North Korea
Follow the latest North Korea news, videos, and analysis from ABC News.
November 18, 2024 at 4:38 AM

North Korean leader calls for expanding nuclear forces in face of alleged US threats

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has renewed his call for a “limitless” expansion of his military nuclear program to counter what he characterizes as U.S.-led threats
November 18, 2024 at 4:38 AM
In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech during a meeting in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Nov. 15, 2024. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)
November 17, 2024 at 5:37 PM

AI, North Korea, Trump: What Biden and Xi discussed in their final meeting

President Joe Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC conference in Lima, Peru -- their last meeting of Biden’s presidency.
November 17, 2024 at 5:37 PM
President Joe Biden meets with China's President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Lima, Peru, Nov. 16, 2024.
November 16, 2024 at 5:34 PM

Japan's minister visits Ukraine to stress mutual concern over North Korean troops

Japan’s foreign minister has arrived in Kyiv to discuss North Korea’s deepening military alliance with Russia, including the deployment of thousands of troops to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine
November 16, 2024 at 5:34 PM
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, center, with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriiy Sybiha at the entrance of St. Michael Monastery in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
November 12, 2024 at 2:55 PM

North Korea ratifies major defense treaty with Russia

North Korea says it has ratified a major defense treaty with Russia stipulating mutual military aid
November 12, 2024 at 2:55 PM
FILE - Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un pose for a photo during a signing ceremony of the new partnership in Pyongyang, North Korea, on June 19, 2024. (Kristina Kormilitsyna, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, File)
November 12, 2024 at 2:54 PM

Russian 50,000-strong Kursk counteroffensive may include North Koreans, sources say

Some 50,000 Russian and North Korean troops are preparing a new counteroffensive in Russia’s western Kursk region, multiple Ukrainian military sources told ABC News.
November 12, 2024 at 2:54 PM
In this photo taken from a video released by Russian Defense Ministry press service on Nov. 5, 2024, a Russian Su-34 bomber operates at the border area of Kursk region in western Russia.
November 12, 2024 at 2:46 PM

Russia, North Korea ratify defense treaty as war in Ukraine continues

ABC News’ Ian Pannell reports on Russia preparing for a new offensive against Ukrainian forces.
November 12, 2024 at 2:46 PM
VIDEO: Russia, North Korea ratify defense treaty as war in Ukraine continues
November 12, 2024 at 9:12 AM

Russia, North Korea prepare 50,000 troops to reclaim captured territory 

Russia has reportedly gathered a force of 50,000 soldiers, including thousands of North Korean troops, to reclaim parts of Russia’s Kursk region that were seized by Ukraine. 
November 12, 2024 at 9:12 AM
Russia, North Korea prepare 50,000 troops to reclaim captured territory 
November 11, 2024 at 8:45 PM

Russia, North Korea prepare 50,000-troop offensive

Some 50,000 Russian and North Korean troops are preparing a new counteroffensive in Russia’s western Kursk region, multiple Ukrainian military sources told ABC News.
November 11, 2024 at 8:45 PM
VIDEO: Russia, North Korea prepare 50,000-troop offensive
November 5, 2024 at 9:54 PM

North Korean ICBM test condemned by two-thirds of UN Security Council

A U.S.-led statement approved by 10 of the 15 U.N. Security Council members condemned a recent North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile launch
November 5, 2024 at 9:54 PM
FILE - This photo provided by the North Korean government, shows what it says a test launch of new intercontinental ballistic missile "Hwasong-19" at an undisclosed stie in North Korea Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File)
November 5, 2024 at 6:30 PM

North Korea launches ballistic missiles as troops fight for Russia: Pentagon

The launches come days after a trilateral military exercise run by the U.S., South Korea and Japan, according to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
November 5, 2024 at 6:30 PM
The launches come days after a trilateral military exercise run by the U.S., South Korea and Japan, according to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
November 5, 2024 at 6:15 PM

North Korea test-launches ballistic missiles, Japan and South Korea say

North Korea on Tuesday test-launched several short-range ballistic missiles, neighboring South Korea and Japan said.
November 5, 2024 at 6:15 PM
A TV screen shows a report of North Korea's multiple short-range ballistic missiles with file footage during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.
November 5, 2024 at 6:12 PM

10,000 North Korean troops now in Russia's Kursk region, Pentagon says

NATO confirmed on Monday that North Korean troops had been deployed to fight alongside Russian troops in the Kursk region.
November 5, 2024 at 6:12 PM
Russian President Vladimir Putin greets North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024.
November 1, 2024 at 4:13 PM

8,000 North Korean soldiers to enter Ukraine in days: Pentagon

ABC News’ Patrick Reevell talks about what the escalation of troops by North Korea and Russia could mean in Ukraine, as well as in Asia.
November 1, 2024 at 4:13 PM
VIDEO: 6,000 North Korean soldiers to enter Ukraine in days: Pentagon
November 1, 2024 at 7:09 AM

North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile launch meant as message to 'rivals'

Just days before the United States’ presidential election, North Korea conducted a new provocation by test-launching an intercontinental ballistic missile believed to be capable of reaching the U.S.
November 1, 2024 at 7:09 AM
VIDEO: North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile launch meant as message to 'rivals'
October 31, 2024 at 4:00 PM

North Korea ICBM was message to 'rivals': Kim Jong Un

ABC News’ Luis Martinez reports on North Korea confirming it launched an intercontinental ballistic missile that traveled for about 90 minutes before dropping in the Sea of Japan.
October 31, 2024 at 4:00 PM
VIDEO: North Korea ICBM was message to 'rivals': Kim Jong Un
October 31, 2024 at 3:45 PM

North Korea ICBM launch intended as message to 'rivals,' Kim says

A North Korean ballistic missile launch was intended as a message to "rivals" who have "escalated" regional tensions, according to leader Kim Jong Un.
October 31, 2024 at 3:45 PM
This picture taken and released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Oct. 31, 2024 shows the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) during a test-fire conducted by the Missile Administration at an undisclosed location in North Korea.
October 31, 2024 at 11:30 AM

North Korea ICBM launch intended as message to 'rivals,' Kim says

A North Korean ballistic missile launch was intended as a message to "rivals" who have "escalated" regional tensions, according to leader Kim Jong Un.
October 31, 2024 at 11:30 AM
A North Korean ballistic missile launch was intended as a message to "rivals" who have "escalated" regional tensions, according to leader Kim Jong Un.
October 29, 2024 at 1:54 PM

North Korea foreign minister heads to Russia as Biden warns of 'dangerous' situation

North Korea's Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui left Pyongyang on Monday night for an official visit to Russia, North Korean state-controlled media reported.
October 29, 2024 at 1:54 PM
In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui (C) prepares to depart for Russia from Pyongyang, North Korea, on Oct. 28, 2024.
October 29, 2024 at 8:08 AM

US says North Korea has sent 10,000 troops to Russia

The Pentagon reports that around 10,000 North Korean troops are training in Russia and may be deployed to Ukraine soon. President Joe Biden has labeled this situation "very dangerous." 
October 29, 2024 at 8:08 AM
US says North Korea has sent 10,000 troops to Russia
October 28, 2024 at 4:08 PM

NATO confirms North Korean troops deployed in Russian war on Ukraine

ABC News’ Ian Pannell reports on the latest deployment in the Kursk region, the area within Russia where Ukraine has been waging an assault.
October 28, 2024 at 4:08 PM
VIDEO: NATO confirms North Korean troops deployed in Russian war on Ukraine
October 24, 2024 at 2:05 PM

US says North Korean troops are in Russia to aid in fight against Ukraine

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed that the U.S. has evidence that North Korean troops are in Russia.
October 24, 2024 at 2:05 PM
VIDEO: US says North Korean troops are in Russia to aid in fight against Ukraine
October 24, 2024 at 12:40 PM

North Korea balloon trash lands in South Korea president's compound, security says

Refuse from a North Korean "trash balloon" landed inside the South Korean presidential compound in the capital Seoul amid rising tensions between the two neighbors.
October 24, 2024 at 12:40 PM
Trash-carrying balloons launched across the border by North Korea are seen floating in the sky above Seoul, South Korea on Oct. 4, 2024.
October 24, 2024 at 11:33 AM

North Korea trash balloon lands in South Korea president's compound, security says

A North Korean "trash balloon" landed inside the South Korean presidential compound in the capital Seoul on Thursday amid rising tensions between the two neighbors.
October 24, 2024 at 11:33 AM
A North Korean "trash balloon" landed inside the South Korean presidential compound in the capital Seoul on Thursday amid rising tensions between the two neighbors.
1 month ago

US confirms North Korean troops are being trained in Russia

Around 3,000 North Korea soldiers may be deployed for combat in Ukraine, officials said. The White House called it a sign of "desperation" and "weakness," but noted that it's "highly concerning."
1 month ago
US confirms North Korean troops are being trained in Russia
1 month ago

North Korean troops are already in Russia, US confirms

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed Wednesday the U.S. has evidence that North Korean troops are in Russia.
1 month ago
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is pictured during a speech at Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Oct. 21, 2024.
1 month ago

North Korean troops are already in Russia, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says

ABC News’ Patrick Reevell reports on the troop movement which the defense secretary calls a “very, very serious issue.”
1 month ago
VIDEO: North Korean troops are already in Russia, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says
1 month ago

North Korea sending troops to aid Russia: South Korean intelligence

ABC News' Britt Clennett reports on this potential threat and the response from the U.S.
1 month ago
VIDEO: North Korea sending troops to aid Russia: South Korean intelligence
1 month ago

Lloyd Austin visits Ukraine as Zelensky warns of 'clear' North Korea threat

Austin's visit is his third to the country during its war with Russia. ABC News' Britt Clennett reports.
1 month ago
VIDEO: Lloyd Austin visits Ukraine as Zelensky warns of 'clear' North Korea threat
1 month ago

New video appears to show North Korean soldiers in Russia

Geolocated video circulating online appears to show North Korean soldiers in Russia's far east, potentially to deploy to the war in Ukraine. ABC News' Ines de La Cuetara reports.
1 month ago
VIDEO: New video appears to show North Korean soldiers in Russia
1 month ago

North Korea sending troops to aid Russia: South Korean intelligence

South Korean intelligence has said that North Korea is preparing to deploy up to 12,000 troops to help Russia fight in Ukraine.
1 month ago
North Korea sending troops to fight alongside Russian troops: South Korean intelligence
1 month ago

South Korea fires warning shots after North Korea blows up border roads

South Korea's military said Tuesday it detected explosions on two cross-border roads connecting the country to North Korea.
1 month ago
South Korea's military said Tuesday it detected explosions on two cross-border roads connecting the country to North Korea.
1 month ago

North Korean defector allegedly stole bus to drive back across border, police say

South Korea's Unification Ministry said 31 defectors re-entered the North from 2012 to 2022, an average of about three each year.
1 month ago
Barricades set up at a military checkpoint on the Tongil bridge, the road leading to North Korea's Kaesong city, in the border city of Paju on October 9, 2024.
1 month ago

North Korean defector stole a bus to cross the border: Officials

The man allegedly tried to cross the Tongil Bridge in Paju, just south of the heavily fortified demilitarized zone.
1 month ago
The man allegedly tried to cross the Tongil Bridge in Paju, just south of the heavily fortified demilitarized zone.
2 months ago

South Korea threatens military response for North Korean 'trash balloons'

South Korea officials said Pyongyang has launched 5,500 balloons across the border since May.
2 months ago
South Korea officials said Pyongyang has launched 5,500 balloons across the border since May.
2 months ago

South Korea threatens military response to North Korean 'trash balloons'

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Seoul may respond militarily to any casualties caused by North Korea's launching of so-called "trash balloons."
2 months ago
Balloons believed to have been sent by North Korea fly over North Korean territory in this picture taken from an observation post near the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas in Paju, South Korea, Sept. 5, 2024.
2 months ago

Travis King, Army soldier who ran into North Korea, pleads guilty

Travis King, the U.S. Army private who ran across the border from South Korea to North Korea last year, pleaded guilty on Friday.
2 months ago
A TV screen shows a file image of American soldier Travis King during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Aug. 16, 2023.
3 months ago

North Korea to partially reopen doors to tourism for 1st time since COVID-19 pandemic

North Korea is set to partially reopen its doors to tourism later this year after being closed off since January 2020, according to a Chinese-based tourist operator.
3 months ago
TOPSHOT - People pay their respects before the statues of late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il at Mansu Hill as North Korea marks its 79th National Liberation Day, commemorating the end of Japanese colonial rule at the end of World War II, in Pyongyang on August 15, 2024.
3 months ago

Travis King, Army soldier who ran into North Korea, to plead guilty to desertion

Travis King, the U.S. Army soldier who ran across the border from South Korea to North Korea last year, will plead guilty to desertion, his attorney said.
3 months ago
A TV screen shows a file image of American soldier Travis King during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, July 24, 2023.
3 months ago

North Korea set to reopen its borders again in December

Visitors will be allowed to visit Samjiyon City, but Pyongyang and other parts of the country will be restricted, according to Koryo Tours.
3 months ago
Visitors will be allowed to visit Samjiyon City, but Pyongyang and other parts of the country will be restricted, according to Koryo Tours.
4 months ago

North Korean leader trains daughter to become successor, says intelligence service

Curiosity over Kim Jong Un’s preteen daughter, Kim Ju Ae, has been accumulating since she first accompanied him holding hands to the ICBM test launch site in Nov. 2022.
4 months ago
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center right, reviews an honor guard with his daughter, center left, and his wife Ri Sol Ju during a military parade on Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, Feb. 8, 2023.
4 months ago

DOJ indicts North Korean hacker for extorting hospitals, health care providers

The Justice Department has charged a North Korean military hacker for allegedly extorting hospitals and health care providers in the U.S. through a cyber espionage campaign.
4 months ago
The Justice Department has charged a North Korean military hacker for allegedly extorting hospitals and health care providers in the U.S. through a cyber espionage campaign.
4 months ago

DOJ indicts North Korean hacker for extorting hospitals, health care providers

Justice Department indicts North Korean military hacker for extorting hospitals, healthcare providers
4 months ago
Department of Justice building in Washington D.C., July 12, 2024.
5 months ago

North Korea tests 2 missiles, 1 reportedly may have fallen on land

The U.S. military condemned Monday's launches, calling on North Korea to put an end to its "unlawful and destabilizing acts."
5 months ago
A man walks past a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a train station in Seoul on July 1, 2024.
5 months ago

US aircraft carrier arrives in South Korea as Putin threatens to arm North Korea

A nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, reached port in Busan for planned drills with South Korea and Japan.
5 months ago
VIDEO: US aircraft carrier arrives in South Korea as Putin threatens to arm North Korea
5 months ago

Putin deepens ties with Vietnam amid Russian isolation over Ukraine

Putin's visit to Vietnam is widely seen as aimed at sending a signal that Russia still has friends in the region.
5 months ago
Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Vietnam's President To Lam attend a reception at the Hanoi Opera House in Hanoi, Vietnam June 20, 2024.
5 months ago

Russia and North Korea strike alliance

The two nations' leaders, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, pledged mutual support against foreign aggression.
5 months ago
VIDEO: Russia and North Korea strike alliance
5 months ago

Putin makes rare visit to North Korea to meet with Kim Jong Un

Russian news agencies reported that President Vladimir Putin arrived in North Korea to discuss cooperation in overcoming U.S.-led sanctions amid escalating confrontations with Washington.
5 months ago
VIDEO: Putin makes rare visit to North Korea to meet with Kim Jong Un
5 months ago

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in North Korea for state visit

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Pyongyang, North Korea, Tuesday evening.
5 months ago
Russia's President Vladimir Putin is greeted by North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un during a welcoming ceremony at an airport in Pyongyang, North Korea June 19, 2024, in this still image taken from video.
5 months ago

Russian President Vladamir Putin visits North Korea

ABC News’ Patrick Reevell and Mick Mulroy discuss this high-stakes meeting.
5 months ago
VIDEO: Russian President Vladamir Putin visits North Korea
5 months ago

Putin makes rare visit to North Korea

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang on Tuesday in his first visit to the country in 24 years.
5 months ago
VIDEO: Putin makes rare visit to North Korea