SEOUL -- A former sergeant in the North Korean military says that few of Pyongyang's soldiers have been captured fighting against Ukraine because they're told their families will be executed if they are caught alive.

The supreme leader of North Korea has tried to hide the true purpose of the military site - but global analysts say sand traps with launch pads pose a slight giveaway

Released on March 8 on a technicality, the leader is still awaiting the Constitutional Court's decision on the impeachment motion voted against him after his aborted declaration of martial law. His supporters and opponents are more mobilized than ever.

But analysts suggest Washington may be open to resuming talks with North Korea, with Moscow potentially playing the role of mediator.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Thursday that Moscow believes Pyongyang's measures to 'strengthen defense capabilities' are 'fully justified under conditions of current escalation' - Anadolu

Kyrylo Budanov told reporters on Sunday that Pyongyang is "covering for practically 50% of Russia's need" for ammo.

An attack on South Korean reactors or spent fuel storage pools would release large amounts of radioactivity and cause massive evacuations, diverting attention from a possible strategic crisis in East Asia.

It marked the first time that such aid to North Korea has come to zero since South Korea began providing humanitarian assistance in 1995, when torrential rain and flooding in the