Asia North Korea In the first half of 2021, Kim Jong-un has exchanged correspondence 12 times with President of Syria Assad, four times the frequency of Kim’s reported communications with China’s Xi Jinping during the same period
Asia North Korea The country is building a three-mile wall over the unexcavated ruins of a lost medieval city within the demilitarised zone as part of leader Kim Jong Un's aim to 'permanently' cut all ties with South Korea
Asia North Korea The country defended its controversial law providing for harsh penalties for consuming foreign media, while admitting to carrying out public executions and imprisoning perpetrators of 'anti-state' crimes
Asia North Korea South Korean intelligence claims it has evidence that North Korea is about to send thousands of soldiers to fight against Ukraine alongside Russia; between 8 and 13 October, around 1.500 North Korean soldiers were sent to north-eastern Russia for training
Asia North Korea All roads and railways connecting the country with South Korea will be blocked and border defences will be reinforced, due to repeated military exercises south of the border and the presence of US nuclear weapons in South Korea