North Korea has strongly criticized the ongoing joint military exercise between the United States and Japan, accusing Tokyo of exploiting global instability to transform itself into a 'militarist state.' According to a report by North Korea’s state news agency KCNA, the exercise, named 'Resolute Dragon,' is being used by Japan to test its ability to conduct overseas military operations.

Pyongyang further alleged that Japan’s deepening military cooperation with the United States is worsening security instability in the Asia-Pacific region. It claimed that Japan had earlier participated for the first time in a US-led multinational drill in April and May, where it tested long-range missile capabilities aimed at potential preemptive strikes against neighboring countries.

The North Korean statement warned that continued military activities of this nature could bring 'terrible consequences' for Japan. The 'Resolute Dragon' exercise began on June 20 in Japan’s southwestern Okinawa and Kyushu islands, involving the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and the US Marine Corps, and is scheduled to conclude on Tuesday.

China and North Korea have adopted a long-term and far-reaching plan to enhance their bilateral relations, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Wednesday. The plan was agreed during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to North Korea on Monday. The visit took place at a time when North Korea’s ties with Russia have become closer than ever, with Pyongyang reportedly sending troops and military equipment to assist Moscow in the Ukraine war.

KCNA reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and President Xi Jinping expressed satisfaction over the formulation of the plan aimed at strengthening bilateral relations. During the two-day visit, both nations reaffirmed their historical friendship and mutual cooperation, pledging to make their relationship one of the world’s strongest and most strategic partnerships.

In a letter to Kim Jong Un after the visit, Xi Jinping said both leaders held in-depth discussions on issues of mutual interest and reached several important agreements. He added that the meeting reflected their shared determination to reinforce traditional friendship, promote joint development and prosperity, and maintain regional and global peace and stability.

A recent report has challenged long-held assumptions that North Korea’s economy remains stagnant under international sanctions and isolation. Observations suggest signs of partial stability and limited progress, particularly through defense cooperation with Russia and cross-border trade with China. These channels reportedly bring in foreign currency and essential goods, helping sustain certain state and sectoral activities.

Experts cited in the report note that strategic exports, including weapons and industrial products, continue to generate revenue despite sanctions. Informal and formal trade with China is said to have maintained some economic steadiness. In Pyongyang, new urban economic activities such as digital services, mobile technology expansion, and consumer market trends indicate a growing urban middle class with increased spending capacity.

However, analysts caution that these developments may not reflect nationwide improvement. Growth appears concentrated in specific urban and state-linked sectors, potentially widening income inequality. Despite emerging signs of vitality, structural constraints and international pressure continue to pose major risks to North Korea’s long-term economic stability.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has inspected a new factory producing nuclear weapons materials and announced plans to accelerate the country’s nuclear expansion. According to state news agency KCNA, Kim said North Korea’s production capacity for weapons-grade nuclear materials has more than doubled in the past five years. The new facility is expected to further strengthen the country’s nuclear deterrence.

Analysts noted that after the failure of denuclearization talks with the United States, North Korea intensified its nuclear development, particularly following three summits during Donald Trump’s first presidential term that ended without agreement. The U.S. Congressional Research Service reported in March that North Korea possesses enough material for about 90 nuclear warheads, with roughly 50 already assembled. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed at least two active uranium enrichment sites in Yongbyon and Kangson, while monitoring construction of another facility similar to Kangson’s.

It remains unclear whether the site Kim visited is the new Yongbyon facility or a separate undisclosed location. Experts said the new plant signals North Korea’s transition from limited research to mass production and deployment of nuclear weapons.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in North Korea to meet with the country's leader Kim Jong Un. According to China's state-run news agency Xinhua, Xi landed in Pyongyang on Monday afternoon local time. This marks his first visit to North Korea in seven years.

The visit comes at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty. Beijing is seeking to project itself as a multifaceted global power, and Xi’s trip to Pyongyang is described as part of that broader effort. The meeting between Xi and Kim is expected to underscore the ongoing relationship between the two neighboring countries.

The report did not provide details about the agenda or specific outcomes expected from the meeting.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has directed his country’s navy to enhance its nuclear deterrence capabilities. According to a report published by state media on Saturday, Kim issued the order while overseeing a naval operation test aboard the warship Kang Kon. The directive comes just days before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned visit to North Korea from June 8 to 9, jointly announced by Beijing and Pyongyang.

Kim emphasized that the navy must quickly become a reliable component of the nation’s nuclear deterrence system, capable of delivering “deadly strikes” both above and below water. Strengthening naval power is one of the main goals of the ruling party’s current five-year defense development plan. State media photos showed Kim accompanied by senior military and government officials, as well as his daughter Ju Ae.

The report also recalled that Kim had previously supervised the failed launch of the Kang Kon destroyer in May last year, which was later repaired and relaunched. Analysts cited in the report noted that Kim’s ties with Russia have deepened amid the Ukraine war, bolstering his international standing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to North Korea next Monday for a two-day state visit, marking his first trip there in nearly seven years. The visit comes as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un strengthens his strategic partnership with Russia to ease economic isolation. Analysts say Xi aims to present a united front against the West while reaffirming Beijing’s influence over Pyongyang, which has recently leaned closer to Moscow.

Kim is expected to use his improved ties with Russia to seek greater economic benefits from China, while maintaining balance between his two powerful neighbors. North Korea’s renewed defense pact with Moscow and its supply of arms to Russia in exchange for oil, food, and technology have reduced its dependence on Beijing, raising concerns in China about losing regional leverage.

The summit may also touch on nuclear issues, though Kim has ruled out talks with Washington over his nuclear program. Analysts note that Beijing’s stance on North Korea’s nuclear ambitions appears to be softening, viewing Pyongyang’s arsenal as a potential strategic advantage against the United States and its allies.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has announced plans to expand the country’s nuclear military capabilities at an exponential rate. According to state media reports on Wednesday, Kim made the declaration during a visit to a new nuclear material production facility. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim outlined an ambitious plan to rapidly strengthen North Korea’s nuclear forces. He claimed that the nation’s capacity to produce weapons-grade nuclear materials has more than doubled over the past five years. The location of the facility was not disclosed, though analysts believe it may be a newly built uranium enrichment center in Yongbyon.

North Korea has long resisted U.S. pressure to abandon its nuclear program, insisting that its nuclear weapons policy is irreversible and non-negotiable. Analysts suggest the latest move signals Pyongyang’s intent to show the international community that denuclearization is off the table. The announcement comes amid ongoing U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, adding strategic significance to North Korea’s timing.

Experts note that if the facility is indeed in Yongbyon, the development carries both production and political messaging value, highlighting North Korea’s continued defiance of international sanctions and diplomatic pressure.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered his military to transform the country’s southern border into an 'impregnable fortress' and to further strengthen frontline units. The directive was issued during a high-level military meeting held on Sunday, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Photographs released by KCNA showed Kim in full military uniform meeting senior officers. He emphasized the need for major changes to prevent war and instructed commanders to adopt a tougher stance toward what he called the 'main enemy,' widely interpreted as South Korea.

KCNA reported that Kim presented plans to enhance the military and technological capabilities of frontline and key forces to make war deterrence more effective. He described the decision as highly significant and reiterated that the southern border would be fortified into an unbreakable defense line.

Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said Kim’s directive reflects lessons drawn from the Russia-Ukraine war, noting that North Korea’s military planning now emphasizes drone warfare, precision strikes, electronic warfare, and multidimensional battlefields, including cyber and space domains.

North Korea on Sunday dismissed US allegations that it engages in cybercrime to earn illegal income, calling the claims baseless slander. Pyongyang’s foreign ministry, through a statement published by state news agency KCNA, accused Washington of spreading false information and fabricating cyber threats to damage the country’s image for political purposes.

The United States has long accused North Korea of expanding its cyberwarfare program, allegedly stealing billions of dollars in virtual assets over recent years. The US Department of Justice recently sentenced two American citizens for helping North Koreans secure remote IT jobs at US companies, generating illicit funds for Pyongyang’s weapons programs. Investigations found that more than a hundred American firms, including Fortune 500 companies and a defense contractor, were targeted.

According to UN findings, North Korean cyberattacks since 2017 have stolen over $3 billion in cryptocurrency, reportedly used to finance weapons development. Cybersecurity analysts also reported attempted attacks on widely used software packages linked to North Korean hackers.

North Korean President Kim Jong Un has reiterated his full support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, calling it a “just and sacred” struggle. According to the state news agency KCNA, Kim pledged continued assistance to ensure Russia’s victory. The statement came during a meeting in Pyongyang with Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, where both sides discussed strengthening military cooperation.

Analysts cited in the report said North Korea has already sent missiles, ammunition, and thousands of troops to Russia in exchange for financial aid, military technology, food, and energy. Belousov announced that Moscow is ready to sign a joint cooperation plan with North Korea covering 2027 to 2031. Kim, Belousov, and Russian parliamentary speaker Vyacheslav Volodin also attended the inauguration of a memorial honoring North Korean soldiers killed in Ukraine.

The memorial event, held to mark the first anniversary of Russia’s recapture of parts of the Kursk region, featured concerts, fireworks, and an air force parade. South Korea estimates that around 2,000 North Korean soldiers have died in the conflict.

South Korea’s military reported that North Korea launched multiple unidentified ballistic missiles into the East Sea early Sunday, local time around 6:10 a.m. The missiles were fired from the Sinpo area, marking the latest in a series of weapons tests by the nuclear-armed state. In response, South Korea’s presidential office decided to convene an emergency security meeting, while surveillance and alert levels were heightened amid concerns of further launches.

According to AFP, Pyongyang has recently conducted several weapons tests, including ballistic and anti-ship cruise missiles as well as cluster munitions. Analysts view the latest launch as a signal of North Korea’s rejection of Seoul’s efforts to improve strained relations. Earlier this year, Seoul had expressed regret over a drone intrusion into North Korea, which was initially welcomed by Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong. However, Pyongyang later labeled South Korea its “most hostile state.”

The report also notes that North Korea continues to defy UN sanctions restricting its nuclear and missile programs. Recent satellite imagery cited by a South Korean lawmaker suggests Pyongyang is accelerating naval modernization with possible Russian military assistance.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told the Supreme People’s Assembly on Tuesday that the ongoing war between Iran and the United States proves his country was right to retain its nuclear weapons. He said the current situation shows that rejecting US pressure and promises to abandon nuclear arms was the correct decision. Kim accused Washington of state-sponsored terrorism and aggression, declaring North Korea’s status as a nuclear power to be irreversible.

The remarks came after former US President Donald Trump described Iran as an imminent threat, despite earlier claiming to have destroyed its nuclear capability. For North Korea’s leadership, the Iran conflict reinforces the belief that nations without nuclear weapons are more vulnerable to US military power, while those possessing them can deter attacks.

Kim’s comments coincide with renewed diplomatic signals from Trump, who has hinted at restarting talks with Pyongyang. However, Kim indicated that any future meeting would differ from past summits, insisting that the US must first recognize North Korea as a nuclear state and abandon its hostile policies.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been re-elected with 99.93 percent of the votes in the Supreme People’s Assembly election held on March 15. His ruling Workers’ Party of Korea and allied groups secured an overwhelming victory, according to state media reports. The election featured only one approved candidate per seat, giving voters the option to either accept or reject the nominee.

The 0.07 percent of votes cast against the official candidates drew notable attention, as it was seen as a rare expression of dissent. The state news agency KCNA acknowledged that no opposition candidates participated in the election. This marks the first time since 1957 that state media publicly admitted the existence of “no” votes. A total of 687 members, including workers, farmers, intellectuals, and military representatives, were elected.

Kim Jong-un has ruled North Korea since 2011 following the death of his father, Kim Jong-il. His authority was further consolidated in 2019 through constitutional amendments, granting him full control over the country’s military and government institutions.

North Korea has condemned the attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, describing them as an 'illegal act of aggression' and a violation of a sovereign nation's rights. The statement was issued by a spokesperson for North Korea’s Foreign Ministry and reported by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), citing Al Jazeera.

According to the KCNA report, the spokesperson said that US involvement in the attacks was 'within expectations' and reflected what was described as the United States’ 'hegemonic and gangster-like' nature. The statement further asserted that the aggressive war initiated by the US and Israel was unacceptable under any circumstances.

North Korea called on all parties to respect international law and the United Nations Charter, urging them to refrain from actions that could escalate regional tensions, according to the KCNA report.