The country’s armed forces have shrunk by 20 percent over the last six years due mainly to the declining birthrate, a report from a ruling party lawmaker said; according to the defense ministry, the country is short of fifty thousand troops for adequate readiness (Reuters)
North Korea Says No Future Dialogue Would End Its Nuclear Program
North Korean state media reported that Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un’s sister, stated that the “changed reality” of North Korea’s nuclear capabilities means that any attempts to deny North Korea’s nuclear program “will be thoroughly rejected” regardless of Trump’s aims (Reuters)
Kim Yo-jong Refuses South Korea’s Attempts at Dialogue
In North Korea’s first official statement on South Korea’s new liberal government, Kim Yo-jong, Kim Jong-un’s sister, asserted that Kim’s regime has “no interest” in meeting with South Korea despite new President Lee Jae Myung’s efforts to open dialogue with North Korea, as Lee’s government still aims to “stand in confrontation” with North Korea (AP)
Kim also stated that South Korea’s ongoing alliance with the United States, including joint military drills, demonstrates the South’s disinclination to change its policy towards the North; members of the Lee government played down the significance of Kim’s comments and vowed to continue promoting a cooperative relationship (NYT)
Kim Jong Un Oversees Artillery Drill
According to the Korean Central News Agency, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised a military drill that included artillery firing to test combat deployment and attack against unexpected enemy targets in a coastal environment (Reuters)
Former Head of Military Drone Unit Summoned Over North Korea Investigation
One day after ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted on additional charges related to his declaration of martial law in December, the chief of a military drone unit, Kim Yong-dae, was summoned after Yoon was accused of ordering a covert drone operation into North Korea to inflame tensions (Reuters)
North Korea Builds Pier at Rocket Station
According to satellite operator ICEYE, a new maritime pier has been built at North Korea’s Sohae Satellite Launching Station, which “enables transport of larger rocket components than previously possible via rail;” the Sohae facility has been used to put a satellite in orbit and to test rocket engines and space launch vehicles requiring similar technology to ICBMs (Reuters)
Some South Korean officials speculate that North Korea is sending troops to Russia to receive assistance on its satellite program (Reuters)
North Korea Pledges “Unconditional Support” for Russia
In Pyongyang, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, who reaffirmed North Korea’s support to Russia and “all the measures taken by the Russian leadership” in the Ukraine War (BBC)
Lavrov also met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui in Wonsan, where both parties pledged to safeguard each other’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity (Al Jazeera)
Lavrov Plans North Korea Visit
North Korea’s official state news agency announced that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov plans to visit North Korea from July 11 to July 13, without providing further details (WaPo)
South Korean intelligence agencies have previously predicted that Russia may deploy more troops from North Korea in July or August in its war against Ukraine (Reuters)
Kim Jong-Un Commemorates North Korean Soldiers Who Died Fighting in Russia
On the first anniversary of a strategic partnership treaty between North Korea and Russia, Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un draped six coffins—containing soldiers who fought for Russia—with North Korean flags, confirming North Korean military casualties in Russia’s war against Ukraine; he reiterated the “ties of friendship… forged at the cost of blood” between North Korea and Russia (Reuters)
North Korea Launches Rockets
One day after South Korea conducted joint air drills with the United States and Japan, South Korea’s military claimed that roughly ten rockets were fired from Sunan, near Pyongyang, in a north-westerly direction (Yonhap; Reuters)
Russian Security Council Head Visits Pyongyang
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu told reporters that North Korea will send five thousand construction workers and one thousand combat engineers to Russia’s Kursk region; he said the workers would help fix infrastructure damage and that the two countries were aiming to restart direct flights between their capital cities for the first time in more than thirty years (NYT)
Shift on Korean Border
South Korea will stop broadcasting anti-Pyongyang propaganda across the demilitarized zone with North Korea as a measure to “build trust,” Seoul said; it had turned on the loudspeakers last year after a six-year hiatus (France24)
President-elect Lee Jae-myung is seeking more engagement with Pyongyang than former President Yoon Suk Yeol (RFA)
South Korean Frontrunner on North Korea Policy
Presidential frontrunner Lee Jae-myung said he would aim to restore communication with North Korea, including through a military hotline, if elected (Japan Times)
Lee said that cooperation with Washington would be an important part of efforts for peace on the peninsula and addressing North Korea’s nuclear capabilities (Yonhap)
U.S. Weighs Troops in South Korea
The Trump administration is considering pulling thousands of troops out of South Korea, unnamed sources told the Wall Street Journal; in one reported scenario, roughly 4,500 troops would depart for other parts of the Indo-Pacific, including Guam (WSJ). A Pentagon spokesperson said the report was not true, and that the Department of Defense regularly reviews force posture (Newsweek)
South Korea’s military said it had not discussed a troop reduction with Washington (Reuters)
Meanwhile, in an unusual acknowledgement of a military malfunction, North Korean state media reported that the country’s second naval destroyer was damaged during its launch event (AP)
Satellites showed that North Korea placed a cover over the partially submerged ship, which Pyongyang had reportedly rushed to complete (Bloomberg)
Construction Begins on Bridge Between North Korea and Russia
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin stated that the bridge represents part of the strengthening strategic partnership and friendship between Moscow and Pyongyang; the bridge spans across the Tumen River and is projected for use by summer 2026 (Reuters)
North Korea Threatens Retaliation Over U.S. Bomber Flyover
North Korea issued a warning following the U.S. deployment of B-1B bombers over South Korea during joint military exercises, labeling the action a “grave provocation” and vowing a forceful response to what it perceives as destabilizing military activities in the region (AP)
North Korea Asserts Irreversible Nuclear Weapons Status
North Korea declared that its status as a nuclear weapons state is irreversible, regardless of international demands for denuclearization (Reuters)
Japan Extends Trade Sanctions on North Korea Until 2027
Japan extended the ban on all exports to and imports from North Korea for two more years, citing North Korea’s repeated ballistic missile launches and abduction of Japanese nationals (Reuters)
South Korean Troops Fire Warning Shots at North Korean Soldiers Crossing Border
The incursion by around ten North Korean soldiers marks the first incursion on the North Korea-South Korea border in almost one year; North Korea did not return fire, and no casualties were reported (AP)
New North Korean Warships Could House “Dozens of Missiles”
Satellite images of the ship under construction at the Chongjin and Nampo shipyards captured missile cavities that researchers say could hold up to fifty missiles, such as cruise and ballistic missiles (Reuters)
North Korea Launches Ballistic Missiles in Response to South Korea-U.S. Military Drills
Pyongyang called the annual combined military drills a “confrontational war rehearsal” (AP)
North Korea Unveils Construction of New Nuclear-Powered Submarine
North Korean state media revealed the submarine two days before South Korea and the United States began their annual military exercises, and the submarine will reportedly possess the capabilities to launch guided nuclear missiles (NYT)
US Aircraft Carrier Enters South Korea in Display of Force Against North Korea
The USS Carl Vinson docked in Busan, South Korea, days after North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the testing of strategic cruise missiles (DW)
Western Tourists Visit North Korea for First Time in Five Years
A Chinese travel company arranged a five-day visit to Rason, North Korea, for thirteen tourists who came from European Union countries, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand (AP)
North Korea Vows Expansion of Nuclear Forces Following U.S. Security Conference With South Korea and Japan
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized joint military cooperation with Pacific allies and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to denuclearize North Korea, which drew stark criticism from North Korea’s foreign ministry (ABC)