Kim Jong Un

South Korea says North Korea may have up to 120 nuclear warheads

South Korea estimates North Korea has 80-120 nuclear warheads, a figure well above US President Donald Trump’s recent estimate of 57.

 A North Korea flag flutters next to concertina wire at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia March 9, 2017.
US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, US, August 7, 2026

Trump: Getting along with Kim Jong Un is 'a good thing' because North Korea has 57 nukes

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during the opening ceremony of the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations honouring North Korean troops killed while fighting for Russia in the war against Ukraine, in Pyongyang, North Korea, April 26, 2026.

Kim Jong Un's sister denies Zelensky's claim of additional North Korean troops deployment to Russia

A South Korean soldier stands next to a TV broadcasting a news report on a possible summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump, at a railway station in Seoul, South Korea, October 22, 2025.

US-South Korea military drills expected to be halved as Trump pushes for Kim Jong Un meeting


South Korea's Lee backs stronger self-defense, says drills not aimed at North Korea

South Korea had no intention of using the exercises to attack North Korea or raise tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Lee said.

A South Korean flag flutters on the top of a 100-metre tower as soldiers stand guard at the Tae Sung freedom village near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), inside the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas, in Paju, South Korea, September 30, 2019.

Trump says US military to reduce military exercises with South Korea, cites North Korea relations

"These exercises are not only costly... but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile," he wrote in a Truth Social post.

South Korea soldiers participate in an anti-terror exercise as part of Ulchi Freedom Shield 2025, on August 19, 2025 in Seoul, South Korea. The exercise serves as a platform for the South Korean government to prepare for potential emergencies on the Korean Peninsula, August 19 2025

South Korea fired warning shots after North Korean soldiers crossed demarcation line, Yonhap says

Yonhap said multiple North Korean soldiers crossed the MDL in the eastern area of the demilitarized zone, in the first reported MDL violation by the North Korean military this year.

A South Korean flag flutters on the top of a 100-metre tower as soldiers stand guard at the Tae Sung freedom village near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), inside the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas, in Paju, South Korea, September 30, 2019.

North Korea, Russia reaffirm ties on Korean Liberation Day, as Kim sends Putin more troops

The North Korean leader expressed hope for the future of ties that had "carried forward the history of common struggle for justice and precious traditions of friendship."

 Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attend a meeting in Beijing, China September 3, 2025.

Russia seeks additional 30,000 North Korean soldiers to fight in Ukraine, Zelensky claims

Ukrainian President Zelensky also said that Russia was teaching North Korea "how to wage war, improve its weapons, and gain real combat experience."

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during the opening ceremony of the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations honouring North Korean troops killed while fighting for Russia in the war against Ukraine, in Pyongyang, North Korea, April 26, 2026.

Kim Jong Un inspects missile tests aboard North Korean destroyer Kang Kon

Test included checks of target-detection and information-processing capabilities, integrated firepower systems, naval guns, automatic cannons, and electronic warfare equipment.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observes an assessment of the newly built naval destroyer Kang Kon's combat systems, including the test firing of a strategic cruise missile, at an unknown location in North Korea, July 3, 2026.

South Korea's military says it detained a North Korean soldier near border

Yonhap News Agency reported the soldier expressed an intention to defect to South Korea, without citing a source.

North Korean propaganda village "Gijungdong" is seen from an South Korea's observation post inside the JSA during a media tour at the Joint Security Area (JSA) on the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in the border village of Panmunjom in Paju, South Korea, 3 March 2023.

North Korea's Kim says country will exercise its position as nuclear state, KCNA reports​​

"Unimaginable, astonishing incidents and events" are occurring because of the "gangster-like" greed of hegemonic forces, making confrontations around the world more violent, Kim said.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during the second plenary meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), in Pyongyang, North Korea, in this picture released June 23, 2026, by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency

China and North Korea expand ties at Pyongyang summit as Xi Jinping visits Kim Jong Un

In his first visit in seven years to China's only formal treaty ally, Xi told Kim he aimed to strengthen ties, with both agreeing to strive for closer strategic communication through official visits.

Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during Xi's state visit to Pyongyang, North Korea, June 8, 2026, in this picture released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency.

North Korea flaunts nuclear growth ahead of high-stakes Xi-Kim meeting

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea next week as Kim Jong Un pushes for an "exponential" expansion of the country's nuclear arsenal and deepens ties with Russia.

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a tea ceremony with Russian President Vladimir Putin following their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China May 20, 2026.