N. Korea promotes ski resort for foreign tourists

North Korea on Thursday carried a state media report promoting a ski resort in the North's eastern region as a facility open to overseas tourists in apparent efforts to attract foreign visitors. Calling the Masikryong ski resort a "world-class" facility, the North said it welcomes tourists from various countries and is equipped with 10 slopes for international ski competitions, according to the report carried by the Cabinet-run Minju Joson paper. The ski resort also provides various facilities f

Feb. 19, 2026

Seoul expresses hopes for peaceful coexistence after Kim Yo-jong's statement

Seoul on Thursday expressed hope for easing tensions and advancing peaceful coexistence with Pyongyang, following a statement by Kim Yo-jong — the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un — regarding the unification minister's expression of regret and suggestion of preventive steps over a recent drone incident. "In response (to Kim Yo-jong's statement), the government hopes the two Koreas will move toward peaceful coexistence and shared growth," a presidential office official said. "We urge bot

Feb. 19, 2026

N.K. leader's sister hails Seoul's pledge to prevent drone incursions, vows stronger border vigilance: KCNA

The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said Thursday she "highly appreciates" South Korea's pledge to prevent a recurrence of drone incursions into the North, vowing to step up the country's vigilance along the border with the South. Kim Yo-jong, a party vice department director, issued the statement via the Korean Central News Agency a day after Unification Minister Chung Dong-young expressed "regret" over drone incursions into the North and announced a series of measures aimed

Feb. 19, 2026

Seoul seeks to revive inter-Korean no-fly zone

Seoul will pursue a partial reinstatement of the 2018 inter-Korean military agreement, particularly the return of no-fly zones, to prevent a repeat of unauthorized drone flights into North Korea, the unification minister said Wednesday. Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said he “formally expressed our regret to the North Korean side” over drone flights carried out by South Korean civilians on Jan. 4. The incident has been under investigation by a joint military-police task force following Py

Feb. 18, 2026

Unification Ministry reviews easing public access to additional North Korean materials

South Korea’s Unification Ministry is reviewing plans to expand public access to four additional North Korean newspapers, building on a recent policy shift that allowed ordinary citizens to read the Rodong Sinmun without prior approval. According to the document sent to Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon of the People Power Party and the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee that was revealed on Wednesday, the ministry has begun a screening process that could lead to the release of about

Feb. 18, 2026

North Korea signals imminent 9th Party Congress

North Korea appears to be in the final stages of preparation for the 9th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, holding a ceremony to confer delegate credentials as the country moves closer to convening its most important political event of the year. The North's state media Rodong Sinmun on Wednesday reported that a “delegate certificate awarding ceremony” for the 9th Party Congress was held at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on Monday, underscoring what officials described as the historic sign

Feb. 18, 2026

N. Korea completes 50,000-unit housing construction project in Pyongyang: KCNA

North Korea said Tuesday it has completed a landmark housing project to build 50,000 living units in Pyongyang ahead of a party congress later this month. "The construction of 50,000 flats in Pyongyang, powerfully carried on as the top-priority task of the historic eighth congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, has been successfully concluded to be an epoch-making success in the new era of the comprehensive national rejuvenation," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The housing construc

Feb. 17, 2026

North Korea opens street for families of soldiers killed in Russia-Ukraine war

North Korea has built new homes in Pyongyang for the bereaved family members of North Korean soldiers who died during the Russia-Ukraine war, its state media said Monday. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended the opening ceremony of the new street called Saeppyol Street on Sunday, accompanied by his daughter Ju-ae and other officials. In his speech at the ceremony, Kim said the new street "has been built thanks to the ardent desire of our motherland

Feb. 16, 2026

Chinese officials visit N. Korean tourism zone for Lunar New Year

China's Ambassador to North Korea Wang Yajun and other embassy officials have visited a beach resort area in North Korea on the occasion of the Lunar New Year, state media reported Sunday, raising views on whether Pyongyang is seeking to attract Chinese tourists. Wang and other members of the Chinese Embassy in North Korea attended the friendly meeting that took place at the Wonsan-Kalma beach resort area the previous day, also attended by the North's Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong-ho, accordin

Feb. 15, 2026

N.K. leader's sister calls Seoul's regret over drone incursion 'sensible'

The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called the South Korean unification minister's expression of regret over the drone incursion into the North "sensible behavior" and demanded steps to prevent such a recurrence. In a statement, Kim Yo-jong said she thinks it "fortunate" that Unification Minister Chung Dong-young on Tuesday officially expressed regret over the drone incursions into North Korea, according to the Korean Central News Agency. "I appreciate it as quite sensible

Feb. 13, 2026

N.K. leader's daughter Ju-ae takes center stage with father in photos at Beijing embassy

Kim Ju-ae, daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, took center stage with her father in photos displayed on an outdoor board at the North Korean Embassy in Beijing, amid speculation that she is being positioned as his successor. The embassy's outdoor board, seen by Yonhap News Agency on Friday, was carrying 25 photos of the North Korean leader's activities, including a larger central image juxtaposing Kim with his teenage daughter. Showing their attendance together at a New Year's performan

Feb. 13, 2026

N. Korea's Kim expects army's 'outstanding' role in next 5 years on founding anniv. of armed forces

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said the country's armed forces will further play an "outstanding" role in the next five years as he visited the defense ministry to mark the 78th founding anniversary of the military ahead of a key party congress, state media reported Monday. Kim made a congratulatory visit to the Ministry of National Defense the previous day to mark the 78th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Army (KPA), according to the Korean Central News Agency. His visit came ah

Feb. 9, 2026

N. Korea's Kim visits defense ministry to mark army founding anniv. ahead of key party congress

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited the defense ministry to mark the 78th founding anniversary of the military, saying that the North Korean army will further play an "outstanding" role in the next five years, state media reported Monday. Kim made a congratulatory visit to the Ministry of National Defense the previous day to mark the 78th founding anniversary of the Korean People's Army, according to the Korean Central News Agency. His visit came ahead of the North's key party congress s

Feb. 9, 2026

North Korea to hold party congress later this month: KCNA

North Korea's ruling party congress will be held later this month for the first time in five years, state media reported Sunday, with the regime's policy direction at home and abroad likely to be outlined. The state-run Korean Central News Agency said the decision was made during the 27th Politburo meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, convened Saturday under the chairmanship of leader Kim Jong-un. The exact date of the congress has not been disclosed. According

Feb. 8, 2026

N. Korea to convene key party congress in late February

North Korea will hold a key party congress in late February, the North's state media reported Sunday, in a rare meeting where leader Kim Jong-un is expected to announce his ruling policy, including military, diplomacy and economy. The decision by the North Korean ruling party's political bureau came at a meeting of the political bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea the previous day, which was presided over by party secretary Jo Yong-won under Kim's guidance, the Korean

Feb. 8, 2026