North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un told&nbsp;South Korea President&nbsp;Moon Jae-in during a private meeting that he came to the inter-Korea summit to end a history of conflict and joked he was sorry for <a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/preview/article/133112">keeping Moon up</a> with his late night missile tests, a South Korean official said on Friday.

News agency Reuters quoting senior presidential official Yoon Young-chan stated that Kim told Moon he would be willing to visit the presidential Blue House in Seoul and wanted to meet "more often" in the future.

After talks lasting more than an hour and a half behind closed doors, Kim was driven back to the North side just before noon in a black limousine flanked by guards who ran alongside. Crossing the border, the vehicle had to drive across a lawn, as there is not a road linking the two sides at that spot.

Following lunch, the two leaders are scheduled to plant a memorial tree before resuming their meeting and then finishing the evening with dinner and a film.

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WATCH: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, crosses the southern border to meet rival Moon Jae-in for the summit on nuke crisis in Panmunjom. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SouthKorea?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SouthKorea</a> <a href="https://t.co/hq58iYQcUz">pic.twitter.com/hq58iYQcUz</a>
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Senior presidential official Yoon Young-chan also said Kim told Moon he would be willing to visit the presidential Blue House in Seoul, and wanted to meet "more often" in the future

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un told South Korea President Moon Jae-in during a private meeting that he came to the inter-Korea summit to end a history of conflict and joked he was sorry for keeping Moon up with his late night missile tests, a South Korean official said on Friday. News agency Reuters quoting senior presidential official Yoon Young-chan stated that Kim told Moon he would be willing to visit the presidential Blue House in Seoul and wanted to meet "more often" in the future. After talks lasting more than an hour and a half behind closed doors, Kim was driven back to the North side just before noon in a black limousine flanked by guards who ran alongside. Crossing the border, the vehicle had to drive across a lawn, as there is not a road linking the two sides at that spot. Following lunch, the two leaders are scheduled to plant a memorial tree before resuming their meeting and then finishing the evening with dinner and a film. WATCH: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, crosses the southern border to meet rival Moon Jae-in for the summit on nuke crisis in Panmunjom. #SouthKorea pic.twitter.com/hq58iYQcUz — ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2018 ×

Kim Jong-Un sorry for keeping South Korean President Moon up with late night missile tests

South Korean President&nbspMoon&nbspJae-in will greet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday as the latter crosses a military demarcation line to enter the South for the first summit between the two sides in more than a decade, South Korea said.

South Korean honour guards will then escort the leaders to a welcome ceremony at a plaza in Panmunjom, the border village where the summit is to be held, the South's presidential chief of staff, Im Jong-seok, told a media briefing.

Official dialogue between Kim and&nbspMoon&nbspwill begin at 10:30 a.m. (0130 GMT) at the Peace House in Panmunjom, an hour after Kim is scheduled the cross the border at 9:30 a.m. (0030 GMT).

"This summit will focus more on denuclearisation and securing of permanent peace than anything else," Im said on Thursday.

"I feel North Korea is sending their key military officials to the summit as they too, believe denuclearisation and peace are important."

Kim will be accompanied by nine officials, among them his sister, Kim Yo Jong, who led the North's delegation to the Winter Olympics in South Korea in February and Kim Yong Nam, the North's nominal head of state.

In addition, there will be Kim Yong Chol, a former intelligence chief and Choe Hwi, the chairman of a sports panel. The North sent athletes to the Winter Olympics, where the neighbours also fielded a joint women's ice hockey team.

Kim Yong Chol was previously chief of the Reconnaissance General Bureau, a North Korean military intelligence agency South Korea has blamed for the deadly 2010 sinking of the Cheonan, a South Korean navy corvette.

Also in the delegation are Ri Su Yong, a member of the North's politburo and Ri Myong Su, the chief of the general staff of the Korean People's Army.

Ministers on the trip include defence minister Pak Yong Sik, and foreign minister Ri Yong Ho, besides an official spearheading peaceful reunification efforts, Ri Son Gwon.

South Korea's delegation is comprised of seven officials, including the ministers for defence, foreign affairs and unification.

After the end of the first session of talks, Kim Jong Un and&nbspMoon&nbspwill have lunch separately before holding a tree-planting ceremony in the afternoon, Im said.

A pine tree will be planted on the demarcation line to symbolise "peace and prosperity", Im said, using soil from Mount Paektu in North Korea and Mount Halla in South Korea.

Kim and&nbspMoon&nbspwill water the tree with water brought from the Taedong River in the North and the Han River in the South, Im said. Afterwards,&nbspMoon&nbspand Kim will take a walk together in Panmunjom before beginning the next round of talks.

At the end of the talks, Kim and&nbspMoon&nbspwill sign a pact and make an announcement, Im said. Later, they will have dinner on the South's side and watch a video clip themed 'Spring of One', he added.

South Korean honour guards will then escort the leaders to a welcome ceremony at a plaza in Panmunjom, the border village where the summit is to be held, the South's presidential chief of staff, Im Jong-seok, told a media briefing.

South Korean President&nbspMoon&nbspJae-in will greet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday as the latter crosses a military demarcation line to enter the South for the first summit between the two sides in more than a decade, South Korea said. South Korean honour guards will then escort the leaders to a welcome ceremony at a plaza in Panmunjom, the border village where the summit is to be held, the South's presidential chief of staff, Im Jong-seok, told a media briefing. Official dialogue between Kim and&nbspMoon&nbspwill begin at 10:30 a.m. (0130 GMT) at the Peace House in Panmunjom, an hour after Kim is scheduled the cross the border at 9:30 a.m. (0030 GMT). "This summit will focus more on denuclearisation and securing of permanent peace than anything else," Im said on Thursday. "I feel North Korea is sending their key military officials to the summit as they too, believe denuclearisation and peace are important." Kim will be accompanied by nine officials, among them his sister, Kim Yo Jong, who led the North's delegation to the Winter Olympics in South Korea in February and Kim Yong Nam, the North's nominal head of state. In addition, there will be Kim Yong Chol, a former intelligence chief and Choe Hwi, the chairman of a sports panel. The North sent athletes to the Winter Olympics, where the neighbours also fielded a joint women's ice hockey team. Kim Yong Chol was previously chief of the Reconnaissance General Bureau, a North Korean military intelligence agency South Korea has blamed for the deadly 2010 sinking of the Cheonan, a South Korean navy corvette. Also in the delegation are Ri Su Yong, a member of the North's politburo and Ri Myong Su, the chief of the general staff of the Korean People's Army. Ministers on the trip include defence minister Pak Yong Sik, and foreign minister Ri Yong Ho, besides an official spearheading peaceful reunification efforts, Ri Son Gwon. South Korea's delegation is comprised of seven officials, including the ministers for defence, foreign affairs and unification. After the end of the first session of talks, Kim Jong Un and&nbspMoon&nbspwill have lunch separately before holding a tree-planting ceremony in the afternoon, Im said. A pine tree will be planted on the demarcation line to symbolise "peace and prosperity", Im said, using soil from Mount Paektu in North Korea and Mount Halla in South Korea. Kim and&nbspMoon&nbspwill water the tree with water brought from the Taedong River in the North and the Han River in the South, Im said. Afterwards,&nbspMoon&nbspand Kim will take a walk together in Panmunjom before beginning the next round of talks. At the end of the talks, Kim and&nbspMoon&nbspwill sign a pact and make an announcement, Im said. Later, they will have dinner on the South's side and watch a video clip themed 'Spring of One', he added.

South Korea's Moon to meet North Korea's Kim at border for summit

With a giant TV screen in its capital, and a break from classes for students to watch live coverage, much of South Korea will hit the pause button on Friday to watch history unfold – the first time a North Korean leader crosses the border to visit.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in will welcome Kim Jong Un as he walks across the military demarcation line between the neighbours, still technically at war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.&nbsp;“It is an important moment of our history and a very good chance to feel the history,” said Park Sung-il, vice principal at Baekun Elementary School in the southern city of Gwangju, which is letting students watch events unfold on television.

“Our kids can get live education about unification by watching South and North Korean leaders shake hands in real time.”&nbsp;It is only the third time the leaders of the countries have met, and previous summits in Pyongyang, the North’s capital, were not broadcast live.

“There is the sense of excitement in Seoul that almost everybody is preparing for celebration on Friday,” said Victor Cha, a US expert on Korea who was visiting Seoul this week.&nbsp;If the summit goes well, “perhaps people in Washington may be more optimistic” that Kim’s meeting with US President Donald Trump, expected in May or June, will go well, he added.

The leaders of the two sides will meet at the South Korean border village of Panmunjom, the only place along the heavily fortified border where soldiers face off directly against each other.&nbsp;In Seoul, a gigantic TV screen will broadcast footage outside city hall. The plaza has been festooned in flowers arranged in the shape of the Korean peninsula to “create a conducive environment,” a city official said.

In Gwangju, a theatre is offering free admission for people to watch the broadcast on its movie screen.&nbsp;“Think about South Korean honour guards escorting the leader of our enemy state,” said Lee Shin, the head of a reunification research group in the city. “This is a very significant moment of our history.”

South Korean President Moon Jae-in will welcome Kim Jong Un as he walks across the military demarcation line between the neighbours, still technically at war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.

With a giant TV screen in its capital, and a break from classes for students to watch live coverage, much of South Korea will hit the pause button on Friday to watch history unfold – the first time a North Korean leader crosses the border to visit. South Korean President Moon Jae-in will welcome Kim Jong Un as he walks across the military demarcation line between the neighbours, still technically at war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. “It is an important moment of our history and a very good chance to feel the history,” said Park Sung-il, vice principal at Baekun Elementary School in the southern city of Gwangju, which is letting students watch events unfold on television. “Our kids can get live education about unification by watching South and North Korean leaders shake hands in real time.” It is only the third time the leaders of the countries have met, and previous summits in Pyongyang, the North’s capital, were not broadcast live. “There is the sense of excitement in Seoul that almost everybody is preparing for celebration on Friday,” said Victor Cha, a US expert on Korea who was visiting Seoul this week. If the summit goes well, “perhaps people in Washington may be more optimistic” that Kim’s meeting with US President Donald Trump, expected in May or June, will go well, he added. The leaders of the two sides will meet at the South Korean border village of Panmunjom, the only place along the heavily fortified border where soldiers face off directly against each other. In Seoul, a gigantic TV screen will broadcast footage outside city hall. The plaza has been festooned in flowers arranged in the shape of the Korean peninsula to “create a conducive environment,” a city official said. In Gwangju, a theatre is offering free admission for people to watch the broadcast on its movie screen. “Think about South Korean honour guards escorting the leader of our enemy state,” said Lee Shin, the head of a reunification research group in the city. “This is a very significant moment of our history.”

South Korea to hit pause on Friday to soak in the historic summit

On Friday, the world will watch <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/south-koreas-moon-to-meet-north-koreas-kim-at-border-for-summit-132925">when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un</a> meets South Korean President Moon Jae-In in the Panmunjom village in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that divides both their countries.&nbsp;

Also keeping a watchful eye on this Inter Korean Summit will be India - a country whose role in bringing the Korean War to an end in 1953 was recognized internationally at that time with even United Nations observers having paid tributes to India's voice that had called for moderation to end the crisis.

And that's why it's important to recall another chapter in India's involvement in the Korean war which is relatively less known, almost forgotten - that of an Indian Army's medical unit which treated 2.2 lakh patients during the war and that of a Brigade Group which was instrumental in assisting in the repatriation or migration of 25,000 Prisoners of War.&nbsp;

Korea invaded South Korea in 1950 and the Korean War continued till 1953. And while it declined to get involved militarily in that conflict, India offered medical aid and deployed an Army Medical Unit in South Korea.

Indian Army 60th Parachute Field Ambulance Unit that served in South Korea had 627 personnel in all. It treated over 2.2 lakh patients including civilians during the Korean war.&nbsp;

No wonder, it earned laurels from the Korean people for its efforts. During its stint there, the 60th Parachute Field Ambulance Unit suffered three fatal and 23 non-fatal casualties.

Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel A.G. Rangaraj, the 60th Parachute Field Ambulance Unit disembarked at Pusan in November 1950 and was initially deployed at Pyongyang.&nbsp;

The Unit was then divided into two sub units. The first was the 'Forward Element' which was grouped with 27 British Brigade and the "Administrative Element" located at Daegu to assist the Korean Army Hospital and also treat civilians.

It was this "Forward Element" which was in the thick of action including a major airlift called "Op Tomahawk" with the 8th US Army in March 1953 in the area of Munsan.

When the Korean War finally ended with an Armistice agreement in July 1953, the members of the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission (NNRC) selected India to head this body to supervise the exchange of Prisoners of War (POWs).

India dispatched a Brigade Group having 5,230 personnel to Korea. This Brigade group was named Custodian Forces-India (CFI). It was then that 60th Indian Field Ambulance Unit was merged with the CFI as the latter took charge of over 25,000 Prisoners of War to assist in their repatriation.

The POWs who refused to be repatriated were then assisted in migration to neutral nations of their choice by the CFI. It's professional conduct won the CFI widespread respect among the Korean people.

During its stint there, the 60th Parachute Field Ambulance Unit suffered three fatal and 23 non-fatal casualties.

On Friday, the world will watch when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets South Korean President Moon Jae-In in the Panmunjom village in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that divides both their countries. Also keeping a watchful eye on this Inter Korean Summit will be India - a country whose role in bringing the Korean War to an end in 1953 was recognized internationally at that time with even United Nations observers having paid tributes to India's voice that had called for moderation to end the crisis. And that's why it's important to recall another chapter in India's involvement in the Korean war which is relatively less known, almost forgotten - that of an Indian Army's medical unit which treated 2.2 lakh patients during the war and that of a Brigade Group which was instrumental in assisting in the repatriation or migration of 25,000 Prisoners of War. Korea invaded South Korea in 1950 and the Korean War continued till 1953. And while it declined to get involved militarily in that conflict, India offered medical aid and deployed an Army Medical Unit in South Korea. Indian Army 60th Parachute Field Ambulance Unit that served in South Korea had 627 personnel in all. It treated over 2.2 lakh patients including civilians during the Korean war. No wonder, it earned laurels from the Korean people for its efforts. During its stint there, the 60th Parachute Field Ambulance Unit suffered three fatal and 23 non-fatal casualties. Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel A.G. Rangaraj, the 60th Parachute Field Ambulance Unit disembarked at Pusan in November 1950 and was initially deployed at Pyongyang. The Unit was then divided into two sub units. The first was the 'Forward Element' which was grouped with 27 British Brigade and the "Administrative Element" located at Daegu to assist the Korean Army Hospital and also treat civilians. It was this "Forward Element" which was in the thick of action including a major airlift called "Op Tomahawk" with the 8th US Army in March 1953 in the area of Munsan. When the Korean War finally ended with an Armistice agreement in July 1953, the members of the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission (NNRC) selected India to head this body to supervise the exchange of Prisoners of War (POWs). India dispatched a Brigade Group having 5,230 personnel to Korea. This Brigade group was named Custodian Forces-India (CFI). It was then that 60th Indian Field Ambulance Unit was merged with the CFI as the latter took charge of over 25,000 Prisoners of War to assist in their repatriation. The POWs who refused to be repatriated were then assisted in migration to neutral nations of their choice by the CFI. It's professional conduct won the CFI widespread respect among the Korean people.

On eve of inter-Korean summit, Indian Army's 'forgotten' role in Korean war

India is expected to host South Korean President Moon Jae-in this year to add more strategic heft to its growing bilateral economic partnership. The two countries will look to build on convergences between Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Act East Policy" and President moon's new "Southern Policy", which seek better ties with countries in the Indo-pacific region.

Bilateral consular relations were established between the two countries in 1962 which were upgraded to Ambassador-level in 1973. In course of time, Seoul's open market policies found resonance with India's economic liberalisation and "Look East" as well as "Act East" policies. Consistent Indian support for peaceful reunification of the two Koreas has been well received in the South.

A good indication of growing ties between South Korea and India is the fact that Hyundai, Samsung and LG are household names in India. South Korea's traditional food kimchi, made from fermented vegetables such as cabbage, and K-pop star Psy of Gangnam style fame are popular, too.

But the dramatic upturn in ties did not happen overnight.

India-South Korea ties took off at the turn of the new millennium, with president APJ Abdul Kalam's visit to Seoul in the year 2006. It led to the launch of a joint task force to conclude an agreement called bilateral comprehensive economic partnership or CEPA. It was operationalised on January 1, 2010.

Trade and economic relations started to gather momentum following the implementation of CEPA in 2010 and the bilateral trade in 2011 crossed US $20.5 billion,&nbsp registering a 70 per cent growth over a two-year period. 
&nbsp 
The same year, South Korea's then President Lee Myung-bak visited New Delhi as the chief guest of India's Republic Day celebrations. He raised the ties to the strategic level.

One year later, in July 2011, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil paid a reciprocal visit to South Korea and a civil nuclear energy cooperation was signed during her visit. 
&nbsp 
In the following year, 2012, Prime Minister Manmohan singh travelled to Seoul for bilateral talks and to attend the nuclear security summit. Both sides signed a visa simplification agreement.

Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye travelled to New Delhi in January 2014. The joint statement for expansion of strategic partnership issued during the visit unveiled a blue print for further expanding the political, security, defence and economic relations.

India's foreign minister Sushma Swaraj was in Seoul in December 2014, and the defence minister in April, 2015.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited South Korea in May, 2015. During the visit, the bilateral relationship was upgraded to special strategic partnership.

The relationship witnessed new momentum following the inauguration of President Moon Jae-in's administration. PM Modi was the fourth international leader to congratulate President Moon on his election victory. PM Modi's congratulatory tweet in Korean language was well appreciated by President Moon, Korean media and common people.

President Moon reciprocated by sending Chung Dongchea, former culture minister, as his special envoy to India, first such instance in the bilateral relationship, and through subsequent announcement to upgrade the relationship with India equivalent to four traditional partners under the "New Asia Community Plus" framework.

India-South Korea ties took off at the turn of the new millennium, with president APJ Abdul Kalam's visit to Seoul in the year 2006.

India is expected to host South Korean President Moon Jae-in this year to add more strategic heft to its growing bilateral economic partnership. The two countries will look to build on convergences between Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Act East Policy" and President moon's new "Southern Policy", which seek better ties with countries in the Indo-pacific region. Bilateral consular relations were established between the two countries in 1962 which were upgraded to Ambassador-level in 1973. In course of time, Seoul's open market policies found resonance with India's economic liberalisation and "Look East" as well as "Act East" policies. Consistent Indian support for peaceful reunification of the two Koreas has been well received in the South. A good indication of growing ties between South Korea and India is the fact that Hyundai, Samsung and LG are household names in India. South Korea's traditional food kimchi, made from fermented vegetables such as cabbage, and K-pop star Psy of Gangnam style fame are popular, too. But the dramatic upturn in ties did not happen overnight. India-South Korea ties took off at the turn of the new millennium, with president APJ Abdul Kalam's visit to Seoul in the year 2006. It led to the launch of a joint task force to conclude an agreement called bilateral comprehensive economic partnership or CEPA. It was operationalised on January 1, 2010. Trade and economic relations started to gather momentum following the implementation of CEPA in 2010 and the bilateral trade in 2011 crossed US $20.5 billion, registering a 70 per cent growth over a two-year period. The same year, South Korea's then President Lee Myung-bak visited New Delhi as the chief guest of India's Republic Day celebrations. He raised the ties to the strategic level. One year later, in July 2011, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil paid a reciprocal visit to South Korea and a civil nuclear energy cooperation was signed during her visit. In the following year, 2012, Prime Minister Manmohan singh travelled to Seoul for bilateral talks and to attend the nuclear security summit. Both sides signed a visa simplification agreement. Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye travelled to New Delhi in January 2014. The joint statement for expansion of strategic partnership issued during the visit unveiled a blue print for further expanding the political, security, defence and economic relations. India's foreign minister Sushma Swaraj was in Seoul in December 2014, and the defence minister in April, 2015. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited South Korea in May, 2015. During the visit, the bilateral relationship was upgraded to special strategic partnership. The relationship witnessed new momentum following the inauguration of President Moon Jae-in's administration. PM Modi was the fourth international leader to congratulate President Moon on his election victory. PM Modi's congratulatory tweet in Korean language was well appreciated by President Moon, Korean media and common people. President Moon reciprocated by sending Chung Dongchea, former culture minister, as his special envoy to India, first such instance in the bilateral relationship, and through subsequent announcement to upgrade the relationship with India equivalent to four traditional partners under the "New Asia Community Plus" framework.

India-South Korea relations: How friendship grew over the years

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will be served a lavish feast at the Korean summit on Friday with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, the South's presidential Blue House said on Tuesday.

Kim Jong-un will cross the demilitarised zone between North Korea and South Korea on Friday for the highest level meeting held to date with South’s President Moon Jae-in.

The two states are set to discuss the North’s nuclear arsenal which its leader has vowed to dismantle.

The leader will be served Swiss rösti with a Korean style in a specially curated banquet menu, presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said in a briefing Tuesday.

North Korea has never confirmed Kim Jong Un was educated in Switzerland, but former classmates and teachers have said they spent time with him there. Swiss newspapers have also reported Kim went to school under a pseudonym in Switzerland.

Kim and Moon can wash down their meal with a fragrant wine made from azaleas.

Also on their table will be a distilled liquor called munbaeju that is 40 per cent alcohol by volume and which originated in the North, but is now traditionally made in the South.

Here's what in store:&nbsp;

Cold salad with octopus 

<img alt="Untitled design.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="450" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/Untitled%20design.jpg" width="770" />

The octopus is from Tongyeong at the southern tip of the peninsula which will be served in a bed of lettuce including other vegetables.&nbsp;

Rosti 

<img alt="Untitled design (2)_0.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="450" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/Untitled%20design%20(2)_0.jpg" width="770" />

The fried potato dish was chosen as an homage to Kim's childhood spent in Switzerland, the Blue House said in announcing the menu for Friday's welcome dinner.

Baked John Dory

<img alt="Untitled design (6)_0.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="450" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/Untitled%20design%20(6)_0.jpg" width="770" />

Baked John Dory, a dish made from the flat sea fish, will be served as a nod to Moon's younger days in the South&nbsp;Korean&nbsp;port city of Busan.

Dumplings with crocker fish and sea cucumber

<img alt="Untitled design (4).jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="450" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/Untitled%20design%20(4).jpg" width="770" />

The dish&nbsp;originated from&nbsp;Gageo Island, Shinan county and includes dumplings stuffed with crocker fish and cucumber served in a bed of broth.&nbsp;

Charcoal-grilled beef

<img alt="Untitled design (1).jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="450" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/Untitled%20design%20(1).jpg" width="770" />

The Hanwoo beef is President Moon's favorite. It&nbsp;comes from Seosan county, South Chungcheong province.

Rice organically produced using ducks

<img alt="Untitled design (7).jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="450" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/Untitled%20design%20(7).jpg" width="770" />

This process of using trained ducks for weeding and pest control on rice farms originated in Bonghwa county, South Gyeongsang Province.

Grilled dalgogi fish

<img alt="Untitled design (3).jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="450" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/Untitled%20design%20(3).jpg" width="770" />

Mango mousse chocolate dome

<img alt="Untitled design (5).jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="450" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/Untitled%20design%20(5).jpg" width="770" />

Another item on the menu will be Pyongyang-style cold noodles, or naengmyeon, served in a chilled meat broth.

"President Moon had requested Pyongyang-style cold noodles from Okryu Gwan be included on the menu and North Korea gladly accepted," said Kim Eui-kyeom, the Blue House spokesman.

Okryu Gwan is North Korea's best-known restaurant famous for the dish, and has branches in China as well.

The cold noodles will be made by the head chef at Okryu Gwan, who will travel to the truce border village of Panmunjom where the two leaders will meet on Friday, the Blue House spokesman said.

The leader will be served Swiss rösti with a Korean style in a specially curated banquet menu, presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said in a briefing Tuesday

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will be served a lavish feast at the Korean summit on Friday with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, the South's presidential Blue House said on Tuesday. Kim Jong-un will cross the demilitarised zone between North Korea and South Korea on Friday for the highest level meeting held to date with South’s President Moon Jae-in. The two states are set to discuss the North’s nuclear arsenal which its leader has vowed to dismantle. The leader will be served Swiss rösti with a Korean style in a specially curated banquet menu, presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said in a briefing Tuesday. North Korea has never confirmed Kim Jong Un was educated in Switzerland, but former classmates and teachers have said they spent time with him there. Swiss newspapers have also reported Kim went to school under a pseudonym in Switzerland. Kim and Moon can wash down their meal with a fragrant wine made from azaleas. Also on their table will be a distilled liquor called munbaeju that is 40 per cent alcohol by volume and which originated in the North, but is now traditionally made in the South. Here's what in store: Cold salad with octopus The octopus is from Tongyeong at the southern tip of the peninsula which will be served in a bed of lettuce including other vegetables. Rosti The fried potato dish was chosen as an homage to Kim's childhood spent in Switzerland, the Blue House said in announcing the menu for Friday's welcome dinner. Baked John Dory Baked John Dory, a dish made from the flat sea fish, will be served as a nod to Moon's younger days in the South Korean port city of Busan. Dumplings with crocker fish and sea cucumber The dish originated from Gageo Island, Shinan county and includes dumplings stuffed with crocker fish and cucumber served in a bed of broth. Charcoal-grilled beef The Hanwoo beef is President Moon's favorite. It comes from Seosan county, South Chungcheong province. Rice organically produced using ducks This process of using trained ducks for weeding and pest control on rice farms originated in Bonghwa county, South Gyeongsang Province. Grilled dalgogi fish Mango mousse chocolate dome Another item on the menu will be Pyongyang-style cold noodles, or naengmyeon, served in a chilled meat broth. "President Moon had requested Pyongyang-style cold noodles from Okryu Gwan be included on the menu and North Korea gladly accepted," said Kim Eui-kyeom, the Blue House spokesman. Okryu Gwan is North Korea's best-known restaurant famous for the dish, and has branches in China as well. The cold noodles will be made by the head chef at Okryu Gwan, who will travel to the truce border village of Panmunjom where the two leaders will meet on Friday, the Blue House spokesman said.

Here's what Kim and Moon will feast on at the Korean Summit this week

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited Chinese embassy in Pyongyang to express his sorrow to the bus crash incident occurred on Sunday, state media reported on Tuesday.

North's central news agency KCNA quoted Kim saying that "the unexpected accident brought bitter sorrow to his heart and that he couldn't control his grief at the thought of the bereaved families who lost their blood relatives".

On Sunday a bus plunged from a bridge in North Hwanghae province in North Korea leaving thirty-two Chinese tourists and four North Koreans dead.

Kim Jong-un also met Chinese ambassador Li Jinjun and later he visited crash survivors in hospital.

China is North Korea's most important economic, diplomatic and sole ally but the relations between both countries has been sored through time due to Pyongyang's numerous missile and nuclear tests.

Kim visiting crash survivors in hospital and expressing his sorrow is being observed by experts as an indication of how much seriousness North Korea is taking the accident.

News reports also cited Kim saying that his government would take follow-up measures to the accident with "utmost sincerity".

Kim Jong-un also visited Beijing to personally meet Chinese President Xi-Jinping in March. The March visit was a first known visit by Kim Jong-un outside North Korea borders since 2011.

Meanwhile, Kim Jong-un also made an announcement for closing down its nuclear test site ahead of the Korea-summit with South Korea President Moon Jae-In and will be followed by a planned face-to-face with US President Donald Trump.

&nbsp;

Four North Koreans were also killed in the crash

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited Chinese embassy in Pyongyang to express his sorrow to the bus crash incident occurred on Sunday, state media reported on Tuesday. North's central news agency KCNA quoted Kim saying that "the unexpected accident brought bitter sorrow to his heart and that he couldn't control his grief at the thought of the bereaved families who lost their blood relatives". On Sunday a bus plunged from a bridge in North Hwanghae province in North Korea leaving thirty-two Chinese tourists and four North Koreans dead. Kim Jong-un also met Chinese ambassador Li Jinjun and later he visited crash survivors in hospital. China is North Korea's most important economic, diplomatic and sole ally but the relations between both countries has been sored through time due to Pyongyang's numerous missile and nuclear tests. Kim visiting crash survivors in hospital and expressing his sorrow is being observed by experts as an indication of how much seriousness North Korea is taking the accident. News reports also cited Kim saying that his government would take follow-up measures to the accident with "utmost sincerity". Kim Jong-un also visited Beijing to personally meet Chinese President Xi-Jinping in March. The March visit was a first known visit by Kim Jong-un outside North Korea borders since 2011. Meanwhile, Kim Jong-un also made an announcement for closing down its nuclear test site ahead of the Korea-summit with South Korea President Moon Jae-In and will be followed by a planned face-to-face with US President Donald Trump.

North Korea's Kim Jong-un expresses 'bitter sorrow' over bus crash that killed 32 Chinese

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un will make history on Friday by becoming the first North Korean leader to set foot in South Korea in six decades. He will meet South Korean president Moon Jae-in for the third <a href="www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-says-discussing-peace-deal-with-north-korea-ahead-of-summit-131156">inter-Korean summit</a>.

The two leaders will discuss a range of issues, including North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.

Ahead of the summit, WION visited the heavily-militarised border between the two neighbours, also known as the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), to get the real picture of one of the most heavily guarded places on earth.

The DMZ - a legacy of the Cold War - intersects the 38th Parallel, which was the border separating the two countries before the Korean war of 1950. WION reached there from Seoul, which has all the hallmarks of a thriving metropolis, complete with skyscrapers and glitzy malls. But as we moved towards the border, the urban landscape gave way to rugged terrain and after a 90-minute bus ride, barbed wire fences, military vehicles, observation posts and barricades came into sight, suggesting that we have entered a high security area.

As soon as we reached the DMZ, a military tank was announcing the location: Joint security area administered by the United Nations. The flags of South Korea, the United Nations, and the United States were lining the roads.

The United States is a signatory to the 1953 Armistice which ended the Korean war. So, any resolution of the crisis on the Korean peninsula will need three-way talks, bringing together South and North Korea and the United States.

We were then escorted into the briefing hall under the watchful eyes of armed guards. And from there, aboard United Nations vehicles, to reach the village of Tae Song Dong, close to the border with North Korea.

Our first stop in the village was an elementary school, the only one of its kind inside the demilitarised zone. But for the children here, the initials DMZ stands for Dream Making Zone. The principal said that the UN regulations cap the number of students at 35, eight of whom live inside the DMZ.

There were 10 teachers in all. Asked if threat of hostilities at the border with North Korea made him nervous, the principal said "no". The ever watchful South Korean soldiers rebuffed all attempts to strike a conversation with the principal.

A younger teacher volunteered to speak but the South Korean soldiers in blue intervened again, saying it is time to move on. Outside, a South Korean official - a woman accompanying the journalists - instructed the WION team to stop recording.

The heavy military presence ensured that no one from the families living in the village ventured out to speak to the media. And the WION team was again stopped from filming from where the border with North Korea can be seen on the horizon.

Impoverished North Korea and the rich, democratic South are <a href="www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-long-way-to-go-on-north-korea-crisis-132097">technically still at war</a> because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty and the North has been engaged in a standoff over its nuclear and missile programmes that it conducts in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions.

But <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-switches-off-propaganda-broadcasts-moon-upbeat-on-north-korea-nuclear-halt-132265">tensions have eased</a> in recent months, with the North taking part in the Winter Olympics in the South in February and an exchange of threats of war with the United States and other bellicose rhetoric evaporating.

The DMZ - a legacy of the Cold War - intersects the 38th Parallel, which was the border separating the two countries before the Korean war of 1950.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un will make history on Friday by becoming the first North Korean leader to set foot in South Korea in six decades. He will meet South Korean president Moon Jae-in for the third inter-Korean summit. The two leaders will discuss a range of issues, including North Korea's nuclear weapons programme. Ahead of the summit, WION visited the heavily-militarised border between the two neighbours, also known as the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), to get the real picture of one of the most heavily guarded places on earth. The DMZ - a legacy of the Cold War - intersects the 38th Parallel, which was the border separating the two countries before the Korean war of 1950. WION reached there from Seoul, which has all the hallmarks of a thriving metropolis, complete with skyscrapers and glitzy malls. But as we moved towards the border, the urban landscape gave way to rugged terrain and after a 90-minute bus ride, barbed wire fences, military vehicles, observation posts and barricades came into sight, suggesting that we have entered a high security area. As soon as we reached the DMZ, a military tank was announcing the location: Joint security area administered by the United Nations. The flags of South Korea, the United Nations, and the United States were lining the roads. The United States is a signatory to the 1953 Armistice which ended the Korean war. So, any resolution of the crisis on the Korean peninsula will need three-way talks, bringing together South and North Korea and the United States. We were then escorted into the briefing hall under the watchful eyes of armed guards. And from there, aboard United Nations vehicles, to reach the village of Tae Song Dong, close to the border with North Korea. Our first stop in the village was an elementary school, the only one of its kind inside the demilitarised zone. But for the children here, the initials DMZ stands for Dream Making Zone. The principal said that the UN regulations cap the number of students at 35, eight of whom live inside the DMZ. There were 10 teachers in all. Asked if threat of hostilities at the border with North Korea made him nervous, the principal said "no". The ever watchful South Korean soldiers rebuffed all attempts to strike a conversation with the principal. A younger teacher volunteered to speak but the South Korean soldiers in blue intervened again, saying it is time to move on. Outside, a South Korean official - a woman accompanying the journalists - instructed the WION team to stop recording. The heavy military presence ensured that no one from the families living in the village ventured out to speak to the media. And the WION team was again stopped from filming from where the border with North Korea can be seen on the horizon. Impoverished North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty and the North has been engaged in a standoff over its nuclear and missile programmes that it conducts in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions. But tensions have eased in recent months, with the North taking part in the Winter Olympics in the South in February and an exchange of threats of war with the United States and other bellicose rhetoric evaporating.

Ahead of the inter-Korean summit, ground report from DMZ

On Sunday, group of seven foreign ministers (The G-7 ministers) announced that they will never accept North Korea until it remains armed and further pledged to continue "maximum pressure" on Pyongyang until it rids itself of nuclear weapons, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said.

Kono further stated that Pyongyang’s announcement of denuclearisation, suspend nuclear tests and long-range missile launches were insufficient to meet the demands of the international community. His comment came after US President Donald Trump incorrectly asserted over Twitter on Sunday morning that North Korea had agreed to denuclearization.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Sleepy Eyes Chuck Todd of Fake News NBC just stated that we have given up so much in our negotiations with North Korea, and they have given up nothing. Wow, we haven’t given up anything & they have agreed to denuclearization (so great for World), site closure, & no more testing!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/988037292932653056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The G-7 ministers called for North Korea to abandon all weapons of mass destruction, including biological and chemical weapons, and its ballistic missile programmes, including short- and medium-range missiles capable of hitting South Korea and Japan, according to Kono.

The other G-7 members – Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United States plus the European Union – meanwhile backed Kono’s call for the immediate resolution of North Korea’s abduction of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s.

Meanwhile, the nuclear envoys of South Korea and Japan met on Monday to talk about the denuclearization of North Korea ahead of the Korean summit.&nbsp;

Lee Do-hoon, South Korea's top nuclear negotiator, held the meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Kenji Kanasugi, in Seoul which comes before two important South Korean summits with North Korea and the United States.

"There are many significant events in the near future, which are the inter-Korean summit, followed by the U.S.-North Korea summit," Lee Do-hoon said.

Lee Do-hoon further believed that such meetings would strengthen the process of denuclearisation of North Korea.

Earlier on April 21, China hailed North Korea decision to suspend its nuclear operations that is said to further promote denuclearization of the region.&nbsp;

The G-7 ministers called for North Korea to abandon all weapons of mass destruction, including biological and chemical weapons, and its ballistic missile programmes, including short- and medium-range missiles capable of hitting South Korea and Japan, according to Kono

On Sunday, group of seven foreign ministers (The G-7 ministers) announced that they will never accept North Korea until it remains armed and further pledged to continue "maximum pressure" on Pyongyang until it rids itself of nuclear weapons, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said. Kono further stated that Pyongyang’s announcement of denuclearisation, suspend nuclear tests and long-range missile launches were insufficient to meet the demands of the international community. His comment came after US President Donald Trump incorrectly asserted over Twitter on Sunday morning that North Korea had agreed to denuclearization. Sleepy Eyes Chuck Todd of Fake News NBC just stated that we have given up so much in our negotiations with North Korea, and they have given up nothing. Wow, we haven’t given up anything & they have agreed to denuclearization (so great for World), site closure, & no more testing! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 22, 2018 × The G-7 ministers called for North Korea to abandon all weapons of mass destruction, including biological and chemical weapons, and its ballistic missile programmes, including short- and medium-range missiles capable of hitting South Korea and Japan, according to Kono. The other G-7 members – Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United States plus the European Union – meanwhile backed Kono’s call for the immediate resolution of North Korea’s abduction of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s. Meanwhile, the nuclear envoys of South Korea and Japan met on Monday to talk about the denuclearization of North Korea ahead of the Korean summit. Lee Do-hoon, South Korea's top nuclear negotiator, held the meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Kenji Kanasugi, in Seoul which comes before two important South Korean summits with North Korea and the United States. "There are many significant events in the near future, which are the inter-Korean summit, followed by the U.S.-North Korea summit," Lee Do-hoon said. Lee Do-hoon further believed that such meetings would strengthen the process of denuclearisation of North Korea. Earlier on April 21, China hailed North Korea decision to suspend its nuclear operations that is said to further promote denuclearization of the region.

G-7 ministers will never accept North Korea until it remains armed: Japanese foreign minister

South Korea halted the propaganda broadcasts it blares across the border at North Korea on Monday ahead of their first summit in a decade, as US&nbspPresident Donald Trump cautioned the nuclear crisis on the peninsula was a long way from being resolved.

North and South Korea are in the final stages of preparations for a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-In at the border truce village of Panmunjom on Friday.

Ahead of the summit, North Korea announced it would halt nuclear and missile tests and said it was scrapping its nuclear test site to instead pursue economic growth and peace.

“North Korea’s decision to freeze its nuclear program is a significant decision for the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula,” South Korean President Moon Jae-in said in a regular meeting at the Blue House on Monday.

“It is a green light that raises the chances of positive outcomes at the North’s summits with South Korea and the United States. If North Korea goes the path of complete denuclearization starting from this, then a bright future for North Korea can be guaranteed.”

The South’s propaganda broadcasts were stopped at midnight, the defense ministry said, without specifying whether they would resume after the Kim-Moon summit.

“We hope this decision will lead both Koreas to stop mutual criticism and propaganda against each other and also contribute in creating peace and a new beginning,” the South Korean defense ministry said about the decision to halt the broadcasts.

It is the first time in more than two years the South Korean broadcasts, which include a mixture of news, South Korean pop music and criticism of the North Korean regime, have been stopped.

North Korea has its own propaganda loudspeakers at the border, but a defense ministry official said he could not verify whether the North had stopped its broadcasts.

Caution

The inter-Korean talks and a planned meeting between Kim and Trump in the coming weeks have raised hopes of an easing in tensions that reached a crescendo last year amid a flurry of North Korean missile tests and its largest nuclear test.

After initially welcoming Pyongyang’s statement on halting nuclear and missile tests, Trump sounded a more cautious note on Sunday.

“We are a long way from conclusion on North Korea, maybe things will work out, and maybe they won’t - only time will tell,” Trump said on Twitter.

Still, South Korean companies with exposure to North Korea rallied after Pyongyang’s weekend announcement.

Shares of Good People (033340.KQ) and Shinwon Corp (009270.KS), which used to operate factories in North Korea’s Kaesong industrial region near the Demilitarized Zone, surged 8 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively.

China, North Korea’s main ally, also welcomed the North Korean announcement, but editorials in state-run media on Monday were tempered with notes of caution.

The China Daily, the official English-languages newspaper of the Chinese government, said the pledges conveyed the message that Kim will sit down for talks as the leader of a legitimate nuclear power.

“Negotiations about actual nuclear disarmament will likely prove arduous given such weapons are critical to Pyongyang’s sense of security. It will require ironclad security guarantees if it is to relinquish them.”

The Global Times, a hawkish tabloid newspaper run by the ruling Communist Party’s official People’s Daily, said all parties “should cherish this hard-won state of affairs” and continue to make efforts toward peace and denuclearization.

“Washington should not regard North Korea’s halt to nuclear and missile tests as a result of its maximum pressure,” the Global Times wrote.

“It must be attributed to multiple factors, one of which is that Pyongyang has mastered certain advanced nuclear technologies and successfully launched an intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of more than 10,000 km.”

The United States, through the United Nations, has pursued a series of tightening sanctions on North Korea aimed at cutting its access to foreign currency.

Customs data on Monday showed China’s imports from North Korea fell 87 per cent in the first three months of the year, while exports dropped 46 per cent.

Tourism, dominated by Chinese visitors, remains a key export earner for North Korea. Chinese tourists have been involved in a major bus accident in North Korea and there are a large number of casualties, Chinese state media and the government said on Monday.

North and South Korea are in the final stages of preparations for a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-In at the border truce village of Panmunjom on Friday

South Korea halted the propaganda broadcasts it blares across the border at North Korea on Monday ahead of their first summit in a decade, as US&nbspPresident Donald Trump cautioned the nuclear crisis on the peninsula was a long way from being resolved. North and South Korea are in the final stages of preparations for a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-In at the border truce village of Panmunjom on Friday. Ahead of the summit, North Korea announced it would halt nuclear and missile tests and said it was scrapping its nuclear test site to instead pursue economic growth and peace. “North Korea’s decision to freeze its nuclear program is a significant decision for the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula,” South Korean President Moon Jae-in said in a regular meeting at the Blue House on Monday. “It is a green light that raises the chances of positive outcomes at the North’s summits with South Korea and the United States. If North Korea goes the path of complete denuclearization starting from this, then a bright future for North Korea can be guaranteed.” The South’s propaganda broadcasts were stopped at midnight, the defense ministry said, without specifying whether they would resume after the Kim-Moon summit. “We hope this decision will lead both Koreas to stop mutual criticism and propaganda against each other and also contribute in creating peace and a new beginning,” the South Korean defense ministry said about the decision to halt the broadcasts. It is the first time in more than two years the South Korean broadcasts, which include a mixture of news, South Korean pop music and criticism of the North Korean regime, have been stopped. North Korea has its own propaganda loudspeakers at the border, but a defense ministry official said he could not verify whether the North had stopped its broadcasts. Caution The inter-Korean talks and a planned meeting between Kim and Trump in the coming weeks have raised hopes of an easing in tensions that reached a crescendo last year amid a flurry of North Korean missile tests and its largest nuclear test. After initially welcoming Pyongyang’s statement on halting nuclear and missile tests, Trump sounded a more cautious note on Sunday. “We are a long way from conclusion on North Korea, maybe things will work out, and maybe they won’t - only time will tell,” Trump said on Twitter. Still, South Korean companies with exposure to North Korea rallied after Pyongyang’s weekend announcement. Shares of Good People (033340.KQ) and Shinwon Corp (009270.KS), which used to operate factories in North Korea’s Kaesong industrial region near the Demilitarized Zone, surged 8 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively. China, North Korea’s main ally, also welcomed the North Korean announcement, but editorials in state-run media on Monday were tempered with notes of caution. The China Daily, the official English-languages newspaper of the Chinese government, said the pledges conveyed the message that Kim will sit down for talks as the leader of a legitimate nuclear power. “Negotiations about actual nuclear disarmament will likely prove arduous given such weapons are critical to Pyongyang’s sense of security. It will require ironclad security guarantees if it is to relinquish them.” The Global Times, a hawkish tabloid newspaper run by the ruling Communist Party’s official People’s Daily, said all parties “should cherish this hard-won state of affairs” and continue to make efforts toward peace and denuclearization. “Washington should not regard North Korea’s halt to nuclear and missile tests as a result of its maximum pressure,” the Global Times wrote. “It must be attributed to multiple factors, one of which is that Pyongyang has mastered certain advanced nuclear technologies and successfully launched an intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of more than 10,000 km.” The United States, through the United Nations, has pursued a series of tightening sanctions on North Korea aimed at cutting its access to foreign currency. Customs data on Monday showed China’s imports from North Korea fell 87 per cent in the first three months of the year, while exports dropped 46 per cent. Tourism, dominated by Chinese visitors, remains a key export earner for North Korea. Chinese tourists have been involved in a major bus accident in North Korea and there are a large number of casualties, Chinese state media and the government said on Monday.

South Korea switches off propaganda broadcasts, Moon upbeat on North Korea nuclear halt

Activists from Baloch Republican Party (BRP) and Baloch Republican Student Organisation (BRSO) on Sunday jointly held a protest demonstration outside Busan Station in South Korea to highlight war crimes and state atrocities allegedly being committed by the Pakistani military forces in Balochistan.

The party workers distributed informative pamphlets to the public and shouted slogans such as - "We want Freedom" and "Stop Killing Baloch" during the protest.

The President of BRP South Korea Chapter, Ameer Baloch, said, "We want to tell the world that in Balochistan, atrocities are being carried out by Pakistani military forces. We are not safe even inside the four walls of the house. Balochs are getting kidnapped and their bodies are found dumped after months."

He urged international organisations such as the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) to take note of the human rights violations in Balochistan and to raise their voices against the alleged atrocities committed on its people.

Ameer added that those who believed in humanity and freedom should support the Baloch people in their independence movement and called on for strict action against the Pakistani military forces.

"I request all to participate in our freedom movement. We want to tell the world that whatever atrocities are being committed against our people, we will continue to raise our voice against it until we achieve complete independence from Pakistan. Strict action should be taken against the Pakistani forces," he asserted.

Further highlighting the human rights violations in Balochistan, Ameer said around 15,000 people were dead in extrajudicial killings, while 25,000 others were kidnapped by the Pakistani forces.&nbsp;

The President of BRP South Korea Chapter, Ameer Baloch, urged international organisations such as the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) to take note of the human rights violations in Balochistan and to raise their voices against the alleged atrocities committed on its people

Activists from Baloch Republican Party (BRP) and Baloch Republican Student Organisation (BRSO) on Sunday jointly held a protest demonstration outside Busan Station in South Korea to highlight war crimes and state atrocities allegedly being committed by the Pakistani military forces in Balochistan. The party workers distributed informative pamphlets to the public and shouted slogans such as - "We want Freedom" and "Stop Killing Baloch" during the protest. The President of BRP South Korea Chapter, Ameer Baloch, said, "We want to tell the world that in Balochistan, atrocities are being carried out by Pakistani military forces. We are not safe even inside the four walls of the house. Balochs are getting kidnapped and their bodies are found dumped after months." He urged international organisations such as the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) to take note of the human rights violations in Balochistan and to raise their voices against the alleged atrocities committed on its people. Ameer added that those who believed in humanity and freedom should support the Baloch people in their independence movement and called on for strict action against the Pakistani military forces. "I request all to participate in our freedom movement. We want to tell the world that whatever atrocities are being committed against our people, we will continue to raise our voice against it until we achieve complete independence from Pakistan. Strict action should be taken against the Pakistani forces," he asserted. Further highlighting the human rights violations in Balochistan, Ameer said around 15,000 people were dead in extrajudicial killings, while 25,000 others were kidnapped by the Pakistani forces.

Baloch activists protest in South Korea against Pak atrocities

North Korea's decision to close its nuclear test site and suspend missile tests is a "meaningful progress" for denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, South Korea's presidential office said on Saturday.&nbsp;

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said earlier the country no longer needed nuclear and missile tests and would close a nuclear test site.&nbsp;

"It will also contribute to creating a very positive environment for the success of the upcoming South-North summit and North-United States summit," a spokesman for the president's office, Yoon Young-chan, said in a statement.

&nbsp;

North Korea's decision to close its nuclear test site and suspend missile tests is a 'meaningful progress' for denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, South Korea's presidential office said on Saturday

North Korea's decision to close its nuclear test site and suspend missile tests is a "meaningful progress" for denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, South Korea's presidential office said on Saturday. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said earlier the country no longer needed nuclear and missile tests and would close a nuclear test site. "It will also contribute to creating a very positive environment for the success of the upcoming South-North summit and North-United States summit," a spokesman for the president's office, Yoon Young-chan, said in a statement.

North Korea making meaningful progress towards denuclearization: South Korea

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cabinet-approves-promulgation-of-the-fugitive-economic-offenders-ordinance--131847">Cabinet approves promulgation of Fugitive Economic Offenders Ordinance</a>

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Finance to promulgate the Fugitive Economic Offenders Ordinance, 2018 ("the Ordinance"). &nbspThe Ordinance would lay down the measures to empower Indian authorities to attach and confiscate proceeds of crime associated with economic offenders and the properties of the economic offenders and thereby deter economic offenders from evading the process of Indian law by remaining outside the jurisdiction of Indian courts.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/union-cabinet-approves-death-penalty-for-rape-of-children-under-12-131823">Union cabinet approves </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/union-cabinet-approves-death-penalty-for-rape-of-children-under-12-131823">ordinance</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/union-cabinet-approves-death-penalty-for-rape-of-children-under-12-131823"> for </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/union-cabinet-approves-death-penalty-for-rape-of-children-under-12-131823">death</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/union-cabinet-approves-death-penalty-for-rape-of-children-under-12-131823"> penalty for rape of children</a>

The Union Cabinet on Saturday approved an ordinance to allow courts to award death penalty to those convicted of raping children up to 12 years of age.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-will-rid-raebareli-of-parivarvad-amit-shah-131864">BJP will rid Raebareli of '</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-will-rid-raebareli-of-parivarvad-amit-shah-131864">parivarvad</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-will-rid-raebareli-of-parivarvad-amit-shah-131864">': Amit Shah</a>

Taking his party's fight against the Congress to the Gandhi family's pocket borough, BJP president Amit Shah today said his party would rid Rae Bareli, the Lok Sabha constituency of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, of 'parivarvad' and take it on the path of development.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/south-korean-is-sceptical-of-north-koreas-nuclear-promises-131854">South Korean is sceptical of North Korea's 'nuclear' promises</a>

North Korea's announcement of a halt in its nuclear and missile tests was met with scepticism by many South Koreans on Saturday, highlighting political risk for the South's president as he embarks on the latest push for peace on the peninsula.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-milind-soman-and-ankita-konwar-finally-getting-married-today-at-alibaug-131833">Milind Soman and Ankita Konwar finally getting married today at Alibaug</a>

Milind Sonam and Ankita Konwar are finally getting married. The former model and his girlfriend have zeroed it on Alibaug as their wedding destination. &nbsp

Cabinet approves promulgation of Fugitive Economic Offenders Ordinance The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Finance to promulgate the Fugitive Economic Offenders Ordinance, 2018 ("the Ordinance"). &nbspThe Ordinance would lay down the measures to empower Indian authorities to attach and confiscate proceeds of crime associated with economic offenders and the properties of the economic offenders and thereby deter economic offenders from evading the process of Indian law by remaining outside the jurisdiction of Indian courts. Union cabinet approves ordinance for death penalty for rape of children The Union Cabinet on Saturday approved an ordinance to allow courts to award death penalty to those convicted of raping children up to 12 years of age. BJP will rid Raebareli of 'parivarvad': Amit Shah Taking his party's fight against the Congress to the Gandhi family's pocket borough, BJP president Amit Shah today said his party would rid Rae Bareli, the Lok Sabha constituency of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, of 'parivarvad' and take it on the path of development. South Korean is sceptical of North Korea's 'nuclear' promises North Korea's announcement of a halt in its nuclear and missile tests was met with scepticism by many South Koreans on Saturday, highlighting political risk for the South's president as he embarks on the latest push for peace on the peninsula. Milind Soman and Ankita Konwar finally getting married today at Alibaug Milind Sonam and Ankita Konwar are finally getting married. The former model and his girlfriend have zeroed it on Alibaug as their wedding destination.

News brief: Big stories of the day

North Korea's announcement of a halt in its nuclear and missile tests was met with scepticism by many South Koreans on Saturday, highlighting political risk for the South's president as he embarks on the latest push for peace on the peninsula.

North Korea will immediately suspend nuclear and missile tests and scrap its nuclear test site, instead pursuing economic growth and peace, the North's state media said.

But in South Korea, which is still technically in a state of war with its unpredictable, isolated neighbour, many ordinary people expressed scepticism about the sincerity of the announcement and stressed the need for caution.

"A declaration is just a declaration," student Kim Han-nuri, 23, told Reuters in downtown Seoul on a sunny spring morning.

"Unless there's a change in its dictatorial system, I don't think we can completely trust anything North Korea says as it isn't a normal country ... I don't believe we can build normal diplomatic relations and our safety can't be guaranteed."

South Koreans have lived for decades under the threat of war with their hostile and now nuclear-armed neighbour.

They've also seen several earlier pushes for reconciliation that raised hopes of peace only to end in a return to acrimony.

Polls suggest South Koreans have become increasingly indifferent to the threat of war, with bigger concerns being more mundane issues like jobs and the pressures that have accompanied South Korea’s rapid development since the 1950s.

Liberal politician Moon Jae-in won a presidential election last year, promising a moderate approach to North Korea with the aim of reviving a "sunshine policy" of engagement.

But no one anticipated the speed with which relations have improved since North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a conciliatory New Year's address at the end of last year, following months of sharply rising tension over his weapons.

Back to square one?

Moon, who is preparing for a summit with Kim this month, remains popular but voters are suspicious of North Korea's intentions and some would certainly judge him harshly if he was seen to be rushing blindly into North Korea's embrace.

Yeo Young-ju, 44, said North Korea had developed nuclear bombs despite decades of efforts to engage it, and this time it should get no economic benefits until its promises were proven to be true.

"This will be the third inter-Korean summit. North Korea looked as if it would denuclearize during the two previous summits and then we were back to square one," Yeo said.

"We need to verify if they indeed get rid of their nuclear material," Yeo said.

Lee Jeong-hyoo, 72, said South Korea should learn from a history of broken promises.

"We must not be deceived," Lee said. "We have to watch this really carefully."

In Japan, which until recent months North Korea regularly threatened to destroy in a sea of fire, people were also doubtful.

"I can’t believe what the North has just announced," said IT worker Sayuri Nakata, 27, referring to North Korea's promise to give up its nuclear weapons tests.

"They’ll just probably just do them anyway."

South Koreans have lived for decades under the threat of war with their hostile and now nuclear-armed neighbour

North Korea's announcement of a halt in its nuclear and missile tests was met with scepticism by many South Koreans on Saturday, highlighting political risk for the South's president as he embarks on the latest push for peace on the peninsula. North Korea will immediately suspend nuclear and missile tests and scrap its nuclear test site, instead pursuing economic growth and peace, the North's state media said. But in South Korea, which is still technically in a state of war with its unpredictable, isolated neighbour, many ordinary people expressed scepticism about the sincerity of the announcement and stressed the need for caution. "A declaration is just a declaration," student Kim Han-nuri, 23, told Reuters in downtown Seoul on a sunny spring morning. "Unless there's a change in its dictatorial system, I don't think we can completely trust anything North Korea says as it isn't a normal country ... I don't believe we can build normal diplomatic relations and our safety can't be guaranteed." South Koreans have lived for decades under the threat of war with their hostile and now nuclear-armed neighbour. They've also seen several earlier pushes for reconciliation that raised hopes of peace only to end in a return to acrimony. Polls suggest South Koreans have become increasingly indifferent to the threat of war, with bigger concerns being more mundane issues like jobs and the pressures that have accompanied South Korea’s rapid development since the 1950s. Liberal politician Moon Jae-in won a presidential election last year, promising a moderate approach to North Korea with the aim of reviving a "sunshine policy" of engagement. But no one anticipated the speed with which relations have improved since North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a conciliatory New Year's address at the end of last year, following months of sharply rising tension over his weapons. Back to square one? Moon, who is preparing for a summit with Kim this month, remains popular but voters are suspicious of North Korea's intentions and some would certainly judge him harshly if he was seen to be rushing blindly into North Korea's embrace. Yeo Young-ju, 44, said North Korea had developed nuclear bombs despite decades of efforts to engage it, and this time it should get no economic benefits until its promises were proven to be true. "This will be the third inter-Korean summit. North Korea looked as if it would denuclearize during the two previous summits and then we were back to square one," Yeo said. "We need to verify if they indeed get rid of their nuclear material," Yeo said. Lee Jeong-hyoo, 72, said South Korea should learn from a history of broken promises. "We must not be deceived," Lee said. "We have to watch this really carefully." In Japan, which until recent months North Korea regularly threatened to destroy in a sea of fire, people were also doubtful. "I can’t believe what the North has just announced," said IT worker Sayuri Nakata, 27, referring to North Korea's promise to give up its nuclear weapons tests. "They’ll just probably just do them anyway."

South Korean is sceptical of North Korea's 'nuclear' promises

India is in discussions with South Korea, a global leader in telecom technologies, for jointly setting up 5G test laboratories.&nbsp

"The telecom ministry is in discussion with South Korea to collaborate in the field of telecommunications including setting up of 5G test laboratories," an official source told PTI.&nbsp

South Korea has led the world for many years in the development of advanced telecom technologies. The country was ranked second in information communications technology index for 2017 by the International Telecommunication Union, while India was at the 134th position.

Over 90 per cent of households in South Korea have access to over 1,000-megabit per second broadband speed service, according to ITU.

"Initiative of partnering South Korea was taken by the telecom minister (Manoj Sinha) during his visit to Mobile World Congress in Spain. There is a plan to sign a memorandum of understanding between both countries in the field of telecom," the source said.

According to industry estimates, South Korea is likely to be among the early starters of 5G services. Telecom operators in South Korea have already conducted trial runs of 5G technologies during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics.

"The minister (Sinha) has already committed that India will be among early starters of 5G. Partnership with South Korea will help India expedite its plan for 5G rollout," the source said.

According to industry players and experts, India is likely to see the rollout of 5G services after standards for the technology are finalised by ITU in 2019. 
&nbsp

South Korea has led the world for many years in the development of advanced telecom technologies

India is in discussions with South Korea, a global leader in telecom technologies, for jointly setting up 5G test laboratories. "The telecom ministry is in discussion with South Korea to collaborate in the field of telecommunications including setting up of 5G test laboratories," an official source told PTI. South Korea has led the world for many years in the development of advanced telecom technologies. The country was ranked second in information communications technology index for 2017 by the International Telecommunication Union, while India was at the 134th position. Over 90 per cent of households in South Korea have access to over 1,000-megabit per second broadband speed service, according to ITU. "Initiative of partnering South Korea was taken by the telecom minister (Manoj Sinha) during his visit to Mobile World Congress in Spain. There is a plan to sign a memorandum of understanding between both countries in the field of telecom," the source said. According to industry estimates, South Korea is likely to be among the early starters of 5G services. Telecom operators in South Korea have already conducted trial runs of 5G technologies during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics. "The minister (Sinha) has already committed that India will be among early starters of 5G. Partnership with South Korea will help India expedite its plan for 5G rollout," the source said. According to industry players and experts, India is likely to see the rollout of 5G services after standards for the technology are finalised by ITU in 2019.

India in talks with South Korea for setting up 5G test labs

Diplomatic foes North and South Korea installed a direct phone line between their leaders on Friday as they prepare for the first summit since 2007 - and the connection was great, the South's presidential office said.

South Korea's presidential Blue House and North Korea's State Affairs Commission tested the hotline for four minutes before South Korea's Moon Jae-in and North Korea's Kim Jong Un talk ahead of next week's summit, the office said.

"The call quality was very good and we felt like we got a call from our next-door neighbour," South Korea's director for the Government Situation Room, Youn Kun-young, told reporters.

Moon will now be able to pick up his office phone to talk to Kim, instead of communicating through a hotline at the Joint Security Area in the border village of Panmunjom.

The plan was unveiled by the South's National Security Adviser, Chung Eui-yong, after he met Kim last month in Pyongyang.

Impoverished North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty and the North has been engaged in a standoff over its nuclear and missile programmes that it conducts in defiance of UN&nbsp;Security Council resolutions.

But tensions have eased in recent months, with the North taking part in the Winter Olympics in the South in February and an exchange of threats of war with the United States and other bellicose rhetoric evaporating.

Now North and South are meeting next week and Kim and US&nbsp;President Donald Trump are expected to hold their first-ever summit in May or June, with denuclearisation the topic of the day.

The idea of opening a hotline was hatched in June 2000 when then South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and the North's Kim Jong Il, the current leader's father, held the first inter-Korean summit.

The system reportedly features a telephone, a fax and a screen with Internet connection for a video chat. &nbsp;

Lim Dong-won, a key architect of the late liberal president's Sunshine policy of re-engagement with the North, said in his 2007 memoir that the phones played a critical role in resolving sensitive issues.

The communication channel was also used by Roh Moo-hyun, the successor to Kim Dae-jung, until the conservative Lee Myung-bak took over in 2008, Seoul officials said.

There was no communication at Panmunjom as the standoff deepened over Pyongyang's weapons programmes until the hotline was used for the first time in nearly two years in January.

During the lull, South Korean officials would sometimes use a bull horn to shout messages across the border.

South Korea's presidential Blue House and North Korea's State Affairs Commission tested the hotline for four minutes before South Korea's Moon Jae-in and North Korea's Kim Jong Un talk ahead of next week's summit

Diplomatic foes North and South Korea installed a direct phone line between their leaders on Friday as they prepare for the first summit since 2007 - and the connection was great, the South's presidential office said. South Korea's presidential Blue House and North Korea's State Affairs Commission tested the hotline for four minutes before South Korea's Moon Jae-in and North Korea's Kim Jong Un talk ahead of next week's summit, the office said. "The call quality was very good and we felt like we got a call from our next-door neighbour," South Korea's director for the Government Situation Room, Youn Kun-young, told reporters. Moon will now be able to pick up his office phone to talk to Kim, instead of communicating through a hotline at the Joint Security Area in the border village of Panmunjom. The plan was unveiled by the South's National Security Adviser, Chung Eui-yong, after he met Kim last month in Pyongyang. Impoverished North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty and the North has been engaged in a standoff over its nuclear and missile programmes that it conducts in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions. But tensions have eased in recent months, with the North taking part in the Winter Olympics in the South in February and an exchange of threats of war with the United States and other bellicose rhetoric evaporating. Now North and South are meeting next week and Kim and US President Donald Trump are expected to hold their first-ever summit in May or June, with denuclearisation the topic of the day. The idea of opening a hotline was hatched in June 2000 when then South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and the North's Kim Jong Il, the current leader's father, held the first inter-Korean summit. The system reportedly features a telephone, a fax and a screen with Internet connection for a video chat. Lim Dong-won, a key architect of the late liberal president's Sunshine policy of re-engagement with the North, said in his 2007 memoir that the phones played a critical role in resolving sensitive issues. The communication channel was also used by Roh Moo-hyun, the successor to Kim Dae-jung, until the conservative Lee Myung-bak took over in 2008, Seoul officials said. There was no communication at Panmunjom as the standoff deepened over Pyongyang's weapons programmes until the hotline was used for the first time in nearly two years in January. During the lull, South Korean officials would sometimes use a bull horn to shout messages across the border.

North and South Korea get neighbourly with direct hotline

South Korea's presidential office said on Wednesday it is considering how to change a decades-old armistice with North Korea into a more peaceful agreement.

The two countries are discussing various ways to improve the security situation on the Korean peninsula towards a "a structure that is more fully peaceful", a high-ranking presidential official said, answering a question about a North Korea-South Korean summit planned later this month.

The two countries are discussing various ways to improve the security situation on the Korean peninsula towards a 'a structure that is more fully peaceful', a high-ranking presidential official said

South Korea's presidential office said on Wednesday it is considering how to change a decades-old armistice with North Korea into a more peaceful agreement. The two countries are discussing various ways to improve the security situation on the Korean peninsula towards a "a structure that is more fully peaceful", a high-ranking presidential official said, answering a question about a North Korea-South Korean summit planned later this month.

South Korea considering peace treaty with North

South Korea said on Wednesday it is considering how to change a decades-old armistice with North Korea into a peace agreement, as U.S. officials confirmed an unprecedented top-level meeting with the North Korean leader.

U.S. Secretary of State nominee and CIA Director Mike Pompeo became the most senior U.S. official known to have met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un when he visited Pyongyang at the end of March to discuss a planned summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Pompeo's visit provided the strongest sign yet about Trump's willingness to become the first serving U.S. president ever to meet a North Korean leader.

At the same time, old rivals North Korea and South Korea are preparing for their own summit, between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, on April 27, with a bid to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War a major factor in talks.

"As one of the plans, we are looking at a possibility of shifting the Korean peninsula's armistice to a peace regime," a high-ranking South Korean presidential official told reporters when asked about the North-South summit.

"But that's not a matter than can be resolved between the two Koreas alone. It requires close consultations with other concerned nations, as well as North Korea," the official said.

South Korea and a U.S.-led U.N. force are technically still at war with North Korea after the Korean War ended with a truce, not a peace treaty. The U.S.-led United Nations Command, Chinese forces and North Korea signed the 1953 armistice, to which South Korea is not a party.

"I do not know if any joint statement to be reached at the inter-Korean summit would include wording about ending the war, but we certainly hope to be able to include an agreement to end hostile acts between the South and North," the official said.

Such discussions between the two Koreas, and between North Korea and the United States, would have been unthinkable at the end of last year, after months of escalating tension, and fear of war, over the North's nuclear and missile programmes.

But then Kim declared in a New Year's speech his country was "a peace-loving and responsible nuclear power" and called for lower military tension and improved ties with the South.

He also said he was considering sending a delegation to the Winter Olympics in South Korea in February, a visit that began a succession of steps to improve ties.

Pompeo's visit to the North was arranged by South Korean intelligence chief Suh Hoon with his North Korean counterpart, Kim Yong Chol, and was intended to assess whether Kim was prepared to hold serious talks, a U.S. official said.

Pompeo flew from a U.S. air force base in Osan, south of Seoul, an official with the South's defence ministry said. The South's presidential office declined to comment on the trip.

Amid the diplomatic flurry, CNN reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping also planned to visit Pyongyang soon, after North Korean leader Kim made a surprise trip last month to China, its major sole ally.

Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she had no information about any Xi visit to North Korea.

"What I can stress is that China and North Korea have a tradition of high level mutual visits," she told reporters.

"China is willing to strengthen high-level exchanges with North Korea, deepen strategic communications, expand talks and cooperation, and to bring out the important leading role of high-level contact in China-North Korea relations."

Trump said on Tuesday he backed efforts between North and South Korea aimed at ending the state of war.

"People don't realise the Korean War has not ended," Trump told reporters.

"It's going on right now. And they are discussing an end to the war. Subject to a deal, they have my blessing and they do have my blessing to discuss that."

Trump said he believed there was a lot of goodwill in the diplomatic push with North Korea, but added it was possible the summit - first proposed in March and which the president said could take place in late May or early June - may not happen.

If the summit did not happen, the United States and its allies would maintain pressure on North Korea through sanctions, he said.

Nevertheless, Pompeo's conversations in North Korea had fuelled Trump's belief that productive negotiations were possible, according to a U.S. senior official briefed on the trip.

U.S. Secretary of State nominee and CIA Director Mike Pompeo became the most senior U.S. official known to have met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un when he visited Pyongyang at the end of March to discuss a planned summit with U.S. President Donald Trump

South Korea said on Wednesday it is considering how to change a decades-old armistice with North Korea into a peace agreement, as U.S. officials confirmed an unprecedented top-level meeting with the North Korean leader. U.S. Secretary of State nominee and CIA Director Mike Pompeo became the most senior U.S. official known to have met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un when he visited Pyongyang at the end of March to discuss a planned summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. Pompeo's visit provided the strongest sign yet about Trump's willingness to become the first serving U.S. president ever to meet a North Korean leader. At the same time, old rivals North Korea and South Korea are preparing for their own summit, between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, on April 27, with a bid to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War a major factor in talks. "As one of the plans, we are looking at a possibility of shifting the Korean peninsula's armistice to a peace regime," a high-ranking South Korean presidential official told reporters when asked about the North-South summit. "But that's not a matter than can be resolved between the two Koreas alone. It requires close consultations with other concerned nations, as well as North Korea," the official said. South Korea and a U.S.-led U.N. force are technically still at war with North Korea after the Korean War ended with a truce, not a peace treaty. The U.S.-led United Nations Command, Chinese forces and North Korea signed the 1953 armistice, to which South Korea is not a party. "I do not know if any joint statement to be reached at the inter-Korean summit would include wording about ending the war, but we certainly hope to be able to include an agreement to end hostile acts between the South and North," the official said. Such discussions between the two Koreas, and between North Korea and the United States, would have been unthinkable at the end of last year, after months of escalating tension, and fear of war, over the North's nuclear and missile programmes. But then Kim declared in a New Year's speech his country was "a peace-loving and responsible nuclear power" and called for lower military tension and improved ties with the South. He also said he was considering sending a delegation to the Winter Olympics in South Korea in February, a visit that began a succession of steps to improve ties. Pompeo's visit to the North was arranged by South Korean intelligence chief Suh Hoon with his North Korean counterpart, Kim Yong Chol, and was intended to assess whether Kim was prepared to hold serious talks, a U.S. official said. Pompeo flew from a U.S. air force base in Osan, south of Seoul, an official with the South's defence ministry said. The South's presidential office declined to comment on the trip. Amid the diplomatic flurry, CNN reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping also planned to visit Pyongyang soon, after North Korean leader Kim made a surprise trip last month to China, its major sole ally. Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she had no information about any Xi visit to North Korea. "What I can stress is that China and North Korea have a tradition of high level mutual visits," she told reporters. "China is willing to strengthen high-level exchanges with North Korea, deepen strategic communications, expand talks and cooperation, and to bring out the important leading role of high-level contact in China-North Korea relations." Trump said on Tuesday he backed efforts between North and South Korea aimed at ending the state of war. "People don't realise the Korean War has not ended," Trump told reporters. "It's going on right now. And they are discussing an end to the war. Subject to a deal, they have my blessing and they do have my blessing to discuss that." Trump said he believed there was a lot of goodwill in the diplomatic push with North Korea, but added it was possible the summit - first proposed in March and which the president said could take place in late May or early June - may not happen. If the summit did not happen, the United States and its allies would maintain pressure on North Korea through sanctions, he said. Nevertheless, Pompeo's conversations in North Korea had fuelled Trump's belief that productive negotiations were possible, according to a U.S. senior official briefed on the trip.

South Korea says discussing peace deal with North Korea ahead of summit

&nbsp;A South Korean actress who was once kidnapped by the North's agents on the orders of leader Kim Jong Un's late father and forced to make movies for the regime has died aged 91, her family said. 
 
Choi Eun-hee was the South's most famous actress for decades before being brazenly abducted by North Korean spies in Hong Kong in 1978 at the request of the North's then leader-in-waiting Kim Jong Il, an avid film fan. 
 
During her visit to Hong Kong to meet a potential investor in her art school, she was reportedly lured onto a boat by her guide before being transferred against her will to a cargo ship destined for North Korea.

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Her husband Shin Sang-ok, a top director, was taken to the North soon after, although circumstances over his alleged abduction remain unclear. Choi remained trapped in the North for eight years, where the two made more than 10 films together under the instruction of Kim Jong Il. 
 
In a 2011 interview, Choi said Kim "respected us as artists and fully supported us," but that she could never forgive him for the "outrageous and unforgivable" kidnapping. 
 
They were allowed to make "films with artistic values, instead of just propaganda films extolling the regime," Choi said, but always longed for their freedom. During their ordeal, the couple travelled overseas extensively for movie production missions and to attend film festivals -- always under heavy surveillance by the North's agents. 
 
Choi even won the best actress award at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1985 for her role in 'Salt' -- a film about Korean guerrillas fighting against the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule. The couple -- who had divorced in 1976, before their abductions -- remarried during a trip to Hungary at Kim's urging. 
 
But they finally staged a daring escape to the US embassy in Vienna after attending the Berlinale film festival in 1986 and sought asylum in the US due to fear for their personal security. The couple returned to the South in 1999 after spending more than a decade in the US. They remained married until Shin's death in 2006. 
 
Their dramatic life inspired several books and movies. Choi, who made her cinematic debut in 1942, had risen to stardom in the wake of the 1950-53 Korean War that sealed the division between the communist North and the capitalist South. 
 
She was called the "queen" of South Korean cinema from the 1950s to the 1970s while appearing in more than 100 movies -- many made by Shin. 
 
North Korea abducted hundreds of South Koreans under a state-sanctioned policy in the decades following the Korean War. Choi's funeral will be held in Seoul on Thursday.

Choi Eun-hee was kidnapped by the North's Korea agents on the orders of leader Kim Jong Un's late father and forced to make movies for the regime

A South Korean actress who was once kidnapped by the North's agents on the orders of leader Kim Jong Un's late father and forced to make movies for the regime has died aged 91, her family said. Choi Eun-hee was the South's most famous actress for decades before being brazenly abducted by North Korean spies in Hong Kong in 1978 at the request of the North's then leader-in-waiting Kim Jong Il, an avid film fan. During her visit to Hong Kong to meet a potential investor in her art school, she was reportedly lured onto a boat by her guide before being transferred against her will to a cargo ship destined for North Korea. South Korean actress kidnapped by North Korea dies aged 91 https://t.co/5ZnzqnwtNb — Ankit Panda (@nktpnd) 17 April 2018 × Her husband Shin Sang-ok, a top director, was taken to the North soon after, although circumstances over his alleged abduction remain unclear. Choi remained trapped in the North for eight years, where the two made more than 10 films together under the instruction of Kim Jong Il. In a 2011 interview, Choi said Kim "respected us as artists and fully supported us," but that she could never forgive him for the "outrageous and unforgivable" kidnapping. They were allowed to make "films with artistic values, instead of just propaganda films extolling the regime," Choi said, but always longed for their freedom. During their ordeal, the couple travelled overseas extensively for movie production missions and to attend film festivals -- always under heavy surveillance by the North's agents. Choi even won the best actress award at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1985 for her role in 'Salt' -- a film about Korean guerrillas fighting against the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule. The couple -- who had divorced in 1976, before their abductions -- remarried during a trip to Hungary at Kim's urging. But they finally staged a daring escape to the US embassy in Vienna after attending the Berlinale film festival in 1986 and sought asylum in the US due to fear for their personal security. The couple returned to the South in 1999 after spending more than a decade in the US. They remained married until Shin's death in 2006. Their dramatic life inspired several books and movies. Choi, who made her cinematic debut in 1942, had risen to stardom in the wake of the 1950-53 Korean War that sealed the division between the communist North and the capitalist South. She was called the "queen" of South Korean cinema from the 1950s to the 1970s while appearing in more than 100 movies -- many made by Shin. North Korea abducted hundreds of South Koreans under a state-sanctioned policy in the decades following the Korean War. Choi's funeral will be held in Seoul on Thursday.

South Korean actress, once kidnapped to North Korea, dies at 91

South Korea's national security adviser has flown to Washington to meet his newly appointed US counterpart John Bolton, an official said Thursday in Seoul, where concerns are growing over the American's hardline stance on the nuclear-armed North.

Chung Eui-yong, who personally delivered Kim's summit offer to Trump last month, returned to the US capital unannounced Wednesday as the two allies plan their upcoming summits with North Korea's Kim Jong Un.

Chung is due to meet Bolton on Thursday, the official at the South's presidential Blue House told reporters.&nbspHe added the meeting was a courtesy call aimed at "coordinating opinions ahead of the inter-Korean and US-North Korea summits".

The rare inter-Korean summit is scheduled to take place in just over two weeks, while the second meeting between US President Donald Trump and Kim is expected as early as May.

The appointment this week of Bolton - a mustachioed former UN ambassador and strong defender of a US first strike option against North Korea -- has raised concerns in Seoul over the prospects of the diplomatic thaw on the Korean peninsula.

Bolton's stance on Pyongyang diverges sharply from the more dovish South Korean government, which had pushed hard for an early meeting with him, the South's Yonhap agency reported.&nbsp"Bolton does not even mention the possibility of a peace treaty with Pyongyang" which is sought by the South, said Koo Kab-woo, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

"If Bolton intervenes in the current diplomatic process (with North Korea), the need for coordination becomes much bigger," Koo added.&nbspIn a growing rapprochement on the Korean peninsula kick-started by the South's Winter Olympics, Kim is set to meet the South's Moon Jae-in on April 27.

Trump has agreed to meet Kim to discuss denuclearisation as soon as next month, though no venue or specific date is agreed.&nbspThe South Korean embassy in Washington and the US State Department have agreed to set up a hotline in the build-up to the summits, Yonhap reported.

The South's presidential office is also set to launch a new situation room to monitor the preparations for its upcoming summit on a daily basis, it said Thursday.

The rare inter-Korean summit is scheduled to take place in just over two weeks, while the second meeting between US President Donald Trump and Kim is expected as early as May.

South Korea's national security adviser has flown to Washington to meet his newly appointed US counterpart John Bolton, an official said Thursday in Seoul, where concerns are growing over the American's hardline stance on the nuclear-armed North. Chung Eui-yong, who personally delivered Kim's summit offer to Trump last month, returned to the US capital unannounced Wednesday as the two allies plan their upcoming summits with North Korea's Kim Jong Un. Chung is due to meet Bolton on Thursday, the official at the South's presidential Blue House told reporters.&nbspHe added the meeting was a courtesy call aimed at "coordinating opinions ahead of the inter-Korean and US-North Korea summits". The rare inter-Korean summit is scheduled to take place in just over two weeks, while the second meeting between US President Donald Trump and Kim is expected as early as May. The appointment this week of Bolton - a mustachioed former UN ambassador and strong defender of a US first strike option against North Korea -- has raised concerns in Seoul over the prospects of the diplomatic thaw on the Korean peninsula. Bolton's stance on Pyongyang diverges sharply from the more dovish South Korean government, which had pushed hard for an early meeting with him, the South's Yonhap agency reported. "Bolton does not even mention the possibility of a peace treaty with Pyongyang" which is sought by the South, said Koo Kab-woo, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul. "If Bolton intervenes in the current diplomatic process (with North Korea), the need for coordination becomes much bigger," Koo added.&nbspIn a growing rapprochement on the Korean peninsula kick-started by the South's Winter Olympics, Kim is set to meet the South's Moon Jae-in on April 27. Trump has agreed to meet Kim to discuss denuclearisation as soon as next month, though no venue or specific date is agreed.&nbspThe South Korean embassy in Washington and the US State Department have agreed to set up a hotline in the build-up to the summits, Yonhap reported. The South's presidential office is also set to launch a new situation room to monitor the preparations for its upcoming summit on a daily basis, it said Thursday.

South Korean NSA flies to US to meet John Bolton over North Korea talks

Japan's foreign minister was in South Korea for a rare visit Wednesday, armed with a list of issues Tokyo wants to push onto the agenda of a looming summit between North and South Korea.

The first such visit in more than two years comes at a time of frenetic diplomatic activity in Northeast Asia, ahead of the North's planned summits with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump.&nbsp

North Korea's young leader Kim Jong Un met Chinese President Xi Jinping in his first overseas trip last month.

Japan has largely remained on the sidelines, with suggestions last month of the third summit between Kim and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe quickly petering out.

Instead, Tokyo has found itself forced to rely on the US and South Korea to tackle its concerns regarding the North, which last year test-fired several missiles that flew over Japan, sparking security concerns.

Tokyo's top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said "it is extremely important that Japan, the US, and South Korea share information and coordinate closely" ahead of the two summits.

Foreign minister Taro Kono will meet with his South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha on Wednesday morning.&nbsp

As well as Pyongyang's "nuclear and missile issues", Kono has said he will try to ensure that "the abduction issue will be talked about in the North-South summit".

He was referring to Japanese citizens abducted by the North's agents in the 1970s and 80s in a bid to train spies in Japanese language and customs before overseas missions.

The North regularly excoriates Japan over its brutal 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean peninsula.

But ties between the South and Japan have also remained sour for years due to the controversy over historical issues left unresolved -- including Korean women forced into sexual slavery for Japanese troops during World War II.

Seoul has urged Tokyo to take legal and moral responsibility, while Japan says that the issue was resolved when the two nations reached a controversial deal in 2015 to offer compensations to the victims.&nbsp

Suga said Japan's foreign minister would seek to boost a "forward-looking" bilateral relationship despite the row.

Kim is set to meet Moon on April 27 for a third-ever summit between the two neighbours, and is expected to talk with Trump in May or early June.

Japan -- a key Asian ally of the US and host of 50,000 American troops -- had long supported Trump's hardline position to press Pyongyang to abandon its widely-condemned nuclear and missile weapons programmes.

But Trump's sudden decision to open dialogue with Kim reportedly stoked concerns over whether Japan was being ignored in the regional push to engage the unpredictable North.

The first such visit in more than two years comes at a time of frenetic diplomatic activity in Northeast Asia, ahead of the North's planned summits with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump

Japan's foreign minister was in South Korea for a rare visit Wednesday, armed with a list of issues Tokyo wants to push onto the agenda of a looming summit between North and South Korea. The first such visit in more than two years comes at a time of frenetic diplomatic activity in Northeast Asia, ahead of the North's planned summits with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump. North Korea's young leader Kim Jong Un met Chinese President Xi Jinping in his first overseas trip last month. Japan has largely remained on the sidelines, with suggestions last month of the third summit between Kim and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe quickly petering out. Instead, Tokyo has found itself forced to rely on the US and South Korea to tackle its concerns regarding the North, which last year test-fired several missiles that flew over Japan, sparking security concerns. Tokyo's top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said "it is extremely important that Japan, the US, and South Korea share information and coordinate closely" ahead of the two summits. Foreign minister Taro Kono will meet with his South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha on Wednesday morning. As well as Pyongyang's "nuclear and missile issues", Kono has said he will try to ensure that "the abduction issue will be talked about in the North-South summit". He was referring to Japanese citizens abducted by the North's agents in the 1970s and 80s in a bid to train spies in Japanese language and customs before overseas missions. The North regularly excoriates Japan over its brutal 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean peninsula. But ties between the South and Japan have also remained sour for years due to the controversy over historical issues left unresolved -- including Korean women forced into sexual slavery for Japanese troops during World War II. Seoul has urged Tokyo to take legal and moral responsibility, while Japan says that the issue was resolved when the two nations reached a controversial deal in 2015 to offer compensations to the victims. Suga said Japan's foreign minister would seek to boost a "forward-looking" bilateral relationship despite the row. Kim is set to meet Moon on April 27 for a third-ever summit between the two neighbours, and is expected to talk with Trump in May or early June. Japan -- a key Asian ally of the US and host of 50,000 American troops -- had long supported Trump's hardline position to press Pyongyang to abandon its widely-condemned nuclear and missile weapons programmes. But Trump's sudden decision to open dialogue with Kim reportedly stoked concerns over whether Japan was being ignored in the regional push to engage the unpredictable North.

Japan Finance Minister to voice North Korea concerns in rare Seoul visit

South Korean prosecutors on Monday indicted former President Lee Myung-bak with 16 counts on a number of corruption charges, which also includes taking bribes.

Lee has been in pre-trial detention since he was arrested last month on charges of bribery, embezzlement, abuse of power and other irregularities.

The former South Korean president is accused of taking bribes amounting to 11.1 billion won, which also includes 700 million won from the state intelligence service and 5.85 USD million in lawsuit expenses, wherein multi-national conglomerate Samsung paid on Lee's behalf of his possible owning of a car parts firm, DAS, Yonhap news agency reported.

Lee is accused of embezzling about 35 billion won from Samsung and using the money for political and personal gains.

The 76-year-old tainted leader was also accused of receiving 2.25 billion won from Lee Pal-seung, a former chief of Woori Finance Holdings Co., 500 million won from Daebo Group, a Seoul-based operator of expressway rest stops and 400 million won from former lawmaker Kim So-nam.

Other charges against Lee include tax evasion, breach of trust, illegally shipping presidential documents out of the country and stashing them at a private building and a violation of the country's election law.

Lee is the fourth President of South Korea to be arrested, indicted and put on trial after former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan, Roh Tae-woo and most recently, Park Geun-hye respectively.

The prosecutors are currently looking into the charges and are mulling to impose further charges against Lee. They are also planning to freeze Lee's assets in order to prevent him from disposing of it.

The former South Korean president has consistently denied such charges against him and said that he did not commit any wrongdoing. However, Lee has refused to meet with the prosecutors for additional questioning.

The indictment comes after former South Korean President Park, who was impeached last year amid a sensational corruption scandal, was given 24 years of imprisonment by the prosecutors on Friday.

The 66-year-old was found guilty of crimes ranging from bribery to coercion, abuse of power and the leaking of state secrets. She has also been fined 18 billion won.

Park is also the first female leader and also the first ever South Korean president to be impeached on corruption charges.&nbsp

Lee is accused of embezzling about 35 billion won from Samsung and using the money for political and personal gains

South Korean prosecutors on Monday indicted former President Lee Myung-bak with 16 counts on a number of corruption charges, which also includes taking bribes. Lee has been in pre-trial detention since he was arrested last month on charges of bribery, embezzlement, abuse of power and other irregularities. The former South Korean president is accused of taking bribes amounting to 11.1 billion won, which also includes 700 million won from the state intelligence service and 5.85 USD million in lawsuit expenses, wherein multi-national conglomerate Samsung paid on Lee's behalf of his possible owning of a car parts firm, DAS, Yonhap news agency reported. Lee is accused of embezzling about 35 billion won from Samsung and using the money for political and personal gains. The 76-year-old tainted leader was also accused of receiving 2.25 billion won from Lee Pal-seung, a former chief of Woori Finance Holdings Co., 500 million won from Daebo Group, a Seoul-based operator of expressway rest stops and 400 million won from former lawmaker Kim So-nam. Other charges against Lee include tax evasion, breach of trust, illegally shipping presidential documents out of the country and stashing them at a private building and a violation of the country's election law. Lee is the fourth President of South Korea to be arrested, indicted and put on trial after former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan, Roh Tae-woo and most recently, Park Geun-hye respectively. The prosecutors are currently looking into the charges and are mulling to impose further charges against Lee. They are also planning to freeze Lee's assets in order to prevent him from disposing of it. The former South Korean president has consistently denied such charges against him and said that he did not commit any wrongdoing. However, Lee has refused to meet with the prosecutors for additional questioning. The indictment comes after former South Korean President Park, who was impeached last year amid a sensational corruption scandal, was given 24 years of imprisonment by the prosecutors on Friday. The 66-year-old was found guilty of crimes ranging from bribery to coercion, abuse of power and the leaking of state secrets. She has also been fined 18 billion won. Park is also the first female leader and also the first ever South Korean president to be impeached on corruption charges.

Ex-South Korean president indicted for corruption

Four executives from two South Korean cryptocurrency exchanges were detained on Thursday and are being questioned in connection with the alleged embezzlement of billions of won, prosecutors said.

One of the detained executives was Kim Ik-hwan, CEO of Coinnest, South Korea's fifth largest cryptocurrency exchange. The other suspects were not identified.

"They are being questioned about the embezzlement of billions of won from their clients' accounts and transferring it to their own," an official from the prosecutors' office told.

Coinnest was not immediately available for comment, although the company's websites appeared to be operating as normal.

It is the first time employees of a local cryptocurrency business have been detained in South Korea, the world's third-largest cryptocurrency trading country.

South Korean authorities have previously vowed strong action against what they said were illegal, unfair movements in cryptocurrency trading after a bitcoin frenzy at the end of last year.

Related government agencies are now negotiating comprehensive regulations for cryptocurrency markets.

The official added that prosecutors will decide whether to issue arrest warrants for the detained exchange employees, adding they planned to investigate other virtual coin exchanges for possible crimes.&nbsp

($1 = 1,057.40 won)

Related government agencies are now negotiating comprehensive regulations for cryptocurrency markets

Four executives from two South Korean cryptocurrency exchanges were detained on Thursday and are being questioned in connection with the alleged embezzlement of billions of won, prosecutors said. One of the detained executives was Kim Ik-hwan, CEO of Coinnest, South Korea's fifth largest cryptocurrency exchange. The other suspects were not identified. "They are being questioned about the embezzlement of billions of won from their clients' accounts and transferring it to their own," an official from the prosecutors' office told. Coinnest was not immediately available for comment, although the company's websites appeared to be operating as normal. It is the first time employees of a local cryptocurrency business have been detained in South Korea, the world's third-largest cryptocurrency trading country. South Korean authorities have previously vowed strong action against what they said were illegal, unfair movements in cryptocurrency trading after a bitcoin frenzy at the end of last year. Related government agencies are now negotiating comprehensive regulations for cryptocurrency markets. The official added that prosecutors will decide whether to issue arrest warrants for the detained exchange employees, adding they planned to investigate other virtual coin exchanges for possible crimes. ($1 = 1,057.40 won)

South Korean cryptocurrency executives detained over alleged embezzlement

"If you don't like the weather in New England now, just wait a few minutes," once said Mark Twain. This is as applicable to the political weather in the Korean Peninsula, which continues to live up to its billing as a theatre of the unexpected.

Barely had the surprise news of an inter-Korean summit, begun to sink-in that President Trump announced his willingness to meet Kim Jong-un (KJU) towards the end of May. If it materialises, and there is still an if, it would be a historic first.

As if that was not dramatic enough, Japanese media sighted a 21-coach green train with yellow stripes, from North Korea heading to the Chinese capital. As speculated, none other than a beaming Kim Jong-un emerged in Beijing, with wife in toe, for a first ever meeting with Xi Jinping on 26 March. An attempt to lift the veil is in order.

The international isolation of North Korea appeared near complete towards the end of last year. Sanctions had begun to bite and the American rhetoric was becoming shriller. With the dawn of 2018, came the unexpected offer of dialogue with Seoul and one thing led to another. The Korean leaders are to meet at the Peace Village on DMZ (Demilitarised Zone) on April 27. Hectic preparations are underway.

NSA Chung Eui-yong, who was the principal South Korean (ROK) envoy to Pyongyang rushed to Washington with a message from Kim Jong-un. He called on Trump on March 8, who agreed on the spot to meet Kim Jong-un, without any preconditions. Kim's message also included a promise to denuclearise. Addressing the media at the White House and knowing which buttons to press, Chung observed, "I explained to President Trump that his leadership and his maximum-pressure policy, together with international solidarity, brought us to this juncture."

Meanwhile, Trump has been busy inducting like-minded hardliners into his team. CIA Director Mike Pompeo, a hawk, is to be the new Secretary of State. The 69-year-old John Bolton, a super-hawk, has been pulled out of retirement to become the new NSA.

Earlier on March 19, Bolton, who has been a votary of regime change in North Korea had stated, "We should insist that if this meeting is going to take place, it will be similar to discussions we had with Libya 13 or 14 years ago: how to pack up their nuclear weapons program and take it to Oak Ridge, Tennessee... . If they're not prepared to have that kind of serious discussion, it could actually be a very short meeting." (Reported by Reuters on March 23). Even though he was publicly staking out a maximalist position, the Libyan example and fate of Gaddafi, is Kim Jong-un's darkest nightmare, and does not portend well for any meaningful forward movement.

For a few weeks it appeared that Seoul was calling the shots in fostering a thaw in the Korean Peninsula. Her diplomats were clocking up thousands of air-miles in briefing key world leaders including Putin, Xi and Abe. Japan was uncomfortable but could do little except to advise caution and keep in touch with Washington. Abe is travelling to the US to meet Trump on 17-18 April. China, North Korea's sole, even if somewhat estranged benefactor, refused to be side-lined and decided to get into the act. An invitation for an unofficial meeting was extended by President Xi to Kim Jong-un and grabbed with alacrity.

Both sides stood to gain. China underscored its leverage over the North and signalled that a solution to the North Korea imbroglio could only be found with its blessings. Beijing effectively claimed a spot for itself at the negotiating table and became a frontrunner to host the Trump-Kim summit. Paranoid about his security and convinced that the US is out to get him, Kim Jong-un is highly unlikely to travel to the US or a western capital for the meeting. His preference would be Pyongyang or the Peace Village, which would not be acceptable to the US. The sides, even if reluctantly, could settle for Beijing.

Setting his grievances aside, Xi Jinping accorded all state-honours to Kim, who had left North Korea for the first time since coming to power in 2011. The charm offensive worked. For Kim, friendless and isolated, the invite came as a Godsent. It improved his bargaining position in one go, knowing that China, which was loath to see an increased US role in the Korean Peninsula, was being supportive.

"The issue of denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula can be resolved, if South Korea and the United States respond to our efforts with goodwill, create an atmosphere of peace and stability while taking progressive and synchronous measures for the realisation of peace," (emphasis added) Kim stated in Beijing. He expectedly introduced caveats which may be difficult for Trump to accept, who wants to frontload the agreement with obligations on North Korea's part to dismantle its Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) programme, before easing sanctions. Thus, the stage is being set for bruising and gruelling negotiations.

All these developments augur well for a constructive inter-Korean summit, for only that can pave the way for a Trump-Kim meet.

(Vishnu Prakash has been Ambassador of India to Republic of Korea and Indian High Commissioner to Canada. He is spokesperson of Foreign Office & Consul General to Shanghai, a columnist/analyst on foreign affairs)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the authors and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The international isolation of North Korea appeared near complete towards the end of last year.

"If you don't like the weather in New England now, just wait a few minutes," once said Mark Twain. This is as applicable to the political weather in the Korean Peninsula, which continues to live up to its billing as a theatre of the unexpected. Barely had the surprise news of an inter-Korean summit, begun to sink-in that President Trump announced his willingness to meet Kim Jong-un (KJU) towards the end of May. If it materialises, and there is still an if, it would be a historic first. As if that was not dramatic enough, Japanese media sighted a 21-coach green train with yellow stripes, from North Korea heading to the Chinese capital. As speculated, none other than a beaming Kim Jong-un emerged in Beijing, with wife in toe, for a first ever meeting with Xi Jinping on 26 March. An attempt to lift the veil is in order. The international isolation of North Korea appeared near complete towards the end of last year. Sanctions had begun to bite and the American rhetoric was becoming shriller. With the dawn of 2018, came the unexpected offer of dialogue with Seoul and one thing led to another. The Korean leaders are to meet at the Peace Village on DMZ (Demilitarised Zone) on April 27. Hectic preparations are underway. NSA Chung Eui-yong, who was the principal South Korean (ROK) envoy to Pyongyang rushed to Washington with a message from Kim Jong-un. He called on Trump on March 8, who agreed on the spot to meet Kim Jong-un, without any preconditions. Kim's message also included a promise to denuclearise. Addressing the media at the White House and knowing which buttons to press, Chung observed, "I explained to President Trump that his leadership and his maximum-pressure policy, together with international solidarity, brought us to this juncture." Meanwhile, Trump has been busy inducting like-minded hardliners into his team. CIA Director Mike Pompeo, a hawk, is to be the new Secretary of State. The 69-year-old John Bolton, a super-hawk, has been pulled out of retirement to become the new NSA. Earlier on March 19, Bolton, who has been a votary of regime change in North Korea had stated, "We should insist that if this meeting is going to take place, it will be similar to discussions we had with Libya 13 or 14 years ago: how to pack up their nuclear weapons program and take it to Oak Ridge, Tennessee... . If they're not prepared to have that kind of serious discussion, it could actually be a very short meeting." (Reported by Reuters on March 23). Even though he was publicly staking out a maximalist position, the Libyan example and fate of Gaddafi, is Kim Jong-un's darkest nightmare, and does not portend well for any meaningful forward movement. For a few weeks it appeared that Seoul was calling the shots in fostering a thaw in the Korean Peninsula. Her diplomats were clocking up thousands of air-miles in briefing key world leaders including Putin, Xi and Abe. Japan was uncomfortable but could do little except to advise caution and keep in touch with Washington. Abe is travelling to the US to meet Trump on 17-18 April. China, North Korea's sole, even if somewhat estranged benefactor, refused to be side-lined and decided to get into the act. An invitation for an unofficial meeting was extended by President Xi to Kim Jong-un and grabbed with alacrity. Both sides stood to gain. China underscored its leverage over the North and signalled that a solution to the North Korea imbroglio could only be found with its blessings. Beijing effectively claimed a spot for itself at the negotiating table and became a frontrunner to host the Trump-Kim summit. Paranoid about his security and convinced that the US is out to get him, Kim Jong-un is highly unlikely to travel to the US or a western capital for the meeting. His preference would be Pyongyang or the Peace Village, which would not be acceptable to the US. The sides, even if reluctantly, could settle for Beijing. Setting his grievances aside, Xi Jinping accorded all state-honours to Kim, who had left North Korea for the first time since coming to power in 2011. The charm offensive worked. For Kim, friendless and isolated, the invite came as a Godsent. It improved his bargaining position in one go, knowing that China, which was loath to see an increased US role in the Korean Peninsula, was being supportive. "The issue of denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula can be resolved, if South Korea and the United States respond to our efforts with goodwill, create an atmosphere of peace and stability while taking progressive and synchronous measures for the realisation of peace," (emphasis added) Kim stated in Beijing. He expectedly introduced caveats which may be difficult for Trump to accept, who wants to frontload the agreement with obligations on North Korea's part to dismantle its Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) programme, before easing sanctions. Thus, the stage is being set for bruising and gruelling negotiations. All these developments augur well for a constructive inter-Korean summit, for only that can pave the way for a Trump-Kim meet. (Vishnu Prakash has been Ambassador of India to Republic of Korea and Indian High Commissioner to Canada. He is spokesperson of Foreign Office & Consul General to Shanghai, a columnist/analyst on foreign affairs) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the authors and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Expect the unexpected in the Korean theatre

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un today attended the first concert in Pyongyang for over a decade by South Korean entertainers, including a K-pop girlband, the latest gesture of reconciliation before a rare inter-Korean summit.

The visit, described by many as a cultural charm-offensive by the South, came as a diplomatic thaw quickens on the peninsula after months of military tensions.

The 120-member group -- 11 musical acts as well as dancers, technicians and martial artists -- gave one concert today with another set for Tuesday.

Kim and his wife, a former singer herself, came to watch today's show, making him the first leader of the North to attend a concert by South Korean performers.

Kim shook hands and took photos with the Seoul stars backstage, saying inter-Korean cultural events should be held more often and suggesting another event in the South Korean capital this autumn, pool reports said.

The young couple were seen clapping their hands during the two-hour event -- also attended by Kim's powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, and ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam.

"He (Kim Jong Un) showed great interest in the songs and lyrics (of South Korean singers) during the concert," Do Jong-hwan, Seoul's culture chief and the head of the delegation, told reporters.

The South's taekwondo athletes also staged a performance before an audience of 2,300 in Pyongyang on Sunday ahead of a joint display of the Korean martial art with the North's practitioners on Monday.

The rapprochement was triggered by the South's Winter Olympics, to which the North's leader Kim Jong Un sent athletes, cheerleaders and his powerful sister as an envoy.

A North Korean art troupe, the 140-strong Samjiyon Orchestra, staged two performances in South Korea in February to celebrate the Games.

Kim followed up by agreeing to a summit with the South's President Moon Jae-in, and offering a face-to-face meet with US President Donald Trump. Kim also met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing last week during his first overseas trip.

The inter-Korean summit, the third after meetings in 2000 and 2007, will be held on April 27. No date has been set for the US-North Korean summit although it is expected before the end of May.

In another sign of eased tensions, an annual US-South Korean military exercise which got under way in the South Sunday will last for just one month compared to some two months normally.

This year's drills feature fewer strategic weapons such as a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Seoul's military has said. The deployment of such powerful weaponry during past drills has frequently drawn an angry response from the North.

Today's concert to a packed audience at the elaborately decorated 1,500-seat East Pyongyang Grand Theatre ended with a standing ovation after a finale in which all the stars appeared on stage to sing a song about unification.

One of the most closely watched acts was Red Velvet, part of the South's hugely popular K-pop phenomenon that has taken audiences in Asia and beyond by storm in recent decades.

The five-member girlband -- known for its signature K-pop mix of upbeat electronic music, stylish fashion and high-voltage choreography -- performed two of their hits, "Bad Boy" and "Red Flavour".

Joy, one of the five members, missed the trip to Pyongyang due to her TV drama shooting schedule.

"The North's audience applauded to our performance much louder than we expected and even sang along to our songs... It was a big relief," band member Yeri told reporters.

"I told myself, 'let's do our best even if there's no response (from the audience)... But they showed so much reaction," added a member called Wendy.

Another member, Seulgi, appeared red-eyed as she bid farewell to the audience at the end of the concert, apparently overcome with emotion.

Despite the North's isolation and strict curbs on unauthorised foreign culture, enforced with prison terms, K-pop and Seoul's TV shows have become increasingly popular there thanks to flash drives smuggled across the border with China.

The emcee of the concert was a popular member of K-pop girlband Girls' Generation, Seohyun, who had performed with the visiting Pyongyang singers during their Seoul concert in February.

Legendary South Korean singer Cho Yong-pil, who held a solo sell-out concert in Pyongyang in 2005, was another star of the show.

Kim's late father and longtime ruler, Kim Jong Il, was known to be a fan of the 68-year-old Cho.

Another famous singer, Choi Jin-hee, also performed for the fourth time in the North and sang "Maze of Love" -- a pan-peninsula hit and another of the late Kim's favourites.

But not all onlookers were receptive to the K-pop offensive.

During the taekwondo event, a previously raptured audience member turned stone-faced when the athletes showcased a performance combining K-pop dance and Taekwondo routines to a hit song of ultra-popular boyband BTS.

The stiffened crowd refused to respond to the athletes who motioned them to clap their hands to "Fire" -- an intense electro-dance score peppered with rapid-fire rap delivered in both Korean and English.&nbsp;

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un today attended the first concert in Pyongyang for over a decade by South Korean entertainers, including a K-pop girlband, the latest gesture of reconciliation before a rare inter-Korean summit

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un today attended the first concert in Pyongyang for over a decade by South Korean entertainers, including a K-pop girlband, the latest gesture of reconciliation before a rare inter-Korean summit. The visit, described by many as a cultural charm-offensive by the South, came as a diplomatic thaw quickens on the peninsula after months of military tensions. The 120-member group -- 11 musical acts as well as dancers, technicians and martial artists -- gave one concert today with another set for Tuesday. Kim and his wife, a former singer herself, came to watch today's show, making him the first leader of the North to attend a concert by South Korean performers. Kim shook hands and took photos with the Seoul stars backstage, saying inter-Korean cultural events should be held more often and suggesting another event in the South Korean capital this autumn, pool reports said. The young couple were seen clapping their hands during the two-hour event -- also attended by Kim's powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, and ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam. "He (Kim Jong Un) showed great interest in the songs and lyrics (of South Korean singers) during the concert," Do Jong-hwan, Seoul's culture chief and the head of the delegation, told reporters. The South's taekwondo athletes also staged a performance before an audience of 2,300 in Pyongyang on Sunday ahead of a joint display of the Korean martial art with the North's practitioners on Monday. The rapprochement was triggered by the South's Winter Olympics, to which the North's leader Kim Jong Un sent athletes, cheerleaders and his powerful sister as an envoy. A North Korean art troupe, the 140-strong Samjiyon Orchestra, staged two performances in South Korea in February to celebrate the Games. Kim followed up by agreeing to a summit with the South's President Moon Jae-in, and offering a face-to-face meet with US President Donald Trump. Kim also met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing last week during his first overseas trip. The inter-Korean summit, the third after meetings in 2000 and 2007, will be held on April 27. No date has been set for the US-North Korean summit although it is expected before the end of May. In another sign of eased tensions, an annual US-South Korean military exercise which got under way in the South Sunday will last for just one month compared to some two months normally. This year's drills feature fewer strategic weapons such as a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Seoul's military has said. The deployment of such powerful weaponry during past drills has frequently drawn an angry response from the North. Today's concert to a packed audience at the elaborately decorated 1,500-seat East Pyongyang Grand Theatre ended with a standing ovation after a finale in which all the stars appeared on stage to sing a song about unification. One of the most closely watched acts was Red Velvet, part of the South's hugely popular K-pop phenomenon that has taken audiences in Asia and beyond by storm in recent decades. The five-member girlband -- known for its signature K-pop mix of upbeat electronic music, stylish fashion and high-voltage choreography -- performed two of their hits, "Bad Boy" and "Red Flavour". Joy, one of the five members, missed the trip to Pyongyang due to her TV drama shooting schedule. "The North's audience applauded to our performance much louder than we expected and even sang along to our songs... It was a big relief," band member Yeri told reporters. "I told myself, 'let's do our best even if there's no response (from the audience)... But they showed so much reaction," added a member called Wendy. Another member, Seulgi, appeared red-eyed as she bid farewell to the audience at the end of the concert, apparently overcome with emotion. Despite the North's isolation and strict curbs on unauthorised foreign culture, enforced with prison terms, K-pop and Seoul's TV shows have become increasingly popular there thanks to flash drives smuggled across the border with China. The emcee of the concert was a popular member of K-pop girlband Girls' Generation, Seohyun, who had performed with the visiting Pyongyang singers during their Seoul concert in February. Legendary South Korean singer Cho Yong-pil, who held a solo sell-out concert in Pyongyang in 2005, was another star of the show. Kim's late father and longtime ruler, Kim Jong Il, was known to be a fan of the 68-year-old Cho. Another famous singer, Choi Jin-hee, also performed for the fourth time in the North and sang "Maze of Love" -- a pan-peninsula hit and another of the late Kim's favourites. But not all onlookers were receptive to the K-pop offensive. During the taekwondo event, a previously raptured audience member turned stone-faced when the athletes showcased a performance combining K-pop dance and Taekwondo routines to a hit song of ultra-popular boyband BTS. The stiffened crowd refused to respond to the athletes who motioned them to clap their hands to "Fire" -- an intense electro-dance score peppered with rapid-fire rap delivered in both Korean and English.

North Korea's Kim attends South Korea concert in latest reconciliatory move

South Korea has deployed an anti-piracy warship to the sea off Ghana after three South Korean sailors were kidnapped by pirates, Seoul's foreign ministry said late Saturday.

The 500-tonne Marine 711 with about 40 Ghanaian and three South Korean sailors was boarded by unidentified pirates last Monday.&nbsp

The pirates seized the three South Koreans and escaped on a separate speedboat, with their current whereabouts unknown.&nbsp

The Marine 711, registered in Ghana, later arrived at a port at Ghana where the Ghanaian sailors disembarked, according to the South's Yonhap news agency.&nbsp

South Korea's military said the pirates had been identified as Nigerians, Yonhap reported. Munmu the Great, a South Korean warship that had been involved in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, had been sent to the nearby sea, it said. &nbsp

"We are closely coordinating with local countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Togo and Benin as well as the US and the EU to locate our nationals and secure their release," the foreign ministry said.

The pirates have not yet demanded a ransom in return for the release of the abducted sailors.&nbsp

The 500-tonne Marine 711 with about 40 Ghanaian and three South Korean sailors was boarded by unidentified pirates last Monday. The three South Korean sailors were kidnapped

South Korea has deployed an anti-piracy warship to the sea off Ghana after three South Korean sailors were kidnapped by pirates, Seoul's foreign ministry said late Saturday. The 500-tonne Marine 711 with about 40 Ghanaian and three South Korean sailors was boarded by unidentified pirates last Monday. The pirates seized the three South Koreans and escaped on a separate speedboat, with their current whereabouts unknown. The Marine 711, registered in Ghana, later arrived at a port at Ghana where the Ghanaian sailors disembarked, according to the South's Yonhap news agency. South Korea's military said the pirates had been identified as Nigerians, Yonhap reported. Munmu the Great, a South Korean warship that had been involved in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, had been sent to the nearby sea, it said. "We are closely coordinating with local countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Togo and Benin as well as the US and the EU to locate our nationals and secure their release," the foreign ministry said. The pirates have not yet demanded a ransom in return for the release of the abducted sailors.

South Korea deploys warship to Ghana after pirates kidnap sailors

North Korean leader&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju were among the hundreds in Pyongyang on Sunday (April 1) watching South Korean K-pop singers perform in the North for the first time in more than a decade as tensions between the two countries thaw.

It was the first time a North Korean leader had attended a South Korean performance in the capital.&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;Jong Un was seen clapping in tune to some of the songs and later took photographs with the performers after the show.

Sunday's two-hour concert in Pyongyang, along with a separate taekwondo performance earlier in the day, comes as South Korea's engagement with North Korea has continued to grow since&nbsp;KimJong Un expressed his willingness for more contact between the two countries.

Sunday's concert was held under the title "Spring is Coming" at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre, performed by an elite lineup of 11 South Korean artists including veteran vocalists Cho Yong-pil, Lee Sun-hee, rock star Yoon Do-hyun, singer Baek Ji-young as well as K-pop girl band Red Velvet.

The same South Korean singers will hold a joint concert with North Korean performers on Tuesday (April 3) at the Ryukyung Chung Ju Yung Gymnasium, a joint project between the North and South named after Hyundai Group billionaire founder Chung Ju-yung who had long advocated inter-Korean cultural and economic exchange.

Amid thawing ties between the rivals after more than a year of heightened tensions over the North`s nuclear program, the visit came as a gesture of reconciliation before the peninsula after months of military tensions

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju were among the hundreds in Pyongyang on Sunday (April 1) watching South Korean K-pop singers perform in the North for the first time in more than a decade as tensions between the two countries thaw. It was the first time a North Korean leader had attended a South Korean performance in the capital. Kim Jong Un was seen clapping in tune to some of the songs and later took photographs with the performers after the show. Sunday's two-hour concert in Pyongyang, along with a separate taekwondo performance earlier in the day, comes as South Korea's engagement with North Korea has continued to grow since KimJong Un expressed his willingness for more contact between the two countries. Sunday's concert was held under the title "Spring is Coming" at the East Pyongyang Grand Theatre, performed by an elite lineup of 11 South Korean artists including veteran vocalists Cho Yong-pil, Lee Sun-hee, rock star Yoon Do-hyun, singer Baek Ji-young as well as K-pop girl band Red Velvet. The same South Korean singers will hold a joint concert with North Korean performers on Tuesday (April 3) at the Ryukyung Chung Ju Yung Gymnasium, a joint project between the North and South named after Hyundai Group billionaire founder Chung Ju-yung who had long advocated inter-Korean cultural and economic exchange.

Kim attends South Korean performance by K-pop stars in Pyongyang

The United States and South Korea kicked off a low-key joint military drill Sunday as a diplomatic thaw over North Korea gathered pace.

Tension on the flashpoint peninsula has shown signs of easing in recent months after the isolated, nuclear-armed North proposed summits with the South and their "imperialist enemy" the US.

The annual Foal Eagle drill -- a series of field training exercises involving some 11,500 American and 290,000 South Korean troops -- began early Sunday, Seoul's defence ministry spokesman said.

The drill -- which was delayed to avoid clashing with February's Winter Olympics in the South -- will be held for a month in April, about half the time it usually lasts.

This year's drills feature fewer strategic weapons like a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Seoul army said earlier. The deployment of such powerful weapons at past drills has frequently drawn an angry response from the North.

The two allies are also set to stage the annual Key Resolve drill -- a tabletop exercise using mainly computer-based simulations -- for the usual duration of two weeks beginning late April.

Pyongyang, which habitually slams the joint army drills between the South and the US as a rehearsal for invasion, has remained relatively quiet on the issue in recent weeks.

The Foal Eagle drill started the same day as a historic concert by South Korean pop stars in Pyongyang, which will be staged late Sunday as a peace gesture ahead of this month's inter-Korea summit.

Eleven South Korean acts -- including popular K-pop girlband Red Velvet -- are set perform in the North Korean capital -- the first such concert for more than a decade.

The flurry of reconciliatory moves comes after the Pyeongchang Winter Games, which the North used to mount a charm offensive, sending athletes, cheerleaders and even leader Kim Jong Un's powerful sister as a delegate.

Kim, who last week met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on his first overseas trip as leader, also met Olympics chief Thomas Bach in Pyongyang on Saturday, thanking him for helping to bring about a "dramatic thawing" of tensions on the peninsula.

Kim is set to hold a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on April 27 at the border truce village of Panmunjom -- the third time ever that any leaders of the two rivals have met.&nbsp

The two allies are also set to stage the annual Key Resolve drill

The United States and South Korea kicked off a low-key joint military drill Sunday as a diplomatic thaw over North Korea gathered pace. Tension on the flashpoint peninsula has shown signs of easing in recent months after the isolated, nuclear-armed North proposed summits with the South and their "imperialist enemy" the US. The annual Foal Eagle drill -- a series of field training exercises involving some 11,500 American and 290,000 South Korean troops -- began early Sunday, Seoul's defence ministry spokesman said. The drill -- which was delayed to avoid clashing with February's Winter Olympics in the South -- will be held for a month in April, about half the time it usually lasts. This year's drills feature fewer strategic weapons like a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Seoul army said earlier. The deployment of such powerful weapons at past drills has frequently drawn an angry response from the North. The two allies are also set to stage the annual Key Resolve drill -- a tabletop exercise using mainly computer-based simulations -- for the usual duration of two weeks beginning late April. Pyongyang, which habitually slams the joint army drills between the South and the US as a rehearsal for invasion, has remained relatively quiet on the issue in recent weeks. The Foal Eagle drill started the same day as a historic concert by South Korean pop stars in Pyongyang, which will be staged late Sunday as a peace gesture ahead of this month's inter-Korea summit. Eleven South Korean acts -- including popular K-pop girlband Red Velvet -- are set perform in the North Korean capital -- the first such concert for more than a decade. The flurry of reconciliatory moves comes after the Pyeongchang Winter Games, which the North used to mount a charm offensive, sending athletes, cheerleaders and even leader Kim Jong Un's powerful sister as a delegate. Kim, who last week met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on his first overseas trip as leader, also met Olympics chief Thomas Bach in Pyongyang on Saturday, thanking him for helping to bring about a "dramatic thawing" of tensions on the peninsula. Kim is set to hold a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on April 27 at the border truce village of Panmunjom -- the third time ever that any leaders of the two rivals have met.

US, South Korea begin low-key army drills amid diplomatic thaw

US President Donald Trump warned Thursday that he may delay implementation of a renegotiated trade deal with South Korea until after planned nuclear talks with North Korea.&nbsp;

Trump offered no explanation for the apparent threat, which came just a day after he hailed the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) as a victory for his get-tough stance on commerce.

"I may hold it up until after a deal is made with North Korea, does everybody understand that? You know why? Because it`s a very strong card," Trump said in a speech in Ohio.

"South Korea has been wonderful, but we`ll probably hold that deal up for a little while, see how it plays out."

On Wednesday, Trump had seemed to be firmly behind the renegotiated trade deal, which should now give US carmakers greater access to South Korean markets.

"@USTradeRep just announced an agreement in principle with South Korea on KORUS!" he said.&nbsp;

"A great deal for American and Korean workers. Let`s now focus on our important security relationship."

But the president`s remarks in his Ohio speech appeared to suggest he is seeking to hold the deal as leverage over Washington`s ally South Korea ahead of the nuclear talks.

North Korea and South Korea plan to hold a summit on April 27.

Trump is then due to meet North Korea`s Kim Jong Un before the end of May for talks on Pyongyang`s denuclearization.

Trump offered no explanation for the apparent threat, which came just a day after he hailed the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) as a victory for his get-tough stance on commerce

US President Donald Trump warned Thursday that he may delay implementation of a renegotiated trade deal with South Korea until after planned nuclear talks with North Korea. Trump offered no explanation for the apparent threat, which came just a day after he hailed the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) as a victory for his get-tough stance on commerce. "I may hold it up until after a deal is made with North Korea, does everybody understand that? You know why? Because it`s a very strong card," Trump said in a speech in Ohio. "South Korea has been wonderful, but we`ll probably hold that deal up for a little while, see how it plays out." On Wednesday, Trump had seemed to be firmly behind the renegotiated trade deal, which should now give US carmakers greater access to South Korean markets. "@USTradeRep just announced an agreement in principle with South Korea on KORUS!" he said. "A great deal for American and Korean workers. Let`s now focus on our important security relationship." But the president`s remarks in his Ohio speech appeared to suggest he is seeking to hold the deal as leverage over Washington`s ally South Korea ahead of the nuclear talks. North Korea and South Korea plan to hold a summit on April 27. Trump is then due to meet North Korea`s Kim Jong Un before the end of May for talks on Pyongyang`s denuclearization.

Trump may put hold to South Korea trade deal until North Korea talks

Tech giant Apple has been sued by over 60,000 iPhone users&nbspin South Korea&nbspfor damages on Friday.

The compensation that is being demanded is $12 million in total with each customer demanding $188.

The lawsuit has been lodged by a local firm Hannuri in a Seoul Central district court against the local unit of iPhone manufacturer, Appl and Apple Korea.

According to reports, four lakh users were seeking legal action against the company initially but the number fell during the course of verification of documents and other legal procedures.

The company is accused of slowing down phones through software tweak after they release new model is released to make buyers purchase the latest one.

In December last year, the company confirmed the reports of slowing certain models deliberately in order to prevent phone from aging batteries.

The company further assured users that it does to 'protect your phone' as the lithium-ion batteries age through time and after that,&nbspit can't process at the same capacity which could cause a phone to shut down unexpectdely.

 
&nbsp

The compensation that is being demanded is $12 million in total with each customer demanding $188

Tech giant Apple has been sued by over 60,000 iPhone users&nbspin South Korea&nbspfor damages on Friday. The compensation that is being demanded is $12 million in total with each customer demanding $188. The lawsuit has been lodged by a local firm Hannuri in a Seoul Central district court against the local unit of iPhone manufacturer, Appl and Apple Korea. According to reports, four lakh users were seeking legal action against the company initially but the number fell during the course of verification of documents and other legal procedures. The company is accused of slowing down phones through software tweak after they release new model is released to make buyers purchase the latest one. In December last year, the company confirmed the reports of slowing certain models deliberately in order to prevent phone from aging batteries. The company further assured users that it does to 'protect your phone' as the lithium-ion batteries age through time and after that,&nbspit can't process at the same capacity which could cause a phone to shut down unexpectdely.

Over 60,000 iPhone users sue Apple in South Korea

North and South Korea will hold their first summit in more than a decade on April 27, South Korean officials said on Thursday, after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged his commitment to denuclearisation as tensions ease between the old foes.

South Korean government officials announced the date of the summit after holding high-level talks with their North Korean counterparts on Thursday.

The two Koreas had agreed earlier this month to hold such a summit at the border truce village of Panmunjom when South Korean President Moon Jae-in sent a delegation to Pyongyang to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Thursday's talks were the first between the two Koreas since the delegation returned from the North.

A South Korean unification ministry official told reporters the two Koreas would hold a working-level meeting on April 4 to discuss details for the summit, such as staffing support, security and news releases.

North and South Korea have experienced a significant easing in tensions since the Winter Olympics in the South in February. They are technically still at war after the 1950-53 conflict ended with a ceasefire, not a truce.

Kim is also scheduled to meet US&nbspPresident Donald Trump some time in May to discuss denuclearisation, although a time and place have not been set for that summit.

Kim met Chinese President Xi Jinping in a surprise visit to Beijing this week, his first trip outside the isolated North since he came to power in 2011.

Even more surprising was Kim's pledge to denuclearise the Korean summit. That commitment was reported by Chinese state media, although North Korea's official media made no mention of it, or Kim's anticipated meeting with Trump.

Trump and Kim had exchanged threats and insults in recent months. The US&nbspleader made the equally surprising announcement earlier this month that he was prepared to meet Kim to discuss the crisis over Pyongyang's development of nuclear weapons capable of hitting the Unite States.

The North Korean leader's engagement with the international community has sparked speculation that he may try to meet other leaders. Japan's Asahi newspaper said on Thursday Japan had sounded out the North Korean government about a bilateral summit.

Chinese President Xi Jinping promised Beijing would uphold its friendship with North Korea after his meeting with Kim.

Trump wrote on Twitter he had received a message from Xi on Tuesday night that his meeting with Kim "went very well" and that Kim looked forward to meeting the US&nbsppresident.

This will be their first summit in over a decade. The two countries are still technically at war

North and South Korea will hold their first summit in more than a decade on April 27, South Korean officials said on Thursday, after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged his commitment to denuclearisation as tensions ease between the old foes. South Korean government officials announced the date of the summit after holding high-level talks with their North Korean counterparts on Thursday. The two Koreas had agreed earlier this month to hold such a summit at the border truce village of Panmunjom when South Korean President Moon Jae-in sent a delegation to Pyongyang to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Thursday's talks were the first between the two Koreas since the delegation returned from the North. A South Korean unification ministry official told reporters the two Koreas would hold a working-level meeting on April 4 to discuss details for the summit, such as staffing support, security and news releases. North and South Korea have experienced a significant easing in tensions since the Winter Olympics in the South in February. They are technically still at war after the 1950-53 conflict ended with a ceasefire, not a truce. Kim is also scheduled to meet US&nbspPresident Donald Trump some time in May to discuss denuclearisation, although a time and place have not been set for that summit. Kim met Chinese President Xi Jinping in a surprise visit to Beijing this week, his first trip outside the isolated North since he came to power in 2011. Even more surprising was Kim's pledge to denuclearise the Korean summit. That commitment was reported by Chinese state media, although North Korea's official media made no mention of it, or Kim's anticipated meeting with Trump. Trump and Kim had exchanged threats and insults in recent months. The US&nbspleader made the equally surprising announcement earlier this month that he was prepared to meet Kim to discuss the crisis over Pyongyang's development of nuclear weapons capable of hitting the Unite States. The North Korean leader's engagement with the international community has sparked speculation that he may try to meet other leaders. Japan's Asahi newspaper said on Thursday Japan had sounded out the North Korean government about a bilateral summit. Chinese President Xi Jinping promised Beijing would uphold its friendship with North Korea after his meeting with Kim. Trump wrote on Twitter he had received a message from Xi on Tuesday night that his meeting with Kim "went very well" and that Kim looked forward to meeting the US&nbsppresident.

North, South Korea to hold summit on April 27

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