Pyongyang answers Trump's overture with calibrated missile test

SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to keep his hopes up for a rendezvous with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his short visit to South Korea for this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation events, and the North responded in a pointed yet carefully managed missile test. North Korea "conducted a test-fire of sea-to-surface strategic cruise missiles in the West Sea of Korea" on Tuesday, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) r

October 29, 2025

North Korea fires cruise missiles as Trump arrives for APEC summit

SEOUL, October 29 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated overtures to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un were met with another round of provocation, as the isolated country test-fired a couple of ship-to-surface cruise missiles in the West Sea on Tuesday. According to North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency on Wednesday, the missiles "improved for the launch form the ship" were launched vertically the previous day and flew for about 7,800 seconds al

October 29, 2025

N.Korean top diplomat's Russia visit coincides with Trump's Seoul visit

SEOUL, October 26 (AJP) - North Korean Foreign Minister will visit Russia from Sunday and then is scheduled to travel to Belarus coinciding with U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to South Korea, raising questions over the possibility of a U.S.–North Korea summit. The visit marks Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui’s first trip to Russia in a year, following her November 2024 meeting in Moscow with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin.

October 26, 2025

North Korea breaks ground on memorial for troops killed in Russia

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - North Korea has begun building a war memorial in Pyongyang to honor soldiers who were dispatched to assist Russia's war in Ukraine and died there, state media reported Friday. According to the KCNA, a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the memorial took place the previous day with its leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, along with Russian Ambassador to North Korea Aleksandr Matsegora and other embassy officials. In his speech, Kim said,

October 24, 2025

North Korea says it tested 'cutting-edge weapon system'

SEOUL, October 23 (AJP) - North Korea has successfully test-fired hypersonic projectiles, state media reported Thursday, calling them a "new weapon system." The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said "two hypersonic projectiles" were launched from areas near Pyongyang the previous day and "hit the target" in North Hamgyong Province. "The new weapon system was tested as part of the defense capability development program to enhan

October 23, 2025

North Korea fires multiple short-range missiles ahead of APEC summit

SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles on Wednesday, according to military authorities here. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the missiles around 8:10 a.m., which were launched from an area south of Pyongyang. They flew about 350 kilometers and likely landed in North Hamgyong Province, rather than in the East Sea as the JCS initially speculated. Wednesday's launch, the North's first missile provocation since

October 22, 2025

North Korea attends Russian forum, fueling prospects of energy cooperation amid closer ties

SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - North Korea has sent delegates to a forum in Russia, raising speculation about possible talks to secure energy supplies from Moscow to help ease its chronic power shortages. The state-run Korean Central News Agency reported on Tuesday that a delegation led by Minister of Electric Power Industry Kim Yu-il left Pyongyang to attend the 8th Russian Energy Week International Forum this week. This marks North Korea's second attendance at the forum s

October 14, 2025

Pyongyang's new ICBM blends technical ambition with political theater

SEOUL, October 13 (AJP) - North Korea unveiled a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Hwasong-20, during a military parade in Pyongyang last Friday, underscoring its continued drive to advance long-range missile capabilities—possibly with Russian assistance—and to strengthen its leverage ahead of any potential resumption of dialogue with the United States. The Oct. 10 parade, marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea, s

October 13, 2025

Xi vows to strengthen ties with North Korea in letter to Kim Jong-un

SEOUL, October 12 (AJP) - Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening strategic communication and cooperation with North Korea in a letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, state media reported on Sunday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim received the letter on Oct. 9, which was a reply to his earlier message to Xi on Oct. 1 in celebration of the 76th anniversary of China's National Day. In the letter, Xi stress

October 12, 2025

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