North Korea

North Korea fires two ballistic missiles into Sea of Japan

Pyongyang is banned from testing ballistic missiles, considered threatening weapons, under UN Security Council resolutions.

Both Japan and South Korea have condemned the test.

It comes just days after North Korea reportedly fired two non-ballistic missiles into the Yellow Sea.

Japan said no debris had fallen within its territorial waters.

'I have failed': Kim Jong Un shows tearful side in confronting North Korea's hardships

Though the young leader has consolidated his rule over the isolated nation with ruthless purges, North Korea watchers say he has also sought to portray himself as a more traditional political leader than his eccentric father, Kim Jong Il.

Speaking at a military parade on Saturday, Kim became emotional as he paid tribute to troops for their response to national disasters and preventing a coronavirus outbreak and apologised to citizens for failing to raise living standards.

North Korea displays 'massive' ICBM at military parade

The parade marked the 75th anniversary of the Workers' Party.

Correspondents say that previously unseen "massive" long range ballistic missiles were displayed. North Korea typically uses its parades to show off new missiles and weaponry.

It is the country's first parade in two years and comes just weeks ahead of the US presidential election.

North Korea had not featured ballistic missiles in its parades since President Donald Trump and Mr Kim held their first summit in 2018.

Kim Jong-un appears in public, North Korean state media report

KCNA news agency reports that the North Korean leader cut the ribbon at the opening of a fertiliser factory.

It adds that people at the factory "broke into thunderous cheers of hurrah" when he appeared.

The reported appearance - his first since an event on state media on 12 April - comes amid global speculation over his health.

The latest reports from North Korean media could not be independently confirmed.

State media later released images that it said showed Mr Kim cutting a ribbon outside a factory.

Who might lead N Korea without Kim?

The BBC spoke to analysts about the contenders and whether history is on their side.

A male member of the Kim family has been in charge of North Korea ever since its founding by Kim Il-sung in 1948 - and the mythology of this family runs deep throughout society.

Propaganda about its greatness begins for citizens before they can even read: pre-schoolers sing a song called: "I want to see our leader Kim Jong-un."

North Korea fires two projectiles into sea

It said the projectiles appeared to be short-range ballistic missiles.

They were launched early on Saturday from Pyongan province towards the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan.

North Korea launched multiple missiles as part of firing drills earlier this month. The US and China have called on Pyongyang to return to talks on ending its nuclear and missile programmes.

On Saturday, South Korea's military said it was monitoring the situation in case there are additional launches.

Pentagon remains 'ironclad' after Korean war games cancelled

Mr Trump made the announcement after Tuesday's historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore.

The move is seen as a big concession to North Korea and appeared to take US allies in the region by surprise.

Meanwhile, North Korean state media said Mr Kim had accepted an offer from President Trump to visit the US.

KCNA news agency said Mr Kim had invited Mr Trump to visit Pyongyang "at a convenient time" and Mr Trump had also invited Mr Kim to the United States.

"The two top leaders gladly accepted each other's invitation," KCNA added.

US and North Korean leaders to hold historic talks

No sitting US president has ever met a North Korean leader.

Mr Trump has said the highly anticipated talks represent a "one-time shot" at peace.

The meeting marks a dramatic shift in relations between the pair, who last year traded insults and threats of war.

Washington hopes the summit will kick-start a process that eventually leads to denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

North Korea has said it is willing to commit to denuclearisation, but it is unclear how this will be achieved or what might be requested in return.

North Korea sets out its Singapore agenda

It comes a day before North Korean leader Kim Jong-un holds historic talks with US President Donald Trump.

The comments are a marked shift in tone from the isolated country after decades of animosity towards the US.

Both leaders arrived in Singapore on Sunday evening. Mr Trump has said he has a "good feeling" about their much-anticipated summit.

He tweeted on Monday morning that there was "excitement in the air" in Singapore.

Syria's President Assad 'to visit North Korea'

It would be the first time North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has hosted a head of state since assuming power in 2011.

He has undertaken a flurry of diplomatic activity recently, meeting China's president in May, and is expected to attend a summit with Donald Trump this month.

Syria, an ally of the North, has made no comment on the reported plan.

The two countries have been accused of co-operating on chemical weapons. But both nations deny the accusations.

No date for the visit was mentioned by the North Korea's KCNA news agency.