All articles tagged with #pyongyang
North Korea’s capital hosts a growing cadre of smartphone users who access a state-controlled intranet with hundreds of apps—enabling online banking, QR payments, ride-hailing, and on-demand video—while internet access remains blocked for ordinary citizens and cross-border connectivity relies on risky Chinese networks; the expansion reflects elite urban development and increased government supervision over a digitizing economy.
Xi Jinping’s Pyongyang visit featured grand pageantry and broad pledges to deepen ties, but produced few concrete outcomes; most notably, there was no public mention of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, with the leaders instead emphasizing vague commitments to “strategic communication.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping made a two-day, highly choreographed visit to North Korea, marked by grand receptions and portraits of the leaders in Pyongyang. The trip signals Beijing’s aim to reassert influence, secure economic and diplomatic support for Pyongyang, and coordinate on regional security as North Korea seeks a broader, multipolar alliance and closer ties with Moscow, despite long-standing tensions.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang for a rare two-day state visit, welcomed by Kim Jong Un with a 21-gun salute and festive fanfare, as the leaders plan a summit. Analysts say the trip signals Beijing’s push to reinforce influence in Northeast Asia, potentially offering economic aid, resumed tourism and joint projects while seeking to deter Pyongyang from leaning too closely toward Moscow amid shifting global dynamics.
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un expressed support for China’s push to build a multipolar world and called for closer ties with Beijing during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Pyongyang, signaling strengthened ties between the traditional allies.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in Pyongyang for talks with Choe Son Hui, said North Korea has made remarkable accomplishments despite conspiracies by the United States and Western forces to oppress and isolate Pyongyang, KCNA reported. The pair praised their leaders, pledged to upgrade bilateral relations for the people’s benefit after a historic summit, and noted ongoing efforts to revive political and economic ties amid a volatile global environment; Xi is expected to host Trump next month.
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un welcomed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to Pyongyang with a 21-gun salute, a public reception by citizens and soldiers, and a wreath-laying at the Kumsusan mausoleum, where Lukashenko laid a bouquet sent by Putin; KCNA said there were no reported talks, underscoring ongoing ties between the two allies of Russia.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko arrived in Pyongyang for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with official photo-ops signaling a formal diplomatic engagement.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un marked the completion of 10,000 new housing units in Pyongyang ahead of the Workers’ Party Ninth Congress, highlighting progress and signaling bolder goals while his daughter Kim Ju Ae attended the ceremony, fueling speculation about a potential succession as delegates arrive for the gathering.
North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party will hold its ninth congress in Pyongyang in late February 2026, the KCNA state media said, the first major gathering since 2021. The congress is a key platform for signaling policy shifts and elite appointments, and analysts expect Kim Jong Un to use it to fortify his authority and outline steps to strengthen the nuclear deterrent amid ongoing tensions with the United States and closer ties with Russia.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended New Year celebrations in Pyongyang with his daughter Kim Ju Ae, featuring fireworks, patriotic performances, and a taekwondo demonstration. Kim praised the country's progress in 2025 and emphasized unity ahead of the upcoming Workers' Party Congress, while also sending New Year's wishes to North Korean troops fighting in Ukraine and receiving messages from world leaders.
North Korean and Russian military officials met in Pyongyang to discuss strengthening cooperation amid ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, with reports of North Korea possibly preparing additional troop deployments to Russia, as South Korea monitors the situation closely.
A Russian cargo plane secretly delivered 20 North Korean soldiers' remains to Pyongyang, revealed through state TV, amid broader commemorations for fallen troops and ongoing war-related activities, with indications of additional repatriations possibly involving more flights.
The Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea, is an abandoned skyscraper that has never hosted a single guest. Construction on the "Hotel of Doom" began in 1987 but was halted due to economic troubles in North Korea. Despite ongoing construction and attempts to revive the project, the hotel remains unfinished. It has become a subject of international fascination and serves as a backdrop for propaganda messages and performances. The cost of finishing the building is estimated to be around 5% of North Korea's entire GDP.
The Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea, is an abandoned skyscraper that has never hosted a single guest. Construction on the "Hotel of Doom" began in 1987 but was halted due to economic troubles in North Korea. Despite ongoing construction and attempts to revive the project, the hotel remains unfinished. It has become a subject of international fascination and serves as a backdrop for propaganda messages and performances. The cost of finishing the building is estimated to be around 5% of North Korea's entire GDP.