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North Korea
North Korea’s failing currency
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The North Korean government recently knocked two zeros off its currency, the won. And it ordered citizens to turn in their old cash savings. The move caused panic and riots, now the North Korean government has apparently fired the official who led the currency revaluation program. Katy Clark talks with Marcus Noland who is an expert on North Korea’s economy at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Download MP3
Champion North Korean boxer
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Christian human rights activists say an American missionary has illegally crossed the Chinese border into North Korea. On Christmas day, Robert Park carried with him a letter demanding that the Kim Jong il regime free political prisoners and has not been heard from since. While few enter North Korea at own their risk, still many more escape. But not all flee for political or human rights. There’s at least one refugee who defected for the love of boxing. Champion Choi Hyun Mi (pictured right) is now making a big name for herself in South Korea. Jason Strother has the story from Seoul. Download MP3 (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
North Korea’s strategic arsenal
North Korea says it will continue to co-operate with the United States on ending its nuclear program and agrees that stalled talks need to resume. The country’s foreign ministry said Pyongyang would work with Washington to “narrow remaining differences”. In June, the UN Security Council voted to impose tougher sanctions on communist North Korea, following a nuclear test carried by the North Koreans in defiance of previous UN resolutions.
The voice of North Korea
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Washington’s special North Korea representative, Stephen Bosworth, is in Pyongyang trying to restart stalled denuclearization talks. It’s unlikely that the envoy will meet with reclusive leader Kim Jong-il, as former President Bill Clinton did back in August. But if he does, it is sure to be covered in official North Korean media. And as reporter Jason Strother tells us, there is one anchorwoman whose job it is to report it: Ri Chun-hee. Download MP3 Photo: Reuters
Korean family reunions
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North Korea and South Korea are restarting a family reunions program. Jason Strother introduces us to someone who’s going, and to a more pessimistic person who’s already gone.
Nuclear disarmament
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The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution calling for nuclear disarmament, in a session chaired by President Barack Obama. Many organizations and networks have been campaigning for complete nuclear disarmament for decades. The World’s Jeb Sharp takes a look at these movements and where they are now. Download MP3 (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)The state of nuclear non-proliferation
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In his first speech before the General Assembly, the President also addressed nuclear non-proliferation and related security issues. The World’s Katy Clark gives us an update on the issue of containing the spread of nuclear weapons. Download MP3Advertising in North Korea
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The World’s asks advertising expert Jan Slater to take a look at one of the new advertisements airing on North Korean TV. The ad is long, colorful and features a floating piece of ginseng root. Download MP3
Advertising in North Korea
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The World’s Alex Gallafent describes some new advertisements airing on North Korean TV. The ad is long, colorful and features a floating piece of ginseng root.
North Korea frees South Korean worker
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North Korea has freed a South Korean worker detained for allegedly insulting the North’s communist leadership. The engineer, Yoo Seong-jin, was handed over to officials of his company, Hyundai Asan, and has since crossed back into South Korea. Jason Strother reports. >>> More coverage from the BBC.(Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
Criticism for journalists freed by North Korea
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Correspondent Jason Strother says South Koreans are welcoming Pyongyang’s release of journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee. But he reports that some human rights activists in the South are concerned that the work of Laura Ling, Euna Lee and some other reporters may have jeopardized the safety of North Korean refugees.
NYT times columnist shifts on North Korea
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Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof about his thoughts on North Korea and nuclear proliferation.
Two American journalists in North Korea go home
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Two American journalists are home safe and sound after nearly five months in North Korean captivity. Former President Bill Clinton helped bring them home. The World’s Matthew Bell looks at how Mr. Clinton’s mission differed from that of former President Jimmy Carter’s 1994 visit to North Korea.
North Korea pardons US reporters
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Former president Bill Clinton’s surprise visit to North Korea appears to have won the release of two American journalists. North Korea’s news agency says Laura Ling and Euna Lee have been pardoned. They were arrested last March and convicted of violating North Korea’s border. Clinton arrived in a private plane in Pyongyang today to try to win their release. He was greeted warmly and had a meeting with North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-Il. The announcement of a special pardon from Kim himself came several hours later. >>> Click here for the latest from the BBC.
Criticism for journalists freed by North Korea
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Today on The World, South Koreans are welcoming Pyongyang’s release of journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee. Some see it as a sign that North Korea may be ready to re-open dialogue and calm tensions on the peninsula. But some North Korea activists are still concerned that what Ling, Lee and many other reporters have done in northeast China, has put their work in jeopardy. From Seoul, Jason Strother reports. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) >>>Click here for the latest BBC coverage.
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