The following is a summary of external news of North Korea this week. ------------ S. Korea urges Russia to stop 'self-contradictory' arms deal with N. Korea SEOUL -- South Korea renewed its call Friday for Russia to stop arms transactions with North Korea in violation of international sanctions it has voted for, as the United States revealed the North's delivery of ballistic missiles and other equipment to Moscow. The White House said Thursday (local time) the North recently provided Russia with several dozen ballistic missiles and ballistic missile launchers, some of which Moscow used in its latest attacks on Ukraine as early as Tuesday. ------------ (4th LD) N. Korea recently sent several dozen ballistic missiles to Russia: U.S. official WASHINGTON -- North Korea recently provided Russia with several dozen ballistic missiles as well as ballistic missile launchers, a U.S. official said Thursday, as Moscow seeks to replenish its weapons stockpiles amid its protracted war in Ukraine. The shipment cam e in defiance of repeated warnings by Washington, Seoul and other governments that such arms transactions between Pyongyang and Moscow would run afoul of multiple U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. ------------ U.S. designates N. Korea for religious freedom violation for 22nd straight year WASHINGTON -- The United States on Thursday designated North Korea and 11 other countries as "countries of particular concern" for religious freedom violations, marking the 22nd consecutive year the North has appeared on the annually updated list. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the list of the countries that he said have "engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom." ------------ (LEAD) Seoul's spy agency sees N.K. leader's daughter Ju-ae as 'most likely successor' SEOUL -- The nominee to be the director of South Korea's spy agency said Thursday he sees North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's daughter, Ju-ae, as his "most likely successor," marking the agency's first asse ssment of her possible succession in the reclusive regime. Ju-ae, believed to be born in 2013, has gained the spotlight since Nov. 18, 2022, when her father brought her to the launch site of a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile in her first public appearance. Since then, her public activities have been centered on military events. ------------ (LEAD) S. Korea, U.S. troops hold joint firing drills near border with N. Korea SEOUL -- South Korea and the United States have staged a joint live-fire exercise near the border with North Korea to bolster their joint combat readiness, the Army said Thursday. South Korea's Capital Mechanized Infantry Division and the U.S. Stryker Brigade Combat Team from the 2nd Infantry Division were mobilized for the drills, which have been under way in the border city of Pocheon, 46 kilometers northeast of Seoul, since Dec. 29. It runs through Friday. ------------ N. Korea likely aims to raise military tensions to secure nuclear power status: expert SEOUL -- North Korea appears to define its ties with South Korea as those between "two belligerent states" in an effort to intensify tensions on the Korean Peninsula so as to be recognized as a nuclear state by the United States, an expert said Wednesday. At a year-end party meeting last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said inter-Korean relations are now those between "two nations hostile to each other" and ordered preparations for "a great event to suppress the whole territory" of South Korea in the event of a contingency. ------------ (LEAD) Yoon says S. Korea, U.S. will complete strengthened extended deterrence regime in first half of 2024 SEOUL -- President Yoon Suk Yeol said Monday that South Korea and the United States will complete a strengthened "extended deterrence" regime in the first half of 2024 to seal off North Korea's nuclear and missile threats at their source. Yoon made the remark in a New Year's Day address as he stressed his commitment to building a "genuine and lasting peace" through strength. Source: Yonhap News Agency
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