Kim Jong Il

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to strengthen his country's nuclear capabilities "without limits" in response to perceived threats from the US, Japan, and South Korea, according to state media reports.

North Korea has declared its unwavering support for Russia in the Ukraine conflict, with Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui stating in Moscow that North Korea would remain committed to Russia until it achieves victory.

A man reads a newspaper displayed on a street for the public in Seoul on Oct. 21, 2024, showing a photo (L) of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (R) and Russia's President Vladimir Putin toasting at a banquet in Pyongyang earlier this year. (Photo by Anthony WALLACE / AFP)

The North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has signaled that he will speed up procedures to make his country a military superpower with nuclear weapons, the use of which he would not rule out if attacked, state news agency KCNA reported today.

South Korea is closely observing reports suggesting that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may have executed officials in response to flood-related casualties earlier this year, according to local media in Seoul. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) of South Korea is said to be monitoring the situation after detecting potential signs of such actions, as reported by Yonhap.

In 2021, photos circulating online showed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un having lost a significant amount of weight, prompting many to wonder if his different appearance was due to illness or simply a diet.

However, an anonymous analyst told South Korea’s “NK News” that Kim “may have decided to lose weight to improve his public image.”

In Pyongyang, Russian and North Korean leaders have signed a broad strategic partnership agreement, as reported by TASS. Yuri Ushakov, an adviser to Vladimir Putin, clarified that the agreement covers various aspects including security issues.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday hailed North Korea for "firmly supporting" Moscow's war in Ukraine ahead of a visit to Pyongyang set to boost defense ties between the two nuclear-armed countries.

China's top legislator and a senior North Korean official emphasised opening a "new chapter" of Beijing-Pyongyang relations, the North's state media said Saturday, as they met for one of the most high-level talks between the allies in years.

Amid escalating geopolitical tensions, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has issued a stark warning, emphasizing the imperative for heightened war readiness in the face of prevailing uncertainties.