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☆ North Korea confirms it tested ICBM, touts 'fatal nuclear counterattack' capabilities
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-18 | by ( Soo-Hyang Choi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SEOUL, Feb 19 (Reuters) - North Korea said on Sunday it had tested a Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) the previous day in a "sudden launching drill" that confirmed its readiness for "mobile and mighty counterattack" against hostile forces. North Korea launched a long-range ballistic missile into the sea off Japan's west coast on Saturday afternoon after warning of a strong response to upcoming military drills by South Korea and the United States. A North Korea flag flutters next to concertina wire at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia March 9, 2017. Analysts say North Korea is likely to conduct more weapons tests, including a possible new solid-fuel missile, which could help the North deploy its missiles faster in the event of a war. North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programmes are banned under U.N. Security Council resolutions, but Pyongyang says its weapons development is necessary to counter "hostile policies" by Washington and its allies.

☆ North Korea threatens military action as South, U.S. plan drills
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SEOUL, Feb 17 (Reuters) - North Korea threatened on Friday an "unprecedentedly persistent, strong" response as South Korea and the United States gear up for annual military exercises as part of efforts to fend off the North's growing nuclear and missile threats. North Korea had "refrained from any special military action" this year except for regular activities, but the allies' scheduled drills would create a "grave vortex of escalating tension," the ministry said. "In case the U.S. and South Korea carry into practice their already-announced plan for military drills which the DPRK ... regards as preparations for an aggression war, they will face unprecedentedly persistent and strong counteractions," the statement said. The statement came less than two hours after South Korea announced joint tabletop exercises next week aimed at improving operations of American nuclear assets, and regular springtime drills next month. The springtime Freedom Shield field training will separately begin in mid-March in South Korea for a 11-day run.

☆ North Korea shows off design for new, more dangerous missile while rolling out enough ICBMs to possibly overwhelm US defenses
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

North Korea boasted its progress on a new and dangerous solid-fueled missile at a military parade. In recent years, North Korea has indicated that its missile program is pivoting toward the use of solid fuel, Ian Williams, deputy director of the Missile Defense Project at the CSIS, told Insider. North Korea has displayed large canisters before, but the ones displayed on Wednesday appear to be more legitimate than those in the past, Williams said. This is because the defense system's interceptors would not have the capacity to engage all credible threats. Furthermore, missile defense should be thought of as one part of a larger "missile defeat complex," he added.

☆ U.N. chief says onus on North Korea to return to talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

North Korea has been subject to U.N. sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. So-called six-party denuclearization talks - between North Korea, South Korea, China, the United States, Russia and Japan - stalled in 2009. "The onus is on the DPRK to comply with its international obligations and return to the negotiating table," said Guterres, using North Korea's formal name. The United States has said that its up to North Korea to decide whether it will engage in talks on its nuclear weapons program. North Korea has rebuffed U.S. entreaties for diplomacy since President Joe Biden succeeded Trump in January 2021.

SEOUL/WASHINGTON, Jan 3 (Reuters) - South Korea and the United States are discussing joint planning and implementation of U.S. nuclear operations to counter North Korea, Seoul's presidential office said on Tuesday, although U.S. President Joe Biden said there would be no joint nuclear exercises. The statement came shortly after Biden said the United States was not discussing joint nuclear exercises with South Korea, seeming to contradict earlier remarks by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol in an interview with a local newspaper. Yoon's press secretary, Kim Eun-hye, said Biden "had no choice but to say 'No'" because he was simply asked if the two countries were "discussing nuclear war games," whereas joint nuclear exercises can only be held between nuclear weapons states. "In order to respond to the North Korean nuclear weapons, the two countries are discussing ways to share information on the operation of U.S.-owned nuclear assets, and joint planning and joint execution of them accordingly," Kim said in a statement. Neither side has finalised the timing of the planned tabletop exercises, but they would take place "in the not-too-distant future" and cover scenarios beyond nuclear situations, the official said.

☆ North Korea denies media report it supplied munitions to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Soo-Hyang Choi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, Dec 23 (Reuters) - North Korea's foreign ministry denied a media report it supplied munitions to Russia, calling it "groundless," and denounced the United States for providing lethal weapons to Ukraine, the North's official KCNA news agency reported on Friday. Japan's Tokyo Shimbun reported earlier that North Korea had shipped munitions, including artillery shells, to Russia via train through their border last month and that additional shipments were expected in the coming weeks. The North Korean foreign ministry statement did not make any mention of Wagner. South Korea's foreign ministry said on Thursday they have been monitoring North Korea's activities amid concerns over possible arms transactions with Russia. In a separate statement, the North Korean foreign ministry also slammed the United States' attempt to issue a U.N. Security Council presidential statement on its latest intercontinental ballistic missile launch.

☆ U.S. sanctions 3 people following string of North Korean missile launches
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Amanda Macias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

People watch a TV news program reporting on North Korea test-firing a newly developed tactical guided weapon on April 17, 2022 in Seoul, South Korea. Treasury added that these officials "personally attended numerous ballistic missile launches since at least 2017." The sanctions follow renewed North Korean ballistic missile tests. So far this year, Pyongyang has launched eight intercontinental ballistic missiles and carried out 60 ballistic missile tests. In October, North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles.

☆ U.S. calls for U.N. Security Council president's statement on North Korea missiles
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield said it was vital the 15-member Security Council respond with one voice and reiterated U.S. charges that China and Russia were "emboldening" Pyongyang by blocking council action. The United States will be proposing a Presidential Statement to this end," she said, referring to North Korea by the initials of its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. He said Washington should take the initiative and put forward realistic proposals to respond to North Korea's "legitimate concerns." A spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the United Nations said a draft president's statement would be shared with the Security Council soon and negotiations would follow. It said the Council must act to limit the advancement of North Korea's weapons programs.

☆ North Korea says its nukes are about the children after photos dropped of Kim Jong Un bringing his daughter to a missile launch
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

After the test, North Korea reportedly said that nuclear weapons and missiles are about the country's children. State media outlet KCNA confirmed that the North Korean leader attended the launch "with his beloved daughter and wife." North Korean leader Kim Jong Un walks away from an ICMB in this photo released on November 19, 2022 by North Korean state news. In September, the North Korean leader declared North Korea's nuclear-armed status irreversible. This photo provided on Nov. 19, 2022, by the North Korean government shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, and his daughter inspects a missile at Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang, North Korea, Friday, Nov. 18, 2022.

☆ North Korea's Kim oversees ICBM test, vows more nuclear weapons
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SEOUL, Nov 19 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to counter U.S. nuclear threats with nuclear weapons as he inspected a test of the country's new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), state media KCNA said on Saturday. "Kim Jong Un solemnly declared that if the enemies continue to pose threats ... our party and government will resolutely react to nukes with nuclear weapons and to total confrontation with all-out confrontation," the official KCNA news agency said. He ordered swifter development of strategic weapons, and more intensive training for the ICBM and tactical nuclear weapons units to ensure they flawlessly perform their duty "in any situation and at any moment," KCNA said. China and Russia had backed tighter sanctions following Pyongyang's last nuclear test in 2017, but in May both vetoed a U.S.-led push for more U.N. penalties over its renewed missile launches. ICBMs are North Korea's longest-range weapon, and Friday's launch is its eighth ICBM test this year, based on a tally from the U.S. State Department.

☆ North Korea vows 'fiercer' military responses to U.S., allies
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, Nov 17 (Reuters) - North Korea warned on Thursday of "fiercer military responses" to U.S. efforts to boost its security presence in the region with its allies, state media said, saying Washington is taking a "gamble it will regret". North Korea's foreign minister, Choe Son Hui, slammed a recent trilateral summit between the United States, South Korea and Japan, during which the leaders criticised Pyongyang's weapons tests and pledged greater security cooperation. On Thursday, the South Korean military reported another ballistic missile launch off North Korea's east coast. She referred to her country by the initials of its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The United States has been saying since May that North Korea is preparing to conduct its first nuclear test since 2017, but its actual timing remains unclear.

☆ North Korea fires missile, vows 'fiercer' responses to U.S., allies
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SEOUL, Nov 17 (Reuters) - North Korea fired a ballistic missile on Thursday as it warned of "fiercer military responses" to U.S. efforts to boost its security presence in the region with its allies, saying Washington is taking a "gamble it will regret". South Korea's military said the ballistic missile was launched from the North's east coast city of Wonsan at 10:48 a.m. (0248 GMT). The United States has been saying since May that North Korea is preparing to conduct its first nuclear test since 2017, but its actual timing remains unclear. South Korea's Unification Minister Kwon Young-se, who handles intra-Korea affairs, said the North might postpone its nuclear test for some time, citing China's domestic political schedule. "North Korea has also achieved some political effects by codifying its nuclear law in August, so it might not have immediate needs for a nuclear test," Kwon said in an interview with Yonhap news agency released on Thursday.

☆ South Korea issues an air raid alert after North Korea fires three missiles toward the sea
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

South Korea issued an emergency alert after North Korea fired missiles toward the eastern sea boundary. The escalation comes hours after North Korea issued a veiled threat toward the US and South Korea. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea fired the three short-range ballistic missiles Wednesday morning from its eastern coastal area of Wonsan. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in an initial statement that North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward sea Wednesday, but offered no further details like how far it flew. The White House on Tuesday pushed back against North Korea's saber rattling, reiterating that drills are part of a routine training schedule with South Korea.

☆ Kim Jong Un congratulates Xi for reelection, hopes for 'more beautiful' ties
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SEOUL, Oct 23 (Reuters) - North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un sent a congratulatory letter to Xi Jinping on his reelection as China's leader, saying he hoped to further develop their ties, state news agency KCNA reported on Sunday. "I, together with you, will shape more a beautiful future of the DPRK-China relations meeting the demand of the times and lead the endeavours for its realisation so as to continue to powerfully propel the socialist cause in the two countries." DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name. China's Xi Jinping secured a precedent-breaking third leadership term on Sunday and introduced a new top governing body stacked with loyalists, cementing his place as the country's most powerful ruler since Mao Zedong. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by William Mallard and Alex RichardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ North Korea flies warplanes near border and tests another ballistic missile
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Amanda Macias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The 10 aircraft from the North flew as close as 7 miles from the inter-Korean border, according to South Korea's military. It marks the second time in the past week that North Korea flew military aircraft near the border. The Pentagon said it was aware of the latest North Korean ballistic missile launch and that it would continue monitoring the situation. The State Department condemned the latest ballistic missile launch and cited that any tests conducted by North Korea are in violation of multiple United Nations Security Council Resolutions. So far this year, North Korea has fired more than 35 ballistic missile tests.

☆ U.S. condemns North Korea ballistic missiles launch
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday condemned North Korea's latest ballistic missile launches, which came just a day before Vice President Kamala Harris was set to arrive in neighboring South Korea. read more"We remain committed to a diplomatic approach to the DPRK and call on the DPRK to engage in dialogue," a U.S. State Department spokesperson said in a statement, referring to North Korea's formal name -- the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Doina ChiacuOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ China repeats call for stability in Korean peninsula
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A general view shows the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, South Korea, July 19, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/PoolBEIJING, Sept 28 (Reuters) - China's consistent position is to maintain stability in the Korean peninsula, its foreign ministry said on Wednesday, after South Korean media reported that North Korea may conduct a nuclear test in coming months. The relevant parties should take concrete actions to respond to the legitimate concerns of the DPRK, said Wang Wenbin, spokesman at the Chinese foreign ministry at a regular media briefing, referring to North Korea's formal name - the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). North Korea's first nuclear test since 2017, if it takes place, is likely to happen between Oct. 16 and Nov. 7, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported on Wednesday, citing lawmakers briefed by the national intelligence agency. read moreRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Eduardo Baptista; Writing by Ryan Woo; Editing by Andrew HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ North Korea denies sending arms to Russia amid Ukraine war
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

North Korea says it hasn't exported any weapons to Russia during the war in Ukraine and has no plans to do so, and said U.S. intelligence reports of weapons transfers were an attempt to tarnish North Korea's image. In a state media report Thursday, an unnamed North Korean defense official told the U.S. to stop making "reckless remarks" and to "keep its mouth shut." The North Korean statement came weeks after Moscow described the U.S. intelligence finding as "fake." North Korean arms exports to Russia would violate United Nations resolutions banning the country from importing or exporting weapons. The North Korean official stressed that Pyongyang has never recognized the "unlawful" U.N. Security Council sanctions against the country "cooked up by the U.S. and its vassal forces."

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