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Korea Herald
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
N. Korea's Kim pays tribute to prominent military figure
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has paid respects at the tomb of Hyon Chol-hae, who is known to have played a key role in grooming him for leadership, to mark the third anniversary of his death, the North's state media reported Monday. Kim visited the Patriotic Martyrs Cemetery in Sinmi-ri the previous day and laid a flower to mark the third anniversary of Hyon's death, the Korean Central News Agency said. Hyon, marshal of the Korean People's Army, died at 87 on May 19, 2022. He is known to have played a key role in assisting Kim Jong-il, the father of the current leader, in consolidating control over the military and in preparing Kim Jong-un as his successor. In 2022, North Korea held a state funeral for Hyon, chaired by Kim Jong-un. Kim also visited Hyon's tomb on the first and second anniversaries of his death. "Still vivid in my memory is Comrade Hyon Chol-hae, who was always with General Kim Jong-il. He was a shadow of the great General," Kim was quoted as saying by the KCNA. "He will live forever in our minds, always reminding us of the era of Kim Jong-il and encouraging us in our sacred struggle for a great victory." (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Kim Jong-un oversees anti-air combat, air raid drills, calls for stronger war preparations
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw anti-air combat and air raid drills by an air force flight group this week, stressing the need for constant and stronger war preparations across all military units, Pyongyang's state media reported Saturday. Kim gave the guidance during his visit Thursday to the flight group under the Guards 1st Air Division of the Korean People's Army, calling on "all the units of the entire army to bring about a radical turn in the preparations for war in constant war posture," the Korean Central News Agency said. The drills were aimed at familiarizing flying corps as well as anti-air missile, radar and electronic warfare subunits with the mission to detect, track and destroy enemy cruise missiles and suicide drones, according to the KCNA. The drills included a test of a new-type long-range precision glide guided bomb and a target attack exercise, as well as a training program for destroying enemy drones with a helicopter, precision bombing of naval targets and a demonstration flight of strategic reconnaissance drones and multipurpose drones, the KCNA said. Kim touted the drills as "very useful" for allowing pilots to gain experience in modern air combat methods, and presented directions for the development of air weapon systems, air defense means, detection and electronic warfare integrated systems and anti-drone integrated systems, according to the KCNA. The drills proved the air defense capabilities of the groups under the Guards 1st Air Division, the state media noted. State media photos showed a range of the North's latest air assets, such as the MiG-29 and the Su-25 aircraft, deployed for the drills. Among the photos were what appeared to be a new air-to-air missile, first showcased in a 2021 arms fair, being launched from the MiG-29 fighter jet. "It is presumed to be a localized version of Russia's R-27 mid-to-long range air-to-air missile developed by the Russian Air Force to be equipped on the MiG-29," Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said, raising the possibility of Pyongyang receiving technological assistance from Moscow. State media photos also showed North Korean drones resembling the U.S. Global Hawk and the Reaper. The latest drills came as Kim has been highlighting the importance of modernizing conventional weapons as he recently made a series of public visits to military units and munitions factories. Kim was accompanied by a group of party and military officials, including Ri Pyong-chol, general adviser for the munitions policy of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Committee, and Kim Yong-hwan, president of the Academy of Defence Sciences. (Yonhap)
Toronto Sun
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
North Korea says Kim supervised missile tests simulating nuclear strikes against rivals
Published May 09, 2025 • 3 minute read This picture released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on May 9, 2025 shows a joint striking drill of long-range artillery and missile systems of the Korean People's Army eastern front division at an undisclosed location in North Korea. Photo by KCNA VIA KNS / AFP via Getty Images SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised tests of short-range ballistic missile systems that simulated nuclear counterstrikes against U.S. and South Korean forces, state media said Friday, as the North continued to blame its rivals for escalating tensions through their joint military exercises. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The report came a day after South Korea's military detected multiple launches from North Korea's eastern coast and assessed that the tests could also be related to the country's weapons exports to Russia during its war in Ukraine. North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency said Thursday's tests involved a mobile ballistic missile system apparently modeled after Russia's Iskander, as well as 600-millimeter multiple rocket launchers that South Korean officials classify as ballistic due to their self-propulsion and guided flight. Both are part of a growing lineup of weapons systems that the North says could be armed with 'tactical' nuclear weapons for battlefield use. KCNA said the tests were intended to train military units operating missile and rocket systems to more effectively execute attacks under the North's nuclear weapons control system and ensure a swift response to a nuclear crisis. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The agency criticized the United States and its 'vassal states' for expanding joint military exercises on and around the Korean Peninsula, which the North claims are preparations for nuclear war, and said Thursday's launches demonstrated the 'rapid counteraction posture' of its forces. Kim stressed the need to strengthen the role of his nuclear forces in both deterring and fighting war, and called for continued efforts to improve combat readiness and precision strike capabilities, KCNA said. Kim Inae, spokesperson for South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, described the latest North Korean launches as a 'clear act of provocation' that violates UN Security Council resolutions and poses a serious threat to peace and stability in the region. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated in recent months as North Korean leader Kim continues to accelerate the development of his nuclear and missile program and supply weapons and troops to support Russia's war against Ukraine. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In a separate report, KCNA said Kim Jong Un visited the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang on Friday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany and praised the development of 'long-standing strategic relations' between the two countries.' South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Thursday's launches involved multiple missiles of various types that were fired from an area around the eastern port city of Wonsan from about 8:10 to 9:20 a.m., with the farthest traveling about 800 kilometers (497 miles). Lee Sung Joon, spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs, said in a briefing the North Korean launches were possibly intended to test the performance of weapons it plans to export, as the country continues to send military equipment and troops to fuel Russia's warfighting against Ukraine. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters that none of the North Korean missiles reached Japan's exclusive economic zone and there was no damage to vessels or aircraft in the area. It was the North's first known ballistic activity since March 10, when it fired several ballistic missiles hours after U.S. and South Korean troops began an annual combined military exercise, and the country's sixth launch event of the year. Thursday's launch came a day after North Korean state media said Kim urged munition workers to boost the production of artillery shells amid his deepening alignment with Moscow. Canada Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls Toronto Maple Leafs
Miami Herald
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
North Korea Photos Offer Glimpse of Kim Jong Un's Tank Factory
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is shown inspecting a "major" tank production facility in photos released by state media. Kim said replacing the country's aging 20th-century armor is a top priority as the Korean People's Army upgrades its ground forces, the Korean Central News Agency reported Sunday. Kim has accelerated this modernization push in recent years, expanding North Korea's United Nations-sanctioned nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missile programs while also developing more advanced tanks, kamikaze drones, and a navy destroyer. He has cited "provocative" U.S. security cooperation with South Korea and Japan as justification for these efforts. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest in decades, fueled by Kim's frequent missile launches, a constitutional amendment declaring the South to be a "hostile state," and the deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to join Russia's war against Ukraine. Newsweek reached out to the North Korean embassy in China by email with a request for comment. During his visit, Kim praised advancements in North Korea's tank designs including improvements to firepower systems, maneuverability, and electronic warfare capabilities. Stepping up large-scale production of tanks and self-propelled artillery in a short period is crucial to achieving what he described as a "second revolution" of the communist country's armed forces. In addition to a tank and unassembled tank components, self-propelled howitzers can be seen in the background of one of the photos accompanying the KCNA report. Although no North Korean tanks have been reported being used by Russian forces, a video shared on Telegram by a Russian soldier in January appeared to show a North Korean self-propelled howitzer-specifically the "Koksan" M1989-deployed on the Ukrainian front lines. That followed an earlier assessment by Ukrainian military intelligence that some 50 Koksan units, along with 20 240-mm multiple launch rocket systems, had been shipped to Russia. North Korea has also served as a major source of munitions for Russia, helping to offset severe shortages as Russian troops burned through ammunition in Ukraine. Pyongyang has supplied a number of short-range missiles and between 4 and 6 million artillery shells since the fall of 2023, according to a joint study by Reuters and the Open Source Centre last month, based on satellite imagery of Russia-flagged container ships and other sources. North Korea is believed to have suffered around 4,700 casualties out of as many as 15,000 North Koreans deployed to the front, according to South Korean lawmakers who cited intelligence officials. Yet, the survivors will bring back valuable experience in modern battle tactics. Washington and its allies have also voiced concerns Pyongyang could be receiving Russian technical assistance for its nuclear weapons program in exchange for its support. A North Korean "military commentator" was quoted in an article published by KCNA Saturday: "The building of the strongest offensive and defensive power capable of overwhelmingly suppressing any form of military threat posed by the U.S. arms buildup directly aiming at the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] is the best option for deterring the danger of the outbreak of a nuclear war and ensuring the balance of strength on the Korean peninsula." U.S. President Donald Trump, who during his first term held two failed summits with Kim aimed at working toward North Korea's denuclearization, has said he is open to resuming contact with the North Korean leader. Trump administration officials told Axios, on condition of anonymity, that they have been speaking with experts on how to approach another Trump-Kim meeting. For now, however, that scenario has taken a backseat to Washington's so-far unsuccessful efforts to bring Russia to the negotiating table and end the Ukraine war, now on its fourth year. Related Articles Why China's Rogue State Allies May Worry BeijingRussia Deepens Connections With North KoreaUS Updates Travel Warning for North KoreaNorth Korea's Total Troop Deaths in Ukraine War Revealed by South 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
North Korea Photos Offer Glimpse of Kim Jong Un's Tank Factory
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is shown inspecting a "major" tank production facility in photos released by state media. Kim said replacing the country's aging 20th-century armor is a top priority as the Korean People's Army upgrades its ground forces, the Korean Central News Agency reported Sunday. Why It Matters Kim has accelerated this modernization push in recent years, expanding North Korea's United Nations-sanctioned nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missile programs while also developing more advanced tanks, kamikaze drones, and a navy destroyer. He has cited "provocative" U.S. security cooperation with South Korea and Japan as justification for these efforts. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest in decades, fueled by Kim's frequent missile launches, a constitutional amendment declaring the South to be a "hostile state," and the deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to join Russia's war against Ukraine. Newsweek reached out to the North Korean embassy in China by email with a request for comment. What To Know During his visit, Kim praised advancements in North Korea's tank designs including improvements to firepower systems, maneuverability, and electronic warfare capabilities. Stepping up large-scale production of tanks and self-propelled artillery in a short period is crucial to achieving what he described as a "second revolution" of the communist country's armed forces. In addition to a tank and unassembled tank components, self-propelled howitzers can be seen in the background of one of the photos accompanying the KCNA report. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects a tank factory. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects a tank factory. Korean Central News Agency Although no North Korean tanks have been reported being used by Russian forces, a video shared on Telegram by a Russian soldier in January appeared to show a North Korean self-propelled howitzer—specifically the "Koksan" M1989—deployed on the Ukrainian front lines. That followed an earlier assessment by Ukrainian military intelligence that some 50 Koksan units, along with 20 240-mm multiple launch rocket systems, had been shipped to Russia. North Korea has also served as a major source of munitions for Russia, helping to offset severe shortages as Russian troops burned through ammunition in Ukraine. Pyongyang has supplied a number of short-range missiles and between 4 and 6 million artillery shells since the fall of 2023, according to a joint study by Reuters and the Open Source Centre last month, based on satellite imagery of Russia-flagged container ships and other sources. 1 of 2 North Korea is believed to have suffered around 4,700 casualties out of as many as 15,000 North Koreans deployed to the front, according to South Korean lawmakers who cited intelligence officials. Yet, the survivors will bring back valuable experience in modern battle tactics. Washington and its allies have also voiced concerns Pyongyang could be receiving Russian technical assistance for its nuclear weapons program in exchange for its support. What People Are Saying A North Korean "military commentator" was quoted in an article published by KCNA Saturday: "The building of the strongest offensive and defensive power capable of overwhelmingly suppressing any form of military threat posed by the U.S. arms buildup directly aiming at the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] is the best option for deterring the danger of the outbreak of a nuclear war and ensuring the balance of strength on the Korean peninsula." What's Next U.S. President Donald Trump, who during his first term held two failed summits with Kim aimed at working toward North Korea's denuclearization, has said he is open to resuming contact with the North Korean leader. Trump administration officials told Axios, on condition of anonymity, that they have been speaking with experts on how to approach another Trump-Kim meeting. For now, however, that scenario has taken a backseat to Washington's so-far unsuccessful efforts to bring Russia to the negotiating table and end the Ukraine war, now on its fourth year.
