https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/34518/feed Kim Jong-un is the supreme leader of North Korea, the third and youngest son of Kim Jong-il (1941–2011) and the grandson of Kim Il-sung (1912–1994). Following his father's death in 2011, he was announced as the "Great Successor" by North Korean state television. He has held the titles of the First Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Chairman of the Central Military Commission, First Chairman of the National Defence Commission of North Korea, the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's... en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Kyodo Kyodo The denuclearisation of North Korea has become an “increasingly improbable” goal and the United States and its allies should move beyond it to devote their diplomatic efforts to talks on arms limitations and crisis communication, the director of the US-based North Korean analysis website 38 North said. Recalling the 20 years since North Korea carried out its first nuclear test on October 9, 2006, Jenny Town said in a written interview that “a pivotal moment” in Pyongyang’s weapons development... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370470/denuclearising-north-korea-would-defy-history-us-allies-missed-boat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370470/denuclearising-north-korea-would-defy-history-us-allies-missed-boat?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Oct 2026 04:00:19 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press South Korea flight-tested on Thursday its first domestically developed hypersonic weapon, designed to fly at least five times the speed of sound and evade missile defence systems, bringing Seoul closer to what it says could be game-changing weapons capabilities. There was no immediate response from North Korea, which last week tested its own hypersonic missile that landed in the waters near Japan. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung attended the test, saying it was a major step in strengthening... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370218/south-korea-test-flies-its-first-home-grown-hypersonic-weapon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370218/south-korea-test-flies-its-first-home-grown-hypersonic-weapon?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 13:05:04 +0000 Reuters Reuters North Korea’s Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of ‌leader Kim Jong-un, denounced on Thursday South Korea’s plans to provide medical equipment aid to Pyongyang, calling it a “political provocation” and violation of its sovereignty. In a statement carried by state media KCNA, Kim criticised Seoul for publicising its efforts to obtain United Nations sanctions exemptions for a medical aid package, saying Seoul had “insulted” North Korea by referring to shortages of medicines and medical equipment... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370150/north-korea-decries-medical-aid-says-nothing-give-or-receive-seoul?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3370150/north-korea-decries-medical-aid-says-nothing-give-or-receive-seoul?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Oct 2026 06:11:14 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong North Korea’s laying of landmines along its heavily fortified border with the South has laid bare how misaligned the two nations have become over their de facto land boundary, after three South Korean soldiers were wounded in an explosion last month. Seoul blames Pyongyang for the blast near the military demarcation line (MDL) on September 21, in which one soldier lost a foot. On Tuesday, its Foreign Ministry said in a statement it was preparing a response to force an apology for the blast,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3369898/north-koreas-dmz-landmines-sabotage-souths-peace-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3369898/north-koreas-dmz-landmines-sabotage-souths-peace-push?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Oct 2026 07:22:21 +0000 Reuters Reuters South Korea ⁠said on Monday that a ⁠recent border blast that seriously wounded two ⁠of its soldiers was caused by mines planted by North Korea. North Korea, which has been fortifying its border with South Korea since April 2024, deployed up to 7,000 workers to install mines and fences this year, with some 50 incidents of ‌crossing the border, according to a briefing on Monday by the South’s military. The two Koreas are still technically at war after their 1950-53 war ended in an armistice rather... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369810/seoul-probe-reveals-border-mine-blast-caused-north-korea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369810/seoul-probe-reveals-border-mine-blast-caused-north-korea?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Oct 2026 10:20:38 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press North Korea said on Saturday it test-fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile that it claimed has manoeuvrable flight capabilities designed to evade missile defences in South Korea and Japan. The latest test comes amid heightened tensions between the two Koreas over border landmine blasts. Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, said her brother supervised the test of the missile, which she described as strategic, implying it was designed to deliver nuclear... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369665/north-korea-test-fires-intermediate-range-missile-amid-mine-blast-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3369665/north-korea-test-fires-intermediate-range-missile-amid-mine-blast-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Oct 2026 12:41:52 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she and Donald Trump had reaffirmed their collaboration on issues relating to Beijing in a phone call on Saturday. The call followed the US president’s nostalgic invocation of the World War II alliance with China during his summit with Xi Jinping, remarks that sent shock waves through Tokyo. Trump made the references as he welcomed the Chinese president to the White House on Thursday for his first state visit to Washington in over a decade. In a social... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368878/will-trump-xi-wartime-ally-nostalgia-prompt-japanese-rethink-china-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368878/will-trump-xi-wartime-ally-nostalgia-prompt-japanese-rethink-china-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Sep 2026 03:00:10 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s proposal for a phased approach to Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programmes is a pragmatic response, analysts say, but prospects for gaining its arch-rival’s acceptance remain uncertain. In a keynote speech to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Lee laid out a long-term, step-by-step sequence for pursuing the ultimate goal of North Korea’s denuclearisation. He had called for Washington to ease sanctions in return for North Korea stopping its nuclear... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3368586/south-korea-has-pragmatic-plan-phased-denuclearisation-will-north-bite?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3368586/south-korea-has-pragmatic-plan-phased-denuclearisation-will-north-bite?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 03:23:51 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi North Korea could be using missile tests to take its denuclearisation off the US-China summit agenda and drive home its demands for recognition as a nuclear power as a prerequisite for talks with Washington, according to analysts. On Sunday, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan, or East Sea, which, according to South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff, were detected three hours apart, with the first flying about 450km (280 miles), while the second travelled... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3368428/did-north-koreas-missile-launches-target-xi-trump-summit-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3368428/did-north-koreas-missile-launches-target-xi-trump-summit-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Sep 2026 05:00:06 +0000 Kang Jun-young Kang Jun-young The September 24 summit between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump is no ordinary engagement. Their May summit took place in Beijing and largely centred on economic issues. This one will be on Trump’s home turf and is expected to put strategic questions on the table. Will the Korean peninsula and North Korea’s nuclear programme again be pushed to the margins? In Beijing, both sides focused on their immediate national interests, such as trade, semiconductors, rare earths and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3367602/why-trump-xi-summit-must-put-korean-peninsula-back-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3367602/why-trump-xi-summit-must-put-korean-peninsula-back-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 21:30:05 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have put together stories from our exclusive coverage of Xi and Trump’s upcoming meeting in the US. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Chinese CEOs fly to US on own, await invites to Trump’s state dinner for Xi Jinping A small group of Chinese CEOs holding US visas has arrived in Washington after travelling separately from President Xi Jinping’s official entourage, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. 2. Fissures over US... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3368194/xi-and-trump-will-meet-week-heres-exclusive-info-you-need-know?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3368194/xi-and-trump-will-meet-week-heres-exclusive-info-you-need-know?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 06:22:38 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Three South Korean military officers were injured in an explosion during an operation near the heavily mined border with North Korea, Seoul’s military said Monday. The incident occurred south of the military demarcation line inside the demilitarised zone (DMZ), one of the world’s most heavily fortified and mined frontiers. Two of the injured officers were evacuated by helicopter, while a third was due to be transported by road before being airlifted, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. It was... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3368200/suspected-landmine-blast-injures-south-korean-soldiers-dmz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3368200/suspected-landmine-blast-injures-south-korean-soldiers-dmz?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Sep 2026 03:53:39 +0000 Gabriela Bernal Gabriela Bernal The recent opening of a new road bridge between North Korea and Russia may look like a modest infrastructure project. In reality, the 1km stretch across the Tumen River carries implications far beyond the movement of vehicles between two border towns. For China, it is a reminder that its influence over North Korea is no longer as secure as it once appeared and that Russia may be increasingly capable of challenging Beijing’s interests on its northeastern periphery. The bridge, inaugurated on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3367489/new-north-korea-russia-bridge-delivers-powerful-message-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3367489/new-north-korea-russia-bridge-delivers-powerful-message-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Sep 2026 12:30:04 +0000 Reuters Reuters North Korea fired two missiles off its eastern coast on Sunday, its second set of tests in roughly a week and days after Pyongyang accused the US of driving tensions on the Korean peninsula through a series of military drills. Nearly three ‌hours after launching a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) towards the East Sea, or Sea of Japan, on Sunday afternoon, North Korea ‌fired a similar missile, according to South Korea’s defence ministry. If the subsequent launch is confirmed to be a ballistic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3368160/north-korea-fires-two-missiles-three-hours-amid-tensions-over-us-drills?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3368160/north-korea-fires-two-missiles-three-hours-amid-tensions-over-us-drills?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Sep 2026 11:25:27 +0000 Fan Chen Fan Chen When the presidents of the United States and China meet in Washington, the world will be watching to see whether their two countries can make good on their agreement to work towards “constructive strategic stability”. In the second part of a series, Fan Chen looks at Beijing’s stronger position going into the high-stakes visit. Beijing is poised to begin this week’s summit with Washington from a position of strength, bolstered by a flurry of recent diplomatic outreach. Chinese confidence could... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368100/analysts-tip-stronger-hand-china-ahead-xi-trump-summit-washington?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3368100/analysts-tip-stronger-hand-china-ahead-xi-trump-summit-washington?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Sep 2026 22:00:08 +0000 Glyn Ford Glyn Ford It is clear that US President Donald Trump is pushing hard for a fresh summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the coming months. To achieve that, he appears prepared to downgrade and jeopardise the US-South Korea alliance, as seen in his recent move to scale back joint military exercises. For Trump, this will be a purely bilateral exercise, with both Seoul and Beijing totally sidelined, let alone Moscow and Tokyo. Equally, there is now a general acceptance that the issue of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3367471/new-trump-kim-summit-would-be-nightmare-everyone-pyongyang?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3367471/new-trump-kim-summit-would-be-nightmare-everyone-pyongyang?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Sep 2026 12:30:06 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong North Korea’s decision to send a record delegation to the 2026 Asian Games in Japan could serve as a calculated opening for limited diplomacy with Washington and Tokyo, even as major obstacles to formal talks remain. State media reported on Wednesday that a delegation led by Kim Il-guk, North Korea’s sports minister, had left for Japan to attend the Games. The 20th Asian Games are being held in Nagoya and surrounding Aichi prefecture and run from Saturday to October 4. North Korea’s 180-strong... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3367736/north-korea-japans-asian-games-sports-diplomacy-or-propaganda-stunt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3367736/north-korea-japans-asian-games-sports-diplomacy-or-propaganda-stunt?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Sep 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said on Thursday that the country’s nuclear-armed status was “absolute”, calling those hoping for its denuclearisation “idiots”. North Korea has legally enshrined its status as a nuclear weapons state, with its leadership declaring the country’s nuclear arsenal permanent and irreversible. US President Donald Trump recently said Pyongyang possessed 57 “very powerful” nuclear weapons, with Seoul putting the figure at between 80 and 120. “The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3367785/only-idiots-expect-north-korea-give-nuclear-weapons-kim-yo-jong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3367785/only-idiots-expect-north-korea-give-nuclear-weapons-kim-yo-jong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:33:54 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A Seoul court ordered Pyongyang on Wednesday to pay roughly US$32.5 million for blowing up in 2020 an office in North Korea that was intended to foster relations between the two Koreas, Yonhap news agency reported. The lawsuit over the destruction of the Inter-Korean Liaison Office marks the first time the South Korean government has sought damages directly from the North, according to media reports. South Korea’s previous conservative government, led by former president ‌Yoon Suk-yeol, filed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3367655/south-korean-court-orders-pyongyang-pay-us325m-destroying-border-office?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3367655/south-korean-court-orders-pyongyang-pay-us325m-destroying-border-office?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Sep 2026 02:23:49 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press North Korea said on Monday it conducted a joint live-fire drill involving missiles, artillery and drones that it claimed showed “huge destructive power”. The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Saturday’s drill was meant to get familiar with the procedure for the operation of the integrated firepower control system. South Korea’s military earlier said it detected short-range ballistic missile launches from North Korea’s eastern coastal Wonsan area on Saturday morning. After observing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3367382/north-korea-tests-weapons-capable-striking-south-korea-huge-destructive-power?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3367382/north-korea-tests-weapons-capable-striking-south-korea-huge-destructive-power?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Sep 2026 02:59:18 +0000 Reuters Reuters Coffee bars. Water parks. Retail therapy. ⁠North Korea – a country few would associate with leisure or pleasure – is experiencing an ⁠unlikely outbreak of fun. Leader Kim Jong-un, himself no stranger to indulgence, is orchestrating new ways for his citizens to spend ⁠their wealth. North Korea’s imports of massage equipment have surged 40-fold over the past decade, according to Chinese customs data. Treadmill shipments jumped over 600 per cent. Pianos and even bumper cars are pouring in, too. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3367279/foie-gras-puppies-water-parks-north-korea-gets-glow?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3367279/foie-gras-puppies-water-parks-north-korea-gets-glow?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Sep 2026 05:09:27 +0000 Reuters Reuters North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles ⁠from the Wonsan area towards the sea off its east coast, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said on Saturday. The missiles were launched at around 5.20am and flew about 250 km (155 miles), the JCS said in a statement, ‌adding that South Korean and US authorities were conducting a detailed analysis of their specifications. South Korean and US intelligence authorities had tracked and shared information on the launches from the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3367271/north-korea-launches-missile-salvo-after-us-south-korea-japan-drills?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3367271/north-korea-launches-missile-salvo-after-us-south-korea-japan-drills?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Sep 2026 01:00:11 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s daughter and apparent successor is believed to have a younger sibling, South Korea’s spy agency has said, offering a more detailed view of the ruling family’s line of succession. Seoul’s spy agency previously said Kim was thought to have three children, but some uncertainty remained on the number of offspring as well as the order of their birth. The Kim dynasty is now in its third generation ruling the closed-off nation, and the current leader’s children would... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3367074/does-north-koreas-kim-ju-ae-have-younger-sibling-seoul-thinks-so?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3367074/does-north-koreas-kim-ju-ae-have-younger-sibling-seoul-thinks-so?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:18:14 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma China signalled a willingness to help set up a meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the South China Morning Post reported exclusively. Beijing is playing an “active” and “constructive” role in rebuilding US-North Korea diplomacy, the SCMP said on Thursday, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter. A Trump-Kim meeting could potentially take place at the November Apec summit in Shenzhen, China, one person said. A US envoy visited the city and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367047/china-ready-help-trump-meet-north-koreas-kim?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3367047/china-ready-help-trump-meet-north-koreas-kim?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Sep 2026 09:10:24 +0000 Nayan Seth,Dewey Sim,Khushboo Razdan Nayan Seth,Dewey Sim,Khushboo Razdan China is willing to help broker a possible meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, sources have said just weeks before Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected in Washington for a bilateral summit. Multiple people familiar with the matter told the South China Morning Post that Beijing was stepping up to play an “active” and “constructive” role in reviving US-North Korea diplomacy, underscoring its resolve to remain a central player in negotiations on the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366918/once-sidelined-china-stands-ready-broker-fourth-trump-kim-handshake?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366918/once-sidelined-china-stands-ready-broker-fourth-trump-kim-handshake?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Sep 2026 22:00:06 +0000 Reuters Reuters North Korea and Russia opened their first road bridge on Monday in a carefully choreographed display of friendship. The structure, which crosses the Tumen river, has been cast by both sides as an important milestone ‌in their deepening strategic partnership. The first flag-adorned trucks trundled across the 1km (0.6-mile) long two-lane bridge as Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and North Korea’s Premier Pak Thae Song tuned in by video link to address workers and government officials from... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3366679/north-korea-russia-open-first-road-bridge-new-symbol-friendship?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3366679/north-korea-russia-open-first-road-bridge-new-symbol-friendship?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Sep 2026 15:00:18 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s promise to unveil more projects in eight months’ time at the launch of the country’s second modern destroyer hints at another major strategic military asset, according to experts. “The nuclearisation of our navy is being realised, making it increasingly suited, diversified and practical for the use of our deterrent,” Kim said while commissioning the Kang Kon in the southeastern port of Wonsan on Sunday. Kim was accompanied by his daughter and potential... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3366624/what-north-koreas-new-warship-reveals-about-kims-moves-secure-surrounding-waters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3366624/what-north-koreas-new-warship-reveals-about-kims-moves-secure-surrounding-waters?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Sep 2026 08:11:30 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press North Korean leader Kim Jong-un commissioned his second naval destroyer and called for building a more reliable nuclear deterrent, state media reported on Monday, as the US, South Korea and Japan began a trilateral military exercise he views as a security threat. The development comes as North Korea dials up pressure on the US after rebuffing President Donald Trump’s decision to scale back a major military drill with South Korea in a conciliatory step towards Kim. Observers say North Korea wants... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3366573/north-koreas-kim-launches-second-nuclear-destroyer-us-south-korea-japan-drills-start?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3366573/north-koreas-kim-launches-second-nuclear-destroyer-us-south-korea-japan-drills-start?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Sep 2026 02:03:54 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong North Korea has never named her, confirmed her age or acknowledged her as Kim Jong-un’s heir. Yet South Korea’s spy agency says the evidence is now unmistakable: his daughter Kim Ju-ae has “effectively” become the successor-in-waiting. The assessment, delivered in a closed-door briefing to the National Assembly’s intelligence committee, was shared with journalists by Youn Kun-young of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea on Monday. “The NIS sees Kim Ju-ae as having effectively entered the stage... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3366008/north-koreas-next-ruler-kim-jong-uns-daughter-seouls-spies-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3366008/north-koreas-next-ruler-kim-jong-uns-daughter-seouls-spies-say?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Sep 2026 00:00:21 +0000 Mark Magnier Mark Magnier A senior Russian aide suggested on Tuesday that Chinese President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could hold a trilateral meeting at the next Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit. Leaders of the 21-member grouping are scheduled to meet in Shenzhen, the Chinese economic powerhouse in southern China, on November 18 and 19, setting up the possibility of Xi and Trump meeting four times this year. Asked on Russian state television about ⁠the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366039/xi-trump-and-putin-may-hold-trilateral-meeting-next-apec-forum-kremlin-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3366039/xi-trump-and-putin-may-hold-trilateral-meeting-next-apec-forum-kremlin-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Sep 2026 23:53:01 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven of the most interesting and important news stories covering global relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Trump says he plans to meet Kim Jong-un this year, citing good relationship US President Donald Trump said that he planned to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un later this year, despite Pyongyang denying that the two leaders were in direct communication. Read the full story here. 2. China... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3365671/trumps-north-korea-hope-us-revokes-visas-chinas-rocket-force-7-global-relations-reads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3365671/trumps-north-korea-hope-us-revokes-visas-chinas-rocket-force-7-global-relations-reads?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Sep 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu Chinese audiences have been captivated by a new South Korean dating show that features young people battling serious illnesses, drawing inspiration from their courageous pursuit of love. The dating reality show, Love Against Time, released by the Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) this summer, has gone viral on Chinese social media. While various dating reality shows have long served as a hallmark of South Korean entertainment, this new entry retains a unique appeal, bringing together eight... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3365742/chinese-viewers-praise-korean-dating-show-featuring-serious-illness-survivors-lesson-love?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3365742/chinese-viewers-praise-korean-dating-show-featuring-serious-illness-survivors-lesson-love?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Aug 2026 10:00:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse North Korea’s defence minister has been dismissed as part of a reshuffle of the country’s military leadership, state media reported on Sunday. The “structural reorganisation plans” were decided during a meeting on Saturday led by Kim Jong-un, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. No Kwang-chol was not only dismissed as defence minister but also demoted in the ruling party leadership to “first vice-director of the Munitions Industry Department”, KCNA said. Kim Song-gi, director of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3365724/north-koreas-defence-minister-dismissed-reshuffle-military-leadership?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3365724/north-koreas-defence-minister-dismissed-reshuffle-military-leadership?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Aug 2026 23:54:52 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse From trolling Canada about a lake to suddenly talking about Kim Jong-un, US President Donald Trump’s recent distractions speak louder than words. The former reality television star has long been known for his reliance upon a simple tactic: when you don’t like what’s being said, change the conversation. But the 80-year-old’s recent stunts appear to be even more targeted than usual at wrestling the news away from the Iran war and the economy as difficult midterm elections loom in November. “This... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3365723/trump-steps-stunts-us-midterms-loom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3365723/trump-steps-stunts-us-midterms-loom?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Aug 2026 19:01:41 +0000 Reuters Reuters South Korea supports US President Donald Trump’s efforts to resume dialogue with North Korea, ‌but aims to ensure its security posture is not weakened and that Seoul is not sidelined, according to South Korea’s national security adviser. Seoul believed the resumption of talks between the US and North Korea should focus on progress on the North Korean nuclear weapons issue and must not undermine the country’s security readiness, Wi Sung-lac told reporters on Friday. “One point to keep in mind is... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3365542/south-korea-backs-trumps-north-korea-outreach-warns-against-being-sidelined?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3365542/south-korea-backs-trumps-north-korea-outreach-warns-against-being-sidelined?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Aug 2026 04:56:43 +0000 Reuters Reuters North Korea’s foreign ministry on Thursday denounced a US decision to approve the sale of missiles and related equipment to South Korea, vowing to respond “strongly and immediately” to hostile acts in various areas, state media Korean Central News Agency reported. The remarks come as US President Donald Trump renewed overtures to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, expressing interest ⁠in another meeting and saying this month that Kim had responded to his outreach. Analysts say Pyongyang ‌had shown... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3365423/north-korea-vows-powerful-response-us125-million-us-south-korea-arms-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3365423/north-korea-vows-powerful-response-us125-million-us-south-korea-arms-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Aug 2026 06:24:13 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse North Korea will send about 100 athletes to compete across 14 sports at the Asian Games in Japan next month, a senior official said, aiming to “bring joy to Marshal Kim Jong-un”. The nuclear-armed state suspended participation in international sporting competitions during the Covid pandemic but returned at the Asian Games in China in 2023, and also took part in the Paris Olympics. The team for the regional Games in Nagoya and the Aichi region include two Japan-based ethnic Koreans competing in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/other-sport/article/3365305/north-korean-athletes-determined-bring-joy-kim-jong-un-2026-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/other-sport/article/3365305/north-korean-athletes-determined-bring-joy-kim-jong-un-2026-asian-games?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Aug 2026 06:48:55 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall North Korea has stepped up its verbal attacks on Japan, issuing more than a dozen denunciations through state media since early July and hardening its rhetoric in recent days by accusing Tokyo of whipping up a “neo-militarist frenzy” and preparing for a “war of aggression”. Analysts said the latest broadsides from Kim Jong-un’s regime reflected both renewed confidence in Pyongyang as ties with Moscow deepen, and a desire to frame Asia-Pacific geopolitics as a contest between rival blocs –... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3365207/north-korea-sharpens-anti-japan-rhetoric-russia-ties-grow?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3365207/north-korea-sharpens-anti-japan-rhetoric-russia-ties-grow?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Aug 2026 02:00:09 +0000 Reuters Reuters South Korea and the US agreed to maintain close coordination on efforts to revive dialogue with North Korea, days after Pyongyang rebuffed President Donald Trump’s overtures and launched a barrage of short-range ballistic missiles. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a phone call late on Monday that Seoul would work to ensure that Trump’s recent messages lead to renewed US-North Korea discussions and peace on the Korean peninsula, Seoul’s Foreign... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3365127/south-korea-pledges-help-trump-revive-talks-north-koreas-kim?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3365127/south-korea-pledges-help-trump-revive-talks-north-koreas-kim?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Aug 2026 01:54:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse South Korea said on Monday that the United States had cancelled a large joint amphibious landing exercise scheduled for next month due to constraints on force availability caused by the war with Iran. The biennial Ssangyong drills involve marine forces from South Korea and the US and are designed to strengthen combined operations, typically involving warships, aircraft and ground forces rehearsing amphibious landings. The cancellation follows US President Donald Trump’s order last week to scale... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3365087/south-korea-says-us-cut-joint-marine-drill-over-iran-war-constraints?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3365087/south-korea-says-us-cut-joint-marine-drill-over-iran-war-constraints?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Aug 2026 12:25:04 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China may have “little to lose” from talks between the United States and North Korea which, analysts say, may lead to Washington watering down its security commitments. US President Donald Trump has already ordered the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” the scale of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise with South Korea, criticising the exercise for both its cost and for sending “totally inappropriate and hostile” signals to Pyongyang. Citing his “very good relationship” with North Korean... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3364914/why-china-may-have-little-lose-weakened-trump-seeks-north-korea-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/military/article/3364914/why-china-may-have-little-lose-weakened-trump-seeks-north-korea-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Aug 2026 14:00:07 +0000 Shi Jiangtao Shi Jiangtao China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, concluded his visit to South Korea on Friday, but declined to back Seoul’s push for multiparty peace talks involving the North. His two‑day trip, which followed President Xi Jinping’s first visit to Pyongyang in seven years in June, coincided with US President Donald Trump’s decision to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea and call for further talks with the North. North Korea, however, responded with more than 10 short-range ballistic missile... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364877/why-chinese-foreign-ministers-trip-south-korea-dealt-low-blow-seoul?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364877/why-chinese-foreign-ministers-trip-south-korea-dealt-low-blow-seoul?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Aug 2026 02:00:09 +0000 Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Note: SCMP Plus subscribers can attend an exclusive event with Zhou Bo, a retired People’s Liberation Army senior colonel, in Hong Kong on Tuesday. Zhou will discuss China’s military modernisation as the PLA works towards its 2027 centenary goal. SCMP Editor-in-Chief Chow Chung-yan will host the fireside chat. Zhou is now a senior fellow at Tsinghua University. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi sought to boost ties with South Korea amid signs of strains in the long-standing US-South Korean... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364793/wang-yi-visits-south-korea-chinas-economy-cools-warsh-speaks-jackson-hole?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364793/wang-yi-visits-south-korea-chinas-economy-cools-warsh-speaks-jackson-hole?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:00:16 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong At first glance, Kim Yo-jong’s latest message to Washington looked like a rebuff to US President Donald Trump’s insistence that he would meet her brother Kim Jong-un later this year. But analysts said the North Korean leader’s powerful sister stopped well short of shutting down Trump’s outreach, using a carefully worded statement to leave room for renewed summit diplomacy while making clear that Pyongyang intended to set the terms for any return to dialogue. In her statement, released by North... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3364725/why-north-korea-keeping-door-open-dialogue-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3364725/why-north-korea-keeping-door-open-dialogue-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Aug 2026 12:45:54 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press North Korea has fired several short-range ballistic missiles, Seoul’s military said on Thursday, hours after US President Donald Trump said he would meet Pyongyang’s Kim Jong-un this year. The latest launches from the nuclear-armed North come as South Korea and the United States hold a shorter edition of their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercises, following an order from Trump to scale them back. Pyongyang has long condemned US-South Korea joint exercises as rehearsals for invasion,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3364701/north-korea-answers-us-olive-branch-missile-launch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/east-asia/article/3364701/north-korea-answers-us-olive-branch-missile-launch?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:43:00 +0000 Alyssa Chen Alyssa Chen Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on South Korea on Thursday to exercise “genuine strategic autonomy”, and urged Seoul to develop ties with Beijing and Washington in parallel, rather than taking sides in major-power rivalries. According to a statement by the Chinese foreign ministry, Wang told South Korean national security adviser Wi Sung-lac that Beijing hoped Seoul would “achieve strategic autonomy, refrain from bloc confrontation or taking sides, and develop relations with major powers... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364699/seoul-meeting-wang-yi-south-korean-president-voices-hope-closer-china-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364699/seoul-meeting-wang-yi-south-korean-president-voices-hope-closer-china-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:37:45 +0000 Liu Zhen,Laura Zhou Liu Zhen,Laura Zhou Beijing welcomes South and North Korea moving towards peaceful coexistence and calls on Washington to change its “hostile policy” on Pyongyang, according to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. In talks with his counterpart, Cho Hyun, in Seoul on Wednesday, Wang said China was “always committed to playing a constructive role in the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula”. But he sidestepped a reporter’s question after the meeting about whether Beijing could help broker a summit between US... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364621/chinas-top-diplomat-wang-yi-calls-us-change-hostile-policy-north-korea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3364621/chinas-top-diplomat-wang-yi-calls-us-change-hostile-policy-north-korea?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Aug 2026 01:12:54 +0000 Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong South Korea’s push to regain wartime control of its military has been thrown into doubt after the United States abruptly cut short a major joint exercise, scrapping plans for a simulated counteroffensive into North Korean territory and encirclement of Pyongyang. Defence analysts warn scaling back the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise could weaken the allies’ deterrence posture at a sensitive moment, even as Seoul seeks greater self-reliance in managing security on the Korean peninsula. US... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3364579/us-drill-cuts-threaten-south-koreas-wartime-command-plans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3364579/us-drill-cuts-threaten-south-koreas-wartime-command-plans?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:16 +0000 Gabriela Bernal Gabriela Bernal South Korea’s security strategy has rested for more than seven decades on a single pillar: its alliance with the United States. That pillar has absorbed one blow after another during Donald Trump’s second term as US president. This week brought a fresh signal that has strained the relationship. In a social media post, Trump criticised joint US-South Korea military exercises, calling them “costly” and saying they send an “inappropriate and hostile” message to a North Korea he described as... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3364417/donald-trumps-blunt-remarks-offer-south-korea-opportunity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3364417/donald-trumps-blunt-remarks-offer-south-korea-opportunity?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Aug 2026 21:30:06 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado Teresa Elena Frontado US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he planned to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un later this year, despite Pyongyang denying that the two leaders were in direct communication. “Yeah, I will be,” Trump told reporters when asked whether he expected to meet Kim before the end of 2026. Trump, speaking during a tour of a new helipad under construction at the White House, provided no details about where or when a meeting might take place. The Wall Street Journal has reported that... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3364612/trump-says-he-plans-meet-kim-jong-un-year-citing-excellent-relationship?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/us/article/3364612/trump-says-he-plans-meet-kim-jong-un-year-citing-excellent-relationship?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Aug 2026 18:50:57 +0000