Essay: COVID has reached North Korea, threatening a humanitarian emergency
In an article first published on The Conversation, global health researcher MICHAEL HEAD looks at the situation facing North Korea which only in recent days reported its first cases of COVID-19…
North Korea mobilises army, steps up tracing amid COVID wave
Seoul, South KoreaReuters North Korea has mobilised its military to distribute COVID medications and deployed more than 10,000 health workers to help trace potential patients as it fights a sweeping coronavirus wave, state media KCNA said on Tuesday. The isolated country is grappling with its first acknowledged COVID-19 outbreak, which it confirmed last week, fuelling […]
North Korea’s Kim says COVID “great turmoil”, 21 new deaths reported
Seoul, South KoreaReuters North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said on Saturday that the spread of COVID-19 had thrust his country into “great turmoil” and called for an all-out battle to overcome the outbreak, while 21 new daily deaths were reported among people with fever. North Korea made an unprecedented admission of its first COVID […]
North Korea reports first COVID-19 outbreak, orders lockdown in “gravest emergency”
Seoul, South KoreaReuters North Korea confirmed its first COVID-19 outbreak on Thursday, calling it the “gravest national emergency” and ordering a national lockdown, with state media reporting an Omicron variant had been detected in Pyongyang. The first public admission of COVID infections highlights the potential for a major crisis in a country that has refused […]
Global problems may exacerbate shortages in North Korea’s isolated economy
Seoul, South KoreaReuters North Korea’s isolated economy will not be insulated from global economic headwinds caused by the Ukraine war and the COVID-19 lockdowns in China, analysts said, with recently resumed border trade taking a hit and inflation exacerbating food shortages. Strict international sanctions ban or restrict wide categories of North Korean imports and exports, […]
North Korean leader Kim observes missile test to enhance nuclear capabilities
Seoul, South KoreaReuters North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has observed the test firing of a new type of tactical guided weapon aimed at boosting the country’s nuclear capabilities, the North’s KCNA state news agency reported on Sunday. The report comes amid signs North Korea could soon resume nuclear testing according to South Korean and US […]
North Korea celebrates founder with dance, music but no military parade
Seoul, South KoreaReuters North Korea celebrated the 110th anniversary of the birth of late founder Kim Il-sung on Friday with fireworks, a procession, and an evening gala in Pyongyang’s main square, with thousands of people in colourful traditional dress singing and dancing. “The Day of the Sun” is North Korea’s biggest annual public holiday. Kim, […]
North Korea celebrates 10 years of Kim Jong-un as top party leader
Seoul, South Korea Reuters North Korea praised Kim Jong-un’s leadership in developing nuclear weapons, touted his political achievements, and unveiled new portraits and exhibitions to celebrate his 10 years in charge of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea. Kim is considered to have assumed power when he was named supreme commander of the military after […]
North Korea says tested most powerful missile since 2017, took pictures from space
Seoul, South KoreaReuters North Korea confirmed on Monday it had tested a Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile, state media reported, as US and South Korean officials warned Sunday’s launch could lead to resumed testing of long-range weapons and nuclear bombs. It was the seventh conducted by North Korea this month and the first time a nuclear-capable […]
North Korea caps month of tests with longest-range missile since 2017
Seoul, South KoreaReuters North Korea conducted its largest missile test since 2017 on Sunday, sending a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile soaring into space, seen as taking the nuclear-armed country a step closer to resuming long-range testing. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that a projectile believed to be a single ballistic missile was launched […]