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North Korea threatens to strike South Korea without warning

South Korean Defense Ministry immediately replied through the military line, vowing to “sternly react” to any provocations

South Korean soldiers and tanks prepare for a drill EPA/JEON HEON-KYUN

South Korean soldiers and tanks prepare for a drill

© EPA/JEON HEON-KYUN

SEOUL, December 20. /ITAR-TASS/. North Korea has threatened to strike South Korea without warning. A spokesman for the South Korean Defense Ministry said on Friday that the North’s powerful National Defense Commission on Thursday sent a fax to South Korea’s National Security Council through the western coastal military hotline to threaten to strike the South “without any notice.”

According to the South Korean Defense Ministry official, Pyongyang issued threats in response to conservatives’ anti-Pyongyang rallies in Seoul on the second death anniversary of its leader Kim Jong-il earlier this week. The latest threat came after several conservative groups and North Korean defectors on Tuesday held rallies in Seoul to protest against North Korea’s authoritarian rule and human rights abuse, with some burning Kim Jong-Un’s photo, evoking harsh criticism from the DPRK National Defense Commission.

The South Korean Defense Ministry immediately replied through the military line, vowing to “sternly react” to any provocations, ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said, Yeohap news agency reported.

The DPRK Korean People’s Army (KPA) since early December is conducting winter combat training, however, no change in its daily activities have been observed, the South Korea Defense Ministry stressed.

South Korea’s capital with a population of more than 10 million people is within reach of North Korean long-range artillery deployed along the border on heavily fortified firing positions.

US blocks Security Council resolution granting full UN membership to Palestine

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Russian government approves draft agreement on military cooperation with DRC

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EU border checkpoint closest to Russia’s St. Petersburg to cut its working hours

The changes were attributed to reconstruction works on the Russian side of the checkpoint Ivangorod

Germany fails to present evidence in case of espionage suspects — Russian embassy

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EU leaders urge to adopt proposal on using incomes from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine

The EU, the US, Japan and Canada have frozen Russian assets worth a total amount of around $300 bln

EU plans to invest first profits from Russian assets in military aid to Kiev

"I think that the decision has been taken by the member-states - all 27 have agreed that we use the windfall profits following our proposal," Ursula von der Leyen said

German Foreign Ministry confirms summoning of Russian ambassador

Earlier, the German Public Prosecutor’s Office said that two people had been detained on suspicion of spying for Russia

Russia-China military-technical cooperation not directed against other states — diplomat

Cooperation between Moscow and Beijing in the military-technical sphere contributes to enhancing security of Russia and China and "is not directed against third countries," Maria Zakharova stressed

Ukraine convicts 12th world chess champion for recognizing Donetsk, Lugansk republics

The two other State Duma members mentioned in the verdict alongside Karpov are Viktor Kazakov and Georgy Karlov

Kazakhstan to sign new agreement with Russia on border checkpoints

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Ukrainian president signs law tightening mobilization rules

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Iran to review nuclear doctrine in case of Israeli aggression — IRGC

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Germany moves to exclude Russia from concentration camp liberation celebrations

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Juan Carlos Garcia Granda expressed hope that in a short term the number could climb to half a million

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Russian MFA says Russia won’t invade Ukraine, blames US for ‘aggressive plans’

Maria Zakharova said it was "absurd" to say Russia nurtured any aggressive plans about Ukraine

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Alexander Orlov noted that recently French President Emmanuel Macron "has made a number of questionable moves that have increased the divide" between both countries

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Military commanders of Ukrainian army brigades "lack both personnel and the required amount of equipment" while Russian troops enjoy a considerable superiority, especially in artillery, Sergey Krivonos noted

Gazprom CEO and Belarus’ Ambassador to Russia discussed Russian gas supplies — company

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Ukrainian military reportedly uses HIMARS rocket launcher to attack Gorlovka

Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Denis Pushilin also said that an explosive device had detonated in the Kievsky District of Donetsk, injuring a man born in 1964

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The Russian president pointed out that Moscow’s "program of assistance to the African countries in sanitary and epidemiological well-being provides for the delivery of ten mobile high-containment biological laboratories"

Kiev continues to openly announce terrorist attacks on Russia — diplomat

Maria Zakharova also pointed to the fact that Ukraine's special services do not give up attempts to "massacre their former compatriots"

US 'not forgetting' to help itself with aid to Ukraine — Kremlin

"In any case, whatever the modality of providing this aid, de facto it is about provoking Ukraine into further hostilities down to the last Ukrainian, putting guarantted money in the pockets of the US," Dmitry Peskov said

Ukraine attacks ZNPP training center again, drone neutralized

"No one was injured as a result of the attack," the news release said

Pipeline explodes in Kharkov Region

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German MFA summons Russian ambassador after detention of espionage suspects — newspaper

Commenting on the men's arrest, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said: "Our security services have prevented possible explosions aimed at undermining our military assistance to Ukraine"

Agents in Ukrainian, Poland foil attempt to kill Zelensky, security officials in Kiev say

The agency said it and the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine informed their Polish counterparts about the alleged assassination attempt

Protesters give Georgian government one hour to revoke foreign agents bill

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Chief prosecutors of Russia, Venezuela sign cooperation agreement in Caracas

The agreement allows "Venezuelan prosecutors to participate in training sessions free of charge and paves the way for Venezuelan students to receive higher education in our university," Russian Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov said

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Russian forces destroy Ukrainian command post, two S-300 missile launchers over day

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EU summit calls to continue work on duties on Russian, Belarusian agricultural produce

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Igor Kimakovsky said that Ukrainian forces suffered heavy casualties among personnel and military hardware, including Western equipment

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Hossein Amir-Abdollahian added that prior to the attack, Tehran said that it would not target US military infrastructure in the Middle East "except in a situation where the United States wants to take military measures in support of Israel"

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Arnulf Damerau said that he provided details of the meeting, along with evidence and a list of names of those involved, to US and European intelligence agencies

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Dmitry Peskov underscored that Moscow has already made its position clear on this matter

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Kazem Jalali noted that Iran had demonstrated its ability to ensure security and nudge the region toward a de-escalation

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MiG-31I fighters receive air refueling system

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Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

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Russian diplomat challenges France to stop arming Kiev amid Olympic truce talk

According to Maria Zakharova, in order for Moscow to take Macron’s initiative seriously, "practical steps" are needed

Serial production of missiles for S-500 air defense systems begins in Russia — source

State trials of S-500 are under way at a testing range in southern Russia

French president says creating Israeli-type air defense network for Ukraine impossible

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Maria Zakharova described France’s decision to place its aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, directly under NATO control as a symbolic move marking the end of "the era of an independent Paris in the international arena"

Over 40 nations want to join BRICS — Russian lawmaker

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Russia expects Armenia to clarify 'military, political accords' with US, EU — diplomat

Maria Zakharova noted that Moscow would not be surprised if it turned out that the US and the EU had imposed their plans on Yerevan

Georgian protests against foreign agent bill reek of US influence — Medvedev

"The experienced and all-too-familiar Hollywood touch can be seen behind these rallies," the politician pointed out

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Sergey Ryabkov said that "very soon, Russia and Iran will have new additional opportunities to discuss the situation in the Middle East in general, as well as details of what is going on there at this point"

Ukraine struggles to garner support for Swiss conference — Russian Foreign Ministry

"There are increasingly fewer people willing to discuss this subject with Kiev’s envoys, let alone going there," Rodion Miroshnik stressed

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The law enforcement employees exert efforts to identify the instigators of this crime, Igor Krasnov said

Russian artillery thwarts Ukrainian army’s rotation near Kupyansk — underground resistance

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Crimea, Donbass to forever remain within Russia, Slovak PM tells national parliament

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Sergey Aksenov noted that the increase in budget revenues helped use a large amount of funds on the development of priority areas, including environmental protection, education, health care, and road construction

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Russia can join top three countries by lithium reserves — governor

Infrastructure is required to implement the investment project, both power transmission lines and the railroad, Andrey Chibis noted

North Korean leader arrives at public event in Aurus luxury car gifted by Putin

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Lavrov states West’s growing concern about BRICS plans to develop own financial tools

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Iran done with retaliation, calls for efforts to stop Israel from reckless steps — MFA

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Russian Aerospace Forces strike five militant hideouts in Syria’s Homs

Yury Popov said that aircraft of the so-called international anti-terrorism coalition, led by the United States, continue to set dangerous precedents in skies above Syria

Iran completed operation, to respond with greater force if needed — envoy to Russia

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Polish premier refuses to hand over his country’s Patriot systems to Ukraine

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Vologda Region to present its stand at SPIEF first time

The organizers will present multimedia and interactive materials on main sectors of the regional economy

Chechen leader announces decision to add 3,000 ex-Wagner fighters to Akhmat commandos

Ramzan Kadyrov said the Russian Defense Ministry had already opened the necessary number of vacancies to recruit soldiers

Kiev ordered mandatory evacuation from Kharkov Region to accommodate mercenaries

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Founder of neo-Nazi cell in Crimea flees to Georgia — source

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Russian Railways to triple tourist passenger flow to 3 mln people by 2030

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Russia will not 'shake up' relations with Argentina due to its partnership with NATO — MFA

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Tokyo potentially joining US nuclear missions fraught with danger — Russian diplomat

Maria Zakharova also highlighted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s recent US visit, adding that "it was yet again accompanied by anti-Russian outbursts"

Investments in Subarctic region to be over $32.6 bln in next decade — governor

Murmansk authorities said earlier that the capacity of the port of Lavna under construction on the western coast of the Kola Bay is planned to be involved in transshipping export cargoes from Belarus

Yerevan's refusal to delimit borders with Baku to escalate regional tensions — PM

Nikol Pashinyan pointed out that the demarcation process also involves risks, but they are manageable, after which "Armenia will become ten times stronger"

Investigation into Crocus terrorist attack underway, traces lead to Ukraine — diplomat

Maria Zakharova noted the need to "wait for official information from the investigation"

UN secretary general calls on international community to prevent escalation in Red Sea

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Argentina applies for status of NATO’s global partner

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Colombian president displays interest in country’s entry into BRICS

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