North Korea

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North Korea warns it may shoot down US spy planes violating its airspace

SEOUL, July 10 (Reuters) - North Korea accused the United States on Monday of violating its airspace by conducting surveillance flights and warned that, while Pyongyang was exercising restraint, such flights may be shot down.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-denounces-us-move-bring-ballistic-missile-submarine-peninsula-2023-07-09/?

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US soldier who fled to North Korea had served 2 months in South Korea prison on assault charge

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — An American soldier who had served nearly two months in a South Korean prison, fled across the heavily armed border into North Korea, U.S. officials said Tuesday, becoming the first American detained in the North in nearly five years.

https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-us-citizen-crossed-border-e4aaa883901052e65f5c400c8279438b?

U.S. soldier believed to be in North Korean custody after unauthorized border crossing, officials say

A U.S. soldier crossed into North Korea "willfully and without authorization" and was believed to be in the custody of the country's forces, U.S. and international officials said Tuesday. The United Nations Command, which operates the Joint Security Area within the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea, first confirmed that an unidentified U.S. national had crossed the border.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/north-korea-us-national-american-crosses-border-demilitarized-zone-dmz-tour/

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North Korea fires 2 short-range missiles into the sea as US docks nuclear submarine in South Korea

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea Wednesday in what appeared to be a statement of defiance as the United States deployed a nuclear-armed submarine to South Korea for the first time in decades.

https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-missiles-us-nuclear-submarine-9a915fab65631ad2094f78e0d1d942cf?

[phkrause]

Tourist who saw US soldier sprint to North Korea initially thought it was a stunt

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Sarah Leslie thought she was witnessing a stunt when she saw an American soldier start sprinting toward North Korea.

https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-us-soldier-travis-king-tourist-witness-92f96befe0b2b8d2e7d016d645d21180?

American soldier’s dash into North Korea leaves family members wondering why

KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) — Family members of the U.S. Army private who sprinted across the border into North Korea said Wednesday that he may have felt overwhelmed as he faced legal troubles and his possible looming discharge from the military.

https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-us-soldier-travis-king-border-fe5da15f52122af9acc45412fe391465?

[phkrause]

North Korea fires 2 missiles after second US submarine arrives in South Korea

North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast Monday, following the arrival of a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine in South Korea earlier in the day.

https://thehill.com/policy/international/4116543-north-korea-fires-2-missiles-after-second-us-submarine-arrives-in-south-korea/?

[phkrause]

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un sacks top general, calls for more arms production

North Korea’s Chief of the General Staff Pak Su Il ‘dismissed’ and replaced by General Ri Yong Gil, a former defence minister.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/10/north-koreas-kim-jong-un-sacks-top-general-calls-for-more-arms-production?

[phkrause]

North Korea’s Kim watches cruise missile launches as US, South Korean troops begin annual drills

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed the test-firing of strategic cruise missiles, state media reported Monday, as the U.S. and South Korean militaries kicked off major annual drills that the North views as an invasion rehearsal.

https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-kim-cruise-missile-launches-e5786d8f60adcb9a66e93086751de638?

[phkrause]

North Korea's second spy satellite launch fails

North Korea's second attempt to put a spy satellite into space has failed, three months after its first launch crashed into the sea.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66601760?

[phkrause]

North Korea says it simulated nuclear attacks on South Korea and rehearsed occupation of its rival North Korea said Thursday its latest missile launches simulated “scorched earth” nuclear strikes on South Korea and that it’s been rehearsing an occupation of its rival’s territory in the event of a conflict. Read more.

Why this matters: North Korea said its missile tests were response to the United States’ flyover of long-range B-1B bombers for a joint aerial training with South Korea earlier Wednesday as part of the allies’ field exercises. North Korea is sensitive to the deployment of U.S. B-1B bombers, which can carry a huge number of conventional weapons.   Pyongyang has previously tested nuclear-capable missiles and described how it would use them in potential wars with South Korea and the U.S. But the North’s disclosure of detailed war plans reaffirmed its aggressive nuclear doctrine to intimidate its opponents amid South Korean-U.S. military exercises that observers say it views as a major security threat.   Foreign experts also say Kim eventually wants to use his enlarged weapons arsenals to force the U.S. to make concessions when diplomacy resumes.

Related coverage ➤ North Korea launches ballistic missiles toward the sea after US flies bombers during drills White House says Putin and Kim Jong Un traded letters as Russia looks for munitions from North Korea Kim says North Korea must be ready against US-led invasion plots, while US, allies start new drills

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North Korea’s Kim Jong Un may meet with Putin in Russia this month, US official says A U.S. official said Monday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may travel to Russia soon to meet with President Vladimir Putin as the Kremlin tries to acquire military equipment for use in its war in Ukraine. Read more.

Why this matters: Kim Jong Un’s plans to visit Russia underscores deepening cooperation between the two countries, adversaries of the United States. It's unclear how far the countries’ military cooperation would go. But their closeness comes as the U.S. is reinforcing its alliances with South Korean and Japan in the region.   National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson noted Monday that Russia’s defense minister traveled to Pyongyang recently and tried to persuade North Korea to sell artillery ammunition to Russia.   The White House said last week that it had intelligence indicating that Putin and Kim swapped letters following the Russian defense minister’s  visit. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the letters were “more at the surface level” but that Russian and North Korean talks on a weapons sale were advancing.

Related coverage ➤ Seoul’s spy agency says Russia has likely proposed North Korea to join three-way drills with China South Korea’s Yoon will call for strong response to North’s nuclear weapons at ASEAN and G20 summits Putin says he won’t renew the grain deal until the West meets his demands. The West says it has

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North Korea says its latest submarine can launch nuclear weapons, but there are doubts

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Friday its new submarine has nuclear attack capabilities after years of development. Leader Kim Jong Un described the milestone as crucial in his efforts to build a nuclear-armed navy to counter the United States and its Asian allies.

https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-kim-jong-un-nuclear-submarine-6d9f730b49f84ff5279ba6af5d241142?

[phkrause]

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is headed for Russia, setting the stage for a meeting with Putin

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has departed for Russia, where he is expected to hold a highly anticipated meeting with President Vladimir Putin that has sparked Western concerns about a potential arms deal for Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-russia-kim-putin-674e9f1155de1c83ca1a819e7dbf96ed?

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North Korea’s Kim vows full support for Russia’s ‘just fight’ after viewing launchpads with Putin North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that his country offers its “full and unconditional support” for Russia’s “just fight” to defend its security interests, in an apparent reference to the war in Ukraine, and said Pyongyang will always stand with Moscow on the “anti-imperialist” front. Read more.

Why this matters: Talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un began on Wednesday at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, Tass reported. The decision to meet at the cosmodrome, Russia’s most important domestic satellite launch facility, suggests that Kim is seeking Russian technical assistance for his efforts to develop military reconnaissance satellites, which he has described as crucial in enhancing the threat of his nuclear-capable missiles.   Talks likely focused on Russia’s desire to buy ammunition to refill reserves drained by its war in Ukraine. In return for providing ammunition, North Korea will likely want shipments of food and energy and transfers of sophisticated weapons technologies.   Kim’s meeting with Putin came hours after North Korea fired two ballistic missiles toward the sea, extending a highly provocative run in North Korean weapons testing since the start of 2022, as Kim used the distraction caused by Putin’s war on Ukraine to accelerate his weapons development.

Related coverage ➤  How Kim’s meeting with Putin at Russian spaceport may hint at his space and weapons ambitions A Crimean shipyard is on fire after a Ukrainian attack with 2 ships damaged and 24 people injured North Korea fires 2 short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern seas

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North Korea’s Kim gets a close look at Russian fighter jets as his tour narrows its focus to weapons

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected Russia’s most advanced fighter jet as he toured an aircraft factory Friday on an extended trip that has raised concerns about banned weapons transfer deals between the increasingly isolated countries.

https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-kim-russia-putin-421c4984a8b83d17bb0719676592c135?

[Gregory Matthews]

By way of interest, on three occasions, I have set foot in North Korea.  My wife was with me on one of those times.  Have any reading this message done such?

[phkrause]

I have not!! One of my BILs went to SK in the Military. Also when I lived in Lancaster, MA, I had a friend that was from NK, or at least his family was from there and than he immigrated to the US.

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US secures the release of the soldier who crossed into North Korea 2 months ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has secured the release of a U.S. soldier who sprinted across a heavily fortified border into North Korea more than two months ago, and he is on his way back to America, officials announced Wednesday. U.S. ally Sweden and rival China helped with the transfer.

https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-us-soldier-travis-king-00c171778e378d95fe1115fe31612ec2?

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A surge in rail traffic on North Korea-Russia border suggests arms supply to Russia, think tank says

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Recent satellite photos show a sharp increase in rail traffic along the North Korea-Russia border, indicating the North is supplying munitions to Russia, according to a U.S. think tank.

https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-russia-munitions-317d41e228c10d63532cbda377bcd688?

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Thousands of remote IT workers sent wages to North Korea to help fund weapons program, FBI says

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Thousands of information technology workers contracting with U.S. companies have for years secretly sent millions of dollars of their wages to North Korea for use in its ballistic missile program, FBI and Department of Justice officials said.

https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-weapons-program-it-workers-f3df7c120522b0581db5c0b9682ebc9b?

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North Korea claims its 3rd attempt to put a spy satellite into orbit has been successful

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea claimed Wednesday to have successfully placed a spy satellite into orbit with its third launch attempt this year, demonstrating the nation’s determination to build a space-based surveillance system during protracted tensions with the United States.

https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-spy-satellite-japan-5e16266707e0e4034eca022fde44ffa7?

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‘I repeatedly failed to win any awards’: my doomed career as a North Korean novelist

Before I fled south, I spent years as an aspiring fiction writer in the hermit kingdom. I worked hard – but literary glory kept eluding me

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2023/dec/12/my-doomed-career-as-a-north-korean-novelist?

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North Korea’s Kim says military should ‘thoroughly annihilate’ US and South Korea if provoked

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his military should “thoroughly annihilate” the United States and South Korea if provoked, state media reported Monday, after he vowed to boost national defense to cope with what he called an unprecedented U.S.-led confrontation.

https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-kim-us-missiles-nuclear-6c8834f71ac43bb9d0addc404fe00f18?

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North Korea leader Kim Jong Un's 10-year-old daughter is the likely heir to the political dynasty, says spy agency

Kim Ju-ae has emerged as a likely heir to the North Korean supreme leadership , says South Korea's spy agency.

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/3289020266729-north-korea-leader-kim-jong-uns-10-year-old-daughter-is-the-likely-heir-to-the-political-dynasty-says-spy-agency?

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Analysis: North Korea’s rejection of the South is both a shock, and inevitable

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Even for a nation that has perfected the provocative, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s declaration that he would abandon the existential goal of reconciling with rival South Korea was a shock. But a closer look shows it’s the almost inevitable culmination of years of building tension.

https://apnews.com/article/kim-jong-un-north-korea-south-korea-unification-954ae7bf73d120de117eb4f60bfe3b0a?

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North Korea flies trash balloons over the South as leader Kim doubles down on satellite ambitions

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea flew hundreds of balloons carrying trash and manure toward South Korea in one of its most bizarre provocations against its rival in years, prompting the South’s military to mobilize chemical and explosive response teams to recover objects and debris in different parts of the country.

https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-kim-jong-un-military-spy-satellite-fa72d5e7327edf285f79587e56e5b560?