North Korea

North Korea fires artillery shells to send ‘grave warning’ to South Korea

SEOUL, Oct 19 (Reuters) - North Korea fired artillery shells off its east and west coasts late on Tuesday, South Korea's military said, after Seoul kicked off annual defence drills…

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North Korea says it practiced firing cruise missiles able to carry nuclear weapons

SEOUL, Oct 13 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch of two long-range strategic cruise missiles, state media reported on Thursday, calling it a test to…

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North Korea says missile tests simulate striking South with nuclear weapons

SEOUL, Oct 10 (Reuters) - North Korea's recent flurry of missile tests were designed to simulate showering the South with tactical nuclear weapons as a warning after large-scale navy drills…

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Plenty of ‘fire’ but less ‘fury’ as North Korea tensions rise again

SEOUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Between long-range missile launches and the looming prospect of new nuclear tests, this year has seen North Korea return to weapons activities not seen since the days…

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North Korea fires two ballistic missiles in seventh of recent launches

TOKYO, Oct 9 (Reuters) - North Korea fired two ballistic missiles early on Sunday, authorities in neighbouring countries said, the seventh such launch by Pyongyang in recent days that added to widespread…

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North Korea fires ballistic missiles after condemning U.N. meeting, U.S. drills

SEOUL/TOKYO, Oct 6 (Reuters) - North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea on Thursday in the direction of Japan, after the return of a U.S. aircraft carrier…

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North Korea conducts longest-range missile test yet over Japan

Nuclear-armed North Korea fired a ballistic missile over Japan for the first time in five years on Tuesday, prompting a warning for residents to take cover and a temporary suspension of train operations in northern Japan.…

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North Korea fires fourth missile in a week as South flexes military muscle

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea off its east coast on Saturday, hours before South Korea staged a large military show, displaying stealth…

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UPDATED: North Korea fires two ballistic missiles ahead of Harris’ visit to South

SEOUL, Sept 28 (Reuters) - North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast on Wednesday, the South's military said, just a day before U.S. Vice President Kamala…

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S.Korea military says N.Korea may be preparing to test submarine-launched ballistic missile

Sept 24 (Reuters) - South Korea's military has detected signs that North Korea may be preparing to test a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), Yonhap news agency reported on Saturday, days…

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North Korea says it has never supplied weapons or ammunition to Russia

North Korea on Thursday said it has never supplied weapons or ammunition to Russia and has no plans to do so, while warning the United States to "keep its mouth…

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New North Korea law outlines nuclear arms use, including preemptive strikes

SEOUL, Sept 9 (Reuters) - North Korea has officially enshrined the right to use preemptive nuclear strikes to protect itself in a new law that leader Kim Jong Un said makes its…

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U.N. nuclear watchdog has “serious concern” about North Korea

ZURICH, (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog has "serious concern" about North Korea's atomic programme, it said in an annual report to members, urging the country to comply with Security…

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EXPLAINER – What weapons could North Korea send to Russia?

SEOUL, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Russia could be about to buy millions of artillery shells and rockets from old Cold-War ally North Korea, the White House said, an allegation immediately…

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U.S.: Russia could be about to buy ‘millions’ of North Korean shells, rockets

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - Russia could be about to buy "literally millions" of artillery shells and rockets from old Cold-War ally North Korea, the White House said, calling this further evidence…

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UPDATED: Pope says will visit N.Korea if he receives invitation

SEOUL, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Pope Francis has asked for an invitation from North Korea to visit the isolated country, South Korean broadcaster KBS reported. "I will go there as soon as…

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North Korea reports unknown fever cases near China border, denies COVID

SEOUL, Aug 25 (Reuters) - North Korea's state media said on Thursday that a fever outbreak of unknown origin has emerged in a region bordering China, but it was not…

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N. Korea surged imports of Chinese masks, gloves before declaring COVID victory

BEIJING, Aug 20 (Reuters) - North Korea imported more than 1 million facial masks and 15,000 pairs of rubber gloves from China in July, shortly before declaring victory over COVID-19, Chinese trade…

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North Korea tells South Korean president to ‘shut his mouth’ after offer of aid

SEOUL, Aug 19 (Reuters) - North Korea's Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, said on Friday South Korea's president should "shut his mouth" after he…

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North Korea fires two cruise missiles as South Korea leader calls for diplomacy

SEOUL, Aug 17 (Reuters) - North Korea fired two cruise missiles from the west coast town of Onchon early on Wednesday, a South Korean military source said. The source added…

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Putin says Russia and North Korea will expand bilateral relations

SEOUL, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin told North Korean leader Kim Jong Un the two countries will "expand the comprehensive and constructive bilateral relations with common efforts,"…

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North Korea lifts mask mandate, distancing rules after declaring COVID victory

SEOUL, Aug 13 (Reuters) - North Korea has dropped a face mask mandate and other social distancing rules as leader Kim Jong Un declared victory over COVID-19 this week, state…

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North Korea declares victory over COVID, reveals Kim suffered fever

SEOUL, Aug 11 (Reuters) - North Korea's Kim Jong Un declared victory in the battle against COVID-19 on Thursday, with the leader's sister revealing he had suffered from fever and…

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North Korea marks end of first COVID wave, but risks persist

SEOUL, Aug 5 (Reuters) - North Korea on Friday said all of its fever patients have recovered, marking the end of its first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, but challenges linger with…

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North Korea reports no new fever cases for first time since COVID outbreak

North Korea reported no new fever cases on Saturday for the first time since its acknowledgement in mid-May of a COVID-19 outbreak in the isolated country, state-run media reported. North…

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North Korea’s Kim says nuclear deterrent is ready

SEOUL, July 28 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country is ready to mobilise its nuclear war deterrent and counter any U.S. military clash, and criticised…

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North Korea considering sending employees to Russian-controlled territories in East Ukraine

According to the Russian envoy in Pyongyang, North Korea could send employees to two Russian-controlled territories in eastern Ukraine, which would be a challenge to UN sanctions against the North's…

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South Korea detects shots apparently launched by North Korea

SEOUL, July 10 (Reuters) - South Korea's military said on Sunday it had detected the trajectories of what appeared to be shots fired by North Korea, possibly from multiple rocket launchers (MLRs).…

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Crypto crash threatens North Korea’s stolen funds as it ramps up weapons tests

SEOUL (Reuters) - The nosedive in cryptocurrency markets has wiped out millions of dollars in funds stolen by North Korean hackers, four digital investigators say, threatening a key source of…

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North Korea says U.S.-South Korea-Japan agreement materialises U.S. plan for ‘Asian NATO’

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea criticised the United States, South Korea and Japan's recent agreement on strengthening military cooperation to be a means to materialise a U.S. plan for a…

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North Korea blames ‘alien things’ near border with South for COVID outbreak

North Korea claimed on Friday that the country's first COVID-19 outbreak began with patients touching "alien things" near the border with South Korea, apparently shifting blame to the neighbour for…

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North Korea may be behind new $100 mln cryptocurrency hack

SEOUL, June 30 (Reuters) - North Korean hackers are most likely behind an attack last week that stole as much as $100 million in cryptocurrency from a U.S. company, three digital investigative…

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North Korea reports 18,820 more fever cases amid covid-19 outbreak – KCNA

SEOUL, June 20 (Reuters) - North Korea has recorded another 18,820 new fever cases amid its first official COVID-19 outbreak, state news agency KCNA said on Monday, as daily reported infections continued…

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North Korea tackling unidentified intestinal epidemic

SEOUL, June 17 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and other senior officials prepared aid to send to 800 families suffering from an unidentified intestinal epidemic, state media…

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North Korea spent as much as $642 million on nukes in 2021, report estimates

SEOUL, June 15 (Reuters) - North Korea may have spent as much as $642 million on its nuclear programme last year, according to anti-nuclear activists, as the impoverished country appears ready to…

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North Korea appoints first female foreign minister

North Korea has named a top nuclear negotiator Choe Son Hui as its first female foreign minister, state media reported. Her appointment comes as Pyongyang ramps up its weapons testing…

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North Korea could conduct nuclear test ‘any time’ -U.S. envoy

WASHINGTON, June 7 (Reuters) - North Korea could conduct a seventh nuclear test at "any time" and has shown no interest in returning to negotiations, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Sung…

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UPDATE – N.Korea fires volley of missiles, prompting joint military drill by Japan, US

SEOUL, June 5 (Reuters) - North Korea fired eight short-range ballistic missiles towards the sea off its east coast on Sunday, likely its largest single test, a day after South Korea and…

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Amid criticism, North Korea takes over as U.N. disarmament president

North Korea, which is under sanctions for developing nuclear weapons in defiance of United Nations Security Council Resolutions, has taken over as head of a U.N. body aimed at striking…

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WHO says COVID in N.Korea likely ‘getting worse, not better’

The World Health Organization has cast doubts on North Korea's claims of progress in the fight against a COVID-19 outbreak, saying it believes the situation is getting worse, not better,…

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North Korea lifts COVID lockdown amid ‘stable’ virus situation

SEOUL, May 30 (Reuters) - North Korea has lifted movement restrictions imposed in the capital Pyongyang after its first admission of COVID-19 outbreak weeks ago, media reported, as the isolated country says the virus situation is now under…

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N.Korea fires salvo of missiles, including ICBM, hours after Biden leaves Asia

North Korea fired three missiles, including one thought to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Wednesday, after U.S. President Joe Biden left Asia following a trip in which he agreed to…

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North Korea’s fever cases under 200,000 for 2nd day amid silence on aid offer

North Korea's daily fever cases stayed below 200,000 for a second day in a row, state media said on Monday, as Pyongyang remained silent on South Korean and U.S. offers…

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North Korea hails ‘good results’ on COVID as fever cases pass 2 million

SEOUL, May 20 (Reuters) - North Korea said on Friday it was achieving "good results" in its fight against its first confirmed COVID-19 outbreak, as the number of people with fever symptoms…

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North Korean leader Kim angry at response to COVID outbreak

SEOUL, May 18 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un slammed his country's response to its first confirmed COVID-19 outbreak as immature, accusing government officials of inadequacies and inertia as fever…

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North Korea’s Kim orders military to stabilise supply of COVID-19 drugs

SEOUL, May 16 (Reuters) - Leader Kim Jong Un has ordered North Korea's military to stabilise distribution of COVID-19 medicines in the capital, Pyongyang, in the battle on the country's first confirmed…

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Explainer: How North Korea’s COVID-19 outbreak could ignite a major health crisis

(Reuters) - North Korea's admission that it is battling an "explosive" COVID-19 outbreak has raised concerns that the virus could devastate a country with an under-resourced health system, limited testing…

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North Korea reports more deaths, says taking ‘swift measures’ against COVID outbreak

SEOUL, May 15 (Reuters) - North Korea said on Sunday a total of 42 people had died as the country began its fourth day under a nationwide lockdown aimed at stopping the…

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North Korea reports first COVID-19 death as fever ‘explosively spreads

At least one person confirmed to have COVID-19 has died in North Korea and hundreds of thousands have shown fever symptoms, state media said on Friday, offering hints at the…

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UPDATED: North Korea fires 3 ballistic missiles after reporting COVID outbreak

SEOUL, May 12 (Reuters) - North Korea fired three ballistic missiles toward the sea off its east coast on Thursday, South Korea said, in the latest such move by the…

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South Korea’s Yoon says security situation tense amid talk of North Korea’s possible nuclear test

SEOUL, May 11 (Reuters) - South Korea's new president Yoon Suk-yeol said on Wednesday the security situation on the Korean peninsula was difficult, citing talk of a possible nuclear test…

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UPDATED: North Korea fires ballistic missile off east coast ahead of South Korea inauguration

SEOUL, May 4 (Reuters) - North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the sea off its east coast on Wednesday, South Korea and Japan said, about a week after Pyongyang vowed to develop its nuclear…

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North Korea’s Kim Jong Un warns of ‘preemptive’ use of nuclear force

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has repeated his warning that Pyongyang could "preemptively" use its nuclear weaponry to counter hostile forces, state media reported Saturday. Kim told top military…

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North Korea signals expansive mission for its nuclear weapons

SEOUL (Reuters) - As South Korea’s new conservative president prepares to take office, North Korea is outlining an expansive, ambiguous, and potentially destabilising doctrine for using its nuclear weapons, analysts said. In…

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North Korea’s Kim calls for stronger military as nuclear test work ‘well underway’

SEOUL, April 29 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called on the country's military to "bolster up their strength in every way to annihilate the enemy", state media reported on…

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North Korea’s Kim offers rare praise for South’s departing Moon

SEOUL, April 22 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has thanked South Korea's outgoing president for trying to improve relations, a rare gesture of goodwill but one that…

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North Korean leader Kim observes missile test to enhance nuclear capabilities

SEOUL, April 17 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has observed the test firing of a new type of tactical guided weapon aimed at boosting the country's nuclear capabilities, the…

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