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Quotes of the Day:
“It’s a universal law – intolerance is the first sign of an inadequate education. An ill-educated person behaves with arrogant impatience, where truly profound education breeds humility.”
– Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
"The cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy!"
– Henry Louis Mencken
"Why is propaganda so much more successful when it stirs up hatred than when it tries to stir up friendly feeling?"
– Bertrand Russell
1. Pentagon eyes expanded role for South Korea-based US forces to help deter China
2. Defense chief stresses air defense, anti-terror readiness
3. U.S. Air Force conducts high-tempo air operations drills to strengthen combat readiness
4. Lawmakers of rival parties propose bill to promote AI-driven research in defense sector
5. Canada's defense procurement chief tours Hanwha shipyard as submarine bid nears
6. Anti-socialist and non-socialist struggle video reveals changing lifestyles (Part 1)
7. Fireblocks CEO says North Korea-linked job recruitment scam targeted LinkedIn profiles
8. U.N. special rapporteur on N.K. human rights vows efforts for engagement with Pyongyang
9. Kim Jong Un opens North Korea’s largest greenhouse farm to date on China border
10. North Korean households receive heavy yearly scrap collection quotas as new year begins
11. 'KPop Demon Hunters' wins at Grammys with Korean culture's global appeal
12. North Korea Calendar Snubs Xi, Includes Putin
1. Pentagon eyes expanded role for South Korea-based US forces to help deter China
Summary:
The article says the Pentagon is considering a broader role for United States Forces Korea to help deter People's Liberation Army by supporting “deterrence by denial along the First Island Chain.” Bridge Colby argues the US posture should be resilient, distributed, and modernized across Japan, the Philippines, the Korean peninsula, and elsewhere in the Asia-Indo-Pacific. Analysts in Seoul and elsewhere warn that loosening USFK’s Korea focus could invite miscalculation by Kim Jong Un or strain alliance cohesion. The 2026 National Defense Strategy and the National Security Strategy emphasize allies taking more responsibility, with South Korea cast as a “model ally” expected to lead conventional deterrence against north Korea while US support becomes “critical but more limited.”
Comment: "Model ally" again. It pains me to read this.
If USFK is optimized for First Island Chain denial while South Korea is told to handle north Korea more independently ("CBMLS" - critical but more limited support), what specific alliance mechanisms will prevent deterrence gaps on the peninsula when a Taiwan crisis pulls US attention and assets east? Will we sustain our current resources to support the currently approved defense plans until new plans can be written based on CBMLS. A new plan has to be written, approved, resourced, and rehearsed before we should even consider executing the new strategic doctrine of CBMLS. To do otherwise puts the current defense plans at risk.
Also, I would ask the USD/W (P) to describe for us exactly how he envisions using USFK resources to deter China. Explain how USFK resources will contribute to preventing Xi from making the decision to attack Taiwan.
Pentagon eyes expanded role for South Korea-based US forces to help deter China
South China Morning Post
US defence policy chief signals ‘model ally’ Seoul should take the lead on North Korea as Washington refocuses on first island chain
Seong Hyeon Choi
Published: 10:00pm, 1 Feb 2026
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341991/pentagon-eyes-expanded-role-south-korea-based-us-forces-help-deter-china
He stressed that Washington’s defence strategy in the Indo-Pacific was centred on “deterrence by denial along the first island chain”.
“We are focused on building a military posture in the western Pacific that ensures that aggression along the first island chain is infeasible, that escalation is unattractive and war is indeed irrational,” Colby said.
“This includes a resilient, distributed and modernised force posture across Japan, the Philippines, the Korean peninsula and elsewhere in the region, a posture optimised for a denial of quick or decisive gains through military force that is resilient rather than fragile, and that binds us together in our shared pursuit of peace and stability.”
F-2 and F-16 fighters from Japan and South Korea conduct an escort mission with US Air Force B-52 bombers over the Pacific Ocean on July 11. Photo: Handout
The US Forces Korea (USFK) has traditionally been tasked with responding to conflict on the Korean peninsula, rather than a Taiwan contingency.
Kang Jun-young, a professor of Chinese studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, said Washington was aiming to “fundamentally change” the nature of USFK as it unified its alliance with South Korea, Japan and the Philippines to defend the first island chain.
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He said that instead of having USFK tied to the Korean peninsula, Washington wanted to “systematically” deploy the forces wherever it wanted in the Indo-Pacific region – potentially even in the event of a Taiwan conflict.
“However, if that comes true, it could lead to a miscalculation by [North Korean leader] Kim Jong-un or a provocation by North Korea, and if [Pyongyang] moved jointly with China, it could lead to very complicated problems.
“The USFK can’t leave the Korean peninsula, and the US will have to operate in two battlefields,” he added, noting that this possibility had pushed Washington to increase Seoul’s responsibility in responding to Pyongyang.
“So it all comes down to deterrence by denial, as Colby said. By demonstrating with force that attacking won’t lead to victory, the US can prevent [a Taiwan contingency] from happening.”
Beijing views Taiwan as part of China to be reunited, by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US and its allies, do not recognise the self-governed island as independent but Washington is opposed to any forcible change to the status quo and is legally bound to supply Taipei with weapons for defence.
Benjamin Barton, an associate professor of international relations at the University of Nottingham Malaysia, said the possibility of USFK’s deployment to the defence of the first island chain meant containing North Korea was not as high on the agenda as it used to be.
“Doing so would allow the US to accelerate its process of retrenchment to focus on its near abroad. This is what the Trump administration recognises as being pragmatic and realistic about the sustainability of US power projection,” Barton said.
Stephen Nagy, a professor of international relations at Tokyo’s International Christian University, said Colby’s emphasis on deterrence along the first island chain represented a “coherent strategic logic” that unified US force posture around the “primary threat of Chinese expansionism”.
However, it created “inherent tensions with allies who face distinct security challenges not neatly aligned with this framework”, he added.
“By praising South Korea as a ‘model ally’ for defence spending while emphasising the first island chain, Washington is essentially telling Seoul that it must handle North Korea more independently while US assets remain available primarily for the China contingency,” Nagy said.
“This bifurcation of responsibilities reflects American strategic priorities but risks creating gaps in alliance cohesion if allies feel their specific threats are being deprioritised.”
Colby’s visit to South Korea coincided with the Pentagon’s release of the National Defence Strategy on January 23.
The document, along with the White House’s National Security Strategy (NSS) released in December, emphasised the need for collective defence of the first island chain and for US allies in the region to shoulder more of the defence burden. The strategy documents also named the western hemisphere as Washington’s top security and defence priority.
As undersecretary of defence for policy, Colby is the No 3 official at the Pentagon, responsible for shaping national security and force planning. One of the key duties includes crafting the NDS.
The NDS also highlighted South Korea’s leading role in conventional deterrence against North Korean threats, while the US would provide “critical but more limited” support. It said this shift in the balance of responsibility was “consistent with America’s interest in updating US force posture on the Korean peninsula”.
Describing South Korea as a “model ally” for its investment in its own defence, Colby called for a “greater balance” in defence burden-sharing between the US and its allies to ensure that “deterrence remains credible, sustainable and resilient in this changing world”.
Ramon Pacheco Pardo, a professor of international relations at King’s College London, said the US was trying to make clear to Beijing that it would lose any conflict over Taiwan, and that Washington was willing to force its allies to lead their own security so US military assets could focus mainly on the People’s Liberation Army.
“In my view, allies will have no option but to agree to this approach by the US,” Pacheco Pardo said.
“I think that the Trump administration doesn’t want war with China. But I don’t think that it will reduce its deterrence in the Indo-Pacific … it will ask Australia, Japan, the Philippines and South Korea to strengthen their military power to help deter China.”
Nagy said the strategy of “strength not confrontation” outlined in the NDS showed the Trump administration’s “transactional approach” to alliances and its emphasis on sharing the defence burden while maintaining deterrence capabilities.
“This language allows Washington to pressure allies to do more while rhetorically positioning the US as seeking stability rather than provocation,” Nagy said.
“The western hemisphere focus is real, but I would argue the administration views a strong allied architecture in Asia as complementary to, not competing with, that priority.”
Barton said the Trump administration’s western hemisphere-focused strategy implied a “degree of strategic retreat” from the Indo-Pacific, and thus, a realisation that the US was “not committed to containing China in the same way that was in the past”.
South China Morning Post
2. Defense chief stresses air defense, anti-terror readiness
Summary:
South Korea’s Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back inspected the Capital Defense Command in Seoul, urging renewed focus on air defense, counterterrorism, and core readiness to rebuild public trust after the Dec. 3 insurrection. He also reviewed the Joint Air Defense Operations Center posture after the presidential office relocation and directed an anti-terror unit to stay vigilant.
Comment: the ROK military is rightly focusing on deterrence though readiness.
Defense chief stresses air defense, anti-terror readiness | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Hyun-soo · February 2, 2026
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260202011000315
SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back on Monday visited the command in charge of defending the capital area to inspect military readiness for air defense, counterterrorism and other contingencies, the defense ministry said.
Ahn made the visit to the Capital Defense Command in southern Seoul, where he urged the command to focus on its "innate mission" in order to restore public trust, according to the ministry.
"Now is the time to move beyond the scars of the Dec. 3 insurrection and, with a spirit of self-reliance, devote ourselves to the core mission of defending the capital," he said.
The defense chief also visited the Joint Air Defense Operations Center to inspect the air defense posture following the recent relocation of the presidential office.
Ahn also paid a visit to an anti-terrorism unit under the command and urged it to maintain a readiness posture against terror threats.
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back (C) inspects the Capital Defense Command in southern Seoul on Feb. 2, 2026, in this photo provided by his office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sookim@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · Kim Hyun-soo · February 2, 2026
3. U.S. Air Force conducts high-tempo air operations drills to strengthen combat readiness
Summary:
The U.S. Air Force in South Korea conducted higher-tempo air operations drills to strengthen combat readiness, according to a statement posted by the 51st Fighter Wing. Aircraft from two “Super Squadrons” at Osan Air Base launched in rapid succession during a flying surge last week. The wing said the event demonstrated its ability to generate and sustain air combat power for deterrence on the Korean Peninsula. Planned flying operations increased by more than 50 percent above the normal daily rate, testing rapid launch, recovery, and regeneration of combat-ready aircraft. Leaders said surges also identify process constraints and improve coordination.
Comment: supporting the deterrence mission. How does Kim Jong Un view this? How does Xi view this? Does it (in support of and in conjunction with all other military activities) contribute to deterring both of them?
U.S. Air Force conducts high-tempo air operations drills to strengthen combat readiness | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Hyun-soo · February 2, 2026
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260202007100315
SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Air Force in South Korea has conducted air operations drills with a heightened tempo in a bid to strengthen its combat readiness, its website showed Monday.
The 51st Fighter Wing said aircraft from two Super Squadrons at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, about 60 kilometers south of Seoul, launched in rapid succession during a flying surge last week, according to a statement uploaded on its website.
The high-tempo training demonstrated the fighter wing's ability to "generate and sustain air combat power in support of deterrence on the Korean Peninsula," it said.
The surge increased planned flying operations by more than 50 percent above the normal daily rate, projecting the wing's ability to "rapidly launch, recover and regenerate combat-ready aircraft," it added.
"Surges are a scheduled effort to maximize sortie production and identify limiting factors in our processes," said Lt. Col. Andrew Radloff, 51st Maintenance Group deputy commander. "They allow us to test our systems, strengthen coordination across the wing and uncover challenges that may not appear during routine operations."
The U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 35th Fighter Squadron takes off during a flying surge at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, about 60 kilometers south of Seoul, on Jan. 28, 2026, in this photo provided by the U.S. Air Force. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sookim@yna.co.kr
(END)
en.yna.co.kr · Kim Hyun-soo · February 2, 2026
4. Lawmakers of rival parties propose bill to promote AI-driven research in defense sector
Summary:
South Korean lawmakers from rival parties introduced a bipartisan bill to promote AI-driven research and development in the defense sector. Proposed by People Power Party lawmaker Yu Yong-weon and Democratic Party lawmaker Boo Seung-chan, plus 31 others, it frames AI as a key driver of future defense capability and national security. The bill aims to manage the full life cycle of defense AI, from R&D through deployment and post-management, emphasizing principles and accountability over regulation. It would create a defense AI committee, policy center, and research institute, and require a basic military AI plan every three years.
Lawmakers of rival parties propose bill to promote AI-driven research in defense sector | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Yi Wonju · February 2, 2026
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260202007000315
By Yi Wonju
SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on Monday introduced a bill aimed at promoting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in research and development for the defense sector.
The bill, jointly proposed by PPP Rep. Yu Yong-weon and DP Rep. Boo Seung-chan, along with 31 other lawmakers from the rival parties, comes as AI technologies are emerging as a "key factor shaping future defense capabilities."
"This bill will provide a fundamental framework to systematize defense AI as a key capability of national security, and to ensure that AI is used stably in defense operations and sustainable development," Rep. Yu said in a press release.
The bill, which the lawmakers said is the country's first such bill on comprehensively managing AI in the defense sector at the national level, aims to ensure the stable operation of the entire life cycle of defense AI from its early stages of research and development to operational deployment and post management.
"AI is a core strategic asset that shapes national security as a whole," Rep. Boo said. "The bill is significant in that it provides a foundational framework rather than focusing on regulation, and laying out principles and accountability at the minimum so that AI can be used stably in the military field."
The lawmakers said the proposed bill seeks to address concerns over the responsible use and sustainable development of defense AI, as the existing AI framework excludes the defense sector from its scope.
The bill also calls for the creation of a committee to deliberate and decide on key policies related to defense AI, as well as the establishment of a policy center and research institute.
Under the bill, the government would be required to come up with and implement a basic plan on military AI every three years.
Lawmakers of the parliamentary national defense committee pose for a photo with the 12th Infantry Division in Inje, about 120 kilometers northeast of Seoul, in this file photo from Dec. 22, 2025. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · Yi Wonju · February 2, 2026
5. Canada's defense procurement chief tours Hanwha shipyard as submarine bid nears
Summary:
Canada’s defense procurement minister Stephen Fuhr visited Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard to assess its capacity as Ottawa nears a decision on the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project. Hanwha and Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems were reportedly shortlisted, with final proposals due in March. The CPSP would acquire up to 12 submarines in the 3,000-ton class, plus lifetime support, valued around 60 trillion won ($41B). Fuhr toured facilities and boarded the Jang Bogo-III Batch-II submarine Jang Yeong-sil, praising its technologies. He stressed offsets and wider economic value, including auto-sector cooperation and job creation, and Canadian industry partners cited benchmarking opportunities.
(LEAD) Canada's defense procurement chief tours Hanwha shipyard as submarine bid nears | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Oh Seok-min · February 2, 2026
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260202007351320
(ATTN: ADDS Canadian minister's comments in paras 7-10, additional photo)
SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Canada's minister responsible for defense procurement, Stephen Fuhr, on Monday visited Hanwha Ocean Co.'s shipyard in South Korea to assess the company's construction capabilities as Ottawa's seeks to pick a supplier for a major submarine acquisition project, the company said.
The visit to Hanwha's shipyard in Geoje, about 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul, comes as Hanwha Ocean and Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) were reportedly shortlisted last summer for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP).
The finalists are required to submit their proposals to the Canadian government by March.
The CPSP is a major defense program aimed at introducing up to 12 submarines in the 3,000-ton class, with an estimated value of 60 trillion won (US$41 billion). The project also includes lifetime maintenance and support.
During his visit, Fuhr boarded the 3,600-ton Jang Bogo-III Batch-II submarine Jang Yeong-sil, which Hanwha Ocean has proposed for the Canadian project. He also toured the company's shipyard and automation facilities.
Fuhr described the visit as an amazing experience after boarding the submarine, praising its advanced technologies, the company said.
This photo taken Feb. 2, 2026, provided by Hanwha Ocean Co., shows Stephen Fuhr (5th from L), Canada's secretary of state for defense procurement, Hanwha Ocean chief executive officer (CEO) Kim Hee-cheul (6th from L) and other officials posing for a photo after visiting Hanwha Ocean's shipyard in Geoje, about 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The minister reiterated his call for cooperation with South Korea in the automotive sector as part of offset arrangements.
According to Hanwha, Fuhr said Canada hopes to use the submarine project as an opportunity to deepen cooperation in the auto industry and expand broader economic partnerships.
Offset requirements refer to policies under which sellers are expected to provide industrial benefits, such as technology transfers, to the purchasing country as part of a defense contract.
Fuhr was also quoted by the company as saying that Canada will prioritize which country can deliver the greatest economic value, as his country is currently restructuring its economic framework, with job creation and economic opportunities being critical.
Ted Kirkpatrick, vice president of Ontario Shipyards, said the visit helped identify ways to effectively utilize Canadian shipyard facilities and workforce by benchmarking Hanwha Ocean's shipbuilding capabilities and performance.
In preparation for the CPSP bid, Hanwha Ocean and Hanwha Systems signed memorandums of understanding with five Canadian companies last month for strategic investment and cooperation in the fields of steelmaking, artificial intelligence (AI) and aerospace.
"We view Minister Fuhr's visit as a field inspection by the Canadian government to assess whether Hanwha Ocean is capable of carrying out the CPSP project," said Hanwha Ocean Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kim Hee-cheul.
"We emphasized that Hanwha Ocean can not only provide optimal solutions for the Canadian Navy but also serve as a trusted partner that can grow together with Canada."
This photo, taken Feb. 2, 2026, and provided by Hanwha Ocean Co., shows Stephen Fuhr (3rd from R), Canada's secretary of state for defense procurement, Hanwha CEO Kim Hee-cheul (2nd from L) and other officials visiting Hanwha Ocean's shipyard in Geoje, about 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · Oh Seok-min · February 2, 2026
6. Anti-socialist and non-socialist struggle video reveals changing lifestyles (Part 1)
Summary:
An educational video produced by north Korean authorities and obtained by NK Insider shows an intensified campaign in Pyongyang to purge “anti-socialist” and “non-socialist” behavior. Used in weekly state lectures, it claims propaganda in one district targeted 40,000 people in two months, with over 100 confessions and about 1,000 “reflections.” Security organs reportedly mobilized 18,000 people for public trials and “public struggle sessions.” The footage suggests a shift from executions to citizen denunciations, and it describes crackdowns on “yellow winds” such as foreign media and on ex-convicts and the unemployed. Yet it also reveals lifestyles and crime that resist control.
Comment: To contribute to our understanding of north Korea.
If the party must mobilize mass denunciations to enforce conformity, what does the video itself imply about how far everyday life in Pyongyang has already slipped beyond official control? We must be monitoring the indications and warnings for internal political, social, and economic resistance and the potential for instability.
Anti-socialist and non-socialist struggle video reveals changing lifestyles (Part 1)
Era Seo
February 1, 2026
https://www.nkinsider.org/anti-socialist-and-non-socialist-struggle-video-reveals-changing-lifestyles-part-1/
An educational video, produced by North Korean authorities and obtained by NK Insider, highlights recent propaganda efforts to eradicate “anti-socialist” and “non-socialist” behavior.
The video, which is used in weekly lectures which the state conducts for citizens, is entitled “Let us actively engage in the struggle to sweep away all anti-socialist and non-socialist phenomena in the capital.” It is part of a campaign focused on changing social realities in Pyongyang.
The video claims that propaganda activities in one district of the city alone targeted some 40,000 officials, workers, and residents over two months. More than 100 people confessed to crimes and around 1,000 “reflected on their wrongdoings.”
In addition, security officers in the Taedonggang District mobilized 18,000 people between March and June last year to attend 16 public trials and four “public struggle sessions.”
In the past, trials of this sort often ended in public executions. Recently, however, there has been a shift to the “public struggle sessions,” where citizens themselves denounce offenders. This appears intended to dilute awareness of the systemic causes of crime under oppressive rule.
The video begins by describing anti-socialist phenomena observed in various units and stressing the reasons they must be eliminated.
North Korea defines foreign culture and the free lifestyle of Western society as “decadent capitalist trends” and demands their complete elimination. To this end, factories, enterprises, and work units regularly hold propaganda sessions explaining the dangers of anti-socialist phenomena and urging their eradication.
Authorities classify banned foreign books, videos, songs, and artworks as “yellow winds” and crack down on them strictly.
The video also reports that the Youth League and labor organizations are tightly controlling ex-convicts, the unemployed, and those who left their workplaces.
People who repent for “crimes” such as watching South Korean movies and dramas, imitating South Korean clothing styles, or adopting South Korean ways of life, are sent to rural areas or coal mines in what amounts to near-permanent internal exile.
Despite this harshness, however, in some parts of Pyongyang, the anti-socialist and non-socialist struggle is proving ineffective. The video portrays Pyongyang as a city rife with crime. It emphasizes, for example, that “capitalist lifestyle trends” among women have led to serious crimes causing social disorder.
Although the authorities claim to manage the capital so strictly that they even call it the “Pyongyang Republic,” the footage reveals that lifestyles are often beyond state control.
Era Seo
Era is a North Korean defector and an experienced journalist who offers a unique perspective on one of the world's most secretive nations. Having escaped the oppressive regime, Era has leveraged her keen understanding of North Korean society to become a beacon of truth. Through her extensive network of in-country reporters, she maintains real-time communication with sources inside North Korea, providing unparalleled insights into the ground realities of the closed society.
7. Fireblocks CEO says North Korea-linked job recruitment scam targeted LinkedIn profiles
Summary:
Fireblocks says it disrupted a north Korea-linked job recruitment impersonation scam that used LinkedIn to target engineers with privileged access to crypto infrastructure. Michael Shaulov told CNBC the actors mimicked the firm’s real hiring flow, posed as recruiters, ran Google Meet interviews, and sent take-home assignments via GitHub. A “routine installation” actually delivered malware that could expose wallets, keys, and production systems. Fireblocks found nearly a dozen rotating fake profiles and collected indicators of compromise, then worked with LinkedIn and law enforcement to remove them. LinkedIn said it proactively removes most fake accounts. The piece cites prior crypto thefts, including Bybit and links to Lazarus Group, and notes AI is making attackers harder to spot.
Comment: More on the regime's all purpose sword. The regime knows how useful LinkedIn is to its efforts of subversions and penetration. If recruiters and interview workflows can be convincingly spoofed, what new “trust checks” should organizations require?
Fireblocks CEO says North Korea-linked job recruitment scam targeted LinkedIn profiles
CNBC · Talia Kaplan · January 30, 2026
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/30/fireblocks-north-korea-hackers-crypto-job-scam.html
Key Points
- Fireblocks said it has disrupted a North Korea-linked job recruitment impersonation scam that was using LinkedIn.
- The hackers impersonated the digital asset infrastructure company’s hiring process.
- CEO Michael Shaulov warned that the hackers were targeting people from LinkedIn profiles.
watch now
VIDEO7:5507:55
Fireblocks CEO details North Korea-linked job recruitment scam involving crypto
Crypto World
Digital asset infrastructure company Fireblocks said it has disrupted a North Korea-linked job recruitment impersonation scam that was targeting digital assets.
Fireblocks said hackers used fake job interviews to compromise developers and gain access to crypto infrastructure.
According to the firm, the hackers were able to closely resemble a legitimate Fireblocks hiring process and impersonate recruiters, conduct Google Meet interviews and share take-home assignments via GitHub.
"What they're basically doing is that they are weaponizing a legit interview ... to create a very legit and authentic interaction with candidates," Michael Shaulov, the CEO of Fireblocks, told CNBC.
When candidates ran a routine installation, malware was actually installed, which could expose wallets, keys and production systems.
Shaulov said the group was targeting engineers based on their LinkedIn profiles, looking for people with "privileged access."
He said that the firm identified almost a dozen fake profiles that were continuously changing their company brands, and that they believe this scam has been active for the past few years.
"We were able to basically interact with the hackers and basically collect what we call 'indication of compromise,' but essentially kind of like the fingerprints of the tools and the weaponry and the malware that they were using in that campaign," Shaulov said.
Fireblocks worked with LinkedIn and law enforcement to get the profiles taken down, he added.
"Over 99% of the fake accounts we remove are detected proactively before anyone reports them," a LinkedIn spokesperson said in a statement.
The social media platform targeted to professionals said it is constantly investing in technology to detect "harmful behavior" and has guardrail procedures in place, like in-message warnings when chats move off of LinkedIn and verification badges for recruiters.
Last year, Bybit experienced the largest crypto heist in history when hackers stole $1.5 billion in digital assets from the cryptocurrency exchange.
Analysts at blockchain analysis firm Elliptic linked the attack to North Korea's Lazarus Group, a state-sponsored hacking collective notorious for siphoning billions of dollars from the crypto industry.
The Lazarus Group's history of targeting crypto platforms dates back to 2017, when the group infiltrated four South Korean exchanges and stole $200 million worth of bitcoin.
Shaulov, who helped investigate Lazarus Group's 2017 attacks on crypto platforms, said hackers, especially those tied to North Korea, have been evolving at "light speed."
He said in 2017 and 2018, "it was actually quite easy" to identify them because of grammar mistakes and typos. But now, "it looks like they graduated from [The University of] Oxford."
"It's clear that the attackers have become way more sophisticated and way harder to detect because of AI," Shaulov said.
CNBC · Talia Kaplan · January 30, 2026
8. U.N. special rapporteur on N.K. human rights vows efforts for engagement with Pyongyang
Summary:
Elizabeth Salmon, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in north Korea, pledged in Seoul to keep supporting South Korean and international initiatives aimed at dialogue and engagement with Pyongyang, according to South Korea’s foreign ministry. In a meeting with Kim Jina, Salmon said she will continue contributing to efforts to encourage north Korea’s cooperation. Kim praised Salmon’s work raising awareness of rights issues and urged an active role that produces tangible improvements for north Korean residents. The special rapporteur investigates and reports to the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly, with reports planned for March and September.
Comment: I hope they also discussed the status of the two Korean POWs in Ukraine and how to allow them to come to South Korea since that is apparently their desire. They must prevent them from being used as political pawns by Russia and north Korea.
U.N. special rapporteur on N.K. human rights vows efforts for engagement with Pyongyang | Yonhap News Agency
en.yna.co.kr · Oh Seok-min · February 2, 2026
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260202011300320
SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Elizabeth Salmon, the U.N. special rapporteur on North Korean human rights, pledged Monday to continue to support initiatives of South Korea and the international community aimed at dialogue and engagement with the communist country, Seoul's foreign ministry said.
Salmon made the remarks during a meeting with South Korea's Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina in Seoul, as she is in Seoul for her third official visit since becoming the fourth special rapporteur in August 2022.
During the meeting, Salmon said that, as special rapporteur, she will continue contributing to international efforts to encourage North Korea's cooperation and will support initiatives necessary for dialogue and engagement with Pyongyang.
Kim commended Salmon for her efforts to raise international awareness of rights issues in the North and expressed hope for her active role in achieving tangible improvements in the human rights situation of North Korean residents.
The U.N. special rapporteur is mandated to investigate and research the human rights situation in North Korea, and to report findings to the U.N. General Assembly and the Human Rights Council.
Based on the outcome of the visit, Salmon plans to present her annual report to the Human Rights Council in March and to the General Assembly in September, the ministry said.
South Korea's Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina (R) shakes hands with Elizabeth Salmon, the U.N. special rapporteur for North Korean human rights, ahead of their talks in Seoul on Feb. 2, 2026, in this photo provided by Kim's office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
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en.yna.co.kr · Oh Seok-min · February 2, 2026
9. Kim Jong Un opens North Korea’s largest greenhouse farm to date on China border
Summary:
Kim Jong Un opened north Korea’s largest greenhouse complex, the Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm and Vegetable Science Research Center, on islands in the Yalu River near Sinuiju, KCNA reported. He said the Workers' Party of Korea aims to lead the world in greenhouse scale and cultivation methods, using an “intelligent” integrated system to cut costs and raise output. Construction began Feb. 2024; the site runs about 13 km with roughly 740 hectares of greenhouses, plus new bridges. It is framed as a “gift” to the upcoming party congress, with youth and soldiers mobilized for labor and mass photo sessions.
Comment: Will the Korean people in the north really benefit from this or is it only for show?
Kim Jong Un opens North Korea’s largest greenhouse farm to date on China border
In speech, Kim vows to lead world in greenhouse technology amid yearslong push to fix food shortages
Colin Zwirko February 2, 2026
https://www.nknews.org/2026/02/kim-jong-un-opens-north-koreas-largest-greenhouse-farm-to-date-on-china-border/?popup=signin&login=recaptcha
Kim Jong Un at the Sinuiju greenhouse farm opening on Feb. 1 | Image: KCNA (Feb. 2, 2026)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un officially opened the country’s largest greenhouse farm at a ceremony on Sunday, according to state media, vowing to build the biggest and most advanced greenhouse facilities in the world.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Monday that Kim inaugurated the Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm and Sinuiju Vegetable Science Research Center on a series of islands in the Yalu River bordering China.
Kim said at the event that “it is the intention of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) to overtake the world not only in the size of greenhouse [farms] but also in the method of greenhouse vegetable cultivation.”
The purpose of the project is “radically increase the production of greenhouse vegetables of the country,” and to “steadily expand” operation of such farms, Kim said, adding that these efforts will “bring the people’s desire into a great reality without delay.”
He reportedly thanked national scientists working on the project for “greatly lowering production costs and consumption and making big profits through introduction of an intelligent, integrated production system.”
Aerial views of the sprawling Sinuiju greenhouse farm | Image: KCNA (Feb. 2, 2026)
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The North Korean leader snatches a fish with his hand | Image: KCNA (Feb. 2, 2026)
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The DPRK leader previously said the project’s main purpose was to teach thousands of young people mobilized to labor camps, on site along with conscripted soldiers, important lessons on obedience to his dictatorial edicts to ensure the country’s prosperity.
He praised the young mobilized workers again on Sunday for their “unshakable faith in socialism, confidence about the future and love for the country.”
Last month, Kim suggested it was a young person’s duty to give up their “cherished precious dreams” in order to devote their energy toward state construction projects and fighting wars in “alien lands.”
A large part of Sunday’s celebration in Sinuiju involved Kim taking 13 separate group photos, each with thousands of youth league and soldier construction workers who were made to stand and wait on large grandstands in sub-zero temperatures during the lengthy setup and shooting process.
Construction of the Sinuiju greenhouse farm started in Feb. 2024. The complex is around 8 miles long (13 km) and features around 1,830 acres (740 hectares) of greenhouses on the islands of Wihhwa and Taji. New rail and road bridges to the islands have also been built as part of the project.
The Sinuiju farm complex, including the research center, is around 35% larger than the combined footprint of the three previous major greenhouse farm projects led by Kim: the Jungphyong greenhouse farm built in 2019, the Ryonpho farm in 2022 and the Kandgong farm in 2024. The DPRK has pushed construction of greenhouses in recent years as a way to improve vegetable supplies and food security after repeated cycles of shortages.
Kim walks past thousands of “youth shock brigade” workers dispatched to build the sprawling greenhouse farm during a group photo shoot | Image: KCNA (Feb. 2, 2026)
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Kim previously ordered construction of new apartment complexes across the Sinuiju City and Uiju County islands in 2024 after they were completely flooded during storms in July that year.
He publicly inspected the new greenhouse farm project six times before its opening, including the groundbreaking ceremony in Feb. 2025, and then in August, September, October, November and Jan. 2026.
The leader promised to locals at the weekend ceremony that they would no longer suffer from frequent flooding, claiming that riverside embankments built since the floods will serve as a “solid dam that will resist even the heaviest flooding on record.”
Meanwhile, a monument built on site characterized the greenhouse farm project as a “gift” to the Ninth Party Congress. This means that it had to be deemed complete and officially opened by Kim before the upcoming party congress, which appears set to begin sometime in the next week or two.
North Korea has not indicated plans to invite foreign observers to the farm to determine whether all greenhouses on the sprawling site are functioning. Authorities have invited guests from politically friendly nations like Russia and China to other greenhouse farms like Kangdong in recent years.
Pyongyang also sent an agricultural expert delegation to Russia last November, possibly in connection to preparations to open the new greenhouse farm and research center.
Edited by David Choi
10. North Korean households receive heavy yearly scrap collection quotas as new year begins
Summary:
Daily NK reports that neighborhood watch units in north Korea are issuing heavy annual household quotas for scrap and other materials at the start of the year, then checking compliance at year’s end. In cities like Chongjin and Hoeryong, families must deliver set amounts of scrap metal, paper, rubber, oil crops, and even sacks of dried night soil. Leaders frame the quotas as “patriotic,” warn that failure brings tougher future quotas, and note that people also face similar demands at schools and workplaces. Households say they have already stripped their homes of tradable items; those who fall short must pay cash equivalents, and quotas can rise arbitrarily.
Comment: When the state turns scarcity into mandatory “patriotism,” who is being disciplined most, the economy or the people?
North Korean households receive heavy yearly scrap collection quotas as new year begins - Daily NK English
dailynk.com · February 2, 2026
Those unable to gather recyclables on time must pay cash equivalents, and quotas are sometimes raised arbitrarily, leaving North Koreans feeling "shackled" by collection demands
By Lee Chae Eun - February 2, 2026
https://www.dailynk.com/english/north-korean-households-receive-heavy-yearly-scrap-collection-quotas-as-new-year-begins/
A North Korean surveillance post photographed near the border with China. A poster describes methods of making reports, including a phone number for a neighborhood police station. (Courtesy of Kang Dong-wan, a professor at Dong-a University)
North Korean neighborhood watch unit leaders have given households their yearly quotas for various scrap materials they are supposed to collect for the government.
Families have been given heavy quotas once again this year, eliciting sighs and lamentations from many North Koreans.
A source in North Hamgyong province told Daily NK recently that the yearly quotas had been handed down during meetings of neighborhood watch units at cities and counties throughout the province, including Chongjin and Hoeryong.
“People at these meetings all had grievances to share,” the source reported.
Every household in North Korea’s neighborhood watch units are given yearly collection quotas for such recyclable materials as scrap metal, paper, and plastic.
As a rule, households are informed how much of each material they are supposed to submit for the entire year. The point is for families to collect their recyclables in advance so they can submit it to the neighborhood watch unit whenever requested.
“Each household is given their collection quotas at a neighborhood meeting at the beginning of the year. Then the amount they collected throughout the year is checked at another neighborhood meeting at the end of the year. Everybody who got their quotas for the year had grim expressions on their faces,” the source observed.
Heavy quotas weigh on households
According to the source, one neighborhood watch unit in Chongjin provided the following quotas to each household in a meeting on the evening of Jan. 14: 40 kilograms of scrap metal, 10 kilograms of scrap paper, 5 kilograms of scrap rubber, 2 kilograms of oil crops, and three 25-kilogram sacks of dried night soil.
“You’ve got your orders, so be sure to meet your quotas in advance so you can hand over your recyclables at any time. If you don’t meet your quota, the neighborhood watch unit will be given even heavier quotas in the future. Be responsible about your collection work so that you don’t inconvenience the other families,” the neighborhood leader reportedly stressed during the meeting.
Neighborhood watch unit members were roundly displeased about the whole affair.
“The tough thing is we’re expected to meet quotas not only in our neighborhood but also at our schools and workplaces,” one commented.
“We’ve gone through every inch of the house, but there are no other items worth trading in. It’s not like we can make something out of nothing,” another frustrated person said.
“I was already worried about feeding my family, and now I’ve got to worry about meeting our quotas too. It looks like I’ll be plagued with worries until my dying day,” a third remarked.
A neighborhood watch unit in Hyesan, Ryanggang province, received similar quotas for similar items during a meeting on Jan. 15.
“No slackers allowed! We’ve got to carry out these tasks with a patriotic spirit, since this is all helping our country develop,” the neighborhood leader said.
But facing this appeal to patriotism, browbeaten residents could only shake their heads and mumble about how stressed out they are.
“While we get these assignments every year, the burden feels much heavier because the yearly total is announced all at once at the beginning of the year. It’s discouraging to start the year with such a weight on your shoulders,” a source in Ryanggang province said.
“There are complaints that these collection quotas never seem to go away and, if anything, are becoming more of a burden. People who can’t gather enough recyclables on time are expected to pay a cash equivalent, and the quotas themselves are sometimes bumped up arbitrarily. That’s why North Koreans say they feel shackled by these collection quotas,” the source added.
Read in Korean
dailynk.com · February 2, 2026
11. 'KPop Demon Hunters' wins at Grammys with Korean culture's global appeal
Summary:
Yonhap reports that “Golden,” from Netflix’s animated hit KPop Demon Hunters, won Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 68th Grammy Awards, marking the first Grammy win tied to a K-pop soundtrack. The film mixes Seoul settings and Korean cultural markers like hanbok, folk motifs, street food, and local landmarks, and it follows a fictional girl group fighting evil through music. Yonhap says the movie became Netflix’s most watched title, and it sparked global sing-along screenings and costume demand. The soundtrack surged on Billboard and the UK charts, and producers tied to The Black Label were credited among the winners.
Comment: South Korean soft power.
Entertainment News Feb. 2, 2026 / 4:31 AM
'KPop Demon Hunters' wins at Grammys with Korean culture's global appeal
By Shim Sun-ah, Yonhap News Agency
https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2026/02/02/korea-Kpop-Demon-Hunters-Grammys-Golden-EJAE-win/9431770024106/
"Golden" from the "Kpop Demon Hunters" original soundtrack took home Best Song Written for Visual Media at the Grammys on Sunday. In this photo, Audrey Nuna, Ejae and Rei Ami arrive on the red carpet for the Pre-Grammy Gala on Saturday. Photo by Caroline Brehman/UPI | License Photo
Netflix's animation sensation "KPop Demon Hunters," which captivated the world with its distinct Korean cultural elements, has expanded the reach of Korean culture on the global stage with its triumph at the Grammy Awards.
"Golden" from the film's original soundtrack took home Best Song Written for Visual Media in a premiere ceremony of the 68th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday (U.S. time). It marks the first time that an original soundtrack from the K-pop genre has ever been nominated for or won at the Grammys.
The U.S. animated film acts as a cultural hybrid, seamlessly blending traditional Korean heritage with contemporary styles as it follows Huntr/x, a fictional girl group that battles evil spirits using the power of music. Set in Seoul, it showcases local landmarks and cultural elements, such as "hanbok," traditional tiger and magpie characters, a traditional medicine clinic, vibrant Seoul streets and street food, which have caught global attention since its release.
The movie became the most-watched Netflix title of all time, surpassing 500 million total views in under six months after its release. Its success triggered a wave of cultural interest, from sold-out "sing-along" screenings in the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand, among other countries, to sold-out Halloween costumes inspired by its characters.
The movie's influence extended well beyond streaming platforms. The National Museum of Korea has welcomed more than 6 million visitors this year, its highest annual total since opening 80 years ago, while sales of its official merchandise line, Mu:ds, surged on the back of the film's popularity.
The film's soundtrack also became a commercial phenomenon. "Golden," performed by Korean American artists Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight non-consecutive weeks and led the British Official Singles Chart Top 100 for 10 nonconsecutive weeks. The soundtrack album reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.
In addition to "Golden," other songs on the soundtrack, including "Takedown," "Soda Pop," "How It's Done" and "What It Sounds Like," also gained popularity, simultaneously dominating the Billboard's main songs chart.
The soundtrack's chart performance was widely viewed as evidence of K-pop's growing footprint on the global stage, with several key industry figures involved in its creation. They include Teddy, a star producer known for his work with BIGBANG and BLACKPINK, alongside Kush, Vince, 24 and Ido --- all composers from The Black Label. Ejae, who co-wrote and performed "Golden," previously trained at South Korea's powerhouse label SM Entertainment.
On Sunday, songwriters Ejae, Teddy, 24 and Ido -- the latter three are producers at the South Korean music label The Black Label -- were among those recognized as the official Grammy winners for "Golden."
While South Korean recording engineer Hwang Byeong-joon and Korean American artist Yungin have won Grammys in the past, "Golden" represents the first time K-pop producers or songwriters have taken home the award.
"KPop Demon Hunters" also landed two Oscar nominations -- Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for "Golden" -- at next month's Oscars in Los Angeles.
"The film shows how local tradition and global production can combine to create a cultural phenomenon," Korean culture critic Jung Duk-hyun said. "It is a symbolic title that broadens the definition of K-content beyond works made solely with domestic capital."
Copyright (c) Yonhap News Agency prohibits its content from being redistributed or reprinted without consent, and forbids the content from being learned and used by artificial intelligence systems.
12. North Korea Calendar Snubs Xi, Includes Putin
Summary:
A report citing Radio Free Asia says north Korea’s 2026 “International Friendship Exhibition” calendar spotlights gifts linked to Vladimir Putin twice, but omits any gift tied to Xi Jinping. Chinese items shown instead come from 1991 gifts to Kim Il-sung by Jiang Zemin and Yang Shangkun. Analysts quoted, including a researcher at the Global Peace Foundation, argue absence is propaganda language: what is not shown is the message. The pattern fits recent state media phrasing that downgraded Xi while elevating Putin.
Excerpt:
Lee Hyun-seung, a defector-turned senior researcher at the Global Peace Foundation, stated, “Kim Jong Un and Chinese President Xi Jinping held five summit meetings since 2018, but the complete absence of gifts is not a coincidence. In North Korean propaganda, absence signifies a gap in relations.” He added, “This year’s calendar starkly reveals the current status of North Korea-China relations: Putin twice, Xi Jinping zero.”
Comment: If propaganda is policy by other means, what does “Putin twice, Xi zero” prepare the regime to justify next?
EnglishNorth Korea
North Korea Calendar Snubs Xi, Includes Putin
Expert Analysis Links Omissions to Strained North Korea-China Ties
By Park Sun-min
Published 2026.02.02. 17:14
Updated 2026.02.02. 18:10https://www.chosun.com/english/north-korea-en/2026/02/02/XRSILK43UZHJRHQZMCXH7PIIKI/
North Korean authorities publish the 2026 'International Friendship Exhibition' calendar. /RFA
North Korean authorities have been found to have excluded content related to Chinese President Xi Jinping in a calendar promoting gifts received from foreign leaders.
According to Radio Free Asia (RFA) on the 31st, this year’s ‘International Friendship Exhibition’ calendar published by North Korea features gifts from Russia, Vietnam, Mongolia, Romania, Iran, Egypt, and other countries.
The International Friendship Exhibition is a space where North Korea displays gifts and souvenirs received from countries worldwide. The regime has used calendars introducing exhibits from this venue to propagate its claim of high international standing.
This year’s calendar notably highlights Russian President Vladimir Putin’s gifts appearing twice, in February and August, drawing attention. This reflects the deepening bilateral ties in various fields following North Korea’s troop dispatch to the Russia-Ukraine war, a relationship mirrored in the calendar.
In contrast, no gifts from President Xi were included. Only jade craftsmanship presented to Kim Il-sung in 1991 by then-Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Jiang Zemin and President Yang Shangkun were featured as Chinese gifts.
RFA interpreted this as reflecting the current state of bilateral relations. While Kim Jong Un attended the 80th-anniversary commemoration of the war to resist aggression military parade in China last September and met Xi directly, the absence of related content in the calendar is unusual.
Lee Hyun-seung, a defector-turned senior researcher at the Global Peace Foundation, stated, “Kim Jong Un and Chinese President Xi Jinping held five summit meetings since 2018, but the complete absence of gifts is not a coincidence. In North Korean propaganda, absence signifies a gap in relations.” He added, “This year’s calendar starkly reveals the current status of North Korea-China relations: Putin twice, Xi Jinping zero.”
This is not the first instance where North Korea’s ‘temperature difference’ toward Xi and Putin has been observed. On the 18th, when reporting that Kim sent New Year’s letters to foreign leaders, Xi was referred to by his title—“Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President of the People’s Republic of China and his spouse”—without his name, unlike other leaders. This contrasts with Kim’s detailed public exchange of congratulatory letters with Putin.
Regarding this, Lim Eul-chul, a professor at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies, noted, “The attitude of North Korean media reporting is the most sensitive gauge reflecting the leader’s intentions,” interpreting it as a signal of Kim’s significant dissatisfaction toward China.
De Oppresso Liber,
David Maxwell
Vice President, Center for Asia Pacific Strategy
https://apstrategy.org/
Executive Director, Korea Regional Review
https://www.upi.com/Korea-Regional-Review/
Editor-at-large, Small Wars Journal
https://smallwarsjournal.com/
Twitter: @davidmaxwell161
Phone: 202-573-8647
email: david.maxwell161@gmail.com
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