SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's powerful sister accused Seoul on Wednesday (Aug 20) of having a "double character", slamming it for holding military drills with the US while attempting diplomatic overtures towards Pyongyang.

North Korea criticizes South Korea for joint military exercises with the US while pursuing diplomatic talks, highlighting Seoul's 'double character'.

A California man has been sentenced to eight years in prison after admitting to shipping weapons and ammunition to North Korea

Shenghua Wen, 42, was sentenced to eight years in prison in connection with the scheme that earned him $2 million from North Korean handlers.

North Korea's Kim Yo Jong firmly dismisses South Korea as a diplomatic partner, criticizing recent military drills with the US as provocations and asserting Seoul's peace initiatives as insincere. Meanwhile,

A Chinese national has been sentenced to eight years in prison for smuggling firearms and other military items to North Korea, the US justice department said. Shenghua Wen, 42, received around $2m (£1.5m) from North Korean officials to ship the items from California, according to a statement from the agency on Monday.

Ulchi Freedom Shield will involve 21,000 soldiers in computer-simulated command post operations and field training.

The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Thursday denied Seoul's claim that the North had begun removing propaganda speakers inside the DMZ.