Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Friday the resumption of tourist rail service to the border with North Korea is a "small" starting point for establishing peace with Pyongyang.

The country has been leveraging armed conflicts abroad, such as Russia’s war against Ukraine, to bolster its own military capabilities.

North Korea launches a suspected ballistic missile, triggering emergency alerts across Japan. Sirens blared and authorities swiftly activated national defence protocols, urging citizens to remain vigilant and follow official updates.

North Korea said Thursday that it carried out a series of weapons tests this week, including a tactical ballistic missile with a cluster-bomb warhead.

Through art, food, tourism and academics, an increasingly isolated Moscow is seeking to cement lasting ties with Pyongyang.