FBI on hunt for disguised North Korean IT workers in crypto theft scheme

SEOUL, July 2 (AJP) - U.S. federal investigators have been searching for four North Koreans allegedly involved in an IT scheme to steal cryptocurrency from blockchain firms and launder the illicit proceeds of their thefts. According to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), they were placed on a wanted list on Tuesday with a reward of up to US$5 million for information leading to their capture. "Kim Kwang Jin, Kang Tae Bok, Jong Pong Ju, and Chang Nam Il are wanted

July 2, 2025

North Korea's massive coastal tourist zone opens after epic delay

SEOUL, July 2 (AJP) - North Korea has opened its long-awaited tourist zone in the eastern coastal area of Kangwon Province after years of construction delays, state-run media reported on Wednesday. According to the country's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the "magnificent tourist attraction which is unparalleled in the world" was opened to the public the previous day with "many guests" on the first day of its grand opening. Located in the so

July 2, 2025

Trump may seek meeting with Kim Jong-un at Panmunjom during October APEC visit, says Victor Cha

SEOUL, July 01 (AJP) - United States President Donald Trump may attempt to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at Panmunjom during his expected visit to South Korea for the APEC summit in October, according to Victor Cha, Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Speaking during a CSIS webinar held on June 30 (local time), Cha said a Trump and Kim meeting could be on the table, especially given the president's history of pursuing bold diplomati

July 1, 2025

N. Korean leader Russian culture minister, pushes for stronger cultural ties

SEOUL, June 30 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met with Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova in Pyongyang on Sunday, highlighting growing cultural cooperation between the two countries. The visit marked one year since the signing of the North Korea-Russia Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which took place during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Pyongyang in June last year. The meeting was held at the headquarters of the Workers' Party of

June 30, 2025

Kim Jong-un's wife surfaces for first time in about 18 months

SEOUL, June 26 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's wife appeared at an event for the grand opening of a coastal tourist zone, state media reported on Thursday. According to the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim attended a ceremony on Tuesday marking the completion of the Wonsan and Kalma tourist zone in Kangwon Province, one of his pet projects, as he apparently aims to boost the country's tourism industry as a source of hard currency for hi

June 26, 2025

Railway services connecting Pyongyang and Moscow resume after pandemic halt

SEOUL, June 26 (AJP) - Railway services linking Pyongyang and Moscow have resumed after being halted for five years amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to Russian state media. The Kremlin's state-run news agency TASS reported that a passenger train that departed the North Korean capital last week arrived at Moscow's Yaroslavsky railway station on Wednesday after a journey of about eight days. But the first train that departed from Pyongyang on June 17 had "no pa

June 26, 2025

North Korea holds mass rallies against US on Korean War anniversary

SEOUL, June 25 (AJP) - North Korea held a series of mass anti-United States rallies this week to mark the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, Pyongyang's state media reported on Wednesday. According to the official state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), various unions organized rallies in Pyongyang and other regions on Tuesday and Wednesday. The events were part of what the North calls the “Day of Struggle Against U.S. Imperialism,” observed a

June 25, 2025

North Korea holds key party meeting ahead of major anniversaries

SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) - North Korea wrapped up a plenary meeting of the Workers Party to review policies and plans for the second half of this year, state media reported on Tuesday. According to the official state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the three-day meeting, which began last Saturday and was chaired by its leader Kim Jong-un, was convened "to conduct the interim review" of major policies for this year and "to discuss and decide on the issues arising in

June 24, 2025

North Korea to resume int'l film festival this fall after pandemic hiatus

SEOUL, June 19 (AJP) - North Korea is expected to resume its only international film festival this fall after a six-year hiatus, amid signs that the isolated country is gradually reopening its borders to the outside world. The Pyongyang International Film Festival (PIFF) will kick off its week-long run on Oct. 22, organizers said on Thursday. Launched in 1987 and held every two to three years, the festival became an annual event in 2018 but was suspended indefinitely after its la

June 19, 2025

North Korean leader meets Russian security chief to 'discuss additional troop deployment'

SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has held talks with Russia's top security official in Pyongyang to discuss ways to further strengthen military cooperation between the two countries, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Wednesday. According to KCNA, Kim met with Russia's Security Council secretary Sergei Shoigu the previous day, who made his third visit to the isolated country in just three months, following his previous t

June 18, 2025