North Korean leader makes rare visits to security and judicial agencies

SEOUL, November 19 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited several key security and judicial agencies, emphasizing their role in defending the regime, state media reported on Wednesday. According to the state-run on the occasion of the

November 19, 2025

North Korea condemns Seoul's recent security deal with Washington as 'confrontational'

SEOUL, November 18 (AJP) - North Korea denounced a joint fact sheet released last week outlining trade and security agreements between Seoul and Washington, warning that it will take countermeasures against what it called a "confrontational stance," state media reported on Tuesday. In a lengthy commentary, the state-run to rem

November 18, 2025

South Korea proposes military talks with North to set clear demarcation line

SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense has formally proposed talks with North Korea to establish a clear baseline for the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), in what would be the first military dialogue between the two sides since 2018. Kim Hong-chul, director of the ministry’s Defense Policy Office, said Monday that North Korean troops have repeatedly crossed the MDL while constructing tactical roads, laying fences and planting mines insi

November 17, 2025

North Korea slams G7 statement on denuclearization

SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - North Korean on Friday denounced a recent joint statement by the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) countries earlier this week. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui expressed "strong dissatisfaction and regret" over what she described as "hostile acts" by the G7 ministers in condemning the statement. The statement came on Wednesday, after the ministers wrappe

November 14, 2025

North Korean, Laotian FMs meet in Pyongyang to strengthen ties

SEOUL, November 13 (AJP) - The foreign ministers of North Korea and Laos met in Pyongyang to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Thursday. North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui and her Laotian counterpart Thongsavanh Phomvihane pledged to implement agreements reached by their leaders in October to strengthen friendship and cooperation between the two countries, according to KCNA. Their meetin

November 13, 2025

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