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Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Kim Jong Un calls for ‘actual war' training by combat units
SEOUL, July 24 (UPI) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called on the military to ramp up combat and artillery training to prepare for "coping with a war anytime and destroying the enemy in every battle without fail," state-run media reported Thursday. Kim made the remarks while overseeing an artillery firing contest among units of the Korean People's Army on Wednesday, the official Korean Central News Agency said. The contest called for artillery units to fire at offshore targets after simulating a night march and sudden combat deployment. Kim "expressed great satisfaction over the contest that was conducted like an actual war," KCNA said. The North Korean leader stressed the need to develop "artillery tactics and combat methods in an innovative way in keeping with the harsh and acute environment of the daily-changing modern battlefields." "The courage, abilities and self-confidence with which to actively cope with any war and crisis are cultivated in the furnace of the training revolution," Kim said, according to KCNA. "The surest war deterrent is the most thoroughgoing outlook on the arch enemy." He was joined at the contest by senior officials, including Defense Minister No Kwang Chol and Vice Chairman Pak Jong Chon of the ruling party's Central Military Commission. Kim oversaw a similar firing contest in May. The North's emphasis on real-world combat training comes as Pyongyang sends weapons and thousands of troops to Russia to aid Moscow in its war against Ukraine. North Korea has deployed some 14,000 troops to help recapture lost territory in Kursk Province from Ukrainian forces, according to a recent report by an 11-country sanctions monitoring team. Russian media reported last month that the North is sending an additional 6,000 military workers and combat engineers to help rebuild the Kursk region. Moscow and Pyongyang have grown closer since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The two signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in June of last year, which includes a defense clause that calls for mutual military assistance in the event either country is attacked. Kim reaffirmed North Korea's support for Moscow's war against Ukraine during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov last week. Kim told Lavrov that the North is "ready to unconditionally support and encourage all the measures taken by the Russian leadership as regards the tackling of the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis," KCNA reported. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
UPI
6 days ago
- Politics
- UPI
Kim Jong Un calls for 'actual war' training by combat units
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (C) oversaw a firing contest among artillery units of the Korean People's Army and said it resembled it "actual war," state-run media reported Thursday. Photo by KCNA/EPA SEOUL, July 24 (UPI) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called on the military to ramp up combat and artillery training to prepare for "coping with a war anytime and destroying the enemy in every battle without fail," state-run media reported Thursday. Kim made the remarks while overseeing an artillery firing contest among units of the Korean People's Army on Wednesday, the official Korean Central News Agency said. The contest called for artillery units to fire at offshore targets after simulating a night march and sudden combat deployment. Kim "expressed great satisfaction over the contest that was conducted like an actual war," KCNA said. The North Korean leader stressed the need to develop "artillery tactics and combat methods in an innovative way in keeping with the harsh and acute environment of the daily-changing modern battlefields." "The courage, abilities and self-confidence with which to actively cope with any war and crisis are cultivated in the furnace of the training revolution," Kim said, according to KCNA. "The surest war deterrent is the most thoroughgoing outlook on the arch enemy." He was joined at the contest by senior officials, including Defense Minister No Kwang Chol and Vice Chairman Pak Jong Chon of the ruling party's Central Military Commission. Kim oversaw a similar firing contest in May. The North's emphasis on real-world combat training comes as Pyongyang sends weapons and thousands of troops to Russia to aid Moscow in its war against Ukraine. North Korea has deployed some 14,000 troops to help recapture lost territory in Kursk Province from Ukrainian forces, according to a recent report by an 11-country sanctions monitoring team. Russian media reported last month that the North is sending an additional 6,000 military workers and combat engineers to help rebuild the Kursk region. Moscow and Pyongyang have grown closer since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The two signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in June of last year, which includes a defense clause that calls for mutual military assistance in the event either country is attacked. Kim reaffirmed North Korea's support for Moscow's war against Ukraine during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov last week. Kim told Lavrov that the North is "ready to unconditionally support and encourage all the measures taken by the Russian leadership as regards the tackling of the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis," KCNA reported.
News18
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Goblin To Squid Game: 10 K-Dramas Everyone Should Watch At Least Once
Squid Game revolves around a secret contest where 456 players risk their lives to play a series of deadly games. There's no shortage of Korean dramas across a variety of genres. The endless options sometimes make it hard to decide what to watch. Whether you're a seasoned K-drama enthusiast or a newcomer exploring the genre, some shows have truly left a mark. So if you are free this weekend or catching up with a friend at home, this list is perfect for your K-drama binge. Mr. Queen Mr. Queen has to be Shin Hye-sun's best K-drama of all time. Based on the Chinese web series Go Princess Go, this period drama follows a chef who travels back to the Joseon era and finds himself waking up in Queen Cheorin's body. Mr. Queen has everything from heartfelt romance, comedy and action. Crash Landing On You This romantic comedy follows Yoon Se-ri, a successful South Korean businesswoman who is swept off course by a tornado while paragliding and crash-lands in North Korea. There, she is discovered by Ri Jeong-hyeok, a captain in the Korean People's Army, who decides to hide her and help her return home. What follows is a heartwarming story of love. Descendants Of The Sun This series tells a story of lovers who are drawn apart from each other due to the circumstances they find themselves in. Starring Song Hye-kyo and Song Joong-ki, this drama attained wide acclaim for its emotional depth and chemistry between the lead characters. The Glory The Glory follows Song Hye-kyo's character, Moon Dong-eun, as she sets out on a gripping journey of revenge after enduring brutal bullying in high school. Each scene is packed with intensity, showcasing Dong-eun's unwavering resolve to bring her tormentors to justice. Queen Of Tears Queen of Tears perfectly explores the nuances of a married couple going through a rough patch. The drama delves into the themes of love, loss, redemption, and the complexities of family dynamics and social hierarchy. It uses contrasting colour palettes to represent the emotional state of the characters, emphasising the depth of the story. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha This slice-of-life K-drama follows a big-city dentist who moves to a seaside village where she meets a handyman intent on helping his neighbours. The series explores their evolving relationship against the backdrop of a small-town community. This drama resonated with audiences globally and became one of the most-watched K-dramas on Netflix. Goblin Starring Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun, this drama balances fantasy, romance, and comedy. Goblin tells the story of an immortal goblin cursed to live forever until he finds a human bride who can end his eternal life by removing a sword from his chest. Fight For My Way Fight For My Way beautifully explores the classic friends-to-lovers trope, following a former taekwondo champion and a spirited receptionist as they chase their dreams while navigating life's many hurdles. With a perfect blend of humour and heart, this K-drama takes viewers on the inspiring and emotional journey of Dong-man and Ae-ra's love story. Weak Hero A fan-favourite K-drama, Weak Hero follows a young studious man who refuses to back down from the bullies in his class and uses his intelligence to fight against them. From the fight scenes to heartwarming friendships, every little element in the show has been executed perfectly. Squid Game This thrilling K-drama has become a global sensation over the years. The drama revolves around a secret contest where 456 players risk their lives to play a series of deadly games for the chance to win a $39.86 million cash prize. This action-packed drama is undoubtedly one of the most relevant shows of our time. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hill
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
The Korean War started 75 years ago and is still going
At dawn on June 25, 1950 — 75 years ago today — soldiers of the communist Korean People's Army crossed the 38th parallel in a coordinated strike south into the non-communist Republic of Korea. Behind a rolling barrage of artillery, the Korean People's Army, with Soviet-made tanks and aircraft, advanced quickly. The Republic of Korea's Army, unprepared and poorly equipped, suffered heavy losses. Within three days, the North Koreans occupied the South Korean capital, Seoul, and President Syngman Rhee — a protean, brutal autocrat — made a temporary capital in Busan on the south coast. The Korean War has never formally ended. Although an armistice was signed on July 27, 1953, the conflict remains legally paused, and no peace treaty has ever been agreed to. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea remain separated, north from south, by a 160-mile demilitarized zone that is patrolled by 2 million soldiers. The U.S. had not expected a war in Korea. The division of the country into a Soviet-sponsored north and an American-backed south was a temporary post-World War II measure, pending reunification. When the Republic of Korea was established in 1948 and began forming its own military, President Harry Truman created a U.S. Military Advisory Group to train and support Rhee's forces. The U.S. military presence was withdrawn in 1949, leaving only 200 to 300 advisers. Secretary of State Dean Acheson outlined U.S. policy in Asia in his 'Perimeter Speech' in January 1950, but his perimeter did not include Korea. A CIA memorandum the same month described a North Korean invasion as 'unlikely.' Then the invasion happened. It was immediately condemned by the U.N. Security Council. Washington could not allow South Korea to fall to communism, as a non-hostile Korea was essential for the security of Japan, the lynchpin of American policy in the region. Gen. Douglas MacArthur was placed in charge of the United Nations Command — still in existence today — to defend South Korea. By the beginning of 1951, there were 498,000 United Nations ground troops in Korea, half of them American. The active conflict phase of the war lasted for three years, with the loss of 35,000 American lives. Today, U.S. Forces Korea numbers around 28,500. Truman never referred to the conflict as a war but rather a 'police action' under U.N. command. Yet Korea is the ultimate 'forever war,' the lack of a formal treaty rather than an armistice making it easily America's longest conflict. It also prefigured some features of modern warfare, not least in in Ukraine. The very messiness of definition and outcome in Korea has contemporary resonance, given the difficulty of imagining what a settlement between Ukraine and Russia might look like today. It was also a war conducted at several levels: the acknowledged protagonists were the American-led U.N. coalition on one side against North Korea and (after October 1950) China on the other, but the Soviet Union supplied equipment, aircraft and pilots to North Korea. As with Ukraine, Western nations were unprepared and ill-equipped to fight in Korea after drawing a huge peace dividend from the end of World War II five years earlier. Between 1945 and 1947, the U.S. armed forces reduced its personnel by nearly 90 percent, the U.K. by 85 percent. As America adapted to a defensive posture, much intellectual and administrative energy was consumed by the closer integration of the armed services in the National Security Act of 1947. In a similar way, Western nations have rapidly depleted their peacetime inventories of arms and ammunition in supplying Ukraine. The conflict has also forced the U.S. and its allies to reexamine organization, strategy, tactics and doctrine at a breathless pace. The specter of nuclear weapons hung over the Korean War. At a press conference in November 1950, Truman, pressed on potential use of the atomic bomb, said 'there has always been active consideration of its use.' He denied that it required the authorization of the U.N., insisting 'the military commander in the field will have charge of the use of the weapons, as he always has.' A press release issued later that day tried to downplay, but not rule out, this prospect. 'Consideration of the use of any weapon is always implicit in the very possession of that weapon,' it read. 'However, it should be emphasized, that, by law, only the President can authorize the use of the atom bomb, and no such authorization has been given.' MacArthur asked for discretion as commander in the field to use nuclear weapons, then submitted a list of targets for which he would need 34 atomic bombs. His request was denied, but not as a matter of policy. The Joint Chiefs of Staff would consider the nuclear option again after MacArthur was relieved in April 1951. America had only lost its nuclear monopoly in 1949, when the Soviet Union detonated its first fission bomb, but by 1951 it maintained a massive numerical advantage over the U.S.S.R. There was still a lively debate about whether the atomic bomb was a weapon like any other, albeit vastly more powerful, or a fearful class apart. Vladimir Putin has several times during the war in Ukraine attempted to use his strategic and tactical nuclear weapons as a threat and deterrent. Seventy-five years on, we are all still playing an unknown game, as nuclear weapons have never been used since August 1945. No one knows — nor can know — where the limits are or what the consequences might be. Despite 35,000 American dead, the Korean War is often dubbed 'the forgotten war.' That may stem from its lack of genuine conclusion and the absence of a clear narrative. But if history does not repeat itself, it can often rhyme, and Korea has sometimes found its counterpart in Ukraine. Seventy-five years after the Korean War began, that alone is worth pause for reflection. Eliot Wilson is a freelance writer on politics and international affairs and the co-founder of Pivot Point Group. He was senior official in the U.K. House of Commons from 2005 to 2016, including serving as a clerk of the Defence Committee and secretary of the U.K. delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
NDTV
20-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Kim Jong Un Sends 6,000 More To Kursk After Massive Troop Losses In Russia
North Korea is set to send 6,000 personnel, including combat engineers and military workers, to assist in reconstruction efforts in Russia's Kursk region, according to Moscow's top security official. The announcement was made during Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu's visit to Pyongyang, marking his second meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this month, highlighting deepening ties between the two nations. "Chairman of the State Affairs of the DPRK Kim Jong Un has decided to send 1,000 sappers to Russia to clear mines on Russian territory, as well as 5,000 military construction workers to restore infrastructure destroyed by the occupiers," Shoigu said, according to Russian state media TASS. According to Shoigu, Moscow and Pyongyang also plan to create memorials for the Korean soldiers who died while liberating the Kursk Region. "The heads of our states have decided to perpetuate the feat of the soldiers of the Korean People's Army who took part in the fighting. Specifically, we are talking about the unveiling of memorials in Russia and the DPRK in memory of the Korean soldiers who fell in the battles for the liberation of the Russian territory. In this regard, during the visit, the construction of a memorial complex with a museum in Pyongyang with the participation of the Russian side was discussed," he added. According to news agency TASS, Shoigu is visiting Pyongyang for the third time in nearly three months. He explained this frequency by a high pace of implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement between Moscow and Pyongyang. "First of all, it is related to the intensity of implementation of this agreement, which was actually signed a year ago," he stressed. "The pace that has been set in the implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement, of course, requires constant attention and regular adjustments and decision-making at all levels." According to Business Insider, Kim initially sent some 12,000 troops in the fall of 2024 to Kursk, the oblast where Ukraine entered in August of that year and seized up to 500 square miles of Russian soil. Aided by Pyongyang's soldiers, the Kremlin's forces recaptured almost all of those gains by March 2025, effectively ousting Ukrainian forces from the region by late spring. On June 15, the UK Defense Ministry said in an intelligence update that it estimated that more than 6,000 North Korean troops had been killed or wounded in Kursk.
