North Korean leader visits family mausoleum with newly-elected party members SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited his family's mausoleum as soon as the country's key party congress wrapped up, state media reported on Friday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim paid his respects at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun where the embalmed bodies of the two Kim seniors lie in state, accompanied by key party officials and other members who were newly elected at the country's ninth party gathering February 27, 2026

Pyongyang sidelines Seoul while signaling potential for Washington ties SEOUL, February 26 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stated that there is "no reason not to get along" with the United States if Washington abandons its hostile policy, even as he intensified his rhetoric against South Korea by vowing to permanently exclude the country from the category of "compatriots." North Korea's state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Thursday that Kim delivered a summary report during the 9th Congress of the Work February 26, 2026

Ju-ae or Ju-hae? Name debate over North Korea's young heiress SEOUL, February 23 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Sunday was re-elected as general secretary of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, reaffirming the supreme-leader status he has held since 2012. But what has increasingly drawn international attention is not Kim himself, but his brash, omnipresent teenage daughter. The confident, bubbly-looking girl has frequently appeared at her father’s side in recent years, prompting North Korea watchers to speculate that she February 23, 2026

Kim Jong-un unanimously re-elected to lead North Korea's Workers' Party SEOUL, February 23 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was unanimously re-elected general secretary of the ruling Workers' Party, state media reported on Monday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, the unanimous decision was made the previous day during the fourth day of the party's ongoing ninth congress, which began last Thursday. Lauding Kim, KCNA said the country's "revolutionary armed forces," under his leadership, are able to res February 23, 2026

Satellite images suggest North Korea gearing up for massive military parade SEOUL, February 20 (AJP) - With North Korea's key party congress underway this week, satellite images suggest the country has been preparing for a large-scale military parade, with over 12,000 people believed to have been mobilized. According to Yoo Yong-won of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), satellite images taken between Feb. 9 and 17 by Vantor, formerly Maxar Intelligence, showed around 12,000 troops gathered at Mirim Airport near Pyongyang for the parade's February 20, 2026

North Korea kicks off key party congress SEOUL, February 20 (AJP) - North Korea has kicked off its massive party gathering, state media reported on Friday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, the ninth congress of the Workers' Party "opened with splendour" in Pyongyang the previous day. In his opening address, its leader Kim Jong-un said he is "full of optimism and confidence about the future," comparing this year's gathering with the previous one five years ago February 20, 2026

North Korea hails deployment of multiple rocket launchers ahead of party congress SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) - North Korea deployed some 50 multiple rocket launchers, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Thursday. According to KCNA, a ceremony for the deployment of a 600-mm large-caliber multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) "took place with splendor" in Pyongyang the previous day, with Kim Jong-un in attendance, accompanied by Workers' Party officials, munitions industry workers and other military personnel. In a speech, Ki February 19, 2026

Kim Yo-jong strikes conciliatory tone again over Seoul's regret on drone incursions SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) - Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, once again struck a positive note toward South Korea. In a statement carried on Thursday by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim said she "highly appreciates" South Korea's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's expression of regret the previous day over drones allegedly sent by civilians to the North, as well as his pledge to prevent a recurrence. It was Ki February 19, 2026

North Korea urges South Korea to prevent recurrence of drone incursions SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - North Korea on Friday urged South Korea to take measures to prevent a "recurrence" of what Pyongyang says was a drone incursion into its airspace. "I give advance warning that reoccurrence of such provocation as violating the inalienable sovereignty of the will surely provoke a terrible response," said Kim Yo-jong, the sister of the reclusive country's leader Kim Jong-un, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency February 13, 2026

North Korean leader vows stronger military role over next five years ahead of key party congress SEOUL, February 9 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un praised the "victorious journey" of the country's military, state media reported on Monday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim attended an event marking the 78th anniversary of the military's founding the previous day along with top Workers' Party officials and senior military brass. Kim said, "In looking back upon the victorious journey of our army over the past t February 9, 2026