Latest news in North Korea? September 17th, 2026

Nuclear Expansion and Justification Against US Allies North Korea’s Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang Il stated at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum that the expanding trilateral defense cooperation between the United States, South Korea, and Japan fully justifies Pyongyang’s ongoing expansion of its nuclear arsenal. He reaffirmed that North Korea’s status as a nuclear-armed state is irreversible and called international expectations of denuclearization a “daydream”.

Asharq Al-Awsat+ 1

Rejection of IAEA Denuclearization Demands Kim Yo Jong, the sister of leader Kim Jong Un, issued a statement via the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) firmly rejecting resolutions from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna. She asserted that North Korea’s nuclear posture is permanently codified in law and dismissed Western and IAEA calls for complete denuclearization as recurring, meaningless pressure.

Qatar news agency

IAEA Concerns Over Facility Expansion Member states at the IAEA annual conference adopted a resolution expressing concern over heightened activity at North Korean nuclear sites, following monitoring reports pointing to expanding uranium enrichment capacity at Yongbyon and Kangson.

Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)

Legal Ruling on the Kaesong Liaison Office A South Korean court ordered North Korea to pay 44.6 billion won (approximately $32.5 million) in compensation to the South Korean government over the June 2020 demolition of the joint liaison office in Kaesong, marking the first time Seoul has won a civil damages suit against Pyongyang.

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