During nine days in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) also known as North Korea (8 to 17 April), I encountered surprises upon surprises in this mysterious and strange nation. It was a trip led by the Vietnamese Union of Friendship Organizations with eight members to visit this nation for the historic 100th birthday celebrations of the late state's founder Kim Il-sung. We arrived at Beijing airport three hours ahead of the flight but the booth of DPRK’s state-owned flag carrier Air Koryo was empty. However, just 30 minutes later, a large group started to gather. Most were international visitors. There are few flights to DPRK. On 11 April for example, there were four flights from Beijing to Pyongyang, the capital of DPRK. Currently you can only fly to Pyongyang from China or Russia. There are many posters like this (Photo: Tuoi Tre) Old plane, colorless buildings, abundant flowers Aboard the flight TU-154, I suddenly found my seat (as written on the ticket) … [Read more...] about Nine days in North Korea: true Vietnamese account
North korea food shortage
North Korea opens 5-day launch window for rocket
North Korea's five-day window to launch a rocket opened Thursday with Asian countries on alert, as Washington told G8 world powers that the country was in flagrant violation of a UN ban. North Korea has said it will launch the rocket between Thursday and Monday, most likely between 2200 GMT and 0300 GMT, to mark Sunday's centenary of the birth of its founding leader Kim Il-Sung. His grandson Kim Jong-Un is now in charge of the poor but nuclear-armed country, where food shortages remain endemic, and has cemented his rule with a series of top titles including now chairman of the Central Military Commission. North Korea says the rocket will place a satellite in orbit for peaceful research purposes, promoting the Kim dynasty's goal for the isolated country to attain the rank of a "powerful and prosperous state" this year. But Western critics see the launch as a thinly veiled ballistic missile test, banned by United Nations resolutions. The United States has suspended a deal agreed … [Read more...] about North Korea opens 5-day launch window for rocket
North Korea agrees to nuclear moratorium
North Korea has agreed with the United States to suspend major elements of its atomic weapons program in a surprise breakthrough that could pave the way for the resumption of long-stalled nuclear disarmament talks with the secretive state. But the announcement, made simultaneously on Wednesday in Pyongyang and Washington and accompanied by pledges of U.S. food aid, was met with very guarded optimism by analysts and diplomats who noted that efforts to defuse tensions on the divided Korean peninsula had seen many false dawns. "These are concrete measures that we consider a positive first step toward complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean peninsula in a peaceful manner," White House spokesman Jay Carney said. But U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called it "a modest first step in the right direction," adding that Washington continued to have profound concerns over a range of North Korean activities. North Korea said it would suspend nuclear tests, long-range … [Read more...] about North Korea agrees to nuclear moratorium
UN aid chief to see N.Korea food shortages
UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos plans to visit North Korea next month to assess the growing food crisis there, according to a UN spokeswoman. UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos, pictured in March, plans to visit North Korea next month to assess the growing food crisis there, according to a UN spokeswoman. Amos would be one of the most senior UN officials to visit the secretive North for several years Amos would be one of the most senior UN officials to visit the secretive North for several years. … [Read more...] about UN aid chief to see N.Korea food shortages
North Korea accuses US of blocking development
North Korea's U.N. envoy accused the United States on Tuesday of working to block economic development and denounced sanctions imposed on poor countries as a bid to "destroy modern civilization." Ambassador Ja Song Nam said North Korea will withstand the blow of sanctions and continue "along the road of building the socialist power by dint of the spirit of self-reliance and self-development." Ja spoke at a debate at the General Assembly that focused on the U.N.'s global development goals that aim to eradicate extreme poverty by 2050, advance health and promote education. "The U.S. is clinging to unprecedented nuclear threats and blackmail, economic sanctions and blockade to deny our rights to existence and development but they only result in our sharper vigilance and greater courage," said Ja. The United States led the drive at the Security Council to impose two recent sets of sanctions on North Korea to punish Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile tests. In August, the council cut … [Read more...] about North Korea accuses US of blocking development