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  N. Korea, Russia forge new defense alliance, raising concerns about further military cooperation SEOUL, June 19 (AJU PRESS) - North Korea leader Kim Jong-un and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin signed a pact for a comprehensive strategic partnership after a bilateral summit in Pyongyang on Wednesday. During a joint press conference after 90-minute talks followed by a two-hour one-on-one meeting, the two leaders agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to the level of alliance through a new treaty. They also vowed to provide mutual assistance in case of aggression ag June 19, 2024
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  Inter-Korean tensions rise as S. Korea resumes propaganda broadcasts SEOUL, June 10 (AJU PRESS) - Inter-Korean tensions are escalating as South Korea resumed propaganda broadcasts near the border with North Korea on Sunday in a tit-for-tat action after North Korea re-launched balloons carrying trash and garbage southwards. As Pyongyang has shown histrionics toward the propaganda broadcasts, some have warned of potential local skirmishes or clashes in the demilitarized zone (DMZ). According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the broadcasts went June 10, 2024
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  South Korea to resume military drills near border with N. Korea SEOUL, June 04 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea’s military will resume artillery firing and other training exercises near the border with North Korea, following the government’s suspension of the Sept. 19, 2018 inter-Korean military agreement. The move came in response to a series of North Korean provocations, including last November’s launch of a military spy satellite and recent landings of trash-carrying balloons in South Korea. The resumption of military drills June 4, 2024
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  S. Korea mulls resuming propaganda broadcasts along border SEOUL, June 03 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea is considering resuming loudspeaker broadcasts in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) as a countermeasure against North Korea's balloons carrying garbage and feces, the presidential office said on Sunday. A high-ranking official said that Seoul is not ruling out the possibility of resuming psychological warfare using loudspeakers to respond to North Korea's garbage balloons and is preparing for it. "We will come up with a measure soon June 3, 2024
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  N. Korea fires barrage of short-range missiles into East Sea SEOUL, May 30 (AJU PRESS) - North Korea fired a barrage of missiles into the East Sea, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Thursday. According to the JCS, North Korea launched about 10 projectiles, presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs), from Sunan near Pyongyang at around 6:14 a.m. (2114 GMT) on Thursday. The missiles flew approximately 350 kilometers (217 miles) before crashing into the sea. South Korea's military authorities speculated that May 30, 2024
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  N. Korea's attempt to launch another spy satellite fails SEOUL, May 28 (AJU PRESS) - North Korea's attempt to launch a space rocket carrying a military spy satellite ended in failure, the renegade country said Tuesday. The attempt came just several hours after Pyongyang informed of its plan to launch a satellite into orbit by June 4. "The launch of the new satellite carrier rocket failed when it exploded in mid-air during the flight of the first stage," the North's state-run Korean News Agency reported. Earlier, May 28, 2024
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  N. Korea to launch another satellite this week SEOUL, May 27 (AJU PRESS) - North Korea is poised to launch a space rocket carrying a military spy satellite sometime this week, Japan's news agency Kyodo News and public broadcaster NHK reported Monday, citing the Cabinet Secretariat of Japan. The launch plan came just hours before President Yoon Suk Yeol is about to hold a trilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Seoul on Monday. Japan has confirmed that North Korea inf May 27, 2024
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  N. Korean propaganda song praising Kim Jong-un goes viral on TikTok SEOUL, May 17 (AJU PRESS) - A propaganda song praising North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has gone viral online. Intrigued by its up-tempo beat and repetitive rhythm, combined with unfamiliar and laughable background scenes, the three-minute clip for "Friendly Father," first uploaded in April, has garnered 880,600 views on TikTok as of this week, with heart emojis next to the portly leader's name. About 155,000 people have clicked on another video introducing the song wit May 20, 2024
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  N. Korean leader inspects test-firing of new multiple rocket launcher shell SEOUL, April 26 (AJU PRESS) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reportedly overseen a test-firing of a new 240-millimeter (9.4 inches) shell for multiple rocket launchers (MRLs), which can target South Korea’s capital area. The state-run Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Friday Kim attended the evaluation of the new precision-guided MRL rocket the previous day. The North announced the development of the weapon in February. During the test, Kim said the new rocke April 26, 2024
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  N. Korean leader praises accuracy of short-range ballistic missiles SEOUL, April 23 (AJU PRESS) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has praised the accuracy of Pyongyang's short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) after guiding a nuclear counterattack drill on Monday. Kim said that the drill was part of efforts to enhance its tactical nuclear strike capabilities, which are being developed as deterrents against hostile activities by South Korea and its allied forces. According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea fired multiple SR April 23, 2024