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☆ North Korea's Kim inspects cruise missile test as South Korea-US military drills begin
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A North Korea flag flutters next to concertina wire at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia March 9, 2017. The latest missile test came as South Korea and the United States began the Ulchi Freedom Shield summer exercises on Monday, designed to enhance their joint responses to North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats. South Korean lawmakers have said the North could seek to fire an intercontinental ballistic missile or take other military action to protest the allies' drills or last week's summit of South Korea, the United States and Japan. North Korea has been constantly testing what it calls "strategic cruise missiles" since late 2021. While modernising and bolstering its naval power, North Korea showcased a new nuclear-capable underwater attack drone in March.

Persons: Edgar Su, Kim Jong Un, KCNA, Kim, Hyonhee Shin, Lisa Shumaker, Diane Craft Organizations: North, REUTERS, Rights, United States, Command, Navy, Thomson Locations: Korea, North Korean, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Rights SEOUL, South Korea, Pyongyang, United States, Japan, North Korea

☆ North Korea's Kim visits typhoon-hit farmlands amid food shortage concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and North Korea's Premier Kim Tok Hun tour typhoon-affected farms in Anbyon County, North Korea, in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on August 17, 2023. KCNA via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Aug 18 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has inspected typhoon-hit farmlands, state media said on Friday, after tropical storm Khanun swept over the Korean Peninsula last week amid mounting concerns over a food crisis in the reclusive country. The North has suffered serious food shortages in recent decades, including famine in the 1990s, often as a result of natural disasters. Khanun, which was downgraded from a typhoon to a tropical storm, made landfall on the Korean peninsula last week, prompting South Korean authorities to evacuate more than 14,000 people and close schools in flood-hit areas. Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi; Editing by Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Kim Tok, Kim Jong, Kim, KCNA, Soo, hyang Choi, Stephen Coates Organizations: North Korea's, North, Korean Central News Agency, KCNA, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, South, Thomson Locations: Anbyon County, North Korea, Rights SEOUL

☆ North Korea's Kim Jong Un visits military factories including missile plant -KCNA
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, Aug 14 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited key military factories, including a tactical missile production plant, state media KCNA said on Monday. Kim "expressed satisfaction" with a factory's "recent focus on tactical missile production" and "expanding production capacity" during his visits last week, it said. He "presented a significant goal" to improve missile production, praised the latest operability of howitzer shells, and personally drove a combat armoured vehicle, KCNA said. This is the latest in a string of visits by Kim Jong Un to defense facilities, where he has emphasized mass production of weapons. KCNA separately said on Monday that Kim visited "typhoon-hit areas" after tropical storm Khanun swept over the Korean peninsula last week, flooding farmlands.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, KCNA, Kim, Vedant Patel, Joyce Lee, Chris Reese Organizations: United, State Department, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, United States, North Korea, Russia, Ukraine, U.S

☆ North Korea's Kim dismisses top general, calls for war preparations
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Hyunsu Yim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

General Ri Yong Gil was named to replace the military’s top general, chief of the General Staff Pak Su Il, KCNA reported, without elaborating. The United States has accused North Korea of providing arms to Russia for its war in Ukraine, including artillery shells, rockets and missiles. Russia and North Korea have denied those claims. North Korea is set to stage a militia parade on Sept. 9, marking the 75th anniversary of the Day of the Foundation of the Republic. North Korea has a number of paramilitary groups it uses to bolster its military forces.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Kim, Ri Yong Gil, General Staff Pak Su Il, KCNA, Ri, Hyunsu Yim, Josh Smith, Stephen Coates Organizations: 8th Central Military Commission of, Workers ' Party of Korea, Central Committee of, Workers ' Party of, KCNA, REUTERS, Central Military Commission, General Staff, United, Foundation of, Thomson Locations: Workers ' Party of Korea, Pyongyang, North Korea, REUTERS SEOUL, Seoul, United States, Russia, Ukraine, Republic . North Korea, U.S, South Korea

☆ North Korea's Kim vows to develop cooperation with China to 'new high'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/4] North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks with Chinese Communist Party politburo member Li Hongzhong during an event in Pyongyang, North Korea, July 28, 2023, in this image released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency. KCNA via REUTERSSEOUL, July 29 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with the Chinese delegation who visited Pyongyang to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War and vowed to develop the two countries' relations to a "new high", the North's state media said on Saturday. Kim hosted a reception for the Chinese officials led by Communist Party Politburo member Li Hongzhong on Friday. The meeting took place after Chinese and Russian officials stood shoulder to shoulder with Kim on Thursday as they reviewed his newest nuclear-capable missiles and attack drones at a military parade in the capital. Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi; editing by Diane Craft and Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kim Jong, Li Hongzhong, Kim Jong Un, Kim, Soo, hyang Choi, Diane Craft, Sandra Maler Organizations: Chinese Communist Party, North, Korean Central News Agency, KCNA, REUTERS, Communist Party, Thomson Locations: Pyongyang, North Korea, REUTERS SEOUL

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Russia's Shoigu meets North Korea's Kim Jong Un; one killed, port infrastructure damaged in Russian missile attack on Odesa
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to discuss military issues and regional security, state media reported Thursday. During the meeting, Kim also showcased to Shoigu North Korea's collection of banned ballistic missiles, the Korean Central News Agency said. In Ukraine, one security guard was killed and port infrastructure damaged after an overnight missile attack struck the Odesa region, according to the region's governor. A cargo terminal was also damaged in the attack as Russia has stepped up its attacks on Odesa's ports following Moscow's withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal last week. NATO said Wednesday it would increase patrols around the Black Sea to counter Russian threats to ports and ships after its withdrawal from the U.N.-brokered grain deal.

Persons: Sergei Shoigu, Kim Jong Un, Kim, Joe Biden Organizations: Russian, North, Korean Central News Agency, NATO, International Criminal Court, U.S Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Hague

☆ North Korea's Kim Jong Un meets Russian defence minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/4] North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets with Russia's defense minister Sergei Shoigu, July 26, 2023 in this image released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency. Shoigu handed Kim a letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin, the report said. The Russian delegation and a Chinese delegation including Chinese Communist Party Politburo member Li Hongzhongas arrived in North Korea this week for the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War celebrated in North Korea as "Victory Day." The groups are the first such prominent public visitors to North Korea since the start of the pandemic. Shoigu made the remarks while meeting his North Korean counterpart Kang Sun Nam, the report said.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, Kim, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Li Hongzhongas, Yonhap, Kang Sun Nam, Hyunsu Yim, Ed Davies Organizations: North, Korean Central News Agency, KCNA, REUTERS, DPRK, Russian, Chinese Communist Party, Korean, Korean Central Broadcasting Station, North Korean, Thomson Locations: REUTERS SEOUL, North Korea, Russia, Pyongyang

☆ North Korea's Kim Jong Un shows off banned missiles to Russian minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Russia's defense minister accompanied North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to a defense exhibition that featured the North's banned ballistic missiles as the neighbors pledged to boost ties, North Korean state media reported on Thursday. Shoigu is making the first visit by a Russian defense minister to North Korea since the fall of the Soviet Union. For North Korea, the arrival of the Russian and Chinese delegations marks its first major opening up to the world since the Covid-19 pandemic. Shoigu gave Kim a letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean media reported. Kim thanked Putin for sending the military delegation led by Shoigu, saying the visit had deepened the "strategic and traditional" relations between North Korea and Russia.

Persons: Kim Jong, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, Kim, Vladimir Putin, Putin Organizations: North, Communist Party politburo, Korean, ., U.S Locations: North Korean, Russian, North Korea, Soviet Union, Russia

☆ North Korea's Kim Jong Un visits Chinese military cemetery ahead of Victory Day
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits the Chinese People's Volunteer Army Martyrs' cemetery in this photo released on July 26, 2023 by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). KCNA via REUTERSSEOUL, July 26 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited a cemetery for Chinese soldiers who fought in the Korean War, state media KCNA reported on Wednesday. His visit, accompanied by his powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, comes ahead of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War truce on Thursday, which is celebrated as "Victory Day" in North Korea, often with a grandiose military parade. Kim also visited the Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery on Monday, KCNA reported, as he touted the soldiers as "inflicting defeat" on U.S. imperialism. The Great Fatherland Liberation War is a name used by Pyongyang to refer to the Korean War.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, KCNA, Kim Yo Jong, Kim, Hyunsu Yim, Sandra Maler Organizations: People's Volunteer Army, Korean Central News Agency, REUTERS, Korea's, Chiefs, Staff, Fatherland, Thomson Locations: North, REUTERS SEOUL, North Korea, Pyongyang

WASHINGTON, July 20 (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday voiced mounting concern over Army Private Travis King, who dashed into North Korea two days ago, saying Pyongyang had a history of mistreating captured Americans. But North Korea had yet to offer any response, officials said. American officials remained stumped about why King ran across the border into North Korea. Asked whether King might have sympathized with North Korea, Wormuth said: "I don't think we have any information that points to that clearly." Last week, North Korea launched its newest solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) which it said had the longest flight time ever.

Persons: Travis King, mistreating, Christine Wormuth, Washington, Wormuth, Otto Warmbier, John Kirby, King, Sabrina Singh, Army's, Singh, North Korea Sung Kim, Kim, Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un, Jake Sullivan, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, David Brunnstrom, Jonathan Oatis, Daniel Wallis, Grant McCool Organizations: U.S . Army, United, Aspen Security, White House, National Security, Army, Pentagon, Incheon International Airport, U.S, Reuters, South Korean, Thomson Locations: United States, North Korea, Pyongyang, United Nations, Colorado, U.S, South Korea, Japan, Incheon, Dallas , Texas, Korea

☆ US, Japan, S.Korea hold rare military meeting as N.Korea launches missile
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Idrees Ali | Thomson Reuters | National Security Correspondent Focusing On The Pentagon In Washington D.C. Reports On U.S. Military Activity | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Washington has been pressing the uneasy neighbors to work more closely to better counter rising threats from China and North Korea. He said the North Korean ballistic missile had been launched towards the Sea of Japan. U.N. Security Council resolutions ban North Korea's use of ballistic missile technology, including for satellite launches. North Korea's Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, said on Tuesday a U.S. military spy plane had entered North Korea's Exclusive Economic Zone eight times. A senior U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said it appeared that North Korea's threats were largely bluster.

Persons: Mark A, Milley, Yves Herman, SMITH, Dave Butler, Mark Milley, Camp, Korea's Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un, Idrees Ali, Jacqueline Wong, Robert Birsel Organizations: Joint Chiefs, NATO Defence Ministers, REUTERS, United, South, Reuters, North, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, Hawaii, United States, North Korea, Washington, China, Seoul, Tokyo, Korea, Japan, Camp Smith, U.S, South Korea

☆ Chris Christie pins North Korean weapon advancements squarely on Trump: 'That happened on Donald Trump's watch'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

On it, he blamed former President Donald Trump for North Korea's weaponry advancements. Christie continued, this time pointing to Morgan's point of how Russia didn't invade Ukraine until Biden became president. "It's like calling the special counsel a 'crackhead,' it's like putting out a former president's address," Christie said. And after Trump dodged a question in a televised town hall about which country he wanted to win the war with Russia, Ukraine or Russia, Christie hopped onto the opportunity to take aim at Trump. "Donald Trump refused to say tonight that he wanted Ukraine to win the war with Russia," he tweeted.

Persons: Donald Trump, Donald Trump's, Chris Christie, Christie, Piers Morgan, Kim Jong, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Morgan, Russia didn't, Biden, Joe Biden, Trump Organizations: New, GOP, Fox, Service, North, Trump Locations: New Jersey, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, United States, Russia

☆ North Korea accuses U.S. of repeatedly entering its economic zone
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, July 11 (Reuters) - North Korea's Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, on Tuesday accused a U.S. military spy plane of entering the country's Exclusive Economic Zone eight times, state media KCNA reported. The Pentagon earlier brushed aside Pyongyang's accusations of airspace violations and said the U.S. military had adhered to international law. "So those accusations are just accusations," Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters. A country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) - which extends 200 nautical miles from the 12 nautical-mile territorial zone around the coast - is a right to exploit marine resources within but does not confer sovereignty over the water's surface or the airspace above it. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller urged North Korea "to refrain from escalatory actions" and reiterated a call for it "to engage in serious and sustained diplomacy" when asked about the North Korean statements at a regular news briefing on Monday.

Persons: Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong, Kim, Sabrina Singh, Matthew Miller, Hyunsu Yim, Kanishka Singh, Chris Reese, Sandra Maler Organizations: Pentagon, U.S . Air Force, U.S . State Department, Korean People's Army, U.S ., Korea's, Chiefs, Staff, South, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, U.S, Tongchon, Gangwon Province, Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province, North Korea, South Korea, Pyongyang, Washington

☆ North Korea's Kim vows to 'hold hands' with Putin for strategic cooperation
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, June 12 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to "hold hands" with Russian President Vladimir Putin and bolster strategic cooperation on their shared goal of building a powerful country, state media KCNA reported on Monday. Kim made the pledge in a message to Putin marking Russia's National Day, defending his decision to invade Ukraine and displaying "full support and solidarity." "Justice is sure to win and the Russian people will continue to add glory to the history of victory," Kim said in the message published by KCNA. Kim called for "closer strategic cooperation" with Moscow, "holding hands firmly with the Russian president, in conformity with the common desire of the peoples of the two countries to fulfil the grand goal of building a powerful country," it added. Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Kim, KCNA, Hyonhee Shin, Stephen Coates Organizations: Kremlin, West, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Ukraine, Russian, Moscow, North Korea, United States

☆ North Korea's Kim Yo Jong promises more spy satellite launches -KCNA
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Hyunsu Yim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, June 1 (Reuters) - North Korea's Kim Yo Jong, leader Kim Jong Un's sister, has said her country's military spy satellite will soon enter into orbit and promised Pyongyang will increase military surveillance, state media KCNA reported on Thursday. Her remarks follow the failure of a North Korean satellite launch on Wednesday. In her statement, Kim said the criticisms of Wednesday's test were "self-contradiction" as the U.S. and other countries have already launched "thousands of satellites." In a separate statement carried by KCNA, North Korea's vice foreign minister Kim Son Gyong criticized U.S.-led military drills in the region including a multinational anti-proliferation naval drill. "However, activity at the main launch pad is consistent with post-launch assessment and clean-up efforts."

Persons: Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong, Kim, KCNA, Antonio Guterres, Kim Son Gyong, Hyunsu Yim, Josh Smith, Chris Reese, Grant McCool Organizations: South, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Pyongyang, Korean, South Korean, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, United States, North, U.S

☆ North Korea's Kim says Russia 'will prevail' over hostile forces
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, May 9 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Russia "will prevail" in its fight against what he described as "imperialists," state news agency KCNA said on Tuesday, in remarks seen to be aimed at Ukraine and its Western supporters, such as the United States. North Korea has forged closer ties with the Kremlin and backed Moscow after it invaded Ukraine last year, including its proclamation later of having annexed parts of Ukraine that most U.N. members condemned as illegal. "We send warm wishes to you, the Russian army and the people of Russia for their holy fight to preserve world peace," the agency quoted Kim as telling Russian President Vladimir Putin in a letter. Kim also congratulated Putin on Tuesday's Victory Day anniversary that celebrates the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany, saying Russia would continue to protect its "autonomy" and the "stability of the region". Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Clarence FernandezOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

WASHINGTON, May 1 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday urged House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy to take the potential for an unprecedented U.S. debt default off the table, warning that it would result in skyrocketing credit card and mortgage rates. We have never, ever failed to meet the debt," Biden told a small business event at the White House. He said the threat of default by some Republicans in Congress was "totally irresponsible" and that it was essential to take that threat "off the table." "It would lead to higher interest rates, higher credit card rates, mortgage rates would skyrocket," Biden said. A 2011 standoff led to a downgrade of the government's credit rating, which pushed borrowing costs higher and hammered investments.

☆ Japan PM Kishida to visit South Korea for summit with Yoon - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Kevin Buckland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, April 29 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to visit South Korea in coming weeks and meet with President Yoon Suk Yeol, officials said, reciprocating a Tokyo visit by the South Korean leader last month. Japan's Kyodo news agency said on Saturday the two will meet around May 7 or 8, citing multiple unnamed Japanese and South Korean diplomatic sources. Asked about reports of the bilateral summit, Kishida said in remarks broadcast by public network NHK that nothing concrete had been decided. The two sides agreed to revive shuttle diplomacy when Yoon met with Kishida in Tokyo in March, the first Japan visit by a South Korean president in 12 years. The last visit by a Japanese prime minister to South Korea was made by Shinzo Abe in 2018, according to NHK.

☆ North Korea says U.S.-South Korea agreement will worsen insecurity
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Joyce Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, April 29 (Reuters) - North Korea's Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, said a U.S.-South Korea agreement this week about the need to shore up South Korean security will worsen the situation, according to state media KCNA on Saturday. North Korea is convinced it must further perfect a "nuclear war deterrent" as a result, Kim said. Kim's statement is North Korea's first comment on the meeting, and suggests its cycle of military shows of force and weapons development will continue. U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met this week, with the United States pledging to give South Korea more insight into its nuclear planning over any conflict with North Korea amid anxiety over Pyongyang's growing arsenal of missiles and bombs. A U.S. Navy nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) will also visit South Korea for the first time since the 1980s, to help demonstrate Washington's resolve to protect the country from a North Korean attack.

☆ Trump accuses France's Macron of pandering to China
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS/File PhotoWASHINGTON, April 12 (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Donald Trump accused Emmanuel Macron of pandering to China leader Xi Jinping during the French president's recent closely watched visit to Beijing. "You got this crazy world is blowing up and the United States has absolutely no say. And Macron, who's a friend of mine, is over with China kissing his ass," Trump said in an interview with Fox News late on Tuesday. As president, Trump upended some tenets of America’s post-World War Two foreign policy by questioning the NATO alliance, alienating European partners and indulging autocrats. Trump himself was accused of pandering to world leaders, autocrats in particular, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong-Un.

☆ North Korea's Kim calls for more 'practical, offensive' war deterrence
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, April 11 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for strengthening the country's war deterrence in a "more practical and offensive" manner to counter what it called moves of aggression by the U.S. and South Korea, state media KCNA said on Tuesday. North Korea has been reacting angrily to a recent series of the allies' joint military exercises, which KCNA said were intended to prepare for "an all-out war" and forced Pyongyang to explore "powerful practical action", including military options. Kim ordered further reinforcing the country's war deterrence with "increasing speed" and in a "more practical and offensive" manner, KCNA said. The meeting "discussed practical matters and measures for machinery to prepare various military action proposals that no means and ways of counteraction are available to the enemy," it added. South Korea and the U.S. forces have conducted annual springtime exercises since March, including air and sea drills involving a U.S. aircraft carrier and B-1B and B-52 bombers, and their first large-scale amphibious landing drills in five years.

☆ North Korea accuses Ukraine of having nuclear ambitions - KCNA
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, April 1 (Reuters) - North Korea's Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, accused Ukraine of calling for nuclear weapons, state media KCNA reported on Saturday, basing her assertion on an online petition in that country that has drawn under 1,000 signatures so far. Kim said this kind of petition could be a political plot by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office, but did not provide any evidence for the assertion. Following Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement last week that Moscow plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, a public petition was filed to the Ukrainian presidential office's website on Thursday, calling for Ukraine to host nuclear weapons on Ukrainian territory, or for it to be armed with its own nuclear weapons. By Saturday afternoon, the petition had gained only 611 signatures, far short of the 25,000 needed for a response from Zelenskiy. Reporting by Hyunsu Yim in Seoul and Max Hunder in Kyiv Editing by Frances KerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ North Korea accuses Ukraine of having nuclear ambitions
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Kim said this kind of petition could be a political plot by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office, but did not provide any evidence for the assertion. Following Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement last week that Moscow plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, a public petition was filed to the Ukrainian presidential office's website on Thursday, calling for Ukraine to host nuclear weapons on Ukrainian territory, or for it to be armed with its own nuclear weapons. By Saturday afternoon, the petition had gained only 611 signatures, far short of the 25,000 needed for a response from Zelenskiy. North Korea is forging closer ties with Kremlin amid shared isolation by the West and it supported Moscow's position after Russia invaded Ukraine last year, including its later proclaimed annexation of parts of Ukraine that most U.N. members condemned as illegal. Reporting by Hyunsu Yim in Seoul and Max Hunder in Kyiv Editing by Frances KerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ North Korea's Kim orders more production of weapons-grade nuclear materials
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, March 28 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for scaling up the production of weapons-grade nuclear material to grow the country's arsenal, saying it should be ready to use the weapons at any time, state media KCNA said on Tuesday. Kim made the remarks as he inspected the country's nuclear weapons programme, including new tactical nuclear weapons and technology for mounting warheads on ballistic missiles, and examined nuclear counterattack operation plans, KCNA said. He was also briefed on an IT-based integrated nuclear weapon management system called Haekbangashoe, which means "nuclear trigger," whose accuracy, reliability and security were verified during recent drills simulating a nuclear counterattack, it added. Kim ordered the production of weapons-grade materials in a "far-sighted way" to boost its nuclear arsenal "exponentially" and produce powerful weapons, KCNA said. North Korea's military simulated a nuclear airburst with two tactical ballistic missiles during Monday's training, KCNA said in a separate dispatch.

☆ North Korea's Kim calls for nuclear preparedness against U.S., South Korea
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watches fire assault drill, at an undisclosed location in North Korea March 10, 2023 in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). KCNA via REUTERSSEOUL, March 20 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the country should be ready to conduct nuclear attacks at any time to deter war, accusing the U.S. and South Korea of expanding joint military drills involving American nuclear assets, state media KCNA said on Monday. Kim's remarks came as the isolated country conducted what KCNA called nuclear tactical exercises meant to send strong warnings against the allies. In the exercises, a ballistic missile flew 800 km (497 miles) before hitting target at the altitude of 800 m (0.5 mile) under the scenario of a tactical nuclear attack, KCNA said. Reporting by Hyonhee Shin and Josh Smith in Seoul Editing by Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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