North Korea holds world's third-largest stash of bitcoins

SEOUL, March 19 (AJP) - North Korea is estimated to hold the third-largest amount of bitcoin in the world, following a series of covert cyberattacks targeting cryptocurrencies, a recent analysis reveals. A hacker group called Lazarus, which is thought to be linked with the North Korean regime, currently holds approximately 13,562 bitcoins valued at US$1.14 billion, according to cryptocurrency exchange Binance and blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence. That puts North Kore

March 19, 2025

North Korea vows to expand nuclear arsenal 'both in quality and quantity'

SEOUL, March 17 (AJP) - North Korea on Monday vowed to further expand its nuclear arsenal "both in quality and quantity," dismissing a global call to abandon its nuclear weapons program. "The will steadily update and strengthen its nuclear armed forces both in quality and quantity," the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, quoting a spokesman from the isolated country's Foreign Ministry. The North's response came shortly after

March 17, 2025

North Korea launches multiple unidentified projectiles toward West Sea

SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) - North Korea fired multiple unidentified projectiles toward the West Sea, which appeared to be ballistic missiles, military authorities here said on Monday. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch from North Korea's Hwanghae Province at around 1:50 p.m., but did not provide further details. The launch comes just hours after the renegade country vowed the "toughest anti-U.S. counteraction," threatening "undesirable cons

March 10, 2025

North Korea lashes out as South Korea-US joint drill gets underway

SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) - North Korea on Monday denounced South Korea's annual joint defense exercise with the U.S. as a "dangerous provocative act," calling it "an aggressive confrontational war rehearsal," in yet another protest, just days after a similar protest last week. The annual exercise dubbed "Freedom Shield," which kicks off on Monday, is "a dangerous provocative act of leading the acute situation on the Korean Peninsula, which may spa

March 10, 2025

North Korea 'abruptly halts packaged tours for foreign tourists'

SEOUL, March 6 (AJP) - Packaged tours to North Korea have been abruptly suspended, according to several travel agencies based in China. Koryo Tours, a British travel agency based in Beijing, said on Thursday that it was notified of a temporary halt to tours to the northeastern special economic zone of Rason, adding that it is looking into the situation. Other travel agencies such as Young Pioneer Tours, founded by a New Zealander in Beijing, and Spain-based KTG Tours, al

March 6, 2025

North Korea 'seeks to attract foreign tourists with annual marathon race in Pyongyang'

SEOUL, March 4 (AJP) - North Korea appears to be gradually reopening its borders to foreign tourists after closing off from the outside world in early 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Koryo Tours, a British travel agency based in Beijing, is currently offering a packaged program that includes participation in the annual Pyongyang International Marathon, along with a guided tour of the isolated country's capital. Those who want to compete in the annual spring race for ama

March 4, 2025

Signs indicate North Korea's nuclear reactor in operation, IAEA says

SEOUL, March 4 (AJP) - There are signs that North Korea is resuming operations at its nuclear facilities, according to Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). "There are indications that the uranium enrichment plants at Kangson and Yongbyon continue to operate," said the IAEA chief during a meeting of the agency's Board of Governors in Vienna, Austria on Tuesday. He also said the agency has spotted activities at Yongbyon'

March 4, 2025

North Korea condemns US aircraft carrier's arrival in Busan

SEOUL, March 4 (AJP) - North Korea has condemned the arrival of a U.S. aircraft carrier in South Korea, denouncing it as "political and military provocations," state media reported on Tuesday. "As soon as its new administration appeared this year, the U.S. has stepped up the political and military provocations against ," North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister Yo-jong said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "H

March 4, 2025

US sends aircraft carrier to South Korea amid heightened N. Korea threats

SEOUL, March 03 (AJP) - The USS Carl Vinson, a nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier, arrived at a South Korean naval base on Sunday, marking the first visit by a U.S. carrier to the country since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. The vessel, part of Carrier Strike Group 1, docked at the port in Busan, accompanied by the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton and the Aegis-equipped destroyer USS Sterett. The South Korean military described the visit a

March 3, 2025

North Korea conducts artillery drill with 'strategic cruise missiles'

SEOUL, February 28 (AJP) - North Korea conducted an artillery drill earlier this week in waters off its west coast, North Korean state media reported on Friday. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), several strategic cruise missiles were launched and "precisely hit their targets" during the drill, which was observed by its leader Kim Jong-un last Wednesday. The drill was aimed at demonstrating the North's "counterattack capability in any space and

February 28, 2025