North Korean News Updates -- August 21, 2018

Daily Mail: Kim Jong-UNHAPPY: Rain-soaked North Korean leader mourns loss of father's military chief before raging at country's dismal health services, uneven roads and 'idle' officials

* Kim Jong-un attended the funeral of the former military chief Kim Yong-chun
* He stood in rain as he described 'glorious life' of one of his father's top officials
* Dictator resumed leadership duties with blistering attack on health services
* Hit out at 'idle' officials, saying there was 'nothing to be proud of' in health sector

Kim Jong-un has vented his fury over North Korea's dismal health services, uneven roads and 'idle' officials - after attending the funeral of his late father's military chief.

The dictator, standing in the pouring rain in Pyongyang, paid tribute to the 'glorious life' of Kim Yong-chun, who collapsed and died of a heart attack on Thursday.

Kim looked sombre at the state funeral yesterday in honour of his father Kim Jong-il's influential military leader.

This morning, the dictator resumed his leadership duties as he took aim at his country's health sector and infrastructure.

Read more ....

North Korean News Updates -- August 21, 2018

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit North Korea for the first time next month, report says -- Daily Mail/Reuters
Moscow, Pyongyang Will Discuss Best Timing for Kim Visit to Russia – Putin Aide -- Sputnik
North Korea Presses Demand for End of War Amid Talk of Pompeo Visit -- The New York Times
U.S. Criticism of ‘Suspected’ Nuclear Sites May Derail Talks, North Korean Media Warns -- The New York Times
Trump: There'll 'most likely' be another summit with Kim -- CNN
U.S. Sanctions Russian Ships for North Korea Trade -- Bloomberg
North Korea Warns South Against Depending on 'Outsiders' Ahead of Meeting -- Newsweek
As food crisis threatens, humanitarian aid for North Korea grinds to a halt -- Reuters
Kim Jong-un Focuses on Economy as Nuclear Talks With U.S. Stall -- The New York Times
N. Korea's Kim condemns own country's health sector -- AFP
North Korean leader says his country's health sector has 'nothing to be proud of' -- CNBC/Reuters
Signs that North Korea is planning something big for September: Blocked visas, parade practice and haircuts -- Washington Post
Commentary: The gap between the US and North Korea hasn't closed since the Singapore Summit -- Nate Kerkhoff, Channel News Asia
Was Singapore meet just a coming-out party for Kim? The Statesman contributor -- Vinod Saighal, Straits Times

North Korea News Updates -- December 2, 2009

Image: 100 won bank notes. Bloomberg News

North Koreans In Shock As Cash Is 'Banned' -- Times Online

All cash transactions in North Korea have been frozen after the Government’s shock decision to revalue the won currency in an effort to crack down on the country’s burgeoning free-market economy.

In the capital, Pyongyang, today only the few shops and restaurants permitted to trade in foreign currencies, patronised by the privileged elite and the city’s small foreign population, were open for business.

Read more ....

More News On North Korea

North Korea Reissues Won, a Blow to Unofficial Economy -- Wall Street Journal
North Korea Revalues Its Currency -- New York Times
North Korea revalues currency, destroying personal savings -- Washington Post
Currency reform sparks anger in North Korea -- Press TV
South Korea Doubts North's Intentions for Nuclear Talks -- Global Security Newswire
S.Korea: North seeking to buy time to make nukes -- AFP
South Korea returns cleared 'spy' to North -- Sydney Morning Herald
Seoul not to accept separate peace deal -- JoongAng Daily
FM: S Korea not to accept U.S.-DPRK peace treaty -- China View
North Korea's determination to feed itself reaps a bitter harvest -- The Telegraph

North Korea Removed From US 'Axis Of Evil'

A satellite image of North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear complex shows the reactor's cooling tower (circled), which is due to be demolished tomorrow in front of international observers. Photograph: Reuters

From The Times Online:

The Bush administration is to stop classifying North Korea as an enemy and a state sponsor of terrorism, a step that will allow one of the world’s most isolated and repressive regimes to trade with a US government which formerly denounced it as part of the “axis of evil”.

The historic step was announced today in Beijing, as North Korea presented a long-delayed statement on the state of its nuclear programmes.

The US move, which would mark the most significant thaw in relations between Washington and Pyongyang since the 1950-53 Korean War, is intended to reward and encourage North Korean co-operation and accelerate the tangled negotiations on the country’s nuclear disarmament.

Read more ....

More News On North Korea From Other News Sources:
Text of Bush remarks on North Korea -- Breitbart
Bush Lifts Sanctions, Pledges To Scrutinize North Korea -- New York Sun
Bush says he will lift sanctions against N. Korea -- Yahoo News
Bush Will Lift N Korea Sanctions -- Time Magazine
N Korea Submits Nuclear List to China -- Time magazine
Bush welcomes N. Korea move on nuclear program -- CNN
N Korea hands over nuclear data -- BBC News
Why N Korea has handed its data over -- BBC News
North Korea expected to turn over nuclear inventory -- LA Times
Pyongyang Submits Nuclear Declaration -- Wall Street Journal
US to take North Korea off rogue states list and lift sanctions -- The Guardian
Opinion: Diplomacy Is Working on North Korea By Condoleeza Rice, Wall Street Journal

My Comment: I am very skeptical on North Korea. If they are willingly to do all of this, it means that the leaders in North Korea are insecure with their position in the country. This tells me that suffering, hunger, and the fight for survival is starting to touch the families of these rulers. If they were secure .... they would never be doing what they are now doing.

The question is ..... will they keep their word and abide by agreements when things get better for them.