shut up and take notes!

According to BBC News the people who surround Kim Jong Un and take notes are there wherever the supreme leader goes and they write down everything he does, even the jokes are recorded. The reason for all this is to portray the leader as all powerful and all knowing, he can often be seen giving advice on a wide array of tasks including giving a pilot a pep talk, this portrayal of power, knowledge and wisdom make the population see him as a great leader, although many would disagree.

Tensions Rise

 The North Korean Supreme leader Kim Jong Un had a military meeting today to warn and prepare troops for a possible confrontation with the USA as well as possible strategies for defeating its rival. According to the US nuclear intelligence, there has been increased activity in the   Punggye-ri, the site of the North's three previous nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013, and president Obama warns that further nuclear and atomic tests will have higher sanctions.


http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/north-koreas-kim-jongun-leads-key-military-meet-amid-nuclear-unease/story-e6frg6so-1226897397339

Powerful nation

What hurts the most of this country is that when you walk in, you see that almost nothing change for the past decades. It still looks like this country is in a constant war. It's been a while since the war is over but peace has never made is way through yet. Military forces are so present, creating a big amount of fear in the country. All the tentatives by the international authorities or political leaders are leading to nothing but giving Pyongyang more willingness to develop the nuclear forces. They recently have been named the most powerful city because of the nuclear. This is so sad that this communist country is just a waste of knowledge for its population.

Understanding the nuclear program of North Korea

What do we know yet? 
In violation with the UN security council which sanctioned the nuclear program of North Korea, they launched 2 missiles. Over the last month, NK also practiced many smaller nuclear tests. They are suspected of doing that to protest over the international pressure against nuclear.
How did they end up with so much nuclear?
Back in 1975, Pyongyang developed its own missiles , using technologies to increase their distance and their strength. Their goal settled , they want to reach further target such as Japan. Since the end of 1980,  the objective is to get intercontinental missiles.

Obama peacekeeper

As second destination of his Asian tour, out of four, Obama went in Seoul, the South Korean capital. During a speech in Seoul, the american president declared that the bound of liberties were at the boarders of the very militarized frontiers between the South and the North. He also mentioned that the nuclear threats of North against the South would never help nothing but keeping them as enemies. A shocking new also surfaced when Obama landed, the North claimed that the country detained an American civilian because he broke the formalities to enter the country.

Obama and Park

The tensions between North and South Korea are just getting more ridiculous. The North, specifically Pyongyang, is making hideous comments about the president of the South,Park Geun-hye. Usually known for its indecent remarks, North Koreans are being more and more personal in their comments toward the political authorities. They briefly describe her as being idiot, lunatic and a cold blood animal.The tensions arose because of the visit of Obama, claiming that the North would be seriously sanctioned if it detonated a fourth nuclear test. Satellite images shown the increase in nuclear activities at the test sites. ''Pyongyang was angered by the team's report, which said it was committing grave and systematic human rights abuseson a scale unparalleled in the modern world.'

More Missile Testing

South Korea is testing/launching a new 2200 pound warhead missile capable of destroying most of North Korea; this was in reaction to North Korea firing 30 short range missiles on March 22, the south really wants to be ready for anything. Although North Korea has had economic issues such as the food shortage it somehow always has the budget for military offensive weapons and its missile program is becoming increasingly sophisticated, this is a cause for concern when we consider that North Korea has been caught several times trying to invade South Korean space with the surveillance drone and the fishing boat.

North Korean fishing boat has intentionally sailed unto South's waters

 On March 27, South Korea sized a fishing boat that crossed the maritime boarder between the North and the South. South's Navy warned several times the fishing boat to come back to their waters, but they ignored the signals. At that time, South Korea thought that the boat had technical problems, but South Korea report that the boat intentionally crossed the boarder. South Korea repatriated the three North Koreans to their country on March 28. Shortly after the incident, South Korea mentioned that no trace of any fish have been found on board. Only fishing nets were on the boat, but they were inadequate for fishing. The South Korean government official said that while the North Korean fishing boat was crossing the maritime line, about 10 North Korean patrol vessels were waiting just north of the sea border. North Korea's military pretend that South Koreans sailors beat its fishermen with iron sticks and they also mention that South Korea's Navy will have "to pay a dear price"for their atrocities toward the North Korean fishermen. On March 29 in a news conference in Pyongyang, the three fishermen said that they were picking up clams before the boat had engine problems.

Source: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/yonhap-news-agency/140406/n-korean-boat-intentionally-intruded-s-korean-waters-officia

Human Rights investigation

In Geneva the United Nation's 47 nations Human Rights Council did a reunion to keep investigating on North Korea's crimes against humanity. By 30 votes in favor, six against and 11 abstentions The UN adopted the alternatives presented by Japan and the EU. China, Cuba, Pakistan, Russia, Venezuela and Vietnam voted against it. This vote allow the UN to continue where the international commission left off last month. The commission's report published testimony from victims in North Korea. These victims ask for government leaders in North Korea to face the International Criminal Court. 

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/un-renews-north-korea-human-rights-investigation/2014/03/28/3964a5fe-b677-11e3-9eb3-c254bdb4414d_story.html

South Korea sized North Korean fishing boat

Earlier today, South Korea's military sized a North Korean fishing boat that had crossed the maritime border between the North and the South Korea. Despite the warnings, this event keeps growing tensions between the two Koreas. This incident happened as North Korea faces international community after launched two mid-range missile on wednesday. The same day, Japan, South Korea and the United State agreed to reduce there ambitions about nuclear weapons. Thursday, The UN Security Council discussed about possible sanctions of North Korea's actions. North Korea refuses to recognize the naval boarder since the Korean civil war in 1953. It is not the first time that a vessel from north crosses this line. It happened in 1999 and 2002 where an unidentify number of sailors were killed. A South Korean official said that "If North Korea tries provocation with the excuse that we seized the vessel that crossed the line, we’ll be sure to come back with punishment pretty decisively.”

Source: http://indianexpress.com/article/world/asia/south-korea-seizes-north-korean-boat-amid-hightened-tensions/

Japan and North Korea Informal Talk

According to Martin Fackler of the New York Times, on Thursday, North Korea and Japan agreed to talk for the first in over a year Japanese and North Korean diplomats met in the city of Shenyang in china. The reason for such a long period of silence between the two states is due to the launching of long range rockets over Japan in December 2012 by North Korea, this created huge controversy between the two states. According to Japanese officials the discussions will include topics such as their nuclear and ballistics weapons programs, but the main goal would be to smooth over tensions between the two countries.

  http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/21/world/asia/japan-and-north-korea.html?_r=0

Rockets fired toward the Sea of Japan

Today, March 16, North Korea has launched 10 missiles into the Sea of Japan. One South Korean official said that "[They] estimate the rockets traveled about 70 kilometers into the open waters." North Korea responded that "It is justifiable self-defense behavior for us to conduct these military exercises in order to preserve peace in the region and to protect the safety of our people and our country." 

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/16/world/asia/nkorea-missile-launches/

North Korea get around UN sanctions

Recently, North Korea found a way to avoid UN sanctions by using there embassies to trade illegal weapons. According to the UN's report, it happens on July 2013 during a mission in Cuba and Singapore. There are suspicions about an illegal shipment of Cuban fighter jets and missiles pieces were seized on an industrial boat in Panama last July. Panama seized the ship which had two MiG-21 jet fighters under a big amount of sugar. North Korea did big efforts to hide the origin of there ships by renaming them. Most of the ships are registered to small companies. North Korea is banned from shipping and receiving cargo related to nuclear programs.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/11/us-korea-korea-un-idUSBREA2A08020140311

The Juche Idea

The Juche idea is the ideology by which the population of North Korea is guided. This idea implemented by the time North Korea took distances from the Soviet Union and inspired by the Stalinist policies was inaugurated by Kim Ilsung in 1955. Mixed up with Marxism, Stalinism, Maoism and Leninism , this ideology involves that their ain't no god but an eternal president. All the power is administered to him and makes the country distinct of any other country in the world, immune to any international laws and norms and independent economically. 

Key Resolve and Foal Eagle

Exercises for military preparations are in progress in Korea in order to test their state of war. Three times, in the night of monday to tuesday, a North Korean ship crossed the navy border in the South Korean zone. One time, the ship even entered the zone from 3,7 km which is a lot before any interventions from the other zone. After the third time, they had tested enough so that they fought back in their zone. Until april 18th, there will be other kinds of exercises going on in the peninsula. The first one is named ''Key Resolve'' and will last one week. Its main objective is to simulate data processing attack on computers. The second one named ''Foal Eagle'' will last 8 weeks and will mobilize the three kinds of army ; navy, landed and air force. Experts confirmed that the exercises will be less damaging then last year due to the lack of aircraft carriers and bombers.

Shocking revelations

At dawn of a change, more and more confessions are being heard at the congress of Geneva where the human rights are debated. Recently, Ahn Myong-Chol, after 8 years of hard labour in concentration camps has been interviewed by the commission. Witness, victim and driver in the concentration camp, Ahn tells us about his horrible journey and more specifically about the atrocities taking over the human warmth. Encouraged to kill and even rewarded, Ahn admits he never killed no one. The most horrible thing he shares with us is the lack of empathy of the guardians of the camps. The story of the 3 dogs that escaped from their master and killed 5 poor children is to bloodcurdling us. Ahn finishes his story on a good note, leaving us with the hope that there are still few chances for them to escape even though this is not easy, Ahn did. 

Education

After 18 months of negotiations, BBC News finally, on February 2nd, succeeded to speak with students from the main University, located in the capital , Pyongyang. Young Korean accepted in this school must have a strong mental because this is managed like army. Instead of military walks, it's the student that operates it. Once in the classroom, they have to perform by excellence in order not to be sent to labour camps. Their minds are blown by the idea that their supreme leader, Kim Jong-Un is a good person and they are proud of what he is doing for them. Between

the walls, the students are allowed to use computer which is for a restricted use: no email, no social media and no international news. They are not aware of our culture and the only thing they can learn about us, is our language. The goal of the university is to create men that will help to modernize the impoverish country.

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Travelling to North Korea : Being vigilant

Stricly on it's government terms, it is not accessible and safe to travel to North Korea. Even with the crisis going on, there is a demand for tourism. The North Korean government accepts a limited amount of tourists going from 2000 to 2500/year. People travelling to North Korea does not simply want to expand their own culture but they want to get a part of the history. Since the Cold War is still being fought in this country, there is much more than a relaxing trip to be lived. In North Korea, it is like going to another planet where mobile devices are unknown and internet is not an option. There is no freedom in this country either for the locals or for the tourist. Once you get to North Korea, as a tourist, you have to be accompanied by two approved local guides throughout your journey. 

North Korea missiles in the ocean

Thursday, February 27, North Korea fired four missiles into sea. Pyongyang apparently wanted to protest against the military exercises by South Korea and the United States.The North Korea's capital said that these exercises were "a rehearsal for invasion". However, the launches shouldn't raise tension because the North needs to improve its relations with South for foreign investment and aid. The projectiles had a range over 200 kilometers. It was probably Scud missiles or an improved version of its newly developed surface-to-ship KM-02 missiles. Kim Youg-hyun, a professor of North Korea studies at Seoul's Dongguk university, said that the North should possibly protest against the military drills that began on Monday or to catch attention of the world about the negotiations about disarmament.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2014/02/27/world/asia/ap-as-koreas-tension.html?ref=asia

Ski resort, just what North Korea needs!

When we think of Kim Jung Un and how poorly he is spending the states resources on himself with cars and pianos but on top of all that he spends even more of the already  impoverished states resources on a very controversial ski hill and resort. This seems like way for North Korea to attract tourists but is it worth it in the long run? This station should be state operated in order for North Korea to generate the necessary profit to increase the wealth of the state in the long run but it is most likely that the profits might  permit the supreme leader to acquire more exotic luxury cars and pianos. 

http://www.voanews.com/content/north-korea-opens-controversial-ski-resort/1836520.html

Life in North Korea's prison camps

Here are some sketches of the UN's report. These were submitted by a political prisoner.

Source: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/02/19/eight-sketches-of-life-inside-north-koreas-prison-camps-that-will-haunt-you/

Resources well spent?

Following the death of his father Kim Jung Un has spent over 6million on himself, he purchased a dozen luxury cars and pianos and well as a private theater for his allies. all this spending is taking place while many poor North Koreans die of starvation. this is another one of the many crimes against humanity that Kim Jung Un is being accused of by the UN, this selfish act does not define a true leader, this is one of the worst examples of leadership in human history.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/kim-jongun-spent-over-600m-in-a-year-while-north-korean-citizens-starved-to-death-9145059.html

North Korea rejects accusations

North Korea and Kim Jung UN are rejecting the UN’s finding of the systematic torture and the starvation and killing he may still face international prosecution, North Korea states that the UN’s findings are just a bunch of lies and fabrications. In this document released by the UN there are accusations of murder, rape and executions. The UN also supposes that china, which is North Koreas main ally may be aiding and embedding them as well in these crimes.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/22/north-korea-rejects-un-report-crimes-against-humanity