Kim Jong Un

South Korea's defense ministry said on Monday the timing, scale and formation of the drills were not yet finalized. The US Forces Korea declined to comment, citing its policy.

North Korean authorities had become concerned about the AstraZeneca vaccine after reports of rare but serious blood clotting events among some people who received it.

North Korea has not reported a single confirmed case of the coronavirus, though South Korean and US officials have expressed skepticism over that claim.

The warning by Air Force General Glen VanHerck appeared based on North Korea's October unveiling at a parade of what would be its largest ICBM yet.

"If it wants to sleep in peace for coming four years, it had better refrain from causing a stink at its first step," the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un said on Tuesday.

During his election campaign, Biden described Kim as a "thug" and said he would only meet him "on the condition that he would agree that he would be drawing down his nuclear capacity."

'I can get you home in two hours if you want,' Trump reportedly told Kim, shocking everyone in the room. "Kim declined," former Deputy National Security Advisor Matthew Pottinger said.

Ri had not been seen since January last year at an event for the Lunar New Year holiday, stoking speculation over her health and potential pregnancy.

In the past year, North Korea displayed new short-range, medium-range, submarine-launched and intercontinental ballistic missile systems at military parades, the UN report said.

Kuwait had been a key source of foreign currency for Pyongyang, which sent thousands of laborers there, mostly for construction projects.