North Korea

‘Prison without bars’: North Koreans who fled Russia describe slave-like labor conditions

Thousands of North Korean citizens are sent to Russia each year, but their working conditions are akin to slavery — 18-hour shifts, just two days off a year, and constant surveillance by North Korean security agents, the BBC reported on Aug. 12, citing six North Korean laborers who escaped Russia after the war against Ukraine began.

12 August 2025, 03:35 PM

North Korean aides visit Beijing as economic ties with China grow

Two close aides to North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un traveled to Beijing in July, likely in connection with construction projects, Japan’s Kyodo News reported.

12 August 2025, 11:11 AM

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

Moscow revives direct air link to Pyongyang

Russia has launched the first direct passenger flights from Moscow to North Korea's capital Pyongyang since the mid-1990s, Reuters reported on July 27.

28 July 2025, 09:35 AM

Signs of a World War and Ukraine’s place in it—opinion

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin asked U.S. President Donald Trump for 60 days to finish off Ukraine from the air and bite off as much territory as possible. Trump thought about it and, in principle, agreed—he gave Putin 50 days for the job.

18 July 2025, 01:18 AM

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 likely supplied Russia with millions of artillery shells — South Korean military intelligence

South Korean military intelligence believes North Korea may have supplied Russia with over 12 million 152mm shells for its war against Ukraine, Yonhap reported on July 13.

13 July 2025, 11:38 AM

North Korean troops not currently engaged against Ukraine, HUR says

North Korean troops serving under Russian military command are not currently involved in combat operations against Ukrainian forces, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) told LIGA.net on July 1.

2 July 2025, 01:24 AM

Russia gave North Korea AA systems, Shahed technology — HUR

North Korea has deployed the first Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft systems it received from Russia, along with technology to produce Iranian-designed Shahed UAVs, Ukrainian Defense Intelligence (HUR) chief Kyrylo Budanov said on July 1.

1 July 2025, 11:46 PM

Presence of North Korean troops in Ukraine may increase the strength of Russia’s offensive operations — ISW

The deployment of North Korean troops on Ukrainian territory, as warned by South Korean intelligence, could mark a significant turning point on the battlefield and enhance Russia's offensive capabilities, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on June 26.

27 June 2025, 11:15 AM

Ukraine-Japan talks: Zelenskyy and Ishiba meet to discuss key issues

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of Japan Shigeru Ishiba discussed Russia's cooperation with North Korea and Iran, highlighting the real threat it poses not only to Europe but to the entire world, including the Southeast Asian region, according to the press service of the President's Office on June 18.

18 June 2025, 11:09 AM

Russia shares drone tech with North Korea, Zelenskyy warns

Ukrainian intelligence indicates that Moscow has made its Iranian-derived UAV technology available to North Korea, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on June 10.

10 June 2025, 11:38 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

Russia received 9 million artillery shells from North Korea

In 2024 alone, Russia received 9 million artillery shells of various calibers and 100 ballistic missiles from North Korea, according to a report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Group (MSMT) released on May 29.

29 May 2025, 08:41 PM

China, Iran, and North Korea aid Russia’s war against Ukraine — NATO Secretary General

China, Iran, and North Korea are actively supporting Russia in its war against Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said, La Repubblica reported on May 27.

27 May 2025, 08:21 AM

Trump administration weighs pulling thousands of U.S. troops from South Korea

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is considering withdrawing thousands of American troops from South Korea, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources on May 23.

23 May 2025, 12:19 PM

Russia helped North Korea modernize missiles

South Korea’s military said North Korea received Russian help to develop a new air-to-air missile, following a test last week, Yonhap reported on May 19.

19 May 2025, 07:55 PM

North Korea

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