State Department confirms US policy of 'complete' denuclearization of N. KoreaWASHINGTON — A State Department spokesperson on Tuesday reaffirmed the United States' policy of pursuing the "complete denuclearization" of North Korea, days after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un voiced openness to engaging with Washington if it drops its demand for the North's denuclearization. "(We can) confirm the U.S. policy of the complete denuclearization of North Korea," the spokesperson said in response to a question from Yonhap News Agency. The official's remark indicated that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration would continue its commitment to the denuclearization goal, though Pyongyang has repeatedly insisted that it would not bargain away its nuclear program. During a speech to the North's parliament over the weekend, Kim indicated his openness to conditional dialogue with Washington, noting that he personally has a "good memory" of Trump — a statement that raised expectations for a potential resumption of summitry between the two leaders. Trump has also voiced hope to meet Kim this year, adding to speculation that he could seek to reengage with Kim during the AsSep 24, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea's Kim chides officials responsible for delay in building general hospital in PyongyangNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reprimanded officials responsible for delaying the completion of a general hospital in Pyongyang, blaming their "desire for fame" for undermining the ruling party's key project, according to state media Wednesday. Kim made the remarks during his visit to the Pyongyang General Hospital the previous day ahead of its official opening, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). In February, the North said it had completed the construction of the hospital, a project aimed at improving public health. But North Korea was not able to open it as the country had barely built its exterior and failed to fill it with medical devices and staff. On the main reason for the delay in the construction, Kim blamed the "desire for fame" sought by some senior officials at the then Cabinet and other officials for causing "disorder" in organizing the economic project. "In those days, they pushed ahead with the construction at their own discretion without the approval of the total budget for construction reflecting the hospital scale and the change in design while negSep 24, 2025By Yonhap
Trump makes no mention of N. Korea while touting his peace efforts, rebuking UNU.S. President Donald Trump made no mention of North Korea or Korean Peninsula issues during his address to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, though he underscored his role in promoting world peace, claiming that he "ended seven wars" since taking office in January. Standing in front of world leaders, Trump enumerated a range of his administration's achievements, including brokering an end to the conflicts between Israel and Iran; Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Armenia and Azerbaijan; Thailand and Cambodia; India and Pakistan; Egypt and Ethiopia; and Serbia and Kosovo. His remarks came days after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un expressed openness to engaging in dialogue with the United States if Washington drops its demand for the North's denuclearization -- a statement that renewed expectations for a potential resumption of dialogue aimed at a peace deal. His first address to the Assembly under his second term did not include any references to North Korea, though he mentioned the reclusive state in three of the four addresses he delivered during his first term, inSep 24, 2025By Yonhap
China reports exporting nearly 100,000 barrels of petroleum to N. Korea this yearChina exported a total of nearly 100,000 barrels of refined petroleum to North Korea in the first five months of this year, reports the country filed to the United Nations showed Tuesday. China was the only country to report its refined petroleum exports to North Korea to the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) sanctions committee, listing 99,220 barrels so far this year, according to the committee's website. The export volume reached 14,385 barrels in January, 5,519 barrels in February, 15,358 barrels in March, 23,652 barrels in April and 40,304 barrels in May. No further records were posted on the website. In 2017, the UNSC adopted a resolution capping petroleum exports to North Korea at 500,000 barrels per year, in response to its internationally prohibited intercontinental ballistic missile launch earlier that year. Countries supplying petroleum to North Korea, such as China, have since been required to report their exports monthly, but China has not been fully compliant. The petroleum exports China has reported so far account for nearly 20 percent of the UNSC's annual limit, although much mSep 23, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea promotes offseason tour activities at Kalma beach resortNorth Korea is seeking to attract tourists to its east coast Kalma beach resort by promoting various tourist programs as it has entered the offseason, according to the North's state media Tuesday. The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that a cuisine festival kicked off at the Kalma tourist zone in Wonsan the previous day, attended by competitors from Pyongyang and around 100 other cities and provinces. Under the theme "World Cuisine at a World Tourist Destination," this year's event will feature an exhibition of special local dishes, a competition for instant food service, and a show by top chefs and servers, according to the KCNA. Last week, the resort area also hosted an art exhibition attended by the Mansudae Art Studio and other key art groups, featuring some 2,500 art pieces. After years of development, North Korea opened the Kalma beach resort in the eastern coastal city of Wonsan in early July, aiming to attract foreign tourists. The regime appears to be trying to attract tourists with cultural offerings as the resort area entered the offseason with the onset ofSep 23, 2025By Yonhap
InterviewUnequal partners: How Russia-NK alliance can disrupt global security, supply chainsNorth Korea’s growing military partnership with Russia has emerged as a serious global security concern since it began in 2023. For Russia, facing shortages of artillery amid its prolonged war against Ukraine, North Korea has become a crucial supplier of conventional weapons. In return, Pyongyang has benefited financially and gained valuable battlefield insights. Through direct combat deployment, North Korea has not only earned hard currency but also acquired firsthand experience in modern warfare, enabling it to enhance the precision and effectiveness of its weapons systems. What initially appeared to be a mutually beneficial deal between two authoritarian regimes is now widely seen as a destabilizing force for regional security. Yet, experts caution that a subtler but equally dangerous consequence of the Russia-North Korea alliance is its potential to disrupt global supply chains. If left unchecked, the partnership could inflict lasting damage on global trade flows, warns Olena Guseinova, a lecturer at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul. “Maritime routes through the SoutSep 23, 2025By Kang Hyun-kyung
Unification minister hopes to resume inter-Korean tour program, adding North's Kalma beachUnification Minister Chung Dong-young expressed hope Monday to resume an inter-Korean tour program to North Korea's Mount Geumgang and expand it to the newly developed Kalma beach resort. Chung made the remarks during a meeting with Hyun Jeong-eun, chairperson of Hyundai Group, the parent firm of Hyundai Asan, which operated the now-suspended tours to the North's Mount Geumgang resort. The once-brisk tour program came to an abrupt halt in July 2008 after a South Korean tourist was shot to death by North Korean soldiers for entering what Pyongyang claimed was an off-limits military area. "I hope the day will soon come when the tour to the Mount Geumgang tourist zone can be linked ... to (North Korea's) Wonsan-Kalma beach area so that it can be operated properly," the minister noted. Chung said U.S. President Donald Trump's previous remarks about North Korea's "great beaches" made the Kalma resort area "famous," adding that "It would be tremendously important for a summit between President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-un to take place." The Hyundai chairwoman echoed the hope, saying, "HyundaSep 22, 2025By Yonhap
Attention rises over potential Trump-Kim meeting during APEC summitDiplomatic observers are cautiously revisiting the once-faded prospect for a meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting, as Kim has signaled his intention to hold talks with the American leader. While Pyongyang demanded Washington drop the U.S.-South Korea alliance’s stated goal of denuclearization as a condition for talks, speculation is rising that Seoul may also take a flexible approach to induce dialogue, as President Lee Jae Myung suggested the North’s halt of nuclear weapons production as the first stage. According to the North’s state-run media Monday, Kim said he sees no reason to avoid talks with Trump, invoking his personal history with the U.S. leader. “I still have good memories of President Trump,” he said at the Supreme People’s Assembly in Pyongyang on Sunday, according to the Korean Central News Agency. “If the United States abandons its obsession with denuclearization and seeks peaceful coexistence based on reality, we have no rSep 22, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji
Presidential office backs N. Korea-US talks but holds firm on denuclearization goalThe presidential office said Monday that South Korea is willing to support nuclear talks between North Korea and the United States if they resume, yet reaffirming its goal of denuclearization despite Pyongyang's call for Washington to take that objective off the table. The comments came after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said at a parliamentary meeting that he is open to talks with Washington if it gives up on its demand for the North's denuclearization, recalling a "good memory" of U.S. President Donald Trump from their past meetings in 2018 and 2019. Kim also made it clear that his country will never abandon its nuclear arsenal and has no intention of resuming talks and seeking unification with the South. "We will support North Korea-U.S. dialogue," a presidential official said. "The government will work to ease tensions and build trust (with the North) with a long-term perspective, in order to overcome hostility between the two Koreas and move toward peaceful relations." But the official said the goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula remains unchanged. "We will continue effortSep 22, 2025By Yonhap
Kim mentions 'good memory' of Trump, open to talks with US if it drops demand on denuclearizationNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said he has a "good memory" of U.S. President Donald Trump and Pyongyang is open to talks with the United States if Washington drops its demand for the North's denuclearization. Kim made the remarks during his speech Sunday at a two-day key parliamentary meeting, the North's Korean Central News Agency reported Monday, after Trump expressed hope to meet with the North's leader this year during his summit with President Lee Jae Myung last month. The North's leader made it clear that his country will never give up nuclear arms but said the North could sit down with the U.S. if Washington does not demand denuclearization as a condition for talks. "If the U.S. drops its hollow obsession with denuclearization and wants to pursue peaceful coexistence with North Korea based on the recognition of reality, there is no reason for us not to sit down with the U.S.," Kim said. "Personally, I still have a good memory of U.S. President Trump," he added. It marked the first time that Kim has directly commented on his ties with Trump since the U.S. leader began his seconSep 22, 2025By Yonhap
