North Korea has begun construction on two new warships on the east and west coasts, a U.S. news outlet said Friday, citing satellite imagery. According to NK News, Planet Labs imagery shows construction under way at the Nampho Shipyard on the west coast as well as at the Chongjin Shipyard on the east coast. At Nampho, large hull sections have been staged and assembled since early July, with the ship likely to be the North's first 10,000-ton cruiser, though it is too early to determine, the outlet said. It noted that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stated plans in June to build such cruisers. The warship under construction at the Chongjin Shipyard, meanwhile, did not appear until mid-August, with satellite imagery showing red ship hull materials being assembled. Though it is also too early to determine, the ship could be the North's long-planned second destroyer, the fourth of the 5,000-ton class, or a 10,000-ton cruiser, the outlet said. Upgrades have also been taking place at both shipyards after the North Korean leader declared at a Central Military Commission meeting in July that the mi
Read full articleMEXICO CITY — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday described Mexico as an "indispensable strategic partner" and stressed the need to deepen bilateral economic cooperation amid global economic uncertainties. Lee made the remarks at a meeting that he jointly hosted with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, according to senior South Korean presidential secretary for public affairs Seong Ghi-hong. The meeting was attended by dozens of business leaders from both countries. Lee said the two countries are indispensable strategic partners to each other, and need to elevate their economic cooperation at a time when global economic uncertainties are growing, with global supply chains undergoing rapid changes, according to Seong. The South Korean president also pledged to support the successful implementation of Sheinbaum's vision, called "Plan Mexico," which she unveiled last year to strengthen industrial competitiveness and expand infrastructure. The meeting discussed ways to strengthen investment and trade between South Korean and Mexican companies, the presidential secretary said.
MEXICO CITY — South Korea and Mexico on Thursday adopted a joint action plan to expand bilateral cooperation into crude oil, critical natural resources, defense and artificial intelligence, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said of his summit here with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. The South Korean president announced the signing of the Korea-Mexico Joint Action Plan 2026-2030 in a joint press announcement with his Mexican counterpart. The action plan calls for South Korea and Mexico to expand bilateral cooperation in advanced industries, including AI, digital technology, aerospace and defense, according to Lee. "This will help foster connections between the strategic industries prioritized by my administration and the advancement of new industries envisioned under Mexico's economic development strategy, "Plan Mexico," he said. South Korea and Mexico will also work toward having the agreement take effect promptly by completing necessary procedures, including the formal signing and parliamentary ratification. Also during the summit, the two countries concluded negotiations on a
North Korea on Friday condemned a recent remark made by the top commander of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) that South Korea plays a decisive center for collective defense, noting Seoul will instead become a target of punishment. The statement came from Kang Chol-su, section chief of North Korea's Institute of Enemy State Studies, in a commentary carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). In the statement, Kang said the U.S. is "openly revealing its gangster-like nature" to use South Korea as Washington's "key base for implementing its hegemonic strategy and as its mercenaries in the regional conflict." "(U.S. Forces Korea Commander Xavier Brunson) talked about the redesigning of the security of the Korean peninsula, stressing the need for the ROK and the U.S. to jointly cope with the threat from outside the Korean peninsula," Kang said. The ROK stands for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea. "This is a clearer manifestation of the attempt to completely discard the deceptive veil of 'defense of the ROK,' which has so far been used as the justification for the existenc
Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Jin Yong-sung on Friday visited a front-line Army unit where a suspected land mine explosion occurred earlier this week and inspected readiness ahead of an on-site probe, officials said. Jin visited the 25th Infantry Division, along with other field commanders, and inspected the progress for an impending on-site inspection to look into the cause of the suspected land mine blast, according to the JCS. The explosion occurred south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in the western sector of the DMZ on Monday, leaving two officers seriously injured, including one who lost an ankle. The JCS chief underscored the need to conduct a "thorough" investigation by preparing command-and-control and safety procedures while ensuring troop safety. "The on-site inspection task force, led by the vice JCS chief, is carrying out its duties during the Chuseok holiday," the JCS said, adding that "an on-site investigation team will begin its mission once safety measures are in place." The South Korean military earlier said it had detected changes in terrain in some
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