North Korea: US Sends Missile Defence System to Guam
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Pentagon is sending an advanced ballistic missile defense system to Guam, as Chuck Hagel, the defence secretary, warned of a "real and clear" danger from North Korea.

The Pentagon announcement came hours after China intervened in the deepening crisis by summoning the ambassadors of North and South Korea, as well as the United States, to warn tensions must be defused on the Korean peninsula.

North Korea has singled out US military bases in Guam, an American. territory in the Pacific, and Hawaii among its potential targets in threats in recent weeks that have put the Korean peninsula on edge.

“Some of the actions they’ve taken over the last few weeks, present a real and clear danger,” Mr Hagel told an audience at the National Defense University in Washington.

He said those actions had threatened the interests of South Korea and Japan, but he also cited their direct threats against Guam, Hawaii and West Coast of the United States. » | Malcolm Moore, Beijing, and Reuters in Washington | Wednesday, April 03, 2013

N. Korea Severs Military Hotline with South
Pyongyang cuts off last direct communication link between two countries, and warns of "simmering nuclear war".

North Korea Enters 'State of War' Against South Korea
North Korea announced early on Saturday morning that it was entering a “state of war” against South Korea, hours after Kim Jong-un said he would “settle accounts” with Washington for threatening him with nuclear-capable stealth bombers.

Read the Daily Telegraph article here | Barney Henderson, and agencies | Saturday, March 30, 2013

North Korea Threatens to Attack the South
North Korea threatens to attack the South if Seoul joins a new round of tightened UN sanctions. Pyongyang has declared a boycott of all dialogue aimed at ending its nuclear programme. The country has also vowed to conduct more rocket and nuclear tests following UN security council sanctions for a long-range missile launch in December

Read the article here

North and South Korea 'On the Verge of Nuclear War'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A senior North Korean diplomat warned a meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York that "a spark of fire could set off a thermonuclear war" on the Korean Peninsula.

Pak Kil-yon, Pyongyang's vice-foreign minster, put the blame for the tense state of inter-Korean relations firmly on South Korea's conservative government and claimed the citizens of the North feel "shame" and "political terror."

Monday's speech was the first time a representative of North Korea has addressed the General Assembly since Kim Jong-un assumed power after the death of his father in December last year.

"Since taking office, the current South Korean government has caused the worst situation in North-South relations by making all inter-Korean agreements null and void," Pak said, referring to pacts with previous South Korean administrations that sought reconciliation between the two ideological enemies and an expansion of economic co-operation.

Describing relations between the two governments as in "total bankruptcy," Pak dismissed the South Korean government of Lee Myung-bak with the comment, "History will bring them to justice."

Neither the United States nor the UN escaped criticism, with Pak saying recent joint military manoeuvres between the US and South Korean troops were "reckless provocations." » | Julian Ryall in Tokyo | Tuesday, October 02, 2012

'Moonie' Church Mourns Founder Sun Myung Moon at Elaborate Funeral
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: More than 30,000 tearful mourners attend the elaborate, flower-strewn funeral in South Korea of controversial Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon.

Moon died of complications from pneumonia on September 3 aged 92.

His church, whose members were mocked as "Moonies" by the media, was renowned for its mass weddings of thousands - sometimes tens of thousands - of couples and for its multi-billion-dollar business interests.

In a ceremony that bore the trappings of a state funeral, Moon's carved, red-lacquer coffin was carried by men in military-style uniforms into a stadium at the church headquarters in Gapyeong, 35 miles east of Seoul.

The vast, covered arena, dominated by an altar where a giant portrait of Moon stood on a landscaped bank of floral tributes, was packed to capacity with church members - thousands of whom had flown in from overseas.

Many sobbed quietly as the honour guard, accompanied by members of Moon's immediate family, moved through the stadium and placed the coffin at the foot of the portrait. » | Saturday, September 15, 2012

NAHARNET: Thousands Mourn 'Messiah' at Elaborate Moon Funeral: More than 30,000 tearful mourners attended the elaborate, flower-strewn funeral in South Korea Saturday of their "messiah" and controversial Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon. » | Naharnet Newsdesk | Saturday, September 15, 2012

The Real Unification Church

101 East: In the Kingdom of Reverend Moon
South Korea's Unification Church is facing its biggest challenge yet as it prepares for a future without its founder.

North Korea Threatens to Blow Up Media Offices over Critical Coverage
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: North Korea's military threatened on Monday to blow up the Seoul offices of South Korean media outlets following critical coverage of a mass children's event in Pyongyang.

The military general staff, in an unusually detailed statement on the official news agency, said missile units and other forces had fixed the longitude and latitude coordinates for several firms' offices in central Seoul.

The statement named the Chosun Ilbo and JoongAng Ilbo newspapers, a TV channel operated by Dong-A Ilbo newspaper, and the KBS, CBS, MBC and SBS television stations.

The North's military accused conservative South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak of inciting the coverage and called on him to apologise to avert an attack.

"In case dens of monstrous crimes are blown up one after another, the Lee group will be entirely held responsible for this," it said in what it termed an "open ultimatum".

The military accused the media outlets of "monstrous mud-slinging" over their coverage of an event which brought 20,000 schoolchildren to Pyongyang to mark the 66th anniversary of the [North] Korea[n] Children's Union. » | Source: agencies | Monday, June 04, 2012

Buddhist Monks Caught Playing Poker, Drinking, Smoking in South Korea
It's the oldest and most respected major religion in South Korea. And now it's been spectacularly brought into ill-repute after senior monks from the largest Buddhist order in the country were caught red-handed setting a bad example by indulging in a cheeky little poker game.

Gambling in the country is illegal everywhere except for inside just one casino that's in the north east of the country. So it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that these monks - who are from the Jogye Order - seen here smoking, drinking and flipping playing cards on the floor of a luxury hotel room are flouting the law.

As soon as the footage was aired on national TV yesterday, 6 of the 8 monks in the room offered to resign. Leader Master Jinjea, a high-ranker from the order -- who wasn't even there at the time - said on local TV 'Those monks committed a foolish act and I confess my sin for their wrongdoings'

It was a fellow monk who secretly shot the footage and then tipped off the police and the media. Do you reckon he's taken himself off for a long holiday right now?

I'm Marverine Cole. That's all from me for now but for more news check out our website: ibtimes.co.uk

South Korea Cracks Down on "Human Flesh Capsules"
South Korean authorities say they plan to crackdown on the illegal smuggling of so-called "human flesh capsules". The pills contain parts of human foetuses or infants and are believed to be sold as stamina enhancement drugs. But customs officials say they can cause serious health problems. Al Jazeera's Wayne Hay is in Seoul.

Related »

Tackling the Trade in Human Flesh Pills
BBC: South Korea has stepped up customs inspections to try and stop capsules filled with powdered human flesh being smuggled into the country from China.

Thousands of the pills have been found in luggage and in the post, often disguised as energy boosters.

Catharina Moh reports Watch BBC video » | Tuesday, May 08, 2012

Kim Jong-il Calls for Peace with South Korea in 'Will'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: North Korea’s late leader Kim Jong-il has urged his nation from beyond the grave to aim for a peaceful reconciliation with the south in a document believed to be his will.

However, the leader, who died in December last year, also pressed North Korea to continue building its military and making weapons of mass destruction in order to maintain its power.

Extracts from Mr Kim’s final testament have reportedly been obtained by two think tanks in South Korea, highlighting his requested future legacy for the state as his son Kim Jong-un takes over at the helm.

The late Mr Kim requests North Korea to renounce war with its longstanding opponent South Korea, according to extracts obtained and made public by the Sejong Institute, a South Korean think-tank.

However, the alleged will also urges North Korea to wait in its pursuit of peace until a new leader comes to power in Seoul, with a reunification deemed impossible under the current regime of President Lee Myung-bak.

The document also emphasized Mr Lee’s belief that North Korea should try to avoid war due to the potential devastation it would cause, according to Kyodo News. » | Danielle Demetriou, Tokyo | Thursday, April 19, 2012

Cérémonie de mariage de 2.500 couples moonistes près de Séoul
REUTERS FRANCE: SEOUL - Environ 2.500 couples membres de la secte Moon ont échangé samedi des voeux de mariage dans un stade de Gapyeong, à 75 km de Séoul, où ils ont été bénis par le fondateur de la secte de l'Eglise de l'unification, le révérend Sun Myung Moon, 92 ans. » | Sung-won Shim et Reuters TV; Jean-Loup Fiévet pour le service français | samedi 24 mars 2012

N Koreans Risk Lives for Freedom
Thousands of North Korean refugees, desperate to find new lives, undertake arduous journey by foot to find shelter in South Korea.

But many of them are intercepted in Thailand.

While South Korea has offered to pay to take care of the migrants, Thailand fears this will encourage more North Koreans to leave.

Al Jazeera's Aela Callan reports from Chaing Saen in northern Thailand

South Koreans in Anti-North Rally
Feb 16 - South Korean protesters in Seoul say they're hoping the popular uprisings of Tunisia and Egypt will spread to North Korea. Paul Chapman reports

North Korean leader turns 69
Feb 16 - North Korea marks the 69th birthday of leader Kim Jong-il as TV footage emerges of one of his sons attending an Eric Clapton concert in Singapore. Marie-Claire Fennessy reports

LE POINT: La Corée du Nord célèbre, dans la pénurie, le 69e anniversaire de Kim : La Corée du Nord célébrait mercredi le 69e anniversaire de son dirigeant Kim Jong-Il mais, selon un groupe de transfuges, les festivités étaient plus réduites qu'à l'habitude en raison notamment de la pénurie alimentaire chronique. >>> AFP | Mercredi 16 Février 2011

North Korea Bombs South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Two South Korean soldiers were killed and a dozen injured after North Korea fired dozens of artillery shells onto a South Korean island setting more than 60 houses ablaze and sending civilians fleeing in terror.


The attack, which comes days after it emerged that North Korea was pressing ahead with its illegal nuclear programme, marks a serious further escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The incident is believed to have been sparked by South Korean military exercises in the area, which the North had objected to.

Officials said “dozens” of artillery rounds had landed on Yeonpyeong Island at in the Yellow Sea, 50 miles off the South’s northwest coast in an area close to a disputed sea border. Other reports suggested around 200 shells could have been fired in the attack which began at 2.34pm local time (7.34am GMT).

F-16 fighter jets were scrambled and South Korean land-based forces returned fire on the North as civilians were evacuated to emergency bunkers, according to witnesses quoted by the Seoul-based cable news television channel YTN. >>> Peter Foster in Beijing | Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Obama’s Trade Strategy Runs Into Stiff Resistance
President Obama and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany talked, and disagreed, at the Group of 20 meeting on Thursday. Photograph: The New York Times
THE NEW YORK TIMES: SEOUL, South Korea — President Obama’s hopes of emerging from his Asia trip with the twin victories of a free trade agreement with South Korea and a unified approach to spurring economic growth around the world ran into resistance on all fronts on Thursday, putting Mr. Obama at odds with his key allies and largest trading partners.

The most concrete trophy expected to emerge from the trip eluded his grasp: a long-delayed free trade agreement with South Korea, first negotiated by the Bush administration and then reopened by Mr. Obama, to have greater protections for American workers.

And as officials frenetically tried to paper over differences among the Group of 20 members with a vaguely worded communiqué to be issued Friday, there was no way to avoid discussion of the fundamental differences of economic strategy. After five largely harmonious meetings in the past two years to deal with the most severe downturn since the Depression, major disputes broke out between Washington and China, Britain, Germany and Brazil.

Each rejected core elements of Mr. Obama’s strategy of stimulating growth before focusing on deficit reduction. Several major nations continued to accuse the Federal Reserve of deliberately devaluing the dollar last week in an effort to put the costs of America’s competitive troubles on trading partners, rather than taking politically tough measures to rein in spending at home.

The result was that Mr. Obama repeatedly found himself on the defensive. He and the South Korean president, Lee Myung-bak, had vowed to complete the trade pact by the time they met here; while Mr. Obama insisted that it would be resolved “in a matter of weeks,” without the pressure of a summit meeting it was unclear how the hurdles on nontariff barriers to American cars and beef would be resolved. >>> Sewell Chan, Sheryl Gay Stolberg and David E. Sanger | Thursday, November 11, 2010

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Obama Ends G-20 Summit With Criticism of China >>> Sewell Chan | Friday, November 12, 2010

A Lesson from China in Where Power Lies
THE TELEGRAPH: China believes its economic success reflects its superior culture.

The leaders of the G20 group of rich and developing nations met in Seoul this week for what might reasonably be described as their first post-crisis summit. But it also had the feeling of the first post-Western summit. China, the world’s second richest nation and its rising power, believes that the financial crisis was actually a “North Atlantic crisis”. Now that the worst of it is over, Beijing sees little reason to swallow the medicine for someone else’s sickness. The summit therefore broke up – none too amicably – without really addressing the trade imbalances that were one of the root causes of the crisis, or America’s worry that Beijing is gaining an unfair advantage by artificially keeping its currency weak. Instead, China flexed its muscles and got what it wanted: a watered-down statement that will not force it to change course. If President Obama hoped that the G20 would burnish his image as a world statesman after the disaster of the midterm elections, those hopes were disappointed.

It is inescapable that we are witnessing a historic shift of economic power from West to East. David Cameron has certainly taken this on board, judging by the caution with which he and his Cabinet members treated China during their visit earlier this week. The Prime Minister approached the subject of human rights far more obliquely than he did as leader of the Opposition. Whether this was wise judgment or a failure of nerve is difficult to say. Although China treats dissidents with gross inhumanity, the more it is lectured on the subject, the more intransigent it becomes. In a sense, that is convenient for Mr Cameron: if protesting about repression makes the situation worse, then Britain can concentrate on trade with a fairly clear conscience. Read on and comment >>> Telegraph View | Friday, November 12, 2010

South Korea Bans All Trade With North Over Cheonan Attack
TIMES ONLINE: President Barack Obama today said he “fully supports” the South Korean president and his response to the torpedo attack by North Korea that killed 46 South Korean sailors as the cross-border animosity between the two countries continues to rise.

South Korea’s President Lee Myung-bak earlier today demanded that North Korea “immediately apologise and punish those responsible for the attack, and, most importantly, stop its belligerent and threatening behaviour” and announced it will take the case of the torpedoed Cheonan warship to the United Nations Security Council.

In a move which analysts described as “cautiously hard-line”, Mr Lee also said he would be suspending all exchanges between the two Koreas and imposing a total ban on North Korean ships passing through South Korean waters.

His government banned all trade, investment and visits with North Korea. South Korea also plans to reduce the number of workers in a joint factory park just inside the North which has long been an important source of income for the North Korean leadership.

The White House said Seoul can continue to count on the full backing of Washington. Read on and comment >>> Leo Lewis, Beijing | Monday, May 24, 2010

‘All Out War’ Threatened Over North Korea Attack On Warship Cheonan
TIMES ONLINE: North Korea has threatened “all out war” if there is any retalation from Seoul for the torpedo attack which sank the South Korean warship Cheonan in March.

Pyongyang made the threat as it dismissed as ‘fabrication’ a report by an international team of investigators which concludes that a torpedo fired by a North Korean submarine was responsible for the explosion that ripped the 1,200 corvette in two, killing 46 sailors in one of South Korea’s worst naval tragedies.

In an escalating war of words, President Lee Myung-Bak, the South Korean president vowed to take “resolute countermeasures” against North Korea for the torpedo attack on the Cheonan, which happened near the disputed border between the two countries.

The investigators’ report, published today, concludes: “The evidence points overwhelmingly to the conclusion that the torpedo was fired by a North Korean submarine.

“There is no other plausible explanation.” Read on and comment >>> Anne Barrowclough | Thursday, May 20, 2010