Press Releases

S. Korea Pushes Back Hoguk Military Exercise

(MENAFN) South Korea’s military announced on Thursday the postponement of its annual large-scale field training exercise originally set for mid-October, according to local media. The Hoguk exercise, initially planned for October 20-24, will now...

N. Korea hackers carry out cyberattack on S. Korea using

(MENAFN) On Monday, a S. Korean security institute stated a cybercriminal gang purportedly connected to N. Korea has made a cyber-assault on S. Korean organizations, as well as a military-affiliated organization, using deepfake images created by...

N. Korea Stands Unyielding on Nuclear Weapons, Calls It "Irreversible"

(MENAFN) North Korea asserted on Monday that its nuclear weapons status is "permanently enshrined" in law and deemed "irreversible," strongly rebuffing U.S. calls for denuclearization. The announcement follows U.S. remarks at the International...

North Korean-Linked Hackers Target South Korean Defense Entities

(MENAFN) A hacking collective allegedly connected to North Korea has executed a cyberattack targeting South Korean organizations, including a defense-related institution, by employing artificial intelligence (AI)-generated deepfake images,...

North Korea’s Reforestation Project Yields 1.2M Hectares of New Forests

(MENAFN) North Korea’s ambitious decade-long reforestation drive has resulted in the addition of approximately 1.2 million hectares of forest, according to a report by media on Thursday, which relied on NASA satellite data. Initiated by leader Kim...

Seoul Says N. Korea Upgraded Spy Bureau After Satellite Milestone

(MENAFN) North Korea appears to have restructured and bolstered its intelligence apparatus following the successful deployment of a military reconnaissance satellite in November 2023, South Korean officials announced Monday. During a press...

Chinese PM to partake in ruling party anniversary celebrations

(MENAFN) Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Pyongyang on Thursday to attend the 80th anniversary celebrations of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), according to reports. This marks the first visit to North Korea by a Chinese...

Kim Yo Jong Blasts U.S.-S. Korea Military Drills as "Reckless Show of Strength"

(MENAFN) Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, harshly criticized the upcoming joint military drills between South Korea and the United States, calling them a "reckless show of strength." Her remarks were issued...

U.S., S. Korea, Japan Kick Off Trilateral Military Drill

(MENAFN) The United States, South Korea, and Japan commenced a critical trilateral military exercise on Monday, emphasizing their ongoing commitment to strengthening security cooperation in response to growing threats from North Korea. The joint...

DPRK Rebukes U.S., South Korea, Japan Military Exercises

(MENAFN) Senior officials from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) issued sharp criticism on Saturday against the imminent military exercises being conducted by the United States, South Korea, and Japan, as reported by media on...

South Korean Leader Orders Full Probe into Military Blast

(MENAFN) South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has ordered a comprehensive investigation into a military training explosion that injured 10 soldiers, according to media. The blast occurred Wednesday at an artillery unit in Paju, a northwestern city...

Rubio Holds Phone Talks with China’s Foreign Minister

(MENAFN) U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscored the need for "open and constructive communication" during a phone call Wednesday with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to a statement released by the State Department. "Secretary...

U.S., China Step Up Military, Diplomatic Talks Ahead of Summit

(MENAFN) High-level communications between the United States and China intensified this week, as senior defense and diplomatic officials from both nations held rare direct talks—part of a broader effort to arrange a potential summit between...

Kim Jong-un Celebrates 'Immortal' Alliance with Russia

(MENAFN) In a recent statement, North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un praised the exceptionally strong relationship between his nation and Russia, referring to their bond as “immortal.” This message was shared through a state-run news agency on...

Kim says close ties with Russia will never die

(MENAFN) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has praised the nation’s exceptionally close relationship with Russia, describing their bond as “immortal.” In a message released by state media on Tuesday, Kim extended birthday wishes to 73-year-old...

Kim Jong Un urges for strengthening navy in case of threats

(MENAFN) North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has urged significant improvements to the country’s naval forces to deter and respond decisively to any perceived hostilities, according to reports released Monday. Kim made the remarks during an...

Pakistan’s strategic defense pact with Saudi Arabia: A new security architecture in the wider Middle East

The Saudi-Pakistan Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement, signed on September 17, 2025, is a significant regional development. MEI has published several articles that provide different perspectives on the defense pact. For other analysis, please see...

S. Korea Dismisses Calls to Pause Border Drills

(MENAFN) South Korea’s Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back firmly dismissed calls to pause military exercises near the inter-Korean border, stressing that continuous training is essential despite Seoul’s efforts to lower tensions with North Korea,...

Trump Considers Visit to S. Korea Before APEC Summit

(MENAFN) U.S. President Donald Trump is considering a late-October trip to South Korea, ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, according to media, which cited unnamed diplomatic and political sources on Saturday. Trump may...

Trump considers visiting S. Korea this month

(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a trip to South Korea later this month, prior to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, according to reports. The visit could involve meetings with officials from South...