North Korea - Special coverage at The Spokesman-Review

News > World

Senior North Korean diplomat based in Cuba defects to South Korea

UPDATED: Tue., July 16, 2024

A senior North Korean diplomat based in Cuba defected to South Korea in November, becoming one of the highest-level diplomats in recent years to leave the reclusive state for its rival. Ri Il Gyu, a 52-year-old political affairs counselor at the North Korean embassy in Cuba fled to South Korea with his family, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported Tuesday, based on an exclusive interview. South ...

News > World

North Korea sends more trash balloons over border as South warns of parasites

UPDATED: Tue., June 25, 2024

North Korea sent a new batch of balloons carrying trash across the border into South Korea after Seoul said it detected parasites such as roundworms in the contents of previous dispatches.

News > Nation/World

Russia and North Korea’s military deal formalizes a bustling arms trade

UPDATED: Sat., June 22, 2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a mutual defense pact this week, vowing to “immediately provide military assistance” to the other in the case of an attack. The deal formalizes an arrangement that has strengthened since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine: Munitions-hungry Moscow and cash-strapped Pyongyang, both under heavy international sanctions, are more than happy to do business.

News > Nation/World

Putin threatens to arm North Korea, escalating tension with West over Ukraine

UPDATED: Fri., June 21, 2024

President Vladimir Putin of Russia directly warned the United States and its allies that he is willing to arm North Korea if they continue to supply Ukraine with sophisticated weapons that have struck Russian territory, raising the stakes for the Western powers backing Ukraine.

News > Nation/World

What Putin and Kim’s military pact means for the rest of the world

UPDATED: Thu., June 20, 2024

Russia and North Korea revived a deal struck during the Cold War when their leaders met in Pyongyang this week and agreed to come to each other’s defense if they are ever attacked. The deal is likely a reward for Kim Jong Un for supplying massive amounts of munitions to help Vladimir Putin in his war on Ukraine.

News > Nation/World

Kim vows to back Putin ‘unconditionally’ on war in Ukraine

UPDATED: Wed., June 19, 2024

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to “unconditionally support” Russia in its invasion of Ukraine at talks with President Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang that emphasized deepening ties amid US concerns about arms supplies to the Kremlin’s war machine.

News > Nation/World

Warning shots fired as North Korean troops cross border again

UPDATED: Tue., June 18, 2024

South Korean soldiers fired warning shots at what appeared to be dozens of North Korean troops who briefly crossed the border dividing the peninsula, in the second such incident in less than two weeks.

News > Nation/World

Putin to visit North Korea, Vietnam as his war in Ukraine stalls

UPDATED: Mon., June 17, 2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit North Korea and Vietnam in rare trips to long-time partners as he faces renewed challenges in his war on Ukraine.

News > Nation/World

Putin set for rare visits to security partners North Korea and Vietnam

UPDATED: Mon., June 10, 2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit North Korea and Vietnam soon, taking rare trips to Moscow’s traditional security partners as he seeks help for his grinding war on Ukraine.

News > Military

US, South Korea warplanes put on show of force for Kim Jong Un

UPDATED: Wed., June 5, 2024

The U.S. and South Korea conducted joint bombing drills using a type of precision munition for the first time in about seven years, in a show of force after Seoul scrapped a 2018 deal with North Korea to reduce tensions at the border.

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Blog Posts

News > Idaho

Sen. Risch warns of clash ‘of Biblical proportions’ with North Korea; link to full story

Wed., Feb. 21, 2018

Idaho Sen. Jim Risch, who startled security experts at an international security conference in Munich, Germany over the weekend with threats of a clash of “Biblical proportions” between the United States and North Korea, said today that he meant every word of it – but...

News > Idaho

Crapo touts N. Korea sanctions bill, passed today by Senate panel he chairs

Tue., Nov. 7, 2017

Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, is lauding North Korea sanctions legislation that his committee unanimously advanced today. “The time has come for the U.S. to take the lead to ensure that all nations work together to isolate the Kim regime...

News > Idaho