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The South Korean Navy Ship was hit in the rear hull.

A blast has sunk a ship of the South Korean Navy not far from a South Korean island near the disputed Northern Limit Line, which is not recognized by the North.

The cause of the blast is still unknown, but reports suggest that a second South Korean ship immediately fired at an ‘unidentified North Korean ship’, however it is said that this was actually a ‘flock of birds’.

It is rumored that the blast was caused by a torpedo.

They responded that they will only discuss this issue sooner if North Korea makes moves towards dismantling its nuclear weapons program.

Yahoo Reports.

The journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor for trespassing and “hostile acts” against North Korea but were pardoned in August after a trip to North Korea by former President Bill Clinton.

The two soldiers appeared in a North Korean state television program broadcast Thursday to commemorate the 18th anniversary of Kim Jong-il’s assumption of command of the country’s army, Yonhap reported.

The program’s anchor said Mr. Kim, North Korea’s leader, had given them an award for seizing Ms. Ling and Ms. Lee, and had also granted them special leave, according to Yonhap.

He said that althought North Korea had become politically and militarily powerful, much is to be desired in terms of people’s quality of life.

North Korea had to adopt a Military-first policy after the country faced economic meltdown in the 90’s. To remain in control of the country, they had to adopt this policy. No North Korean is allowed to leave the country. Few foreigners are allowed to enter; and their access is extremely limited.

Since then, North Korea’s political priority has been the military and the country continues to experience horrific food shortages.

The key to the North Korean Government’s survival is to keep propoganda pumping out, which there is no shortage of, and keep a strong hold of the military, even if it’s people suffer. This is how Kim Jong-Il stays in power, how he remains a God in the DPRK people’s eyes, and blinds them from the reality and what lies on the outside.

It seems fortunate that Kim Jong-Il is now at least acknowledging the failures to his people.

“The president has said that people should be allowed to eat white rice and meat soup, wear silk clothes and live under tiled roofs,” Kim Jong-Il was quoted as saying by Rodong.

“But we’ve so far failed to carry out this goal,” he said. “I will certainly resolve the issue of people’s livelihood within the shortest possible period and achieve the president’s last wish,” he said.

Here’s a brief video tour around Pyongyang as seen by the preset tour bus.

Ryugyong's construction has recently continued and looks more modern

The partial reconstruction of Ryugyong appears to be going good after it was found that an Egyptian telecoms company was investing in finishing the Rygyong Hotel.

Ryugyong was under intensive construction for years in the early 90’s but construction stopped when North Korea’s economy crashed with the collapse of the Soviet Union and around the time of the great famine.

However, now, Ryugyong appears to look modernised and construction continues.

Pictures from North Korea show at least one side has been glass panelled.

The top part of the hotel will house the revolving restaurant and the very top will most likely house the telecoms mast.

US Activist Robert Park

The US based activist Robert Park has been arrested in North Korea after crossing a poorly guarded stretch of the Tumen River which seperates China and North Korea.

Robert Park has recently become increasingly involved with Anti-DPRK activist groups.

According to two people who watched him cross that Park said “I am an American citizen. I brought God’s love. God loves you and God bless you” in fluent Korean as he crossed the river on Friday. His crossing was apparently filmed.

The US State Department has said  “The U.S. government places the highest priority on the protection and welfare of American citizens.”

This could complicate the negotiation process that was improving between the US and North Korea recently.

A North Korean weapons plane that was siezed in Thailand has caused a stir as to where it was heading.