The record of high-ranking officials ‘purged’ by the eccentric megalomaniac leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, is continuing to grow as he tightens his grip on power, writes Paul French.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said he is open to a summit with his South Korean counterpart.

NORTH KOREA: In North Korea, there can be only one Kim Jong Un.

Even when Kim Jong Un was nowhere to be seen, he was everywhere.

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un has been shown on state media walking to his seat for a memorial event with a noticeable limp.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has described his once-powerful uncle and mentor, whom he purged and executed, as “factionalist filth” in a new year message in which he boasted of a surge of internal strength.

North Korea said today that it executed Kim Jong Un’s uncle as a traitor for trying to seize supreme power, a stunning end for the leader’s former mentor, long considered the country’s No 2.

Goose-stepping soldiers, columns of tanks and a broad array of ominous-looking missiles poised on mobile launchers paraded through Pyongyang’s main square today in a painstakingly choreographed military pageant.

North Korea has lashed out again at South Korea over a small public protest in Seoul in which demonstrators burned effigies of the North’s leaders.

After weeks of tension, North Korea has options to improve relations with the US and South Korea – but it is unlikely to be tempted by Washington’s offer to restart negotiations on its nuclear programme.

Oblivious to international tensions over a possible North Korean missile launch, Pyongyang residents spilled into the streets today to celebrate a major national holiday, the birthday of their first leader, Kim Il Sung.

US Secretary of State John Kerry delivered a stark warning to North Korea not to test-fire a mid-range missile.

A Chinese city near the border with North Korea has held an air raid drill amid tensions over Pyongyang’s latest threats, according to media reports.

North Korea’s neighbours were monitoring missile movements in the rogue state as Pyonyang began celebrating a series of April holidays today.

The threat of a new North Korean missile launch is “considerably high,” South Korea’s foreign minister has warned.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his people must pursue economic improvement with the same urgency scientists put into the launch of a long-range rocket.

The embalmed body of former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, still in his trademark khaki jump-suit, has been put on display on the anniversary of his death.

North Koreans across the country stopped in their tracks at noon local time to silently honour former ruler Kim Jong Il, whose death a year ago swept his untested 20-something son to power.

The US has led international condemnation of the successful launch of North Korea's first space satellite.

Tens of thousands of mourners sobbed, sang, prayed and vowed to cherish the Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s teachings today as they said goodbye to their self-proclaimed messiah and “True Father,” whose death earlier this month shed light again on his controversial religious and business empire.

A mystery woman's appearance with North Korea's young new leader has sparked speculation about her identity.

Half a dozen ominous new North Korean missiles showcased at a lavish military parade were clumsy fakes, according to analysts.

Kim Jong Un spoke publicly for the first time today, praising his father Kim Jong Il's "military first" policy during celebrations marking the 100th birthday of the nation's late founder.

South Korean warships fanned out across the Yellow Sea today to search for debris from North Korea's failed rocket launch, which brought humiliation for the country's new young leader and condemnation from a host of nations.

North Korea’s much-anticipated rocket launch ended in failure, splintering into pieces over the Yellow Sea soon after lift-off.

North Korea was poised to send a rocket into space as the nation's young leader ascended to new top political posts, strengthening his hold on power.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been appointed to what appears to be a top post in the ruling Workers’ Party while his late father was declared its “eternal” general secretary.

North Korea was today injecting liquid fuel into the rocket it intends to send into space soon.

North Korean space officials said today that all assembly and preparations for a planned satellite launch have been completed, while denying it is a cover for a missile test.

North Korea said today it would launch a long-range rocket mounted with a satellite in honour of late president Kim Il Sung’s April birthday.

A senior North Korean party official has dismissed concerns about Kim Jong Un's readiness to lead, saying he spent years working closely with his late father and helped him make key policy decisions on economic and military affairs.

North Korea said late leader Kim Jong Il’s body will be permanently laid in state in a memorial palace in the capital.

NORTH KOREA’S new leader vowed in 2009 to wage war if the country’s enemies shot down its long-range rocket, footage aired on state television showed yesterday in the first official word of his role in military operations before his father’s death.

North Korea vowed to stage an all-out drive for prosperity as it unites behind new leader Kim Jong Un, ushering in 2012 with promises to resolve food shortages, bolster its military and defend Kim Jong Il’s young son “unto death”.

North Korea has announced that Kim Jong Un has been officially named supreme commander of the military, further strengthening his authority after the death of his father, long-time North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

Kim Jong Il’s son and successor was declared “supreme leader” of North Korea’s ruling party, military and the people during a memorial today for his father in the first public endorsement of his leadership by the government.

Tens of thousands of North Koreans lined the snowy streets of Pyongyang today, wailing and clutching their chests as a black hearse carrying late leader Kim Jong Il’s body wound its way through the capital for a final farewell.

North Korea’s next leader led a funeral procession for his father Kim Jong Il through Pyongyang’s snow-covered streets.

Kim Jong Il’s son was identified today as head of a top decision-making body of the ruling Workers’ Party, a post that now gives him authority over political as well as military matters in North Korea.

North Korea vowed today to uphold Kim Jong Il’s son as “supreme commander” as the campaign to install the young man as the next leader of the socialist nation gained pace one week after his father’s death.

The people of North Korea’s capital have received a special gift from their late leader Kim Jong Il – loads of fish.

North Korea says a fierce snowstorm paused and the sky began glowing red above sacred Mount Paektu, minutes before leader Kim Jong Il’s death.

Tens of thousands of mourners packed Pyongyang’s main square today to pay respects to former leader Kim Jong Il.

North Korea has tightened internal security and put troops on alert since the announcement of leader Kim Jong Il’s death, South Korean intelligence indicated today.