The Latest Breaking News from Rachel Minyoung Lee

North Korea appears to be purposefully cutting a communication link with South Korea as it ratchets up tensions by testing new weapons and denouncing its neighbor as a “puppet traitor” for holding military drills with the U.S.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un displayed his latest assets to protect his reign: quick-strike missiles that can carry a nuclear warhead to the U.S. and a preteen daughter who ensures his family’s continuous rule over the dynasty forged in the Cold War.

North Korea hasn’t said whether the girl has any siblings. Her age remains a mystery. The world doesn’t even know her name. The important thing is that she’s the “most beloved” daughter of Kim Jong Un.

SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared a “shining victory” over Covid-19 as his sister revealed he had fallen ill during the outbreak, which she blamed on Seoul.

Few health experts believe North Korea managed to keep out COVID-19 since early 2020. So when Kim Jong Un officially confirmed the nation’s first case on Thursday, the question was more: “Why now?”

North Korea looks set to detonate its first nuclear bomb in more than four years, as the United States' sanctions disputes with Russia and China make further United Nations penalties against the country unlikely.