North Korea

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South Korea Scrubs Satellite Launch

(Newser) - South Korea scrubbed a planned satellite launch minutes before liftoff today, citing an unspecified technical error, reports the BBC. Seoul has been itching to join the Asian space race and has already produced 10 satellites for other countries' rockets. But the event had threatened to strain recently improved relations with...

North Koreans in Santa Fe to Meet Gov. Richardson

UN ambassadors get special permission to leave New York

(Newser) - Two North Korean diplomats at the UN are traveling to Santa Fe to meet with Bill Richardson, the New Mexico governor and former UN ambassador, reports CNN. The meeting is taking place at Pyongyang's request, according to the governor's office, and will focus on clean energy technology. Richardson has visited...

N. Korea's Regime Seems More Stable Than Thought

(Newser) - Bill Clinton's 20-hour visit to North Korea shed more light on the secretive regime than a slew of intelligence-gathering operations, the New York Times reports. Clinton, who formally briefed President Obama today, learned most importantly that Kim Jong-Il appears to be in better health than thought. He appeared "unexpectedly...

Nobelist Peacemaker Kim Dae-Jung Dies at 85

(Newser) - Kim Dae-jung, the former South Korean president who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his reconciliation efforts with the North, died today at age 85. He had been hospitalized with pneumonia since last month. As a pro-democracy opposition lawmaker, Kim built a reputation as a passionate champion of human rights...

N. Korea to Reopen Border With South

Tourism and reunions with relatives in SK now possible

(Newser) - North Korea pledged today to reopen its borders with the south for tourism and family visits after reclusive leader Kim Jong-il met with the head of the South Korean Hyundai Group in Pyongyang, reports Reuters. Hyundai's Hyon Jong Un met the ailing Kim to secure the release of a detained...

Kim Jong-Il Was 'Fully Engaged' During Clinton Visit

(Newser) - Longtime Bill Clinton aide John Podesta, who accompanied the former president on his recent rescue mission to North Korea, says leader Kim Jong-Il was "fully engaged" during the visit, Reuters reports. “I would basically say that the discussions were pretty straightforward and he was fully engaged,” Podesta...

Reporters to Supporters: You 'Gave Us Hope'

Ling, Lee thank supporters in online video

(Newser) - Laura Ling and Euna Lee use a new video on Current TV's website to thank Americans “from the bottom of our hearts” for support during their North Korean captivity. “We learned about this grassroots movement on Facebook, about people writing in to their congressmen, to the president,”...

Freed Journo Ling Shops Book With Sister

Book to explore issues of sisterhood, journalism

(Newser) - That was quick: One of the journalists imprisoned in North Korea and freed earlier this month is shopping a book proposal, the Wall Street Journal reports. Laura Ling’s book will be written in collaboration with her sister, Lisa, and proposes to deal not only with Laura's detention but...

Kim Jong Il Healthy, 'in Control': US Official

(Newser) - Kim Jong Il was healthy and "in full control of his government" when Bill Clinton met with the North Korean dictator last week, a White House official says. Kim “seemed in control of his faculties" and "sounded very reasoned" during the meeting, says National Security Advisor James...

McConnell: White House 'Demonizing' Health Critics

Angry protests 'clearly being orchestrated,' Durbin counters

(Newser) - The White House is “demonizing” the fiercely outspoken critics of its health care reform, Sen. Mitch McConnell told Fox News Sunday today. “To demonize citizens who are energetic about this strikes me as demonstrating a kind of weakness in your position,” the Senate minority leader said, but...

Ling, Lee Did Cross Into N. Korea: Sister

(Newser) - Journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling did in fact cross into North Korea while reporting from the border, Ling's sister tells CNN. "She did say that they touched North Korean territory very, very briefly," she says. "She said it was maybe 30 seconds. And then, you know,...

You, Too, Can Visit North Korea

Prepare to be followed by officials everywhere you turn

(Newser) - You don’t have to be an ex-president to visit North Korea: In fact, your average “private citizen” can make the trip, if he or she doesn't mind a few inconveniences, writes Christopher Beam for Slate. To head to Pyongyang, apply for a visa via North Korea’s UN...

Time to Get Tough With N. Korea
 Time to Get Tough 
 With N. Korea 
OPINION
Aug 6, 2009 6:37 AM CDT

Time to Get Tough With N. Korea

(Newser) - Getting Laura Ling and Euna Lee out of North Korea was a cakewalk compared to the real diplomatic struggles between the Obama administration and the rogue nation, writes Nicolas Kristof. The New York Times columnist, who has visited North Korea five times, used to favor engagement with Kim Jong-Il's regime....

Rescue Mission Puts Spotlight on Bill's Contacts

(Newser) - The same sprawling network of business and political contacts that caused trouble with Hillary Clinton's confirmation as secretary of state helped her husband secure the release of Euna Lee and Laura Ling, the Washington Post reports. Private donors paid for Bill Clinton's trip to North Korea, and the former president...

Bill and Al: Buddies Again?
 Bill and Al: 
 Buddies Again? 
ANALYSIS
Aug 5, 2009 5:53 PM CDT

Bill and Al: Buddies Again?

(Newser) - Today's warm embrace between Bill Clinton and Al Gore was just like old times, writes Adam Nagourney in the New York Times. The two have largely been on the outs since 2000, but they shared a "long and emotional hug" after Clinton's North Korean trip. While they've had spotty...

Mogul Bing Foots Bill for Clinton Mission

Longtime pal donated use of jet, plus $200K for fuel, other costs

(Newser) - Wealthy Hollywood insider, Democratic donor, and Clinton family friend Steve Bing is footing the bill for the trip to North Korea that brought back two jailed American journalists, ABC News reports. Bill Clinton flew on Bing’s private jet, and the mogul will pony up about $200,000 for fuel,...

Back in the Groove, Bill Comes 'Full Circle'

Takes on role Carter played early in Clinton's presidency

(Newser) - When President Clinton was still wet behind the ears, North Korea decided to ramp up its nuclear program—and Jimmy Carter headed over to sort things out. Now, things have come “full circle,” as Clinton takes on the role of diplomatic ex-president, note John Harris and Mike Allen...

Freed Journalists Return to US
 Freed Journalists Return to US 
UPDATED
Aug 5, 2009 7:08 AM CDT

Freed Journalists Return to US

(Newser) - Laura Ling and Euna Lee are back on US soil, CNN reports. The freed journalists touched down with Bill Clinton this morning in Burbank, Calif., where they were met by their families before a swarm of journalists and dignitaries, including Al Gore. Lee embraced her 4-year-old daughter for the first...

Both Clintons, Gore Played Role in Release

(Newser) - The release of Euna Lee and Laura Ling has catapulted Bill Clinton back onto the world stage, but as the New York Times reports, the former president—and husband of the secretary of State—was only selected for the role a few days ago. Hillary Clinton proposed several envoys for...

Freed Journalists On Way Home From North Korea

(Newser) - The two US journalists pardoned today by North Korea are on their way back to the US with Bill Clinton, reports MSNBC. Euna Lee and Laura Ling are on Clinton's plane and heading to Los Angeles to be reunited with their families, a Clinton spokesman says. The two, due to...

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