Kim Jong-un Archives - Defence Monitor

05 Jan

North Korea says it tested hypersonic missiles with leader Kim Jong-un attending

Seoul, Jan 5 (IANS) North Korea test-launched hypersonic missiles in Pyongyang the previous day that successfully struck targets in the East Sea, with leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, state media reported on Monday. "A sub-unit under a major firing strike group of the Korean People's Army conducted a missile launching drill" to evaluate the country's war deterrence and the readiness of the weapon system, as well as to verify its capacity to fulfill missions, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. South Korea's military detected the missile launch at 7:50 a.m. Sunday, hours before President Lee Jae Myung departed for…

31 Aug

Trump says getting along with Kim Jong-un is ‘good thing’

Washington, Aug 31 (IANS) US presidential candidate Donald Trump said that "getting along" with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is a "good thing," after his Democratic rival Kamala Harris vowed not to "cosy up to" dictators like Kim. During a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Friday, a key battleground state, former President Trump again boasted about his personal ties with the North Korean leader, Yonhap news agency reported. He and the Vice President are in a tight race with the presidential election just a little over two months away. "I got along with Kim Jong-un of North Korea. Remember I…

05 Jan

Kim Jong-un inspects factory producing launchers for ballistic missiles

Seoul, Jan 5, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a factory producing mobile launchers for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), stressing the need to strengthen the country's nuclear deterrence for a "military showdown", state media reported on Friday. During the visit, Kim ordered measures to expand the capacity to produce major transporter erector launchers (TELs), stressing that the factory plays an important role in bolstering the country's defense capabilities, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). It did not however, specify the date of his visit. "Given the prevailing grave situation that requires the country to be more…

12 Sep

Kim Jong-un arrives in Russia for rare summit with Putin

Seoul, Sep 12, In a rare show of strength, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived in Russia on Tuesday to hold a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with concerns growing over a possible arms deal between Pyongyang and Moscow, an official at South Korea's Defence Ministry said. The North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) confirmed early Tuesday that Kim had left Pyongyang for Russia aboard his bulletproof train on Sunday afternoon, accompanied by leading officials of the regime's ruling party and the armed forces, reports Yonhap News Agency. The KCNA said Kim "left here by his train on…

15 Jun

Kim Jong-un touts leadership of China’s Xi in b’day greetings

Seoul, June 15 (IANS) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sent a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping on the latter's 70th birthday, saying that Beijing's national power has "remarkably" strengthened under his leadership, Pyongyang's state media reported on Thursday. In the message, Kim said that Beijing has "built a comprehensively well-off society" and that its "national power and international position remarkably strengthened" under Xi's "energetic" leadership, according to North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "The message expressed belief that the struggle for the prosperity of China will surely emerge victorious as there are the leadership of Xi Jinping and…

12 Jun

Kim Jong-un vows stronger strategic ties with Russia

Seoul, June 12 (IANS) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has voiced his willingness to build closer strategic ties with Russia in his congratulatory message to Russian President Vladimir Putin over Moscow's key national holiday, Pyongyang's state media said on Monday. In the message sent on the occasion of Russia Day, Kim said friendly relations between the North and Russia are a "precious strategic asset" and his country will make efforts to ceaselessly develop such cooperative ties, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Russia Day is celebrated on June 12 to mark the adoption of the Declaration of…