North Korea proposes cooperation on East sea naming dispute

http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20110429000933

     North Korea proposed joint inter-korean cooperation, which involves dealing with the naming dispute over the East Sea. South Korean organization has recieved a notification on wednesday that historians of the two Koreas join hands in deciding the name of the East Sea according to the Korean government official. South Korea and Japan have been debationg over how to name the sea between the two countries, which South Korea refers to as the "East sea,"; however, Japan calls it the "Sea of Japan." The efforts to promote the name of the sea as the "East sea" have been renamed recently after Japan authorized last month. This shows how North Korea are trying their effort to improve inter-Korean relationship, which has worsen since 2008. I believe North Korea joins this dispute  in order to get stable help from their closest country, South Korea, and to get a consistent food aid. Also, it shows North Korea are willing to advance their country but also communicate with other countries.

North Korea, Kim Jong il proposes summit with South Korea

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     North Korea n leader, Kim Jong il, announced holding a meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung bak and former United States president Jimmy carter according to Seoul. Kim has stated that he is prepared for a summit meeting with South President to discuss any subject directly between the two heads of state. Interestingly, South Korea has repeatedly proposed that North Korea should speak directly to Seoul in order to open the summit between two countries. In response, Kim Jong il sent words that he and his citizens are willing to negotiate with South Korea or United States or on any subject at any time and with out any preconditions, Carter said. North Korea and South Koreas' relationship has became worsen after President Lee took office in 2008, which he has pushed a policy linking aid to denuclearization efforts by North. I believe that North are beginning to show their efforts as they have announced joining the talks with two different countries. This shows how North are facing a hard time as they are majorly suffering from food shortage.

North Korea ship violates sea border

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      A North Korean vessel considered to be a military ship, violated the western inter-Korean sea border; however, after firing a warning shot, the patrol ship retreated back to its water on tuesday. According to JCS official at about 9 pm an unidentified North KOrean ship invaded across the border, so South Korea warned the ship three timesby firing eight warning shots. He also states that the ship remained in the South waters until 9:47p.m. even after the warning which were fired at 9:43p.m. This year North Korean fishing boats have violated the border several times; however, there was no word on the NLL violation from the communist state yet as the official announces. North Korea needs to be more secure about crossing the border line and to inform the people not to get close to the line as the two countries are still in a war. This shows how North Korea defectors are increasing over a year as people are suffering from food shortage. I believe that these are one of the causes of North Korea's poor security system but also reflects their poverty these days.

EU prohibits North Korea’s aged planes for six years

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       In Europe, North Korean airliners have been banned from operating in European countries for six years in a row as part of the European Union's prohibition on 21 states that have failed to pass the safety standards based on the U.S. owned private report. Air Koryo, North Korea's major air flight, can only fly two airliners which they purchased from Russia in 2009. Also, dozens of others operated by Air koryo have considered by EU to be too old for safe operation compare to other airlines. An EU official states that the ban on North Korea can be lifted as soon as the country operates newer planes that allows the safety standards.
 This shows how North Korea is under a poor condition of both economic and political situation. I believe that North Korea seriously needs to advance their technology through communicating with other countries allowing more talks about nuclear weapons to improve the country itself. North must give up its  possession on Nuclear power and start allowing more foreign influences instead of banning all.

Regional powers escalate North Korea nuke discussions.

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     A diplomatic events will take place on the Korean peninsula as countries are gathering efforts to persuade unpredictable North Korea about the nuclear weapons. According to the analysts, senior officials from Washington, Seoul, Beijing and Pyongang are looking forward to influence the dialogue partners' toward a negotiation including the food shortage. However, Seoul and Washington appear willing to resume talks when North Korea represent proof of its denuclearization and apologizes for the attacks. Also, U.S and South Korea are continuing their efforts to have the U.N security condemn Pyongang's uranium activities.
North Korea is gathering lots of attentions again as they are hardly suffering from food shortage. Many countries give support in order to disscuss North's denulcearization; however,  the government does not want to give up its position on the nuclear weapons. I believe that North Korea depends on nuclear weapon, because that is the only way to defend themselves against the other countries threats.

Carter to fly to Seoul after trip to North Korea

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     Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter plans to fly directly to Seoul after visiting North Korea. He looks forward to travel to Pyongyang next week to discuss about North Korea's denuclearization, which can be also seen as a peace treaty and providing aid to the communist nation.  He will be accompanied by three other former heads of state : former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, former Irish President Mary Robinson and former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland. Media has announced that Carter will meet North Korean leader Kim Jong il during his trip. This is another step forward against the nuclear weapons after Carter's discussion with the former North Korean leader Kim il sung in 1994 during the first North Korean nuclear crisis. I believe this shows how lots of nations are putting thier effort into denuclearization as they are providing aids and foods; however, North Korea will be not persuaded, but will take advantage of these recent supports from different countries to recover its own nation and will maintain the regime of Kim family.

U.S. military closely monitors North Korea moves

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      The commander of the Eighth United States Army announced that there are no unusual movements detected recently as they monitor the allied troops. He also states that the military observe forces in North Korea very closely with the South Korean military force, and their sharing information and relationship has gotten stronger today than they have ever been. As North Korea has attacked South Korea a few times, U.S. troops are preparing to relocate some places to defend South Korea. Johnson, a commander of the U.S. Army, stated that these progress has started since the Korean War, which mad South Korea and United States relationship stronger. This article shows how North Korea's several attacks have caused South Korea to seriously react by cutting off the aid support and by strengthen the relatuonship between America. I believe that now South Korea is proving North that these are the causes of attacking them through these efforts.

North Korea imported truckloads of gifts for elite

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         According to a South Korean internet newspaper, there were a long convoy of lorries carrying as a gift for North Korea's elite and entering the communist state on thier major holiday. Anti- Pyongang activists said that there were more than 200 trucks crossing the Yalu river from China. The major holiday in North Korea, which is the birth of its founder Kim il Sung leads the country to present a party and military elites with gifts such as televisions, watches and home apliances to foster loyalty to their current leader, Kim-Jong il. Based on it information, all goods that are heading for North Korea are stored at the warehouse in the northeastern Chinese city. A while ago, despite North Korea's food shortage, North has spent millions of dollars to buy gifts for two kim's birthday. I believe that North are again trying to celebrate their leader's birthday by importing goods from China and other places; however, they are not trying their best to lessen the rate of food shortage, which is a very important issue in North Korea.

Lee discusses FTA, North Korea with U.S. senators

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President Lee Myung-bak heads for a lunch with U.S. Republican senators including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (second from right) and Rep. Chung Mong-joon (right) of the ruling Grand National Party, chief of the Korea-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Council, Tuesday at Cheong Wa Dae. (Yonhap News) Lee(President of South Korea) exchanged views with the U.S. senators on the war going countries security ties while pending free trade agreement as well as recent developments with the Korean Peninsula. He stated that it was most important for the two allies to join efforts in dealing with issues related to North Korea. Seoul has maintained its position that they will not return to the six-nation nuclear talks unless the North admits and apologizes for the attacks on the naval ship Cheonan and Yeonpyeong Island last year. I believe that North Korea's attack is gathering more attention as North is on their downfall invloving their food shortage and ask for an aid. North must apologize South Korea in order to get a stable support.

Seoul insists on North Korea apology before dialogue

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       South Korea has announced that North Korea will have a hard time making progress in its peace treaty talks with their war going country unless North first apologizes for the two deadly attacks. Recently, there was an international efforts to achieve North Korea's denuclearization between two divided Koreas on last March. Pyongang hopes to invite the reopen dialogue with Seoul as well as five partners in the talk; however, South Korea has denied getting involved in the talk due to North Korea's continous denial in attacking the ship and killing 50 Korean citizens. South has agredd to hold such a meeting, changing from their previous stance not to do North any favors until they apologize properly. Again, South stated,  “take a responsible attitude” toward its attacks as well as denuclearization,” said by Unification Ministry. I agree with South Korea's attitude towards its attack; however, the bombarding has happened last year, but South Korea's definite reaction has occurred after about an year. I believe that South must be more serious about the relationship between North Korea.

South Korean school to teach North Korea power transfer

       http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20110413000673

 Recently, South Korea has included a section about North Korea's annually released guidelines for unification education, which the students need to develop their critical views on the war going countires South and North Korea. North Korea and South Korea's war is still continuing but in a rest, which there are always a possibility of starting a war; however, North Korea has attacked South a several times in early and late 2010. Both Korea has mentioned about the two attacks, but North Korea has not accepted their fault, which allowed South Korea to give a lot of attentions on North. Also, North Korea shows the ongoing move by its regime to have Kim Jong il's son, Kim Jong un as the next leader and how three dictating generation, Kim il sung, Kim Jong il, and Kim jong un, succession is very important in history of modern politics. Importantly, unnmaed official has stated that the unification costs should be seen as an investment for the future, until then two koreas remain separated. I believe in order to unify both war going countries South Korea would have to shoulder the costs of improving the communist North's poor living conditions.

North Korea not to abandon nukes as defense tool for aid.

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     North Korea has abandon to give up its possession on nuclear weapon in order to keep defense against their international threats. Also, they have decided to hold their nuclear power to attrack attentions and economic aids. According to the commander of  U.S. forces in Korea, North Korea will not give up its nuclear capability and they have maintained their independence as they are relying on Chinese support.  Over a few years, North Korea's missiles and nuclear weapons have been threatening U.S. and other major power holding countries. Recently, North Korea has committed a series of provocations: sinking a South Korean warship and bombaring a border island. North Korea has been hardly continuing their independence due to a severe food shortage, I believe North will soon have to give their possession in nuclear weapons in order to get a consistant support as a part of a contract.

North Korea's food aid

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Since the early 90's, South Korea was a major support of food aiding North Korea over many years in order to show progress in unification between two war going countries. However, South Koreas aiding has gradually decreased as they faced 2008. North Korea has announced that they need some 1.29 million tons of extra food this year. When South Korea was bombarded by North Korea, they have totally cut off the support as they did not get any apologies. Soon, North Korea's major support has been entirely shut off leading North to a devastating poverty issue. The U.N. agency claims almost a quarter of the North’s population of 24 million is in dire need of food, so, last month, the World Food Program called on the international community for 434,000 tons of food assistance to support the most starving people: children and pregnant women. I believe that North Korea needs more assist in order to stop their severe food shortage, which by allowing more international communication instead of closing any foreign influence. If they do not solve this problem this year, North Korea's government and Kim family's legitimate power will decrease.

North Korea will never admit ship sinking

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North Korea remains their thoughts that they will never apologize for the deadly sinking of South Korean warship, chunanham. Based on an academic, who has visited the communist nation, has reported: "North Korea cannot apologize for what it has not done and this position will not change even after 100 years or 1,000 years pass." However, South Korea has stated to the North a few times to admit this happening with the loss of 46 young healthy navy's who were in the ship that day. Still, The North angrily denies responsibility for the ship’s sinking near the West Sea border. I believe this article will enrage the South Koreans, especially the parents of 46 soldiers, eventhough a year has passed after North's attack. South has supported the North in many ways over a long time; however, there attacks have surprised the South Korean citizens, allowing to close the aids that they have been providing. North Korea has no idea that South is there major source of maintaing their governmet and economy, which is proven by many incidents. North must apologize the things that they have done instead of demanding over 1,000 years.

Seoul to foster N.K. defectors as unification force

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South Korea are planning to create a program on training young North Korean defectors to be very helpful workers for unification between two war going countires, South and North Korea. A civic group has announced that will be fourth months program supported by the government and teach about 1,000 young North Koreans: college seniors or graduates. After the World War ll, Korea was divided into North and South, which after Korean war(1950-1953). The war ended in a truce instead of a peace treaty, which technicaly two countires are still in a fight. In their early 20's or 30's, North Koreans move to South and its number has increased over few years due to North's food shortage. I believe if North Korea's food shortage continues over long time, then it leads to a possbility of signing a peace treaty as their lack of supply creates a corruption in their government; however, as Kim Jong il is alive, his military force will  control their citizens protest.

North Korea desperate for outside food aid

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While North Korea is facing an international, the government is escalating efforts to get a stabe food assistance for their starving citizens. The communist North Korea relies mostly their food supplies from outisde country and has been facing a food shortages recently after 2008. North Korea is demanding the attacks against South Korea, which major of their support has been closed as South Korea waited to apologize their attacks for a year. However, South Korea has enabled sending food supplies to North recently due to their severe suffer. The official said, “We often discuss food issues with the North, but they seem much more desperate recently,” This proves how North is having a hard time because of the food shortage thesedays and they have been asking food supplies over the countries. France has donated $210,000 to the charity group to supply the North. I believe because of North's isloation, they will soon have to be positive about debating over nuclear powers, which they have been threatening the world a few years. If they do not get positive, I believe citizens will die first, which they will no longer can maintain their government.

South Korea, China make little progress on North Korea uranium issue

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South Korea and China foreign minister made a development in dealing with North Korea's uranium-based nuclear program according to the U.N security council. China is against this movement with South Korea and stated that this should be dealt at six-party talks, which South Korea will be not involved. However, South Korea has announced that it is inevitable for the global security body to take up the matter. Despite the differences over the nuclear standoff, the two countires have agreed to not affect the relationship over the North Korean nuclear issue. North Korea's uranium based nuclear program can lead into a devestating disaster, which eariler happened in Japan, once earthquake hits near the nuclear plant, then it will create a massive radiation compare to other nuclear plants because of  its great explosion in the chemcial, Uranium.
This shows how North Korea's nuclear program is still debated outside the world and that even can possibly cause a fight over two countires over this problem. I believe that North  Korea's uranium issue should not create a conflict bewtween China and South Korea and should debate about this issue.