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	<title>NK News &#8211; North Korea News</title>
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	<link>https://www.nknews.org/</link>
	<description>Breaking North Korea News, Opinion, Culture &#38; Curiosities + Professional, Academic &#38; Student resources on North Korea / DPRK</description>
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		<title>Jeju’s aid shipment to North Korea puts a shadowy broker back in the spotlight</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/jejus-aid-shipment-to-north-korea-puts-a-shadowy-broker-back-in-the-spotlight/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 10:27:23 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972871</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A South Korean resort island’s sudden announcement that it supplied humanitarian aid to North Korea has brought a familiar name back into the limelight: Ri Ho Nam, a controversial DPRK middleman who has facilitated inter-Korean exchanges for over three decades. The government of Jeju Island revealed on Monday that it had sent around $100,000 worth [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/Ri-Ho-Nam_Shadowy-Inter-Korean-broker_illustration-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Why Xi Jinping wants closer military ties with North Korea</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/why-xi-jinping-wants-closer-military-ties-with-north-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 10:19:58 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Analysis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972881</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Chinese President Xi Jinping’s allusion to boosting military ties with North Korea this week has raised the specter of deeper security cooperation between the long-time allies, including closer coordination on a Taiwan contingency. During a summit with Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang, Xi called for improving ties in the fields of diplomacy, law enforcement and [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/Military-coop-1-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Why the real focus of Xi’s state visit to North Korea was Taiwan, not Russia</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/why-the-real-focus-of-xis-state-visit-to-north-korea-was-taiwan-not-russia/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[John Everard]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 07:48:18 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972845</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Editor’s note: The following article is an opinion piece by John Everard, a former member of the U.N. Panel of Experts and the British ambassador to Pyongyang from 2006-2008. Views expressed in opinion articles are exclusively the author’s own and do not represent those of NK News. Chinese President Xi Jinping’s first state visit to North [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/kim-xi-summit-june-2026-op-ed-taiwan-featured-image-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>US officials meet with son of missionary detained in North Korea</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/us-officials-meet-with-son-of-missionary-detained-in-north-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 07:27:42 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972855</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The son of a South Korean missionary detained in North Korea met with senior U.S. officials in Seoul this week to seek support for the release of his father and others in DPRK custody. Choi Jin-young, co-founder of the ROK Hostages’ Families Association (ROKHFA), told NK News he delivered a letter calling on President Donald [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/Copy-of-Featured-Image-Empty-5-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>South Korea, EU express ‘grave concern’ over North Korea’s nuclear arsenal</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/south-korea-eu-express-grave-concern-over-north-koreas-nuclear-arsenal/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 07:25:58 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972850</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The leaders of South Korea and the EU issued a joint statement Tuesday expressing “grave concern” over North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, condemning its “illegal military cooperation” with Russia over the war against Ukraine. The comments were included in a 36-point joint statement following a summit between ROK President Lee Jae Myung, European [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/ROK-EUsummit-1-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Behind the scenes of Xi Jinping’s whirlwind trip to North Korea</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/gallery/behind-the-scenes-of-xi-jinpings-whirlwind-trip-to-north-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Seung-Yeon Chung]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 08:50:23 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Photos]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?post_type=gallery&#038;p=972809</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Chinese President Xi Jinping visited North Korea for the first time in seven years this week for a meeting with Kim Jong Un, packing numerous events into a busy two-day schedule. A summit between the two leaders headlined the visit, with Kim and Xi reportedly agreeing to boost DPRK-China relations across various sectors. The subject [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/edited_2026-06-09_kctv_kim-jong-un-xi-jinping_concert-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Seoul says denuclearization remains goal despite absence from Xi-Kim summit</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/seoul-says-denuclearization-remains-goal-despite-absence-from-xi-kim-summit/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 07:37:24 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972810</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korea has reaffirmed its commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Chinese President Xi Jinping omitted mention of the DPRK’s nuclear program at their summit this week. During Tuesday’s regular briefing in Seoul, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry rejected the notion that Beijing had effectively acquiesced [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/rok_XiKimSummit-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Xi Jinping&#8217;s return to Pyongyang and the future of China-North Korea relations</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/xi-jinpings-return-to-pyongyang-and-the-future-of-china-north-korea-relations/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Alannah Hill | NK News | Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 03:53:04 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[North Korea News Podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972800</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[On this week’s episode, NK News Lead Correspondent Shreyas Reddy unpacks Chinese President Xi Jinping&#8217;s first visit to North Korea in seven years and what it reveals about the future of China-DPRK relations. The conversation examines the symbolism and strategic messaging behind the two-day summit, including Xi&#8217;s meetings with Kim Jong Un, visits to the [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
				<enclosure url="https://media.blubrry.com/nknews/podcast01.nknews.org/podcast/north-korea-news-podcast/nk-news-podcast-xi-jinpings-return-to-pyongyang-and-the-future-of-china-north-korea-relations.mp3" length="33715605" type="audio/mpeg" />

		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/KJU-and-Xi-Jinping-shaking-hands-in-KIS-Square_Rodong-Sinmun-20260609-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Why Xi Jinping brought a ‘star team’ of top officials for talks with Kim Jong Un</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/why-xi-jinping-brought-a-star-team-of-top-officials-for-talks-with-kim-jong-un/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 10:20:54 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Analysis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972772</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Chinese leader Xi Jinping brought a “star team” of top economic, party and military officials on his second state visit to North Korea, experts say, a move that suggests Beijing is placing greater priority on bilateral ties to counteract Pyongyang’s drift toward Russia. Chinese state media reported that Xi’s right-hand man Cai Qi and veteran [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/1-5-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Xi wraps up North Korea trip with visits to friendship tower, cadre school</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/xi-wraps-up-north-korea-trip-with-visits-to-friendship-tower-cadre-school/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin | Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 10:10:11 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972771</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his two-day state visit to North Korea after paying tribute to fallen Chinese soldiers and visiting the DPRK’s top party cadre school on Tuesday, following talks with leader Kim Jong Un the previous day. According to China&#8217;s state-run Xinhua news agency, Xi returned to Beijing after concluding his activities [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/Xi-departure-featured_KCNA-20260610-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>What Xi Jinping’s motorcade said about North Korea-China ties</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/what-xi-jinpings-motorcade-said-about-north-korea-china-ties/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 10:05:04 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Analysis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972747</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s motorcade journey through Pyongyang’s newest housing districts highlighted just how much North Korea has changed since his last visit seven years ago, as well as how much bilateral ties remain the same. Xi received a grand reception from the moment he stepped off an Air China jet at Pyongyang’s Sunan International [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/Xi-motorcade-001_Rodong-Sinmun-20260609-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>North Korea illegally exported 1.5M tons of coal last year: ROK lawmaker</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/north-korea-illegally-exported-1-5m-tons-of-coal-last-year-rok-lawmaker/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 07:07:18 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972737</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea illegally exported around 1.5 million tons of coal last year, possibly by disguising the fuel as of Russian origin, according to a South Korean lawmaker.  Pyongyang “continues to export coal, iron ore and other minerals that are completely banned under U.N. Security Council resolutions,” Yu Yong-weon of the conservative People Power Party stated [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/Copy-of-Featured-Image-Empty-3-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>IAEA chief voices ‘serious concern’ about North Korea’s new nuclear facility</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/iaea-chief-voices-serious-concern-about-north-koreas-new-nuclear-facility/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Jun 2026 04:56:16 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972731</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The head of the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog expressed “serious concern” about North Korea’s operation of a new uranium enrichment facility, days after Pyongyang confirmed its existence for the first time. Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told the agency’s Board of Governors on Monday that inspectors have linked a facility [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Kim, Xi hail ‘invincible’ DPRK-China friendship at banquet and arts performance</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/kim-xi-hail-invincible-dprk-china-friendship-at-banquet-and-arts-performance/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 23:36:02 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972708</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean leader Kim Jong Un hosted a banquet and special cultural performance in honor of the Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit on Monday evening, celebrating the two countries’ “invincible” friendship shaped by their socialist ideals After holding a summit earlier in the day, the two leaders and first ladies — North Korea’s Ri [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Kim Jong Un, Xi Jinping hold talks on boosting ties, but ignore denuclearization</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/kim-jong-un-xi-jinping-kick-off-summit-talks-in-north-korean-capital/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin | Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 09:55:29 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972690</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed ways to expand economic ties and people-to-people exchanges in wide-ranging talks on Monday afternoon, including through the reopening of border crossings and resumption of civilian flights. But a readout released by China’s state-run Xinhua news agency made no mention of nuclear talks or [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/3-5-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>South Korea’s resort island of Jeju says it sent $100K in goods to North Korea</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/south-koreas-resort-island-of-jeju-says-it-sent-100k-in-goods-to-north-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:45:29 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972668</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korea’s southern resort island of Jeju has sent around $100,000 worth of medical equipment, fruit trees and other goods to North Korea via China, the first such shipment in years amid Pyongyang’s renunciation of inter-Korean ties. The goods worth about $104,568 (160 million won) were delivered via China’s Dalian port in April and arrived [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-08-at-4.25.40-PM-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Lee calls for talks with North Korea on nuclear moratorium as Xi meets Kim</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/lee-calls-for-talks-with-north-korea-on-nuclear-moratorium-as-xi-meets-kim/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 07:37:48 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972662</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for efforts to secure a moratorium on North Korea’s production of nuclear materials through talks on Monday, as Chinese leader Xi Jinping visits Pyongyang for a summit with Kim Jong Un. Lee made the remarks in response to questions about Seoul’s approach to denuclearization at a press conference [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Kim Jong Un tells kids to ‘shoulder future’ of North Korea at mass gathering</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/kim-jong-un-tells-kids-to-shoulder-future-of-north-korea-at-mass-gathering/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Seung-Yeon Chung]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 06:08:35 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972652</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean leader Kim Jong Un urged young people to “shoulder the future” of the country at a mass children’s gathering on Saturday, underscoring his focus on cultivating the next generation of supporters for his authoritarian rule. Kim delivered the speech during an event at Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang to celebrate the 80th [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/edited-2026-06-07_kcna_kju_kcu_group-photo-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Think tank raises estimate for North Korean nuclear arsenal to 60 warheads</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/think-tank-raises-estimate-for-north-korean-nuclear-arsenal-to-60-warheads/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 05:06:25 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972612</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea has expanded its nuclear arsenal to around 60 warheads, according to a new estimate from a Stockholm-based think tank, a 20% increase from its previous assessments. As of last January, the DPRK “had probably assembled around 60 warheads and possessed enough fissile material to potentially produce at least 90 warheads,” the Stockholm International [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/KJU-at-nuclear-material-production-plant-002_Rodong-Sinmun-20260604-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Xi calls for fighting ‘hegemonism’ with North Korea in state media article</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/xi-calls-for-fighting-hegemonism-with-north-korea-in-state-media-article/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 03:58:39 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972625</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Chinese leader Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of strategic cooperation with North Korea in an article published by DPRK state media on Monday, ahead of his first visit to Pyongyang in seven years. The commentary, carried on the front page of the ruling party newspaper Rodong Sinmun, called for socialist solidarity and opposition to “hegemonism [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/Xi-Jinping-commentary-2026-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrives in North Korea for summit with Kim Jong Un</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/chinese-leader-xi-jinping-arrives-in-north-korea-for-summit-with-kim-jong-un/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin | Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 03:26:42 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972614</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Monday, according to Beijing’s state-run Xinhua news agency, officially kicking off his two-day visit. State media footage showed Xi’s aircraft arriving at Pyongyang’s Sunan International Airport, where a red carpet and DPRK honor guards awaited the Chinese [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/Xi-Jinping-arrival-in-North-Korea_Rodong-Sinmun-20260609-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>China’s Xi Jinping departs for North Korea to meet Kim Jong Un</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/chinese-jet-lands-in-north-korea-as-xi-jinping-set-to-make-state-visit/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 02:04:56 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aviation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972597</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Chinese President Xi Jinping departed for North Korea on Monday morning for a summit with DPRK counterpart Kim Jong Un, according to Chinese state media. The state-run Xinhua news agency reported at 11 a.m. KST that Xi had left for North Korea on his “special aircraft.”  The Chinese president was joined by his wife Peng [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/2-4-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Kim Yo Jong slams US over claims of denuclearization cooperation with China</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/kim-yo-jong-slams-us-over-claims-of-denuclearization-cooperation-with-china/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 03:26:27 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972588</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The North Korean leader’s influential sister, Kim Yo Jong, denounced the U.S. on Sunday for spreading “baseless disinformation” that it is working with China toward denuclearization, reiterating a day before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the DPRK that the international community will never succeed in reversing Pyongyang’s “irreversible” nuclear status. In a statement published [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/Kim-Yo-JongTrump-Xi-summit-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Kim Jong Un pushes missile production boost in factory visit before Xi summit</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/kim-jong-un-pushes-missile-production-boost-in-factory-visit-before-xi-summit/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:59:59 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972575</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Kim Jong Un called for increased missile production in a visit to a weapons factory on Saturday, underscoring his focus on weapons development two days before a summit with China’s president. During a visit to the unspecified factory, the North Korean leader emphasized the need to boost capacity in line with the Korean People’s Army’s [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/KJU-at-missile-factory-001_Rodong-Sinmun-20260607-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Kim inspects nuclear-capable 5,000-ton warship, one year after capsizing</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/kim-inspects-nuclear-capable-5000-ton-warship-one-year-after-capsizing/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 06 Jun 2026 01:08:39 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972558</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Kim Jong Un inspected one of North Korea’s two biggest nuclear-capable warships as it conducted its first publicly reported navigation test on Friday, marking a long-awaited milestone for a warship whose development was thrown into doubt after it capsized during a botched launch a year ago. Accompanied by senior ruling party, military and weapons development [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/KJU-inspects-Kang-Kon-000_Rodong-Sinmun-20260606-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Otto Warmbier’s parents seek $17M seized from North Korea-linked nuclear network</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/otto-warmbiers-parents-seek-17m-seized-from-north-korea-linked-nuclear-network/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 08:58:44 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972546</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The parents of Otto Warmbier are mounting a new legal effort to seize millions in frozen assets recovered from a North Korea-linked nuclear proliferation network, nearly a decade since the American college student died following his detainment in the DPRK. In a motion filed publicly with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2017/09/OTTO-2-473x256.jpg" width="473" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Why North Korea issues played second fiddle to South Korea at Shangri-La</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/why-north-korea-issues-played-second-fiddle-to-south-korea-at-shangri-la/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 05:34:45 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Interviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972515</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[There was a striking “absence of discussions” about North Korea at this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue, according to the organizer’s Korea Chair, even as South Korean defense discussions featured prominently at the Singapore event. Dr. Lami Kim of the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) observed that Seoul’s defense spending and the proposed transfer of [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/Dr-Lami-Kim-interview_Shangri-La-4-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Seoul to compensate family of North Korean defector abducted by regime</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/seoul-to-compensate-family-of-north-korean-defector-abducted-by-regime/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 05:15:51 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Defector Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972531</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korea will provide around $12,000 in compensation to the family of a North Korean defector-journalist held by the Kim regime for nearly a decade, officially recognizing him as an abductee for the first time. A committee under Seoul’s Unification Ministry announced at a meeting on Thursday that it has approved a consolation payment of [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/Copy-of-Featured-Image-Empty-2-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>China’s Xi Jinping to make state visit to North Korea from Monday</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/chinas-xi-jinping-to-make-state-visit-to-north-korea-from-monday/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 02:18:18 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972505</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a two-day state visit to North Korea next week, according to North Korean and Chinese state media, marking his first trip to the country in seven years. Xi’s visit to the DPRK from Monday to Tuesday comes at the invitation of Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s state-run Korean Central [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2024/01/Copy-of-Featured-Image-Empty-2024-01-18T104400.425-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Russian ship tied to North Korean arms smuggling docks at Indian port</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/russian-ship-tied-to-north-korean-arms-smuggling-docks-at-indian-port/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 08:58:30 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Investigations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shipping]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972486</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A Russian ship linked to North Korean arms smuggling berthed at a key Indian naval hub this week, maritime data shows, a visit that an expert labeled a breach of U.N. sanctions. The Maia-1 (IMO 9358010) appeared to dock at the Indian port of Kochi (Cochin) on Wednesday, according to ship-trafficking data from MarineTraffic. The [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/9-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Seoul’s unification minister proposes four-way talks with North Korea, US, China</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/seouls-unification-minister-proposes-four-way-talks-with-north-korea-us-china/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 08:07:59 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972479</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korea’s unification minister proposed four-party talks with North Korea, the U.S. and China to advance peace on Thursday, addressing a security conference in Mongolia. In opening remarks at the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue, Chung Dong-young laid out a plan to change the current armistice system on the Korean Peninsula into a formal peace structure. “We can [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2025/09/1-1-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>North Korea eyes Belarusian tractors despite sanctions on imports</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/north-korea-eyes-belarusian-tractors-despite-sanctions-on-imports/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 05:14:56 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972452</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean officials toured a factory operated by a Belarusian heavy machinery maker this week, appearing to eye imports of tractors and other farming equipment that would likely run afoul of U.N. sanctions. A DPRK delegation led by External Economic Relations Minister Yun Jong Ho visited the facilities of Amkodor, a major Belarusian producer of [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2023/08/kctv-aug24-2023-kju-kumsong-tractor-factory-visit-inspection-riding-driving-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Why Canada is strengthening ties with Seoul against North Korean threats</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/why-canada-is-strengthening-ties-with-seoul-against-north-korean-threats/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 04:44:45 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Interviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972446</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Canada is strengthening its military commitment to the Korean Peninsula as part of a broader focus on the Indo-Pacific, reflecting a recognition that North Korean threats extend beyond the region, according to the former deputy commander of the U.N. Command (UNC). Speaking to NK News on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue last week, Lt. [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/ltgenderekmacaulay-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Ask a North Korean: Do North Koreans read Shakespeare?</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/ask-a-north-korean-do-north-koreans-read-shakespeare/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Nano]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 01:56:17 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Ask A North Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Defector Issues]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972166</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[“Ask a North Korean” is an NK News series featuring interviews with and columns by North Korean defectors, most of whom left the DPRK within the last few years. Readers may submit their questions for defectors by emailing ask@nknews.org and including their first name and city of residence. Today’s question is about the study of [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/05/north-korea-studying-literature-aank-photos-nknews-1-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Kim Jong Un unveils new nuclear enrichment plant in push to expand arsenal</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/kim-jong-un-unveils-new-nuclear-plant-vows-to-boost-arsenal-exponentially/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 22:51:03 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972429</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected a “newly commissioned nuclear material production plant” on Wednesday, according to state media, confirming the existence of a third facility enriching fuel to “exponentially” advance the country’s nuclear forces. Accompanied by senior officials from the ruling party’s Munitions Industry Department and the Nuclear Weapons Institute, the North Korean [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/KJU-inspects-nuclear-enrichment-facility_Rodong-Sinmun-20260604-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Top US diplomat consults with Seoul on North Korea, nuclear submarines</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/top-us-diplomat-consults-with-seoul-on-north-korea-nuclear-submarines/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 07:49:43 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972416</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The U.S. State Department’s point person for Korea discussed North Korea policy and bilateral security cooperation with officials in Seoul this week, including consultations related to South Korea&#8217;s planned development of a nuclear-powered submarine. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker met Jeong Yeon-doo, the director-general for strategy and intelligence at South Korea’s Foreign [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/allisonhooker_ROK-submarine-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>North Korean, Russian military medics sharing know-how from Ukraine war: Doctor</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/north-korean-russian-military-medics-sharing-know-how-from-ukraine-war-doctor/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 07:45:37 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972415</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean military medics have exchanged know-how with Russian counterparts as part of the allies’ cooperation over the Ukraine war, according to a top Russian surgeon. Dmitry Nazarov, a deputy branch chief of the Burdenko Main Military Clinical Hospital, told Russia’s state-run TASS news agency on Tuesday that “DPRK representatives helped a lot” during the [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2025/08/14-2-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>North Korea lambasts US commander for calling South a ‘dagger’ aimed at China</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/north-korea-lambasts-us-commander-for-calling-south-a-dagger-aimed-at-china/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 06:41:55 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972409</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean state media sharply criticized the commander of U.S. forces in South Korea on Wednesday over his recent description of the South as a “dagger” aimed at China, accusing Washington of reviving Cold War-era confrontation. In a commentary published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), international affairs analyst Kim Myong Chol said [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/Xavier-Brunson-addresses-AUSA_Twitter-20260513-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Chinese cargo plane flies to North Korea amid reports of imminent Xi visit</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/chinese-cargo-plane-flies-to-north-korea-amid-reports-of-imminent-xi-visit/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 05:00:47 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aviation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972394</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A cargo plane operated by China’s national airline made a round trip to North Korea on Monday, aviation data shows, amid reports that Chinese leader Xi Jinping is planning to visit Pyongyang soon. The Air China Cargo Boeing 747-4FTF (B-2475) departed Beijing Capital International Airport at around 9:40 a.m. KST and landed at Pyongyang’s Sunan [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/3-2-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Kim Jong Un denounces elites’ love of ‘corrupt wealth’ in speech to cadres</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/kim-jong-un-denounces-elites-love-of-corrupt-wealth-in-speech-to-cadres/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Colin Zwirko]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 07:43:03 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972363</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean leader Kim Jong Un denounced officials who amass “corrupt wealth” and young people’s “drift” from party teachings in a speech on Monday. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Tuesday that Kim visited the ruling Workers&#8217; Party of Korea (WPK) Central Cadres Training School in the capital to celebrate the institution’s 80th anniversary. [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/rodong-jun2-2026-kju-central-party-cadres-training-school-80th-anniv-visit-speech-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Belarusian autocrat Lukashenko says Kim Jong Un is ‘not a dictator’</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/belarusian-autocrat-lukashenko-says-kim-jong-un-is-not-a-dictator/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 04:14:56 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972352</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Belarusian autocrat Alexander Lukashenko told a Russian official that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is not a dictator on Monday, boasting of his good ties with the DPRK’s head of state following a summit earlier this year. Lukashenko’s remarks came as a North Korean delegation visited Belarus for talks on food security and healthcare [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>A modular missile system, warship testing and signs Xi will visit North Korea</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/a-modular-missile-system-warship-testing-and-signs-xi-will-visit-north-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Alannah Hill | Colin Zwirko | NK News]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 01:04:20 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[North Korea News Podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972334</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[On this week’s episode, NK News Senior Analytic Correspondent Colin Zwirko discusses a busy week of developments in North Korea. He examines Pyongyang’s latest missile test of a new modular launcher and tactical cruise missile system, as well as what these weapons could mean for military planning near the inter-Korean border. He also talks about [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
				<enclosure url="https://media.blubrry.com/nknews/podcast01.nknews.org/podcast/north-korea-news-podcast/nk-news-podcast-a-modular-missile-system-warship-testing-and-signs-xi-will-visit-north-korea.mp3" length="29547714" type="audio/mpeg" />

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		<item>
		<title>Takaichi seeks ‘courageous’ summit with Kim Jong Un to resolve abduction issue</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/takaichi-seeks-courageous-summit-with-kim-jong-un-to-resolve-abduction-issue/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 08:18:07 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972329</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reaffirmed her willingness to meet Kim Jong Un to resolve the long-stalled issue of North Korea’s abduction of Japanese nationals, stating that she was prepared to take “a courageous step forward” for both countries. Speaking at a mass gathering in Tokyo, Takaichi stressed that Japan cannot afford further delays in [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/Takaichi-at-abductees-families-rally-20260530-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Top North Korean officials join unveiling of memorial to late Russian envoy</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/top-north-korean-officials-join-unveiling-of-memorial-to-late-russian-envoy/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 07:27:26 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972321</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Top North Korean officials paid tribute to late Russian Ambassador Alexander Matsegora at the unveiling of a memorial plaque in his honor at the Russian Embassy on Saturday. Jo Yong Won, who chairs the DPRK Supreme People’s Assembly’s Standing Committee, and Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui attended the ceremony in Pyongyang, according to the Russian [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/3-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Kim Jong Un renews vow for ‘radical’ improvement to rural living conditions</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/06/kim-jong-un-renews-vow-for-radical-improvement-to-rural-living-conditions/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Colin Zwirko]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 06:46:11 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972308</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected a massive greenhouse farm on the China border on Sunday to check progress on new construction and demand greater efficiency, according to state media. During the visit to the Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm, Kim also promised that authorities will “make more strenuous efforts for the radical transformation” of [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/06/kcna-jun1-2026-kju-sinuiju-greenhouse-farm-visit-20x10-project-18-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>ROK, Japan discussed potential military logistics agreement, Seoul says</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/rok-japan-discussed-potential-military-logistics-agreement-in-talks-seoul-says/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 07:22:36 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972297</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back told NK News on Sunday that he discussed a potential bilateral Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) with his Japanese counterpart a day earlier, signaling growing consideration of deeper logistical cooperation between Seoul and Tokyo amid shared concerns over North Korean threats. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>South Korea, Japan stress Korean Peninsula security, resume maritime drills</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/south-korea-japan-stress-korean-peninsula-security-resume-maritime-drills/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 13:07:43 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972289</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi agreed Saturday that bilateral and trilateral cooperation with the United States remains essential for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and across the region, according to South Korea’s Defense Ministry. The meeting on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore came about an [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/05/IMG_4132-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Seoul says North Korea arms buildup is fueling global instability</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/seoul-says-north-korea-arms-buildup-is-fueling-global-instability/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 10:54:33 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972280</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back on Saturday warned that North Korea is emerging as a growing security threat beyond the Korean Peninsula as its military ties with Russia deepen, while outlining Seoul’s plans to build a more technologically advanced and “self-reliant military.” Speaking during the fourth plenary session of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/05/AhnGyuback_ShangriLA-1-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Hegseth praises Seoul’s defense commitments, omits reference to North Korea</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/hegseth-praises-seouls-defense-commitments-omits-reference-to-north-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 04:04:12 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972265</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday praised South Korea’s commitment to higher defense spending and taking greater responsibility for its own conventional defense, but did not mention North Korea once during his opening address or subsequent question-and-answer session at the Shangri-La Dialogue. Seoul’s defense commitments received direct attention among other U.S. regional partners during [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/05/hegseth_shangriladialogue_may302026-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>ROK institute pushes to jump-start research on North Korea’s rare earth reserves</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/rok-institute-pushes-to-jump-start-research-on-north-koreas-rare-earth-reserves/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 08:58:37 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972251</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korea’s state-funded geological research institute is exploring ways to resume research into North Korea’s mineral resources, seeking to identify deposits of rare earth metals that are key to an array of modern technologies. However, experts say prospects for cooperation with the DPRK are slim amid its rejection of all inter-Korean ties, while other countries [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/05/Copy-of-Featured-Image-Empty-5-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>North Korea imports $4M worth of Russian rye wheat flour through April: Data</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-korea-imports-4m-worth-of-russian-rye-wheat-flour-through-april-data/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 08:48:16 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade Data]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972252</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea procured $4 million worth of rye wheat flour from Russia from January to April, becoming one of the top importers of the product, official data shows. The Agroexport Center, an export promotion arm of Russia’s Agriculture Ministry, did not clarify the size of the delivery in a social media post on Friday, only [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/05/WHeat-grain-1-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Shoigu discusses intelligence links with North Korean secret police chief</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/shoigu-discusses-intelligence-links-with-north-korean-secret-police-chief/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 07:44:51 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972229</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Russia’s top security official Sergei Shoigu stressed the importance of intelligence cooperation in a meeting with the head of North Korea’s secret police this week, following Pyongyang’s move to revamp its surveillance apparatus. Shoigu met Ri Chang Dae on the sidelines of the International Security Forum in Moscow on Thursday, Russian state media and television [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/05/1-13-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Seoul prosecutors set to probe minister over remarks on North Korean nuke site</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/seoul-prosecutors-set-to-probe-minister-over-remarks-on-north-korean-nuke-site/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 05:20:19 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972221</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korean prosecutors are set to investigate Unification Minister Chung Dong-young over allegations that he disclosed confidential information about a suspected North Korean nuclear site. “The complaint filed against [Chung] was transferred to us from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office,” a spokesperson for the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office told NK News on Friday. [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/02/KakaoTalk_Photo_2026-02-11-15-12-41-500x256.jpeg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Singapore&#8217;s top diplomat briefs Seoul officials on his North Korea visit</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/singapores-top-diplomat-briefs-seoul-officials-on-his-north-korea-visit/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Choi]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 04:33:15 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972206</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Singapore’s top diplomat briefed his South Korean counterpart on Thursday about his recent visit to Pyongyang, agreeing to work to create conditions for dialogue with North Korea. Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan held the meeting with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun in Seoul, concluding a weeklong trip that included stops in Beijing and Pyongyang, according to statements [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/05/%ED%95%9C-%EC%8B%B1-%EC%99%B8%EA%B5%90%EC%9E%A5%EA%B4%80%ED%9A%8C%EB%8B%B4-%EC%82%AC%EC%A7%84-2-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>How Seoul can transform inter-Korean ties by abandoning the name ‘North Korea’</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/how-seoul-can-transform-inter-korean-ties-by-abandoning-the-name-north-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dan Gudgeon]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 03:07:11 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972145</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Editor’s note: The following article is an opinion piece by Dan Gudgeon, a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Vienna. Views expressed in opinion articles are exclusively the author’s own and do not represent those of NK News. South Korea’s Unification Minister has attracted attention — and sharp [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/05/north-korea-name-change-oped-featured-photo-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>North Korean man faces hefty fine for trying to bribe Russian cop</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-korean-man-faces-hefty-fine-for-trying-to-bribe-russian-cop/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 08:29:05 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Misc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972191</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A North Korean man has found himself in legal trouble for attempting to bribe a Russian police officer in the Far East, facing a fine 12 times larger than the bribe itself. The Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk City Court found the DPRK citizen guilty of attempted bribery and ordered the defendant to pay a fine of over $4,230 [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Seoul denies OPCON transfer will lead to dissolution of joint US-ROK command</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/seoul-denies-opcon-transfer-will-lead-to-dissolution-of-joint-us-rok-command/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 07:43:03 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972178</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korea’s defense ministry has dismissed a news report suggesting the premature transfer of wartime operational control from the U.S. will lead to the dissolution of the military command responsible for deterring North Korean attack, calling the assertion “speculative” and “unfounded.” “South Korea and the U.S. will continue to maintain the current Combined Forces Command [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korea is marching deeper into Moscow&#8217;s orbit, and aims to stay</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-korea-is-marching-deeper-into-moscows-orbit-and-aims-to-stay/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Benjamin R. Young]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 02:06:44 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972101</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Editor’s note: The following article is an opinion piece by Benjamin R. Young, a researcher and analyst of North Korea and U.S.-East Asia relations. Views expressed in opinion articles are exclusively the author’s own and do not represent those of NK News. North Korean soldiers marched in Russia&#8217;s Victory Day Parade for the first time [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/05/2-8-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Why some experts fear ROK missile sites could incentivize North Korean strikes</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/why-some-experts-fear-rok-missile-sites-could-incentivize-north-korean-strikes/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 01:39:56 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Analysis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972117</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korea’s military appears to have deployed more than 300 short-range ballistic missiles in fixed concrete bunkers near Seoul, an arrangement that suggests it could be used as a first-strike weapon against North Korea, two U.S. security analysts have assessed. But some ROK experts contend that the missile bases are aimed at rapidly responding to [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Singapore, North Korea pledge deeper cooperation on global issues</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/singapore-north-korea-pledge-deeper-cooperation-on-global-issues/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 07:00:46 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972135</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The top diplomats of North Korea and Singapore met in Pyongyang on Tuesday and called for the development of “friendly and cooperative relations” between the two countries, according to DPRK state media. Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan met with his DPRK counterpart Choe Son Hui and discussed strengthening bilateral ties through closer ministerial cooperation in [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Seoul lays out plans to build nuclear sub by mid-2030s to counter North Korea</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/seoul-lays-out-plans-to-build-nuclear-sub-by-mid-2030s-to-counter-north-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 06:55:33 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972123</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korea has announced plans to build its first nuclear-powered submarine by the mid-2030s, saying the vessel will play “a pivotal role” in countering North Korea’s growing submarine-based nuclear and missile threats. During the inaugural Future Defense Strategy Committee meeting on Tuesday at the southeastern naval hub of Jinhae, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back unveiled Seoul’s [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Pro-North Korea organization in Japan nixes support for unification</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/pro-north-korea-organization-in-japan-nixes-support-for-unification/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 04:32:33 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972052</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A pro-North Korea organization of ethnic Koreans in Japan has removed references to unification from its charter, appearing to belatedly reflect Kim Jong Un’s declaration that the two Koreas are separate states. The General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, better known as Chongryon, held its 26th General Assembly in Tokyo over the weekend, according [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Russian drug company says it shipped $74K worth of medication to North Korea</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/russian-drug-company-says-it-shipped-74k-worth-of-medication-to-north-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 04:18:11 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Misc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade Data]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972106</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A Russian pharmaceutical firm says it has shipped its first batch of heart and blood pressure, dementia and hair loss drugs to North Korea for an expected sale date in June. The shipment covered nearly 20,000 packages of various medicines worth some $74,300, the St. Petersburg-based drugmaker WERTEX announced in a press release on Tuesday. [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korean club soccer team wins AFC title during rare trip to the South</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-korean-club-soccer-team-wins-afc-title-during-rare-trip-to-the-south/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Alannah Hill | Jooheon Kim | NK News]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 01:52:10 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[North Korea News Podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972019</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[This week, NK News Correspondent Jooheon Kim joins the podcast to discuss a North Korean soccer team’s rare trip to the South. The Naegohyang Women’s Football Club made the journey for the AFC Women’s Champions League semifinals, marking the first visit by a DPRK sports delegation in nearly eight years and the first by a [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
				<enclosure url="https://media.blubrry.com/nknews/podcast01.nknews.org/podcast/north-korea-news-podcast/nk-news-podcast-north-korean-club-soccer-team-wins-afc-title-during-rare-trip-to-the-south.mp3" length="25254858" type="audio/mpeg" />

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		<title>North Korea tests new modular missile launcher and ‘tactical cruise missiles’</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-korea-tests-new-modular-missile-launcher-and-tactical-cruise-missiles/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Colin Zwirko]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 00:55:09 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972078</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a missile test on Tuesday featuring a new modular missile launch vehicle and a “multiple tactical cruise missile” system to be deployed at the South Korean border, according to state media. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Wednesday that one transporter erector launch vehicle (TEL) for each [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korea bans smoking while driving, jaywalking, walking pets without collar</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-korea-bans-smoking-while-driving-jaywalking-walking-pets-without-collar/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Seung-Yeon Chung]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 09:33:58 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Misc.]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972062</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean media this week has promoted a sweeping revision to traffic laws that bans smoking while driving, jaywalking and walking pets without a collar, hinting at growing problems due to a boom in private car ownership and electric bicycles. The state-run Korean Central Television (KCTV) aired a two-episode segment on the Road Traffic Law [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Bus carrying 30 North Koreans crashes in western Russia: Reports</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/bus-carrying-30-north-koreans-crashes-in-western-russia-reports/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 08:36:12 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Misc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972055</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A bus carrying around 30 suspected North Korean workers crashed in western Russia on Monday, according to reports. Police in the city of Nizhny Novgorod confirmed the accident and released photos of the crashed bus, stating that the driver sustained minor injuries and that the passengers were unharmed. The authorities did not disclose the passengers’ [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Singapore’s top diplomat to visit North Korea before talks in South</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/singapores-top-diplomat-to-visit-north-korea-before-talks-in-south/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 06:51:05 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972034</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Singapore’s top diplomat is scheduled to visit North Korea on Tuesday, two days before talks with his South Korean counterpart in Seoul, according to the city-state’s foreign ministry. Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan is departing for the DPRK following his three-day visit to Beijing, the ministry said in a news release. The release provided no [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korea fires multiple close-range ballistic missiles westward: Seoul</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-korea-fires-unidentified-projectile-westward-seoul/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Colin Zwirko]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 04:30:12 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972029</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea launched “various projectiles” including a close-range ballistic missile from the northwestern part of the country into the Yellow Sea on Tuesday, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The missile test took place at around 1 p.m. KST from “somewhere in Jongju, North Phyongan Province,” the JCS said. At least one [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>China tight-lipped about Xi Jinping’s reported plans to visit North Korea</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/china-tight-lipped-about-xi-jinpings-reported-plans-to-visit-north-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 03:54:46 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=972022</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[China has remained tight-lipped about leader Xi Jinping’s potential visit to North Korea, following reports that it could take place as early as this week. At a press briefing on Monday, Beijing foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that she had “no information” at this time on when Xi would pay a state visit to [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Families of South Koreans detained in North launch group to advocate for release</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/families-of-south-koreans-detained-in-north-launch-group-to-advocate-for-release/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 10:13:19 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971986</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Family members of South Koreans detained in North Korea for over a decade have established a new association to advocate for their release, amid renewed attention on the prisoners’ plight. The ROK Hostages’ Families Association (ROKHFA) plans to call on the ROK government and international organizations to verify the conditions of detainees and seek their [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korean soccer team defeats Japan to win women’s championship</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-korean-soccer-team-defeats-japan-to-win-womens-championship/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim | Seung-Yeon Chung]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 10:07:59 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Misc.]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971954</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A Pyongyang-based women’s soccer team defeated a Japanese opponent 1-0 to clinch the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Champions League title over the weekend, concluding a rare visit to South Korea for a series of matches. The Rodong Sinmun party daily described Saturday’s game between Naegohyang Women’s FC and Japan’s Tokyo Verdy Beleza as “a [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Why military strikes on North Korea’s nuke program would have made things worse</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/why-military-strikes-on-north-koreas-nuke-program-would-have-made-things-worse/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrei Lankov | Justin Yeo]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 10:07:31 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970588</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The U.S. war with Iran has raised questions about whether America’s bombing campaign can truly eliminate Iranian nuclear facilities, reawakening a debate about whether military strikes could have stopped North Korea from going nuclear decades ago. In an editorial published in April, The Wall Street Journal argued that Washington had an opportunity to halt the [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korea to convene major party meeting on ‘important issues’ in late June</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-korea-to-convene-major-party-meeting-on-important-issues-in-late-june/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Seung-Yeon Chung]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 03:49:26 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971948</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea will convene a major party meeting in late June to review the implementation of annual plans and “a series of important issues,” state media announced on Monday. In a two-sentence article, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported the politburo adopted a resolution on holding the second plenary meeting of the Ninth Central [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korea&#8217;s chance to win $1 million soccer prize may come with caveats</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/can-north-koreas-soccer-team-receive-1-million-in-prize-winnings/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Choi | Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 11:44:29 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Analysis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971935</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A North Korean soccer club’s victory in a rare inter-Korean match earlier this week set the stage for a shot at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Champions League final, a game that can fuel the country’s meteoric rise in the sport and bestow international prestige to the reclusive country. But for Naegohyang Women’s FC [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Russian researchers begin oil and gas exploration off North Korea’s east coast</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/russian-researchers-begin-oil-and-gas-exploration-off-north-koreas-east-coast/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 07:36:25 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shipping]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971912</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Russian researchers have kicked off a maritime expedition in search of gas and oil on North Korea’s shelf in the Sea of Japan (East Sea), official documents show, following Moscow’s move to spend millions of dollars on mineral exploration off the DPRK’s coast. St. Petersburg geology and oceanology researchers began a monthlong voyage aboard the [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/05/1-2-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Ask a North Korean: How do North Koreans deal with trash and recycling?</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/ask-a-north-korean-how-do-north-koreans-deal-with-trash-and-recycling/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 03:34:04 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Ask A North Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Defector Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971761</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[“Ask a North Korean” is an NK News series featuring interviews with and columns by North Korean defectors, most of whom left the DPRK within the last few years. Readers may submit their questions for defectors by emailing ask@nknews.org and including their first name and city of residence. Today’s question is about how North Korea [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>New book details uneasy lives of North Korea’s privileged but powerless</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/new-book-details-uneasy-lives-of-north-koreas-privileged-but-powerless/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Stephen Mercado]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 03:00:23 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Defector Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971899</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified the title of Jieun Baek&#8217;s book. It is &#8220;Privileged but Powerless.&#8221; For North Korea’s elites, privilege has never guaranteed power. Jieun Baek’s new book, “Privileged but Powerless: How North Korean Elite Grievances Reveal the Regime’s Greatest Weakness,” examines the fears and grievances of senior defectors who [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Cheering for two Koreas: How South Koreans welcomed the North in soccer clash</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/cheering-for-two-koreas-how-south-koreans-welcomed-the-north-in-soccer-clash/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 07:32:08 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971883</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Choi Seon-hee sat in the pouring rain at the Suwon Sports Complex on a cold Wednesday evening, watching something that hadn&#8217;t happened in South Korea in nearly eight years: a North Korean sports team competing for a trophy on the South’s soil. “We are still one people. We are compatriots,” Choi, a woman in her [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Andrei Lankov on DPRK’s new doctrine &#8211; North Korea Unpacked with Jacco Zwetsloot</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/andrei-lankov-on-dprks-new-doctrine-north-korea-unpacked-with-jacco-zwetsloot/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jacco Zwetsloot | NK News]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 04:06:21 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[North Korea News Podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971880</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[In the first episode of North Korea Unpacked with Jacco Zwetsloot, Jacco sits down with Professor Andrei Lankov of Kookmin University and a director of Korea Risk Group — the first-ever guest on the original NK News Podcast back in 2018 — to discuss North Korea’s newly revealed constitutional changes and what they mean for [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
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		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/15th-SPA-Session-Day-1-KJU-and-senior-officials-001_KCNA-20260323-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Putin and Xi reject ‘foreign pressure’ on North Korea after Beijing summit</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/putin-and-xi-reject-foreign-pressure-on-north-korea-after-beijing-summit/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 03:13:35 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971873</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The Russian and Chinese presidents have pledged to shield North Korea from sanctions and military pressure, according to a joint statement released after their talks in Beijing, just days after their American counterpart claimed the U.S. and China had agreed to denuclearize the DPRK. Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping voiced support for political means to [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/05/Put_Xi_Beijing-May-20-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>South Korean soccer team loses to North Korea 2-1 on home turf</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/south-korean-soccer-team-loses-to-north-korea-2-1-on-home-turf/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim | Seung-Yeon Chung]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 13:40:21 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Misc.]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971846</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea’s Naegohyang Women’s Football Club defeated South Korea’s Suwon FC Women 2-1 in a rare inter-Korean sporting matchup Wednesday to advance to the final of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Champions League. Playing at the Suwon Sports Complex in Suwon city, about 20 miles south of Seoul, Naegohyang — a Pyongyang-based club — [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-21-at-11.22.49-AM-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>South Korea conducts major air drills amid scrutiny over North Korea posture</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/south-korea-conducts-major-air-drills-amid-scrutiny-over-north-korea-posture/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 08:07:34 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971849</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korea’s air force is conducting live-fire drills over the Yellow Sea this week after the military pushed back against a news report suggesting it had reduced aerial firing exercises under the current government’s conciliatory approach toward Pyongyang. The ROK Air Force Air Combat Command on Wednesday said it is holding unilateral weeklong air-to-air and [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Two Koreas, one game: How the inter-Korean rivalry plays out in women’s soccer</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/two-koreas-one-game-how-the-inter-korean-rivalry-plays-out-in-womens-soccer/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 05:32:39 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Analysis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971834</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[For decades, the Korean Peninsula’s deep divide has been measured in missiles, ideology and military standoffs. But on football pitches across Asia, another inter-Korean rivalry has unfolded — one shaped not by soldiers or diplomats, but by women chasing a soccer ball. That often lopsided women’s soccer rivalry returns to the spotlight on Wednesday, when [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/05/Inter-Korean-womens-football-1-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>North Korea’s Russian pork imports surge in first 4 months of 2026</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-koreas-russian-pork-imports-surge-in-first-4-months-of-2026/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 05:02:50 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade Data]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971836</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea has increased imports of Russian pork products so far this year, new data shows, as Moscow and Pyongyang expand trade in agricultural goods alongside fast-growing military and political cooperation. In the first four months of 2026, Russia shipped over $2 million worth of “frozen edible pork by-products” to North Korea, the Agroexport Center, [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Parades, panaceas and a sunken ship: North Korea-Russia cooperation grows</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/parades-panaceas-and-a-sunken-ship-north-korea-russia-cooperation-grows/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Alannah Hill | Anton Sokolin | NK News]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 01:54:13 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[North Korea News Podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shipping]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971830</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[This week on the NK News Podcast, Data Correspondent Anton Sokolin talks about the expanding North Korea-Russia relationship — from military pageantry in Moscow to drone training in Russia’s Far East and a mysterious shipwreck off Spain’s coast. Anton breaks down the significance of North Korean soldiers marching through Red Square for the first time [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
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		<title>Lee, Takaichi agree to join hands to restore peace on Korean Peninsula</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/lee-takaichi-agree-to-join-hands-to-restore-peace-on-korean-peninsula/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 09:13:47 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971821</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The leaders of South Korea and Japan discussed efforts to restore peace on the Korean Peninsula on Tuesday in a summit that primarily focused on energy supply concerns stemming from the Strait of Hormuz blockade. During a press conference after their summit in South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s hometown of Andong, Lee and Japanese [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<item>
		<title>Seoul ministry acknowledges two state ‘reality’ with North Korea</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/seoul-ministry-acknowledges-two-state-reality-with-north-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 08:26:36 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971779</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Seoul released a report Monday that for the first time recognized the “de facto two states” of the peninsula, signaling a tonal shift from the previous administration’s characterization of the Koreas. Unveiled by the Unification Ministry, the 2026 Unification White Paper states that Seoul seeks to pursue “unification while building a relationship of peaceful coexistence,” [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Russian jet lands at North Korean resort city after flurry of official visits</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/russian-jet-lands-at-north-korean-resort-city-after-flurry-of-official-visits/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 07:07:23 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aviation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971801</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A Russian military aircraft landed at North Korea’s resort town of Wonsan on Monday, aviation data and satellite imagery showed, marking Russia’s third jet reaching the DPRK’s east coast in a month. An Ilyushin Il-62M (RA-86559) under the Russian Aerospace Forces triggered a Flightradar24 alert from near Wonsan after a flight from Chkalovsky military airbase [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2023/11/Air-to-air_with_a_Russian_Air_Force_Ilyushin_Il-62M_retouched-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>North Korea’s trade with China hits highest monthly total in over 8 years</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-koreas-trade-with-china-hits-highest-monthly-total-in-over-8-years/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 07:06:29 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade Data]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971800</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea’s trade with China surged to its highest monthly level in more than eight years in April, official data showed, with an expert attributing the growth to Pyongyang capitalizing on China’s lax sanctions enforcement and battle-earned cash from Russia. Bilateral exchanges nearly reached $326 million last month, up from $244 million in March and [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/05/April-trade-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>North Korean soccer team appears in rare press conference before game in South</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-korean-soccer-team-appears-in-rare-press-conference-before-match-in-south/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 05:20:18 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971792</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Members of a North Korean women’s soccer team appeared before foreign news reporters in a rare press conference Tuesday in Suwon city, South Korea, ahead of the upcoming Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Champions League’s semifinal match against their South Korean counterparts. Head coach Ri Yu Il of the Pyongyang-based Naegohyang Women’s Football Club took [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korean officials tour drone operator training facility in Russian Far East</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-korean-officials-tour-drone-operator-training-facility-in-russian-far-east/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 06:46:18 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971777</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean officials toured a key facility for training drone operators in Russia’s Far East on Friday, local authorities reported, amid efforts to boost economic and scientific exchanges. The DPRK’s South Phyongan delegation has been visiting Russia’s Far Eastern Amur region since last Monday and toured the Center for Drone Competencies in Belogorsk last Friday, [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korean soccer team trounces Japan to win fifth U-17 Women’s Asian Cup</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-korean-soccer-team-trounces-japan-to-win-fifth-u-17-womens-asian-cup/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 06:04:53 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971767</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea continued its regional dominance in women’s youth soccer by winning the U-17 Women’s Asian Cup on Sunday, trouncing Japan 5-1 to defend its title. The clash between the previously unbeaten teams in this year’s competition ended in a comfortable victory for North Korea, powered by star forward Yu Jong Hyang’s four goals and [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/05/DPRK-U-17-Womens-Asian-Cup-2026_Rodong-Sinmun-20260518-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>US, China to work on denuclearizing North Korea: White House</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/us-china-to-work-on-denuclearizing-north-korea-white-house/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 02:48:37 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971753</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The leaders of the U.S. and China have agreed to jointly work toward the denuclearization of North Korea, according to the White House, following President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Beijing. “President [Donald] Trump and President Xi [Jinping] confirmed their shared goal to denuclearize North Korea,” the White House said Sunday in a fact sheet [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Kim Jong Un demands military turn border with South into ‘impregnable fortress’</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/kim-jong-un-demands-military-turn-border-with-south-into-impregnable-fortress/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Colin Zwirko]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 23:49:13 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971740</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean leader Kim Jong Un convened all military commanding officers for a special meeting on Sunday where he demanded improvements to training systems and called for turning the inter-Korean border into an “impregnable fortress,” according to state media. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Monday that Kim ordered a new “structural measure for [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/05/rodong-may18-2026-kju-special-military-meeting-wpk-cc-hq-all-commanding-officers-6-500x256.jpeg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>North Korean women’s soccer team arrives in South for inter-Korean game</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-korean-womens-soccer-team-arrives-in-south-for-inter-korean-game/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim | Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 08:03:36 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971729</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A North Korean women’s soccer team arrived in South Korea on Sunday ahead of a highly anticipated inter-Korean match, the first time in almost eight years a DPRK sporting delegation has entered the South. The entourage of 27 players and 12 coaching staff representing Pyongyang’s Naegohyang Women’s Football Club emerged with a rapturous reception at [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Trump says U.S. in contact with Kim Jong Un amid China state visit</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/trump-says-u-s-in-contact-with-kim-jong-un-amid-china-state-visit/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 21:55:29 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971724</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[U.S. President Donald Trump said he has kept in touch with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un while wrapping up his two-day state visit to China on Friday and once again noted his “good” ties with Kim. “You know I have a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un,” Trump said in the last minute [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>South Korea to kick off ‘Taegeuk’ exercise aimed at mitigating North’s threats</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/south-korea-to-kick-off-taegeuk-exercise-aimed-at-mitigating-norths-threats/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 06:27:13 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971706</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korea’s military will conduct its annual Taegeuk command post exercise next week to strengthen crisis management capabilities against North Korean threats, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced Thursday. The computer simulation-based drill from May 18 to 22 will reflect changes in the security environment and recent trends in warfare, the JCS said in [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/05/jcs-%ED%83%9C%EA%B7%B9-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>North Korean ginseng wonder drug set to reenter Russia: records</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-korean-ginseng-wonder-drug-set-to-reenter-russia-records/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 05:39:51 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Misc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade Data]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971711</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea is set to continue exporting a cure-all drug touted as a treatment for cancer and other ailments to Russia in a likely sanctions breach, export filings show, following a wave of DPRK-made panaceas appearing on Russian online marketplaces. Russia’s Federal Service for Accreditation (FSA) filings show that Moscow-based sole proprietor Yekaterina Morozova submitted [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/05/Featured-1-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>North Korea ordered to pay $70,300 in damages to five Korean War-era POWs</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-korea-ordered-to-pay-70300-in-damages-to-five-korean-war-era-pows/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 02:43:18 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971686</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A Seoul court on Thursday ordered North Korea and its leader Kim Jong Un to pay 21 million won ($14,060) to each of the five former South Korean prisoners of war who were conscripted into labor after the Korean War, a court spokesperson told NK News. The five plaintiffs filed a joint lawsuit last month [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Top diplomats of North Korea and Vietnam vow to boost exchanges and cooperation</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/top-diplomats-of-north-korea-and-vietnam-vow-to-boost-exchanges-and-cooperation/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 07:49:11 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971692</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea and Vietnam pledged to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors during foreign minister talks in Pyongyang on Wednesday, as Hanoi’s dispatch of a special envoy signaled renewed momentum in ties between the two socialist states. In a meeting at the Pyongyang Assembly Hall, DPRK Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui and her Vietnamese counterpart Le [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/05/Choe-Son-HuiLe-Hoai-Trong-meeting_KCNA-20260514-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>How North Korea recycles propaganda to engrave its messaging in people’s minds</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/how-north-korea-recycles-propaganda-to-engrave-its-messaging-in-peoples-minds/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tatiana Gabroussenko]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 06:54:22 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971659</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Under Kim Jong Un’s rule, North Korea has made strides to improve the quality and diversity of its propaganda output, seeking to appeal in particular to youth who have been exposed to outside culture. But despite all these efforts to produce new content, close monitoring of DPRK media shows that its propagandists still rely on [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Russian travelers to North Korea fall to 2-year low in first quarter</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/russian-travelers-to-north-korea-fall-to-2-year-low-in-first-quarter/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 06:11:55 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Misc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971677</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Russian visits to North Korea slumped to a two-year low in the first quarter of the year, official border data showed, as Moscow continues to withhold information on DPRK entries into Russia after issuing 36,000 visas to North Korean nationals last year. The Federal Security Service’s (FSB) border agency reported last week that 1,034 Russians [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>U.N. human rights chief makes first trip to South Korea in 11 years</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/u-n-human-rights-chief-makes-first-trip-to-south-korea-in-11-years/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 04:37:20 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Defector Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971616</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The U.N.’s human rights chief on Tuesday visited South Korea for the first time in 11 years, warning that Seoul must ensure diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang should not come at the expense of human rights concerns. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk arrived in South Korea for a three-day trip to meet with [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>How the US can break its cycle with North Korea through forced transparency</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/how-the-us-can-break-its-cycle-with-north-korea-through-forced-transparency/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ki-ho Han]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 08:55:56 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shipping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971635</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Editor’s note: The following article is an opinion piece by Ki-ho Han, a research professor at the Ajou Institute of Unification Studies. Views expressed in opinion articles are exclusively the author’s own and do not represent those of NK News. Despite much attention gravitating toward the ongoing war in Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East,  [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Why the ‘most probable flashpoint’ in Korean waters is unlikely to be resolved</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/why-the-most-probable-flashpoint-in-korean-waters-is-unlikely-to-be-resolved/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 08:33:37 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Analysis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shipping]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971630</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea’s reported move to redefine its territory in a revised constitution has formalized a political reality that Pyongyang has advocated in recent years: the existence of two separate Korean states. But while the DPRK has drawn a clear line across the heavily fortified land border, it has left a far more sensitive question unresolved [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>ROK air force denies live-fire reduction is linked to diplomacy with North</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/rok-air-force-denies-live-fire-reduction-is-linked-to-diplomacy-with-north/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 07:53:06 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971619</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korea’s military pushed back against a local media report claiming it had drastically reduced live-fire training exercises and rejected suggestions the cuts were driven by the current government’s conciliatory stance toward North Korea. “The claim that we reduced live-fire exercises out of consideration for North Korea is completely false,” the ROK air force said [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>ROK defense chief acknowledges gap with US over command of DPRK wartime response</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/rok-defense-chief-acknowledges-gap-with-us-over-command-of-dprk-wartime-response/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 07:17:44 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971595</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back acknowledged Tuesday that Seoul and Washington hold “slightly different” views on the timeline and conditions for transferring wartime operational control (OPCON), a long-delayed process aimed at placing Seoul in command of allied forces during a potential war with North Korea. Seoul’s defense ministry confirmed to NK News that Ahn [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Russian ship that sank near Spain carried nuclear parts, likely to DPRK: reports</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/russian-ship-that-sank-near-spain-carried-nuclear-parts-likely-to-dprk-reports/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 05:56:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aviation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shipping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971599</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A Russian shadow vessel that sank off Spain’s coast in late 2024 likely carried nuclear reactor parts possibly en route to North Korea, new official documents and media reports show, raising the possibility that Western and Russian militaries may have played a role in sending the vessel to the sea floor. The Ursa Major (IMO [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Kim Jong Un calls for modernizing small arms production at latest factory tour</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/kim-jong-un-calls-for-modernizing-small-arms-production-at-latest-factory-tour/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Colin Zwirko]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 22:35:23 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971572</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean leader Kim Jong Un toured “several” weapons plants producing small arms, artillery shells and nuclear missiles on Monday, according to state media, calling for modernization and building new factories. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Wednesday that Kim visited a “bullet production factory,” where he laid out plans for making more “high-precision [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Seoul unveils controversial $15 million Korean War memorial in city center</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/seoul-unveils-controversial-15-million-korean-war-memorial-in-city-center/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 09:25:47 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971544</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A monument honoring troops from 22 nations that fought under the U.N. Command banner against North Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War was officially unveiled Tuesday in central Seoul, capping a politically contentious project that emerged as a flashpoint in next month’s Seoul mayoral election. About 170 people, including Seoul acting mayor Kim Sung-bo, ambassadors [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korea warns citizens of hantavirus danger and overseas outbreak</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-korea-warns-citizens-of-hantavirus-danger-and-overseas-outbreak/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 08:10:30 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971539</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea on Monday warned citizens of the dangers of the hantavirus after the fatal outbreak aboard the Dutch-flagged cruise ship in the South Atlantic prompted similar notices from international health organizations. Hantavirus infections are raising international concern after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued its lowest Level 3 emergency response [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Borders, nukes and welfare: Inside North Korea’s purported constitution</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/borders-nukes-and-welfare-inside-north-koreas-purported-constitution/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Alannah Hill | Jeongmin Kim | NK News]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 05:55:09 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[North Korea News Podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971534</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[This week’s NK News Podcast looks at a newly revealed document that appears to show how North Korea amended its constitution to redefine relations with South Korea. Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim discusses the document’s apparent removal of unification language, its new territorial clause and why Pyongyang may be keeping maritime boundaries deliberately [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
				<enclosure url="https://media.blubrry.com/nknews/podcast01.nknews.org/podcast/north-korea-news-podcast/nk-news-podcast-borders-nukes-and-welfare-inside-north-koreas-purported-constitution.mp3" length="39101465" type="audio/mpeg" />

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		<title>UK sanctions North Korean Songdowon camp over indoctrination of Ukrainian youth</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/uk-sanctions-north-korean-songdowon-camp-over-indoctrination-of-ukrainian-youth/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 02:15:19 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971531</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The U.K. has slapped sanctions on North Korea’s largest international children’s camp in a broader move targeting dozens of Russia-tied entities and individuals involved in the alleged indoctrination of Ukrainian children. Calling the new sanctions package one of the toughest to date, London designated the Songdowon International Children’s Summer Camp on Monday, accusing the institution [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korean workers see significant wage increase, benefits in China: report</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-korean-workers-see-significant-wage-increase-benefits-in-china-report/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 09:07:25 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971484</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Rising demand for North Korean labor in Russia has sharply increased wages for North Korean workers in China, according to a South Korean researcher. More than five Chinese entrepreneurs involved in DPRK-related businesses in Liaoning Province and Beijing reported a roughly 50% increase in North Korean workers’ wages following the COVID-19 pandemic, Joung Eun-lee of [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-10-at-3.36.36-AM-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>US court clears way for vote on moving $71M in crypto stolen by North Korea</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/us-court-clears-way-for-vote-on-moving-71m-in-crypto-stolen-by-north-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 07:07:25 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cyber]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971518</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A U.S. federal judge has cleared the way for a vote to transfer tens of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency to services impacted by a recent cyberattack linked to North Korea, while leaving unresolved competing claims over the assets’ ownership after a lawsuit by victims of DPRK-related ‘terrorism.’ Judge Margaret Garnett of the U.S. Southern [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Pyongyang’s journey from ‘Jerusalem of the East’ to Kim cult capital</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/pyongyangs-journey-from-jerusalem-of-the-east-to-kim-cult-capital/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Stephen Mercado]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 06:14:02 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971493</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Before Pyongyang became the capital of North Korea’s cult of personality, it was known to missionaries as the “Jerusalem of the East.” Jonathan Cheng’s Korean Messiah traces that often-overlooked Protestant history, showing how Christianity shaped the city’s past, intersected with Kim Il Sung’s rise and later became part of the DPRK’s diplomacy and propaganda.  The [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2025/10/kctv-may21-2020-class-education-program-jesus-cross-religion-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>North Korean soldiers parade in Moscow for first time as Kim Jong Un skips event</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-korean-soldiers-parade-in-moscow-for-first-time-as-kim-jong-un-skips-event/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 05:31:10 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971492</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean soldiers for the first time marched through Moscow’s Red Square in a subdued Victory Day parade on Saturday, honoring Pyongyang’s deployment to Russia’s Kursk region while DPRK leader Kim Jong Un once again shunned the event. A column of 127 DPRK soldiers in parade uniforms representing the three branches of the North Korean [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Researchers develop AI medical tool for North Korean defectors</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/south-korean-researchers-develop-ai-medical-tool-for-north-korean-defectors/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 08 May 2026 06:31:24 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Defector Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971463</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Seoul National University (SNU) researchers have developed an artificial intelligence tool to help North Korean defectors navigate South Korean hospitals by reducing language, cultural and social barriers that make it difficult for them to explain their symptoms. The large language model (LLM)-based system called MediBridge gives users feedback on how to describe their symptoms by [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korea says it will deploy new nuclear-armed warship in &#8216;mid-June&#8217;</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-korea-says-it-will-deploy-new-nuclear-armed-warship-in-mid-june/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Colin Zwirko]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 21:50:26 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971437</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea declared it will deploy the first of its largest modern class of warships in mid-June following its first extended navigation test off the west coast on Thursday, according to state media. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Friday that leader Kim Jong Un was aboard the No. 51 Choe Hyon destroyer for [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korea says it’s not bound by NPT, rejects denuclearization</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-korea-says-its-not-bound-by-npt-rejects-denuclearization/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 08:57:54 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971419</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea is not bound by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) under any circumstances, the country’s permanent representative to the U.N. said Wednesday, describing efforts to pressure the country into adhering to nonproliferation rules — despite not being a treaty member — as a “wanton violation” of international law. In a statement published by the [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Putin secretly awarded North Korean generals in charge of Kursk fighting</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/russia-secretly-awarded-north-korean-generals-in-charge-of-kursk-fighting/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 08:34:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971422</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded medals to North Korean commanders in charge of Pyongyang’s troop deployment in an unreported ceremony late last year, NK News analysis shows, following his meeting with some of the generals at Moscow’s Red Square during May 9 celebrations. The award ceremony took place likely in Moscow on Dec. 3, 2025, [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Seoul says North Korea constitution revision won’t change peace policy</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/seoul-says-north-korea-constitution-revision-wont-change-peace-policy/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 07:04:20 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971395</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korea’s Blue House said Thursday it remains committed to its “peaceful coexistence” policy with North Korea, a day after the release of a document outlining changes to Pyongyang’s constitution appeared to formalize the regime’s abandonment of unification. The South Korean government will “comprehensively review matters related to trends in revisions to North Korea’s constitution” [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>US ‘laptop farmers’ get jail time for aiding DPRK IT workers scam local firms</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/us-laptop-farmers-get-jail-time-for-aiding-dprk-it-workers-scam-local-firms/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 03:23:18 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cyber]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971384</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[U.S. federal courts have imposed 18-month prison sentences on two American citizens for running laptop farms and helping North Korean information technology (IT) workers generate over $1.2 million in revenue for Pyongyang’s weapons programs. The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the sentences in two separate cases involving Matthew Issac Knoot of Nashville, Tenn., and Erick [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korea’s amended constitution redefines borders, but remains vague: source</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-koreas-amended-constitution-redefines-borders-but-remains-vague-source/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jeongmin Kim | Joon Ha Park | Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 09:44:58 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971365</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea’s amended constitution has demarcated new territorial boundaries on the peninsula, effectively formalizing the separation from the South, according to a document detailing the purported charter, as seen by NK News. The document — which represents the most recent version approved by North Korea’s rubber-stamp parliament in March — reveals the regime has removed [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Ukraine unveils new regulation granting student permits for North Koreans</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/ukraine-unveils-new-regulation-granting-student-permits-for-north-koreans/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 07:34:50 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971354</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Ukraine has launched a mechanism for granting student permits to North Korean nationals, a government order shows, which an expert believes Kyiv won’t use to legalize the status of captured DPRK prisoners of war.  Ukraine’s education ministry released Order No. 666 on April 21, creating a temporary commission charged with granting individual permissions to pursue [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Pyongyang gasoline prices surpass Seoul’s amid Middle East supply shock</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/pyongyang-gasoline-prices-surpass-seouls-amid-middle-east-supply-shock/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 06:40:56 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971349</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Gasoline prices in Pyongyang jumped sharply amid the U.S.-Iran conflict and supply disruptions in the Middle East, informed sources told NK News, with fuel in the North Korean capital now reportedly more expensive than in South Korea. One kilogram of gasoline currently retails in Pyongyang at $2, while one liter goes for $1.56, sources familiar [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Lee Hong-koo, key official in inter-Korean negotiations, dies at 92</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/lee-hong-koo-key-official-in-inter-korean-negotiations-dies-at-92/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 05:22:47 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971342</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Lee Hong-koo, the former South Korean prime minister who helped shape Seoul’s early post-Cold War unification strategy and negotiated terms with North Korea for a hopeful inter-Korean summit in 1994, died Tuesday at 92. Lee’s role in politics was described as a “consensus builder” and he was a central figure across multiple presidential administrations following [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Drone strike near DPRK Embassy dims prospects for a Kim Jong Un visit to Moscow</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/drone-strike-near-dprk-embassy-dims-prospects-for-a-kim-jong-un-visit-to-moscow/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 10:46:23 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Analysis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971317</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A Ukrainian drone strike near the North Korean Embassy in Russia this week has likely dimmed the prospects of a visit by DPRK leader Kim Jong Un and heightened security measures ahead of a major Russian military parade. Kim’s potential visit at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin has been in the works for years, [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>What happened to denuclearizing North Korea?</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/what-happened-to-denuclearizing-north-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jeongmin Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 10:20:16 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Analysis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured Content]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971304</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A former National Security Council official who long championed the U.S.’s policy on North Korea’s denuclearization has declared it a “failure,” saying Washington’s “overreliance on sanctions” was a mistake. In a Foreign Affairs essay that drew weeks of editorials and ministerial-level responses in Seoul, Victor Cha, the NSC’s director for Asian Affairs during the George [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>China’s envoy to North Korea pledges more taekwondo exchanges</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/chinas-envoy-to-north-korea-pledges-more-taekwondo-exchanges/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jifan Li | Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 05:13:23 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971287</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[China’s ambassador to North Korea on Saturday visited Pyongyang’s preeminent training ground for taekwondo, praising the martial art with “a history of more than 2,000 years” that reflects the “perseverance and resilience of the North Korean people,” according to a news release from the Chinese embassy. Chinese Ambassador to North Korea Wang Yajun and North [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Fear from a vibrating cellphone: A North Korean defector&#8217;s tale of grief</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/fear-from-a-vibrating-cellphone-a-north-korean-defectors-tale-of-grief/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Lena]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 04:14:09 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Ask A North Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Defector Issues]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971128</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[“Ask a North Korean” is an NK News series featuring interviews with and columns by North Korean defectors, most of whom left the DPRK within the last few years. Readers may submit their questions for defectors by emailing ask@nknews.org and including their first name and city of residence. This week, “Ask A North Korean” columnist [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Jacco Zwetsloot: A look back and a new chapter for the NK News Podcast</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/jacco-zwetsloot-a-look-back-and-a-new-chapter-for-the-nk-news-podcast/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Alannah Hill | Jacco Zwetsloot | NK News]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 03:33:31 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[North Korea News Podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Defector Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971282</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[In this handover episode of the NK News Podcast, new host Alannah Hill sits down with longtime host Jacco Zwetsloot to look back on his time leading the show since its launch in Feb. 2018.  They revisit the podcast’s first episode with Andrei Lankov, the major North Korea stories that defined that period and how [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
				<enclosure url="https://media.blubrry.com/nknews/podcast01.nknews.org/podcast/north-korea-news-podcast/nk-news-podcast-jacco-zwetsloot-a-look-back-and-a-new-chapter-for-the-nk-news-podcast.mp3" length="31544300" type="audio/mpeg" />

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		<title>Westerners enter North Korea for spring trade fair for the first time in 7 years</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/westerners-enter-north-korea-for-spring-trade-fair-for-the-first-time-in-7-years/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 08:53:07 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971267</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A business delegation traveled to Pyongyang by train to participate in a spring trade fair, the first time in seven years Western visitors are participating in the annual exhibition. Rowan Beard, a tour manager at the Young Pioneer Tours (YPT) travel agency, said on social media Monday that the group traveled to North Korea for [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korea warns of retaliation over US ‘slander’ of DPRK cyber threats</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-korea-warns-of-retaliation-over-us-slander-of-dprk-cyber-threats/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 07:17:47 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cyber]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971239</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea denounced the U.S. on Sunday for its persistent warnings of Pyongyang’s growing “cyber threat,” saying attempts at “confrontation” in the digital realm will lead to retaliation. In a statement published by the state-owned Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a DPRK Foreign Ministry spokesperson disputed the warnings given by “U.S. government organs, reptile media [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2025/04/North-Korean-student-using-computer_KCTV-20250312-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Vietnam appoints new ambassador to North Korea after envoy’s lengthy term</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/vietnam-appoints-new-ambassador-to-north-korea-after-envoys-lengthy-term/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 07:01:31 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971251</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Vietnam recently appointed a new ambassador to North Korea, replacing its previous envoy after a longer-than-usual tenure in Pyongyang. Vietnamese President To Lam on Tuesday designated as ambassador to the DPRK Doan Khanh Tam, the deputy director of the Foreign Ministry’s Information and Documentation Center at the Diplomatic Academy, according to Hanoi’s state-run Vietnam News [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>More than 14K North Koreans currently fighting for Russia against Ukraine: Kyiv</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/more-than-14k-north-koreans-currently-fighting-for-russia-against-ukraine-kyiv/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 05:50:53 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971254</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Over 14,000 North Korean soldiers are currently fighting for Russia against Ukraine alongside mercenaries from 136 countries, including South Korea, according to Kyiv’s military intelligence. Dmytro Usov, a Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence representative and Secretary of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, announced the figures at a Wednesday presentation of a new [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Russian farm celebrates North Korean female workers with concert</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/russian-farm-celebrates-north-korean-female-workers-with-concert/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 05:23:22 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Misc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971241</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A large Russian farm celebrated its female North Korean workers by throwing a concert, releasing a video of dozens of DPRK laborers likely employed at the facility in violation of U.N. sanctions. The Agro-Invest agricultural complex, based in Russia’s Kaluga region southwest of Moscow, held a tree-planting procession and a concert “with the participation of [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korean women’s soccer team to play in South for first time in 12 years</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-korean-womens-soccer-team-to-play-in-south-for-first-time-in-12-years/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 04 May 2026 04:04:46 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971227</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A North Korean women’s soccer club is scheduled to visit South Korea for the first time in about 12 years, in a rare instance of cross-border sports amid frozen ties between the two countries. North Korea’s Naegohyang Women’s Football Club is scheduled to arrive in South Korea on May 17 to compete in the final [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korean youth vow to become the ‘militant reserve’ of country</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/north-korean-youth-vow-to-become-the-militant-reserve-of-country/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 08:53:02 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971207</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea this week emphasized the need for the country’s youth to maintain utmost loyalty to Kim Jong Un during a once-in-five-years political gathering, positioning the DPRK’s leading youth organization as the “militant reserve” dedicated to advancing the ruling party’s vision. The 11th Congress of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League, held in Pyongyang from Tuesday [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/05/11th-Socialist-Patriotic-Youth-League-Congress-000_Post-Congress-torchlight-procession-1_KCNA-20260501-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Former DPRK diplomat peels back curtain on Pyongyang’s foreign policy apparatus</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/former-dprk-diplomat-peels-back-curtain-on-pyongyangs-foreign-policy-apparatus/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 07:44:48 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Evergreen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Defector Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971181</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea’s diplomats are often seen delivering rigid statements from behind podiums, but a new insider account suggests the real work of Pyongyang’s foreign service happens far from public view. Drafting reports for Kim Jong Un. Navigating turf battles between rival state and party organs. Moving hard currency through overseas embassies under mounting pressure.  That [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/05/hanjinmyung_DPRKMOFAapparatus-1-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Russia, China back North Korea’s rejection to follow UN sanctions</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/05/russia-china-back-north-koreas-rejection-to-follow-un-sanctions/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2026 07:29:18 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971183</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Russia, China and North Korea mounted a joint defense of Pyongyang at a U.N. Security Council (UNSC) meeting, attacking sanctions and dismissing evidence of alleged DPRK violations, two years after Moscow’s veto dismantled the U.N. panel charged with monitoring restrictions against North Korea. The UNSC convened on Thursday to discuss North Korea’s nuclear issue at [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/05/1-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>South Korea’s top court upholds jail sentence for man who hired DPRK hacker</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/south-koreas-top-court-upholds-jail-sentence-for-man-who-hired-dprk-hacker/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:57:50 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cyber]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971149</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korea’s highest court upheld the one-year prison sentence of a man who hired a North Korean cybercriminal to carry out attacks in support of an illegal gaming server. The Supreme Court’s First Division on Thursday delivered the judgement against the South Korean national, identified solely by his surname Oh, for violating the National Security [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2024/08/hackers-computer-pc-dprk-byNKNEws-flickr-935x500-1-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>5 Korean War POWs forced to work in North Korean coal mine are suing the regime</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/5-korean-war-pows-forced-to-work-in-north-korean-coal-mine-are-suing-the-regime/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 09:23:35 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971140</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Five prisoners of war seeking compensation for physical and psychological damages after the Korean War filed a joint lawsuit against North Korea and leader Kim Jong Un in Seoul Central District Court on Thursday. The POWs are each suing for 21 million won ($14,187) after alleging they were forcibly sent to work in North Korean [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Trump-100-days-7-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Police bust Donbas-tied arms dealers peddling guns for Kim Jong Un: Kyiv</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/police-bust-donbas-tied-arms-dealers-peddling-guns-for-kim-jong-un-kyiv/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:49:21 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971155</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Ukraine claimed to have busted an arms smuggling network used by a Donbas warlord to procure “award” weapons for high-profile individuals, including DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, actor Steven Seagal and Russian officials. Ukraine’s National Police said Tuesday that Kyiv disrupted a smuggling route controlled by Donbas warlord Denis Pushilin, who has served as the [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/10-8-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Russian Far East plans to boost trade with North Korea: officials</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/russian-far-east-plans-to-boost-trade-with-north-korea-officials/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:34:41 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971151</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A region in Russia’s Far East is seeking to boost trade with North Korea by setting up a new trade promotion body, local authorities said, ahead of the opening of a cross-border road bridge between their two countries. Primorsky Krai plans to establish a working group under its Vladivostok-based Export Council tasked with “expanding trade [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/11-6-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>South Korea’s navy to lead around 40 warships in large-scale RIMPAC exercise</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/south-koreas-navy-to-lead-around-40-warships-in-large-scale-rimpac-exercise/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:39:38 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971116</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A South Korean navy admiral will command warships during the U.S.-led Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) for the first time, a milestone one expert says could bolster Seoul’s ability to lead allied naval forces in a contingency with North Korea. Troops from 30 countries will participate in the biennial exercise scheduled June 24 to [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/ROKNavyfleet-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>South Korean police probe for North Korean ties in golf course data hack</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/south-korean-police-probe-for-north-korean-ties-in-golf-course-data-hack/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 09:36:37 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cyber]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971063</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korean police are investigating whether North Korean cybercriminals were involved in a customer data breach of a golf course, following the leak of personal information from its website. A spokesperson for the Korean National Police Agency’s (KNPA) cybersecurity investigation division told NK News on Monday that it is probing a cyberattack carried out in [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-Featured-Image-Empty-30-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>New Zealand flags 35 ‘vessels of interest’ in latest North Korea maritime patrol</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/new-zealand-flags-35-vessels-of-interest-in-latest-north-korea-maritime-patrol/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:03:29 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971088</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[New Zealand’s military said it detected signs of an illegal ship-to-ship transfer involving North Korean goods during its monthlong patrol of waters near the Korean Peninsula. A Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft patrolling the Yellow Sea and East China Sea “observed a possible ship-to-ship transfer of illicit goods,” Wellington’s military said in [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korea eyes exports of libido drugs, instant noodles to Russia: records</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korea-eyes-exports-of-libido-drugs-instant-noodles-to-russia-records/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 06:41:38 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971102</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean firms are set to export to Russia “horny goat weed-based” libido enhancers among other supplements, cosmetics and instant noodles, official records show. Corporate entities from Moscow and Vladivostok filed eight import declarations covering seven DPRK companies since mid-April, according to Russia’s Federal Service for Accreditation (FSA). The most recent application as of Wednesday [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/9-9-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Heir apparent? What to look for in North Korea’s possible successor</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/heir-apparent-what-to-look-for-in-north-koreas-possible-successor/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 05:14:04 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971004</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korean experts assessed that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s daughter is showing early signs of being trained as a successor, but noted that the country has yet to begin the formal steps required for a power transition. The assessment came during a seminar hosted by the Seoul-based think tank East Asia Institute (EAI) [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/kja_kju_jan12026-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Eunhee Park: Surviving North Korea and reclaiming identity in the South</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/eunhee-park-surviving-north-korea-and-reclaiming-identity-in-the-south/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin | Jacco Zwetsloot | NK News]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 03:53:27 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[North Korea News Podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Defector Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971079</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Content warning: This episode contains discussion of sexual violence. NK News Data Correspondent Anton Sokolin kicks off the podcast this week by discussing the long-running debate over the transfer of wartime operational control, or OPCON, from the U.S. to South Korea, following comments made by U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson. He also examines [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
				<enclosure url="https://media.blubrry.com/nknews/podcast01.nknews.org/podcast/north-korea-news-podcast/nk-news-podcast-eunee-park-surviving-north-korea-and-reclaiming-identity-in-the-south.mp3" length="68438806" type="audio/mpeg" />

		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2023/02/dprk-woman-in-hanbok-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>North Korean fishery officials tour Chinese company specializing in algae</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korean-fishery-officials-tour-chinese-company-specializing-in-algae/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jifan Li]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 03:02:42 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971064</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A North Korean delegation of fishery experts visited an algae production company in China earlier this month, underscoring Pyongyang’s continued interest in strengthening its food security situation through Beijing’s expertise. The delegation from the Pyongyang No. 1 Sub-branch of the North Korea Fisheries Development Company visited the Shandong Jiejing Group Corporation on April 23, according [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/2-10-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>North Korea sees sharp rise in death sentences in recent years: NGO</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korea-sees-sharp-rise-in-death-sentences-in-recent-years-ngo/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:04:02 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Defector Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971038</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea saw a sharp increase in death sentences and executions following its pandemic-related border lockdown in 2020, according to a Seoul-based human rights organization. Around 44 North Koreans were estimated to have been sentenced to death or executed between 2015 to 2020, compared to the 153 citizens between 2020 to 2024, the Transitional Justice [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-28-at-7.02.17-PM-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Inside the little-known ROK army unit that trains to fight like North Koreans</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/inside-the-little-known-rok-army-unit-that-trains-to-fight-like-north-koreans/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:32:24 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970443</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[One of the first things South Korean conscripts learn during their mandatory military service is that the main enemy is North Korea. Many are deployed to the heavily fortified demilitarized zone to serve on the front lines of the decades-long standoff with DPRK forces. But a select few of them are assigned a very different [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-Featured-Image-Empty-28-1-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>North Korea is the ‘most pressing challenge’ for non-proliferation regime: Seoul</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korea-is-the-most-pressing-challenge-for-non-proliferation-regime-seoul/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:56:30 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971027</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korea’s top nuclear envoy on Monday reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the “complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula” and warned of the urgency in addressing North Korea’s nuclear program during a global nonproliferation meeting at the U.N. headquarters in New York. In a speech at the 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/%EC%A0%95%EC%97%B0%EB%91%90_NPT_UN-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Former ROK president urges Kim Jong Un to ‘sit down with Trump&#8217; and talk it out</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/former-rok-president-urges-kim-jong-un-to-sit-down-with-trump-and-talk-it-out/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 08:55:51 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=971002</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Monday urged President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to return to the negotiating table and continue their efforts to deescalate tensions on the peninsula. At a ceremony marking the eighth anniversary of the Panmunjom Declaration, Moon expressed hope that Trump exercises his “decisiveness and [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-27-at-4.40.12-PM-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>ROK carries out ‘decisive’ phase of landing drills designed to deter North Korea</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/rok-carries-out-decisive-phase-of-landing-drills-designed-to-deter-north-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 07:31:43 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970907</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korea’s navy and marine corps on Monday carried out the “decisive action” phase of a large-scale biennial amphibious landing drill on the eastern coast in an exercise that accounts for potential military threats from North Korea. The eight-day, brigade-level exercise ending April 30 in the southeastern city of Pohang involves around 3,200 troops from [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Russia awards North Korean ‘heroes’ for their bravery in battle against Ukraine</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/russia-awards-north-korean-heroes-for-their-bravery-in-battle-against-ukraine/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 03:37:24 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970910</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Russia’s defense chief on Sunday awarded prestigious medals to “elite” North Korean soldiers for their valor in fighting Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region and commended them for their “boundless devotion to the motherland.” Defense Minister Andrei Belousov personally pinned Orders of Courage to 10 DPRK service members in Pyongyang, according to footage released by [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<item>
		<title>Kim inaugurates memorial for North Korean soldiers who fought in Ukraine war</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/kim-inaugurates-memorial-for-north-korean-soldiers-who-fought-in-ukraine-war/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:06:44 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970859</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inaugurated a memorial hall in Pyongyang honoring soldiers who supported Russia’s war efforts against Ukraine on Sunday, hailing the new site as “a great fortress where the souls of loyalists and the hearts of love for the motherland beat high.” On the first anniversary of Russia’s declaration that it [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/000-KJU-at-DPRK-soldiers-memorial-hall-inauguration_Rodong-Sinmun-20260427_high-res-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Russian Duma chief, defense minister in Pyongyang ahead of Kursk memorial unveil</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/russian-duma-chief-visits-pyongyang-ahead-of-kursk-memorial-inauguration/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 01:22:42 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970834</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin arrived in Pyongyang as the head of a high-level delegation and met with Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) Presidium Chairman Jo Yong Won, as North Korea and Russia highlighted deepening ties ahead of a ceremony honoring North Korean troops deployed to Russia’s Kursk region. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/dumachiefinPY_april25-2-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Kim Jong Un marks military anniversary with frontline visit, mortar contest</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/kim-jong-un-marks-military-anniversary-with-frontline-visit-mortar-contest/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:43:29 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970815</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean leader Kim Jong Un marked the anniversary of the founding of the country’s anti-Japanese guerrilla forces by visiting a frontline army unit and observing a mortar firing drill, using the occasion to stress ideological discipline and combat readiness, state media reported Sunday. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim visited a [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/KPAlightinfantry_mortarfiringcontest_april25-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Russia blocks release of North Korean defector movie starring Kim Min-ha</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/russia-blocks-release-of-north-korean-defector-movie-starring-kim-min-ha/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 09:51:55 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Defector Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970802</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The Russian government blocked the screening of a movie about a North Korean defector a week before its scheduled release, according to the film’s Moscow-based distributor. Hana Korea, a movie inspired by a North Korean defector’s account of adjusting to life in South Korea, was denied a license required for screening, distribution company U Films [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-Featured-Image-Empty-23-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Prosecutors seek 30-year jail term for Yoon over North Korea drone incursions</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/prosecutors-seek-30-year-jail-term-for-yoon-over-north-korea-drone-incursions/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:26:57 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970770</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korean prosecutors are seeking a 30-year prison sentence for former President Yoon Suk Yeol over allegations that he ordered the deployment of drones to North Korea to create the pretext for his martial law declaration. During the final hearing of Yoon’s trial at the Seoul Central District on Friday, special counsel Cho Eun-suk’s team [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Yoon-Suk-Yeol-drone-sentencing-request-20260424_featured-image-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>North Korean airspace abuzz with Russian jets amid AI surveillance talks</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korean-airspace-abuzz-with-russian-jets-amid-ai-surveillance-talks/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:15:29 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aviation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970781</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean airspace was abuzz this week with a slew of Russian military and police jets touching down in Pyongyang, in addition to a commercial airline making its first direct flight from Moscow to Wonsan, home to a mega beach resort. An Il-62M (RA-86559) operated by the Russian Aerospace Forces made a brief overnight flight [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Ilyushin_Il-62M_Russia_State_Transport_Company_AN1744051-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Search to begin for last Australian soldier missing in the South from Korean War</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/search-to-begin-for-last-australian-soldier-missing-in-the-south-from-korean-war/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 07:12:19 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970764</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Australia and South Korea will launch a search for the remains of an Australian soldier missing from the 1950-53 Korean War, according to Seoul’s Defense Ministry, as part of wider efforts to locate and identify those lost in the conflict against North Korea.   The search for the remains of 30-year-old Cpl. William K. Murphy, who [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-24-at-3.15.23-PM-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>North Korea, Russia break ground on ‘Friendship Hospital’ at Wonsan resort</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korea-russia-break-ground-on-friendship-hospital-at-wonsan-resort/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:09:17 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970715</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean and Russian officials kicked off construction of a new joint hospital in the DPRK’s coastal city of Wonsan in the east Wednesday, marking another step in expanding bilateral cooperation in the field of health care. A groundbreaking ceremony for the DPRK-Russia Friendship Hospital took place at Myongsasimni in the Wonsan Kalma tourist zone, [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Groundbreaking-of-DPRK-Russia-hospital-in-Wonsan_KCNA-20260423-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>US hasn’t protested over minister’s remarks on North Korean nuke facility: Seoul</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/us-hasnt-protested-over-ministers-remarks-on-north-korean-nuke-facility-seoul/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:54:38 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970693</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back has dismissed claims that U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) lodged a protest over the unification minister’s public disclosure of a purported North Korean nuclear site. “There was no such protest from the USFK commander to the defense minister,” Ahn said during a parliamentary session on Wednesday. Ahn’s remarks refer to [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-23-at-2.16.04-PM-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>USFK aims to transfer wartime operational control to ROK by 2029, commander says</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/usfk-aims-to-transfer-wartime-operational-control-to-rok-by-2029-commander-says/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 05:36:51 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970684</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Washington and Seoul aim to meet the conditions for transferring wartime operational control (OPCON) by 2029, as South Korea looks to take the lead in defending against North Korea. Army Gen. Xavier Brunson testified at a House Armed Services Committee hearing Wednesday that USFK submitted a road [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>US has not given up on engaging North Korea, ROK opposition leader says</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/us-has-not-given-up-on-engaging-north-korea-rok-opposition-leader-says/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Kristen Talman]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:07:06 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970664</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The Trump administration has not given up on efforts to engage North Korea in pursuit of denuclearization, the leader of South Korea’s main opposition party said after a series of meetings with Washington officials. Speaking to NK News on Thursday, People Power Party (PPP) chairman Jang Dong-hyeok said his trip to the U.S. was focused [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/665793685_1463252201922739_4862798039922905096_n-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Ask a North Korean: What do North Koreans do on the weekend?</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/ask-a-north-korean-what-do-north-koreans-do-on-the-weekend/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Rose]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:57:44 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Ask A North Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Defector Issues]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970601</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[“Ask a North Korean” is an NK News series featuring interviews with and columns by North Korean defectors, most of whom left the DPRK within the last few years. Readers may submit their questions for defectors by emailing ask@nknews.org and including their first name and city of residence. Today’s question is about rest and leisure [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/aank-ask-a-north-korean-weekends-inline-images-nknews-1-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>US Forces Korea chief says THAAD missile defenses remain in South Korea</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/us-forces-korea-chief-says-thaad-missile-defenses-remain-in-south-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:43:28 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970655</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[U.S. Forces Korea Commander Xavier Brunson has denied that a key missile defense system for defending against North Korean threats has been removed from the Korean Peninsula, while acknowledging the munitions for the system are still being sent to the Middle East. Brunson made the comments during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in Washington [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-3.44.50-PM-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>North Korea, Russia hold talks on sharing intel about drug smuggling</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korea-russia-hold-talks-on-sharing-intel-about-drug-smuggling/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 06:15:40 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970619</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The top public security officials of North Korea and Russia held talks on Tuesday about sharing intelligence on suspected drug trafficking operations, according to Moscow. The discussions took place during a meeting between Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev and North Korean Social Security Minister Pang Tu Sop in Pyongyang, Kolokoltsev’s ministry said on social media [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Vladimir-Kolokoltsev-in-PY-2-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>North Korea and Russia hold ceremony to link cross-border road bridge</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korea-and-russia-hold-ceremony-to-link-cross-border-road-bridge/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 06:09:49 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970611</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea and Russia held a ceremony Tuesday to mark the linking of a new cross-border road bridge over the Tumen River, according to Russian authorities, in another key step in expanding their bilateral ties. The ceremony commemorating the connection of the bridge’s superstructure took place at the border between the two countries, two months [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Linking-of-DPRK-Russia-bridge_Government-of-Russia-Telegram-20260421-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Sayaka Chatani: How pro-North Korea communities took root in Japan</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/sayaka-chatani-how-pro-north-korea-communities-took-root-in-japan/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jacco Zwetsloot | Jooheon Kim | NK News]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 08:13:33 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[North Korea News Podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970582</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[NK News Correspondent Jooheon Kim kicks off the podcast this week by discussing North Korea-Japan relations, focusing on lingering tensions over the abductions issue, recent trilateral naval cooperation with Seoul and Washington, and Pyongyang’s criticism of Japan’s latest diplomatic Blue Book. In the second half, the scholar Sayaka Chatani joins the podcast to explore the [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
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		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/edited_2026-03-20_choson-sinbo_graduation-ceremony_chongryon-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>North Korea warns of prolonged dry spell that could threaten spring crops</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korea-warns-of-prolonged-dry-spell-that-could-threaten-spring-crops/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Seung-Yeon Chung]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 07:45:51 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970564</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea issued drought alerts and warnings across multiple provinces this week, as a prolonged dry spell threatened wheat and barley crops.  According to the state-run Korean Central Television (KCTV) on Monday, authorities issued drought alerts for parts of Pyongyang, South Phyongan, Nampho, South Hamgyong, South Hawanghae and North Hwanghae through April 30. Lower-level drought [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/edited_2026-04-20_kctv_tokgo-hyok-chol_drought-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>China says New Zealand plane disrupted flights on North Korea sanctions mission</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/china-says-new-zealand-plane-disrupted-flights-on-north-korea-sanctions-mission/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 07:35:06 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970570</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[China has accused a New Zealand patrol aircraft of disrupting civil aviation while monitoring for North Korean sanctions evasion, prompting a swift denial from Wellington. At a press briefing on Friday, Beijing’s Foreign Ministry said a P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft operated by the New Zealand air force had “recently conducted repeated close-in reconnaissance and harassment [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-21-at-3.37.56-PM-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Seoul to repatriate Chinese remains from Korean War at first ceremony in 3 years</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/seoul-to-repatriate-chinese-remains-from-korean-war-at-first-ceremony-in-3-years/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 06:29:12 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970556</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korea will hold a ceremony for the first time in three years to repatriate the recovered remains of Chinese soldiers killed in the Korean War, when China fought on the North Korean side. Seoul’s Defense Ministry said Tuesday that 12 sets of Chinese remains are scheduled to be repatriated in a transfer ceremony — the [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/chineseremainsfromkoreanwar-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Chinese locomotives run on rail lines to North Korea in apparent test</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/chinese-locomotives-run-on-rail-lines-to-north-korea-in-apparent-test/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jifan Li]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 04:15:49 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shipping]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970550</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[China appeared to conduct test-runs on two cross-border rail lines with North Korea earlier this month, another potential step toward restoring transportation links that were suspended during the pandemic. Videos posted on the Chinese social media platform Douyin on April 9 showed locomotives crossing the border between Jian, Jilin Province and Manpo, North Korea, as [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<item>
		<title>Russian minister arrives in North Korea for talks on law enforcement: Moscow</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/russian-minister-arrives-in-north-korea-for-talks-on-law-enforcement-moscow/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 04:14:08 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970544</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Russian Minister of Internal Affairs Vladimir Kolokoltsev arrived in Pyongyang on Monday evening for talks with his North Korean counterpart on law enforcement cooperation. Moscow’s Interior Ministry announced via Telegram on Tuesday that Kolokoltsev is visiting the North Korean capital and would hold “a series of working meetings,” including talks with North Korea’s Minister of [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Vladimir-Kolokoltsev-in-PY-1-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Opposition demands minister&#8217;s resignation after North Korea nuclear disclosure</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/opposition-demands-ministers-resignation-after-north-korea-nuclear-disclosure/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 08:57:26 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970533</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korea’s main opposition party on Monday slammed the country’s Unification Minister and called for his resignation after multiple news reports alleged the U.S. suspended its intelligence sharing in response to his public disclosure of a purported North Korean uranium enrichment facility. “We are currently in a situation where intelligence sharing with the U.S. — [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-20-at-3.07.13-PM-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>North Korea’s soccer team loses to nemesis Japan in U-20 Women’s Asian Cup final</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-koreas-soccer-team-loses-to-nemesis-japan-in-u-20-womens-asian-cup-final/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 05:10:32 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970528</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea lost to rival Japan in the U-20 Women’s Asian Cup soccer tournament finals on Saturday, bringing an end to a string of triumphs at the youth level from the past two years.  In a close encounter at Thailand’s Thammasat Stadium, Japan edged out the DPRK thanks to a second-half goal by midfielder Momoka [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/DPRK-vs-Japan-U-20-Womens-Asian-Cup-2026-final_AFC-Asian-Cup-YouTube-20260418-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>North Korea tests missiles armed with cluster bombs and fragmentation mines</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korea-tests-missiles-armed-with-cluster-bombs-and-fragmentation-mines/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 19 Apr 2026 23:06:34 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970504</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea test-fired what it claimed were “improved” surface-to-surface ballistic missiles armed with cluster bombs and fragmentation mine warheads on Sunday, continuing its pursuit of the controversial weapons that it previously condemned. Overseen by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the Missile Administration of the DPRK carried out test launches to “verify the characteristics and [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/001_KJU-and-daughter-at-Hwasong-11D-test-001_Rodong-Sinmun-20260420-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>North Korea fires ‘multiple’ suspected ballistic missiles: Seoul, Tokyo</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korea-fires-ballistic-missile-eastward-seoul-tokyo/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2026 22:29:10 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970491</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea fired “multiple” suspected ballistic missiles on Sunday morning, according to South Korean and Japanese authorities, the fourth such launch this month. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced around 6:19 a.m. KST that North Korea had fired a ballistic missile in an eastward direction. The ROK military subsequently said North Korea launched [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2025/01/kctv-jul26-2019-kju-kn23-srbm-hs11a-missile-test-25-sky-air-hodo-peninsula-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>South Korea mum on report alleging US withholding intel over minister remarks</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/south-korea-mum-on-report-alleging-us-withholding-intel-over-minister-remarks/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim | Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:53:50 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970473</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korea on Friday was unable to confirm whether the United States was limiting its intelligence sharing following reports that Washington was upset by Seoul’s public disclosure of an undeclared North Korean nuclear enrichment facility. “We are not aware of any restrictions on intelligence sharing between South Korea and the U.S.,” a Unification Ministry spokesperson [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-Featured-Image-Empty-18-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>North Korean missiles used in Ukraine strikes aren’t just Russian copies: Kyiv</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korean-missiles-used-in-ukraine-strikes-arent-just-russian-copies-kyiv/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:42:17 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970451</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea developed its KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles used by Moscow in attacks on Ukrainian cities combining foreign tech with designs of Russia’s earlier Iskander models, Kyiv’s researchers found. Ukrainian military engineers studied debris from a missile used in a Russian attack on Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine in Jan. 2024, Kyiv’s defense ministry said [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/1-12-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>North Korean hackers use AI-powered social engineering to steal $100K in crypto</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korean-hackers-use-ai-powered-social-engineering-to-steal-100k-in-crypto/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 02:39:52 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cyber]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970439</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean cybercriminals have been linked to the theft of around $100,000 from a cryptocurrency wallet platform after carrying out an artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced social engineering attack, the hacked firm revealed Wednesday. The U.S.-based web3 service Zerion said on social media that the unspecified North Korean actor compromised an employee’s device last week and exploited [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Zerion-homepage-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>North Korea’s abductions, nukes must be addressed together: Ex-Japanese diplomat</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-koreas-abductions-nukes-must-be-addressed-together-ex-japanese-diplomat/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:29:25 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Interviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970349</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Tokyo should resolve North Korea’s previous abduction of Japanese nationals in parallel with the problem of Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons, according to the country’s former vice foreign minister. Mitoji Yabunaka, speaking on the sidelines of the recent Asan Forum in Seoul, stressed that building mutual trust is key to making progress in ties with the DPRK. [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/ASAN_A4_0006-1-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>South Korean sentenced to prison for fraudulent North Korea defection scheme</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/south-korean-sentenced-to-prison-for-fraudulent-north-korea-defection-scheme/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:13:20 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Defector Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970418</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A South Korean court has sentenced a man to eight months in prison for fraud after he promised to bring a North Korean family to the South for thousands of dollars, despite lacking the ability to do so. The unnamed defendant admitted during his trial that he did not have the means to safely relocate [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Copy-of-Featured-Image-Empty-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Major Russian airline says it has received OK to fly over North Korea</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/major-russian-airline-says-it-has-received-ok-to-fly-over-north-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:03:46 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aviation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970425</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Russia’s largest private airline says it has received permission to fly over North Korea, currently operating two routes that cross through the country’s usually restricted airspace. A spokesperson for S7 Airlines said on Wednesday that the firm has relied on North Korean airspace for its Vladivostok-Shanghai route since last November, confirming previous NK News reporting. [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/1-11-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Two Americans sentenced for helping North Korean IT workers steal from US firms</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/two-americans-sentenced-for-helping-north-korean-it-workers-steal-from-us-firms/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:21:52 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cyber]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970413</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Two U.S. nationals were sentenced to prison on Wednesday for helping North Korean information technology workers pose as American employees at more than 100 U.S. companies, a yearslong scheme that generated over $5 million for Pyongyang’s weapons programs. Kejia Wang, 42, received a nine-year sentence, while Zhenxing Wang, 39, was sentenced to 92 months in [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/North-Koreans-using-computers_KCTV-20250921-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Russian-occupied Ukrainian region discusses deepening ties with North Korea</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/russian-occupied-ukrainian-region-discusses-deepening-ties-with-north-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 06:22:49 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970406</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea is looking to expand its cooperation with Russia-controlled regions of Donbas in Ukraine, a regional governor said after meeting the DPRK’s top envoy on Wednesday. Governor Vladimir Saldo of the Russian-occupied Kherson region raised the possibility of exporting agricultural goods to North Korea in talks with Ambassador Sin Hong Chol, citing Pyongyang’s need [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/1-10-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>UN nuclear watchdog chief seeks ROK support in tackling North Korean nuke threat</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/un-nuclear-watchdog-chief-seeks-rok-support-in-tackling-north-korean-nuke-threat/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:03:39 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970401</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The head of the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog expressed “deep concerns” about North Korea’s expanding nuclear weapons arsenal in a meeting with South Korea’s foreign minister on Wednesday, reiterating the need for diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang to address the challenge. In a social media post following his meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun in [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Rafael-Grossi-and-Cho-Hyun-in-Seoul_ROK-MOFA-20260415-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Kim Jong Un oversees artillery contest on North Korean founder’s birthday</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/kim-jong-un-oversees-artillery-contest-on-north-korean-founders-birthday/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 23:10:18 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970392</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw an artillery firing contest on the birth anniversary of the country’s founder on Wednesday, deviating from his practice in recent years of unveiling ambitious construction projects on the country’s most important holiday. On the Day of the Sun — founding leader Kim Il Sung’s birth anniversary — Kim [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/KJU-attends-KPA-artillery-contest-on-Day-of-the-Sun-001_Rodong-Sinmun-20260416-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>US, ROK and Japan discuss naval cooperation to counter North Korea</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/us-rok-and-japan-discuss-naval-cooperation-to-counter-north-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 08:53:32 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970378</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Senior naval commanders from the U.S., ROK and Japan met on Wednesday to discuss strengthening maritime security cooperation against North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile threats. ROK Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Kim Kyung-ryul first held separate talks with U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Adm. Stephen Koehler and Adm. Saito Akira, chief of staff of Japan’s [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2025/06/7-1-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>North Korean economy is ‘recovering’ thanks to Russia, China ties: Seoul</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korean-economy-is-recovering-thanks-to-russia-china-ties-seoul/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 08:48:31 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970375</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea’s economy has entered a phase of gradual recovery after a period of contraction, according to Seoul’s Unification Ministry, citing the DPRK’s cooperation with Russia and rebounding trade with China.  Pyongyang has formed and maintained “alliance-level” cooperation and transferred weapons and technology with Russia, while leveraging U.S.-China competition “to enhance its strategic autonomy and [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2025/07/Pyongyang-Autumn-International-Trade-Fair-2024_KCNA-20241120_Rakwon-TV-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>North Korea registers its largest warship with UN maritime watchdog</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korea-registers-its-largest-warship-with-un-maritime-watchdog/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 08:45:40 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970380</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea has registered its largest modern warship with the U.N. maritime watchdog, records show, a move that could be aimed at showcasing the vessel’s readiness for operational deployment. The DPRK’s No. 51 Choe Hyon destroyer appeared on the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) global shipping database earlier this month, NK News confirmed. The addition came [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/1-9-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Russian, North Korean trade unions ink cooperation deal in Pyongyang</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/russian-north-korean-trade-unions-ink-cooperation-deal-in-pyongyang/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 05:59:23 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Misc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970367</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The largest labor organizations in Russia and North Korea have inked a cooperation deal, according to state media, a move that comes as the DPRK deploys large numbers of workers to Russia. The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia signed the memorandum of understanding on friendship and cooperation with the General Federation of Trade [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/2-7-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>China greenlights new seafood inspection facility on North Korea border</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/china-greenlights-new-seafood-inspection-facility-on-north-korea-border/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jifan Li]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 03:35:48 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970340</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[China has greenlit the operation of a seafood inspection facility that can process imports in a city on the North Korea border, despite U.N. Security Council sanctions and customs rules on the DPRK’s seafood trade. The General Administration of Customs of China approved the operation of the inspection and regulatory site at Dandong Port for [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/1-4-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Trump’s war with Iran has left prospects for North Korea talks on life support</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/trumps-war-with-iran-has-left-prospects-for-north-korea-talks-on-life-support/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrei Lankov]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 02:05:30 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970101</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Over a month into the U.S. war with Iran, the repercussions for North Korea are coming into focus, and they aren’t good. The U.S. decision to attack an adversary in the middle of nuclear talks — going so far as to take out its leadership — will be raising alarm bells in Pyongyang. Regardless of [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/impact-of-iran-war-on-potential-us-north-korea-talks-andrei-lankov-column-featured-image-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Human rights commission says Seoul should protect North Korean POWs in Ukraine</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/human-rights-commission-says-seoul-should-protect-north-korean-pows-in-ukraine/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:23:02 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Defector Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970332</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The South Korean government’s human rights watchdog says the country’s foreign and prime ministers should use all available resources to protect and repatriate two North Korean prisoners of war held in Ukraine.  The state-funded National Human Rights Commission of Korea unanimously approved an opinion calling for Seoul to protect the North Korean POWs and support [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Kim Jong Un donates $2M to educate pro-North Korea youth in Japan</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/kim-jong-un-donates-2m-to-educate-pro-north-korea-youth-in-japan/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Seung-Yeon Chung]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:02:05 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970322</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has sent nearly $2 million to a pro-DPRK organization in Japan, an annual donation made to support youth education ahead of the country’s most important holiday. State media reported on Tuesday that Kim sent 316 million yen (about $1,993,000) to the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, also [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/edited_2026-03-20_choson-sinbo_graduation-ceremony2-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>North Korea lets Russians run in Pyongyang despite cancelling marathon</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korea-lets-russians-run-in-pyongyang-despite-cancelling-marathon/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 03:39:20 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Misc.]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970310</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea allowed dozens of Russian athletes who signed up for the country’s international marathon to go for runs in central Pyongyang this month, despite abruptly cancelling the annual event. The exclusive tour once again highlighted the special treatment the DPRK currently gives to Russian tourists as it snubs travelers from other countries. Korea Konsult, [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Trump nominates former congresswoman Michelle Steel as ambassador to Seoul</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/trump-nominates-former-congresswoman-michelle-steel-as-ambassador-to-seoul/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 03:39:17 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970290</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[President Donald Trump has nominated Michelle Steel, a former California congresswoman and an outspoken advocate for North Korean human rights, to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to South Korea.  The White House announced the nomination on Monday, which will require Senate confirmation through a simple majority vote. Born in Seoul in 1955, Steel represented [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Cathy Kang: Rethinking Korean unification from a global perspective</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/cathy-kang-rethinking-korean-unification-from-a-global-perspective/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jacco Zwetsloot | Jeongmin Kim | NK News]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 02:01:22 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[North Korea News Podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970231</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim kicks off the podcast this week by discussing North Korea’s positive response after Seoul expressed regret for past civilian drone incursions, only to quickly undercut hopes for inter-Korean detente with more hardline messaging and a series of missile launches. In the second half, Dr. Cathy Kang of the [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
				<enclosure url="https://media.blubrry.com/nknews/podcast01.nknews.org/podcast/north-korea-news-podcast/nk-news-podcast-cathy-kang-rethinking-unification-from-a-global-perspective.mp3" length="42585944" type="audio/mpeg" />

		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2024/01/Copy-of-Featured-Image-Empty-2024-01-18T161258.950-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Kim Jong Un watches cruise missile tests from new warship on west coast</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/kim-jong-un-watches-cruise-missile-tests-from-new-warship-on-west-coast/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Colin Zwirko]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:26:49 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970234</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a test of cruise missiles from the deck of a new warship on the west coast on Sunday, according to state media, the third test in the last six weeks. Kim also claimed for the first time that a fourth new destroyer is under construction, without revealing its [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/rodong-apr14-2026-kju-choe-hyon-destroyer-warship-nampho-test-cruise-missilesa-anti-ship-6-500x256.jpeg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>North Korea kicks off tourism expo amid hopes for reopening to Chinese visitors</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korea-kicks-off-tourism-expo-amid-hopes-for-reopening-to-chinese-visitors/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Seung-Yeon Chung]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 09:05:38 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970220</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A North Korean tourism expo spotlighting souvenirs opened in the capital on Friday, amid growing expectations that the country could reopen to Chinese visitors soon. According to state media on Saturday, the opening ceremony for the Pyongyang International Tourists Souvenirs and Health Goods Exhibition took place at the capital’s Sci-Tech Complex the previous day.  National [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>US court blocks extradition of former Marine who stormed North Korean Embassy</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/us-court-blocks-extradition-of-former-marine-who-stormed-north-korean-embassy/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 08:57:17 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Defector Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970223</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A U.S. federal court has blocked the extradition of a former Marine who took part in a 2019 break-in at the North Korean Embassy in Madrid, concluding that sending him to Spain would put his life at risk from DPRK agents. According to a ruling made public last week, Judge Fernando Aenlle-Rocha of the Central [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Russian military jet makes second visit to North Korea in a week</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/russian-military-jet-makes-second-visit-to-north-korea-in-a-week/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:48:46 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aviation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970206</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A Russian military aircraft has made its second visit to North Korea in less than a week, according to flight-tracking data, while another unidentified jet appeared at the Pyongyang airport. The Russian Air Force Il-62M (RA-86559) landed in Pyongyang at around 8 p.m. KST on Saturday and left at around 12 p.m. the following day, [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/3-8-1870x1000-1-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>South Korean man acquitted of praising North Korea, 34 years after his death</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/south-korean-man-acquitted-of-praising-north-korea-34-years-after-his-death/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:15:42 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970191</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A South Korean court has posthumously acquitted a man who was sentenced to prison in 1981 for allegedly praising North Korea, finding that authorities forced his confession and that his comments did not pose a threat. In an April 7 retrial, the Busan District Court acquitted the man, identified by his surname Park, of charges [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Putin, Lukashenko discuss trilateral cooperation with North Korea in phone call</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/putin-lukashenko-discuss-trilateral-cooperation-with-north-korea-in-phone-call/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:37:24 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970189</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The leaders of Russia and Belarus discussed the possibility of trilateral cooperation with North Korea in talks on Sunday, potentially pointing to deeper military ties over the Ukraine war. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko &#8220;discussed the prospects of realizing a number of projects in a trilateral format” during a phone [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Kim Jong Un vows support for China ‘realizing’ territorial policy on Taiwan</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/kim-jong-un-vows-support-for-china-realizing-territorial-policy-on-taiwan/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Colin Zwirko]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 23:45:16 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970181</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in Pyongyang on Friday, vowing “support” for China’s territorial policies on Taiwan, according to state media. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Saturday that Kim told Wang the DPRK “would fully support all the internal and external policies of the Chinese party [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/kcna-apr11-2026-kju-wang-ji-chinese-fm-visit-meeting-2-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Switzerland to reopen cooperation office in North Korea after 6 years</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/switzerland-to-reopen-cooperation-office-in-north-korea-after-6-years/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 06:10:41 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970162</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Switzerland plans to reopen its international cooperation office in North Korea this year, after a six-year absence due to the pandemic. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) confirmed to NK News on Thursday that it plans to resume operations at the Pyongyang office of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). “The FDFA [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Pyongyang-skyline_KCTV-20250217-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>A unified Korea is less threatening to China than US military presence: Expert</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/a-unified-korea-is-less-threatening-to-china-than-us-military-presence-expert/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 06:09:08 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970124</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A unified Korean Peninsula under control of either government is less threatening to China than a divided one with a U.S. military presence in the South, according to one Chinese expert, characterizing South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s diplomatic engagement with North Korea as “the first step for a better future.” “China is not worried [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/ASAN_A1_0003-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>North Korea and China’s top diplomats hold talks in Pyongyang</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korea-and-chinas-top-diplomats-hold-talks-in-pyongyang/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin | Jifan Li]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 04:24:36 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970143</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea and China’s foreign ministers held talks in Pyongyang late Thursday, vowing to support each other on the global stage as they prepare to mark the 65th anniversary of their defense pact. China’s top diplomat Wang Yi arrived at Sunan International Airport on Thursday on a two-day visit, the DPRK party daily Rodong Sinmun [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/2-3-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>How a South Korean helped pave the way for North Korea’s soccer success</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/how-a-south-korean-helped-pave-the-way-for-north-koreas-soccer-success/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Yong Ja Hong]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 01:42:42 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970029</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea’s women’s soccer teams have been on a tear in recent years. Youth squads have won the under-17 World Cup twice and the under-20 World Cup once. The national team had a mixed run at the recent Asian Football Confederation tournament but still qualified for the Women’s World Cup in Brazil next year. All [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/DPRK-Russia-women-football-001_KCNA-20251128-edited-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Singaporean man gets jail time over North Korean oil smuggling plot: Report</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/singaporean-man-gets-jail-time-over-north-korean-oil-smuggling-plot-report/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 09:31:06 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shipping]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970134</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A Singaporean national has reportedly been sentenced to over two years in jail for his role in a scheme to supply North Korea with almost $7 million worth of oil in breach of U.N. sanctions. Kwek Kee Seng, 66, was handed 30 months’ imprisonment and fined 80,000 Singapore dollars (approximately US$63,000) on Tuesday after pleading [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Kwek-Kee-Seng_US-State-Department-20221103-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Lawmaker claims Seoul failed to detect North Korean missile launch this week</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/lawmaker-claims-seoul-failed-to-detect-north-korean-missile-launch-this-week/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 08:27:51 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970126</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A South Korean lawmaker has claimed that the country’s military failed to detect a North Korean missile launch earlier this week, faulting Seoul’s real-time tracking capabilities. Sung Il-jong of the conservative People Power Party (PPP), chair of the National Assembly’s Defense Committee, wrote on social media on Wednesday that it was “deeply regrettable” that “our [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/us_rok_jcschiefs_DPRKmissilesalvo-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>North Korea says it tested missiles with cluster munitions, blackout bombs</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korea-says-it-tested-missiles-with-cluster-munitions-blackout-bombs/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Colin Zwirko]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 05:32:08 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970104</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea said it conducted a series of weapons tests over three days this week, including a graphite bomb targeting enemy electric grids and a Hwasong-11A short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) equipped with a cluster munition warhead.  The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Thursday that research agencies under the Missile Administration also tested a new [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/kcna-may9-2025-highres-kju-missile-test-wonsan-south-beach-8-kn23-hs11a-srbm-aerial-launch-featured-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>US, ROK to hold joint air force exercise for two weeks from Friday</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/us-rok-to-hold-joint-air-force-exercise-for-two-weeks-from-friday/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 04:47:51 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970105</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The U.S. and South Korean air forces will hold a biannual joint aerial exercise beginning Friday, as the allies’ large-scale drills continue to draw North Korea’s ire. South Korea’s air force will lead the two-week Freedom Flag exercise with a focus on validating combined operational capabilities in preparation for the transfer of wartime operational control [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Belarus says it will open embassy in North Korea by August</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/belarus-says-it-will-open-embassy-in-north-korea-by-august/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 01:59:16 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970088</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Belarus will open an embassy in North Korea by August, according to Minsk, following President Alexander Lukashenko’s order to set up the diplomatic mission. “The Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the DPRK will open by Aug. 1, 2026,” the Belarus government said in a release on Wednesday.  Prime Minister Alexander Turchin signed the [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Trump could meet Kim Jong Un for summit this fall: Former US official</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/trump-could-meet-kim-jong-un-for-summit-this-fall-former-us-official/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:52:01 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970051</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un could reunite face-to-face in the second half of this year, but Trump is unlikely to abandon the longstanding goal of denuclearizing the regime, former National Security Council (NSC) chief of staff Fred Fleitz said Wednesday. U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Chinese foreign minister to visit North Korea from Thursday</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/chinese-foreign-minister-to-visit-north-korea-from-thursday/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:38:12 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970077</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will pay a two-day visit to North Korea starting Thursday, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry announced Wednesday. In a one-line statement distributed through the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the ministry said it invited Wang but did not provide details about the agenda for his visit. A spokesperson for Beijing&#8217;s [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Seoul plans to replace troops on North Korea border with AI-based systems</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/seoul-plans-to-replace-troops-on-north-korea-border-with-ai-based-systems/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:14:35 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970067</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[​​South Korea will cut the number of troops stationed at general outposts (GOPs) along the heavily militarized border with North Korea by almost three-quarters, replacing the soldiers with artificial intelligence-based systems, Seoul’s defense minister said Tuesday. The move aligns with the ROK military’s push to reduce the number of front-line personnel by 2040 due to [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/ROKdefmin_ahngyuback_ROKAFbattalioncommanders-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>North Korean vice economic minister to serve as new ambassador to Belarus</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korean-vice-economic-minister-to-serve-as-new-ambassador-to-belarus/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:26:05 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970055</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A senior North Korean diplomat who has helped manage ties with Moscow will serve as Pyongyang’s new ambassador to Belarus, replacing the DPRK&#8217;s first envoy to Minsk amid a push to strengthen ties. Ji Kyong Su presented his credentials to Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov on Tuesday, according to a short news release from the [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korea bats down Seoul’s ‘dream’ of inter-Korean thaw after rare praise</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korea-bats-down-seouls-dream-of-inter-korean-thaw-after-rare-praise/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jeongmin Kim | Seung-Yeon Chung]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 06:29:38 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970046</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A senior North Korean official struck down Seoul’s hopes for an inter-Korean detente late Tuesday, insisting that South Korea remains the “most hostile” enemy state despite Kim Yo Jong’s rare compliment to President Lee Jae Myung the previous day. In a statement released via state media, DPRK Vice Foreign Minister Jang Kum Chol mocked Seoul’s [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korea conducts third missile launch in two days: ROK military</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korea-conducts-missile-tests-two-days-in-a-row-rok-military/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Colin Zwirko]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:48:46 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970023</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Updated on April 8 at 5:02 p.m. KST with details about a second missile launch on Wednesday.  North Korea carried out its third missile test in two days on Wednesday afternoon, following launches in the morning and on Tuesday, according to South Korea’s military. The tests come as a top North Korean diplomat repeated in [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/kcna-may9-2025-highres-kju-missile-test-wonsan-south-beach-2-600mm-mlrs-salvo-multiple-tels-launch-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Why Kim Yo Jong praising Seoul for saying ‘sorry’ isn’t a prelude to engagement</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/why-kim-yo-jong-praising-seoul-for-saying-sorry-isnt-a-prelude-to-engagement/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jeongmin Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:16:05 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Analysis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970000</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Kim Yo Jong’s unusually complimentary remarks to President Lee Jae Myung late Monday suggests North Korea recognizes the domestic political risk Lee took in saying he “felt sorry” for a series of drone incursions, but they do not signal any change in Pyongyang’s stance of treating Seoul as a hostile state. At a cabinet meeting [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Likely sanctioned North Korean firm looks to sell medicine, beer in Russia</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/likely-sanctioned-north-korean-firm-looks-to-sell-medicine-beer-in-russia/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:56:04 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970012</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A sanctioned North Korean firm appears to have filed for trademark protection in Russia, records show, after previously seeking to sell aphrodisiacs and traditional medicines in the neighboring market last year. The Sobaekso Joint Venture Company from Pyongyang applied to register its trademark in Russia late March, according to its filing with Moscow’s intellectual property [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Russian military jet lands in North Korea for first time since February</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/russian-military-jet-lands-in-north-korea-for-first-time-since-february/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:33:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aviation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=970006</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A Russian military jet landed in Pyongyang on Tuesday, aviation data shows, in the first such flight since February.  The Russian Air Force Il-62M (RA-86559) touched down in Pyongyang at around 3:39 p.m. KST, arriving from Moscow after a brief stop in Vladivostok, according to data from Flightradar24. The Il-62M returned to Vladivostok at around [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Jonathan Cheng: The Christian roots of North Korea’s personality cult</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/jonathan-cheng-the-christian-roots-of-north-koreas-personality-cult/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Chad O'Carroll | Jacco Zwetsloot | NK News]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 03:52:24 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[North Korea News Podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969995</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[NK News founder Chad O’Carroll begins this week’s episode by discussing the death of North Korea’s longtime representative to the International Olympic Committee, a South Korean helicopter’s accidental flight into the demilitarized zone during a firefighting mission and Seoul’s expression of regret over civilian drone incursions. In the second half, Jonathan Cheng, the China bureau [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
				<enclosure url="https://media.blubrry.com/nknews/podcast01.nknews.org/podcast/north-korea-news-podcast/nk-news-podcast-jonathan-cheng-the-christian-roots-of-north-koreas-personality-cult.mp3" length="50041095" type="audio/mpeg" />

		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/kctv-may21-2020-class-education-program-jesus-cross-religion-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Kim Jong Un compliments South Korea’s president for expressing regret</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/kim-jong-un-compliments-south-koreas-president-after-expressing-regret/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Choi]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:48:17 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969971</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean leader Kim Jong Un hailed the South Korean president’s decision Monday to express remorse over a series of civilian drone incursions and described the act as those of an “honest and bold person,” according to a statement from his influential sister. In a late-night statement Monday, sister Kim Yo Jong referred to President [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>It’s ‘appropriate to regard’ Kim Jong Un’s daughter as successor: ROK spy agency</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/its-appropriate-to-regard-kim-jong-uns-daughter-as-successor-rok-spy-agency/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:54:18 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969943</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korea’s spy agency has assessed that it is “appropriate to regard” North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s daughter as his successor, lawmakers said Monday. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) provided its outlook during a closed-door session for the National Assembly’s Intelligence Committee, which addressed the DPRK’s trajectory since the recent Ninth Party Congress and [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/kcna-mar20-2026-kju-tank-mbt-drills-military-exercises-suicide-drones-apc-training-base-no60-kangdong-1-daughter-kja-russia-ukraine-war-generals-ri-chang-ho-kim-yong-bok-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>US, South Korea begin search for aircraft that went missing during Korean War</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/us-south-korea-begin-search-for-aircraft-that-went-missing-during-korean-war/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:03:13 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969922</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The U.S. and South Korea have launched a search for the wreckage of U.S. military aircraft that crashed off the east coast during the 1950-53 Korean War, according to Seoul’s defense ministry, part of a broader push to recover remains from the conflict with North Korea. The U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) and the [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-06-at-5.57.53-PM-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Russia says new road bridge to North Korea set to open this summer</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/russia-says-new-road-bridge-to-north-korea-set-to-open-this-summer/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:06:28 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969915</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea and Russia aim to open their new road bridge across the Tumen River this summer, Moscow has announced, following a meeting between the two countries’ transport ministers. The bridge’s completion ceremony and opening of traffic are scheduled for summer 2026, the Russian government said in a social media post on Friday. The Russian [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korea building giant wholesale complex with Chinese help, businessman says</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korea-building-giant-wholesale-complex-with-chinese-help-businessman-says/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jifan Li]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 06:09:44 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969899</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean and Chinese companies are building a sprawling wholesale complex in Pyongyang that’s set to open later this year, according to a Chinese businessman, in the latest sign of expanding economic ties between the two countries. In a video posted on Chinese social media platform Douyin on April 1, the entrepreneur shares footage purportedly [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Lee expresses ‘regret’ to North Korea after drone probe implicates officials</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/lee-expresses-regret-to-north-korea-after-drone-probe-implicates-officials/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:20:51 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aviation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969895</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Monday expressed regret to North Korea over tensions caused by a civilian drone incursion, after an investigation determined that a National Intelligence Service employee and active-duty soldiers were involved in the incident. “Although this was not the intention of our government, I express regret to the North over [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/LJM_NKdrone-1-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>South Korean military helicopter mistakenly enters DMZ during wildfire operation</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/south-korean-military-helicopter-mistakenly-enters-dmz-during-wildfire-operation/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 15:40:48 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969880</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A South Korean military helicopter deployed to extinguish a wildfire near the border mistakenly entered the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), although North Korea has not publicly acknowledged the incident.   A spokesperson from Seoul’s Defense Ministry confirmed to NK News on Sunday that its Surion helicopter, initially dispatched to tackle the blaze in the frontline area of [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>ROK police investigating if dead body that washed ashore came from North Korea</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/rok-police-investigating-if-dead-body-that-washed-ashore-came-from-north-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 07:06:17 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969863</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korean authorities are investigating whether a dead body that washed up along the inter-Korean border this week came from North Korea. The body was found in the Imjin River in the northwestern city of Paju at around 9:20 a.m. Thursday, a police officer from the Paju Police Station told NK News. “It seems the [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Seoul must defend against North Korea ‘by our strength,’ Lee tells US senators</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/seoul-must-defend-against-north-korea-by-our-strength-lee-tells-us-senators/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 07:05:23 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Defector Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969860</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korean President Lee Jae Myung told a delegation of U.S. lawmakers on Thursday that Seoul seeks to take primary responsibility for defense against North Korea, outlining his administration’s commitment to “greater military self-reliance.” “In line with the U.S. government’s direction, it is appropriate for the defense of the Korean Peninsula to be handled by [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Chinese electrosurgical device spotted at new North Korean hospital</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/chinese-electrosurgical-device-spotted-at-new-north-korean-hospital/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jifan Li]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 04:15:44 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969846</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A newly opened North Korean hospital is using a Chinese-made medical device inside one of its operating rooms, according to NK News analysis, highlighting Pyongyang’s continued reliance on imported medical equipment. The Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang released photos of Ambassador Wang Yajun’s visit to the Kusong City Hospital on Tuesday, where a high-frequency electrosurgical unit [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korea to bury soldiers from Ukraine war at new cemetery in mid-April</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korea-to-bury-soldiers-from-ukraine-war-at-new-cemetery-mid-april/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Colin Zwirko]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 22:01:54 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969824</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited a new cemetery and museum commemorating the country&#8217;s joint war with Russia against Ukraine, saying burials for soldiers who died and committed suicide during the war will take place in “mid-April,” state media reported on Friday. A separate report highlighted Kim’s attention to “ever-growing material” demands of North [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/rodong-apr3-2026-kju-ukraine-russia-war-museum-cemetery-5-500x256.jpeg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>ROK nonprofit says it seeks to hold an electric vehicle expo in North Korea</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/rok-nonprofit-says-it-seeks-to-hold-an-electric-vehicle-expo-in-north-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:15:43 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969807</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A South Korea-based electric vehicle (EV) association has announced an ambitious plan to hold an international expo in North Korea next year, though experts dismissed the proposal as unrealistic given the deadlock in inter-Korean ties. A spokesperson for the International e-Mobility Expo Organizing Committee told NK News on Wednesday that the organization plans to propose [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/AA%E5%87%BA%E5%8F%A3%E7%9A%AE%E5%8D%A1%EF%BC%8Cmpv.%E8%BD%BF%E8%BD%A6-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Longtime North Korean representative to Olympics dies at 87</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/longtime-north-korean-representative-to-olympics-dies-at-87/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 07:44:21 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969776</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Chang Ung, a longtime North Korean member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) who helped drive inter-Korean sports cooperation, died last month at age 87, the IOC said Wednesday. In a press release, the committee said Chang left a “lasting legacy through his contributions to sports development, international cooperation and promotion of the Olympic values.”  [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Trump slams Seoul over lack of support on Hormuz, citing US troops in Korea</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/trump-slams-seoul-over-lack-of-support-on-hormuz-citing-us-troops-in-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 07:23:33 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969773</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[U.S. President Donald Trump complained that South Korea is not contributing to efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz, even though thousands of American troops are stationed on the Korean Peninsula to defend against a “nuclear” North Korea. During the Easter luncheon at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said opening the global transit route [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-02-at-11.45.27-AM-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>North Korean hackers compromise major software used by thousands of companies</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/north-korean-hackers-compromise-major-software-used-by-thousands-of-companies/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 07:20:04 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cyber]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969788</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea-linked cybercriminals have compromised a popular software tool used by thousands of companies around the world, according to Google researchers, seeking to steal information that can be used for future attacks and cryptocurrency theft. The breach took place on Tuesday and targeted Axios, a tool that facilitates information exchanges between servers and web applications, [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Russian businessman appears to play key role in North Korean labor schemes</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/russian-businessman-appears-to-play-key-role-in-north-korean-labor-schemes/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Apr 2026 07:19:31 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Investigations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969745</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A Russian businessman behind the construction of a joint factory with North Korea has actively promoted the procurement of DPRK workers to fill labor shortages, an NK News investigation has found, shining a light on illicit labor imports and positioning himself as a key figure in related schemes. Vladimir Sokolov is the head of the [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Russia issued over 36K visas to North Koreans in 2025, almost all for education</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/russia-issued-over-36k-visas-to-north-koreans-in-2025-almost-all-for-education/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 09:39:28 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969734</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Russia granted more than 36,000 entry visas to North Koreans in 2025, according to new consular data, amid the allies’ flourishing cooperation over the war in Ukraine. The data released on Wednesday shows that Russia’s diplomatic missions issued DPRK nationals a total of 36,413 visas, a fourfold increase from 9,239 visas in 2024. Over 98%, [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Ask a North Korean: Why North Koreans don’t trust state weather forecasts</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/ask-a-north-korean-why-north-koreans-dont-trust-state-weather-forecasts/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Rose]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 09:27:17 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Ask A North Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Defector Issues]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969666</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[“Ask a North Korean” is an NK News series featuring interviews with and columns by North Korean defectors, most of whom left the DPRK within the last few years. Readers may submit their questions for defectors by emailing ask@nknews.org and including their first name and city of residence. Today’s question is about yellow dust and [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/north-korea-weather-forecast-yellow-dust-aank-photos-5-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Military, intel officers referred to prosecutors over North Korea drone flights</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/military-intel-officers-referred-to-prosecutors-over-north-korea-drone-flights/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:42:09 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aviation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969713</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A South Korean military-police task force referred two military officers and an employee of the state intelligence agency to prosecutors on Tuesday over their alleged support for drone incursions into North Korea, concluding a nearly three-month investigation into the case. Yoon Jung-geun, senior superintendent of the joint task force, confirmed to NK News that investigators [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>South Korea resumes remains recovery at major Korean War battle site in DMZ</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/south-korea-resumes-remains-recovery-at-major-korean-war-battle-site-in-dmz/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 06:30:47 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969722</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korea resumed excavations for Korean War remains at a major battle site inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) on Wednesday, with North Korea once again refraining from participating. Seoul’s Defense Ministry said soldiers have started recovery operations at White Horse Hill (백마고지) along the central part of the inter-Korean border, part of a yearlong campaign [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/01/Trump-100-days-1870-x-1000-px-20-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Head of Chinese economic group visiting North Korea to promote trade</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/04/head-of-chinese-economic-group-visiting-north-korea-to-promote-trade/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jifan Li]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 03:14:43 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969708</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The leader of a Chinese economic association is visiting North Korea to promote trade between the two countries, underscoring a potential expansion of civilian and business engagement following the restoration of transportation links. According to the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang, Chinese Ambassador Wang Yajun met with China Asia Economic Development Association President Quan Shunji on [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Fewer South Korea students view ties with North Korea as hostile, poll shows</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/fewer-south-korea-students-view-ties-with-north-korea-as-hostile-poll-shows/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jeongmin Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:04:34 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969701</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korean students have slightly warmed to inter-Korean unification and believe relations with North Korea have become more peaceful compared to last year, though a majority still characterized cross-border ties as “not peaceful,” according to a new government poll. The School Unification Education Survey commissioned by the ministries of unification and education polled over 70,000 [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Ankit Panda: How North Korea could take its military modernization to space</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/ankit-panda-how-north-korea-could-take-its-military-modernization-to-space/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin | Jacco Zwetsloot | NK News]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 06:57:24 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[North Korea News Podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969699</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[NK News Data Correspondent Anton Sokolin kicks off this week’s episode with a look at Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s visit to Pyongyang for a summit last week, and his potential to serve as an intermediary between Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump. The conversation explores Belarus’s evolving ties with the DPRK, including plans to establish [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
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		<title>UN council adopts resolution decrying North Korea’s ‘gross’ human rights abuses</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/un-council-adopts-resolution-decrying-north-koreas-gross-human-rights-abuses/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[David Choi]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 06:18:22 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969694</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) condemned North Korea’s “systematic, widespread and gross” violations of its people’s human rights, adopting a resolution on Monday that seeks to hold the regime accountable with the support of South Korea and 49 other countries. The resolution was adopted by consensus without a vote during the 61st UNHRC session [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Belarusian leader seeks to mediate between US and North Korea: Minsk</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/belarusian-leader-seeks-to-mediate-between-us-and-north-korea-minsk/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:33:24 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969681</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko aims to mediate relations between the U.S. and North Korea and dissuade Washington from escalating tensions with Pyongyang, Minsk’s top diplomat said following Lukashenko’s talks with Kim Jong Un. While primarily focused on bilateral ties, last week’s summit in Pyongyang also covered the two countries’ relationship with the U.S. and Russia, [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Russia’s top news agency reaches deal with North Korea to combat ‘fake news’</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/russias-top-news-agency-reaches-deal-with-north-korea-to-combat-fake-news/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:31:23 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Misc.]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969675</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The main news agencies of Russia and North Korea have inked a deal to jointly tackle “fake news” and exchange information, the latest example of media cooperation between the two allies. A delegation led by TASS news agency’s CEO Andrei Kondrashov arrived in the DPRK capital on Saturday, meeting the following day with his counterpart [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Seoul backs UN resolution condemning North Korea&#8217;s human rights abuses</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/seoul-backs-un-resolution-condemning-north-koreas-human-rights-abuses/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 07:28:24 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969663</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korea has decided to co-sponsor a forthcoming U.N. resolution on North Korea’s human rights abuses, after reports that Seoul might not sponsor the measure drew criticism from activists and politicians. “In line with our stance of working with the international community for the substantial improvement of North Korean citizens’ human rights, we have decided [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-30-at-3.24.05-PM-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>North Korean troops start reinforcing border again after monthslong pause: Seoul</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/north-korean-troops-start-reinforcing-border-again-after-monthslong-pause-seoul/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 06:24:20 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969653</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea has resumed work to reinforce its border along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) within the demilitarized zone (DMZ), after a monthslong pause for training, South Korea’s military said Friday. According to the ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), Pyongyang restarted the work in early March after halting the activities in December due to [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/kctv-feb9-2025-kju-defense-ministry-on-feb8-kpa-founding-holiday-anniv-visit-speech-12-featured-soldiers-border-electric-fence-1870x1000-1-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Air China resumes regular flights to North Korea for first time in six years</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/air-china-resumes-regular-flights-to-north-korea-for-first-time-in-six-years/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2026 02:57:43 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aviation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969647</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Air China resumed passenger service to Pyongyang for the first time in six years on Monday, following the suspension of regular flights during the pandemic. A Boeing 737-79L (B-5297) operated by the national carrier departed from Beijing Capital International Airport at around 9 a.m. KST and arrived at Pyongyang’s Sunan International Airport at 10:40 a.m, [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korea conducts missile engine test, claims higher thrust</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/kim-jong-un-oversees-engine-test-state-media-claims-higher-thrust-capabilities/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 29 Mar 2026 01:04:13 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969614</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed a ground test of a newly upgraded “high-thrust solid-fuel engine” used in long-range missiles, state media reported Sunday, alongside reports that Kim inspected tests of the Korean People’s Army’s (KPA) main battle tank and special operations unit drills.  The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the test involved [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/kjuenginetest_mar29kcna-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Lukashenko orders opening of Belarusian Embassy in North Korea</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/lukashenko-orders-opening-of-belarusian-embassy-in-north-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:33:14 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969600</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has ordered the opening of an embassy in North Korea, a day after he signed a new friendship agreement with leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang.  Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov announced the plan on Friday following the president’s return to Belarus, according to the state-run Belta news agency. “The president has [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/Thumbs-up-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Lee doesn’t mention North Korea in memorial for troops killed in sea skirmishes</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/lee-doesnt-mention-north-korea-in-memorial-for-troops-killed-in-sea-skirmishes/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:58:18 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969552</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for a “peaceful Korean Peninsula free from the threat of war and hostility” at a ceremony on Friday honoring troops killed in clashes with Pyongyang, but stopped short of mentioning North Korea.  During the ceremony at the Daejeon National Cemetery, Lee said maintaining strong defense capabilities while striving [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/LJM_westseadefenseday-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Opposition pounces on Seoul’s hesitation to condemn North Korean right abuses</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/opposition-pounces-on-seouls-hesitation-to-condemn-north-korean-right-abuses/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:44:10 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969568</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korea’s main opposition party has slammed the Lee Jae Myung administration for considering not backing a North Korean human rights resolution, while Seoul’s unification minister defended the move in support of diplomacy with the regime. “Are the human rights of the North Korean people more important, or is it Kim Jong Un’s feelings that [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-27-at-4.41.24-PM-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Weapons and friendship: How Lukashenko’s trip to North Korea echoed Putin’s</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/weapons-and-friendship-how-lukashenkos-trip-to-north-korea-echoed-putins/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 07:42:14 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969529</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s first-ever visit to North Korea for a summit with Kim Jong Un provided an opportunity to strengthen a relationship that both countries have long neglected, underscoring how Pyongyang is reshaping its foreign policy to align with states that challenge the West. But while Russia provides a key link between the two [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/Kim-and-rifle-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Crossing the line: The making of the man who flew drones into North Korea</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/crossing-the-line-the-making-of-the-man-who-flew-drones-into-north-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Ifang Bremer]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 07:20:52 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969486</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[On a weekend morning in September, a 30-year-old South Korean man surnamed Oh traveled to a border island and launched a fixed-wing drone over the water, toward North Korea. By his own account, he did this three more times in the months after. Then everything came crashing down. DPRK state media reported in early January [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/drone-suspect-oh-nknews-investigation-featured-image-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>North Korean workers deployed to Russia face labor exploitation: Report</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/north-korean-workers-deployed-to-russia-face-labor-exploitation-report/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:30:23 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Defector Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969506</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean workers dispatched to Russia face exploitation on the job, forced to work long hours and surrender most of their wages to the state under conditions that constitute “modern-day slavery,” according to a Seoul-based human rights group. In a report published Wednesday, Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights (NKHR) stated that the DPRK [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/33813422130_af203489ca_o-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>ROK navy conducts large-scale drills on anniversary of North Korean attack</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/rok-navy-conducts-large-scale-drills-on-anniversary-of-north-korean-attack/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 07:25:41 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969485</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The South Korean navy is conducting large-scale maritime drills along the country’s eastern and western coasts this week to reinforce combat readiness and honor service members killed in past North Korean attacks, the military said Thursday. All three of the ROK navy’s fleets are taking part in the five-day drills that mark the 11th West [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/roknavydrills-1-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>New Zealand deploys surveillance plane to track North Korean maritime smuggling</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/new-zealand-deploys-surveillance-plane-to-track-north-korean-maritime-smuggling/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 05:15:25 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aviation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969482</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[New Zealand has deployed a long-range patrol aircraft to monitor North Korea’s illicit ship-to-ship transfers aimed at circumventing U.N. Security Council (UNSC) sanctions, Japan’s foreign ministry announced Wednesday. A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-8A Poseidon aircraft will operate out of Japan’s Kadena Air Base from late March to mid-April, the ministry said in [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/RNZAF-P-8A-Poseidon_NZDF-20230701-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Belarusian leader Lukashenko and Kim Jong Un sign friendship deal in Pyongyang</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/belarusian-leader-lukashenko-kicks-off-talks-with-kim-jong-un-in-pyongyang/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 05:08:40 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969489</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a friendship and cooperation deal between their countries in Pyongyang on Thursday, according to Lukashenko’s press team. The agreement covers multiple areas like agriculture, education and health care, as well as business, science and exchanges between their information ministries, Minsk’s foreign minister announced [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/1-17-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>North Korea expected to strengthen role of rubber-stamp parliament, Seoul says</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/north-korea-expected-to-strengthen-role-of-rubber-stamp-parliament-seoul-says/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:23:53 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969455</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The appointment of one of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s closest aides to two key legislative positions is expected to strengthen the role of the country’s rubber-stamp parliament, Seoul’s Unification Ministry said Wednesday. At a press briefing, the ministry also said that the decision to rename the DPRK’s constitution and establish a new police [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/15th-SPA-Session-Day-1-KJU-and-senior-officials-001_KCNA-20260323-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Why even the Iran war may not change Kim Jong Un’s view of Trump</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/why-even-the-iran-war-may-not-change-kim-jong-uns-view-of-trump/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 09:49:20 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Analysis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969445</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[As the U.S. war with Iran reshapes the Middle East, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un finds himself face-to-face with a new conundrum: how to deal with a Trump administration that is increasingly embracing military action in his second term. In a speech delivered to North Korea’s rubber-stamp parliament this week, Kim denounced American “terrorism [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/KimTrump-after-Iran-conflict-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Three ROK civilians indicted over alleged role in North Korea drone incursion</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/three-rok-civilians-indicted-over-alleged-role-in-north-korea-drone-incursion/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 09:38:19 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aviation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969434</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[South Korean prosecutors have indicted three civilians for their alleged roles in sending drones into North Korea in violation of ROK law.  “Three individuals affiliated with a drone manufacturing and sales company” have been charged with “general benefiting of the enemy” (일반이적죄) and violating the Aviation Safety Act (항공안전법), the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/prosecution_NKdroneincursion_indictment-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Activists urge Seoul to condemn North Korea’s human rights abuses at UN</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/activists-urge-seoul-to-condemn-north-koreas-human-rights-abuses-at-un/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 09:16:07 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969425</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Human rights activists have urged the South Korean government to co-sponsor a U.N. resolution on North Korean human rights, after reports suggested Seoul may refrain from doing so to support improved inter-Korean ties. A joint statement by the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and Seoul-based Transnational Justice Working Group (TJWG) warned President Lee Jae [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2025/04/Untitled-design-2024-08-08T124341.360-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Belarus’ Lukashenko lands in Pyongyang for summit with Kim Jong Un</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/lukashenko-appears-to-land-in-pyongyang-for-summit-with-kim-jong-un/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 03:51:28 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969415</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A Belarusian government aircraft carrying President Alexander Lukashenko landed in Pyongyang on Wednesday afternoon, marking the start of his first state visit to North Korea. The Boeing 767-32KER (EW-001PB) that Lukashenko often uses for his overseas trips touched down at Sunan International Airport around 12:45 p.m. KST following an eight-hour flight from Minsk, according to [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/Lukashenko-meeting-KJU-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Ukraine says it’s weighing protections for captured North Korean soldiers</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/ukraine-says-its-weighing-protections-for-captured-north-korean-soldiers/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 09:11:23 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969387</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Ukraine said it is considering legal protections for asylum seekers as it weighs whether to forcibly repatriate two North Korean prisoners of war captured fighting for Russia, according to a letter sent to a South Korean human rights organization Tuesday. The principle of non-refoulement “is being taken into account” in the treatment of the captured [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2025/08/12-4-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Belarus’ Lukashenko to visit North Korea from Wednesday, Minsk says</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/belarus-lukashenko-to-visit-north-korea-from-wednesday-minsk-says/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 07:43:35 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969394</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will visit North Korea for the first time at the invitation of leader Kim Jong Un from Wednesday, Minsk has announced. Lukashenko is expected to visit for two days and hold talks with Kim on a wide range of topics, focusing on determining key areas of mutual interest, according to Lukashenko’s [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2025/09/2-3-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>How Kim Jong Un’s leadership playbook is borrowing from Xi Jinping</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/how-kim-jong-uns-leadership-playbook-is-borrowing-from-xi-jinping/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jifan Li | Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 07:28:46 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Analysis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=968930</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[At North Korea’s biggest political event, Kim Jong Un showed that he has absorbed lessons from one of the world’s most entrenched leaders: Chinese President Xi Jinping. One of the more obvious signs at the Ninth Party Congress was the use of Chinese-style name badges, which suggested that DPRK officials are copying the format of [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/XiKim-001-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Pit Heltmann: Diplomacy in North Korea before the world shut down</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/pit-heltmann-diplomacy-in-north-korea-before-the-world-shut-down/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jacco Zwetsloot | Joon Ha Park | NK News]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 06:19:20 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[North Korea News Podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969380</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[NK News Correspondent Joon Ha Park opens this week’s episode by discussing the first session of the new Supreme People’s Assembly, which reappointed Kim Jong Un as North Korea’s head of state and carried out a generational reshuffle of officials. He also discusses Pyongyang’s increasingly hardline rhetoric toward South Korea and the U.S., Kim Yo [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
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		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2022/05/kctv-may22-8pm-news-covid-lockdown-empty-streets-pyongyang-propaganda-poster-people-wearing-masks-hummer-suv-blue-license-plate-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Kim Jong Un denounces US as ‘terrorist’ state in apparent reference to Iran war</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/kim-jong-un-calls-us-a-terrorist-state-repeats-anti-south-korea-stance/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Colin Zwirko]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 01:02:45 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969356</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean leader Kim Jong Un accused the U.S. of carrying out state terrorism on Monday in apparent reference to its attacks on Iran, while repeating that South Korea is the “most hostile state” at a session of the country’s rubber-stamp parliament. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim is still “prepared to [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/rodong-mar24-2026-kju-spa-session-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Canada to deploy patrol aircraft to monitor North Korea sanctions evasion at sea</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/canada-to-deploy-patrol-aircraft-to-monitor-north-korea-sanctions-evasion-at-sea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 00:42:22 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969329</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Canada will deploy a patrol aircraft to Japan this month to monitor North Korea’s illicit maritime activities in violation of U.N. sanctions, Tokyo’s Defense Ministry announced Monday.  Canada’s CP-140 Aurora patrol aircraft will carry out surveillance against ship-to-ship transfers involving DPRK vessels and other illegal activity from an unspecified date later this month to early [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Koreans who lived near nuke test site show signs of radiation exposure</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/north-koreans-who-lived-near-nuke-test-site-show-signs-of-radiation-exposure/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:22:58 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Defector Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969338</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Nearly three dozen North Korean defectors who lived near the country’s nuclear test site have shown signs of chromosomal abnormalities, although researchers have not established a direct link to the tests, according to Seoul. Radiation exposure tests conducted in 2024 on 35 North Korean defectors from areas near the Punggye-ri nuclear test site found that [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-23-at-5.31.52-PM-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Kim Yo Jong says North Korea has ‘no reason’ to hold summit with Japan</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/kim-yo-jong-says-north-korea-has-no-reason-to-hold-summit-with-japan/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:20:11 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969345</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The North Korean leader’s sister Kim Yo Jong slammed Japan for seeking a summit with Pyongyang on Monday, reiterating her previous rejection of diplomacy with Tokyo. In a statement issued through the state-owned Korean Central News Agency, Kim criticized Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for broaching the subject of a DPRK-Japan summit during her visit [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>US soldier, two accomplices sentenced for aiding North Korean IT schemes</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/us-soldier-two-accomplices-sentenced-for-aiding-north-korean-it-schemes/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 07:24:22 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cyber]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969331</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A federal court sentenced three Americans to prison or fines, including an Army soldier, for their roles in a scheme that helped North Korean information technology (IT) workers obtain remote jobs at U.S. companies using false identities. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia sentenced Alexander Paul Travis, Jason Salazar and Audricus [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2025/07/North-Koreans-using-computers_Oct-2016_zoomed-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>North Korean delegations for disability rights, disaster response visit China</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/north-korean-delegations-for-disability-rights-disaster-response-visit-china/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jifan Li]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 06:31:35 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969319</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A pair of North Korean delegations traveled to China earlier this month to deepen cooperation on education for people with disabilities and disaster management. The first delegation visited two education institutions for students with disabilities in Shenyang, Liaoning Province on March 9 — the Shenyang School for the Blind and a school for children with [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Chinese firms flaunt export of electronics and EVs to North Korea</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/chinese-firms-flaunt-export-of-electronics-and-evs-to-north-korea/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 03:41:36 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade Data]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969293</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Chinese firms have boasted on social media of supplying North Korea with products ranging from TVs and smartphones to electric vehicles, NK News has found, in apparent violation of international sanctions. Recent posts on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, suggest that the Guangzhou-based Huaju Electric Appliance Company is exporting ultra-thin TVs to North Korea. [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korean parliament reelects Kim as leader and elevates his top aides</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/north-korean-parliament-elevates-kim-aides-set-to-tackle-constitution-revision/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:20:25 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969278</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea’s rubber-stamp parliament reappointed Kim Jong Un as the country’s head of state on Sunday in its first session after a recent general election, while promoting one of his closest aides to the legislature’s top post. With Kim in attendance, the opening day of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) focused largely on organizational [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/15th-SPA-Session-Day-1-featured_KCNA-20260323-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>North Korea asks Russia to provide thousands of tons of oil and gas</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/north-korea-asks-russia-to-provide-thousands-of-tons-of-oil-and-gas/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:10:11 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Companies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shipping]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969266</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea has requested that Russia provide thousands of tons of crude oil and petroleum products per month, according to a Far East export center, a sign that Pyongyang is feeling the pinch of oil price shocks due to the U.S. war with Iran. The Vladivostok-based Export Support Center announced a call for fuel suppliers [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Ukraine can help Seoul as North Korea’s military grows stronger, experts say</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/ukraine-can-help-seoul-as-north-koreas-military-grows-stronger-experts-say/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 09:09:14 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969256</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Ukraine can provide South Korea with invaluable battle-tested expertise for deterring North Korea in exchange for military aid like anti-air defense systems that are in short supply due to Russia’s invasion, members of Ukrainian security think tanks said Friday. Experts from the Kyiv-based New Europe Center and New Geopolitics Research Network made the remarks at [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korea seals return to women’s World Cup after 16-year absence</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/north-korea-seals-return-to-womens-world-cup-after-16-year-absence/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:09:11 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969258</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea’s women’s soccer team qualified for next year’s FIFA World Cup with a resounding 4-0 win over Chinese Taipei on Thursday, setting up a return to the sport’s biggest stage after a gap of 16 years. Lifted by a hat-trick from midfielder Hong Song Ok, the DPRK secured one of six direct qualifying spots [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>Trump pledged ‘full support’ on resolving North Korea abductee issue, Japan says</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/trump-pledged-full-support-on-resolving-north-korea-abductee-issue-japan-says/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:16:13 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969248</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[U.S. President Donald Trump voiced “his full support” for resolving Japan’s longstanding abductee issue with North Korea, according to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Takaichi’s remarks came during a press conference following their summit at the White House on Thursday, where she called for urgent progress on the matter and expressed interest in meeting DPRK [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/trump-takaichisummit_mar192026-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>Kim Jong Un inspects new battle tanks, oversees ‘war preparation’ drills</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/kim-jong-un-unveils-new-battle-tanks-oversees-war-preparation-drills/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 22:54:13 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969218</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a combined infantry and tank drill on Thursday, inspecting what state media described as an “incomparably superior” new main battle tank and observing enemy drone attack simulations as part of “war preparations.” Accompanied by senior DPRK defense officials, Kim visited the Capital Defense Corps’ Pyongyang Training Base No. [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/KJUdaughter-riding-in-new-main-battle-tank_KCNA-20260320-500x256.png" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>British crypto expert wanted by US gives speech on AI at pro-North Korea event</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/british-crypto-expert-wanted-by-us-gives-speech-on-ai-at-pro-north-korea-event/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 10:08:12 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cyber]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sanctions]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969205</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A British cryptocurrency entrepreneur wanted by the FBI for allegedly conspiring to breach North Korea sanctions gave a speech at a pro-DPRK event in Moscow, raising questions about his support for Pyongyang. Christopher Emms spoke about the use of modern technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) for “preserving sovereignty” at a conference organized by the DPRK [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>New tribunal could prosecute North Korean officials over Ukraine war: Experts</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/new-tribunal-could-prosecute-north-korean-officials-over-ukraine-war-experts/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jooheon Kim]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 09:53:44 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human Security / Human Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969194</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The North Korean leader’s sister Kim Yo Jong and other top officials could face prosecution under a special tribunal set to be established on aggression against Ukraine, human rights experts said Thursday, calling attention to Pyongyang’s support for Russia’s invasion. The experts made the assessment at a conference in Seoul on Thursday promoting South Korea’s [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>What to make of Seoul’s claims about an undeclared North Korean nuclear site</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/what-to-make-of-seouls-claims-about-an-undeclared-north-korean-nuclear-site/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Colin Zwirko]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 07:39:07 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Analysis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leadership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969183</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The South Korean unification minister’s comments about North Korean nuclear enrichment in the northwest city of Kusong have faced growing scrutiny in recent days, after he appeared to offer the first official confirmation of ongoing enrichment at a third location. But NK News analysis suggests that there is not yet enough public evidence to definitively [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
		<media:content medium="image" url="https://assets.korearisk.com/uploads/2026/03/rodong-2015-apr1-kju-inspection-visit-panghyon-light-aircraft-missile-factory-Machine-Plant-Managed-by-Jon-Tong-Ryol-%EC%A0%84%EB%8F%99%EB%A0%AC%EB%8F%99%EB%AC%B4%EA%B0%80-%EC%82%AC%EC%97%85%ED%95%98%EB%8A%94-%EA%B8%B0%EA%B3%84%EA%B3%B5%EC%9E%A5-space-power-slogan-%EC%9A%B0%EC%A3%BC%EA%B0%95%EA%B5%AD-2-interior-500x256.jpg" width="500" height="256" />	</item>
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		<title>US, ROK wrap up spring military exercise that drew North Korea’s scorn</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/us-rok-wrap-up-spring-military-exercise-that-drew-north-koreas-scorn/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 05:56:54 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inter-Korean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969161</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The U.S. and South Korea concluded their annual springtime Freedom Shield drills on Thursday, capping 11 days of large-scale joint exercises that drew North Korea’s scorn and multiple weapons tests. In a joint release, the allies said the exercise “incorporated lessons learned from recent conflicts into training scenarios to enhance realism,” adding it focused largely [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>‘Confident’ North Korea bolstering military threats with allies’ support: US</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/confident-north-korea-bolstering-military-threats-with-allies-support-us/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Shreyas Reddy]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 05:40:46 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cyber]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WMD]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969159</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea has leveraged its deepening military partnership with Russia and renewed diplomacy with China to bolster its economy and military, while continuing to expand its nuclear and missile arsenal with weapons capable of reaching the U.S. homeland, according to a new U.S. intelligence report. The 2026 Annual Threat Assessment released by the Office of [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>‘Go and lay a flower’: Chinese netizens react to travel resuming in North Korea</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/go-and-lay-a-flower-chinese-netizens-react-to-travel-resumption-to-north-kore/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jifan Li]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 03:57:56 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foreign Relations]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969139</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Chinese social media has been abuzz with discussion about the prospects for travel to North Korea following the resumption of cross-border passenger train service, with users variously expressing interest in visiting and skepticism about the actual prospects for reopening. On Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, users appeared indifferent and cautious after China Railway resumed service [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>North Korean trade with China dips in first two months of 2026</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/north-korean-trade-with-china-dips-in-first-two-months-of-2026/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anton Sokolin]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 09:36:19 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade Data]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969133</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[North Korea-China trade got off to a sluggish start in the new year, with total turnover in the first two months dropping significantly from the multiyear high in December. China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) released new trade data on Wednesday, reporting that the DPRK’s commercial exchanges dipped to $240.5 million in January and $178.2 [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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		<title>US troops hold air defense drills on countering North Korean threats</title>
		<link>https://www.nknews.org/2026/03/us-troops-hold-air-defense-drills-on-countering-north-korean-threats/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joon Ha Park]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 08:17:26 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Military affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Missiles]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.nknews.org/?p=969115</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[U.S. troops held air defense drills at a key air base outside Seoul as part of the large-scale Freedom Shield exercise, amid questions about how the possible redeployment of American missile defense assets could impact the military’s ability to counter North Korea. The March 11 air defense drill involved the Patriot missile system and Avenger [&#8230;]]]></description>
		
		
		
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