North Korea

Amidst signs of multiple difficulties faced by North Korea, including diplomatic mission closures and a food shortage, Minister Kim Yung-ho urged a shift in state policy focus from a military-centric approach to measures enhancing people's livelihoods. He emphasized the need for a bold decision in this regard during the upcoming party meeting later this month, where North Korea will review its 2023 policy measures.

The satellite launch, condemned by South Korea and the US as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions, has sparked renewed discord.

Leader Kim Jong-un viewed the photos as he received an operations report from the Pyongyang General Control Center of the National Aerospace Technology Administration on Monday morning and at dawn Tuesday, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

North Korea announced the successful deployment of its Malligyong-1 satellite using the Chollima-1 space rocket, marking their third attempt following failed efforts in May and August, as per Yonhap News Agency.

The statement comes in response to remarks made by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit to Seoul on Friday.

Lavrov arrived at in Pyongyang on Wednesday at the invitation of North Korea's Foreign Ministry "amid the enthusiasm of friendship growing higher than ever", the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a report.

Citing an unnamed US official, CBS News reported on the apparent arms transfer that came in the wake of the Kim-Putin summit at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, a Russian spaceport, last month.

Vice Foreign Minister Im Chon-il made the claim in a press statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency, weeks after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a rare summit in Russia's Far East on September 13, Yonhap news agency reported.

The Pentagon on Thursday published the first Strategy for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) since 2014, describing China as the "pacing challenge", Russia as an "acute threat" and the North and Iran as "persistent threats", Yonhap news agency reported.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, the officials said Pvt. King has been transferred out of North Korea across the border with China, and that he appears to be "in good health and good spirits" ahead of his return home, reports Yonhap News Agency.