North Korea •

North Korea’s Top Negotiator Dies in Car Crash

Kim Yang Gon, 73, died Wednesday in a car crash, a state-run news agency reported.

According to a state-run news organization, Kim Yang Gon, North Korea’s top negotiator died in car crash. The new agency declined to provide more details.

Kim Yang Gon, 73, was a key high-rank official who was in charge with handling the tense diplomatic relationships with South Korea for years. The report comes after a series of other incidents involving high-ranking officials who died in similar circumstances.

Kim Yang Gon was in office since the time of former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, who died in Dec. 2011. The official’s death was revealed Wednesday by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

In August, Kim Yang Gon managed to restore peace between the two countries after an armed conflict at the border. He ran the governmental department that handles peace negotiations and other issues with South Korea.

Kim was especially popular at Pyongyang and one of the most trusted men of the current leader Kim Jong Un and his family. People who knew him said that he was very close to Kim.

Nevertheless, when people hear about the death of a top official in North Korea, they suspect that the government done it. Many politicians were either purged in ‘accidents’ ot bluntly executed. For instance, Kim Jong Un ordered his own uncle execution a couple of years ago, and the media called the deceased a “human scum” and other unflattering descriptions.

As for Kim Yang Gon, the state-run media used a totally different wording praising him on every occasion. KCNA called the official “closest comrade-in-arms” to the current leader, who played a huge role in the communist revolution.

The government ordered a state funeral where only high-ranking officials were invited. Mourners were also invited to pay homage to the great man. But some political analysts see Kim Yang Gon’s death circumstances at least ‘suspicious.’

Han Park of the University of Georgia where he teaches international relations recalls that the man before Kim Yang Gon in office also died in a car crash. Park is especially interested in North Korea, and managed to negotiate the release of two U.S. journalists from the country six years ago.

But Park cannot envision that between Kim Yang Gon and the supreme could have been a disagreement. Nevertheless, he underscored that many top officials died in traffic accidents.

And this is all the more puzzling since high-ranking officials have a tight security when they travel around the country. Most of the times, streets are cleared beforehand to allow them to pass in safety. Still, this is why many top officials loved to speed. So, theoretically, accidents can happen.
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Sony Pictures Finally Does the Right Thing

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After the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) confirmed that the cyber-attack on Sony Pictures was in fact coming from North Korea and following an additional and far more sinister threat, the movie at the center of attention, “The Interview”, was pulled from theaters.

However, when Sony Pictures announced their decision to give into the threats made by North Korea’s Guardians of Peace, there was a tremendous backlash and a lot of mocking. Many celebrities and other high-profile people to include George Clooney felt the United States caved in, giving the attackers exactly what they wanted rather than stand strong.

Even President Obama criticized the way in which Sony Pictures handled the process of pulling the movie. To make matters worse, people around the country who voiced concerns felt strongly that by showing weakness, Sony would soon receive all types of copycat threats.

Facing such strong criticism from Americans, Sony finally decided to release the movie on YouTube, as well a number of other online venues starting Christmas Eve. Following that move, the company said The Interview would be released in certain theaters throughout the country, which it did.

According to the FBI, a criminal scheme was started by North Korea’s Pyongyang government and the result of the attack will cost Sony Pictures at least $100 million. In addition to the huge financial loss, the bigger issue is all the confidential emails and other company secrets that have now been exposed for the world to see. However, in talking to people on the street, the consensus is the same – the bullies lost.

At this time, it is reported that roughly 300 independent theaters showed The Interview on Christmas day. The movie is a comedy about a plot to assassinate Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea. While it sounds horrific, people who have seen the movie agree it is actually quite comical and not threatening in any manner to Jong-un or North Korea itself.

In a statement from Rory Bruer, president of distribution for Sony Pictures Entertainment, the company is extremely grateful that people came out to see The Interview even though it was released in an unconventional way.

Although less than 10% of the theaters that were scheduled to show the movie actually allowed moviegoers to see it, theaters were sold out and the film earned more than $1 million in a single day.

Sony Hack may have Involvement from China, Iran, or Russia

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Following further threats toward Sony Pictures of terrorist attacks on US theaters that showed “The Interview” movie, investigations have turned up evidence that points to additional countries outside of North Korea being involved.

Today, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) said that North Korea is definitely behind the attack but now, there are suggestions that China, Iran, and Russia might also be involved. According to the unnamed source, the malware consists of packets not seen coming from North Korea but they have from the other three countries mentioned.

At this time, no evidence has shown that Sony systems was forcibly entered, which would point to the threat coming from inside the organization or from credentials being stolen. In addition, the first emails that were sent to Sony talked about extortion and even included demands that had nothing to do with The Interview movie.

As stated by the source, the malware that caused devastation to Sony Pictures consisted of two threads that have the ability to overwrite data but also interrupt execution processes, one of these being start-up functionality of a computer.

Once the first attack was over, the entertainment industry was warned by the FBI that the malware involved was so destructive that destroyed data could not be recovered and if it could, the process of retrieval would be horribly expensive. In addition, evidence uncovered by a forensic expert believes this latest attack that included actual threats of physical harm similar to 09/11 was not within the borders of North Korea.

Jen Psaki, spokeswoman for the State Department said that because of the damaging efforts and effects associated with this attack, the threats are being taken seriously and being considered as a national security matter. As a result, President Obama’s national security team is holding ongoing meetings to discuss the attack and latest threats.

It was also learned that on Monday, US security firms were informed by the government that North Korea was going to be blamed publically, something not seen with past practices. When asked about the direct blame on North Korea, Josh Earnest, White House Press Secretary declined to comment saying only that it was a very serious national security matter.

North Korea Frees Last Two American Detainees

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After a top United States intelligence office secured their release from North Korea, 24-year-old Matthew Todd Miller and 46-year-old Kenneth Bae landed safely at Lewis-Mchord airport base in Washington State where they were greeted by grateful family members.

Both Americans had been held in North Korea for what most consider minimal crimes. Bae, a missionary from Lynnwood, Washington was arrested by the North Koreans in November 2012 and given a sentence of 15 years hard labor. Miller who is from Bakersfield, California was captured in April of this year and given a sentence of six years hard labor.

Bae exited the plane first and after being surrounded by family, he thanked President Obama but also the North Korean regime for allowing his release and return home. He added that while imprisoned, he went through a difficult time and knew his family had been tormented.

According to family members, Bae is in poor health. Reportedly, he has diabetes, back problems, and an enlarged heart. While held captive, he lost a lot of weight from being forced to work in the fields every day but he also felt the experience was an opportunity to learn and grow.

Just 10 minutes after leaving the plane, Miller followed although he gave no statement. Instead, he was hugged by his family as he reached the bottom step. In an earlier statement from North Korean officials, Miller, who tore up his tourist visa at Pyongyang airport and demanded asylum, wanted to experience prison life so he could covertly investigate the human rights situation in their country.

The release of Bae and Miller followed careful negotiations with the North Koreans, thanks to James Clapper, US director of national intelligence. Clapper was also onboard the flight with both men.

Although Clapper is being hailed for Bae and Miller’s safe return, basketball star Dennis Rodman claims to have played a key role in their release since he has become personal friends with North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un. Rodman said he sent a letter to Kim Jong-un, asking for mercy pertaining to the two men held captive.

Because the actions of the North Korean regime are unusual, analysts weighed in on the reasons that Bae and Miller were freed. One analyst who studies the country intently believes the men’s release was a bid to ease pressure regarding North Korea’s record of human rights, which is known to consist of torture, forced labor, rape, and executions in prison camps.

Sue Mi Terry, former senior intelligence analyst believes North Korea was concerned that their leader, Kim Jong-un, would be accused in the International Criminal Court. Bruce Klingner, former CIA analyst agrees that putting attention on the country’s human rights record concerned the North Korean regime.

Regardless of why Bae and Miller were freed, family members and friends are thrilled to have both men back home where they belong.

In a White House statement, President Obama said this is wonderful for the men and their families. A high-ranking administration official confirmed that the mission was approved by Obama last week and that after Clapper met with North Korean security officials, not Kim Jung-un, the mission was a success.

Shots Traded by North and South Korea Soldiers

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In a new report, guards from both North and South Korea have exchanged gunfire along the heavily fortified border area as tensions continue to rise. According to South Korean officials, this is the second incident of its kind in fewer than 10 days.

In a statement from South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, 10 soldiers from the North Korea side were approaching the military demarcation line within the Demilitarized Zone that separates the Korean Peninsula when soldiers from South Korea gave warning, followed by firing shots.

According to analysts, this second exchange of fire is North Korea’s attempt to pressure South Korea to stop dropping anti-Pyongyang leaflets to its citizens. An earlier conflict erupted on October 10 in regard to propaganda-carrying balloons. One insider stressed that activist groups for South Korea, many who are North Korean deflectors, are determined to continue sending the leaflets.

The October 10 incident was in response to repeated orders coming from North Korea that South Korea activists stop releasing leaflets, an order that has been ignored citing freedom of speech. According to North Korean officials, this act encourages its citizens to rise up against their leader, Kim Jong Un.

In this latest incident, North Korean soldiers turned back after the shooting, this according to a statement from South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. As reported, there were no casualties from either incident.

At this point, South Korea is not paying attention to the orders, which North Korea says unspecified and stronger measures will be taken if their warnings are not heeded.

One analyst at Sejong Institute, Cheong Seong-chang, said the gunfire exchange yesterday shows that North Korea is trying to purposely escalate military tension in an effort to spread fear about casualties if South Korea continues to drop leaflets.

There have been tensions between the two countries for a long time, which is a clear reminder from yesterday’s gun battle, despite hopes of easing animosities after a rare visit by top North Korean officials earlier this month. During that meeting, the first in three years, the two countries agreed to resume talks at senior level but whether that happens or not is to be seen.

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