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North Korea

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a country in East Asia, located in the northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering South Korea and China. Its capital, Pyongyang, is the country's largest city by both land area and population. It is a single-party state led by the Korean Workers' Party (KWP), and governed by Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un since 2012. It has a population of 24,052,231 (UN-assisted DPRK census 2008) made up of Koreans and a smaller Chinese minority. Japan 'opened' Korea in 1876 and annexed it in 1910. The Republic of Korea (ROK) was founded with US support in the south in August 1948 and the Soviet-backed Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the north in September that year.

Capital

Pyongyang

Head of State

Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un

Head of Government

Premier Kim Tok-hun

A THAAD missile defense launcher sits at a US military base in Seongju, South Korea, on March 5. Photo: AFP

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President Donald Trump meets North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas on June 30, 2019. Photo: Reuters

War and conflict

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North Korea sanctions

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Science

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Experts estimate Israel has a nuclear arsenal of 90 warheads, though its plutonium stores could theoretically fuel double that amount. Photo: Getty Images.

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Two Sessions 2026

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Li Yihu, an NPC deputy and head of Peking University’s Institute of Taiwan Studies, says Beijing is making rapid progress in its area-denial capabilities through drills surrounding Taiwan. Photo: Simon Song

South Korea

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South Korea

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China-North Korea relations

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North Korea enforces some of the world’s strictest border controls. Tourists are required to join organised tour groups and may only enter the country using air or rail links. Photo: Reuters

Korean peninsula

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South Korean tanks at a training ground in Paju as South Korea and the US begin annual joint springtime military exercises. Photo: Yonhap via dpa

Tourism

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Korean peninsula

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Korean peninsula

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China-North Korea relations

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Australia

Australia complains to China after encounter between military helicopters

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South Korea

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US and South Korean soldiers take part in a joint river-crossing exercise as part of the Freedom Shield military drills in March 2025. Photo: Getty Images

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Dujduan Ketsaro with her two grooms, Roman and Macky. Photo: Facebook

Kim Jong-un

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Video | North Korea unveils first-known statue of Kim Jong-un

The statue depicts the North Korean leader smiling.

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US, Israel war on Iran

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Troops march through Kim Il-Sung Square in Pyongyang for a military parade on February 25. Photo: KCNA/KNS/AFP

South Korea

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The move will appease Washington that has urged security-conscious Seoul to tackle what it says is discrimination against US tech companies.

3 Mar 2026 - 6:44PMvideocam

A woman poses for photographs from an observation deck at N Seoul Tower in Seoul, South Korea. South Korea had shot down Google’s previous bids in 2007 and 2016 to be allowed to export the data, citing the risks that information ‌about sensitive military and security facilities could be exposed. Photo: Reuters

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North Korea

The US is shifting THAAD to the Middle East. What does that mean for China?

Analysts warn of a regional capability gap in the wake of US redeployment of anti-missile system to the Middle East.

Air China to resume North Korea flights after 6 years amid warming ties

North Korea launches 10 missiles as South Korea, US conduct military exercises

Trump tells South Korea he is only leader who can break North Korean deadlock

Trump was interested to know if North Korea’s Kim Jong-un would be open to meeting him, South Korean prime minister said.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | US-Israeli war on Iran makes a mockery of global governance rules

Inevitably, the world will be split between those committed to peace and harmony, and those who want to fight to secure dominance.

US sanctions 2 firms, 6 individuals for funding North Korean weapons

North Korea-linked IT workers raised nearly US$800 million in 2024 by defrauding or stealing data to blackmail American companies.

Israel’s 90 nuclear warheads make any strike on Iran ‘really dangerous’: expert

Policy head of Nobel Peace Prize-winning group sounds alarm over possible intentional or accidental use of weapons.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Open Questions | War on Iran may spark nuclear arms race, Carnegie scholar says

Zhao Tong says return to law of the jungle signalled by current US actions could spur countries without nuclear weapons to start acquiring them.

Iran may team up again with North Korea to defy ‘gangster-like’ US. Here’s why

North Korea has long been suspected of supplying missile technology to Iran and providing technical help on uranium enrichment.

Why China may gain from US moving military assets for Iran war

‘Any weakening’ of US presence in Asia-Pacific will work to someone’s advantage, ‘and you can imagine who that is’: cross-strait adviser.

.css-rcruog{color:#C79A00;}Video | South Korea grapples with ‘clear reality’ of US forces shifting role on peninsula

Analysts say reports of US moving assets from Korean peninsula to Middle East marks shift in role of American forces stationed in South Korea.

South Korea gets wake-up call as US diverts military assets to Middle East

President Lee Jae Myung urges South Korea to boost its own defence amid reports of US military assets being redeployed to the Middle East.

Mainland Chinese see Taiwan positively, won’t retreat from US trade war: survey

China Pulse polling study gives rare window into views of ordinary people on mainland, where opinions are often restricted or even banned.

China-North Korea rail link restored as neighbours try to get ties back on track

Restoring tourist travel has been seen as a litmus test of Pyongyang’s willingness to rebuild relations with its biggest trading partner.

‘Terrible consequences’: North Korea hits out over US-South Korea drills

Sister of North Korean leader says 11-day Freedom Shield exercise to harm regional stability.

North Korea cancels Pyongyang marathon weeks before race, with no reason given

The race had been set for April 5 and would have marked the second year since Pyongyang resumed the event after the pandemic.

US begins large military exercise with South Korea while attacking Iran

Thousands of troops begin annual drills amid speculation over US Patriot redeployment to the Middle East.

Opinion | Under Kim Jong-un, North Korea is burying the dream of reunification

The Workers’ Party Congress signals a different form of “liberation” – securing regime survival through nuclear deterrence, not the liberation of the Korean peninsula.

Will the US attack on Iran push North Korea even closer to Russia and China?

Donald Trump’s targeting of Tehran will push Pyongyang to feel ‘vindicated’ in developing nuclear weapons for its own security, analysts say.

Australia complains to China after encounter between military helicopters

Australia says the Chinese aircraft made an ‘unsafe’ manoeuvre, while China called the statement ‘distortions of facts’.

South Korea uneasy as US weighs moving air defences to Middle East

Fears are growing in Seoul that shifting US Patriot and THAAD missiles to fight Iran could leave it vulnerable to North Korea.

Woman marries 2 men in Thailand, China’s bamboo-fibre drone: 7 highlights

From a woman marrying two men in Thailand to a bamboo-fibre drone, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Why North Korea’s missile tests from new warship has Iran conflict in mind

Experts say the US strikes on Iran are sharpening Pyongyang’s resolve to diversify nuclear-capable forces, including new naval platforms.

Video | North Korea unveils first-known statue of Kim Jong-un

The statue depicts the North Korean leader smiling.

North Korea’s hostage strategy packs more bite in post-Iran US shake-up

The Pentagon wants Seoul to shoulder more of its defence burden. Analysts say it may have strengthened Kim Jong-un’s hand instead.

South Korea to finally get fully functioning Google Maps

The move will appease Washington that has urged security-conscious Seoul to tackle what it says is discrimination against US tech companies.

Southeast Asian navy strategies, Japan video sparks outrage: 7 Asia highlights

From predictions on Iranian leadership to North Korea’s nuclear vindication, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

Opinion | Kim Jong-un’s daughter may well become North Korea’s first female leader

The signs of succession are apparent, from Kim Ju-ae’s growing public appearances with her father to her reported appointment to a new leadership position.

Opinion | US-Israeli war on Iran makes a mockery of global governance rules

Open Questions | War on Iran may spark nuclear arms race, Carnegie scholar says

Video | South Korea grapples with ‘clear reality’ of US forces shifting role on peninsula