North Korea and UN are on speaking terms again

As there has been some tension between North Korea and the US, the two nations decided to set aside their differences. Meetings are in progress as we speak between the generals of the two countries at the border village of Panmunjom. The idea comes after a tense period: the US provoked the Koreans at the border whereas North Korea was planning to fire a missile. 

Now, these military talks are considered positive as they can lead to reduced tension between the parties as well as greater transparency so that the intentions of both sides will be clear and understandable in the future. Hostilities between the North Koreans and the Americans have existed since the 1950-53 Korean War in which the US backed-up South Korea whereas North Korea was supported by China. 

However, the two Korean countries are still not on speaking terms. Their military officials have had a few discussions lately but, unfortunately, without any success. These talks have taken place in the so-called Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), which is a 4-kilometre wide buffer strip. Recently the US has been accused of crossing the border line in the DMZ without any permission. The US and South Korea denied allegations; meanwhile, a US envoy is about to visit Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul to discuss ways in order to try to deter North Korea from the missile launch and persuade the country to start nuclear disarmament. 

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7918117.stm

North Korea to launch satellite

Soon the communist North Korea will launch a rocket that will carry a communications satellite. This piece of news is official; however, leaders of the country gave no information on the date of the launch that will obviously be a “great step forward for the communist state.” 

According to BBC this is not the first occasion that such a statement has been made. At the end of the 1990’s North Korea tested its short-range missile called Taepodong-1 and it announced that it would launch a satellite into orbit. That, however, has not happened so far. 

Nevertheless, North Korea has not given up his idea to put a satellite on the sky. It is said that the successor of the first Taepodong missile, Taepodong-2 will be launched from the site in the northeast of the country. BBC quoted the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA): „Full-scale preparations are under way to launch a rocket Unha-2 to put communication satellite Kwangmyongsong-2 into orbit. When this satellite is successfully launched, our space technology will make a great step forward toward becoming an economically strong country.” 

Some say that since Taepodong-2 is a long-range missile it has a theoretical range of almost 7,000 km, which is just enough to target the USA. The missile was tested back in 2006 and the test seemed to be a failure: Taepodong-2 exploded. It was not long ago when new US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton visited Asia, including North Korea and gave a warning in terms of „rash moves”. 

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7907039.stm