Korea Joongang Daily
Korea JoongAng Daily

North Korea's Kim agreed to visit Seoul in 2018 but canceled day before announcement due to security concerns

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had agreed to visit Seoul in late 2018 amid then-warming inter-Korean ties, but the planned trip was abruptly canceled a day before its announcement, a South Korean lawmaker said Tuesday.

2026-01-20

Lee orders thorough investigation into civilian drone incursions into North, says 'same as starting a war'

President Lee Jae Myung ordered an investigation into the launch of drones into North Korea, warning that any unauthorized infiltration of the North by civilians amounted to an act of war and risked escalating inter-Korean tensions.

2026-01-20

224 North Korean defectors enter South last year, slightly down from 2024

A total of 224 North Korean defectors entered South Korea for resettlement last year, slightly down from the previous year, a Ministry of Unification official said Tuesday.

2026-01-20

North's Kim dismisses vice premier 'on the spot' over machinery plant development 'difficulties'

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sacked a vice premier of the North's cabinet over the official's irresponsibility in modernizing a machinery plant, state media reported Tuesday, in a rare public dismissal ahead of a key party congress.

2026-01-20

Military looks into new allegations of intelligence unit's role in drone incursion

The defense ministry is looking into fresh allegations that the Defense Intelligence Command (DIC) supported a graduate student who claimed to have flown a drone into North Korea, a government source said Monday.

2026-01-20

North Korea calls South Korea 'No. 1 hostile country' at indoctrination center

A major indoctrination facility in North Korea displayed banners calling South Korea the "No. 1 hostile country" and inciting public animosity against Seoul, photos released by the North's media showed Monday.

2026-01-19

Hackers linked to North exploiting Naver and Google ad systems to distribute malware, report finds

A North Korea-linked hacking group known as “Konni” has been carrying out advanced cyberattacks called the “Poseidon Operation,” distributing malware by exploiting Korean portal Naver and Google’s advertising systems, according to a report.

2026-01-19

Seoul eyes joint Unesco bid with Pyongyang to list taekwondo as shared heritage

South Korea aims to join forces with North Korea to seek Unesco recognition for the traditional martial art of taekwondo as a shared intangible cultural heritage, sources said Monday.

2026-01-19

North Korean media report on New Year's cards suggests chill with China remains

North Korea's state media reported Sunday that leader Kim Jong-un sent New Year's cards to several heads of state, including the Chinese president, but did not disclose the recipients' names or the contents of the messages.

2026-01-18

South to ease import restrictions on North Korean alcohol

South Korea will move to ease import procedures for processed food made in North Korea, including beer and wild berry liquor, in a bid to keep private-sector exchanges alive despite frozen inter-Korean ties.

2026-01-18