The Korea Herald

N.K. leader’s media blitz double-edged sword

Jul 30, 2012

Unusual publicity drive improves his image, loosens security awareness in South, experts sayNorth Korea’s media showing a Western-style musical performance and its fledgling leader with his attractive wife visiting a kindergarten and theme park has apparently helped improve its negative image of being belligerent and far from international norms.But at a time when South Korean political parties are striving to court voters ahead of the December presidential election, Seoul should carefully watch
Seoul eases rules on civilians’ DMZ entry

Jul 30, 2012

South Korea will ease rules on the civilian off-limit zone near the heavily fortified border with North Korea to allow passers-by to stay in the restricted area for a longer period, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday.The sparsely populated zone with about 2,300 residents is located near the southern boundary of the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, which was established to serve as a buffer since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.The JCS said it will impl
N. Korean visitors to China rise drastically since last year: data

Jul 29, 2012

The number of North Korean visitors to China increased drastically since then-North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's tour of the North's biggest communist ally early last year, Chinese government data shows. The data on the entry of foreigners obtained Sunday by Yonhap News Agency showed that 152,000 North Koreans entered China in 2011, a sharp rise from 116,000 the previous year. Out of the total,
N. Korea disables key functions in new mobile phones: report

Jul 28, 2012

North Korea has disabled video camera and memory card functions in new mobile phones, a news report said Saturday, in what appears to be Pyongyang's latest move to tighten control over the flow of information within and across its borders.The North also removed the Bluetooth function, a protocol that allows mobile phone users to exchange data over short distances, and blocked subscribers from usin
North Korea made Tablet PC ‘Morning’

Jul 27, 2012

North Korea has started to distribute its newly-developed tablet PC “Morning,” which was manufactured with North Korea’s own technology, according to a Chinese news report.Even in North Korea, where information is severely controlled, Tablet PCs seem to be popular among people.The tablet is seven inches long, weighs 300g and is useable for five hours when fully charged. However, its specific functions such as internet connection or a camera are as yet unknown.The Chinese IT industry analyzed the
Bigger payout ordered for 1959 execution

Jul 26, 2012

An appeals court in Seoul on Thursday ordered the government to pay more compensation to the family of Cho Bong-am, former President Syngman Rhee’s political rival, who was executed on false charges of espionage in 1959. The Seoul High Court set the damage payment at 2.97 billion won ($2.6 million), up 500 million won from a lower court ruling. The family sued the government last year demanding 13.7 billion won after the Supreme Court overturned a guilty verdict on Cho. The former independence f
‘Ex-N.K. military chief wasn’t cooperative’

Jul 26, 2012

Former top North Korean military official Ri Yong-ho was dismissed earlier this month for being uncooperative as Kim Jong-un tightened control over the military, the National Intelligence Service revealed Thursday.According to a lawmaker with a seat on the National Assembly’s Intelligence Committee, the NIS reported that it has gathered intelligence that Ri was dismissed for his “uncooperative attitude.” Regarding Kim Jong-un’s aunt Kim Kyong-hui, the NIS reported that she appears to be acting a
First lady publicity latest sign of N.K. change

Jul 26, 2012

Kim Jong-un’s wife visited South Korea in 2005, intelligence agency confirmsNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un continues to shake off the regime’s long-held tradition of secrecy, intriguing watchers eager to find signs of change in the reclusive state. In the latest breakaway, Pyongyang’s state media late Wednesday confirmed that the mystery woman beside the 20-something leader at recent public events is his wife, Ri Sol-ju. Ri has fueled rampant speculation in recent weeks about her identity. She
Seoul to demand Chinese apology for activist abuse

Jul 26, 2012

South Korea plans to demand an apology and other diplomatic steps from China after verifying a claim by a prominent rights activist of abuse during his detention, Seoul officials said Thursday.Kim Young-hwan and three other South Korean crusaders for human rights in North Korea were deported to Seoul last week after 114 days of confinement in China. They were arrested on March 29 on charges of “endangering national security.” Kim said Wednesday that he was tortured, deprived of sleep and forced
N. Korean first lady presumed to have visited South in past

Jul 26, 2012

The newly-introduced North Korean first lady has presumably visited South Korea and previously participated in several inter-Korean exchange programs, an analysis of media reports showed Thursday.North Korea disclosed young leader Kim Jong-un's marital status for the first time on Wednesday by confirming that the woman accompanying him at recent public events is his wife, Ri Sol-ju, without elabor
N. Korean military chief fired for ‘uncooperative attitude’

Jul 26, 2012

North Korea’s former military chief Ri Yong-ho (Yonhap News)North Korea’s former military chief Ri Yong-ho was dismissed earlier this month because of his “uncooperative attitude” towards leader Kim Jong-un’s drive to tighten his grip on the North’s military, a South Korean lawmaker said Thursday, citing information provided by the South’s spy agency.North Korea announced Ri’s dismissal last week
North Korea confirms Kim is married

Jul 26, 2012

North Korea ended weeks of speculation Wednesday by confirming that the mystery woman beside young leader Kim Jong Un at recent public events is indeed his wife, “comrade Ri Sol Ju.” The news was buried in a state TV report about Kim's tour of a new amusement park, delivered casually by a newscaster who gave no details about Ri, including how long she and Kim have been married. This photo released
On NK leader’s marriage, U.S. stresses people’s well-being

Jul 26, 2012

N.K. leader Kim Jong-un and his wife Ri Sol-ju attending to a building dedication ceremony (Yonhap News)The U.S. government extended good wishes Wednesday to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un upon reports that he is married, but put more emphasis on the well-being of the communist nation’s people, straddled with hunger and human rights violations.“Well, we’ve obviously seen the reports. We would alw
Mysterious woman flanking NK leader identified as wife: NK media

Jul 25, 2012

North Korean media on Wednesday identified the woman seen accompanying North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in a recent series of public appearances as his wife, confirming his marriage for the first time.According to North Korean media including its state TV monitored here, the woman is named Ri Sol-Ju. They reported that Kim and his wife attended a ceremony together to mark the completion of amusemen
Signs of N. Korea economic reform

Jul 25, 2012

More experts say that Pyongyang may unveil economic reform measures soonNorth Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un appears inclined toward economic reform as he grapples with a hamstrung economy, international isolation and waning public loyalty.Since he took the North’s helm following Kim Jong-il’s death last December, signs of a desire for change have been detected with his public appearances apparently choreographed to show that he cares about his people in poverty. In recent months, the leader in his