First NK defectors enter SK Unification Ministry (Daily NK) South Korea’s Ministry of Unification announced last week that five defectors from North Korea have been selected to work in the ministry as full time employees.

N.Korea calls for increasing output for party congress​ North Korea is trying to increase its output in preparation for the 7th Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) congress next May, according to the reports from the state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper. Visit NK News for more Imagining N. Korea’s secret police post-unification, By Dr. Andrei Lankov Dr. Andrei Lankov follows up on last week's piece about reunification by absorption by arguing that this is the only realistic reunification scenario, and thus it is important to think through the implications.  Visit NK News for more S. Korea ups compensation for injured troops The South Korean Ministry of National Defense (MND) has decided to broaden its compensation provided to injured South Korean troops.  Visit NK News for more

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Korean foreign minister visits Iran for first time in 14 years (Arirang News)
South Korea's Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se is due in Iran this Satursday to meet with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Iranian FM Says Nukes Can't Guarantee Regime Security (Chosun Ilbo)
Nuclear weapons can never guarantee the security of a regime, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told his South Korean counterpart Yun Byung-se in Tehran on Saturday.

45 countries sponsor new U.N. resolution on North Korea human rights (Korea Herald)
A total of 45 countries sponsored a new U.N. General Assembly resolution that centers on calling for referring North Korea to the International Criminal Court for human rights violations.

N.Koreans Take to Social Media (Chosun Ilbo)
North Koreans are increasingly taking to social media, be it in an official capacity to spread propaganda or to communicate with the outside world away from prying eyes.

Iraq, Libya, and now Syria

So, let me get this clear...the US, France, Britain and Australia destroyed the country of Iraq, expelling torturing etc the Sunni.
These very bright folk set up ISIL and set about attacking the Syrian Government.
The US and Europe then gave ISIL weapons and money to fight the Syrian Gov. These were the Moderate Rebels.
Then ISIL decided it could do that and would also establish its Caliphate.
The US, England, France etc, saw the chance to get rid of Syria's Assad and so whilst touting that they were fighting ISIL, were mostly supporting ISIL against Syrian Govt. This was fine.
Then Russia started bombing ISIL...and being very effective in 2 weeks. Much more effective than the huge US British French and Australian forces had been for over a year.
So they started bombing ISIL also.
So ISIL bombed Paris, brought down the Russian plane etc.
Now, Russia were the bad guys last week but now they are the good guys and the US, UK and France etc is going to work with them, and maybe Syria's Assad isnt so bad after all...maybe Putin isn't so bad...
Meanwhile the Pashmurga Kurds are being funded by the US, and us all to fight ISIL but our ally Turkey is also bombing the pashmurga Kurds because they, like ISIL, want their own homeland.
This is an unholy and vicious campaign by all sides with hundreds of thousands of Syrians and Iraqis being the 'by-catch' using a fishing term...it doesn't matter what happens to them at all.
The only way out is to start negotiations with ISIL, but we won't do that, like we wouldn't negotiate with Assad...until we have to. We will have to.
By the way. the reason for a country like Australia being so involved in this evil chaos is very odd indeed and whilst we are doing no good at all there, this still simply makes us a target...I would expect the Sydney New Years Eve fireworks extravaganza will be a bit muted and worried this year.
No one in their right mind would be involved in this mess caused by the US, Britain, France, and us. Canada, being in its right mind, has left the battlefields, as should we.
the rationale for the US, UK, France and even us to be involved in destroying Iraq? Free oil. In destroying Libya? Free oil. In Syria? Free oil. Blood is thicker than water, but not as thick as oil.

Leonard Cohen - Ain't No Cure For Love

Bob Dylan - Not Dark Yet

Bob Dylan - When the Deal Goes Down

Ben E. King - Stand by me

Otis Redding-Sitting on the dock of the bay