North Korea tests new solid-fuel engine for ICBMs

SEOUL, September 9 (AJP) - North Korea tested a new high-thrust solid-fuel engine for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), state media reported on Tuesday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the reclusive country "conducted another ground jet test of a high-thrust solid-fuel engine using composite carbon fiber material," with its leader Kim Jong-un inspecting the test. KCNA said it was the "ninth ground jet test" of i

September 9, 2025

Kim Jong-un and Xi Jinping pledge unshakable ties through summit meeting

SEOUL, September 05 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing on Thursday for their first summit in nearly seven years, signaling an effort to revive ties that had weakened as Pyongyang deepened its alignment with Moscow. The two leaders held talks at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday, the day after attending China's "Victory Day" military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. According

September 5, 2025

S. Korean National Assembly Speaker meets N. Korean and Russian leaders in Beijing

SEOUL, September 04 (AJP) - South Korean National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik had two rare encounters in Beijing on Wednesday, a brief greeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and a short conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. One ended with little more than a nod, the other touched upon inter-Korean relations. According to Woo's office, the encounter with Kim took place in a waiting room ahead of China's "Victory Day" military parade at Tianan

September 4, 2025

Kim, Putin vow to boost ties in Beijing summit

SEOUL, September 04 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks in Beijing on Wednesday, pledging to strengthen their partnership and voicing support for each other's strategic priorities, Pyongyang's state media reported Thursday. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim and Putin discussed "long-term plans for cooperation" in detail and "reaffirmed their steadfast will to continue to lead the bilat

September 4, 2025

Kim Jong-un's appearance at Beijing parade with Xi and Putin draws US criticism

SEOUL, September 03 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stood alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at Beijing's "Victory Day" parade on Wednesday, a rare display that United States lawmaker Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.) called "provocative," while drawing close attention in Seoul. The parade, held at Beijing's Tiananmen Square to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, showcased China's military p

September 3, 2025

Kim Jong-un joins Xi, Putin at Beijing military parade, daughter absent from ceremony

SEOUL, September 03 (AJP) - For the first time in 66 years, the leaders of North Korea, China, and Russia stood side by side as Kim Jong-un joined Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at China’s "Victory Day" military parade on Wednesday. The parade, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, began at 9 a.m. in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Official photographs showed Xi at the center with his wife, Peng Liyuan, to his l

September 3, 2025

UNICEF sends 2.7 million vaccines to North Korea this year to restore routine immunization

SEOUL, September 02 (AJP) - North Korea has received nearly 2.72 million vaccine doses this year through UNICEF, restoring nationwide immunization services disrupted during the pandemic, A United Nations official told AJP through a written interview. Roland Kupka, UNICEF's interim representative to North Korea, said that three chartered flights delivered 1.57 million Pentavalent, 678,000 Measles-Rubella (MR), and 469,000 Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) as of August this year.

September 2, 2025

Kim Jong-un inspects institute for new solid-fuel ICBM engine

SEOUL, September 2 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a missile research institute on Monday, right before his departure for Beijing to attend a military parade in China. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim inspected "the relevant institute of the General Academy of Chemical Materials under the Missile Administration of the DPRK" on September 1 and met composite carbon fiber material researchers. KCNA said the institute produced

September 2, 2025

Kim Jong-un's train enters China for Beijing military parade

SEOUL, September 02 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un crossed into China early Tuesday aboard his armored train, bound for Beijing to attend China's "Victory Day" military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim "left Pyongyang by his train" on Monday to join the parade, and the train "passed the border early in the morning on September 2," accompanied

September 2, 2025

Kim Jong-un expected to depart Pyongyang Monday by train for Beijing military parade

SEOUL, September 01 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is expected to leave Pyongyang by train on Monday and arrive in Beijing the following day to attend a military parade as part of China's "Victory Day" celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. According to multiple government sources on Sunday, Kim is likely to depart Pyongyang on Monday with a special armored train, which takes about 20 to 24 hours to reach the Chinese capital. A

September 1, 2025