North Korea’s threat of nuclear war may be a desperate ploy to get foreign aid without losing self-esteem, according to the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea. “It is our presumption that they wish to draw out some financial assistance from abroad without conceding their pride or self-esteem,” said Bishop Peter Kang U-Il Read more
Rights activists have joined Catholic bishops, Christian groups, diplomats and statesmen in urging the North Korean regime to use the death of Kim Jong-il as an opportunity to reverse decades of isolation and oppression. Kim’s successor, Kim Jong-un, and his military backers have an “unprecedented opportunity” to “turn a new page on the human rights Read more
A South Korean Christian group is permitted to light up massive steel Christmas trees near the border with the North, despite North Korea warning South Korea of “unexpected consequences”. Following the warming of ties, South Korea halted its tradition of lighting up Christmas trees in 2003, but the South lit a tower last year as relations deteriorated Read more