(LinkAsia: December 14, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
So, perhaps the North Korean missile is more of a long-term threat than an imminent one. But, will it have a political effect? South Koreans go to the polls on December 19th to elect a new president. Japan's public broadcaster, NHK has this report on how the rocket might affect voters.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: December 12, 2012

Reporter:
I'm standing at the unification observatory only two kilometers from the North Korean border. From here we have not detected any unusual activity on the other side that might be related to the missile launch. However, on this side, the presidential race is entering its final phase. The launch has definitely raised concerns about security. People in Seoul are expressing dismay and anger.

Seoul Resident:
A missile launch is totally unacceptable. We belong to the same race, but I never understand what they are trying to achieve through such an act.

Seoul Resident:
I was shocked they did this just before South Korea's presidential election. We need to beef up our national security.

Reporter:
South Korea's foreign minister Kim Song-hun condemned the North's decision to push forward with what it called a provocative act. He said the launch is a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions. President Lee Myung-bak has maintained a hard-line policy against the North. During his five year term, Pyongyang has carried out three long-range missile launches and one nuclear experiment. There have been other military provocations. The North shelled Yongpyang Island and is said to have sunk a South Korean naval patrol ship in the Yellow Sea. And the presidential election next week, the two main contenders stressing the need to improve North-South relations, but people are taking a realistic view. Recent polls show many citizens feel that they don't support hard-line policies against the North. Nor do they believe in appeasement. The North missile launch is expected to influence voters' decisions.

(LinkAsia: December 7, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
Moving now to North Korea. Back in April, the country defied sanctions and attempted to launch a rocket. It failed, but the country seems to be upholding the old saying "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again." But will this launch prove to be successful? Here's NHK.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: December 4, 2012

Reporter:
The ballistic missile launch will be the second since Kim Jong-un took power a year ago. It will use the same launch pad at Tongchang-ri, a site in the northwestern part of the country. Before the first test in April, officials in Pyongyang said the 30-meter, three-stage rocket was meant to carry a satellite, but Japan the United States and South Korea said the launch was in fact a ballistic missile test. The test ended in failure with a rocket exploding in mid-air two minutes after liftoff. It broke into more than 10 pieces and fell into the ocean. Analysts say North Korea's young leader Kim Jong-un wants to correct this failure before the first anniversary of his father's death on December 17th. Kim may also be trying to consolidate his power base by showing his dedication to a military first policy. Kim has also vowed to develop North Korea's economy.

Kim Jong Un:
We must start on a path of industrial revolution for the new century to make North Korea a great economic power.

Reporter:
But there are no tangible signs of improvement. The UN World Food Program says that 60 million North Koreans, or nearly 70 percent of the population, suffer from malnutrition. North Korea's relations with the outside world are at a standstill. Last February, the United States agreed to provide food aid in exchange for a freeze on ballistic missile tests. But the deal was broken after the North tested a missile in April. North Korea's leadership has been trying to hold direct talks with the United States, but officials in Washington say they are not ready to accept. China is also applying pressure on its neighbor arguing that the missile launch would violate the UN resolutions.

(LinkAsia: October 26, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
This week, South Korean police rushed to contain groups of North Korean defectors and activists after Pyongyang threatened to attack them. The police were trying to stop the groups' plans to launch balloons carrying aid and propaganda into North Korea. They've done this several times in the past, but this is the first time that North Korea has threatened violence against them. Here's NHK with more.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: October 22, 2012

Reporter:
South Korean police cordoned off the road leading to Imjingak, a town near the demarcation line. They got into scuffles with the activists who protested against the move. Most of the activists are defectors from North Korea. They started chanting slogans against the north once it was clear they would have to give up on their leaflet campaign. Activists say they managed to release some of the balloons on Monday evening from an area not guarded by the police. The South Korean government's intervention in cases like this one is rare, but relations with the north have been more tense than usual. North Korean leaders have been making provocative moves ahead of South Korea's presidential election in December.

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Yul Kwon:
North Korea has often tried to influence presidential elections in South Korea. The most notorious incident occurred during South Korea's first democratic election in 1987. Two weeks before the election, two North Korean agents blew up a Korean Air passenger plane, killing all 115 people on board.

(LinkAsia: October 12, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
In North Korea, Kim Jong-un is continuing his campaign to bring fun and entertainment to his people. Japan's NHK has this story about Kim' efforts to makeover the capital, Pyongyang.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: October 3, 2012

Reporter:
We've been visiting the North Korean capital Pyongyang since Saturday. We went to a popular new attraction on Tuesday. Staff at this aquarium say this dolphin show started in the summer. The highlight is a dance sequence involving a woman and dolphins. The performance is the first of its kind in North Korea.

Child Audience Member:
It's a great fun.

Female Audience Member:
It's the first time I've seen the dolphins up close. It was exciting.

Reporter:
Excitement and fun are what the country's new leader seems to be promoting. Kim Jong-un created a government agency responsible for overseeing theme parks. Experts say he's trying to define himself as a caring leader. The idea is simple: children, adults, even uniformed soldiers who flock to popular spots have a good time, then think of Kim.

Theme Park Visitor 1:
It's great!

Theme Park Visitor 2:
Marshall Kim Jong-un cares for us as workers. I can't tell you how thankful that we are. I feel like I can relieve a whole day's stress by enjoying attractions here.

Reporter:
It's not just rides, it's restaurants too. North Korean officials want the world to know their country is changing. This newly opened Italian restaurant offers 11 different types of pizza. It's popular with locals, and it's also attracting tourists.

Female Tourist:
In the Western Media you don't see stuff like this. So, it's really interesting.

Reporter:
People in North Korea are currently enjoying a traditional holiday period. They take time to honor their ancestors and relax. But their leader is never far from their minds.

Parkgoer:
Comrade Kim Jong-un is devoting himself to running the country to better enhance people's lives. We're enjoying the holiday, praising Kim Jong-un and the Worker's Party.

Reporter:
The people we met make up a small percentage of the population. North Korean authorities only allow foreign media to interact with those who are well off. U.N. World Food Program representatives estimate 60 million people, or 70 percent of the population, are not getting enough food. Heavy rains and several typhoons this summer have made the situation worse. And they expect North Koreans, mainly in rural areas, will face a severe food shortage this coming winter. Improving the standard of living across the country is one of Kim Jong-un's many challenges. Although, unlike amusement parks or restaurants, he and his officials aren't keen to show or talk about that side of life inside their nation. Shuhei Ikehata. NHK World, Pyongyang.

(LinkAsia: June 1, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
North Korea is joining one of the world's most exclusive clubs. Except that the club doesn't want North Korea. The Communist country recently revised its constitution to declare itself a nuclear power, something that wasn't exactly welcomed by its neighbors. Here's Japanese broadcaster NHK with the details.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: May 30, 2012

Reporter:
Authorities posted the full revised texts of the constitution Wednesday on a North Korean website. The document praises Kim Jong-il for transforming the country into what it calls an undefeated political and ideological power, a nuclear power, and an invincible military power.

Last month, the Supreme People's Assembly also appointed new leader Kim Jong-un as First Chairman of the National Defense Commission. North Korean officials carried out nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009. The country's state-run media have repeatedly claimed the North is now a nuclear power.