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North Korea's second naval destroyer was damaged in its failed launch to the water this week, state media reported Thursday, in an embarrassment for leader Kim Jong Un as he pushes to modernise his naval forces. It's not common for North Korea to acknowledge military-related setbacks, but observers say the disclosure of the failed ship launch suggests that Kim is serious about his naval advancement program and confident of ultimately achieving its objectives, reports AP. During a launching event at the northeastern port of Chongjin on Wednesday, the newly built 5,000-ton-class destroyer became unbalanced and was punctured in its bottom sections after a transport cradle on the stern section slid off first and became stuck, according to the Korean Central News Agency. KCNA didn't provide details on what caused the problem, the severity of the damage or whether anyone was injured. According to KCNA, Kim, who was present at the ceremony, blamed military officials, scientists and shipyard operators for a “serious accident and criminal act caused by absolute carelessness, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism." Kim called for a ruling Workers’ Party meeting slated for late June to address their “irresponsible errors." “It's a shameful thing. But the reason why North Korea disclosed the incident is it wants to show it's speeding up the modernization of its navy forces and expresses its confidence that it can eventually build" a greater navy, said Moon Keun-sik, a navy expert who teaches at Seoul’s Hanyang University. Canada is talking to US about joining ‘Golden Dome’ missile defense system: Carney Moon suspected the incident likely happened because North Korean workers aren't yet familiar with such a large warship and were rushed to put it in the water. The damaged vessel was likely in the same class as the country’s first destroyer, unveiled April 25, which experts assessed as the North’s largest and most advanced warship to date. Kim called the first vessel, named Choe Hyon — a famed Korean guerilla fighter during the Japanese colonial period — a significant asset for advancing his goal of expanding the military’s operational range and nuclear strike capabilities. State media described that ship as designed to handle various weapons systems, including anti-air and anti-ship weapons as well as nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles. Kim said the ship was expected to enter active duty early next year and later supervised test-firings of missiles from the warship.

North Korea on Thursday fired various types of short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern sea, South Korea’s military said, adding to a run in military displays that raised animosities in the region. South Korean military officials were analysing whether the tests were linked to the North’s weapons exports to Russia during its war in Ukraine, AP reports. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said multiple missiles were launched from the area around the eastern port city of Wonsan from about 8:10 to 9:20 am, with the farthest traveling about 800 kilometres (497 miles). It didn’t immediately confirm the exact number of the missiles it detected. Lee Sung Joon, spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs, said in a briefing the North Korean launches were possibly intended to test the performance of weapons it plans to export, as the country continues to send military equipment and troops to fuel Russia’s warfighting against Ukraine. Lee said the tests likely involved a short-range ballistic missile system launched from vehicles — possibly modeled after Russia’s Iskander missile — and also large-caliber rocket artillery systems, which experts say blur the line between traditional artillery and ballistic systems due to their self-propulsion and guided flight. Tensions soar as Pakistan vows retaliation over Indian strikes The Joint Chiefs said South Korean and US intelligence authorities detected the launch preparations in advance and tracked the missiles after they were launched. The countries were sharing the launch information with Japan, the Joint Chiefs said. It issued a statement denouncing the launches as a “clear act of provocation” that threatens peace and stability in the region. It was the North’s first known ballistic activity since March 10, when it fired several ballistic missiles hours after US and South Korean troops began an annual combined military exercise, and the country’s sixth launch event of the year. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated in recent months as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un continues to accelerate the development of his nuclear and missile program and supply weapons and troops to support Russia’s war against Ukraine.

North Korea deployed approximately 3,000 additional troops to Russia in January and February, continuing its support for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, according to South Korea’s latest assessment South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff reported on Thursday that North Korea has also been supplying Russia with missiles, artillery, and ammunition and may increase its weapons shipments depending on the evolving war. While Russia and Ukraine recently agreed to a limited ceasefire, both nations have accused each other of breaching it. Japan China and South Korea discuss trilateral cooperation The military supplies North Korea has sent to Russia include a substantial quantity of short-range ballistic missiles, 170mm self-propelled howitzers, and around 220 units of 240mm multiple rocket launchers. In total, North Korea has dispatched roughly 11,000 troops to take part in the conflict in Ukraine—its first large-scale military involvement since the Korean War (1950–53). The Joint Chiefs estimate that about 4,000 of those troops have either been killed or injured. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service had previously attributed the high casualty rate among North Korean forces to their struggle in adapting to drones and other modern warfare tactics. Additionally, their Russian commanders’ reliance on crude military strategies—such as sending North Korean troops into battle without adequate rear-fire support—has further contributed to their losses, according to a January briefing to lawmakers. Despite this, Ukrainian military and intelligence officials believe that North Korean troops are gaining vital battlefield experience and have played a crucial role in Russia’s strategy of overwhelming Ukrainian forces by deploying large numbers of soldiers, particularly in the battle for Kursk. This assessment from South Korea follows a recent meeting in Pyongyang between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian security official Sergei Shoigu, where Kim reaffirmed his unwavering support for Russia’s war effort. State media reports indicate that Kim and Shoigu also reaffirmed their commitment to a major mutual defence treaty signed last year. On Thursday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko told Russian media that discussions were ongoing regarding a potential visit by Kim to Moscow, though no specific date had been set. “We always discuss the possibility of exchange visits with all our partners. We are constantly making preparations,” Rudenko told RIA Novosti. North Korea fires several ballistic missiles after the US and South Korea began military drills Kim Unveils New Military Drones Kim’s military assistance to Russia has raised concerns that North Korea may receive advanced Russian technology in return, potentially boosting the capabilities of its nuclear-armed forces. Experts suggest that aircraft and drones could be among the technologies North Korea seeks to acquire from Russia. On Thursday, North Korean state media reported that Kim had recently observed tests of newly developed reconnaissance and attack drones, calling for their mass production. Over the past several months, Kim has increasingly emphasised drone development, and these tests mark the latest demonstration of North Korea’s advancing military capabilities. Photos published by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) showed Kim monitoring a large reconnaissance drone resembling the U.S.-made RQ-4B Global Hawk, first unveiled during a military exhibition in 2023. Other images depicted Kim inside what appeared to be an airborne early warning aircraft, similar in design to the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail. Additional photos showed explosive drones crashing into military vehicles, which were used as targets. KCNA stated that the reconnaissance drone successfully demonstrated its ability to track multiple targets and monitor troop movements on land and at sea, potentially enhancing North Korea’s intelligence-gathering and threat-neutralisation capabilities. The report also claimed that the newly developed explosive drones are designed for various attack missions and incorporate unspecified artificial intelligence technology. Kim expressed satisfaction with the drones' performance and approved an expansion of production, stressing that both drones and AI should be prioritised in modernising his armed forces, according to KCNA. The report stated that the tests were conducted during Kim’s visits to a drone technology facility and an electronic warfare research group on Tuesday and Wednesday. This follows previous demonstrations of explosive drones, which Kim inspected in August and November last year. When asked about the early warning aircraft unveiled by North Korean state media, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung Joon said the North likely modified an existing plane for this purpose, possibly incorporating Russian components. However, he noted that the aircraft’s operational effectiveness remains unproven. “As seen in the released images, the aircraft appears quite cumbersome, and we assess that it would likely be vulnerable to interception,” Lee said during a briefing, without providing further details.

A US aircraft carrier arrived in South Korea on Sunday, demonstrating military strength just days after North Korea test-fired cruise missiles to showcase its counterattack capabilities, reports AP. The USS Carl Vinson and its strike group docked in the South Korean port of Busan to emphasise the robust U.S.-South Korea military alliance amidst ongoing North Korean threats, while also enhancing the allies’ joint operational readiness, according to the South Korean navy. The arrival marked the first U.S. aircraft carrier visit to South Korea since June. South Korean police summon Japanese woman for kissing BTS member without consent This deployment is likely to provoke North Korea, which perceives such U.S. military assets as significant security threats. In response to previous U.S. aircraft carrier, long-range bomber, and nuclear-powered submarine deployments, North Korea has conducted missile tests. Since President Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20, he has indicated plans to reach out to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to revive diplomacy. Although North Korea has not directly reacted to Trump’s offer, it claims that U.S.-led hostilities against it have increased since Trump's swearing-in. On Friday, North Korea announced it had test-launched strategic cruise missiles earlier in the week to demonstrate its military’s ability to counterattack and its nuclear readiness. After the launches, North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un declared that the military must remain prepared to use nuclear weapons. This was the North’s fourth missile test this year. North Korea says it performed cruise missile tests, days after it vowed to respond to US threats Experts believe that Kim is unlikely to engage with Trump at this time, as his focus is on supporting Russia's war in Ukraine through the provision of weapons and troops. However, they suggest Kim may consider diplomatic talks with Trump in the future if he finds it challenging to sustain North Korea's growing cooperation with Russia. Kim and Trump met three times between 2018 and 2019 during Trump’s first term to discuss North Korea's nuclear program. Their negotiations ultimately faltered over disagreements concerning U.S.-led sanctions on North Korea.

Ukrainian forces have been confronting an unfamiliar enemy on the battlefield: North Korean soldiers deployed to support Russia. Their arrival, following a summer incursion by Ukraine into Russia’s Kursk region, marks a significant escalation in the war. Initially inexperienced, the North Korean troops have quickly adapted, raising concerns about the broader implications of their growing battlefield skills, AP reports. Kyiv's forces, accustomed to fighting Russian troops, were uncertain about the tactics and capabilities of this new adversary. The deployment came after a pact between Moscow and Pyongyang to provide military assistance in the event of attacks. A Ukrainian soldier who has encountered North Koreans in combat described them as disciplined and methodical, surpassing Russian troops in professionalism. However, drone footage shared by Ukrainian forces often mocks their outdated tactics. Despite early setbacks, observers agree that North Korean soldiers are learning quickly. North Korea’s military is one of the largest in the world, with 1.2 million troops, but it has little experience with modern warfare. The war in Ukraine offers North Korean forces their first exposure to advanced combat scenarios, including drone warfare. South Korea presidential security chief questioned amid tensions According to Andrii Yusov, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence, this development poses a global challenge far beyond Ukraine. Evidence of North Korean troop deployment Despite estimates that 10,000-12,000 North Korean soldiers are fighting in the Kursk region, Russia has not officially acknowledged their presence. Ukrainian troops confirmed engagements with North Koreans in December, months after initial reports surfaced. The addition of North Korean forces has bolstered Russia’s strategy of deploying large numbers of troops in Kursk. Ukrainian forces have managed to retain about half of the territory they captured during their summer offensive, though the situation remains fluid. Kyiv’s military intelligence reports that North Koreans are integrated into Russian units, using Russian uniforms and fake identification to obscure their identity.

North Korea said Tuesday its latest weapons test was a new hypersonic intermediate-range missile designed to strike remote targets in the Pacific as leader Kim Jong Un vowed to further expand his collection of nuclear-capable weapons to counter rival nations. The North Korean state media report came a day after South Korea’s military said it detected North Korea launching a missile that flew 1,100 kilometers (685 miles) before landing in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. The launch, conducted weeks before Donald Trump returns as U.S. president, came off a torrid year in weapons testing. North Korean troops suffering heavy battlefield losses: Ukraine's military North Korea demonstrated multiple weapons systems last year that can target its neighbors and the United States, including solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, and there are concerns that its military capabilities could advance further through technology transfers from Russia, as the two countries align over the war in Ukraine. North Korea in recent years has flight tested various intermediate-range missiles, which if perfected, could reach the U.S. Pacific military hub of Guam. In recent months, North has been testing combining these missiles with purported hypersonic warheads to improve their survivability. North Korea since 2021 has been testing various hypersonic weapons designed to fly at more than five times the speed of sound. The speed and maneuverability of such weapons aim to withstand regional missile defense systems. However, it’s unclear whether these missiles are consistently flying at the speeds the North claims. North Korea's Kim vows steadfast support for Russia’s war in Ukraine The North’s state media said Kim supervised Monday’s launch, and that the weapon traveled 1,500 kilometers (932 miles), during which it reached two different peaks of 99.8 kilometers (62 miles) and 42.5 kilometers (26.4 miles) and achieved a speed amounting to 12 times the speed of sound, before accurately striking a sea target. Lee Sung Joon, spokesperson of South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the South Korean military believes North Korea was exaggerating capabilities of the system, saying the missile covered less distance and that there was no second peak. Lee said the test was likely a followup to another hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile test last April and said it would be difficult to use such systems in a relatively small territory like the Korean Peninsula. He said the South Korean and U.S. militaries were continuing to analyze the missile. Kim described the missile as a crucial achievement in his goals to bolster the North’s nuclear deterrence by building an arsenal “no one can respond to,” according to the official Korean Central News Agency. “The hypersonic missile system will reliably contain any rivals in the Pacific region that can affect the security of our state,” the agency quoted Kim as saying. Kim reiterated that his nuclear push was aimed at countering “different security threats the hostile forces posed to our state,” but KCNA didn’t mention any direct criticism toward Washington, Seoul or Tokyo. The launch took place while U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was visiting Seoul for talks with South Korean allies over the North Korean nuclear threat and other issues. North Korean leader calls for expanding his nuclear forces in the face of alleged US threats In a news conference with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul on Monday, Blinken condemned North Korea’s launch, which violated U.N. Security Council resolutions against the North's weapons programs. He also reiterated concerns about the growing alignment between North Korea and Russia in Moscow’s war on Ukraine. He described the military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow as a “two-way street,” saying Russia has been providing military equipment and training to the North and “intends to share space and satellite technology.” According to U.S., Ukrainian and South Korean assessments, North Korea has sent more than 10,000 troops and conventional weapons systems to support Moscow’s war campaign. There are concerns that Russia could transfer to North Korea advanced weapons technology in return, which could potentially enhance the threat posed by Kim’s nuclear-armed military. At a year-end political conference, Kim Jong Un vowed to implement the “toughest” anti-U.S. policy and criticized the Biden administration’s efforts to strengthen security cooperation with Seoul and Tokyo, which he described as a “nuclear military bloc for aggression.” North Korean state media did not specify Kim’s policy plans or mention any specific comments about Trump. During his first term as president, Trump met Kim three times for talks on the North’s nuclear program. North Korea tests exploding drones as Kim calls for mass production Even if Trump returns to the White House, a quick resumption of diplomacy with North Korea could be unlikely. Kim’s strengthened position — built on his expanded nuclear arsenal, deepening alliance with Russia and the weakening enforcement of U.S. international sanctions — presents new challenges to resolving the nuclear standoff, experts say.

North Korean troops are suffering heavy losses in the fighting in Russia's Kursk region and facing logistical difficulties as a result of Ukrainian attacks, Ukraine’s military intelligence said Thursday. The intelligence agency, known under its acronym GUR, said Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean units. It said North Korean troops also faced supply issues and even shortages of drinking water. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in the Kursk region. It marked the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties several weeks after Kyiv announced that North Korea had sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia to help it in the almost 3-year war. The casualty disclosure came as the Biden administration was pressing to send as much military aid as possible to Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump takes over in January. Ukrainian forces launched an incursion into the Kursk region in August, dealing a significant blow to Russia's prestige and forcing it to deploy some of its troops from eastern Ukraine, where they were pressing a slow-moving offensive. The Russian army has been able to reclaim some territory in the Kursk region from Ukrainian forces, but has failed to fully dislodge them. At the same time, Russia has sought to break Ukraine's resistance with waves of strikes with cruise missiles and drones against Ukraine's power grid and other infrastructure. The latest attack on Christmas morning involved 78 missiles and 106 drones, striking power facilities, Ukraine’s air force said. It claimed to have intercepted 59 missiles and 54 drones and jammed 52 other drones. Read: North Korea's Kim vows steadfast support for Russia’s war in Ukraine On Thursday, Russia attacked Ukraine with 31 exploding drones. Twenty were shot down and another 11 didn’t reach their target due to jamming, the Ukrainian air force said. As part of the daily barrage, Russian forces also struck a central market in Nikopol in the Dnipropetrovsk region with a drone, wounding eight people, according to local authorities. Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened Thursday that Russia could again hit Ukraine with the new Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile that was first used in a Nov. 21 strike on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Speaking to reporters, Putin said Russia has just a few Oreshnik missiles, but added that it wouldn't hesitate to use them on Ukraine. “We aren't in a rush to use them, because those are powerful weapons intended for certain tasks,” he said. “But we wouldn't exclude their use today or tomorrow if necessary.” Putin said Russia has launched serial production of the new weapon and reaffirmed a plan to deploy some of Oreshnik missiles to Russia's neighbor and ally Belarus. Belarus' authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko told reporters Thursday that his country could host 10 or more. Ukraine struck back with drone strikes of its own. Ukraine’s Center for Strategic Communications said the military struck a plant in Kamensk-Shakhtynsky in Russia’s southern Rostov region that produces propellant for ballistic missiles. Read more: North Korean leader calls for expanding his nuclear forces in the face of alleged US threats “This strike is part of a comprehensive campaign to weaken the capabilities of the Russian armed forces to carry out terrorist attacks against Ukrainian civilians,” it said in a statement.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed his country will “invariably support” Russia’s war in Ukraine as he met Russia's defense chief, the North’s state media reported Saturday. A Russia military delegation led by Defense Minister Andrei Belousov arrived in North Korea on Friday, amid growing international concern about the two countries’ expanding cooperation after North Korea sent thousands of troops to Russia last month. The official Korean Central News Agency said that Kim and Belousov reached “a satisfactory consensus” on boosting strategic partnership and defending each country’s sovereignty, security interests and international justice in the face of the rapidly-changing international security environments in a Friday meeting. Kim said that North Korea “will invariably support the policy of the Russian Federation to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity from the imperialists’ moves for hegemony,” KCNA said. North Korea has supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, calling it a defensive response to what both Moscow and Pyongyang call NATO’s “reckless” eastward advance and U.S.-led moves to stamp out Russia’s position as a powerful state. Kim slammed a U.S. decision earlier in November to let Ukraine strike targets inside Russia with U.S.-supplied longer-range missiles as a direct intervention in the conflict. He called recent Russian strikes on Ukraine “a timely and effective measure" demonstrate Russia's resolve, KCNA said. According to U.S., Ukrainian and South Korean assessments, North Korea has sent more than 10,000 troops to Russia and some of them have already begun engaging in combat on the frontlines. U.S., South Korean and others say North Korea has also shipped artillery systems, missiles and other conventional weapons to replenish Russia’s exhausted weapons inventory. Both North Korea and Russia haven’t formally confirmed the North Korean troops’ movements, and have steadfastly denied reports of weapons shipments. South Korea, the U.S. and their partners are concerned that Russia could give North Korea advanced weapons technology in return, including help to build more powerful nuclear missiles. Last week, South Korean national security adviser Shin Wonsik told a local SBS TV program that that Seoul assessed that Russia has provided air defense missile systems to North Korea. He said Russia also appeared to have given economic assistance to North Korea and various military technologies, including those needed for the North’s efforts to build a reliable space-based surveillance system. North Korean leader calls for expanding his nuclear forces in the face of alleged US threats Belousov also met North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang Chol on Friday. During a dinner banquet later the same day, Belousov said the the two countries' strategic partnership was crucial to defend their sovereignty from aggression and the arbitrary actions of imperialists, KCNA said. In June, Kim and Putin signed a treaty requiring both countries to provide immediate military assistance if either is attacked. It's considered the two countries’ biggest defense deal since the end of the Cold War.  

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday his government has intelligence information that 10,000 troops from North Korea are being prepared to join Russian forces fighting against his country, warning that a third nation wading into the hostilities would turn the conflict into a “world war.” Zelenskyy did not go into detail about the claim that came a day after U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said that Washington and its allies are alarmed by North Korea's military support for Russia’s war in Ukraine but couldn’t confirm Ukrainian claims that soldiers were sent to fight for Moscow. “From our intelligence we’ve got information that North Korea sent tactical personnel and officers to Ukraine,” Zelenskyy told reporters at NATO headquarters. “They are preparing on their land 10,000 soldiers, but they didn’t move them already to Ukraine or to Russia.” Earlier, he warned that any North Korean involvement would be "the first step to a world war.” NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the allies "have no evidence that North Korean soldiers are involved in the fight. But we do know that North Korea is supporting Russia in many ways, weapons supplies, technological supplies, innovation, to support them in the war effort. And that is highly worrying.” The Ukrainian leader’s comments raised the stakes for his Western allies as he met in Brussels with European Union leaders and then NATO defense ministers to discuss his “ victory plan ” to end the country’s devastating war with Russia. Major points of the plan include an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO and permission to use Western-supplied longer-range missiles to strike military targets deep inside Russia, steps that have been met with reluctance by Kyiv’s allies so far. “Ukraine truly deserves to become the 33rd NATO member one day, and we must do everything to ensure this happens," Zelenskyy said in an appeal at the alliance's headquarters. "Ukrainians have shown that we can defend shared values, and we are standing against Russia, the biggest threat to Europe and global peace.” He told EU leaders that “we can end this war no later than next year” if his plan is followed. Zelenskyy told reporters that the plan aims “to strengthen Ukraine" and pave the way for a diplomatic solution to end the conflict on Europe's eastern flank. “This plan doesn’t depend on Russian will, only on the will of our partners,” he said. In a statement after their talks with Zelenskyy, the EU leaders called for a “rapid stepping up of military support and acceleration in its delivery, in particular air defense systems, ammunition and missiles” to protect Ukraine’s population and energy infrastructure. Read: Kim again threatens to use nuclear weapons against South Korea and US “Russia must not prevail,” the statement said. The EU is a key supporter of Ukraine, a candidate member of the 27-nation bloc, as it fights Russia's invasion that began more than 2 1/2 years ago. Zelenskyy had outlined the five-point plan to Ukraine’s parliament on Wednesday without disclosing confidential elements that have been presented in private to key allies, including the United States. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, widely seen as having the warmest relations of any EU leader with Russian President Vladimir Putin, called Zelenskyy's plan “more than frightening” in a Facebook post. He said he would urge major EU powers France and Germany to “begin negotiations with the Russians as soon as possible, in order to find a way out of this situation.” Rutte said Kyiv can rest “absolutely assured that 32 allies are united in making sure that collectively, we will do whatever is needed to make sure that Ukraine can prevail, that Putin will not get his way.” He reiterated that Ukraine’s place is among NATO’s ranks, but would not say when it might join. Zelenskyy told EU leaders that his troops must keep battling Russian forces in Ukraine "while also bringing the war back into Russia so that Russians can feel what war is like and begin to hate Putin for it.” Zelenskyy said he needs to "move some partners forward” on the issue. “And I think only with the unity in EU we can move and can move not only EU leaders, we can move other leaders.” Thursday's talks in Brussels come as Ukrainian troops are struggling to hold off better-equipped Russian forces, especially in the eastern Donetsk region where they are gradually being pushed back. Kyiv is surviving with Western help, but Ukraine says it is coming too slowly. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda criticized slow Western decision-making over Ukraine and said it “would be a great mistake to think that our hesitance is the best way to de-escalation.” At their summit in Washington in July, the 32 NATO members declared Ukraine on an “irreversible” path to membership. But for now, NATO is in a holding pattern. Its biggest and most powerful member, the United States, is facing a presidential election. European allies expect little movement on Ukraine until a new president takes office in January. Read more: North Korea discloses a uranium enrichment facility as Kim calls for more nuclear weapons Beyond that, the United States and European heavyweight Germany remain deeply concerned about being dragged into a wider war with nuclear-armed Russia, and they lead a group of countries that oppose allowing Ukraine to join NATO until the conflict ends.

South Korea said Monday it has detected signs that North Korea is preparing to destroy the northern parts of inter-Korean roads no longer in use, as the rivals are embroiled in soaring tensions over North Korea’s claim that South Korea flew drones over its territory. South Korea’s military said Monday it has found North Korea is engaging in works to prepare for the explosions. It’s not clear how much parts of the roads North Korea would destroy. The development comes as North Korea has accused South Korea of launching drones to drop propaganda leaflets over Pyongyang three times this month and threatened to respond with force if it happened again. In a statement Sunday, the North’s Defense Ministry said that the military had issued a preliminary operation order to artillery and other army units near the border with South Korea to “get fully ready to open fire.” The spokesperson said that the entire South Korean territory “might turn into piles of ashes” following the North’s powerful attack. South Korea has refused to confirm whether it sent drones but warned it would sternly punish North Korea if the safety of its citizens is threatened. Last week, North Korea said it will permanently block its border with South Korea and build front-line defense structures to cope with “confrontational hysteria” by South Korean and U.S. forces. Read: North Korea vows to block border with South Korea, to build front-line defense structures Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest point in years, with North Korea continuing a run of provocative weapons tests and South Korea and the U.S. expanding their military drills. KCNA said North Korea on Tuesday tested a long-range artillery system that observers say pose a direct threat to Seoul, the South Korean capital, which is only an hour’s drive from the border.