Reuters spoke to 20 people, including 15 in the eyelash industry, who described a system in which China-based firms import semi-finished products from Kim Jong-un’s closed-off nation, giving it vital currency.

President Yoon Suk-yeol says the North has a history of carrying out ‘provocations’ before important polls in South Korea.

The former US national security adviser warns such a move would ‘further alienate Japan and South Korea, and extend China’s influence’.

His comments will weigh on Seoul’s ability to balance its alliance with Washington amid the Pyongyang threat, while preventing more tensions with Moscow, analysts say.

Workers at a North Korea-run factory in China were said to have staged a deadly protest after learning their back pay had been transferred back to the regime.

The mooted visit to the North Korean capital would be the Russian leader’s first in over two decades. Analysts said the trip would help Kim Jong-un signal to China that he ‘still has partners’.

Two new-generation Pulhwasal-3-31 missiles ‘flew in the sky above the East Sea … to hit the island target’, state media reported on Monday, adding that Kim had ‘guided’ the launch.

Pledge with China comes as North Korea carries out back-to-back missile tests within space of a week and pursues closer ties with Moscow

Multiple projectiles were detected around the waters near North Korea’s Sinpo area, as Seoul steps up monitoring Pyongyang’s movements.

The trip comes at a challenging time for both leaders, who have low public approval ratings, and is key to US’ strategy to lower tensions around China and North Korea.

Note of caution from Fang Ning comes amid deepening Russia-North Korea ties, and reports of imminent visit to Pyongyang by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

North Korea’s new ballistic missiles are set for their first battlefield test in Ukraine. But based on the success of US interceptor systems, Kim Jong-un may be worried.

Russia’s president also thanked North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for his invitation when he met his Foreign Minister, and thanked North Korea for its support in the Ukraine war

Pyongyang accused Tokyo of trying to revive its dream to ‘reinvade the Korean peninsula’ after SDF members visited the controversial temple.

Communist Party diplomatic chief Liu Jianchao pledges to increase strategic communications in meeting with North Korean envoy as Pyongyang announces test of nuclear-capable underwater attack drone in response to US-Japan-South Korea military drills.

The alleged test came days after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared he would scrap Pyongyang’s long-standing goal of peaceful unification with South Korea.

Tokyo is concerned Trump might resume his ‘bromance’ with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which could threaten Japan’s security.

His avowed ‘America-first’ approach is said to create unease and uncertainty over handling of South China Sea, Korean peninsula and Ukraine support.

The North’s bid to enshrine its own sea border and codify a commitment to invade the South shows ties ‘have reached an almost irreparable breakdown’.

Casinos and cryptocurrency exchanges in the Mekong region are emerging as key venues for organised crime, the UN Office of Drugs and Crime said in a report.

Having made her debut in late 2022 at a missile test launch, Ju-ae has since been seen at military parades and a New Year’s Eve celebration – but have foreign commentators even got her name correct?

The missile could neutralise South Korea’s missile defence system and threaten US strategic assets such as its aircraft-carrier striker groups in the West Pacific, analysts say.

Solid-fuel missiles do not need to be fuelled immediately ahead of launch, are often easier and safer to operate, and require less logistical support, making them harder to detect and more survivable than liquid-fuel weapons.