NKorea defector tells of business deals in West

2010-03-05T23:18:12Z

<div><p>Kim Jong Ryul spent 20 years doing business for North Korea's dictators with European firms, before he defected to Austria in 1994. Now he fears for his life after emerging from hiding this week.</p><p>"I've come up to the light. But how long the sun will shine for me, I don't know. I think it will be a short time," ...

North Korean who shopped for dictators goes public

2010-03-04T18:00:26Z

<div id="subtitle">North Korean who shopped for dictators breaks silence after 16 years under cover in Austria</div><div><p>A North Korean colonel who spent two decades going on European shopping sprees for his country's rulers said Thursday the late dictator Kim Il Sung lived in luxury while many people struggled to survive in his impoverished communist nation.</p>&l...

Austria North Korea

2010-03-04T13:18:32Z

Former highly decorated North Korean colonel Kim Jong Ryul gestures at a news conference in Vienna, on Thursday, March 4, 2010, on the occasion of the presentation of the book "Im Dienst des Diktators" ("At the Dictator's Service") by Ingrid Steiner-Gashi and Dardan Gashi. The highly decorated North Korean colonel who spent two decades going on European shopping sprees for his country's rulers has revealed how the late dictator

North Korea New Year Rally

2010-01-02T06:45:13Z

In this image made from APTN, people punch their fists into the air during a rally at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010. Tens of thousands of North Koreans rallied in the capital Saturday to support the communist government's policies for the new year, including improved relations with the SEOUL (Reuters) - The one certainty in unpredictable North Korea is that if the state detonates a nuclear device or leader Kim Jong-il visits a duck farm, Ri Chun-hee will be on TV boasting about the amazing accomplishment.</p>&lt...

American sees changes in his North Korean hometown

2010-02-24T14:59:42Z

<div id="subtitle">Postcard from Pyongyang: American returns to North Korea, finds changed city after 60 years</div><div><p>Daniel Chun peers out of the window of the Air Koryo turboprop from China as it touches down outside Pyongyang, his former h...

NKorea Postcard from Pyongyang

2009-10-24T07:30:34Z

In this photo taken Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009, Framed portraits of late North Korean founder Kim Il Sung, at right and current leader Kim Jong Il are seen reflected on a column at the departure hall where foreign visitors clear North Korean immigration at Sunan airport near Pyongyang, North K...

NKorea's showcase Arirang festival ends

2010-02-24T16:58:01Z

<div><p>North Korea announced Tuesday that this year's showcase Arirang festival -- the world's largest choreographed display -- has ended after 50 days of performances drew about 1.4 million spectators.</p><p>The show "proceeded successfully" since it began at May Day Stadium in mid-August, said state-run Korean Central Television, monitored by Seou...

Koreans, split by war, distraught after reunions

2010-02-25T00:18:16Z

<div><p>SEOUL (Reuters) - Hahm Ok-yeop waited nearly 60 years to see the brother and sister she had left behind in North Korea. Now she wishes she hadn't met them again.</p><p>The 74-year-old grandmother was among the 97 South Koreans who crossed the border to the communist North a...

N. Korea stages annual mass gymnastics show

2009-08-14T07:02:03Z

epa01821245 North Korea launches its annual Arirang Festival, the world's largest choreographed exhibition, at May Day Stadium in Pyongyang on 10 August 2009. This year's new additions to the festival highlight the country's campaign to build a 'Kangsong Taeguk' or strong and prosperous nation by 2012, the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kim...

The Grand People's Study House and the Kim Il-Sung Square in front of it are seen in Pyongyang

2009-08-14T06:53:56Z

The Grand People's Study House and the Kim Il-Sung Square in front of it are seen in Pyongyang July 29, 2009. Picture taken July 29, 2009. REUTERS/Stringer (NORTH KOREA CITYSCAPE)...

N.Korea makes documentary on Kim's life

2010-02-26T08:39:02Z

<div><p>North Korea is making an unprecedented multi-part documentary film chronicling the life of leader Kim Jong-Il, South Korean officials said Thursday, stoking speculation about his health.</p><p>Seoul's unification ministry spokeswoman ...

North Korea Kim Jong Il

2009-07-12T19:15:45Z

FILE - In this Wednesday July 8, 2009 image made off KRT footage distributed by APTN, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, center, arrives at the 15th anniversary of the death of Kim Il-sung, his father and founder of the country, in Pyongyang, North Korea. Kim Jong-Il, the reclusive North Korean leader, made a rare televised appearance Wednesday to pay homage to his late father Kim Il-Sung at a national memorial service.</p><p>It was only the second time that contemporaneous footage of the 67-year-old has been aired on state television since his reported stroke l...

NKorea's Kim pays homage to late father

2010-02-26T12:06:49Z

<div><p>North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Il, appearing gaunt and thin, made a rare televised appearance Wednesday to pay homage to his late father Kim Il-Sung at a national memorial service.</p><p>It was only the second time that contemporaneous footage of the 67-year-old has been air...

Thin-looking Kim Jong Il makes rare appearance

2010-02-26T12:17:43Z

<div id="subtitle">Thin-looking Kim Jong Il makes rare appearance as NKoreans remember nation's founder</div><div><p>A thin-looking Kim Jong Il made a rare public appearance Wednesday as North Korea paid solemn respects to his father, the country's late founder, on the 15th anniversary of his death.</p><p>T...

North Korean leader pays homage to late father

2010-02-26T12:16:09Z

<div><p>North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il paid homage to his late father Kim Il-Sung as the country marked the 15th anniversary of the death of the founding president known as the "Great Leader."</p><p>Kim visited Pyongyang's South Korea's normally publicity-shy intelligence agency is creating a stir among liberal groups with a "spot the spy" flash video game offering a variety of prizes.</p><p>The National Intelligence Service (NIS) is hosting the game on its website (www.nis111.co.kr) to mark the anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War on June 25, 1950.</p><p>The ga...

North Korea Koreas Nuclear

2009-06-26T02:45:25Z

In this image made from television, huge portraits of late North Korean President Kim Il Sung, left, and his son, current leader Kim Jong Il are raised as people gather at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, Thursday, June 25, 2009. Tens of thousands of North Koreans shouted sl...

NKorea vows 'do-or-die' battle to boost economy

2010-02-26T17:02:43Z

<div><p>North Korea vowed a "do-or-die" campaign to revive the sagging economy amid severe food shortages and intensified international sanctions aimed at curbing its weapons programmes.</p><p>The communist state's official media said leader Kim Jong-Il had visited about 100 places since December 24, when he relaunched a 1950s campaig...

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