N. Korea presumed to possess up to 2,000 kg of highly enriched uranium: unification ministerNorth Korea is presumed to possess up to 2,000 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, as the country has sought to dramatically expand its nuclear weapons capabilities in recent years, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Thursday. The minister disclosed the assessment during a press conference, citing publicly released estimates by experts, highlighting the urgency of stopping North Korea's nuclear programs. "It is urgent to stop (it). Even at this very hour, uranium centrifuges at four locations (in North Korea) are running, probably accumulating nuclear materials," Chung said. "Estimates (by experts) suggest North Korea possesses up to 2,000 kg of highly enriched uranium at 90 percent and higher," he said, adding that uranium between 10 to 12 kg is enough to produce one bomb. Chung assessed that it is now impossible to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program through international sanctions, saying that the resumption of North Korea-U.S. talks could instead serve as a "breakthrough" in stalled denuclearization efforts. "It will be desirable for (North Korea-U.S.Sep 25, 2025By Yonhap
US diplomat stresses 'clear,' 'open' commitment to NK denuclearization goalA State Department official on Wednesday highlighted the United States' "open" and "clear" commitment to the "complete" denuclearization of North Korea, although Pyongyang has signaled openness to engaging with the U.S. if Washington drops its demand for denuclearization. During an interview with Yonhap News Agency, Mignon Houston, the department's deputy spokesperson, also said an immigration crackdown by President Donald Trump's administration "does not change" the Seoul-Washington relationship, as she touched on the recent raid at a South Korean battery plant site in Georgia. "This administration has said on numerous occasions from the start that our commitment is to a complete denuclearization of North Korea, that launches of ballistic missiles ... (and) an ambition for weapons of mass destruction is in direct violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions," she said. "That we want to see an Indo-Pacific that reduces military tensions, that is free, fair, open, prosperous for its citizens, and we have been very vocal on this." She added that the U.S. remains committed to being "open"Sep 25, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea opens large restaurant near borders with China, RussiaNorth Korea has opened a large restaurant in the northeastern city of Chongjin near the borders with China and Russia, state media reported Thursday, as the country seeks to attract foreign tourists. The opening ceremony for the namesake restaurant, Chongjingwan, in North Hamgyong Province was held the previous day, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. Constructed in the traditional Korean style and equipped with dining rooms and a banquet hall, the restaurant serves various tasty and highly nutritious dishes, the KCNA said. Chongjin, a border city once frequented by foreigners, is located near China's Hunchun and Russia's Khasan. The city is also home to Chinese and Russian consulates general. North Korea also recently opened a large beer bar in Rason, another border city near Russia.Sep 25, 2025By Yonhap
N. Korea urges discipline among officials ahead of party anniversaryNorth Korea on Thursday urged discipline among ruling party officials, calling on them to earn the people's trust as the country prepares to mark a key party anniversary next month. The Rodong Sinmun, the country's most widely read newspaper, made the call in an article as the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) is set to mark the 80th founding anniversary on Oct. 10. "Coercion or allurement cannot win the people's hearts and minds," the article said, warning that a long-term rule or deviation from the party's fundamental mission could erode public support for a party founded to serve the people's interest, eventually leading to its demise. The article followed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's criticism of officials for irresponsibility and incompetence in his speech to a two-day key parliamentary meeting this weekend. Such efforts to reinforce discipline among officials come as North Korea seeks to appease public opinion and strengthen internal unity ahead of the party anniversary. High-handed attitudes by officials and bribery are reportedly widespread in the country, a latent source of publSep 25, 2025By Yonhap
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
