This Month
Ukraine says it has attacked North Korean troops
The first contact has been reported with North Korean troops in a Russian region captured by Kyiv in their surprise offensive.
- Christopher Miller and Max Seddon
October
Why 3000 North Korean troops have the world’s attention
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the troops have been sent to Russia, a situation he called “very, very serious” for both Europe and Asia.
- Eric Schmitt, David E. Sanger and Anatoly Kurmanaev
July
Wong calls on China to rein in North Korea
The foreign minister acknowledged that countries all around Asia are beefing up their defence capabilities in response to China’s dramatic military expansion.
- Staff reporters
Putin is meeting a lot of world leaders for a ‘global outcast’
In the two months since he began his fifth presidential term in May, Vladimir Putin has held more than 20 meetings with leaders. He has also made six foreign visits.
- Henry Meyer
Japan must strengthen NATO ties to safeguard global peace, PM says
Fumio Kishida also signalled concern over Beijing’s alleged role in aiding Moscow’s two-year-old war in Ukraine, although he did not name China.
- Yukiko Toyoda and John Geddie
June
- Opinion
- Putin's Russia
Putin to Xi: I have options in East Asia
The Russian President’s visits last week to North Korea and Vietnam shows Russia’s residual capacity to stir trouble in East Asia.
- James Curran
- Exclusive
- Russia-Ukraine war
Putin-Kim bond threatens Pacific security: envoy
Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia has made a fresh pitch for weapons to help Kyiv fight Russia.
- Andrew Tillett
Putin and Kim sign mutual defence pact
The pact could be a dramatic shift in the strategic balance in Northeast Asia by placing Russia’s heft behind North Korea.
- Josh Smith and Ju-min Park
Kim vows ‘full support’ for Putin’s war
The Russian president arrived for his first visit to the DPRK in 24 years, amid warnings of more arms transfers to Moscow for its war in Ukraine.
- Kim Tong-Hyung
May
How Kim Jong-un’s propaganda song conquered TikTok
“Friendly Father” is the first North Korean composition about the leader to go viral for its musicality.
- Harriet Barber
April
- Analysis
- US election
With Trump in court, can Biden take control of the election?
As polls show the race tied, the president is campaigning around the country and his opponent is stuck spending his days in a Manhattan courtroom.
- James Politi, Lauren Fedor and Joe Miller
March
North Korea claims Japan’s PM wants summit with Kim to ease tensions
The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida communicated his intention to meet with the reclusive leader.
- Hyung-Jin Kim and Kim Tong-Hyung
South Korea sends scandal-hit ambassador to Australia
The arrival of South Korea’s former defence minister in Canberra this week has made headlines in Seoul, where the opposition accused him of fleeing the country.
- Updated
- Michael Smith
January
Haley says Trump ‘obsessed with dictators’ as barbs fly
The former president hit back, all but ruling out picking her as his vice president, and targeting her Indian heritage, ahead of the New Hampshire primary.
- James Oliphant and Nathan Layne
November 2023
Eighth time lucky. North Korea finally launches spy satellite
Before the latest launch, North Korea had tried seven times over 25 years to deploy a satellite. Kim Jong-un is determined to spy on US forces in the region.
- Jon Herskovitz and Ryotaro Nakamaru
September 2023
- Analysis
- Russia-Ukraine war
Putin, Kim forge friendship on hatred of ‘evil’ West
The summit between the Russian and North Korean leaders signalled a potentially dangerous new era in relations for two nations isolated by the US and its allies.
- Paul Sonne and Choe Sang-Hun
‘Glad to see you’: Putin to discuss ‘all issues’ with Kim
Russian and North Korean leaders shook hands warmly before talks on satellites and other sensitive issues, amid Western fears of a looming arms sale.
- Hyunsu Yim and Guy Faulconbridge
Kim arrives in Russia on bulletproof train to sell Putin arms
The North Korean leader has travelled to Russia on his personal armoured train to discuss a potential arms deal for Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
- Josh Smith and Hyonhee Shin
- Opinion
- The AFR View
G20’s lack of cohesion complicates Australia’s China challenge
The tectonic global forces encouraging deglobalisation and decoupling, this is complicating the challenges for an Albanese government that rightly seeks in the overall national interest to manage China back behind a rules-based international system
- The AFR View
Biden looks to woo back allies as Putin, Xi skip G20 summit
Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping both opted to skip this year’s gathering, giving Mr Biden an opening to reestablish the US atop of the international system.
- Jenny Leonard and Justin Sink