North Korea’s Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, where Putin thanked her for help in Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine; Choe confirmed North Korea’s “unwavering understanding and support” for Putin’s war effort (AP).
Kim Jong-un Hosts Senior Chinese Official in Pyongyang
Leader Kim Jong-un held talks with China’s fourth highest-ranked official, Wang Huning, the state-run KCNA reported, the latest in a series of high-level exchanges between Beijing and Pyongyang (Reuters).
South Korean Navy Recovers Body of Seaman Missing Near North Korean Border
The South Korean navy recovered the body of a seaman who went missing at sea near the maritime border with North Korea, the navy said in a statement; North Korea issued a rare apology over the incident (Reuters).
Xi and Kim Reaffirm Bilateral Friendship
In an exchange of letters, Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China’s commitment to its friendship with North Korea while Kim said bilateral friendship and cooperation had risen to a “new strategic level,” state-run KCNA reported (Reuters).
North Korea to Expand Nuclear Forces
North Korea decided on measures to strengthen its nuclear forces “quantitatively and qualitatively,” as leader Kim Jong-un said the country’s security and “true peace” could only be guaranteed by building a powerful military capable of controlling all threats, state media KCNA reported (Reuters).
Kim Observes Naval Destroyer Cruise Missile Launch
Leader Kim Jong-un observed tests of a nuclear-capable cruise missile and other weapons aboard a new 5,000-ton destroyer, Kang Kon, state media KCNA said, in the latest military display marking Kim’s push to build a nuclear-armed navy (AP).
Kim Observes Weapons Tests
Leader Kim Jong-un oversaw major weapons tests, calling for the military’s “deadly and destructive offensive posture” to be bolstered, state media KCNA reported (AP).
Separately, the South Korean Defense Ministry said it will rapidly expand its drone and counter-drone capabilities to counter North Korea, including by training five hundred thousand “drone warriors” and distributing tens of thousands of unmanned systems across frontline units (Reuters).
North Korea Announces Naval Buildup
North Korea commissioned a 5,000-ton destroyer, state media reported, as Pyongyang seeks to expand its ability to project military power at sea (AP)
Leader Kim Jong-un said the introduction represented a new chapter in its military history, declaring that its navy has “put an end to over seventy years of its stagnation” (CNN)
The country also plans to deploy another 5,000-ton destroyer along with 10,000-ton strategic warships, Kim said (Reuters)
U.S., South Korean Officials Discuss North Korean Weapons Program
United States and South Korean officials met in Seoul to discuss strengthening nuclear deterrence and readiness against North Korea’s growing weapons program, South Korea’s defense ministry said (Reuters)
Xi Jinping Visits Pyongyang
Chinese President Xi Jinping traveled to Pyongyang for a rare summit with Kim Jong-un, declaring the bilateral relationship has reached a “new historical starting point” (Reuters)
Kim Jong-un Announces “Exponential” Expansion of Nuclear Forces
During a visit to a newly operational nuclear material production factory, leader Kim Jong-un announced plans to bolster the country’s nuclear forces “at an exponential rate” (AP)
North Korea Tests New Missiles, Rockets
North Korea tested a mix of tactical ballistic missiles, artillery rockets, and AI-guided precision cruise missiles designed for modern warfare, the KCNA state news agency said (Reuters)
Leader Kim Jong-un, who supervised the tests, said he plans to deploy the weapons with front-line units facing South Korea, as he continues expanding his military capabilities (AP)
North Korea Drops Unification Goal
North Korea changed its constitution to remove a goal of legal reunification with South Korea, a researcher announced at a South Korean government press conference today (FT)
The revised constitution acknowledges South Korea as a neighboring country and does not include details about the country’s disputed maritime border (UPI)
North Korea-Russia Ties
Russian officials pledged to sign a military cooperation plan supporting North Korean defense from 2027 to 2031 during a high-level visit to Pyongyang, Russian news agencies reported (Reuters)
Russia’s defense minister and legislative speaker led the delegation, which attended a memorial for North Korean troops killed fighting against Ukraine in Russia’s Kursk region (NYT)
North Korea Likely Added New Uranium Enrichment Site, IAEA Chief Warns
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said that North Korea has made “very serious” advances in its nuclear weapons production capacity, with a probable new uranium enrichment facility added alongside surging activity across its Yongbyon complex; uranium enrichment offers Pyongyang an additional and potentially more efficient path to weapons-grade material beyond its existing plutonium reprocessing program (Reuters)
North Korea Tests Missiles on Destroyer as Kim Accelerates Naval Buildup
North Korea fired cruise and anti-warship missiles from its Choe Hyon destroyer in a test observed by Kim Jong-un, who reaffirmed nuclear deterrence as a top priority; Kim was also briefed on weapons plans for two additional destroyers under construction, signaling an accelerating push to build a full destroyer flotilla as Pyongyang seeks to exploit global distraction from the Middle East conflict (Reuters)
North Korea Fires Multiple Ballistic Missiles
North Korea fired several ballistic missiles towards its eastern waters hours after a senior North Korean official rejected South Korea’s hopes for warmer relations (AP)
South Korea’s military also reported a potential ballistic missile launch from North Korea on Tuesday; however, the missile showed signs of abnormality and likely failed (Reuters)
North Korean Succession
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s teenage daughter is being positioned as his successor, South Korea’s intelligence chief told lawmakers today; North Korea has only had male leaders since its establishment in 1948 (AP)
Recent photos of Kim’s daughter driving a tank and firing a pistol appear designed to reduce wariness about a female leader, Seoul’s intelligence service said (Chosun Daily)
Kim Jong-un Vows Irreversible Nuclear Status, Slams “Hostile” South Korea
In a policy speech to Pyongyang’s parliament, Kim Jong-un pledged to permanently cement North Korea’s status as a nuclear power while formally designating South Korea as the regime’s “most hostile” state; he also accused the United States of global “state terrorism” but notably refrained from naming President Trump directly, leaving the choice between “confrontation or peaceful coexistence” to his adversaries (NPR)
Kim Jong-un Reappointed as President of State Affairs
State media KCNA reported that Kim Jong-un was reappointed as president of state affairs, after the country convened the first session of its Supreme People’s Assembly the day before; the meeting will discuss various amendments and additions to the regime’s constitution, as well as the election of various state leadership positions (Reuters)
North Korean Missile Test
North Korea test-fired around ten ballistic missiles into the East Sea, South Korea’s military said (Chosun Daily)
The incident coincided with U.S.-South Korean joint military drills (AP)
It also followed South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok’s Friday discussion with Trump about potentially resuming nuclear negotiations with Pyongyang, which Kim said Trump supports (Yonhap)
North Korea Condemns U.S., Israel Strikes on Iran
North Korea’s foreign ministry spokesperson stated that strikes by Israel and the United States were a violation of Iran’s national sovereignty and an act of “illegal aggression” (Reuters)
South Korea-Google Agreement on Maps
Seoul today said it would permit Google to export detailed geographic data from the country to its international servers, subject to certain safeguards (Reuters)
For years, it has refused to do so over concerns that North Korea could use the data for a military attack; Google agreed to blur images of sensitive sites (AP)
Kim Jong-un Highlights AI-Linked Missile Progress Ahead of Party Congress
Kim Jong-un said a key party congress this month will set new military and construction goals while touting advances in AI-enabled missile systems; he made the remarks at a ceremony presenting 600 millimeter multiple rocket launchers that he said can carry out strategic missions (Reuters)
South Korea Says Civilians Sent Drones to North Korea
South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-Young stated that three civilians had sent drones to North Korea four times since President Lee Jae Myung took office last year; he stated his “official regret” to North Korea and noted that drone incursion incidents were taken seriously (Reuters)
Kim Yo-jong, sister of Kim Jong-un, said it was “sensible” for South Korea to express regret, but warned of counterattacks if the drone incursions continue (AP)