NORTH KOREA SANCTIONS MONITORING
With its new pact with North Korea, Russia raises the stakes with the West over Ukraine
In a significant move, President Putin's visit to North Korea showcased Russia's willingness to challenge Western interests, particularly in the context of the Ukraine crisis. The pact signed with Kim Jong Un includes mutual military assistance and the possibility of weapons shipments to North Korea. This agreement marks the strongest tie between the two countries since the Cold War. Putin's actions have raised concerns in Washington and Seoul, with South Korea considering supplying arms to Ukraine in response. However, Putin warned against this, indicating potential repercussions.
Putin came to Asia to disrupt, and he succeeded
President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to Asia has caused turmoil in the region, impacting Washington, Beijing, and Indo-Pacific nations. The trip, marked by communist red, reshaped the geopolitical landscape with deals in North Korea and Vietnam.
Russia-North Korea pact could dent China's influence, but Beijing still holds sway over both
China appears concerned as Russia and North Korea strengthen ties through a new defence pact, potentially challenging China's influence over North Korea. Experts suggest China is struggling to respond due to conflicting goals of maintaining peace in Korea while countering the US. China's weak public response may indicate uncertainty on how to proceed. Concerns include Russia aiding North Korea's weapons program and the potential for a new Cold War alliance.
How did North Korean soldiers wander across the world's most heavily guarded border?
The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea is an intensely fortified strip of land, 248 kilometers long and 4 kilometers wide, possibly the most heavily armed place on Earth. It features two million mines, barbed wire fences, tank traps, and tens of thousands of troops from both sides. Despite this, recent incidents of North Korean soldiers crossing into South Korea have been attributed to overgrown foliage obscuring the demarcation line markings.
How did North Korean soldiers wander across the world's most heavily guarded border?
On Friday, South Korea's military said it had fired warnings shots the previous day to repel several North Korean soldiers who briefly crossed the military demarcation line that divides the countries while engaging in unspecified construction work.
Russia and North Korea sign partnership deal that appears to be the strongest since the Cold War
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed an agreement pledging mutual aid against "aggression," signaling stronger ties amid their standoffs with the West. The summit marked Putin's first visit to North Korea in 24 years and raised concerns over potential arms deals for Russia's war in Ukraine. The agreement enhances security, trade, and cultural ties. U.S. and South Korean officials expressed alarm, and Putin’s subsequent visit to Vietnam underscores Russia’s efforts to bolster alliances amid global tensions.
- Go To Page 1
South Korea blasts Russia-North Korea deal, says it will consider supplying arms to Ukraine
South Korea condemns Russia and North Korea's mutual defense agreement, reconsidering support to Ukraine. North Korea and Russia vow military assistance in case of war, causing concern. Seoul warns of negative consequences on relations with Moscow.
Putin in Vietnam, seeking to strengthen ties in Southeast Asia while Russia's isolation deepens
Putin was greeted by dignitaries upon his arrival in the Southeast Asian country as soldiers in white dress uniforms stood at attention. He arrived from North Korea, where he and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed an agreement that pledges mutual aid in the event of war.
North Korea says deal between Putin and Kim requires immediate military assistance in event of war
The new agreement between Russia and North Korea, as reported by North Korean state media, requires the countries to provide immediate military assistance to each other in the event of war. This agreement marks a significant upgrade in their relations, covering security, trade, investment, cultural, and humanitarian ties. The summit between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin also raised concerns about a potential arms arrangement between Pyongyang and Moscow, with North Korea supporting Russia's war in Ukraine. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain high, with ongoing weapons tests and military exercises involving the U.S., South Korea, and Japan.
Is North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sick? Former CIA analyst expresses concern. Know the inside story
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un welcomed Vladimir Putin amid pomp and show. Huge crowds cheered, waved balloons and danced to a Soviet patriotic song to greet Putin and Kim in Pyongyang’s central square.
Russia and North Korea sign strategic partnership, vowing closer ties in face of rivalry with West
Speaking before the summit, Putin thanked Kim for North Korea's support in Ukraine and said the two countries would sign an agreement to boost their partnership as both "fight against the imperialist hegemonistic policies of the U.S. and its satellites against the Russian Federation."
Putin says Russia and North Korea have vowed to aid each other if attacked in new partnership deal
Putin's first visit to North Korea in 24 years comes amid growing concerns over an arms arrangement in which the country provides Moscow with badly needed munitions for its war in Ukraine in exchange for economic assistance and technology transfers that could enhance the threat posed by Kim's nuclear weapons and missile program.
North Korea's Kim vows 'full support' for Russia in Ukraine as Putin vows to upgrade ties
Putin thanked Kim for the support and said the two countries would sign an agreement to boost their partnership as both "fight against the imperialist hegemonistic policies of the U.S. and its satellites against the Russian Federation."
China keeps its distance as Russia and North Korea deepen ties
China reacted guardedly this week as Russia and North Korea deepened their ties and vowed to resist the U.S.-led West, with Beijing avoiding any trilateral arrangement that might complicate its relations with other countries. On Wednesday, Beijing watched from the sidelines as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shared his "in-most thoughts" with visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang.
Before his summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin vows they'll beat sanctions together
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude to North Korea for supporting his actions in Ukraine and pledged close cooperation to overcome US-led sanctions. Ahead of his two-day summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Putin highlighted their mutual opposition to Western ambitions and plans to develop independent trade and payment systems. Putin’s visit marks his first to North Korea in 24 years and underscores growing military and economic ties. US and South Korean officials have accused North Korea of supplying Russia with military aid for the Ukraine conflict, which both countries deny.
Russia, N Korea to work together to counter Western sanctions: Putin says ahead of Pyongyang visit
Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his commitment to strengthening ties with North Korea during his upcoming two-day visit to the country, scheduled to begin on Tuesday. In an article published in North Korea's Rodong Sinmun and reported by the state news agency TASS, Putin outlined plans for the two countries to collaborate on building a security architecture in Eurasia, countering Western sanctions, and establishing independent transaction systems.
New Zealand will increase its military contribution to N. Korea sanctions monitoring
New Zealand will enhance its contribution to North Korea sanctions monitoring based in Japan, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced on Tuesday. The government will deploy New Zealand Defence Force ships for the first time and increase aircraft deployments until September 2026. This decision underscores New Zealand's commitment to collective security in the Indo-Pacific region. Despite facing challenges like high attrition rates and aging equipment, New Zealand aims to boost military spending, with a new Defence Capability Report set for approval later this year, according to Defence Minister Judith Collins.
South Korea, US work on joint strategy over North nuclear threat
Senior South Korean and U.S. defense officials met in Seoul to discuss new guidelines for coordinating their response to potential nuclear threats from North Korea. The guidelines focus on maintaining a "credible and effective" nuclear deterrence policy and posture. The meeting follows last year's summit where the U.S. promised to share more nuclear planning information with South Korea. The next meeting will be held in Washington later this year.
South Korea activists defy warning to fly balloons into North
An activist group in South Korea said on Thursday it had flown balloons into North Korea carrying leaflets criticising leader Kim Jong Un, just days after Pyongyang sent thousands of balloons carrying trash in the other direction over the border.
North Korea sends 600 more trash balloons over border, South says
North Korea sent 600 balloons carrying trash into South Korea, causing anger in the country. The balloons, which contained cigarette butts, cloth, paper waste, and plastic, were found across the capital from 8 p.m. to 10 a.m. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the military was monitoring the starting point and conducting aerial reconnaissance to collect the balloons. South Korea's Defence Minister Shin Won-sik said the balloons violated the armistice agreement and reaffirmed a coordinated response to North Korean threats.
G7 urges N.Korea, Russia to 'cease unlawful arms transfers'
G7 foreign ministers expressed grave concern over increasing cooperation between Russia and North Korea, especially regarding arms transfers from Pyongyang to Moscow for potential use in attacking Ukraine. They called for the cessation of these unlawful transfers and emphasized the importance of holding both countries accountable. Recent sanctions by their governments aim to impose costs on entities involved in these transfers. The ministers condemned the use of such arms in striking Ukraine's critical infrastructure, prolonging the suffering of the Ukrainian people.
North Korea fires missile barrage toward eastern waters days after failed satellite launch
North Korea allegedly fired a barrage of short-range ballistic missiles towards the eastern sea. The move drew condemnation from South Korea and Japan amidst heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The launches followed a failed attempt to launch a military reconnaissance satellite. North Korea's actions have been met with strong international criticism as they violate U.N. Security Council resolutions. The North vowed to continue developing its space reconnaissance capabilities despite setbacks.
North Korea flies trash balloons over the South as leader Kim doubles down on satellite ambitions
North Korea launched hundreds of trash-filled balloons into South Korea, prompting chemical and explosive response teams to recover the debris. This act follows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's push to overcome a failed satellite launch and develop reconnaissance capabilities. Kim criticized South Korea's military exercises and warned of "stern" actions.
South Korea imposes sanctions on North Koreans, two Russian vessels
On Friday, South Korea imposed sanctions on seven North Korean individuals and two Russian vessels for violating U.N. Security Council resolutions through weapons trade and related activities between Pyongyang and Moscow. The vessels transported military supplies, while the sanctioned individuals facilitated arms negotiations and supported North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. Accusations of North Korea supplying weapons to Russia for the Ukraine war have been denied by both countries. Russia condemned the sanctions and vowed to respond.
China says its military took necessary steps to warn Australia in jet incident
China stated that its military took measures to warn and alert an Australian aircraft after Australia accused a Chinese fighter jet of endangering one of its military helicopters in an "unsafe" confrontation over the Yellow Sea. The incident occurred during an operation to enforce sanctions against North Korea and could strain the nations' attempts to mend ties after tensions in 2020 over COVID-19 origins. Australia demanded an explanation from China and made strong representations, while China urged Australia to stop provocations and hype to prevent misunderstandings.
Australian PM Albanese says China military air incident unacceptable
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticized Beijing's actions as "unacceptable" after a Chinese fighter jet reportedly fired flares near an Australian navy helicopter in the Yellow Sea. The helicopter was enforcing UN sanctions on North Korea when the incident occurred. Canberra has expressed its concerns to China through diplomatic channels, but Beijing has yet to respond. This incident adds to existing tensions, especially regarding security, as Australia strengthens ties with the US to counter China's influence in the region.
China harbors ship tied to North Korea-Russia arms transfers, satellite images show
Britain's Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank said the Russian vessel Angara, which since August 2023 has moved to Russian ports thousands of containers believed to contain North Korean munitions, has been anchored at a Chinese shipyard in eastern Zhejiang province since February.
S. Korea slams 'irresponsible' Russian veto ending UN N. Korea sanctions monitoring
South Korea "clearly points out that the Russian Federation, despite its status as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has made an irresponsible decision", Seoul's foreign ministry said in a statement.
Load More
