North Korea has removed Defence Minister No Kwang Chol from his post in a military leadership reshuffle overseen by leader Kim Jong Un, state media reported Sunday (Aug 30), in another shake-up of the nuclear-armed country’s top command. This comes shortly after the US and South Korea concluded their annual military drills in the region.The changes were approved during a meeting led by Kim on Saturday (Aug 29), according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). No Kwang Chol was not simply replaced as defence minister but also lost seniority within the ruling Workers’ Party, taking a lower-ranking role as “first vice-director of the Munitions Industry Department.”Kim Song Gi, who heads the General Political Bureau of the Korean People’s Army, was appointed the new defence minister.The reshuffle also elevated defence adviser Pak Jong Chon, who was named vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and promoted to the ruling party’s Political Bureau. Several other military officials received new posts and promotions.<h2>North Korea highlights weapons advances</h2>The leadership changes came alongside North Korean claims of fresh progress in military technology.At a ceremony on Saturday (Aug 29), Kim praised scientists and officials involved in weapons development and awarded them top national honours. KCNA said the recipients had helped in “resolving scientific and technological problems of epochal significance in developing new combat weapon systems”.The report did not identify the systems involved but said North Korea’s weapons research centre had recently developed “exclusive technologies” that could strengthen the country’s ability to wage war.Kim has continued to personally oversee weapons development. In June, he watched tests of a new extended-range multiple rocket launcher and artillery system.<h2>Military tensions remain high</h2>The reshuffle follows annual military exercises between South Korea and the United States, drills that Pyongyang routinely condemns as rehearsals for invasion.The exercises were shortened this year after US President Donald Trump criticised them as provocative and criticised Seoul over its position on the Iran war. Trump has also expressed interest in meeting Kim again, having held two summits with him during his first term.North Korea, however, has shown little interest in renewed engagement, continuing missile launches and slamming US-South Korean military cooperation.Meanwhile, South Korea, the US and Japan are preparing for their next trilateral drills, Freedom Edge, scheduled for September 7-11. Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff described the exercise as “a defensive drill conducted annually by the three countries to respond to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats and safeguard peace and stability in the region.”

North Korea has dismissed Defence Minister No Kwang Chol in a military reshuffle led by Kim Jong Un, days after US-South Korea drills ended amid persistent tensions and Pyongyang’s missile threats.

North Korea has removed Defence Minister No Kwang Chol from his post in a military leadership reshuffle overseen by leader Kim Jong Un, state media reported Sunday (Aug 30), in another shake-up of the nuclear-armed country’s top command. This comes shortly after the US and South Korea concluded their annual military drills in the region. The changes were approved during a meeting led by Kim on Saturday (Aug 29), according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). No Kwang Chol was not simply replaced as defence minister but also lost seniority within the ruling Workers’ Party, taking a lower-ranking role as “first vice-director of the Munitions Industry Department.” Kim Song Gi, who heads the General Political Bureau of the Korean People’s Army, was appointed the new defence minister. The reshuffle also elevated defence adviser Pak Jong Chon, who was named vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and promoted to the ruling party’s Political Bureau. Several other military officials received new posts and promotions. North Korea highlights weapons advances The leadership changes came alongside North Korean claims of fresh progress in military technology. At a ceremony on Saturday (Aug 29), Kim praised scientists and officials involved in weapons development and awarded them top national honours. KCNA said the recipients had helped in “resolving scientific and technological problems of epochal significance in developing new combat weapon systems”. The report did not identify the systems involved but said North Korea’s weapons research centre had recently developed “exclusive technologies” that could strengthen the country’s ability to wage war. Kim has continued to personally oversee weapons development. In June, he watched tests of a new extended-range multiple rocket launcher and artillery system. Military tensions remain high The reshuffle follows annual military exercises between South Korea and the United States, drills that Pyongyang routinely condemns as rehearsals for invasion. The exercises were shortened this year after US President Donald Trump criticised them as provocative and criticised Seoul over its position on the Iran war. Trump has also expressed interest in meeting Kim again, having held two summits with him during his first term. North Korea, however, has shown little interest in renewed engagement, continuing missile launches and slamming US-South Korean military cooperation. Meanwhile, South Korea, the US and Japan are preparing for their next trilateral drills, Freedom Edge, scheduled for September 7-11. Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff described the exercise as “a defensive drill conducted annually by the three countries to respond to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats and safeguard peace and stability in the region.”

North Korea has dismissed Defence Minister No Kwang Chol in a military reshuffle led by Kim Jong Un, days after US-South Korea drills ended amid persistent tensions and Pyongyang’s missile threats.

North Korea military shake-up: Kim Jong Un replaces defence minister amid tensions over US-South Korea drills

North Korea on Wednesday (Aug 19) denounced joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea as a direct threat to its security. Notably, Pyongyang's state media made no mention of US President Donald Trump's surprise decision to scale back the drills.A commentary published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency described the exercises as "the most immediate and open threat" to North Korea and regional security. The commentary, titled "We Will Exercise Our Right to Self-defence for Neutralizing Military Threat from Hostile Forces through More Transparent Action," repeated Pyongyang's long-standing accusation that the drills are rehearsals for an invasion.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-wartime-operational-control-transfer-us-1787060539278">South Korea to press ahead with wartime operational control transfer from US</a><h2>Pyongyang ignores Trump's decision</h2>The North Korean statement came after Trump ordered the Pentagon on Sunday to reduce the scale of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, just one day before they were scheduled to begin.Trump described the exercises as "inappropriate and hostile" and has also spoken positively about North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. He criticised South Korea for not backing his administration's war against Iran.Despite the change ordered by Trump, KCNA did not acknowledge the decision in its latest commentary. It also made no reference to Trump's stated interest in restarting talks with Kim.Trump said Monday that Kim had responded to his recent overtures, although he did not disclose details about the communication.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/inane-senator-jack-reed-slams-trump-s-decision-to-downsize-us-south-korea-military-drills-1786979125833">'Inane’: Senator Jack Reed slams Trump’s decision to downsize US-South Korea military drills</a><h2>US troops remain in South Korea</h2>The United States maintains about 28,500 troops in South Korea, part of the longstanding US military presence established after the 1950-53 Korean War. The war ended with an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty, leaving the Korean Peninsula technically in a state of conflict.North Korea has consistently opposed US-South Korean military exercises, arguing that they threaten its security. Washington and Seoul, however, have maintained that the drills are defensive and designed to prepare their forces for a potential conflict.

Trump has scaled back the annual US-South Korea military drills, but North Korea is not backing down. Pyongyang has called the exercises an immediate threat to its security while making no mention of the US president's surprise decision.

North Korea on Wednesday (Aug 19) denounced joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea as a direct threat to its security. Notably, Pyongyang's state media made no mention of US President Donald Trump's surprise decision to scale back the drills. A commentary published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency described the exercises as "the most immediate and open threat" to North Korea and regional security. The commentary, titled "We Will Exercise Our Right to Self-defence for Neutralizing Military Threat from Hostile Forces through More Transparent Action," repeated Pyongyang's long-standing accusation that the drills are rehearsals for an invasion. Also read | South Korea to press ahead with wartime operational control transfer from US Pyongyang ignores Trump's decision The North Korean statement came after Trump ordered the Pentagon on Sunday to reduce the scale of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, just one day before they were scheduled to begin. Trump described the exercises as "inappropriate and hostile" and has also spoken positively about North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. He criticised South Korea for not backing his administration's war against Iran. Despite the change ordered by Trump, KCNA did not acknowledge the decision in its latest commentary. It also made no reference to Trump's stated interest in restarting talks with Kim. Trump said Monday that Kim had responded to his recent overtures, although he did not disclose details about the communication. Also read | 'Inane’: Senator Jack Reed slams Trump’s decision to downsize US-South Korea military drills US troops remain in South Korea The United States maintains about 28,500 troops in South Korea, part of the longstanding US military presence established after the 1950-53 Korean War. The war ended with an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty, leaving the Korean Peninsula technically in a state of conflict. North Korea has consistently opposed US-South Korean military exercises, arguing that they threaten its security. Washington and Seoul, however, have maintained that the drills are defensive and designed to prepare their forces for a potential conflict.

Trump has scaled back the annual US-South Korea military drills, but North Korea is not backing down. Pyongyang has called the exercises an immediate threat to its security while making no mention of the US president's surprise decision.

'Most immediate threat': North Korea blasts US-South Korea drills despite Trump's surprise cut

North Korea fired a ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan early Wednesday (Aug 12), South Korea's military said, just days before annual large-scale joint exercises between Seoul and Washington are due to begin. Japan also confirmed the launch, describing the object as a suspected ballistic missile, and saying the suspected ballistic missile had already fallen.The launch comes as tensions rise around the annual US-South Korea military drills, which Pyongyang has long condemned as preparations for an invasion.South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile was launched from the Wonsan area at around 6 am. local time and travelled more than 700 kilometres before falling into waters off the country's east coast.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-s-kim-inspired-by-his-favourite-wannabe-dictator-trump-satellite-images-reveal-secret-makeover-of-9-luxury-compounds-1783741141942">North Korea's Kim inspired by his favourite wannabe 'dictator' Trump? Satellite images reveal secret makeover of 9 luxury compounds</a><h2>A warning ahead of US-South Korea drills?</h2>The timing of the launch is significant. The 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises are scheduled to begin on Monday and are designed to prepare US and South Korean forces for a potential conflict with North Korea.Pyongyang has repeatedly responded to similar exercises with missile launches, either before or after the drills. "North Korea has never simply let a South Korea-US joint military exercise pass without a response," Lim Eul-chul, a North Korea expert at Kyungnam University, told AFP. He said the launch appeared to signal that Pyongyang was closely monitoring the upcoming exercises and could carry out further provocations if it believes they are necessary.South Korea's national security office held an emergency meeting following the launch and called North Korea's recent missile tests "provocative acts", urging Pyongyang to stop them immediately.<h2>What are the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises?</h2>The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises will involve around 18,000 South Korean troops, along with US forces from the approximately 28,500 American personnel stationed in South Korea.US and South Korean commanders say this year's training will account for the battlefield experience North Korean troops have gained through their involvement in the Ukraine conflict. "North Korean soldiers have taken those lessons they learned there and brought them back to North Korea," Colonel Ryan Donald, spokesman for the US and South Korean Combined Forces Command, said Monday. "Our training accounts for that threat," he added.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/baba-vanga-s-2026-prophecy-2-predictions-already-came-true-3-terrifying-ones-remain-first-human-alien-contact-world-war-3-and-putin-s-exit-1786169922573">Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside</a><h2>Japan calls launch a threat</h2>The missile also comes amid growing tensions between North Korea and Japan. Japan's Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi described the launch as a "threat to peace and security in our region" and said Tokyo had lodged a strong protest with North Korea through diplomatic channels in Beijing.Pyongyang has recently accused Japan of remilitarising and transforming itself into what it described as a "war state".Japan has traditionally maintained a pacifist defence posture, but has increased military spending, strengthened defence partnerships, and deployed missile systems to islands closer to potential flashpoints. Koizumi said last week that Japan needed to strengthen its military with a "sense of urgency and crisis".

North Korea fired a ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan days before major US-South Korea military drills, drawing a warning from Seoul and Japan.

North Korea fired a ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan early Wednesday (Aug 12), South Korea's military said, just days before annual large-scale joint exercises between Seoul and Washington are due to begin. Japan also confirmed the launch, describing the object as a suspected ballistic missile, and saying the suspected ballistic missile had already fallen. The launch comes as tensions rise around the annual US-South Korea military drills, which Pyongyang has long condemned as preparations for an invasion. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile was launched from the Wonsan area at around 6 am. local time and travelled more than 700 kilometres before falling into waters off the country's east coast. Also read | North Korea's Kim inspired by his favourite wannabe 'dictator' Trump? Satellite images reveal secret makeover of 9 luxury compounds A warning ahead of US-South Korea drills? The timing of the launch is significant. The 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises are scheduled to begin on Monday and are designed to prepare US and South Korean forces for a potential conflict with North Korea. Pyongyang has repeatedly responded to similar exercises with missile launches, either before or after the drills. "North Korea has never simply let a South Korea-US joint military exercise pass without a response," Lim Eul-chul, a North Korea expert at Kyungnam University, told AFP. He said the launch appeared to signal that Pyongyang was closely monitoring the upcoming exercises and could carry out further provocations if it believes they are necessary. South Korea's national security office held an emergency meeting following the launch and called North Korea's recent missile tests "provocative acts", urging Pyongyang to stop them immediately. What are the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises? The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises will involve around 18,000 South Korean troops, along with US forces from the approximately 28,500 American personnel stationed in South Korea. US and South Korean commanders say this year's training will account for the battlefield experience North Korean troops have gained through their involvement in the Ukraine conflict. "North Korean soldiers have taken those lessons they learned there and brought them back to North Korea," Colonel Ryan Donald, spokesman for the US and South Korean Combined Forces Command, said Monday. "Our training accounts for that threat," he added. Also read | Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside Japan calls launch a threat The missile also comes amid growing tensions between North Korea and Japan. Japan's Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi described the launch as a "threat to peace and security in our region" and said Tokyo had lodged a strong protest with North Korea through diplomatic channels in Beijing. Pyongyang has recently accused Japan of remilitarising and transforming itself into what it described as a "war state". Japan has traditionally maintained a pacifist defence posture, but has increased military spending, strengthened defence partnerships, and deployed missile systems to islands closer to potential flashpoints. Koizumi said last week that Japan needed to strengthen its military with a "sense of urgency and crisis".

North Korea has fired another ballistic missile, just days before major US-South Korea military drills. But the timing of the launch may be more significant than the missile itself. What is Pyongyang signalling?

'Provocative acts': North Korea fires ballistic missile ahead of US-South Korea Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises

South Korean and the US&nbsp;marine troops conducted air and ground joint combat training today&nbsp;near the port city Pohang, about 360 km (223 miles) south of Seoul. 
 
The drills mobilised about 1,300 Marine Corps from the two countries, as well as eight Korean Assault Amphibious Vehicles (KAAV), armoured combat Earthmover, mine-Clearing Line Charge (MICLIC) and several mortars. 
 
&quot;As the most powerful military forces spearheading the alliance between South Korea and the United States, South Korean and US&nbsp;Marine Corps are prepared in the most perfect manner to strongly punish any kind of threat from the enemies that threaten our national security,&quot; said a quick reaction forces commander of the South Korean Marine Corps, Kim Hoi-min, at the artillery range. 
 
North Korea launched two Musudan intermediate-range missiles on June 22 drawing strong condemnation from South Korea, Japan and the United States for infringing United Nations sanctions designed to stop Pyongyang&#39;s nuclear and missile development programmes. 
 
There are 28,500 US&nbsp;troops stationed in the South as part of combined defence with the South&#39;s military of more than 600,000. The North has an army of 1.2 million. 
 
The two Koreas are in a technical state of war under a truce after the 1950-53 Korean War. 
 
(Reuters)

The two Koreas are in a technical state of war under a truce after the 1950-53 Korean War

South Korean and the US marine troops conducted air and ground joint combat training today near the port city Pohang, about 360 km (223 miles) south of Seoul. The drills mobilised about 1,300 Marine Corps from the two countries, as well as eight Korean Assault Amphibious Vehicles (KAAV), armoured combat Earthmover, mine-Clearing Line Charge (MICLIC) and several mortars. "As the most powerful military forces spearheading the alliance between South Korea and the United States, South Korean and US Marine Corps are prepared in the most perfect manner to strongly punish any kind of threat from the enemies that threaten our national security," said a quick reaction forces commander of the South Korean Marine Corps, Kim Hoi-min, at the artillery range. North Korea launched two Musudan intermediate-range missiles on June 22 drawing strong condemnation from South Korea, Japan and the United States for infringing United Nations sanctions designed to stop Pyongyang's nuclear and missile development programmes. There are 28,500 US troops stationed in the South as part of combined defence with the South's military of more than 600,000. The North has an army of 1.2 million. The two Koreas are in a technical state of war under a truce after the 1950-53 Korean War. (Reuters)

US, South Korea conduct joint drills to strengthen military operations

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North Korea military shake-up: Kim Jong Un replaces defence minister amid tensions over US-South Korea drills

'Most immediate threat': North Korea blasts US-South Korea drills

North Korea fires ballistic missile ahead of major US-South Korea war drills

US, South Korea conduct joint drills to strengthen military operations