North Korea's growth may have exceeded BOK estimate SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) — North Korea's economy may have grown faster last year than the Bank of Korea estimated as wartime income from Russia, closer trade with China and cybercrime generated unusually strong external inflows, a U.S. expert said. Troy Stangarone, co-chair of the North Korea Economic Forum at George Washington University's Institute for Korean Studies, said at a forum in Washington on Thursday that the external economic environment facing North Korea October 24, 2026

Suspected North Korea-linked hackers target Korean banks, government SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) — A suspected North Korea-linked hacking operation is preparing cyberattacks against government agencies and financial institutions, including those in South Korea, by exploiting newly discovered weaknesses in software widely used to run websites. Singapore-based cybersecurity firm CYFIRMA said it detected Korean-speaking operators discussing targets and attack preparations on a closed anonymous network on Thursday. The firm said it was highly conf October 24, 2026

North Korea suspected of planting nearly 100 mines along DMZ SEOUL, October 23 (AJP) -North Korea has planted nearly one million land mines in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) over the last two years, the South Korea military reported during the parliamentary hearing period. The military estimated that North Korean troops had laid about 960,000 mines during the period, according to multiple lawmakers’ offices on the National Assembly’s intelligence and defense committees. Pyongyang has been reinforcing the frontier after redefin October 23, 2026

Loudspeakers to be 'on standby,' North Korean leader's sister says SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - North Korea would place loudspeakers along the border with South Korea on standby within days, state media reported on Thursday. In a statement carried by the state-run will be in operation along the whole border.&q October 22, 2026

Seoul vows stern response if Pyongyang switches on loudspeakers SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - South Korea will respond sternly to any North Korean provocation along the inter-Korean border, which would violate the armistice agreement, military authorities here said on Tuesday. The warning came as Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) chief Jin Yong-sung visited a frontline military unit and ordered troops to respond decisively to any provocations by the North, a day after Pyongyang threatened to deploy more weapons along the border and consider resuming p October 20, 2026

North Korea touts test of AI-guided, super-speed torpedo SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - North Korea has tested a new underwater torpedo equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) technology, state media reported on Saturday. The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the test of a "new-type super-speed precisely guided torpedo weapon," dubbed the Zam-2.0, took place earlier in the week to verify technical improvements to the weapon, calling it a "significant step" toward strengthening the country's nav October 17, 2026

Ukraine POW disclosure complicated Seoul's diplomacy: US experts SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) - Ukraine's public disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea has complicated President Lee Jae Myung's efforts to restore dialogue with Pyongyang and improve relations with Moscow, U.S. experts said Thursday. The assessment came during a discussion hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), where former U.S. officials and Korea specialists examined the diplomatic fallout from Ukrainian Pre October 16, 2026

New bridge linking North Korea and China opens at last to boost trade SEOUL, October 15 (AJP) - A long-delayed bridge linking China's northeastern city of Dandong with North Korea's border city of Sinuiju has officially opened, providing a new route for trade and exchanges between the two traditional allies, China's state-run Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday. The two sides held a joint opening ceremony, with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and North Korean Cabinet Premier Pak Thae-song sending video messages to mark the occasion. Li des October 15, 2026

North Korea gains firsthand drone-making experience in Russia: CSIS SEOUL, October 15 (AJP) -North Korea’s support for Russia’s war against Ukraine could yield a dangerous dividend closer to home as workers sent to build attack drones acquire expertise that could strengthen Pyongyang’s own arsenal, according to a new joint report by two U.S. policy institutes. The concern extends beyond the troops and ammunition North Korea has supplied Moscow. Its involvement in Russia’s drone industry could give the isolated state access to October 15, 2026

North Korea tests cruise missiles as US surveillance aircraft fly over peninsula SEOUL, October 15 (AJP) - North Korea test-fired two types of submarine-launched strategic cruise missiles in the East Sea on Wednesday as U.S. reconnaissance aircraft were tracked flying over the Korean Peninsula on the same day. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Thursday that the country's Missile Administration conducted the tests on Oct. 14, without providing further details on the launch location or flight performance. Kim Jong-sik, first vice department October 15, 2026