Pyongyang pledges full expansion of China friendship SEOUL, July 13 (AJP) - North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song has pledged to work with China to expand bilateral relations across all fronts, sending a message of thanks to Chinese Premier Li Qiang after wrapping up a three-day official visit to Beijing, the North's state media reported Monday. The visit, timed to the 65th anniversary of the treaty that binds the two countries in a mutual defense pact, capped a month of unusually rapid diplomatic traffic between Pyongyang and Beij July 13, 2026

China, North Korea celebrate 65th anniversary of mutual defense treaty SEOUL, July 12 (AJP) -China and North Korea pledged to deepen strategic coordination and expand practical cooperation as the two countries marked the 65th anniversary of their mutual defense treaty, according to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency. Chinese Premier Li Qiang made the remarks during talks in Beijing on Saturday with North Korean Premier Pak Thae Song, who is leading a three-day delegation to China commemorating the signing of the 1961 Treaty of Friendship, Coope July 12, 2026

North Korea says denuclearization should apply to U.S., allies before Pyongyang SEOUL, July 11 (AJP) - North Korea on Saturday rejected renewed calls for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, arguing that the concept should instead be applied first to the United States, its Asian allies and NATO members. In a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency, a spokesperson for North Korea's Foreign Ministry said calls by South Korea, the United States and Japan for Pyongyang's denuclearization had "completely lost their relevan July 11, 2026

North Korea tests cruise missile from new 5,000-ton destroyer SEOUL, July 6 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un supervised weapons tests from a new 5,000-ton destroyer that had been repaired after a failed launch ceremony last year, state media said Sunday, as he pushed to expand the country's naval combat capabilities. The official Korean Central News Agency said the destroyer Kang Kon conducted a test-fire of "strategic cruise missiles" last Friday, along with tests of "major weapon systems such as naval artill July 6, 2026

North Korea, DPRK, or Joseon? Seoul's naming dilemma SEOUL, July 03 (AJP) - Defined by its neighbor "hostile state," South Korea is rethinking how to address North Korea. The Unification Ministry said Friday that growing calls to refer to North Korea by its official name are part of a broader process of building public consensus, as a linguistic debate over inter-Korean relations moves from academic and religious circles into the center of national politics. At issue is whether South Korea should continue using the term July 3, 2026

Crypto hacks hit record count, two thirds tied to North Korea SEOUL, July 03 (AJP) - North Korea-linked hackers stole about $643 million in cryptocurrency in the first half of 2026, accounting for roughly two-thirds of all funds taken in crypto hacks during the period, according to a new report by blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs. The findings underscore Pyongyang’s continued reliance on cyber theft as a source of hard currency even as overall losses from cryptocurrency hacks fell sharply from a year earlier. TRM Labs said atta July 3, 2026

North Korean leader congratulates Xi on communist party anniversary SEOUL, July 1 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a congratulatory message to Chinese President Xi Jinping to mark the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist of China, state media reported on Wednesday. According to North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim reaffirmed his country's "firm will" to further strengthen its "traditional relationship" with its close ally, based on a shared socialist ideology and longsta July 1, 2026

S. Korean military cites analysis for delayed disclosure of N. Korean launches SEOUL, June 29 (AJP) - South Korea’s military said Monday that it did not immediately disclose North Korea’s June 25 weapons launches because it was still analyzing the projectiles, responding to criticism over why the public was not informed on the day of the test. The South Korean and U.S. militaries detected and tracked multiple projectiles in real time between 7:27 a.m. and 8:20 a.m. on June 25 and closely coordinated against any possible contingencies, the Defense M June 29, 2026

How leaders of two Koreas mark Korean War anniversary SEOUL, June 26 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un marked the 76th anniversary of the 1950-53 Korean War by overseeing "tests of major weapons," state media reported on Friday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, the tests were conducted the previous day to evaluate the accuracy and combat readiness of a 240-mm multiple rocket launcher system, a tactical ballistic missile and a 155-mm self-propelled howitzer, all of which have enough range to June 26, 2026

North Korea deploys new destroyer amid push for naval buildup SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) - North Korea has deployed a new 5,000-ton destroyer ready for combat, state media reported on Wednesday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, the reclusive country's leader Kim Jong-un attended a commissioning ceremony for the Choe Hyon held in Nampo the previous day, expressing expectations that his country's naval capabilities would be strengthened to what he described as "admirable beyond imagination." T June 24, 2026