North Korea unveils new ICBM at late-night military parade

SEOUL, October 12 (AJP) - North Korea unveiled its latest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at a massive military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of its sole ruling Workers' Party, state media reported on Saturday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the new Hwasong-20 ICBM, hailed as "the most powerful nuclear strategic weapon system," made its first public appearance at the parade the previous day, signali

October 12, 2025

North Korea likely to show off latest weapons at nighttime military parade

SEOUL, October 10 (AJP) - North Korea is expected to hold a military parade on Friday night to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the renegade country's Workers' Party. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea is currently conducting rehearsals indicating the parade is likely to be a nighttime event. North Korea is expected to showcase its latest weapons and military arsenal including intercontinental ballistic missiles, although it remains to be seen as they a

October 10, 2025

Pyongyang readies party anniversary with show of arms and socialist unity

SEOUL, October 09 (AJP) -Buoyed by high-profile summits with Chinese and Russian leaders, North Korea is set to mark the 80th anniversary of its ruling Communist party on Friday with a grand display of its latest weaponry and the presence of dignitaries from fellow socialist nations. Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Pyongyang on Thursday, making the highest-level visit from Beijing since 2019 to attend the anniversary celebrations of the Workers’ Party of Korea. Li

October 9, 2025

North Korean leader calls for internal purge ahead of ruling party anniversary

SEOUL, October 09 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to root out acts that damage the authority of the Workers' Party of Korea, warning that such behavior must be "identified and eliminated." His remarks came on Wednesday, a day before the 80th anniversary of the party’s founding, during a visit to the Party Founding Museum in Pyongyang. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim said the party's longevity — the l

October 9, 2025

China's No. 2 official to visit Pyongyang for party anniversary as Xi skips trip

SEOUL, October 07 (AJP) - Although Chinese President Xi Jinping will not visit North Korea this week, Beijing's decision to send Premier Li Qiang — the country's No. 2 official — to Pyongyang for the 80th anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea is being seen as a clear sign of strengthening ties between the two neighbors. The move marks a noticeable upgrade from the 2015 celebrations, when China sent Liu Yunshan, then fifth in the Communist Party hierarchy.

October 7, 2025

Pyongyang unveils new weapons, warns Seoul and Washington at military exhibition

SEOUL, October 05 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said his country will continue to strengthen its military capabilities to counter what he called growing threats from the United States and South Korea, as he opened a major military hardware exhibition in Pyongyang showcasing new missile systems, including what appears to be a hypersonic variant of the KN-23. The exhibition, titled "Defence Development-2025," opened in the North Korean capital on October 4 to mar

October 5, 2025

Trump open to Kim talks "without preconditions" as North Korea intensifies outreach

SEOUL, October 01 (AJP) - The White House said on September 30 that U.S. President Donald Trump remains open to talking with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un "without any preconditions," a move that has fueled speculation about renewed summitry when Trump travels to South Korea later this month for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Responding to a question about whether Trump might seek a meeting with Kim during his visit to the southeastern city of Gye

October 1, 2025

North Korean leader sends congratulatory message to Xi on China's founding anniversary

SEOUL, October 1 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a congratulatory message to Chinese President Xi Jinping on the 76th anniversary of China's founding, reaffirming his commitment to enhancing strategic communication and cooperation between the two countries. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim said Pyongyang remains "steadfast" in its relations with Beijing, seeking to "steadily develop the traditional..... friendship n

October 1, 2025

N. Korea returns to UN podium, building up diplomatic portfolio

SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - North Korea has returned to the United Nations for the first time in seven years, suggesting renewed confidence after the powerful display of its leader standing alongside the heads of China and Russia earlier this month. Taking the podium at the UN General Assembly on Monday, North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son-gyong openly defied UN resolutions, reiterating that Pyongyang would "never give up nuclear weapons under any circumstances.&q

September 30, 2025

Xi's appearance at N. Korea's military parade quietly speculated after foreign ministers' meeting

SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - Speculation is cautiously building up over the possibility of Chinese President Xi Jinping making a ceremonial appearance at a military parade in Pyongyang next month, timed with the 80th anniversary of North Korea's Workers' Party. Such a trip would be seen as a reciprocal gesture after Kim Jong-un's train journey to Beijing earlier this month to attend China's "Victory Day" military extravaganza, as foreign ministers from the tw

September 29, 2025