NK news

NEW: North Korea Calendar 2016 -- $10 off now! Limited opportunity: Pre-order our new North Korea wall calendar and save $10 today! Click here to find out more Separated families from S. Korea arrive at Mount Kumgang Separated families who left Sokcho, Gangwon Province today have arrived at Mount Kumgang Hotel in North Korea for the meetings between separated families.  Visit NK News for more N. Korean membership of Intl' Astronautical Federation 'revoked' North Korean membership of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), a Paris-based space advocacy organization, was "revoked" on Friday, a source familiar with decision-making at the body told NK News.  Visit NK News for more Why North Korean defectors are a minor issue for Beijing - Expert Survey In part 11 of a new NK News expert interview series, Chinese experts conclude that refugees are not an issue worth raising cross-border tensions over. Visit NK News for more   N.Korean defectors rally in support of state-sponsored textbook Defectors from North Korea organized a press conference in support of a government-designated history textbook in front of the headquarters of the main opposition party on Tuesday morning. Visit NK News for more North Korea and Russia looking to build new bridge North Korea and Russia are looking to construct a new pontoon bridge for vehicles on the Tumen river between the two countries, according to a press release from the Russian Ministry of Far East Development. Visit NK News for more Overthinking North Korea's Juche doctrine, By Gianluca Spezza Gianluca Spezza reviews B. R. Meyers' latest book, North Korea's Juche Myth, which argues that what the DPRK has boasted for decades to international audiences as its unique guiding ideology of self-reliance is actually a sham doctrine. Visit NK News for more

Top Stories Today

Korea Hana Foundation expands defector mentoring program (The Daily NK)
Korea Hana Foundation is looking to recruit university student volunteers to take part in an education program for North Korean teenage defectors in the South.

DPRK preparing for nuke test, but not immediate: Seoul (Xinhua)
Preparations by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) for another nuclear test has been under way, but there are no signs of an immediate test, South Korea's spy agency said.

Congress to discuss North Korea and denuclearization issues (UPI)
Congress is to hold hearings on North Korea and related issues Oct. 20-22, less than a week after the United States and South Korea signed a joint statement on North Korea at the White House.

Hwang was scared in South, says aide (JoongAng Ilbo)
Hwang Jang-yop, the architect of North Korea’s Juche ideology who defected to the South in 1997, considered seeking asylum from the U.S. government because he feared for his life. 

N. Korea vows counteraction over resolution on human rights (The Korea Herald)
North Korea pledged Sunday to take "the toughest counteraction" against a proposed U.N. resolution targeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un over the North's dismal human rights record.

Rugby Union: the Ireland V Australia game

Rugby Union: I can't say that Australia's win over Ireland was a 'disgrace' in terms of refereeing as some have said. The game remains a human game with perceptions and rulings being based upon human decisions.We have seen such results and rulings in this sport and in many others that have disadvantaged Australia as equally as any other team.
Football is not rocket science or we would have all rulings controlled and decided only by machines and the continual replaying of the 'evidence' taking up most of the time. The video refereeing concept simply slows the whole game down and makes it less interesting. less interesting=fewer viewers. It's why football (soccer) has resisted the strong push to have so much of the game decided by technology. Technology can be okay as a tool from time to time but the essential thing is the game and the flow and the people, the imperfect players and the imperfect referees. that's what makes it so very good and interesting to watch and be a part of.
I think the most passionate of supporters of the game itself would support the game as it is, or even with less technological 'interference' in the flow. The main people complaining so profoundly about decisions would be those who bet the most money and lost...but the game does not exist simply as a gambling 'opportunity'...there is dog racing for that. For most people, Rugby isn't about money...it's much more than that...it's a great game because it's a human game of strength and skill and mistakes.
I recall being terribly upset when Australia in football (soccer) was knocked out on the rim of the quarter finals by Italy through a very bad refereeing decision, and that alone.There was no corruption involved and so you just live with that angst for awhile. You don't have to change what the game is and what it means or you lose it..not only the game, but the sport itself. You lose the people.

Van Morrison - That's Entrainment

Van Morrison, Live on Cyprus Avenue, Aug. 31, 2015 - 70th Birthday Show

Tony Joe White - Ain't Going Down This Time/ I'm just trying to matter

The week that was: Five North Korea articles you don't want to miss To ensure you never miss out on the best NK News content, we highlight the top five most-read features and interviews of the week

Expert survey: Is China’s pull over North Korea exaggerated? By Rob York The South Korean president is warming up to her Chinese counterpart. The international community is making requests of China to take a firmer stance. Even human rights reports mention China’s repatriation policy. It would seem there is an underlying assumption behind all of these events: that China can change North Korean behavior, that it’s lack of support would be the end of the Kim regime, or at least cause it to favor the South. However, a survey of Chinese experts finds that they don’t believe China a) can make the North Koreans change course, or b) would like to see what would happen if they tried to force them to change their ways. In essence, China is as frustrated by the situation as the West, and even experts there see little in the way of resolving the matter without turning the situation dangerously unstable. In part nine of a major new NK News expert interview series, Chinese experts give their opinions.   Click here to read the full article at NK News

N.Korea’s ‘conservative’ display contrasts with past WPK celebrations By Joost Oliemans and Stijn Mitzer North Korea’s latest display of military might, in the form of a parade commemorating the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea 70 years ago, once again featured the lavish marches, hordes of armored fighting vehicles and aerial performances the international public has come to expect from the reclusive nation. Nonetheless, it was surprisingly conservative in terms of the display of radical new systems, such as the ones that stunned military analysts during the 2012 and 2013 parades. Instead, it focused on showcasing military equipment already known to be in the KPA’s (Korean People’s Army) inventory, apparently to affirm their operational capacity. This certainly seemed to be the case with the North’s gigantic KN-08 ballistic missiles (known in North Korea as the Hwasong-13), four of which could be seen during Saturday’s parade in a new army-green military camouflage different from the 2012 parade. Most notably however, the missiles which were uncovered to be non-operational mock-ups after subtle differences were noticed between different examples in previous parades, were radically modified and redesigned with an entirely new nosecone. Click here for the full article at NK News

The plot to smuggle 100 kg of ‘N. Korean’ meth into America By Oliver Hotham It was the 27th of August, and on the dock at New York City’s southern district court Scott Stammers was pleading guilty of planning to bring 100 kilograms of crystal meth – allegedly made in North Korea – into the United States. If sold on the streets, it’s estimated the drugs would have been worth $6 million. A British citizen, Stammers was on trial with his alleged accomplices in the scheme: Philip Shackels, also a Brit, Ye Tiong Tan Lim, Allan Kelly Peralta Reyes – Chinese and Filipino respectively – and Adrian Valkovic of Slovakia. All have pleaded guilty with the exception of Shackels, who is set to take the stand any day now. So who was Scott Stammers, the ringleader of this motley crew of wannabe Tony Montanas, and where did he come from? Click here for the full article at NK News

Misconception North Korea: The missing shades of gray By Oliver Hotham It’s easy to simplify the complexity of everyday life in North Korea. Coverage of the country is often mired in cliché, and often disinformation and speculation, leaving most people with a warped and simplistic understanding of the lives of the people of one of the world’s most closed off and troubled nations. All this means, unfortunately, that North Koreans are often defined purely by the actions of their government: either as brainwashed zealots or downtrodden and oppressed serfs. The truth, of course, is that the people of North Korea are people like anywhere else, with the same hopes and dreams, and that they do not so readily accept the system they live under as much as many would think. In part 10 of a major new NK News expert interview series, we spoke with seven former and current residents of the country’s capital – both foreigners and defectors – about what they believe are the most persistent misconceptions about day-to-day life in the DPRK, and how they think minds can be changed. Click here for the full article at NK News

North Koreans’ nuclear pride By Je Son Lee Every week we ask a North Korean your questions, giving you the chance to learn more about the country we know so little about. This week’s question is: What do ordinary North Koreans think of the regime’s nuclear tests and possession of nuclear weapons? Do they just act as if they support the regime’s decision because they have no other choice while secretly disapproving of it? No, to my knowledge most ordinary North Koreans don’t have negative opinions of the regime’s nuclear program. When I was still living in North Korea, the regime had a successful nuclear test. People were very proud of it. We once had a town hall meeting where my neighbors talked about how the U.S. could not boss us around anymore. Most North Koreans are very aware of the fact that other countries make fun of and look down upon North Korea.  Click here for the full article at NK News

the week in north korea

Report: N.Korea’s foreign exchange earnings set to decrease An expert has forecast a high probability of North Korea’s foreign exchange earnings decreasing or stalling. Visit NK News for more August agreement shows Trustpolitik works: Park The August 25 agreement which saw a dial-down of inter-Korean tensions this summer is evidence that the "Trustpolitik" policy works, South Korean President Park Geun-hye said at a statesmen's forum in Washington, DC, on Thursday. Visit NK News for more Misconception North Korea: The missing shades of gray - Expert Survey In part 10 of a major new NK News expert interview series, we spoke with seven former and current residents of the country’s capital – both foreigners and defectors – about what they believe are the most persistent misconceptions about day-to-day life in the DPRK, and how they think minds can be changed.  Visit NK News for more The plot to smuggle 100 kg of ‘N. Korean’ meth into America, By Oliver Hotham Oliver Hotham tells the bizarre tale of British "private security specialist" Scott Stammers' attempt to smuggle 100 kilos of crystal meth from North Korea into the US.  Visit NK News for more Why North Korea is so corrupt, and why that may be good, By Dr. Andrei Lankov North Korea is probably the most corrupt country in Asia. Measuring corruption levels is difficult, and existing ratings (like the well-known index published annually by Transparency International) should be taken with a pinch of salt. Visit NK News for more Analysis: Redesigned KN-08 missile unveiled in military parade The KN-08 mobile missile system on display at the October 10, 2015, parade in North Korea is significantly different from the KN-08 missiles displayed at all previous parades.  Visit NK News for more North Korean news channel uses Mac OS wallpaper for backdrop A North Korean state run news outlet is using a prominent desktop wallpaper from Apple's Mac operating system as a backdrop for its daily news packages, an analysis of their videos shows. Visit NK News for more What is life like for North Koreans in Britain? More and more North Koreans are living in Britain, with the number seeing a steep hike between 2006 and 2009, although many North Koreans believed to be refugees in the UK are not "genuine" ones as they didn’t come directly from North Korea, but from South Korea.  Visit NK News for more Historian at joint-Korea excavation makes policy proposals Historians from the two Koreas gathered on Thursday at the site of the Koryo Dynasty’s royal palace Manwoldae, where an excavation project, underway since 2007, resumed in June.  Visit NK News for more

Top Stories Today

DPRK NADA Joins International Astronautical Federation (KCNA)
The DPRK National Aerospace Development Administration's (NADA) admission to the International Astronautical Federation was decided at its 66th general meeting.

North Korea Defector: You Clap To Stay Alive (Sky News)
Forced to witness public executions and beaten for 15 days after his first escape attempt, a former North Korean soldier who dramatically defected to the South talks exclusively to Sky News.

'Give the soldiers tasty food:' NK leader says (Korea Times)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is concerned about the food provided to soldiers, saying good food is the key to preparing for combat.

U.S. refuses S. Korea's request for transfer of fighter jet technology (Arirang News)
Korea's Defense Minister Han Min-koo held talks with his U.S. counterpart Ashton Carter at the Pentagon and asked him to reconsider Seoul's request of four key technology transfers.

S. Korea backs court ruling over anti-NK leaflet launch (Yonhap News)
South Korea on Friday reiterated that the government is not empowered to forcefully curb activists' move to send anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border.