Demand for private education, English tutoring grows in NK

Despite an official ban on private education, North Korea's tutoring market is expanding, with a particular focus on learning English, according to a survey conducted by South Korea's Unification Ministry. Among individuals who escaped North Korea before the year 2000, only 3.2 percent had taken private classes, while the percentage of defectors who received private education surged among those who came to South Korea after 2011. Of those who defected from North Korea between 2011 and

Aug. 17, 2023

US designates 3 entities for brokering weapons deal between N. Korea, Russia

The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Controls on Wednesday imposed sanctions on three entities involved in illicit arms deals between North Korea and Russia, amid speculation that the countries may be seeking to bolster their illegal arms trade. OFAC imposed sanctions on Verus LLC, Defense Engineering LLP and Versor SRO, all of which are owned or led by Slovakian national Ashot Mkrtychev. Mkrtychev was designated on March 30 for "attempting to facilitate arms de

Aug. 17, 2023

[Graphic News] N. Korea’s trade reliance on China hit 10-year high in 2022

North Korea’s dependency on China for foreign trade hit its highest level in 2022 since leader Kim Jong-un took the helm of the reclusive country 10 years earlier, a report showed. Pyongyang’s trade with Beijing came to $1.53 billion last year, up about 125 percent from the previous year, according to the report from the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency. The amount took up 96.7 percent of North Korea’s overall trade, up from 95.6 percent a year earlier. Exports stood at

Aug. 17, 2023

Breaking silence, N.Korea says US soldier intends to seek asylum

Shattering its silence on the issue, North Korea on Wednesday asserted that US soldier Travis King intentionally crossed the inter-Korean border into its territory and expressed his intention to seek asylum. But the US Defense Department dismissed the report, referring to the claims as "alleged comments." North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency, primarily catering to international audiences, unveiled the "interim findings of the investigation into US soldier Travis

Aug. 16, 2023

Pyongyang opposes UNSC meeting on N. Korea's human rights

Pyongyang on Tuesday opposed the United States' request for a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting to address human rights abuses in North Korea, calling the move "a violent infringement upon its dignity and sovereignty." The US, which holds the 15-nation UNSC's rotating presidency this month, requested a formal meeting on human rights abuses in North Korea along with Japan and Albania. If held on Thursday, it will be the first such meeting since December 2017. &quo

Aug. 15, 2023

S. Korea, US to stage key military drills next week amid persistent N. Korean threats

South Korea and the United States will kick off a major combined military exercise next week to beef up their joint defense, both sides said Monday, amid North Korea's hardening rhetoric adding to the prospects of it undertaking new provocations. The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise based on an all-out war scenario is set to take place from Aug. 21-31, featuring various contingency drills, such as the computer simulation-based command post exercise, concurrent field training and Ulchi civil

Aug. 14, 2023

N. Korea's Kim slams officials as 'irresponsible' over typhoon damage

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has berated local officials as being "irresponsible" and "insensitive" over their failure to prevent damage from Typhoon Khanun that recently swept through the Korean Peninsula, state media said Monday. Kim made the remarks during a visit to Anbyon County, Kangwon Province, in the North, where river banks were toppled and some 200 hectares of farmland were flooded due to heavy rains brought by last week's typhoon, according to the North�

Aug. 14, 2023

N. Korea's Kim calls for 'drastic boost' of missile production capacity: state media

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for a "drastic boost" of the country's missile production capacity, the North's state media said Monday, as South Korea and the United States plan to stage joint military drills later this month. Kim made the remarks during a two-day visit to major factories that produce strategic missiles, rocket launchers and other military weapons on Friday and Saturday, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency. The visit came less than

Aug. 14, 2023

2.3 magnitude natural earthquake strikes near N. Korea's nuclear test site: weather agency

A 2.3 magnitude natural earthquake struck near North Korea's nuclear test site Sunday, the latest in a series of natural earthquakes to hit the region in recent months, South Korea's state weather agency said. The tremor occurred about 42 kilometers north-northwest of Kilju, North Hamgyong Province, at 7:55 a.m., according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. The epicenter was at a latitude of 41.31 degrees north and a longitude of 129.16 degrees east at a depth of 5 km, it said

Aug. 13, 2023

N. Korea to open border 'very soon' after yearslong closure: travel agency

North Korea is expected to officially reopen its border "very soon" after years of lockdown, a travel agency specializing in tourism to North Korea announced on Friday. But the opening of the North Korean border would initially be for North Korean citizens only, Koryo Tours, headquartered in Beijing, said on its website, citing multiple unnamed North Korean sources. "No official date has been given," the agency added. If North Korea were to reopen its border, it would be the

Aug. 11, 2023

US remains concerned about N. Korean provocations, will work with allies to ensure peace: Pentagon

WASHINGTON -- The United States remains concerned about potential provocations by North Korea, a Pentagon spokesperson said Thursday, after the recalcitrant country noted that it may soon launch a space rocket. North Korea unsuccessfully launched a space launch vehicle carrying what it claimed to be its first military reconnaissance satellite in late May. The US strongly condemned the failed launch, noting that space launch vehicles use the same technologies used in ballistic missiles, which the

Aug. 11, 2023

Kim Jong-un orders proactive military stance for war

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for proactive military readiness in a move seen as a show of willingness to respond to an upcoming joint South Korea-US military exercise scheduled from Aug. 21 to 24. In response, the South Korean government has accused the North of making false claims and insisted that the nation's resources be directed toward the livelihood of its people, instead of military pursuits. The state news agency, the Korean Central News Agency, reported Thursday t

Aug. 10, 2023

US will impose additional sanctions on N. Korea when necessary: state dept.

The United States will continue to enforce its sanctions and impose new ones on North Korea if necessary, a state department spokesperson said Wednesday when asked about possible illegal exports of North Korean products from a joint industrial complex. The department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, added the US will also continue to crack down on efforts to evade sanctions by North Korea and its friendly nations. When asked about North Korea's possible operation of the now defunct Kaesong ind

Aug. 10, 2023

Yoon calls for priority on building deterrence against N. Korea

President Yoon Suk Yeol said Tuesday the military should prioritize building its deterrence capability against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. Yoon made the remark while presiding over the second meeting of the presidential defense innovation committee at his office, saying the asymmetric threat posed by North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, and cyber and drone capabilities, is an "imminent" threat. "Through a rational and effective distribution of fin

Aug. 8, 2023

Seoul to intensify penalties for unauthorized civilian inter-Korean exchanges

The Yoon Suk Yeol government is set to strengthen legal consequences aimed at preventing unauthorized interactions between South and North Korean individuals. A new center will be launched this month to strengthen monitoring of such illicit exchanges, the Unification Ministry said Tuesday. The Unification Ministry plans to issue a legislative pre-announcement of the proposed amendments to the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act in September. The amended legislation delineates restrictions

Aug. 8, 2023

N. Korea urges all-out efforts to minimize damage from Typhoon Khanun

North Korea on Tuesday renewed its call for efforts to minimize potential damage from the approaching Typhoon Khanun, saying the country's economy could be dealt a blow if it does not thoroughly prepare for it. The typhoon is expected to head toward North Korea during the wee hours of Friday after landing on South Korea's southeastern coast the previous day and moving inland, according to Seoul's weather agency. North Korea called on party officials to make all-out efforts to prot

Aug. 8, 2023

N. Korean leader makes rare visits to key arms factories

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has conducted a series of rare visits to his country's arms factories, underscoring their role in war preparations, notably in the run-up to major defense-oriented military exercises between South Korea and the United States. But experts in Seoul also noted that these visits may serve a dual purpose, not only emphasizing North Korea's determination to continue its military buildup but also promoting its weapons for potential export to Russia. Kim made th

Aug. 6, 2023

N. Korean leader inspects major weapons factories: state media

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has conducted a three-day inspection of major arms factories, including those that produce shells of large-caliber multiple rocket launchers and engines of strategic cruise missiles, state media said Sunday. The three-day inspection that wrapped up on Saturday came a week after Kim attended a massive military parade marking the 70th armistice anniversary of the Korean War on July 27 and showcasing North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missiles and drones.

Aug. 6, 2023

N. Korea considering providing military support to Russia: NSC

WASHINGTON -- North Korea is considering providing additional military support to Russia, including munitions to be used in the latter's ongoing war in Ukraine, a National Security Council official said Thursday. John Kirby, NSC coordinator for strategic communications, said the US will continue to expose and sanction efforts to assist Russia's illegal war against Ukraine. "Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu recently traveled to North Korea in a bid to convince North Korea

Aug. 4, 2023

N. Korea criticizes US weapons package for Taiwan

North Korea warned Friday that Washington's plan to provide weapons to Taiwan reflects its "sinister intention" to deter China and will heighten regional tensions to an "ignition point of war." Last week, the United States announced its plan to provide military aid worth up to $345 million, which involves the transfer of weaponry to Taiwan from Washington's own stockpile, in what was seen as bolstering Taiwan's self-defense capabilities against China. "The

Aug. 4, 2023