Kim Jong Un

North Korea flaunts nuclear growth ahead of high-stakes Xi-Kim meeting

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea next week as Kim Jong Un pushes for an "exponential" expansion of the country's nuclear arsenal and deepens ties with Russia.

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a tea ceremony with Russian President Vladimir Putin following their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China May 20, 2026.
FILE PHOTO:  A missile is fired during a test-fire of strategic cruise missiles and anti-warship missiles from the destroyer Choe Hyon, North Korea, April 12, 2026, in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), April 14, 2026.

North Korea tests mix of enhanced ballistic, cruise missiles and artillery rockets

 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during the expanded meeting of the first plenary meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), in Pyongyang, North Korea.

North Korea executions more than doubled after COVID, human rights group says

A test of the upgraded Hwasong-11LA ground-to-ground tactical short-range ballistic missile at an undisclosed location in North Korea, April 19, 2026, in this picture released on April 20, 2026, by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency.

UK condemns North Korean missile launches testing warheads containing cluster munitions


North Korea's Kim Jong Un to visit Russia for talks with Putin

The United States has said it would be a "huge mistake" for North Korea to supply Russia with weapons to use in Ukraine and warned Pyongyang would "pay a price".

 Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un pose for a photo during their meeting in Vladivostok, Russia, April 25, 2019. Picture taken April 25, 2019.

North Korea unveils first tactical, nuclear-armed submarine

Submarine No. 841 - named Hero Kim Kun Ok after a North Korean historical figure - will be one of the main "underwater offensive means of the naval force" of North Korea, leader Kim Jong Un said.

 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends what state media report was a launching ceremony for a new tactical nuclear attack submarine in North Korea, in this picture released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on September 8, 2023.

Latest North Korean missile sparks new debate over possible Russian role

In response to recent allegations from a UN Panel of Experts that entities in Russia were procuring items for North Korea's missile program, Russia denied any knowledge or information on transactions

Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile is launched from an undisclosed location in North Korea in this image released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on July 13, 2023.

North Korea's Kim, Russia's Putin vow stronger ties

"I am firmly convinced that the friendship and solidarity ... will be further developed into a long-standing strategic relationship in conformity with the demand of the new era," Kim wrote.

 Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin shake hands.

North Korea developing nuclear weapons, evading sanctions in 2023 - UN report

The monitors, who report to the council twice a year, have previously accused North Korea of using cyberattacks to help fund its nuclear and missile programs.

 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watches as missiles are displayed during a military parade to mark the 75th founding anniversary of North Korea's army, at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea February 8, 2023, in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

North Korea's Kim shows off banned missiles to Russian minister

Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu was joined by Chinese Communist Party Politburo member Li Hongzhong at the 70th anniversary of North Korea's founding.

Kim Jong Un, North Korea's leader, attends a meeting with Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, chairwoman of Vietnam's National Assembly, at the National Assembly in Hanoi

In rare UN appearance, North Korea defends missile launch

The 15-member Security Council met after North Korea said it tested its latest weapon on Wednesday, and claimed the weapon is the core of its nuclear strike force.

 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watches as missiles are displayed during a military parade to mark the 75th founding anniversary of North Korea's army, at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea February 8, 2023, in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

South Korea's Yoon tells unification ministry to be less soft on North

South Korea's new unification minister advocates for his ministry to be harder on the north.

 Three ROK soldiers watching the border at Panmunjeom in the DMZ between North and South Korea, 2008

South Korea uses AI to measure North Korean leader's weight, lawmaker says

The lawmaker said Kim was believed to be suffering from a "severe" sleeping disorder, citing an intelligence report.

 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, his wife Ri Sol Ju and their daughter Kim Ju Ae attend a military parade to mark the 75th founding anniversary of North Korea's army, at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea February 8, 2023.

North Korea warns of 'extreme horror' as it tests new ICBM

Leader Kim Jong Un guided the test, and warned it would make enemies "experience a clearer security crisis, and constantly strike extreme uneasiness and horror into them."

 A view of a test launch of a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Hwasong-18 at an undisclosed location in this still image of a photo used in a video released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) April 14, 2023