Report: China, North Korea to Strengthen Strategic Cooperation

China's Premier Li Qiang shakes hands with North Korea's Premier Pak Thae Song as he departs after his visit, in Pyongyang, North Korea, October 11, 2025, in this photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency. (KCNA via Reuters)
China's Premier Li Qiang shakes hands with North Korea's Premier Pak Thae Song as he departs after his visit, in Pyongyang, North Korea, October 11, 2025, in this photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency. (KCNA via Reuters)
TT

Report: China, North Korea to Strengthen Strategic Cooperation

China's Premier Li Qiang shakes hands with North Korea's Premier Pak Thae Song as he departs after his visit, in Pyongyang, North Korea, October 11, 2025, in this photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency. (KCNA via Reuters)
China's Premier Li Qiang shakes hands with North Korea's Premier Pak Thae Song as he departs after his visit, in Pyongyang, North Korea, October 11, 2025, in this photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency. (KCNA via Reuters)

China says it is ready to develop its relationship with North Korea to strengthen strategic cooperation in international and regional affairs, North Korea's state media KCNA reported.

Chinese President Xi Jinping made the comment in a letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Thursday, KCNA said, adding that this was a reply to Kim's message celebrating China's anniversary of the foundation of the Communist Party.

China and North Korea are "good neighbors, good friends", sharing destiny and helping each other, and the friendship is growing stronger, Xi was quoted as saying.

The two leaders prepared "a blueprint" for the development of relations at the meeting during Kim's visit to China in September, Xi said in the letter quoted by KCNA.

On Saturday, foreign ministers of Indonesia and North Korea held a meeting in Pyongyang, KCNA said in a separate report.

The two sides exchanged views on strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation on regional and international issues of mutual concern, KCNA said.

The two nations also signed a memorandum of understanding on mutual issues, KCNA said, without elaborating.

The Indonesian minister is among foreign visitors in North Korea participating in the ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of North Korea's ruling party, according to KCNA.



NATO: Ukraine Still Receiving Arms Despite Mideast War

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte via Reuters/File
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte via Reuters/File
TT

NATO: Ukraine Still Receiving Arms Despite Mideast War

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte via Reuters/File
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte via Reuters/File

Ukraine is still getting essential defense equipment despite the war in the Middle East, which is depleting stockpiles in Europe and the United States, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Thursday.

"The good news is that essential equipment into Ukraine continues to flow," he told reporters. That included American-made Patriot missile interceptors, which Ukraine desperately needs, he added, AFP reported.

The PURL program, launched last year, allows Ukraine to receive US equipment financed by European countries.

Some 75 percent of the missiles used by Patriot batteries in Ukraine have been supplied through the program, and 90 percent of the munitions used by other air-defense systems, Rutte added.

Rutte called on European countries to increase their own production capacity.

"They need to produce more extra production lines, extra shifts, opening new factories. The money is there," he said.


Germany FM Says 'Encouraging' if US Speaking Directly to Iran

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. (Reuters: File Photo)
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. (Reuters: File Photo)
TT

Germany FM Says 'Encouraging' if US Speaking Directly to Iran

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. (Reuters: File Photo)
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. (Reuters: File Photo)

Germany's foreign minister Thursday said it was encouraging if the United States was talking directly to Iran to end the war in the Middle East, but Washington should make its intentions clear.

"I hear that there are signs that the US is speaking directly to Iran. I think that this is encouraging and this is welcome," Johann Wadephul told reporters before heading into the meeting of G7 foreign ministers outside Paris, AFP reported.

With US Secretary of State Marco Rubio set to join the discussions from Friday, he added: "For the German government it is of great importance to know precisely what our American partners are intending."


US Envoy Witkoff Says Iran is Seeking an Off-ramp

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, US, March 26, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, US, March 26, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
TT

US Envoy Witkoff Says Iran is Seeking an Off-ramp

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, US, March 26, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, US, March 26, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

The United States has sent Iran a "15-point action list" as a basis for negotiations to end the current conflict, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said on Thursday, adding that there are signs that Tehran was interested in making a deal.

 

Witkoff, speaking during a cabinet meeting at the White House, said that the nascent talks could be successful if the Iranians realize there were no good alternatives - a realization Tehran might be coming to, he argued, Reuters reported.

 

"We will see where things lead, and if we can convince Iran that this is the inflection point with no good alternatives for them other than more death and destruction," Witkoff told reporters.

 

"We have strong signs that this is a possibility."

 

Witkoff said Pakistan had been acting as a mediator, confirming statements from Pakistani officials.