Korea Joongang Daily
Korea JoongAng Daily

North Korean university resumes Chinese language test for 1st time in 5 years

An elite university in North Korea has resumed its Chinese language proficiency test for the first time in five years, according to a website of the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang on Sunday.

2025-05-18

North Korea unveils new air-to-air missile in live-fire test, likely backed by Russian tech

North Korea unveiled footage of its fighter jet conducting a live-fire test of a new domestically produced, medium-range air-to-air missile on Saturday, marking the first time the weapon has been publicly showcased.

2025-05-18

Trump, U.S. first lady congratulate former PPP lawmaker Ji Seong-ho on wedding

U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump sent a letter congratulating Ji Seong-ho, a North Korean defector and former People Power Party lawmaker, on his recent wedding.

2025-05-18

North Korea's health minister leaves for WHO assembly in Switzerland

North Korea's health minister has left for Switzerland to attend an assembly of the World Health Organization, the North's state media reported Sunday.

2025-05-18

Tensions with China partly to blame for North Korean rice price climb

Rice prices in North Korea — a crucial commodity that directly affects the daily lives of its people — have soared in recent years, with analysts pointing to deteriorating relations with China as one of the key external factors.

2025-05-18

North Korean leader Kim oversees anti-air combat, air raid drills, calls for stronger war preparations

Kim Jong-un oversaw anti-air combat and air raid drills by an air force flight group this week, stressing the need for constant and stronger war preparations across all military units, Pyongyang's state media reported Saturday.

2025-05-17

Gen. Brunson stresses strategic value of USFK presence in overcoming 'tyranny of distance'

Gen. Xavier Brunson emphasized the strategic importance of U.S. Forces Korea in South Korea, highlighting its role in countering threats from North Korea, China and regional security challenges.

2025-05-16

U.S. to extend North Korea travel ban until August next year

The United States will extend its ban on its citizens' travel to North Korea for another year, a State Department notice showed Thursday, citing "serious" risks associated with any trip to the reclusive state.

2025-05-16

North Koreans say soaring rice prices 'scarier than U.S. weapons' as Kim Jong-un's economic policy backfires

Rice prices in North Korea have hit record highs, nearly doubling in recent months. Kim Jong-un has been tightening his grip over the market in hopes of increasing both market control as well as asserting state power, only to see it backfire.

2025-05-16

Court shortens former trade union leader's sentence for North Korean spying

A court reduced the sentence of a former KCTU official convicted of espionage due to insufficient evidence of secret leaks.

2025-05-15