North Korea

North Korean authorities have asked adults and children to change their names if they are deemed too soft or simple. Babies are to be given monikers deemed “revolutionary” enough - such as words meaning 'loyalty' or 'bomb' or 'gun'.

South Korea said North Korea has fired a total of more than 10 missiles off its eastern and western coasts. South Korea’s military said the missiles of various kinds flew toward the Korean Peninsula’s eastern and western coasts. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol called a meeting of the National Security Council over the launch, which analysts said was one of the most "aggressive and threatening" in many years.

The South Korean missile failed soon after its launch but did not cause any casualties.The missile firing drills were a response to North Korea's fifth missile launch in 10 days.

While Kim claimed that the country's success against the virus would be recognized as a global health miracle, experts believe North Korea has manipulated disclosures on its outbreak to help him maintain absolute control. The victory statement signals Kim's aim to move to other priorities, including a possible nuclear test.

Approximately 350,000 people had shown signs of the fever, including 18,000 who reported such symptoms on Tuesday alone. So far, around 162,200 of them have been treated, but it is unclear how many have tested positive for COVID-19.

The report stated that Pyongyang's people had contracted the Omicron variant without providing any information further. The samples from the infected people were collected on May 8.

Yoon was elected on a promise of eliminating corruption and levelling the economic playing field, amid growing public dissatisfaction with inequality and rising housing costs, as well as simmering gender and generational rivalry.

The military of Japan and South Korea stated that North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which crashed into Japanese waters.

According to Japanese authorities, the missile is a "new type" of ICBM that travelled for around 71 minutes and covered a range of 1,100 kilometres or 684 miles from the point of launch. At 3:44 p.m. (0644 GMT), the missile fell in Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), some 170 kilometres (106 miles) west of the northern prefecture of Aomori.

The KCNA news agency stated when Kim Jong Un entered the theatrical auditorium with his wife, Ri Sol Ju, amid the playing of the welcome music, the audience erupted with stormy cheers of 'Hurrah'.