Category: North Korea

US Warns of Imminent North Korea Nuclear Test Ahead of Biden’s Visit to Asia

The United States warned Thursday that North Korea could be preparing for another nuclear test, coinciding with President Joe Biden’s visit to Asia later this month. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the prediction is “consistent with [North Korea’s] recent public statements and destabilizing actions, including the test launch of multiple intercontinental ballistic missiles…


North Korea Fires 3 Ballistic Missiles After Reporting COVID-19 Outbreak

SEOUL—North Korea fired three ballistic missiles towards the sea off its east coast on Thursday, South Korea and Japan said, in the latest tests aimed at advancing its weapons program, even as it first reported a COVID-19 outbreak. Three short-range ballistic missiles were fired at around 18:30 (0930 GMT) from the Sunan area of North…


North Korea Confirms ‘1st’ Cases of COVID-19, Enters ‘Severe Emergency’ Lockdown

North Korea has entered a “severe emergency” after confirming its first official cases of COVID-19, with leader Kim Jong-un ordering a nationwide lockdown on Thursday. According to the Korean Central News Agency, a number of people in the capital Pyongyang had contracted the Omicron variant of the virus, also known as BA.2, although no further details were provided as…


South Korean President Offers Support to North Korea in Exchange for Denuclearization

The new president of South Korea said May 10 that he would provide North Korea with what he called “an audacious plan” to strengthen the economy of North Korea’s capital city Pyongyang in exchange for complete denuclearization. Yoon Suk-yeol made the remarks following his inauguration ceremony in Seoul, South Korea, succeeding outgoing President Moon Jae-in….


North Korea Missile Launched From Sub Last Week Appears Same Model as Last Year’s: Japan Minister

TOKYO—The ballistic missile North Korea launched last week appears to be the same model as the submarine-launched missile Pyongyang tested last October, Japanese Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi said on Tuesday. North Korea fired a ballistic missile from a submarine on Saturday, days before the inauguration of new South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and U.S. President…


North Korea Fires Likely Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile, South Korea Says

SEOUL/TOKYO—North Korea fired a ballistic missile from a submarine on Saturday, South Korea said, an escalation just before the inauguration of a South Korean president who has vowed to take a hard line against the North and the visit of the U.S. president. South Korean military said North Korea fired what is believed to be…


Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran Want to Use Nuclear Weapons Offensively

Commentary Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran are toying with the offensive use of nuclear weapons rather than seeing them as a defensive deterrent. The American allies they target, including Ukraine, Taiwan, South Korea, and Israel, should strengthen their nuclear defenses in response. On May 1, Russia’s state media threatened the United Kingdom with a…


North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile Amid Rising Animosities

SEOUL, South Korea—North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward its eastern waters on Wednesday, South Korean and Japanese officials said, days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to speed up the development of his nuclear weapons “at the fastest possible pace” and threatened to use them against rivals. The launch, the North’s 14th…


Kim Jong Un Warns North Korea Could ‘Preemptively’ Use Nuclear Weapons

SEOUL, South Korea—North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned again that the North could preemptively use its nuclear weapons if threatened, as he praised his top army officials for a massive military parade in the capital, Pyongyang, last week. Kim expressed “firm will” to continue developing his nuclear-armed military so that it could “preemptively and…


2 Charged for Conspiring With North Korea to Evade US Sanctions With Cryptocurrency

Two Europeans were charged on Monday for allegedly conspiring with an American cryptocurrency expert, who has already been convicted, to teach members of the North Korean regime to use blockchain technology to evade U.S. sanctions. Alejandro Cao de Benos, a Spanish citizen, and Christopher Emms from Britain are accused of illegally organizing the Pyongyang Blockchain and…