Stabilizer or spoiler? The China factor in the North Korea nuclear dilemma

Toggle section navigation Sections Print While both Washington and Beijing are officially committed to the denuclearization of North Korea, neither country presently appears to be prioritizing denuclearization as its policy objective. Beijing and...

Is China committed to North Korean denuclearization?

The written exchange among my colleagues does much to enhance our understanding of the dynamics of relations between the United States and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and how this problematic relationship may impact the goal of...

Chinese exports to North Korea surge in September

If North Korea can do it, so can the Negev

A new report by Anthropic, the company behind the AI engine Claude, presents a fascinating yet unsettling story: in North Korea — the isolated and secretive state — the regime has managed to build a sophisticated system for generating national...

North Korea-China trade surges to six-year high on heels of Kim-Xi summit

North Korea-China trade hit the highest level in nearly six years last month, according to Beijing’s official customs data, a steep rebound that came on the heels of leader Kim Jong Un’s summit with Xi Jinping. The DPRK recorded over $271.2...

North Korean students board with music tutors to boost career prospects

North Korean students seeking to learn musical instruments have started boarding with their teachers in a new approach to private lessons. A source in North Hamgyong Province told Daily NK recently that an accordion tutor in the Sonbong district...

Fabrics, oil and sanctioned goods drive North Korea-China trade to record highs

Official data records largely traditional mix of trade items last month, alongside sedan, forklifts and sports equipment North Korea procured nearly $140,000 worth of sanctioned cars, laptops, microchips and agricultural machinery from China last...

51% of S. Koreans say unification with N. Korea not necessary: poll

More than half of South Koreans view unification with North Korea as unnecessary, a poll showed Monday, marking the first time that those unsupportive of unification with Pyongyang have exceeded those in favor of it. The poll, conducted by the...

51 pct of S. Koreans say unification with N. Korea not necessary: poll

By Park Boram SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- More than half of South Koreans view unification with North Korea as unnecessary, a poll showed Monday, marking the first time that those unsupportive of unification with Pyongyang have exceeded those in...

Korean KF-21 Fighters At Risk? Will Indonesia-North Korea Bonhomie Threaten Boramae’s Secrets?

Indonesia’s decision to strengthen ties with rival countries as part of its non-aligned strategy could have negative ramifications on its existing relationships. South Korean analysts, for one, have expressed concerns over Jakarta’s renewed ties...

N. Korea hosts lavish retiree celebrations for party anniversary

North Korea celebrated meritorious retirees at welfare centers nationwide in an unprecedentedly grand event marking the 80th anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party, a Daily NK source in South Hwanghae Province said recently. According to the...

North Korean soldier flees across heavily mined border into South Korea

A North Korean army observation post in the demilitarized zone. Photo credits: AP A North Korean soldier managed to flee across the heavily fortified, mine-laden border into South Korea. This is the first confirmed crossing of the demilitarized...

North Korea launches app-based digital grain voucher system to control distribution

North Korea is launching an app-based system for rice distribution, with grain vouchers added to an electronic payment app on a trial basis in certain parts of the country. A recent update for an electronic payment app used on North Korean...

North Korean Soldier Escapes to South Korea Across Mined Border

A North Korean soldier has successfully crossed into South Korea via a heavily fortified and mined land border. The Guardian has reported this news. According to the media, this is the first confirmed crossing of the demilitarized zone into South...

North Korean soldier defects to South Korea across the Demilitarized Zone

October 19, 2025 / 4:11 PM EDT / CBS/AP A North Korean soldier defected to South Korea across the rivals' heavily fortified border on Sunday, South Korea's military said. The military took custody of the soldier who crossed the central portion of...

N Korean soldier held by Seoul after crossing border

SEOUL: A North Korean soldier was taken into custody by the South after he voluntarily crossed the heavily fortified land border separating the two Koreas on Sunday, Seoul's military said. The soldier was seeking "to defect to the South", a...

North Korea's Unannounced Dam Release Sparks Renewed Tensions on Korean Peninsula

Seoul, South Korea – In a move that has reignited longstanding frictions over shared waterways, North Korea appears to have discharged significant volumes of water from the Hwanggang Dam without prior notification to South Korea, prompting swift...

Chinese exports to North Korea surge in September

BEIJING (Reuters) -Chinese exports to North Korea soared in September from a year earlier, posting a two-digit increase after recording 2025’s first on-year decline in August, customs data showed on Monday. Shipments to North Korea reached $228.1...

North Korea appears to have released water from border dam without prior notice: Seoul

SEOUL – North Korea appears to have released water from a dam north of the inter-Korean border again without giving prior notice to the South, officials said on Oct 19. Based on satellite imagery, the North appeared to have discharged water from...

North Korean soldier crosses border, monitored and assisted by South Korean forces

South Korean authorities have taken a North Korean soldier into custody after he crossed the inter-Korean border, Azernews reports, citing Yonhap News Agency. The soldier crossed the border in a central area, where South Korean forces monitored...