• East Asia

    Profile of Kim Jong-un

    Kim Jong-un is the youngest son of Kim Jong-il and his third wife Ko Young-hee born in 1983(or 1984, sources vary). At first, he was not at the centre of attention. North Korea watchers focused on his half-brother Kim Jong-nam and full brother Kim Jong-hol rather than him. Then in…

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  • Four Survival Rules for a Young Dictator

    So, Marshal Kim Jong Il, the lodestar of the 21st century, is dead, and his impoverished country is going to be run by his son Kim Jong Un, who might be the world’s youngest four-star general. This sudden power transfer produced much speculation about North Korea’s future. Will the country…

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  • East Asia

    Japanese Emperor Celebrates 78th Birthday

    Japanese Emperor Akihito (L) waves to people as Empress Michiko looks on during a celebration of his 78th birthday at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo Dec. 23, 2011. Japanese Emperor Akihito celebrated his 78th birthday on Friday, expressing concern and support for people affected by the March 11 earthquake and…

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  • East Asia

    South Korea President’s Mourning

    Whether to mourn or not the passing of Chairman Kim Jong-il of North Korea is a controversial issue in South Korea but the government seems have a rather flexible approach. In 1994, the head of the opposition party Lee Bu-young suggested official mourning in regard to the death of Kim…

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  • East Asia

    Polish President Visits ‘Great Wall’

    Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski (R) visits the Great Wall in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 22, 2011. <Photo: Xinhua/Wang Ye> news@theasian.asia  

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  • East Asia

    China Blackmarket “Eggs Are Hot Item”

    Photo taken in Beijing, capital of China, on Dec. 22, 2011 shows a Chinese surrogacy website. Because the Ministry of Health bans the sales of eggs, some infertile couples started to get eggs through black markets. Experts say that it’s not just unethical but also harmful for college girls who…

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  • East Asia

    NK Children’re Crying for Kim

    Children mourn the death of Kim Jong Il, top leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), in Pyongyang, DPRK, Dec. 21, 2011. <Photo: Xinhua/KCNA> news@theasian.asia    

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  • East Asia

    P’yang, Filled with Wailing People

    People mourn the death of Kim Jong Il, top leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), in Pyongyang, DPRK, Dec. 21, 2011.  (Xinhua/KCNA) (zcc)

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  • East Asia

    HK, Exceeds 40 Millionth Visitor this Year

    Nancy Ryan (C) from the United States, the 40 millionth visitor to Hong Kong this year, receives gifts from James Tien Pei-Chun (L), Chairman of Hong Kong Tourism Board, in a welcoming ceremony in Hong Kong, south China, Dec. 21, 2011. Nancy Ryan was named as the 40 millionth visitor…

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  • How the World Sees Kim’s Death

    The death of Kim Jong-il was front-page news all over the world. Breaking news, the headlines, the big story, hot topic or whatever it is called, the news came as swiftly as possible. However, different views and attitudes were found to present an account of the event. The Yomiuri Shimbun…

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