" in his work. The Lao president was among the foreign state leaders and senior officials who attended celebratory events in Pyongyang to mark the Oct. 10 party anniversary. During his trip to North Korea, the Lao president held talks with Kim, agreeing to strengthen bilateral cooperation.Oct 22, 2025By Yonhap
Russian students from Kursk send paper boats to thank N. Korean soldiers: KCNARussian students from the Kursk region have sent paper boats to thank North Korean soldiers who fought for Russia in the war against Ukraine and to mourn their deaths, the North's state media reported Wednesday. Students from a school affiliated with the Russian Embassy in North Korea launched paper lantern boats carrying messages honoring the memory of war heroes and wishing for their "eternal life" in the Daedong River the previous day, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The messages attached to the paper boats included "Thank you," "We will prevail" and "Friendship forever," written in both Korean and Russian, according to the KCNA. Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexandr Matsegora and other embassy officials also attended the event. Since October last year, North Korea has deployed 15,000 troops to Russia in support of its war with Ukraine, helping Russian forces reclaim territory in Kursk in April. Of the North Korean troops, around 2,000 are believed to have been killed in action, according to South Korean intelligence authorities. The troop deployment has cemented cooperOct 22, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea slams Japan politicians for visit to war shrine, ritual offeringsNorth Korea on Tuesday slammed Japanese politicians for recently visiting a controversial war shrine and sending ritual offerings to the Yasukuni Shrine, which symbolizes the country's militaristic past. The Rodong Sinmun, the North's mainstream newspaper, accused Japan of harboring ambitions to reinvade by paying respects at the shrine, in an article criticizing Japanese politicians for honoring it. Last week, outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba sent an offering to the Yasukuni Shrine to honor Japanese war dead, while lawmakers visited the shrine together to pay their respects. The Yasukuni Shrine honors some 2.46 million Japanese war dead, including 14 Class A criminals convicted by international tribunals for their roles in World War II. The North Korean newspaper said that honoring and glorifying war dead constitutes a "blatant challenge" to and violation of international justice, adding that such a reckless action is sending an alarm to neighboring countries. "Japanese politicians' obstinate paying of respects to the specters of militarism is not just nostalgia but a maniOct 21, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korean Embassy in Russia holds banquet marking 77th anniv. of diplomatic tiesThe North Korean Embassy in Russia has held a banquet marking the 77th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties, with a Russian official lauding their relations as having reached a new level of alliance, the North's main newspaper reported Tuesday. The banquet took place last Friday to mark the Oct. 12 anniversary, attended by officials from Russia's foreign, defense and industrial ministries, as well as from United Russia, the biggest party in Russia, the Rodong Sinmun newspaper said. North Korea forged diplomatic relations with the then Soviet Union in 1948. A Russian vice foreign minister, delivering a speech during Friday's gathering, said the Russia-North Korea friendship has reached "a new level of alliance" in terms of quality through the test of several decades, the newspaper said. North Korea's deployment of its troops to Russia's Kursk region has firmly demonstrated the two countries' solidarity, the vice minister also said, expressing confidence that bilateral ties will continue to expand and contribute to stability and security on the Korean Peninsula andOct 21, 2025By Yonhap
