China expected to step up alert after Kim's death...

China's state-run Xinhua news agency has reported a bulletin on the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, quoting a report from North Korea's Central News Agency.

But the Chinese government has not yet made an official announcement.

Kim Jong Il visited China 3 times after making his first visit in 4 years In May 2010.

China has been working on improving friendly relations with North Korea. It helped North Korea rebuild its economy following Kim Jong Il's visits. Experts say China took the measure to support Kim Jong Il's administration.

The 2 countries share a common border. China is concerned that its domestic security could be threatened if a large number of refugees flee the North into northeastern China due to the leader's death.

NHK's correspondents in Beijing say China is expected to strengthen security along its border.
(Japan Broadcasting Corporation, 2011-12-19)

New tensions along Korean Peninsula...

North Korea has warned South Korea of unexpected consequences if it lightsa Christmas tree-shaped steel tower structure near their tense border. The North' said such a movewould amount to a form of "psychological warfare". Seoul's annual tradition of lighting up a Christmas tree tower was suspended in 2003 following a warming of ties with Pyongyang. But last year,it resumed the tradition as relations chilled. Seoul is said to have given permission to Christian groups to light two towers this year in the western, central and eastern parts of the border region beginning December 23rd. Relations on the Korean Peninsula frayed after South Korea blamed the North for sinking one of its warships in March 2010 with the loss of 46 lives - a charge Pyongyang denies. Tensions were further strained months later, when North Korea shelled a Southern border island, killing four people.
(Radio Canada International, 2012-12-12)

Former Pakistani army head: North Korea gave him cash...

A Pakistani retired general says a North Korean military officer gave him 500,000 dollars in a bid to build ties with the Pakistani military on nuclear and missile development.

Ziauddin Butt, who headed Pakistan's intelligence agency and the army in the 1990s, made the comment in an interview with a local TV channel.

He said a North Korean military officer visited him in the mid-1990s and offered him a bag containing 500,000 dollars. At the time, he was in charge of procuring weapons and equipment for the Pakistani military.

He quoted the officer as saying the North Korean government ordered him to establish relations with Pakistan by giving the cash to a key figure in its government.

Experts believe that since former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto visited North Korea in 1993, Pakistan has bolstered its ties with North Korea.

With Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan playing a central role, Pakistan is believed to have provided nuclear technology to North Korea in return for missile expertise.

Ziauddin Butt noted that he believes that North Korea offered the bribe to prevent Pakistan's military from opposing collaborations with North Korea in the fields of nuclear and missile technology.
(Japan Broadcasting Corporation, 2011-12-12)

US think tank says North Korea is grave threat for US...

An independent U.S. think tank says North Korea is regarded as one of the largest plausible threats the U.S. must prepare for next year.

The U.S. Council on Foreign Relations listed a severe North Korean crisis in its report “Preventive Priorities Survey: 2012.” The report categorizes possible contingencies into three tiers based on their relative urgency and importance to U.S. nation interests.

The report rated North Korea as a “Tier 1” threat, warning against political instability and military provocations from the communist country.

Other “Tier 1” contingencies include a mass casualty attack on the U.S. homeland or its allies, a major military incident with China, and an Iranian nuclear crisis.
(KBS World Radio, 2011-12-10)

Selon Radio Free Asia, la Sécurité d’État nord-coréenne pillerait les familles de réfugiés...

Les agents de la Sécurité d’État, les principales forces de sécurité du régime nord-coréen, pillerait les familles des réfugiés, selon Radio Free Asia. Un réfugié nord-coréen a témoigné aujourd’hui que la Sécurité d’État a approché sa famille en prétextant une enquête sur lui considéré comme disparu et l’a menacée d’expulsion si elle ne lui fournissait pas un ordinateur. Un autre réfugié nord-coréen a lui aussi affirmé que sa famille a fait face à des menaces des agents qui ont demandé du matériel pour leur bureau. La radio a analysé que cette pratique de plus en plus fréquente résultait de l’approvisionnement appauvri des autorités nord-coréennes.
(Radio Corée international, le 09-12-2011)

Une délégation nord-coréenne en route pour l'Europe...

Une délégation nord-coréenne conduite par Ri Yong-chol, un officiel du Parti des travailleurs, est partie pour la Grande-Bretagne. Cette information nous provient de la KCNA, l’agence centrale de presse nord-coréenne.

La dépêche indique que la délégation se rendra aussi en Grèce, sans mentionner cependant plus de détails. On a également appris qu’une délégation du Service européen pour l'action extérieure était arrivée hier matin dans la capitale nord-coréenne.

Avant-hier, la KCNA avait par ailleurs laissé entendre que le numéro deux du régime communiste, Kim Yong-nam, effectuerait bientôt une visite d’amitié en Tanzanie.
(Radio Corée international, le 03-12-2011)

VOA: North Korea supplied weapons of mass destruction to Hezbollah...

Voice of America reports North Korean weapons of mass destruction and missile technologies have been supplied to the Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah with the help of Iran.

VOA on Saturday quoted a Congressional Research Service report titled “Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses,” which stated Iran has strengthened its ties with Syria in order to support Hezbollah. The report said Syria serves as the transit point for North Korean-made weapons being delivered to the militant Shiite group.

The report also referenced a comment by Israel's former military intelligence chief Amos Yadlin in April 2006 and a report by the U.N International Atomic Energy Agency, saying there are concerns that Iran may be seeking to develop small nuclear warheads. It said North Korea supplied to Iran BM-25 missiles that are capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
(KBS World Radio, 2011-12-03)