Starbucks opened a new branch at the Aegibong Peace Ecopark in Gimpo, South Korea, offering customers a unique view of North Korea’s Kaephung county from the observatory.

The location is situated less than a mile from the North Korea border and requires visitors to pass through a military checkpoint. The cafe has become a popular tourist destination for those keen to see North Korea from a safe distance.

The site, originally known as Hill 154, was a significant battleground during the Korean War. 

The opening of the Starbucks branch is part of broader efforts by Gimpo and other border cities to develop tourism industries and promote peace and security on the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea has included Russian in the description of its 2025 postal stamps set, marking the first time that Russian has been used in their stamp release notices.

In the past, even during the special year of friendship between Pyongyang and Moscow in 2015, Russian was never included in its multilingual announcements.

The recent inclusion of Russian and the issuance of stamp albums with Russian codes ahead of Chinese ones is seen as a reflection of the growing alignment between North Korea and Russia, as well as a possible shift in North Korea’s prioritization of its relationship with Russia over China.

The Korea Stamp Corporation’s use of Moscow as a distribution hub for its stamps highlights North Korea’s intent to expand its relations with Russia through the realm of stamps.

Tour operators have announced that North Korea has reopened the northeastern city of Rason to foreign tourists, five years after closing its borders due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Despite several flights resuming to North Korea since the lockdown, these flights have predominantly served diplomatic purposes, such as repatriating North Koreans stranded in China and welcoming selected tourists from Russia, a close ally of North Korea.

The special economic zone bordering China and Russia is now open to both Chinese and other foreign visitors.

While Rason is open, the rest of North Korea remains closed to travelers, and confirmed itineraries and prices for tourists are yet to be announced.

Read: “Is it ethical to travel to North Korea?” 

Two North Korean soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region while fighting alongside Russian troops. This marks the first time North Korean soldiers have been captured alive in the conflict.

The captured soldiers provided “indisputable evidence” that North Koreans were actively participating in the war on Russia’s side.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service confirmed that the captured soldiers have not expressed a desire to seek asylum in South Korea. One soldier wishes to stay in Ukraine, while the other wants to return to North Korea.

Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, offers to release the captured soldiers in exchange for Ukrainian soldiers held in Russia.

Approximately 12,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to fight in the war, with about 300 killed and 2,700 injured.