North Korea’s recent decision to slowly lift border shutdowns could help the isolated country re-engage with United Nations bodies on human rights, a UN rights expert said Monday on the last day of her trip to Seoul that started Monday last week. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, the North had kept its borders sealed, expelling rights and aid groups. Pyongyang last month approved the return of its citizens overseas. “I hope that the DPRK will restart its engagem

Putin's visit to space launch center in Vostochny hints at possible summit venue

North Korea may test fire a submarine-launched ballistic missile to show the effectiveness of its new tactical nuclear submarine launched earlier this month, a US monitor said Monday. Beyond Parallel, a project of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, also noted that Pyongyang may request submarine or SLBM-requested technology from Russia during leader Kim Jong-un's high-profile trip to Russia. "The logical next step for North Korea is a missile launch fr

The White House called on North Korea not to provide any weapons to Russia on Monday, ahead of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's widely anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, underscored that the two countries will likely continue discussing a potential arms deal during Kim's ongoing trip to Russia. "As we have warned publicly, arms discussions between Russia and the DPRK are expected

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will "soon" visit Russia to hold talks with President Vladimir Putin, Pyongyang's state media reported Monday, with a special train believed to be carrying him apparently heading for Russia. The North's leader will soon visit Russia at the invitation of Putin, the Korean Central News Agency reported, adding that Kim "will meet and have a talk with Comrade Putin during the visit." But it did not elaborate on details such as the timin

Summit likely to take place on Tuesday or Wednesday, according to Seoul officials

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has had a photo session with participants of a paramilitary parade to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the country's founding, state media said Monday, amid speculation about his possible trip to Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin. In the photo shoot session held Sunday, Kim called the parade a "powerful demonstration of the invincible spirit of socialist Korea" in a march to "achieve the great cause of building a powerful nation,&

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called patriotic people the "best assets" of the state as he marked the country's founding anniversary with a paramilitary parade, the North's state media reported Sunday. Kim made the remarks at a photo session Saturday with people who took part in the celebrations of the country's 75th founding day, according to the North's Korean Central News Agency. "The patriotic people, including the persons of merits and labor innovato

North Korea staged a paramilitary parade in Pyongyang on Saturday to mark the 75th anniversary of the regime's founding day, with leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, the North's state media said. Kim observed the military parade that took place "with splendor" at Kim Il Sung Square to celebrate the founding anniversary, according to the Korean Central News Agency. Kim did not deliver a speech at the event, which was also attended by his daughter, believed to be named Ju-ae. Als

North Korea was staging a paramilitary parade in Pyongyang on Saturday to mark the 75th anniversary of the regime's founding day, an informed source said. The event began at midnight following a pre-parade ceremony held Friday night, the source said, without elaborating. Details of the event, including whether leader Kim Jong-un attended the parade and what weapons were displayed, were not immediately known. The nighttime event marks the third military parade North Korea has staged this yea

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The founder of North Korea’s ruling dynasty, an isolationist totalitarian leader named Kim Il Sung, was still building some of the country’s first nuclear facilities when Syd Seiler arrived on the Korean Peninsula as a young US military intelligence officer. Over the four decades since, Seiler has watched closely as Kim, his son and now his grandson have clung to their nuclear program and developed the potential to lob nuclear warheads at the US and its allies if t

S. Korean military says submarine does not seem to be capable of normal operation

Three minor earthquakes struck North Korea's northeastern county of Kilju, home to the country's nuclear testing site, but all of them were natural tremors, South Korea's state weather agency said Friday. The first quake occurred about 38 km north of Kilju at 3:29 a.m., while the second and third ones struck nearby areas at 4:01 a.m. and 5:12 a.m., respectively, with their magnitudes ranging between 2.1 and 2.3, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. The KMA said al

North Korea and Russia may be seeking to improve their relations since it may offer benefits to both but the level of their cooperation, especially in advanced military technology such as nuclear weapons, will likely be limited, a former US intelligence officer on North Korea said Thursday. Sydney Seiler, former national intelligence officer on North Korea at the National Intelligence Council, also argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite being desperate for North Korea's suppo

Visit reflects NK's focus on economic ties with China amid potential military cooperation with Russia