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North Korean missile unit would be lawful target for Ukraine if deployed in Russia, FM Sybiha says

A North Korean missile unit would become a lawful military target for Ukraine’s Defense Forces if it is deployed on Russian territory, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Aug. 5, according to Interfax-Ukraine.

5 August, 03:02 PM

Xi Jinping to visit North Korea in first trip since 2019

Chinese leader Xi Jinping will travel to North Korea on June 8-9, marking his first visit there since 2019, the Associated Press reported on June 5.

5 June, 01:01 PM

Kim Jong Un vows to build 'impregnable fortress' on North Korea's border with the South

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for a major military buildup along the border with South Korea and announced an upcoming restructuring of the country's armed forces, state news agency KCNA reported after a May 17 meeting with military commanders.

18 May, 12:15 PM

North Korea rewrites its constitution to erase any mention of reunification

North Korea has updated its constitution, striking all references to reunification with South Korea from the text, Reuters reported on May 6 after reviewing the document.

6 May, 06:08 PM

Russia issues 36,400 visas to North Koreans in 2025, mostly disguised labor

Russian authorities issued 36,400 visas to North Korean citizens in 2025 — nearly four times more than the 9,239 visas the previous year — with the vast majority granted under the guise of education to import cheap labor, The Moscow Times reported on April 3.

3 April, 03:23 PM

North Korea cuts shell shipments to Russia, starts drone production

North Korea has sharply reduced its shipments of artillery shells to Russia after essentially exhausting its stockpiles, while launching mass production of FPV drones and larger strike unmanned aircraft, Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy chief of Ukraine's Defense Intelligence, told Reuters on Nov. 14.

15 November 2025, 11:59 AM

North Korea fires 10 rockets during Hegseth's DMZ visit

North Korea fired about 10 artillery rockets toward the northern Yellow Sea during a joint visit by U.S. and South Korean defense chiefs Pete Hegseth and Ahn Gyu-back to the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas, news agency Yonhap reported on Nov. 4, citing the South Korean military command.

4 November 2025, 12:18 PM

North Korea tests missiles ahead of APEC leaders summit

North Korea claimed a successful test of new hypersonic weaponry to demonstrate strength against potential adversaries, Bloomberg reported on Oct. 23, just before an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea attended by world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

23 October 2025, 11:49 AM

South Korea, U.S. and Japan to hold large-scale drills near Russia and North Korea in September

South Korea, the United States and Japan will hold joint military drills this month called Freedom Edge, the Yonhap news agency reported on Sept. 5.

5 September 2025, 12:19 PM

NATO sees growing threat from China, Iran, North Korea – Rutte

NATO’s challenges extend beyond Russia to include China, Iran, and North Korea, which are deepening defense cooperation and preparing for prolonged confrontation, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on Sept. 4, according to The Guardian.

4 September 2025, 08:45 PM

South Korea removes border loudspeakers to ease North Korea tensions

South Korea has started removing loudspeakers used to broadcast anti-North Korean messages along its border with North Korea, Reuters reported on Aug. 4.

4 August 2025, 10:50 AM

Russia leans on North Korea, Iran, China for Ukraine war

Russia’s military resources are being depleted, increasing Moscow’s dependence on its allies, the Financial Times reported on July 28, noting that Russia has exhausted its once-vast Soviet-era weapons stockpiles during its war against Ukraine.

28 July 2025, 02:03 PM

Russia’s KN-23 upgrades straining Ukraine’s air defense systems

Russia is assisting North Korea in developing and producing KN-23 (Hwasong-11A) ballistic missiles, which Russia uses in combined attacks against Ukraine, The Times reported on July 14, citing a senior Ukrainian Air Force officer.

14 July 2025, 01:02 PM

North Korea to send 1,000 sappers, 5,000 builders to Russia’s Kursk Oblast

North Korea will send 1,000 sappers and 5,000 military builders to Russia’s Kursk Oblast for demining and infrastructure restoration, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu announced on June 17, according to news agency Interfax.

17 June 2025, 06:35 PM

Russia aids North Korea in producing Shahed strike drones – spy chief Budanov

Russia is providing technology and expertise to help North Korea manufacture long-range Shahed kamikaze drones and enhance the accuracy of its KN-23 ballistic missiles, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov told The War Zone in an interview published on June 9.

10 June 2025, 02:18 PM

Russia’s enhanced KN-23 missiles now hit targets with 'deadly accuracy'

Russia has significantly improved North Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles, enabling them to strike targets with “deadly accuracy,” Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov told The War Zone in an interview published on June 9.

10 June 2025, 01:40 PM

Satellite images show North Korean damaged destroyer near Russian border

North Korea has relocated a newly launched but damaged destroyer to a port near the Russian border, possibly indicating Moscow's assistance in repairs, CNN reported on June 9.

9 June 2025, 02:45 PM

Why Russia acknowledged North Korean troops in Ukraine, and what it could mean — military commentator Popovych

Both Russia and North Korea have acknowledged the presence of North Korean troops in the war, with Russian propagandists even filming televised reports featuring them, military commentator Denys Popovych told Radio NV on April 30.

30 April 2025, 11:40 AM

North Korea's Pukguksong-2 missiles spotted in Russia

Russia may have acquired Pukguksong-2 missiles from North Korea, Defense Express reported on Dec. 22. The missiles, which have a range of at least 1,200 kilometers, were allegedly spotted in a video filmed in Russia’s Tyumen Oblast.

23 December 2024, 11:04 AM

Over 200 North Korean soldiers injured in Kursk Oblast in 2 days, SBU intercepts reveal

North Korea has suffered at least 220 wounded soldiers in Russia’s Kursk Oblast over the past few days, according to intercepted conversations released by Ukraine's SBU Security Service on Telegram on Dec. 18.

18 December 2024, 03:01 PM

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