International
The United States confirms that North Korea has sent soldiers to Russia to fight in Ukraine
The United States Secretary of Defense, Lloyd J. Austin III, has confirmed that North Korea has sent troops to Russia to join the Russian forces fighting in the war with Ukraine, US media reported on Wednesday.
In statements made on a visit to a military base in Italy, Austin described North Korea’s presence in Russia as a “very serious” escalation that would have consequences in both Europe and Asia.
“What exactly are they doing?” Austin told journalists at a military base in Italy. “It’s to be seen.”
The Secretary of Defense did not give details about the number of troops that are already there or the number expected to arrive, but its confirmation comes after US intelligence officials have announced that they are preparing to publish a large amount of information, including satellite photographs, showing troop ships moving from North Korea to training areas in Vladivostok, on the east coast of Russia, and other Russian territories further north.
Seoul believes that there are already 3,000 North Korean soldiers in Russia
According to US officials, so far the North Korean soldiers have not arrived in Ukraine.
However, the South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) estimates that Pyongyang has already sent about 3,000 soldiers to Russian territory, where they are theoretically preparing to be transferred to the front in Ukraine.
This information, which has been shared with members of the Parliamentary Intelligence Committee, indicates that about 10,000 soldiers could be deployed in Ukraine by December, without offering more information about it.
Already on Friday, the NIS itself revealed that it foresaw the sending of about 12,000 troops, including a unit of the Special Forces, a figure that is close to what Kiev also said.
Of the total number of troops, about 1,500 troops would already be in bases in the Russian Far East, receiving instruction, in addition to weapons, uniforms and Russian identity cards.
South Korean intelligence considers that after the first transport of those 1,500 soldiers, which took place between October 8 and 13, new transfers have been made that have practically doubled the number of North Korean troops on Russian soil.
One of the parliamentarians of the committee who was informed by the director of the NIS himself has assured that “he provided fairly well-founded information indicating that about 10,000 men will be deployed” for the month of December in Ukraine, according to statements collected by the Yonhap agency.
Partnership agreement between Moscow and Pyongyang
This information has been labeled as “hoaxes by Moscow and “absurd comments” by Pyongyang.
South Korea considers, like many experts, that the sending of troops is based on the strategic partnership pact that Pyongyang and Moscow signed in June and that urges mutual assistance in the event that one of the two countries is attacked, a scenario that would have opened up after Ukraine’s incursions in the Russian regions of Belgorod and Kursk.
International
Trump and Putin end Alaska summit without Ukraine peace agreement
U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin wrapped up their summit in Alaska on Friday with a brief joint press conference, during which they announced no agreement on peace in Ukraine.
Trump described the more than three-hour meeting with Putin and his delegation at Elmendorf-Richardson base as “extremely productive,” but admitted, “we have not reached the goal.”
“Many points were agreed upon. Only a few remain unresolved. Some are not significant. One is probably the most significant, but we have a good chance of resolving them. We haven’t gotten there yet, but we have a good chance of achieving it,” Trump stated cryptically at the no-questions press conference.
According to White House officials, the summit began around 11:30 a.m. local time (7:30 p.m. GMT).
Trump was joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy for the Middle East and Kremlin mediator Steve Witkoff. On Putin’s side, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov were in attendance.
Central America
International tourism brings over $2.2 billion to El Salvador in 2025
International tourism has generated more than $2.2 billion in foreign exchange for the Salvadoran economy during the first seven months of 2025, according to the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur).
Tourism Minister Morena Valdez stated on Thursday that this figure reflects a favorable development of the tourism sector so far this year.
“Over $2.2 billion by July, and we estimate more than $3 billion in foreign exchange by December 2025. I believe we will perform quite well,” Valdez said in an interview with Frente a Frente.
These figures do not include the 91,000 international tourists received during the August holidays, who contributed $60 million to the local economy, according to the government.
The accumulated results by July represent 73.3% of Mitur’s estimates for foreign exchange generated by international tourism in 2025.
During the same period, tourism authorities recorded 2.3 million international visitors, which is 57.5% of the more than 4 million visitors projected by the government by the end of 2025.
Authorities have recently adjusted the tourism target: at the beginning of the year, Mitur anticipated 4.2 million visitorsafter receiving 3.9 million in the previous year.
International
Tabasco ex-officials linked to drug trafficking spark Mexico-U.S. tensions
The scandal involving two former state officials from Tabasco, southeast Mexico, linked to drug trafficking and now fugitives, has added tension to Mexico-U.S. relations, which had already been strained by President Donald Trump’s threats to send troops across the border to target cartels.
At the center of the controversy is the current coordinator of the Mexican Senate, former governor of Tabasco, and former Secretary of the Interior, Adán Augusto López Hernández, a close ally of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador (2018–2024), along with his then-security secretary, Hernán Bermúdez Requena.
According to the Mexican weekly Proceso, published two weeks ago, the criminal ties of the former officials were reported in 2022 by Mexican intelligence services during López Obrador’s administration when López Hernández was Secretary of the Interior.
Bermúdez Requena, known as ‘El Comandante H’, was appointed Secretary of Security in Tabasco in 2019 by then-governor Adán Augusto López Hernández, from the ruling Morena party, and is accused of being a leader of the criminal group ‘La Barredora’, a cell linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
On July 22, Mexico’s Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch, confirmed that a warrant and Interpol red notice had been issued against Bermúdez Requena, who had been under investigation since 2024 for his links to organized crime.
Honduran prosecutors charge three with terrorism and assassination plot against Manuel Zelaya
Trump and Putin end Alaska summit without Ukraine peace agreement
International tourism brings over $2.2 billion to El Salvador in 2025
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
International5 days agoMexico City airport resumes flights after heavy rain causes flooding and delays
-
Central America4 days agoGuatemalan gang members riot, take prison guards hostage over leader transfers
-
Central America4 days agoHonduras condemns U.S. reward against Nicolás Maduro as baseless attacks
-
International5 days agoMexico supports 81 nationals detained in Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ says president
-
International5 days agoMexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to meet Guatemalan leader Bernardo Arévalo next friday
-
International5 days agoBrazil’s finance minister claims far-right forces blocked U.S. tariff talks
-
Central America2 days agoInternational tourism brings over $2.2 billion to El Salvador in 2025
-
Central America3 days agoSix officials detained for misusing municipal funds in Honduras, luxury goods found
-
International4 days agoU.S. offers $5 million reward for arrest of haitian gang leader Jimmy “Barbeque” Cherizier
-
International3 days agoTrump deploys National Guard as Pentagon plans quick-reaction force for civil disturbances
-
International4 days agoColombian president Gustavo Petro warns against U.S. military intervention in Venezuela
-
Internacionales2 days agoFlorida governor Ron DeSantis announces new migrant detention center in Northern Florida
-
International2 days ago
Tabasco ex-officials linked to drug trafficking spark Mexico-U.S. tensions
-
International3 days agoUruguay’s Lower House votes to legalize euthanasia amid broad public support
-
International2 days agoPope Leo XIV marks first 100 days with prudence and diplomacy
-
International10 hours agoTrump and Putin end Alaska summit without Ukraine peace agreement
-
Central America10 hours agoHonduran prosecutors charge three with terrorism and assassination plot against Manuel Zelaya