North Korea breaks silence on South Korea's martial law crisis

SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) - North Korea on Wednesday reported South Korea's political turmoil for the first time, after keeping mum for over a week since President Yoon Suk Yeol abruptly declared martial law last week. Calling it a "shocking incident," Pyongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, "The puppet Yoon Suk Yeol, who had already faced a serious crisis of governance and impeachment, declared martial law unexpectedly and unleashed the g

December 11, 2024

Military pact between North Korea and Russia comes into effect

SEOUL, December 5 (AJP) - A treaty pledging mutual military assistance between North Korea and Russia took effect this week after the two countries exchanged ratification documents, the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Thursday. Initially signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Pyongyang in June, the military pact commits both countries to come to each other's aid in the event of an armed attack. Effective Wednesday, the

December 5, 2024

North Korea's UN envoy evades question over troop deployment to Russia

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - North Korea remains evasive about its troop development to Russia to assist its war in Ukraine. During a Security Council meeting in New York on Wednesday, North Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Kim Song accused the international community of being deceived by the U.S. and its allies who he claimed are attempting to "cover up the root cause of the outbreak" of the war in Ukraine. "The Ukrainian crisis was started by the United Stat

November 28, 2024

Value of North Korean currency has dropped sharply in recent months: report

SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) - The value of North Korean currency has plummeted significantly in recent months, with the exchange rate against the U.S. dollar soaring to unprecedented levels, a Japanese newspaper reported Tuesday, citing sources involved in trade with North Korea. The Mainichi Shimbun reported that the exchange rate between the North Korean won and the U.S. dollar surged from around 8,000 won per dollar in April to a staggering 32,000 won per dollar in mid-November.

November 26, 2024

North Korea cuts power lines to shuttered industrial complex in Kaesong

SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) - North Korea has severed power lines and cables that once supplied electricity to the cross-border Kaesong Industrial Complex in the North Korean border city of Kaesong, military authorities here said on Tuesday. The South Korean military has detected North Korean soldiers dismantling part of power lines near the now-shuttered industrial complex since last weekend. These lines, part of a network built by South Korea, were connected to transmission towers

November 26, 2024

North Korea given missiles in return for troops, South Korean security adviser says

SEOUL, November 22 (AJP) - Russia has supplied anti-aircraft missiles and air defense equipment to North Korea in return for its troop deployment to support Moscow's war in Ukraine, South Korea's top security adviser said on Friday. "Russia is believed to have provided Pyongyang with missiles and other equipment to bolster its air defense capabilities," said National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik during his appearance on an SBS TV program. Shin also speculated t

November 22, 2024

UN adopts resolution on North Korean human rights for 20th consecutive year

SEOUL, November 21 (AJP) - The UN General Assembly unanimously passed its resolution condemning North Korea's human rights violations on Wednesday. The annual resolution, adopted for the 20th consecutive year, condemns North Korea for "continuing to divert its resources into pursuing its unlawful nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes over the welfare of its people." "This is just the latest in a line of resolutions presented every year for the past 2

November 21, 2024

North Korean troops in Russia engaged in battles, spy agency confirms 

SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - Part of North Korean troops deployed to Russia are believed to be engaged in battles under the command of Russia's airborne brigade or marine corps, South Korea's spy agency said on Wednesday. "Some 11,000 North Korean soldiers moved to Kursk in late October, after completing their training in northeastern Russa," lawmakers quoted an official from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) as saying in a closed-door meeting. Kursk is a Ru

November 20, 2024

North Korea vows to expand nuclear forces 'without limitation'

SEOUL, November 18 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has stressed the importance of enhancing the country's military capabilities and strengthening war preparations, Pyongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Monday. "We will strengthen our self-defense power, centered on nuclear forces, without limitation," KCNA reported quoting Kim as saying. In a two-day gathering of battalion commanders and other military leaders in Pyongyang last wee

November 18, 2024