Special to WorldTribune.com East-Asia-Intel.com North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Un has imprisoned 40 popular actors and actresses connected with Jang Song-Thaek, including a woman believed to have had affairs with his executed uncle, U.S.-based broadcaster Radio Free Asia said. “About 40 entertainers, referred to as a group linked to Jang Song-Thaek, have been sent to Susung […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By Lee Jong-Heon, East-Asia-Intel.com SEOUL — North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has indicated that he would phase out equal distribution of farmers’ harvests and drive market economy-based competition and incentive in the country’s moribund agriculture sector. In a letter distributed to farmers, Kim also stressed the need for expanding Chinese-style family-based farming as part […]
John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — “How can we claim we didn’t know,” governments and media may soon be asking themselves as stunning new evidence of suffering and widespread human rights violations become glaringly obvious in communist North Korea? But now in a devastating and detailed indictment, the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council has stated […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk, East-Asia-Intel.com The North Korean propaganda machine is nothing if not super-skilled at emitting conflicting signals. One day they’re castigating the U.S. and South Korea for military exercises, and the next they’ve dropped the subject and are entertaining a bunch of elderly South Koreans at a reunion with their long-lost […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By Lee Jong-Heon, East-Asia-Intel.com SEOUL — North Korea’s vital border trade with China has been drastically reduced due to Pyongyang’s curbs on mineral shipments following the execution of Jang Song-Thaek who had dominated business dealings with China, a source here said. “Traffic of trucks carrying North Korea’s minerals and commodities to China fell by […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk, East-Asia-Intel.com The visit of Donald Gregg, former U.S. ambassador to South Korea, to Pyongyang has got to be a sign of hope for improving relations between North Korea and its two arch foes, the U.S. and South Korea. As head of a delegation from a little known organization called […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By East-Asia-Intel.com”, Lee Jong-Heon, East-Asia-Intel.com SEOUL — Gen. O Kuk-Ryol, believed to have been behind production of counterfeit U.S. dollars and weapons of mass destruction, has re-emerged at the top of North Korea’s hierarchy following the execution of his long-time rival Jang Song-Thaek, sources and officials here said. “O has been spotted frequently in […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By Willy Lam, East-Asia-Intel.com Since becoming General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and commander-in-chief 14 months ago, President Xi Jinping has devoted much of his energy to China’s power projection around the globe. Compared to his predecessor Hu Jintao, who is noted for his dour and cautious style, Xi has proven […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By Lee Jong-Heon, East-Asia-Intel.com SEOUL — North Korea’s Premier Pak Pong-Ju is leading a nation-wide campaign to revive its troubled economy instead of Jang Song-Thaek who was purged and executed for “treason” and business connections with China. “Following Jang’s downfall, Pak who is leading the Cabinet has emerged as the control tower of the […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By Lee Jong-Heon, East-Asia-Intel.com SEOUL — Pyongyang’s “Department 54” was integral to North Korea’s struggle to acquire foreign currency and was at the center of the recent bloody purges, officials and analysts here said. They added that another power struggle is likely shortly over who will control the agency which runs projects like coal […]