Defense and unification ministries hold joint session on potential inter-Korean military talks SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Ministry of Unification (MOU) held a joint workshop on Friday to prepare for potential military dialogue with North Korea, despite the lack of a response from Pyongyang regarding recent proposals. The session, held at the Office of Inter-Korean Dialogue in central Seoul, focused on inter-agency coordination and reviewing readiness measures for future negotiations. During the workshop, defen December 26, 2025

Seoul to decide whether to lift ban on North Korean state media access The South Korean government is weighing whether to allow public access to North Korea's state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun and, more broadly, to ease restrictions on North Korean websites, as part of a policy review led by the National Intelligence Service (NIS). The issue will be discussed at a Cabinet-level meeting on Friday involving officials from the NIS, the Ministry of Unification, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Scie December 26, 2025

​​Pyongyang ups naval and air saber-rattling over Seoul's nuclear-submarine plan SEOUL, December 25 (AJP) -North Korea on Thursday warned that U.S. and South Korean moves involving nuclear-powered submarines would destabilize the Korean Peninsula, as Pyongyang combined sharp rhetoric with fresh disclosures of naval and air-defense weapons development. North's leader Kim Jong-un condemned South Korea’s plan to develop nuclear-powered submarines during what appeared to be a deliberately choreographed visit to a submarine construction site, according to December 25, 2025

North Korea spurs rural development ahead of key party congress SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - North Korea has been holding a series of opening ceremonies for new factories in provincial areas, state media reported Wednesday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, a completion ceremony of a factory in Kilju, North Hamgyong Province was held the previous day with key party officials in attendance. Kilju is known for its Punggye-ri nuclear test site, where North Korea has conducted six nuclear tests. In a speech at the December 24, 2025

North Korea holds grand openings of new hotels near Mt. Paektu SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - North Korea has completed five hotels in the country's tourist zone of Samjiyon near Mt. Paektu, state media reported on Tuesday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, its leader Kim Jong-un attended an opening ceremony along with his daughter Ju-ae last Saturday, expressing "his unshakable will to turn ..... into an innovative and highly civilized city representing the tourism culture of the country." Ju-ae December 23, 2025

North Korean leader visits father's mausoleum SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited his father's mausoleum in Pyongyang on Wednesday, state media reported. According to the state-run Korean Central Television, Kim paid his respects around midnight on the 14th anniversary of his father's death at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where his grandfather and regime founder Kim Il-sung and father Kim Jong-il's embalmed bodies lie in state. Accompanied by senior officials and key mi December 17, 2025

Eight out of 10 South Koreans prefer current state over unification with NK SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) - Nearly eight out of 10 South Koreans prefer sharing the border with North Korea peacefully over a unified Korea, a latest survey showed. According to a survey released Thursday by the Ministry of Unification, 79.4 percent of respondents said that peaceful coexistence without war outweighs the goal of unification. Among them, 37.1 percent strongly agreed and 42.2 percent somewhat agreed. Support was also high for acknowledging the two Koreas as separat December 11, 2025

North Korean leader makes 'important conclusion' ahead of party congress SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made an "important conclusion" at this week's plenary meeting, state media reported on Thursday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim "made an important conclusion on the agenda items” that were "discussed at the first-day sitting of the plenary meeting," which began earlier this week in preparation for the Workers' Party's key congress scheduled for December 11, 2025

North Korea gears up for party congress SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - North Korea has convened a plenary meeting to prepare for the Workers' Party's upcoming key congress scheduled for early next year, state media reported on Wednesday. The state-run Korean Central News Agency said the plenary meeting, presided over by the country's leader Kim Jong-un, was held the previous day to discuss key policies and other issues. The year-end gathering, which usually takes place over several days in mid-December, December 10, 2025

North Korea launches multiple artillery shells into West Sea SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - The Joint Chiefs of Staff said Wednesday that North Korea fired about a dozen projectiles into the West Sea the previous day. "We detected around 10 artillery shells launched toward the West Sea at around 3 p.m. the previous day. The launch is presumed to be part of Pyongyang's regular artillery exercises," the JCS said, adding that it is conducting a thorough analysis of the launch. The launch comes as North Korea continues its winter December 10, 2025