North Korean hackers spread malware through stolen smartphone accounts, report reveals SEOUL, November 10 (AJP) - North Korean hackers have remotely inflicted smartphones and PCs with malware and bogus apps to steal sensitive data, according to a report released on Monday by Genians, a South Korean cybersecurity company. According to the report, one case involved a hacker who reset a South Korean psychologist's Android-based smartphone and used a stolen KakaoTalk account to spread malware disguised as a "stress relief program" to the victim's con November 10, 2025

North Korea launches ballistic missile into East Sea SEOUL, November 7 (AJP) - North Korea launched an unidentified ballistic missile into the East Sea, military authorities said on Friday. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected suspicious activities at around noon, shortly before the missile was fired from North Pyongan Province. According to JCS, the missile, believed to be short-range, flew 700 kilometers before splashing into the sea near Kilju in North Hyanggyong Province. Friday's launch is the seventh this November 7, 2025

Former North Korean figurehead laid to rest in state funeral SEOUL, November 6 (AJP) - A state funeral for North Korea's former nominal head of state Kim Yong-nam was held in Pyongyang on Wednesday with its leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, according to state media. The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Thursday that the funeral service began with a eulogy by premier Pak Tae-song, praising the late senior official's "lifelong dedication" to the reclusive country. Mourners observed a moment of silence, fo November 6, 2025

North Korea denounces US sanctions, but remains cautious SEOUL, November 6 (AJP) - North Korea strongly denounced the latest sanctions imposed by the U.S., vowing to take responsive measures "with patience," state media reported on Thursday. "The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, quoting Kim Un-chol, the isolate country' November 6, 2025

Former North Korean figurehead dies at 97 SEOUL, November 4 (AJP) - North Korea's former perennial nominal head of state, Kim Yong-nam, has died at the age of 97, state media reported on Tuesday. The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said leader Kim Jong-un, accompanied by premier Pak Tae-song and other top officials, visited a memorial altar in the small hours and expressed "deep condolences over his death." According to the KCNA, the nonagenarian, who had served under the hereditary dy November 4, 2025

Pyongyang answers Trump's overture with calibrated missile test SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to keep his hopes up for a rendezvous with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his short visit to South Korea for this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation events, and the North responded in a pointed yet carefully managed missile test. North Korea "conducted a test-fire of sea-to-surface strategic cruise missiles in the West Sea of Korea" on Tuesday, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) r October 29, 2025

North Korea fires cruise missiles as Trump arrives for APEC summit SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated overtures to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un were met with another round of provocation, as the isolated country test-fired a couple of ship-to-surface cruise missiles in the West Sea on Tuesday. According to North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency on Wednesday, the missiles "improved for the launch form the ship" were launched vertically the previous day and flew for about 7,800 seconds al October 29, 2025

N.Korean top diplomat's Russia visit coincides with Trump's Seoul visit SEOUL, October 26 (AJP) - North Korean Foreign Minister will visit Russia from Sunday and then is scheduled to travel to Belarus coinciding with U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to South Korea, raising questions over the possibility of a U.S.–North Korea summit. The visit marks Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui’s first trip to Russia in a year, following her November 2024 meeting in Moscow with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin. October 26, 2025

North Korea breaks ground on memorial for troops killed in Russia SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - North Korea has begun building a war memorial in Pyongyang to honor soldiers who were dispatched to assist Russia's war in Ukraine and died there, state media reported Friday. According to the KCNA, a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the memorial took place the previous day with its leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, along with Russian Ambassador to North Korea Aleksandr Matsegora and other embassy officials. In his speech, Kim said, October 24, 2025

North Korea says it tested 'cutting-edge weapon system' SEOUL, October 23 (AJP) - North Korea has successfully test-fired hypersonic projectiles, state media reported Thursday, calling them a "new weapon system." The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said "two hypersonic projectiles" were launched from areas near Pyongyang the previous day and "hit the target" in North Hamgyong Province. "The new weapon system was tested as part of the defense capability development program to enhan October 23, 2025