Cheong Wa Dae hopes for N. Korea's response after UN decides to exempt sanctions on humanitarian aid

The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Saturday it hopes North Korea will respond after the U.N. Security Council decided to give sanctions exemptions on humanitarian aid projects for Pyongyang. The UNSC 1718 Committee on sanctions against North Korea reached the unanimous decision on Thursday to exempt sanctions on 17 humanitarian projects for the North, according to sources in Seoul. Sources say that Foreign Minister Cho Hyun asked for the Trump administration's support in providing the sa

Feb. 7, 2026

N. Korea includes area near inter-Korean border in regional development plan

North Korea has included an area south of a city that once symbolized brisk inter-Korean exchanges in its 10-year regional development plan spearheaded by its leader Kim Jong-un, according to its state media Saturday. A groundbreaking ceremony in the southernmost Panmun Zone was held the previous day as the area has been selected as one of the regions subject to the Regional Development 20X10, the Korean Central News Agency reported. Since 2024, North Korea has been pushing for regional developm

Feb. 7, 2026

UN sanctions waivers granted for 17 N. Korea humanitarian projects

Seventeen humanitarian aid projects for North Korea that had been pending at the United Nations have received sanctions exemptions with the backing of the Donald Trump administration, a Foreign Ministry official in Seoul said Friday, in what officials describe as a potential opening for renewed engagement with Pyongyang. The New York-based UN Security Council’s 1718 Sanctions Committee reached a unanimous decision Thursday to approve the waivers for projects led by South Korea, the US and intern

Feb. 6, 2026

Eased access to North’s Rodong Sinmun sparks debate on safeguards for young readers

South Korea’s decision to allow broader public access to the Rodong Sinmun, North Korea’s main newspaper, has sparked debate over potential ideological influence on younger readers, prompting the Unification Ministry to say safeguards are already in place. According to a written response submitted to Rep. Han Jeoung-ae of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea on Friday, the ministry said institutions handling North Korean materials operate their own collection and access policies based on their r

Feb. 6, 2026

N. Korea hails economic policy achievements ahead of key party congress

North Korea on Friday touted that "new records" have been achieved for its people's livelihoods, as the country continues to praise the outcomes of its economic policies in the run-up to a meeting of the highest decision-making party congress. "New standards and new records have been set in many units of the national economy, and the January plans for people's livelihood were brilliantly accomplished," the Korean Central News Agency said in an article on preparations for the upcoming ninth congr

Feb. 6, 2026

N. Korean troops still active in Russia's Kursk region against Ukraine: report

North Korean troops dispatched to Russia for combat in Ukraine in 2024 were still carrying out attacks targeting Ukraine's forces in border areas, according to a Ukrainian media report. Citing Ukraine's military intelligence agency HUR, the Kyiv Independent reported Wednesday (local time) that North Korean troops were stationed in Russia's Kursk region as of January and launching attacks on Ukrainian border provinces. The report said the North Korean soldiers were firing barrel artillery and mul

Feb. 5, 2026

Defense Ministry calls for joint management of DMZ with UNC

South Korea's Defense Ministry confirmed Thursday that consultations regarding joint management of the demilitarized zone with the United Nations Command are underway. At present, the UNC is the sole body managing affairs related to the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas. The confirmation came after local reports said that Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back had proposed to UNC Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson that the two sides jointly manage the DMZ. According to the reports, the ministry propo

Feb. 5, 2026

N. Korea holds winter sports competition at home after failing to qualify for 2026 Olympics

North Korea has launched a winter sports competition at home, state media reported Thursday, after the country failed to qualify for this year's Winter Olympics. The opening ceremony for the ice hockey, figure skating, skiing and two other winter sports competitions took place the previous day at an ice hockey rink in a sports village in the Mount Paektu district of Ryanggang Province, the Korean Central News Agency said. About 50 competitions across the five sports categories will be held, the

Feb. 5, 2026

N. Korean soldiers practicing potential military parade ahead of party congress: report

Hundreds of North Korean soldiers were seen practicing marching formations at a training field in Pyongyang in what appeared to be drills for a military parade marking the upcoming party congress, according to a report. 38 North, a US website monitoring North Korea, published the report Monday, citing commercial satellite imagery taken the same day at Mirim Airfield in eastern Pyongyang. The imagery showed several troop formations on the airfield, including one in the shape of a hammer, sickle a

Feb. 3, 2026

N. Korea's Kim calls for 'epochal progress' in rural areas ahead of key party congress

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for an "epochal progress" in the development of rural areas, the North's state media reported Tuesday, as Pyongyang appeared to gear up for a key ruling party congress. Kim made the remarks as he attended the inauguration ceremony for a new dairy farm in the North's western region, with the party congress, once in five years, likely to take place this month, although no date has been announced yet. While inspecting the dairy farm, Kim said, "More epocha

Feb. 3, 2026

North Korea's key party congress to outline military strategy, inter-Korean policy

North Korea is expected to convene the 9th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea in early to mid-February, a pivotal political event that will lay out the regime’s governing and military strategy for the next five years. The congress — the party’s highest decision-making body, held once every five years — is expected to focus on three core agenda items: strengthening nuclear and conventional military capabilities in parallel, institutionalizing the “two hostile states” framework toward South K

Feb. 2, 2026

N. Korea inaugurates greenhouse farm in Sinuiju ahead of key party congress

North Korea has inaugurated a major greenhouse farm in Sinuiju, a northwestern city hit hard by flooding in 2024, with leader Kim Jong-un calling it a "wonderful achievement" ahead of the country's upcoming party congress, according to state media Monday. Kim attended the ceremony inaugurating the Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm the previous day, according to the Korean Central News Agency. It took place around one year after the groundbreaking ceremony was held in February 2025. North Korea ha

Feb. 2, 2026

N. Korea's premier highlights leader Kim's regional development drive as top priority

North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song has highlighted the regional development initiative being pushed for by leader Kim Jong-un as the state's top priority, calling on officials to devote themselves to the plans, its state media reported Sunday. Pak made the remarks during a groundbreaking ceremony of a construction project in Pyongwon County, South Phyongan Province, the previous day, the Korean Central News Agency reported. In a speech at the event, Pak described the "Regional Development 20X10

Feb. 1, 2026

Unification Ministry rejects concerns over DMZ access bills

Pending bills concerning civilian and nonmilitary use of the Demilitarized Zone do not violate the armistice agreement, the Ministry of Unification said Thursday. The comments came a day after the United Nations Command, which holds jurisdiction over the DMZ, raised concerns with related bills. "The government respects the National Assembly's legislative powers, and will cooperate with discussions in legislating DMZ-related bills," the Unification Ministry said. "As the bills include steps invol

Jan. 29, 2026

N. Korea test-fires upgraded large-caliber rocket system ahead of party congress

North Korea has conducted a test launch of an upgraded large-caliber multiple rocket launcher system under the supervision of leader Kim Jong-un, state media reported Wednesday, underscoring Pyongyang’s continued emphasis on strengthening its military deterrence ahead of a major political gathering next month. According to the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim oversaw Tuesday’s test and described it as “of great significance in improving the effectiveness of our strategic deterre

Jan. 28, 2026