North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been awarded the title of marshal, formally becoming the country’s top military leader. State media announced the move in a brief special message Wednesday. It comes after a shakeup of the military’s leadership this week, which included the departure of Ri Yong Ho, North Korea’s top military figure […]
Kim Jong Un Named Marshal of North Korea
Posted July 17th, 2012 at 11:40 pm (UTC-5)
North Korea says leader Kim Jong Un has been promoted to marshal, the country’s highest military rank. State media announced the move in a brief special message Wednesday. It comes after a shakeup of the military’s leadership this week, which included the departure of Ri Yong Ho, North Korea’s top military figure and a key […]
North Korean Army Chief Dismissed
Posted July 16th, 2012 at 4:20 am (UTC-5)
North Korea has announced the removal of its military chief, a key advisor to leader Kim Jong-un. In a surprise radio announcement Monday, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency said Vice Marshal Ri Yong-ho had been removed from all of his posts because of illness. The announcer said the Workers’ Party central committee political […]
Daughter of Late South Korean Dictator Seeks Presidency
Posted July 10th, 2012 at 6:50 am (UTC-5)
South Korea’s Park Geun-hye has formally launched her campaign for president of the country her father, the late Park Chung-hee, once ruled with an iron fist. The 60-year-old Park made her announcement Tuesday in Seoul in front of crowd of cheering supporters. “I am here, determined that I will devote my life to the happiness […]
South Korea To Use “Science” Loophole for Whaling
Posted July 4th, 2012 at 10:35 pm (UTC-5)
South Korea says it plans to hunt whales under regulations permitting whaling only for scientific research. South Korea announced its intentions Wednesday at a meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Panama. The announcement was immediately condemned by anti-whaling nations, including Australia and New Zealand. South Korea says its hunting of minke whales would take […]
South Korea Opens New Government Hub
Posted July 2nd, 2012 at 3:30 am (UTC-5)
South Korea has inaugurated a new city the government hopes will help ease congestion in the capital and provide more balanced development. At a ceremony Monday, officials marked the opening of Sejong City, an area 120 kilometers south of Seoul that will bring 10,000 government workers by 2014. The government plans to move 16 ministries […]
North Korea Denies Plans for Nuclear Test
Posted June 9th, 2012 at 12:00 pm (UTC-5)
North Korea says it has no plans to conduct a nuclear test, despite what it says are South Korean attempts to provoke one. The North Korean foreign ministry made the announcement Saturday, saying South Korea is trying to drum up an excuse to increase sanctions on the impoverished North. Satellite photos taken in April show […]
U.S. Envoy: North Korea Should Emulate Burma and Reform
Posted June 8th, 2012 at 2:10 pm (UTC-5)
The U.S. envoy for North Korean human rights says North Korea should emulate Burma in putting political and economic reforms in place to bring about a positive response from other nations. Robert King told reporters in Tokyo Friday that North Korea should move in “positive” directions that would allow international inspectors into the country to […]
Study Details Political Caste System in North Korea
Posted June 6th, 2012 at 4:25 am (UTC-5)
A U.S.-based human rights group has released a report detailing how North Korea ranks its citizens based on their family’s loyalty to the Kim dynasty in what it says amounts to an oppressive political caste system. The study released Wednesday by the U.S. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea says all of the country’s […]
US Imposes Duties on Chinese Wind Towers, Korean Washing Machines
Posted May 30th, 2012 at 8:40 pm (UTC-5)
The United States has imposed duties on imports of Chinese wind towers, accusing Beijing of unfairly subsidizing them. The U.S. Commerce Department said Wednesday that the United States will collect cash deposits from importers of Chinese wind towers at ports of entry. The tall towers hold the blades and other parts used to harness the […]
