North Korea

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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North Korea celebrates founder with dance, music but no report of military parade

(Reuters) - North Korea celebrated the 110th anniversary of the birth of late founder Kim Il Sung on Friday with fireworks and an evening gala in Pyongyang's main square, with thousands of…

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North Korean hackers target gamers in $615m crypto heist

WASHINGTON, April 14 (Reuters) - The United States has linked North Korean hackers to the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of cryptocurrency tied to the popular online game Axie…

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South Korea’s president-elect wants U.S. nuclear bombers, submarines to return

SEOUL, April 6 (Reuters) - Advisers to South Korea's president-elect sought redeployment of U.S. strategic assets, such as nuclear bombers and submarines, to the Korean peninsula during talks held on a visit…

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North Korea condemns South Korea’s remarks on military ability, warns of destructive action

SEOUL, April 3 (Reuters) - North Korea on Sunday condemned the South Korean defence minister's remarks about its ability to strike against the North and warned it would destroy major…

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N.Korea’s Kim calls for ramping up ideological campaigns amid ‘worst difficulties’

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for a propaganda campaign to increase popular support for the country's ideology of self-reliance amid "the worst difficulties," state media KCNA said on Tuesday. Kim sent…

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FACTBOX-North Korea’s new Hwasong-17 ‘monster missile’

SEOUL, March 25 (Reuters) - North Korea test-fired its massive Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time on Thursday, demonstrating the capabilities of a weapon potentially able to deliver a…

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North Korea says preparing for ‘long’ confrontation with U.S. after massive new ICBM test

SEOUL, March 25 (Reuters) - North Korea's latest launch was a huge, new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), state media reported on Friday, in a test leader Kim Jong Un said was designed…

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UPDATED: North Korea tests largest ICBM, White House condemns return to long-range launches

SEOUL, March 24 (Reuters) - North Korea conducted what is thought to be its largest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test ever on Thursday, the South Korean and Japanese militaries said, marking a…

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Russia, North Korea discuss developing relations

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov met with North Korea's ambassador to Russia and discussed developing bilateral relations "in the context of changes happening on the international arena," the Russian…

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New South Korean President to move presidential office to defence ministry

SEOUL, March 20 (Reuters) - South Korean president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, breaking with decades of tradition, said on Sunday he will move the presidential office from the Blue House to the defence ministry…

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North Korea fires multiple-rocket launcher, South says

SEOUL, March 20 (Reuters) - North Korea appeared to have fired a short-range multiple rocket launcher on Sunday, South Korea's military said, amid heightened military tensions on the peninsula after a spate…

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North Korea silent after reported missile explosion over Pyongyang

SEOUL, March 17 (Reuters) - More than 24 hours after a missile test reportedly ended in a fiery failure over Pyongyang on Wednesday, North Korea had yet to say anything about the…

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Suspected N.Korea missile fails after launch over Pyongyang; Debris landed in or near city

SEOUL, March 16 (Reuters) - North Korea fired an "unknown projectile" on Wednesday which appeared to fail immediately after launch, South Korea's military said, amid reports that the nuclear-armed North is seeking…

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U.S. says North Korea tested ICBM system as leader expands space effort

SEOUL/WASHINGTON March 11 (Reuters) - North Korea recently used what would be its largest ever intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system in two secretive launches, likely paving the way for a resumption of…

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N.Korea could return to ICBM, nuclear tests this year-U.S. intelligence report

North Korea's missile launches could be groundwork for a return to intercontinental ballistic missile and nuclear bomb tests this year for the first time since 2017, the U.S. Directorate of…

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North Korea says it conducted second ‘important’ spy satellite test

SEOUL, March 6 (Reuters) - North Korea said it conducted "another important" test for reconnaissance satellite systems, state news agency KCNA reported on Sunday, a day after regional military authorities reported the…

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N.Korea conducts ninth missile test of the year ahead of S.Korea election

SEOUL, March 5 (Reuters) - North Korea conducted its ninth weapons test of the year on Saturday, firing asuspected ballistic missile toward the sea to the east of the Korean peninsula just days before South…

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U.S. condemns latest N.Korea missile launch

SEOUL, Feb 27 (Reuters) - North Korea fired what could be a ballistic missile on Sunday, military officials in South Korea and Japan said, in what would be the first test since…

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North Korea fires possible ballistic missile- Japan and South Korea say – UPDATED

North Korea fired what could be a ballistic missile, Japan's coast guard said on Sunday, in what would be the first test since the nuclear-armed country conducted a record number…

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COVAX cuts North Korea’s COVID vaccine allotment after no deliveries accepted

SEOUL, Feb 10 (Reuters) - The COVAX global COVID-19 vaccine-sharing programme has scaled back the number of doses allocated for North Korea, international aid organisations said, as the country has…

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North Korea boasts of ‘shaking the world’ by testing missiles that can strike U.S.

North Korea boasted that it is one of only a handful of countries in the world to field nuclear weapons and advanced missiles and the only one standing up to…

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North Korea grows nuclear, missiles programs, profits from cyberattacks -U.N. report

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - North Korea continued to develop its nuclear and ballistic missile programs during the past year and cyberattacks on cryptocurrency exchanges were an important revenue source for…

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EXPLAINER-Flurry of missile tests displays N.Korea’s increasingly diverse arsenal

This January has been one of the busiest months ever for North Korea's missile testing, with launches displaying a dizzying array of weapon types, launch locations, and increasing sophistication. From…

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U.S. condemns N.Korea missile launch, urges no more destabilising acts

SEOUL, Jan 30 (Reuters) - The United States condemned North Korea's latest missile launch and called on Pyongyang to refrain from further destabilising acts, the U.S. military's Indo-Pacific Command said…

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North Korea confirms latest weapons tests as Kim visits key munitions factory

SEOUL, Jan 28 (Reuters) - North Korea conducted tests of an upgraded long-range cruise missile and a warhead of a tactical guided missile this week, as leader Kim Jong Un…

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North Korea fires another two missiles, Sixth missile test this month

SEOUL, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Nuclear-armed North Korea fired what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday, drawing condemnation from the United States for what would be the…

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North Korean internet downed by suspected cyber attacks

SEOUL, Jan 26 (Reuters) - North Korea's internet appears to have been hit by a second wave of outages in as many weeks, possibly caused by a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS)…

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North Korea suggests it may resume nuclear, missile tests, slams ‘hostile’ U.S.

SEOUL, Jan 20 (Reuters) - North Korea would bolster its defences against the United States and consider restarting "all temporally-suspended activities," state media KCNA reported Thursday, an apparent reference to…

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South Korea says North Korea fired two ballistic missiles from Pyongyang airport

SEOUL, Jan 17 (Reuters) - North Korea fired two suspected short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) on Monday from an airport in its capital city of Pyongyang, South Korea's military reported, the…

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N.Korean hackers stole $400 mln in cryptocurrency in 2021 – report

SEOUL, Jan 14 (Reuters) - North Korea launched at least seven attacks on cryptocurrency platforms that extracted nearly $400 million worth of digital assets last year, one of its most…

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UPDATED: North Korea fires two missiles, warns of strong action over U.S. sanctions push

SEOUL, Jan 14 (Reuters) - North Korea fired at least two ballistic missiles on Friday, the third test in two weeks, just hours after criticising a U.S. push for new…

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Biden imposes first sanctions over North Korea weapons program after missile tests

The Biden administration imposed its first sanctions over North Korea's weapons programs following a series of North Korean missile launches, including two since last week. The sanctions targeted six North…

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North Korea’s Kim calls for more ‘military muscle’

SEOUL, Jan 12 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for boosting the country's strategic military forces as he observed the test of a hypersonic missile, state media…

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North Korea launches second hypersonic missile in fiery test

SEOUL, Jan 6 (Reuters) - North Korea fired a "hypersonic missile" this week that successfully hit a target, state news agency KCNA reported on Thursday, its second such test as…

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North Korea fires suspected missile as S.Korea breaks ground for ‘peace’ railway

SEOUL, Jan 5 (Reuters) - North Korea fired a suspected ballistic missile off its east coast on Wednesday, just hours before South Korean President Moon Jae-in attended a groundbreaking ceremony…

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North Korea’s Kim talks food not nukes for 2022

SEOUL, Jan 1 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un capped off his 10th year in power with a speech that made more mention of tractor factories and school…

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North Korea after 10 years of Kim Jong Un: Better armed but more isolated than ever

Ten years after Kim Jong Un assumed power North Korea is better armed but deeply isolated and more dependent on China, despite actions by the young leader that raised -…

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Private sector overtakes state as North Korea’s top economic actor under Kim -S.Korea

The private sector has overtaken state-led agents to become North Korea's biggest economic actor over the past decade, a sign of booming markets allowed by leader Kim Jong Un, South…

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Kim Jong Un’s crackdowns leave N.Korea defectors with little hope

SEOUL, Dec 17 (Reuters) - In the 10 years since Kim Jong Un came to power, North Korea has cracked down on people trying to get out of the country,…

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Under scrutiny, North Korea tries to restrict news about executions – group

SEOUL, Dec 15 (Reuters) - North Korea has changed the way it carries out capital punishment in response to greater international scrutiny of its human rights, holding executions away from…

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U.S., South Korea to update war plans while urging diplomacy with North Korea

SEOUL, Dec 2 (Reuters) - The military chiefs of the United States and South Korea said on Thursday they plan to update contingency war plans and review their combined military…

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Photo Story: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in first public appearance in more than a month

An undated photo released by the official North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (C) walking with officials during a visit to Samjiyon, Ryanggang Province,…

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North Korea can produce more uranium than current rate, report says

SEOUL, Nov 4 (Reuters) - North Korea can get all the uranium it needs for nuclear weapons through its existing Pyongsan mill, and satellite imagery of tailings piles suggests the…

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Printing coupons and eating swans: North Korea innovates amid food, economic woes

From printing coupons as replacement cash to breeding ornamental black swans to eat, North Korea is being forced to innovate to handle economic woes and food shortages as anti-pandemic border…

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