North Korea

Pyongyang forcefully rejected calls to give up its nuclear weapons, saying it will continue building its deterrence. Meanwhile, South Korea’s foreign minister headed to Washington to address growing tensions with the Trump administration.

North Korea responded to a $125 million missile deal between Washington and South Korea, warning of a "new security threat" to the country and promising a response.

A North Korean missile unit is set to be stationed in Russia as military cooperation between the two countries expands during the war in Ukraine. Russia launched ballistic missiles and about 150 drones at Ukrainian cities.

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, responded to a demand from Southeast Asian nations that North Korea dismantle its nuclear arsenal. She stressed: "This is a foolish demand."

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited a uranium enrichment facility and declared that the country’s ability to produce nuclear material has more than doubled over the past five years. He also ordered an increase in output.

CNN says the "Great Bear," a Russian cargo ship that went down in the Mediterranean on December 23, 2024, was moving components for two nuclear reactors bound for North Korea. Fourteen crew members were rescued; investigators say a "Western power" may have fired a torpedo. The ship's operator denies it, calling the incident a "terrorist attack."

Meir Alfasi recounts his chilling journey into Kim Jong-un’s North Korea and why he will never return