Quad leaders condemn North Korea's nuclear, missile programs

SEOUL, September 22 (AJP) - The leaders of the United States, Australia, India and Japan condemned North Korea's nuclear weapons program and ballistic missile launches during their summit in Wilmington, Delaware, on Saturday. In a joint statement, the leaders of the Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) also reaffirmed their commitment to a "free and open Indo-Pacific" and expressed serious concern over "destabilizing" actions in the East and South China Sea

September 22, 2024

North Korea boasts about test-launch of new tactical ballistic missile

SEOUL, September 19 (AJP) - North Korea successfully test-fired a new tactical ballistic missile capable of carrying a large warhead, its state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Thursday. According to the KCNA, the newly-tested missile, equipped with a 4.5 ton warhead, was fired alongside a strategic cruise missile. The test aimed to assess "the accuracy of the missiles at a medium range of 320 kilometers and the explosive power of the super-large warhead."

September 19, 2024

North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles into East Sea

SEOUL, September 18 (AJP) - North Korea has fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) from a launch site near Kaechon City some 72 kilometers (45 miles) north of Pyongyang, five days after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected a weapons-grade uranium enriching facility, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Wednesday. According to the JCS, North Korea fired multiple SRBMs northeastwards from Kaechon at about 6:50 a.m. (2150 GMT) on Wednesday. The missi

September 18, 2024

N. Korea deploys about 120 waste balloons

SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - Since Sunday, North Korea has sent approximately 120 waste balloons towards the South, with around 40 landing in the Seoul metropolitan area, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) on Monday. The JCS confirmed that roughly 40 of these balloons were identified in Seoul and its surrounding areas. "The contents of the balloons included household waste such as paper, plastic, and vinyl, with no harmful substances detected," the

September 16, 2024

North Korea discloses uranium enrichment facility

SEOUL, September 13 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected a facility for producing weapons-grade nuclear materials including enriched uranium, Pyongyang's state-run Rodong Sinmun reported on Friday. During his "on-site guidance," Kim called for producing more nuclear weapons for "self-defense." Emphasizing the need to expand the number of centrifuges and their individual capacity, Kim expressed his great satisfaction with the facility. "Ju

September 13, 2024

North Korea fires ballistic missiles into East Sea

SEOUL, September 12 (AJP) - North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) into the East Sea on Thursday, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The launch occurred just two days after Seoul hosted a defense ministerial meeting with member states of the United Nations Command (UNC) to discuss strengthening security cooperation in response to North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats. The JCS analyzed that the missiles were fi

September 12, 2024

North Korean leader vows to boost nuclear capabilities

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un pledged to enhance the country’s nuclear capabilities to counter rival nations, including the United States, and to ensure that its nuclear forces are always combat-ready, the Korean Central News Agency reported Tuesday. Kim made the remarks during a meeting with military officials at a celebration marking North Korea’s founding day on Monday. Stressing the importance of power for national security, Kim said:

September 10, 2024

N. Korean balloon detonator suspected of starting warehouse fire near Seoul

SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) - Fire authorities suspect that a timed detonator from a North Korean balloon, designed to disperse waste through a small explosion, may have ignited a warehouse fire in Paju, northwest of Seoul, on Sunday. Since May, North Korea has launched balloons filled with wastepaper, garbage, and human feces into South Korea in retaliation against South Korean activist groups, mainly defectors, who send propaganda leaflets to the North. These balloons have land

September 9, 2024

North Korea launches trash-filled balloons toward South for 5th consecutive day

SEOUL, Sept. 8 (AJP) -- North Korea launched trash-filled balloons across the border for the fifth consecutive day on Sunday, South Korea's military said. The Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that North Korea began releasing the balloons around 9 a.m. "We will respond resolutely and calmly according to our response manual, with the utmost priority on public safety," the JCS said. It marks the 17th such incident since May 28, when the North began the launches in ret

September 8, 2024

Unification Ministry to boost North Koreans' exposure to outside world through radio broadcasts

SEOUL, August 30 (AJP) - The Unification Ministry here said Friday that it plans to support civic groups' efforts to increase North Koreans' access to outside information, particularly through radio broadcasts. The move follows President Yoon Suk Yeol's vision for reunification between the two Koreas, which he outlined during his Liberation Day speech earlier this month. Yoon’s vision emphasizes expanding North Koreans' exposure to international information

August 30, 2024