Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
January 2025 - North Korea Special Weapons News
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- North Korean Troops Vanish From Ukraine War's Front Lines, Officials Say RFE/RL 31 Jan 2025 -- For months now, thousands of North Korean soldiers have been storming trenches, dodging artillery fire, fighting alongside Russian troops trying to dislodge Ukrainian forces from Russian territory.
- Experts: Trump faces tough task to denuclearize North Korea VOA 30 Jan 2025 -- The White House says President Donald Trump is going to pursue the denuclearization of North Korea, although analysts say that is easier said than done.
- Report on 30th Enlarged Meeting of Secretariat of Eighth Central Committee of WPK KCNA 29 Jan 2025 -- The 30th Enlarged Meeting of the Secretariat of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was held at the headquarters of the Party Central Committee on January 27.
- North Korean leader vows to continue nuclear program indefinitely Press TV 29 Jan 2025 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed that his country's nuclear program will continue indefinitely.
- Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Inspects Nuclear-material Production Base and Nuclear Weapons Institute KCNA 29 Jan 2025 -- Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, inspected the nuclear-material production base and the Nuclear Weapons Institute.
- North Korea's Kim inspects nuclear facilities, warns of 'vicious' hostility Radio Free Asia 28 Jan 2025 -- North Korea's leader visited a nuclear-material production base and Nuclear Weapons Institute and warned that "confrontation with the most vicious hostile countries is inevitable," and his country must bolster its nuclear forces, the North's state media reported on Wednesday.
- North Korea tests cruise missile; warns US, South Korea on 'provocation' Radio Free Asia 27 Jan 2025 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the successful test of a cruise missile system, North Korea's state media reported, as it accused the United States and South Korea of provocations and vowed the "toughest counteraction" to defend itself.
- North Korea successfully test-fires sea-launched cruise missiles Press TV 26 Jan 2025 -- North Korea has successfully launched strategic sea-to-surface cruise missiles, according to state media KCNA.
- Test-fire of Important Weapon System Conducted KCNA 26 Jan 2025 -- The Missile Administration of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea conducted a test-fire of sea-(underwater-)to-surface strategic cruise guided weapons on January 25.
- Press Statement Issued by Chief of Foreign News Section of DPRK Foreign Ministry KCNA 26 Jan 2025 -- The chief of the Foreign News Section of the Department of Press and Information of the DPRK Foreign Ministry on Sunday issued a press statement titled "The U.S. and the ROK will never evade the responsibility for the aggravation of regional situation to be entailed by the enhanced regular visibility of military provocations", which said:
- DPRK Delegations Leave for Russia KCNA 25 Jan 2025 -- A delegation of Kim Il Sung University led by President Kim Sung Chan and a delegation of Kim Chaek University of Technology led by President Pak Ji Min left here on Jan. 24 to visit Russia.
- Interview: Trump would like to resume personal diplomacy with Kim Jong Un Radio Free Asia 24 Jan 2025 -- Fred Fleitz is the vice chair of the America First Policy Institute's Center for American Security, and until recently he was a member of the Trump transition team. He previously served as a deputy assistant to the president during Trump's first term and chief of staff of the National Security Council, among other U.S. national security positions over the years.
- 'Smart balloons' drop leaflets, loudspeakers into North Korea Radio Free Asia 24 Jan 2025 -- aiming to reach more people in the reclusive country.
- DPRK Premier Takes Oath at Twelfth Session of 14th SPA KCNA 24 Jan 2025 -- At the Twelfth Session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Premier Pak Thae Song took an oath, on behalf of the members of the Cabinet, to remain faithful to the constitution of the Republic and live up to the expectations of the Party and the people with absolute devotion.
- Twelfth Session of 14th Supreme People's Assembly of DPRK Held KCNA 24 Jan 2025 -- The Twelfth Session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea took place at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Jan. 22 and 23.
- On Fulfillment of State Budget of DPRK for 2024 and Its State Budget for 2025 KCNA 24 Jan 2025 -- Deputy Ri Myong Guk, minister of Finance, made a report on the fulfillment of the state budget for 2024 and on the state budget for 2025 deliberated at the Budget Committee of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly before the Twelfth Session of the 14th SPA.
- On DPRK Cabinet's Work for Last Year and Tasks for This Year KCNA 24 Jan 2025 -- Deputy Pak Thae Song, premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, made a report on the last year's work of the Cabinet and its tasks for this year at the Twelfth Session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly.
- North Korea 'accelerating' preparations for more troops to Kursk: Seoul Radio Free Asia 23 Jan 2025 -- North Korea is accelerating preparations to send more troops to Russia amid an increasing number of casualties, South Korea said on Friday, while Ukraine said the North's additional support would mainly include missile and artillery troops.
- Two North Korean Nationals and Three Facilitators Indicted for Multi-Year Fraudulent Remote Information Technology Worker Scheme that Generated Revenue for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea US Dept. of Justice 23 Jan 2025 -- The Justice Department today announced the indictment of North Korean nationals Jin Sung-Il (진성일) and Pak Jin-Song (박진성), Mexican national Pedro Ernesto Alonso De Los Reyes, and U.S. nationals Erick Ntekereze Prince and Emanuel Ashtor for a fraudulent scheme to obtain remote information technology (IT) work with U.S. companies that generated revenue for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea).
- Three North Koreans wanted in Kursk for killing Russian soldiers: report Radio Free Asia 22 Jan 2025 -- Three North Korean soldiers killed five Russian servicemen in Russia's Kursk region and the "armed and dangerous" Koreans were being hunted, according to a Russian military telegram channel.
- North Korea reiterates it has 'no intention' of abandoning nuclear program Radio Free Asia 21 Jan 2025 -- North Korea reiterated that it had no intention of giving up its nuclear program, blaming the United States for "creating tension" on the Korean peninsula, after the U.S. President Donald Trump described the country as a "nuclear power."
- Trump calls North Korea 'nuclear power,' Seoul disagrees Radio Free Asia 21 Jan 2025 -- U.S. President Donald Trump described North Korea as a "nuclear power," raising the prospect of a change in the long-held U.S. policy of denying North Korea recognition as a nuclear weapons state and insisting that it abandon its weapons program.
- North Korea grants party membership to its fallen soldiers in Ukraine war Radio Free Asia 21 Jan 2025 -- North Korea is posthumously granting membership in the Korean Workers' Party to its soldiers killed in action in Russia's war with Ukraine -- a perk that will benefit their surviving families, residents in the country told Radio Free Asia.
- North Korean soldier captured by Ukraine says he 'didn't know' who he was fighting Radio Free Asia 20 Jan 2025 -- A North Korean soldier captured by Ukraine in Kursk said he came to Russia without knowing who he was fighting, according to footage of an interrogation released by the Ukrainian leader Volodymr Zelenskyy.
- Russia Presses Attacks, Ukraine Shows New Video Of North Korean Soldier RFE/RL 20 Jan 2025 -- Russia pressed its attacks near the eastern cities of Pokrovsk and Lyman, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy posted a new video purportedly showing a captured North Korean soldier speaking of heavy losses fighting alongside Russian forces.
- Kim Yo Jong, Vice Department Director of C.C., WPK, Clarifies Stand on Issue of DPRK-Belarus Top-level Meeting KCNA 20 Jan 2025 -- Kim Yo Jong, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, clarified the stand of the DPRK on the issue of the DPRK-Belarus top-level meeting through the Korean Central News Agency on January 20.
- Japan's Move to Establish Independent Mission in NATO Is Dangerous Act of Adding New Instability to Regional Situation KCNA 20 Jan 2025 -- Kim Ryo Won, an international security analyst of the DPRK, issued the following article "Japan's move to establish an independent mission in NATO is a dangerous act of adding new instability to the regional situation":
- High casualty rate could deplete North Korean troops in Kursk by mid-April: report Radio Free Asia 19 Jan 2025 -- North Korea could lose all of its troops deployed to help Russia in its war against Ukraine in about three months, if the high casualty rate it has been suffering persists, said a Washington-based thinktank.
- KCNA Commentary on U.S. Increase in Defence Budget KCNA 17 Jan 2025 -- The present world is more eager for peace and stability than ever before as it has witnessed ceaseless bloody massacres and wars.
- Press Statement of Chief of External Policy Office of DPRK Foreign Ministry KCNA 17 Jan 2025 -- The chief of the External Policy Office of the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Friday issued the following press statement "We will contain the planned hostile military provocations and control the unstable regional situation with more thorough exercise of the right to self-defence":
- North Koreans show 'superior combat readiness' to Russian contractors: official Radio Free Asia 16 Jan 2025 -- Russian soldiers captured by Ukraine "expressed concerns" about the superior combat readiness of allied North Korean troops compared with Russian contract soldiers in the Kursk region, said a senior Ukrainian officer.
- US experts question reason for probe of loudspeaker broadcasts into North Korea VOA 16 Jan 2025 -- A move by South Korean opposition leaders to launch an independent probe of embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol over Seoul's use of loudspeaker broadcasts into North Korea is raising questions among some U.S. experts about the future direction of Seoul's approach toward Pyongyang.
- Treasury Targets IT Worker Network Generating Revenue for DPRK Weapons Programs US Treasury 16 Jan 2025 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is sanctioning two individuals and four entities for generating illicit revenue for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) government.
- Russian Forces Tried To Stop Removal Of Captured North Korean Soldier From Battlefield RFE/RL 15 Jan 2025 -- Russian forces tried to prevent Ukrainian troops who captured a North Korean soldier in Kursk earlier this month from taking him off the battlefield, according to a Ukrainian soldier involved in the mission in comments to RFE/RL.
- South Korea, Japan, US hold air drills following North's missile tests Radio Free Asia 15 Jan 2025 -- South Korea, Japan and the United States held their first combined air drills of the year on Wednesday, a day after North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles, South Korea's defense ministry said.
- North Koreans in China bewildered by arrest of South Korean president Radio Free Asia 15 Jan 2025 -- North Korean trade officials stationed in China were shocked when they heard that South Korean police arrested President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul on Wednesday, two such officials told Radio Free Asia.
- FCDO statement on DPRK ballistic missile launches: 14 January UK FCDO 14 Jan 2025 -- The FCDO has released a statement following ballistic missile launches by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 14 January.
- Ukraine recovers combat instructional documents from killed North Korean soldier Radio Free Asia 14 Jan 2025 -- The Ukrainian military has recovered combat instructions and personal photos from a North Korean soldier killed in action in Russia's war with Ukraine, a human rights organization that assisted in translating the documents told Radio Free Asia.
- South Korea says North launched several missiles off east coast Press TV 14 Jan 2025 -- The South Korean military says North Korea has launched several short-range missiles off its east coast.
- North Korea conducts missile tests days before Trump takes office Radio Free Asia 13 Jan 2025 -- North Korea tested on Tuesday what were believed to be multiple short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast less than a week before Donald Trump is inaugurated for his second term as U.S. president, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported.
- Ukraine Gaining 'Useful' Intel From Captured North Korean Soldiers, Kyiv Says RFE/RL 13 Jan 2025 -- Ukraine's Military Intelligence (HUR) says two North Korean soldiers captured while fighting for Russia continue to be interrogated with Kyiv ready to swap them for Ukrainian troops held by Moscow if North Korean leader Kim Jong-un can arrange such an exchange.
- South Korea says 300 North Korean soldiers killed in Ukraine VOA 13 Jan 2025 -- Around 300 North Korean soldiers have been killed and 2,700 others injured in Russia's war in Ukraine, South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers in a closed briefing Monday.
- DPRK Premier Inspects Various Sectors KCNA 13 Jan 2025 -- Pak Thae Song, member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and premier of the DPRK Cabinet, made a field survey of various sectors.
- Ukraine willing to swap North Korean captives: Zelenskyy Radio Free Asia 12 Jan 2025 -- Ukraine is prepared to swap captured North Korean troops for its soldiers being held prisoner by Russia, President Volodymr Zelenskyy said, releasing video of two Koreans who Ukraine said were captured in its war against Russia.
- Zelenskiy Says Ready To Swap Captured N. Korean Soldiers For Ukrainian Troops RFE/RL 12 Jan 2025 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he is prepared to hand over captured North Korean soldiers to Pyongyang if reclusive leader Kim Jong Un can arrange a prisoner swap for Ukrainians held in Russia.
- N. Korean Soldier Claims He Thought He Was On Training Mission, Ukraine Says RFE/RL 11 Jan 2025 -- Ukrainian investigators are questioning two soldiers from North Korea whom the country's forces captured in Russia's Kursk region, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
- North Korean launch of 'new' missile fires up Guam security debate Radio Free Asia 11 Jan 2025 -- North Korea's launch of a "new" intermediate range ballistic missile earlier this week that "will reliably contain any rivals in the Pacific" has fired up debate about the U.S. military's ability to defend Guam from potential attack.
- Joint Press Statement on the Fourth Nuclear Consultative Group Meeting DoD 10 Jan 2025 -- The United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) convened the fourth Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) in Washington, D.C. on January 10, 2025. The NCG is an enduring bilateral consultative body to strengthen extended deterrence that contributes to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.
- Jimmy Carter helped open US-China ties, defuse a North Korea crisis Radio Free Asia 09 Jan 2025 -- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, honored at a state funeral Thursday attended by President Joe Biden and four predecessors as well as foreign leaders, will be remembered in Asia for establishing diplomatic relations with China.
- Statement on DPRK's Ballistic Missile Launch on 06 January 2025 Philippines DFA 09 Jan 2025 -- The Philippines expresses serious concern and strongly denounces the continuing ballistic missile launches conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Such provocative actions undermine economic progress, peace, and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region.
- Security Council Delegates Trade Barbs over Democratic People's Republic of Korea's Hypersonic-Missile Launch, Military Ambitions UN Security Council 08 Jan 2025 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea has been actively working towards acquiring new military capabilities that undermine the global non-proliferation architecture, a senior United Nations official warned the Security Council today, as its members condemned that country's 6 January launch of a new-type intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile.
- Rodong Sinmun on WPK's Leadership Ability KCNA 08 Jan 2025 -- The leadership ability of the Workers' Party of Korea represents vitality and advance speed of the DPRK, says Rodong Sinmun in an article on Jan. 8.
- Experts: Russian technology could enhance North Korea's ICBM capabilities VOA 08 Jan 2025 -- Russian space technologies, if transferred to Pyongyang in compensation for its support of Moscow's war on Ukraine, could enhance North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities, U.S. experts say.
- Any nation's refusal to condemn North Korea's actions represents direct complicity in furthering its illegal weapons programme: UK statement at the UN Security Council UK FCDO 08 Jan 2025 -- Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on North Korea.
- DPR Korea's nuclear quest thwarts disarmament efforts, Security Council hears UN News 08 Jan 2025 -- The launch of yet another ballistic missile by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is of serious concern, a senior UN official told the Security Council on Wednesday, highlighting the persistent threat to global efforts towards disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation.
- North Koreans kick Russians out of their homes to hide from drones: report Radio Free Asia 07 Jan 2025 -- Soldiers from North Korea, fighting in the Kursk region of Russia, are driving residents out of their homes to take shelter and hide from Ukrainian drones, said a Ukrainian activist group, amid reports of increasing casualties among the North Koreans from drone strikes.
- Efforts Paid to Successfully Complete Five-Year Plan KCNA 07 Jan 2025 -- The Cabinet and the economic guidance organs of the DPRK organize in detail the economic work for successfully completing the five-year plan and developing the overall national economy, true to the decisions of the Eleventh Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.
- DPRK: Statement by the Spokesperson on the latest missile launch European External Action Service (EEAS) 07 Jan 2025 -- The EU condemns the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile, which Pyongyang claims was equipped with a hypersonic warhead.
- N Korea successfully tests new hypersonic ballistic missile to 'deter rivals' in Pacific Press TV 07 Jan 2025 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un says the country's new hypersonic ballistic missile will bolster its deterrent strength against adversaries in the Pacific region.
- North Korea's claim of hypersonic missile launch likely 'deception': Seoul Radio Free Asia 07 Jan 2025 -- South Korea's military said North Korea's claim of successfully launching a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, or IRBM, tipped with a hypersonic warhead is likely to be a "deception."
- DPRK Missile Administration Succeeds in Test-fire of New-type Intermediate-range Hypersonic Ballistic Missile KCNA 07 Jan 2025 -- The Missile Administration of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea successfully conducted a test-fire of new-type intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile on January 6.
- Blinken: China, North Korea helping drive Russia's war in Ukraine VOA 06 Jan 2025 -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday that North Korea and China are the "biggest ongoing drivers" allowing Russia to carry out its war in Ukraine, and that security assurances will need to be a part of potential future negotiations ending the conflict.
- South Korea Convenes Security Council Over North's Launch of Ballistic Missile Sputnik 06 Jan 2025 -- South Korea convened its security council on Monday over what its military believes could have been a hypersonic missile launched by North Korea earlier in the day, South Korean media reported, citing authorities.
- FCDO statement on DPRK missile launches: 6 January UK FCDO 06 Jan 2025 -- The FCDO has released a statement following a ballistic missile launch by The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 6 January.
- North Korea fires a missile ahead of Trump inauguration Radio Free Asia 06 Jan 2025 -- North Korea fired a suspected mid-range ballistic missile over the sea off its east coast on Monday, said South Korea's military, two weeks before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
- North Korea Launches First Ballistic Missile in 2025 Toward Sea of Japan Sputnik 06 Jan 2025 -- North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan for the first time in 2025, media reported, citing the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of South Korea.
- North Korea launches ballistic missile as US secretary of state visits South Press TV 06 Jan 2025 -- North Korea has fired what appeared to be an intermediate-range ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan, as US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken pays a visit to South Korea.
- Russia, North Korea lost 'up to a battalion' of soldiers in Kursk: Zelenskyy Radio Free Asia 05 Jan 2025 -- Russian and North Korean forces "lost up to a battalion of infantry" in two days of battles near the village of Makhnovka in Russia's Kursk region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, estimating total North Korean casualties at about 3,800.
- Zelenskiy Claims North Koreans Suffer Major Losses In New Kursk Fighting RFE/RL 04 Jan 2025 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said North Korean soldiers, fighting alongside Kremlin forces in Russia's Kursk region, had suffered heavy casualties over the past two days amid mounting reports of losses for the Asian nation's forces fighting some 6,700 kilometers from home.
- Sister of North Korea's Kim spotted with children believed to be hers Radio Free Asia 02 Jan 2025 -- The North Korean leader's powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, was seen with two children attending a New Year's performance in a video released by state media, sparking renewed speculation about her family and its place in the Kim dynasty.
- Carter leaves complex legacy on Korean Peninsula VOA 02 Jan 2025 -- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has a complex legacy on the Korean Peninsula, former U.S. officials say, including the vital role he played in defusing a crisis between the United States and North Korea in 1994.
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