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N.Korea criticizes S.Korea’s ‘unification diplomacy’​ North Korea unveiled statements via its state media outlets the Rodong Sinmun and Uriminzokkiri on Saturday, criticizing the South Korean government’s recent “unification diplomacy.” The statement pointed to South Korean President Park Geun-hye’s remarks about “cooperation with China”. Park had said there would be discussions with China on how to achieve “peaceful unification as soon as possible.” Experts have warned that the North's cooperation will be necessary for reunification, and that Seoul should avoid laying too much stress on the issue. Visit NK News for more N. Korea adds more upgrades to main port North Korea has completed upgrades to its major port at Nampho, adding a new crane capable of moving “thousands” of additional shipping containers, according to North Korean media. It is now the third crane at the shipping container port. North Korea’s Nampo port has offloading facilities for oil, bulk cargoes, coal and shipping containers. The latter can be clearly seen to the east of the other facilities on satellite imagery. Visit NK News for more N. Korea’s quiet market reforms​, By Dr. Andrei Lankov Not everybody would agree, but it seems increasingly likely that Kim Jong Un and his administration (whatever that means) are executing a careful set of market-oriented reforms. These reforms bear some similarities to what the Chinese leadership did in the 1970s, though they are significantly less radical in many regards. Here, Andrei Lankov sifts through the evidence to work out the extent to which North Korea's growing market economy is really a product of government policy. Visit NK News for more North Korean national airline introduces new domestic taxi service North Korean state airline Air Koryo has introduced a new domestic taxi service, designed to bring passengers to and from the airport. “Koryo airport taxi is for the convenience of customers using Pyongyang International Airport, providing cars, minivans, and SUVs when requested through an order, airport standby services or taxi services,” a poster at the Air Koryo ticketing office said. Visit NK News for more

Top Stories Today

Two Koreas to exchange lists of candidates for family reunions (The Korea Herald)
The two Koreas will exchange lists of their candidates for the upcoming reunions for families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War at the truce village of Panmunjom next week.

Rally held to demand return of abductees from North Korea (Japan Today)
A rally was held in Tokyo on Sunday to demand that North Korea return Japanese abductees. Relatives of abductees urged the Japanese government to do more.

Korea earmarks more for U.S. lobbying in 2016 (JoongAng Ilbo)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Friday released its budget for 2016 and announced that it would increase spending on diplomacy in the United States by 66.3 percent. 

North Korea insists it has a good human rights record (Quartz)
A United Nations inquiry found that North Korea’s human rights abuses include murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, and rape.

N. Korea nudges UN 'US military must leave South' (Korea Times)
North Korea has sent a letter to the U.N. Security Council, demanding the U.S. military in South Korea must leave.