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North Korea

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a country in East Asia, located in the northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering South Korea and China. Its capital, Pyongyang, is the country's largest city by both land area and population. It is a single-party state led by the Korean Workers' Party (KWP), and governed by Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un since 2012. It has a population of 24,052,231 (UN-assisted DPRK census 2008) made up of Koreans and a smaller Chinese minority. Japan 'opened' Korea in 1876 and annexed it in 1910. The Republic of Korea (ROK) was founded with US support in the south in August 1948 and the Soviet-backed Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the north in September that year.

Capital

Pyongyang

Head of State

Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un

Head of Government

Premier Kim Tok-hun

Wang Huning is the fourth-ranked member of the Politburo Standing Committee, the Communist Party's leading decision-making body. Photo: Xinhua

China-North Korea relations

China’s No 4 official Wang Huning to head to North Korea as visits multiply

The move shows that the nations are rapidly deepening ties after reassessing each other’s strategic value, analysts said.

14 Jul 2026 - 3:52PMvideocam

ICBMs

Opinion | China’s missile test is a signal. How non-nuclear states respond matters

14 Jul 2026 - 11:22AMvideocam

Kim Jong-un

A purge among North Korean generals – and why Kim wants everyone to see

13 Jul 2026 - 3:58PM

South Korea

South Korean sailor missing on patrol found dead near North Korea sea border

Seoul had asked North Korea for help after fears the sailor might have drifted across the Northern Limit Line but received no response.

13 Jul 2026 - 10:46AM

South Korean and Japanese navy ships sail in waters off South Korea’s east coast during a joint exercise in April 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE

China-North Korea relations

Xi Jinping urges stronger China-North Korea ‘combat friendship forged in blood’

Chinese leader also calls to boost strategic coordination as North Korean premier visits Beijing to mark 65th anniversary of defence pact.

10 Jul 2026 - 9:38PMvideocam

China-North Korea relations

North Korea’s premier heads to China for defence treaty anniversary as allies extend thaw

Pak Thae-song’s trip comes less than a month after President Xi Jinping made his first visit to Pyongyang in seven years.

9 Jul 2026 - 5:22PMvideocam

Nato

Nato, Indo-Pacific 4 vow defence, tech boost as China-Russia ties spark alarm

Nato chief Mark Rutte meets top officials from Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea on sidelines of Ankara summit.

8 Jul 2026 - 6:10PM

Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte (third left) with representatives from the Indo-Pacific Four, (from left) New Zealand Defence Minister Chris Penk, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, and Australia’s defence industry minister, Pat Conroy, in Turkish capital Ankara on Tuesday. Photo: Kyodo

US-China relations

Nato launches defence projects to counter Russia and China

New measures focus on critical minerals, drone capabilities and missile shields as members boost the alliance’s industrial base.

8 Jul 2026 - 2:07AMvideocam

Defence

‘Let me join’: North Korea flexes naval muscle ahead of China-Russia drills

Pyongyang’s new cruise-missile destroyers are built to project power far beyond home waters, analysts say.

7 Jul 2026 - 6:34PMvideocam

US-China relations

Nato can’t be ‘naive’ about China as it ramps up military might, Rutte claims

Nato’s secretary general contacts Japan’s defence minister after Chinese nuclear submarine fires test missile into Pacific.

7 Jul 2026 - 9:44AMvideocam

Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte attends a pre-summit press conference on Monday ahead of this week’s Nato summit in Ankara, Turkey. Photo: dpa

US-China relations

Why the Indo-Pacific might be on the back burner at the Nato summit

Immediate pressures over Ukraine, Iran and spending mean alliance’s concerns about China could be sidelined at Ankara gathering.

5 Jul 2026 - 10:00PMvideocam

This year’s Nato summit in Ankara will be the first held in Turkey since 2004. Photo: dpa

South Korea

Why North Korean POWs in Ukraine are making Seoul walk a diplomatic tightrope

Ukraine wants weapons in exchange for the soldiers, but analysts say South Korea fears provoking Russia and Pyongyang.

2 Jul 2026 - 8:54AMvideocam

US-China relations

Xi Jinping meets foreign leaders: tracker, June 2026

Chinese President Xi Jinping has met more than 20 world leaders this year, reflecting Beijing’s increasing global influence.

1 Jul 2026 - 11:36AM

South Korea

North Korea’s border build-up opens a Seoul-UN Command rift

South Korea views its the North’s border fortifications as an armistice violation. The UN body disagrees.

26 Jun 2026 - 8:00AM

North Korean soldiers move along a fence line near Yujeong-dong village in North Korea, as seen from the Ganghwa Peace Observatory in Incheon in 2024. Photo: The Korea Times

South Korea

As US wavers, ex-minister says Japan and South Korea ‘only have each other’

Former Japanese defence minister Taro Kono said Tokyo and Seoul ‘need to step up our own effort for stability in the region’.

25 Jun 2026 - 3:59PMvideocam

South Korea

Why North Korea prefers a ‘hostile’ neighbour to Seoul’s peace efforts

One way to break the deadlock is to revive talks between the two Koreas, China and the US to end the Korean war, an analyst suggests.

24 Jun 2026 - 9:43AMvideocam

North Korea nuclear crisis

Kim says North Korea to arm navy with nuclear weapons, build bigger warships

The leader is aiming to construct two vessels a year, both of a larger class than the newly commissioned Choe Hon destroyer.

24 Jun 2026 - 5:47PMvideocam

Japan

North Korea’s Kim says ‘defeated’ Japan transforming into a ‘war state’

Kim Jong-un also said that Pyongyang will exercise its position as a nuclear state to cope with an unpredictable global security situation.

23 Jun 2026 - 11:32AMvideocam

A Japan Ground Self-Defence Force surface-to-ship missile launcher fires during the military drills in the Philippines last month. Photo: Reuters

South Korea

South Korea’s ex-justice minister jailed for 25 years over martial law bid

Park met justice ministry officials and checked on prison capacity for holding critics in the early hours of martial law, prosecutors said.

22 Jun 2026 - 7:11PMvideocam

South Korea

Will Lee Jae Myung’s G7 gamble preserve future diplomacy with North Korea?

Analysts say Lee’s outreach could help preserve prospects for future diplomacy, but Pyongyang has ‘little incentive’ to pursue dialogue.

19 Jun 2026 - 9:58AM

Japan

Japan, South Korea not for nuclear weapons – until one of them changes policy

Should either take lead in acquiring nuclear weapons, support for such a move in the other country could rise rapidly, new US survey says.

1 Jul 2026 - 2:22AMvideocam

A new US survey revealed that South Korean respondents were in favour of nuclear armament due to North Korea's threat, while Japanese supporters were worried about a lack of long-term US commitment in the region. Photo: Kyodo

Kim Jong-un

North Korea warns of ‘disaster’ if G7 tries to strip its nuclear weapons

Kim Jong-un’s sister said denuclearisation would never be realised as ⁠North Korea’s weapons were a self-defensive deterrent.

18 Jun 2026 - 10:03PMvideocam

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (front) inspects a nuclear materials production factory on June 3. Photo: KCNA/EPA

North Korea nuclear crisis

North Korea plays US-China rivalry card to justify ‘irreversible’ nuclear status

As the Iran conflict wanes, analysts say Pyongyang is trying to gain support from Russia and China to pre-empt denuclearisation pressure.

16 Jun 2026 - 8:02AM

Japan

Japan, Italy to boost tech, critical minerals cooperation

The nations seek closer ties, particularly on supply chains amid concerns about over-reliance on China for critical minerals.

16 Jun 2026 - 1:30AM

South Korea

South Korean music festival out against discord in reunification hopes

In a National Unification Advisory Council survey in May, nearly half of the 1,200 respondents aged 19 to 39 view the North as ‘hostile’.

15 Jun 2026 - 3:42PM

South Korean indie-pop musician Haepa performs in front of the former North Korean Workers Party Headquarters on the sidelines of the DMZ Peace Train Festival near the North Korean border on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Diplomacy

Opinion | Why the US must get real about North Korea’s nuclear status, and soon

Every year that passes without negotiations with Washington allows Pyongyang to improve its nuclear deterrent.

15 Jun 2026 - 8:39AMvideocam

Kim Jong-un

What does North Korea get from its blossoming ties with Russia?

Kim’s Russia Day message seeks to reassure Putin that ties are evolving beyond transactional into a firm military alliance, experts say.

14 Jun 2026 - 12:14PMvideocam

China-North Korea relations

Was Kim Jong-un the real winner from Xi Jinping’s visit to North Korea?

The Chinese president’s visit may have vindicated the North Korean leader’s strategy of playing off China and Russia, analysts say.

13 Jun 2026 - 10:00PMvideocam

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North Korea

China’s No 4 official Wang Huning to head to North Korea as visits multiply

The move shows that the nations are rapidly deepening ties after reassessing each other’s strategic value, analysts said.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | China’s missile test is a signal. How non-nuclear states respond matters

A purge among North Korean generals – and why Kim wants everyone to see

South Korean sailor missing on patrol found dead near North Korea sea border

Seoul had asked North Korea for help after fears the sailor might have drifted across the Northern Limit Line but received no response.

Xi Jinping urges stronger China-North Korea ‘combat friendship forged in blood’

Chinese leader also calls to boost strategic coordination as North Korean premier visits Beijing to mark 65th anniversary of defence pact.

North Korea’s premier heads to China for defence treaty anniversary as allies extend thaw

Pak Thae-song’s trip comes less than a month after President Xi Jinping made his first visit to Pyongyang in seven years.

Nato, Indo-Pacific 4 vow defence, tech boost as China-Russia ties spark alarm

Nato chief Mark Rutte meets top officials from Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea on sidelines of Ankara summit.

Nato launches defence projects to counter Russia and China

New measures focus on critical minerals, drone capabilities and missile shields as members boost the alliance’s industrial base.

‘Let me join’: North Korea flexes naval muscle ahead of China-Russia drills

Pyongyang’s new cruise-missile destroyers are built to project power far beyond home waters, analysts say.

Nato can’t be ‘naive’ about China as it ramps up military might, Rutte claims

Nato’s secretary general contacts Japan’s defence minister after Chinese nuclear submarine fires test missile into Pacific.

Why the Indo-Pacific might be on the back burner at the Nato summit

Immediate pressures over Ukraine, Iran and spending mean alliance’s concerns about China could be sidelined at Ankara gathering.

Why North Korean POWs in Ukraine are making Seoul walk a diplomatic tightrope

Ukraine wants weapons in exchange for the soldiers, but analysts say South Korea fears provoking Russia and Pyongyang.

Xi Jinping meets foreign leaders: tracker, June 2026

Chinese President Xi Jinping has met more than 20 world leaders this year, reflecting Beijing’s increasing global influence.

North Korea’s border build-up opens a Seoul-UN Command rift

South Korea views its the North’s border fortifications as an armistice violation. The UN body disagrees.

As US wavers, ex-minister says Japan and South Korea ‘only have each other’

Former Japanese defence minister Taro Kono said Tokyo and Seoul ‘need to step up our own effort for stability in the region’.

Why North Korea prefers a ‘hostile’ neighbour to Seoul’s peace efforts

One way to break the deadlock is to revive talks between the two Koreas, China and the US to end the Korean war, an analyst suggests.

Kim says North Korea to arm navy with nuclear weapons, build bigger warships

The leader is aiming to construct two vessels a year, both of a larger class than the newly commissioned Choe Hon destroyer.

North Korea’s Kim says ‘defeated’ Japan transforming into a ‘war state’

Kim Jong-un also said that Pyongyang will exercise its position as a nuclear state to cope with an unpredictable global security situation.

South Korea’s ex-justice minister jailed for 25 years over martial law bid

Park met justice ministry officials and checked on prison capacity for holding critics in the early hours of martial law, prosecutors said.

Will Lee Jae Myung’s G7 gamble preserve future diplomacy with North Korea?

Analysts say Lee’s outreach could help preserve prospects for future diplomacy, but Pyongyang has ‘little incentive’ to pursue dialogue.

Japan, South Korea not for nuclear weapons – until one of them changes policy

Should either take lead in acquiring nuclear weapons, support for such a move in the other country could rise rapidly, new US survey says.

North Korea warns of ‘disaster’ if G7 tries to strip its nuclear weapons

Kim Jong-un’s sister said denuclearisation would never be realised as ⁠North Korea’s weapons were a self-defensive deterrent.

North Korea plays US-China rivalry card to justify ‘irreversible’ nuclear status

As the Iran conflict wanes, analysts say Pyongyang is trying to gain support from Russia and China to pre-empt denuclearisation pressure.

Japan, Italy to boost tech, critical minerals cooperation

The nations seek closer ties, particularly on supply chains amid concerns about over-reliance on China for critical minerals.

South Korean music festival out against discord in reunification hopes

In a National Unification Advisory Council survey in May, nearly half of the 1,200 respondents aged 19 to 39 view the North as ‘hostile’.

Opinion | Why the US must get real about North Korea’s nuclear status, and soon

Every year that passes without negotiations with Washington allows Pyongyang to improve its nuclear deterrent.

What does North Korea get from its blossoming ties with Russia?

Kim’s Russia Day message seeks to reassure Putin that ties are evolving beyond transactional into a firm military alliance, experts say.

Was Kim Jong-un the real winner from Xi Jinping’s visit to North Korea?

The Chinese president’s visit may have vindicated the North Korean leader’s strategy of playing off China and Russia, analysts say.

Opinion | China’s missile test is a signal. How non-nuclear states respond matters