N Korea 'fires three short-range missiles'

North Korea has fired three short-range missiles from its east coast, South Korea's defence ministry said.

Two missiles were fired on Saturday morning and one in the afternoon, the ministry said in a statement.

Posted by Unknown 5/18/2013

UN appoints a panel to investigate North Korea human rights

North Korea is unlikely to allow investigators

The UN has named the three panel members for its first-ever human rights investigation into North Korea.

Retired Judge Michael Kirby will chair the inquiry, working with UN special rapporteur Marzuki Darusman, and human rights activist Sonja Biserko.
Posted by Unknown 5/08/2013

N Korea 'removes' missiles from east coast launch site

North Korea has removed two medium-range missiles from a coastal launch site, indicating a lowering of tension on the peninsula, a US official said.

South Korea was believed to be preparing for a launch last month, having threatened attacks in the region.
Posted by Unknown 5/07/2013

North Korea sentences US citizen to 15 years' hard labour

North Korea says it has sentenced a US citizen to 15 years of hard labour.

The announcement, from state news agency KCNA, said Pae Jun-ho, known in the US as Kenneth Bae, was tried on 30 April.

He was held last year after entering North Korea as a tourist. Pyongyang said he was accused of anti-government crimes.

The move comes amid high tensions between North Korea and the US, after Pyongyang's third nuclear test.
Posted by Unknown 5/02/2013

Last South Korean workers 'set to leave Kaesong'

South Korea is set to pull the last of its workers out of a joint industrial zone in North Korea, as Seoul announced moves to help affected firms.

A total of 125 South Koreans left the Kaesong complex on Saturday, and the remaining 50 are expected to withdraw on Monday, officials say.

Posted by Unknown 4/29/2013

South Korea 'to withdraw staff' from Kaesong zone in North

South Korea says it is withdrawing its remaining 175 workers from a jointly-run industrial complex in North Korea.

The announcement came from the unification minister shortly after Pyongyang (Capital of North Korea) rejected an offer of talks.

North Korea blocked access to the Kaesong zone - once a symbol of inter-Korean co-operation - earlier this month and later pulled its workers out.


Posted by Unknown 4/26/2013

North Korea rejects Kaesong talks with South Korea

North Korea has rejected South Korea's call for talks on resuming operations at a joint industrial zone.

In a statement, North Korea warned that South Korea's ultimatum would "lead to no good results".

On Thursday, South Korea gave the North 24 hours to agree to talks on the Kaesong Industrial Complex, warning of "grave measures" if its offer was ignored.

South Korea's president later held a meeting with top officials to discuss next steps.
Posted by Unknown 4/26/2013

South Korea proposes Kaesong talks with North Korea

North Korea should respond to the offer by Friday. it would face "grave measures" if it rejected the offer; South Korean Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Hyung-suk

Access to "critical" Kaesong industrial complex

South Korea is proposing formal talks with the North over restarting operations at the jointly-run Kaesong Industrial Complex.

Pyongyang blocked South Korean access to the site and pulled out its 53,000 workers earlier this month.

Tensions between the Koreas are high following the North's third nuclear test in February.


Posted by Unknown 4/25/2013

North Korea 'moves missile launchers'

South Korean report says Pyongyang has moved two launchers to its east coast in preparation for expected missile test.

North Korea has reportedly moved two more missile launchers to its east coast, where preparations have apparently begun for a missile test as tensions continue to simmer on the peninsula.

The North had said before fresh reports of the missile move emerged on Sunday that it was willing to discuss disarmament but rejected a US nuclear condition for talks.
Posted by Unknown 4/21/2013