(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: September 28, 2012)
Yul Kwon:
You would think that when the Chinese uses phrases like the "anti-fascist war" and accuse a "defeated country" of not recognizing the territorial rights of "a victorious nation", this would pretty much signal that relations between China and Japan are going into a deep freeze. But NHK talked to one Japanese expert who doesn't think that's the case.

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NHK World NEWSLINE
Airdate: September 27, 2012

Akio Takahara:
Japan and China have never been closer before. We have thousands of years of a relationship, but now is the best in a way in the sense that economic exchange, cultural exchange, people to people exchange- the level of these things is higher than ever. So, we have to - don't just focus on the negative aspects of things, we have this great resilience in the relationship.

Reporter:
He said internal changes in China have helped inflame tensions.

Akio Takahara:
China is rising. And there's been an increase in the budgets of these law enforcement agencies, particularly in the sea. The people in China would expect them to be more assertive, particularly regarding issues of sovereignty.

Reporter:
Takahara says people on both sides have to understand the complexity of their ties.

Akio Takahara:
Everyone should pay more attention to this situation, and try to strengthen the resilience in the relationship. And try the weaken the fragility in the relationship. I think the forty year protest has taught us this.