Persian Realm

N Korea soldier 'flees to South'

N Korea soldier 'flees to South' (bbc)

A North Korean soldier has defected to the South across the heavily armed border after killing two officers, South Korean officials say.

Kim Jong Il's sushi chef returns

Kim Jong Il's sushi chef returns (cnn)  

After fleeing to his native Japan in 2001, the personal chef to late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il returns for a tearful reunion with Kim's son.

North Korea's Kim Yong-nam to go to Iran summit

North Korea's head of parliament, Kim Yong-nam will visit Iran and attend the Non-Aligned Movement summit briefly, state media reports.

N Korea dismisses talk of reform

North Korea dismisses reports from South Korea that it is planning policy changes that will lead to the opening up of the secretive communist state.

N Korea names new vice-marshal

N Korea names new vice-marshal (bbc)

North Korea has named a new vice-marshal, Hyon Yong-chol, the state news agency says, a day after the army chief was relieved of his post.

The mystery woman snapped with North Korea's Kim Jong-un

Spouse, starlet or sister? (bbc)

The mystery woman snapped with North Korea's Kim Jong-un

12 Iranian officials witnessed North Korean rocket launch

Twelve Iranian officials were on hand to witness the failed rocket test in North Korea last week, South Korea’s Yonhap news agencyreports.

According to Yonhap, a “diplomatic source” informed the news agency that a dozen officials from the Shadid Hemmat Industrial Group, the organization responsible for Iran’s ballistic missileprograms, were in North Korea to view the launch.

Kim Jong Un speaks at massive parade

Kim Jong Un speaks at massive parade (cnn)

Pyongyang, North Korea (CNN) -- North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un spoke before hundreds of troops and others in Pyongyang on Sunday as part of a massive, orchestrated celebration marking 100 years since the birth of the nation's founder, his grandfather.

Kim's address was his first televised speech since assuming the country's leadership.

• Kim Jong Un touts the importance of the revolution begun by his grandfather
• He stresses the military's significance and vows citizens won't starve again
• He spoke during a celebration in Pyongyang marking Kim Il Sung's birth 100 years earlier

New Report exposes Terrifying North Korean gulag

A new report details torture, forced abortions and public executions in North Korea's vast network of political prison camps.

US confirms North Korea food aid halt

The US has confirmed it has suspended planned food aid to North Korea.

The decision comes after Pyongyang announced a new rocket launch, which the United States says breaks the terms of a deal agreed last month.

Earlier reports that the food aid plans had been put on hold were confirmed by a Pentagon official on Wednesday.

Peter Lavoy told lawmakers North Korea had violated a missile test moratorium agreement and could not be trusted to deliver the aid properly.

Obama visits Koreas border amidst rising tensions

Obama visits tense Koreas border (bbc)

US President Barack Obama has visited the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, amid rising tensions over the North's planned rocket launch.

At an observation post on the volatile border, he told US troops they were "at freedom's frontier".

The US has voiced concern that the rocket launch due in April is a pretext for a missile test. Pyongyang says it wants to put a satellite into orbit.

On Monday, Mr Obama will attend a nuclear security summit in Seoul.

Obama in South Korea amid tension

Obama in South Korea amid tension (bbc)

US President Barack Obama has begun a visit to South Korea, amid rising tensions in the region over a rocket launch planned by the North.

Mr Obama is to go to the volatile Demilitarised Zone between the two Koreas, before holding talks in Seoul.

The US has voiced concern that the rocket launch due in April is a pretext for a missile test. Pyongyang says it wants to put a satellite into orbit.

US warning on North Korea rocket

A senior US official says a North Korean rocket launch may affect an area between Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines, an Australian newspaper reports.

US warning on North Korea rocket (bbc)

Obama heads to South Korea for nuclear summit

Obama heads to South Korea for nuclear summit (cnn)

Seoul, South Korea (CNN) -- President Barack Obama travels to South Korea Saturday on a three-day trip centered on an international nuclear security summit in Seoul.

He is due to arrive in Seoul early Sunday, where he will later hold a bilateral meeting with his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung-bak.

Top officials from 54 countries, including China and Russia, will attend the summit meeting on Monday and Tuesday.

But its message of international cooperation has been overshadowed by North Korea's announcement last week that it is planning to carry out a rocket-powered satellite launch in April.

• NEW: The South is running a "smear campaign" against its neighbor - North Korean state media
• South Korea is preparing to host a high-profile nuclear security summit
• U.S. President Barack Obama will be among more than 50 heads of state at the meeting
• He will visit the demilitarized zone between South and North Korea for the first time Sunday

North Korea agrees to 'nuclear moratorium'

North Korea has agreed to suspend uranium enrichment, as well as nuclear and long-range missile tests, US officials say.

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When it comes to state-organized simultaneous crying, no country can top North Korea! Video from the state funeral:

//www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uG9Qj_JcsYo#!

faramarz, the video you

faramarz, the video you posted was hilarious, in a sad way of course.  i think that trade between n. korea and iri includes tazieh rituals.

here's a joke that reinforces anahid's only experience with a s. korean: a japanese, n. korean and s. korean go to a restaurant.  the waiter tells them: "excuse me sirs, but today we have no more meat."  the japanese is baffled and says "i don't understand what is 'no more'?"  the n. korean has a puzzled look and says "i don't understand what is 'meat'?"  and the s. korean says "i don't understand what is 'excuse me'?"

Never worked with North Koreans

But once worked with a south korean. I have to admit that if I base my opinion on that one person, I prefer any other asian to the South korean. Much false pride. However, other Asians whom I work with can be (and are) critical of some aspects of their culture.

Anahid:

Be as doubtful as you like. I have lived among "Asians" for thirty years and I tell you Koreans, in general, are famous for "exaggerating" their emotions. They are similar to Iranians. When friendly, they kill you with their kindness and when unfriendly, they make sure you understand they are upset with you! You are talking about individuals who are not in their proper cultural contexts. To a person who is not familiar with the way Lors/Bakhtiarys morn their loss the scene of their morning may seem exaggerated and primitive. Do the same ethnic Lors/Bakhtiarys morn their loss in the heart of Paris in the same manner? A friend once asked me if my "Asian" wife ever cried, and I, jokingly, replied, "Yes, I've taught her how to!"

Clarification

my comment is about what i saw on tv not faramarz's video. the crying in faramarz video looks many times better than what i saw on tv. in the one i saw on tv, people had their mouths opoen as if they are laughing and announcer was saying that these people are crying, very weird.

I wonder what K.Marx would think of the "crying video"

of these images of koreans kneeling on the steps crying to the statue of the dead dictator, which are more like the mass hysteria amongst the slaves, following the ancient Egyptian  Faroah's death, than genuine grieaf of the proletariat for their dead beloved leader.... 

"Personal business must yield to collective interest."

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Just got home and watched the crying video posted by Faramarz......I could not help giggling! The video was posted today, not even 24 hours yet, it has close to 2 million hits! OMG! People must enjoy watching the video.

Hi! G. Rahmanian,

  I read in the news IRI's majlis offered condolences to N Korea already:

//www.presstv.ir/detail/216664.html

I make a prediction here: when Khamenei dies, people will shout the slogan "Marg Bar Diktator" instead of crying! 

Divaneh: Your post is so funny! :O))

I make a prediction here: Jon Stewart will use the N Koreans' crying video for his "Daily Show"!

G Rahmanian

I am doubtful about this facial expression thing you wrote. In past 25 years, I have been classmate and coworker with many Chinese vietnamese, thais and other asians,  There have been instances that they lost a family member and they were sad.  Few times I even saw them cry. Like when in university my Vietnamese friend lost her mother to a break in or few months ago a Vietnamese coworker lost his brother. When my friends and coworkers cried,  They never looked like this. What I am not used to is the facial expression that is generated when people do fake cry which is happening here.

Dear Rahmanian

They also needed a good kick or two. Sometime a good kick is the best medicine for those who don't use their brain and just follow the crowd. A type of a wakeup call.

Divaneh Jaan:

Many Iranians cried for Khomeini, too! And no one kicked them out of power. Now, we are getting regime's paid cyber army adding insults to our injuries day in and day out.

Tito was to ex Yugoslavia

... what the late Shah was to Iran.

//youtu.be/E2N-WUeHwRo

Never mind how it got here. If others don't understand, I do. ;o)

That's funny

This crying business is so funny. It just gives me the urge to kick everyone of them on the butt and ask why are you crying? ha? whay are you crying?

Yolanda:

Former President, Bill Clinton, may be there, too. The "Great Leader" liked Clinton. Clinton was the first leader to send him his condolences when his father, Kim Il Sung, died.

Anahid:

That's how many Koreans, Chinese, Vietnamese, etc. cry! It does look fake because you are not used to seeing it. It's the facial expressions that you are not familiar with. Have you seen any Iranian who cries, but has no tears? That looks fake, too. I had a classmate in elementary school who was constantly bullied because he had no tears. Most kids never believed he was in fact crying.

.......

The North Koreans are too afraid not to cry!

I recall when Khomeini died whole bunch of people cried in Iran too! They were hysterical and grief-stricken!

P.S. I don't plan to cry when Khamenei dies!