to describe to americans the extent of the repression there. >> reporter: kwang jin kim was a north korean banker who defected eight years ago. he now lives in south korea. >> the life in north korea is like hell, you know, and the life outside is like heaven. >> reporter: this is the so-called "demilitarized zone," the heavily militarized buffer zone between the two koreas, which are still technically at war. south korea has one of the world's most prosperous economies. by all accounts, north korea is one of the most oppressive, closed regimes of modern times. as many as two million north koreans have died of starvation. hundreds of thousands have been committed to political prisons. tens of thousands have risked their lives to escape, with the help of some dedicated christian pastors and missionaries. 15 years ago, when he was a nondenominational pastor and missionary in seoul, tim peters asked himself a question that changed the course of his life. >> what's wrong with this picture? 50 miles north of here is possibly the worst human rights situation, including christian persecution, in

this north korean girl captains a local soccer team. her younger sister, a fan drew the portrait. >> translator: all these colors are bright. i was expecting them to be darker. i'm impressed by the cheery pictures. they capture the spirit of the children. >> translator: i think this exhibit is a good opportunity for people in north and south korea as well as china to become interested in japan. and we japanese will become interested in them too. >> reporter: in august the japanese organizers collected drawings by children. now in its 11th year, they face a crisis whenever tensions rise on the korean peninsula. but the exhibit has managed to carry on. the organizers don't let borders and hostility interfere with their commitment to children. >> translator: we want to create a stage in which youngsters meet each other through their drawings. i believe this has helped us get through difficult times. >> reporter: recently the organizers have been encouraging children from different countries to collaborate on the same works. japanese and so

he visited the zone for the first time since the death of north korean leader, kim jong-il. he instructed forces to remain cautious. he called them the world's most belligerent nation. it's a profanity for the people now in mourning. the agency warned the military and people would punish them without mercy. leaders criticized them for not sending an official mission for kim's death. they will never deal with such a government. >>> south korean and u.s. marines are going to do their first exercise together in 20 years. south korean military officials say it involves landing and flairing exercises in the southeastern city. those stationed in okinawa japan may take part. they plan to conduct military exercises every other year. they did not specify when they would hold this year's drill. it's likely to be part of an annual joint exercise in march. it's a show of force to check military by north korea following kim's death. >>> japan's minister in charge of the abduction issue says he welcomes a north korean diplomats remark they intend to continue bilateral dialogue. abduction

what the north koreans are most interested in is normalizing relations with the u.s. now, i had the rather dubious honor of -- i still have it, i guess, of being the highest level american official to meet with kim chung il. we had very little information about him. the c.i.a. had basically told us he was crazy and -- but what was interesting is kim dy jung, the president of south korea met with him and said it was perfectly possible to have a rational conversation with him and that it was worth having a discussion. they sent over a high-level person to invite president clinton and president clinton said we don't -- i just don't go places, it has to be prepared, which is why i went. going to pyun yang was a real experience. it's a very beautiful city in some parts but you know very well that the rest of the country, the people are starving. i had a very early press conference with kim chung il and we're stand thing at the press conference and i look over and i see we're about the same height. and then i know that i have on high heels and then i saw that he did, too. [

they were handed over to north korean officials. japan coast guard officers found their wooden boat on friday. they discovered the body of a fourth man on board. the survivors say their crew mate died of exhaustion. the men deny they defected and push to secure their return home. the japanese and the north korean sides worked out the details of their repatriation. >>> iran says it will begin enriching knew ran yum at a new plant. iran's nuclear chief said a nuclear enrichment plant will produce uranium with a purity of 20% in the near future. western intelligence agencies discovered the facility three years ago. located underground, the enrichment plant is well protected against possible military attacks from israel and other nations. the country is already enriching uranium at another facility in central iran. the activity could lead to the production of nuclear weapons. iran has been transferring centrifuges to the new facility since last year. the latest move to advance the nuclear program is likely to cause tensions with the uni

the coast guard said if their story is true, it will be the first time a north korean boat has been found drifting in japanese waters not carrying defectors. sources say if the three men want to return to north korea, japanese immigration authorities will probably give them permission to enter japan and will then fly them to china from where they will return home. >>> now here's a quick look at some stories making headlines across the middle east. >>> foreign minister saleh said iran is not concerned about the european union's move to impose new sanctions. eu officials are making final adjustments on their plan to impose an embargo on crude oil imports. iranian commanders have warned they can close the strait of hormuz. tankers pass through the waterway of the straits of hormuz. business leaders say they would consider taking military action if iran tries to close the strait. defense secretary phillip hammond says any attempt would be illegal and would fail. >>> a senior u.s. official has expressed support for the arab league's monitoring mission in syria. u.s. assistant secretary of stat

during questioning, the men said they had left the north korean port in mid december to fish. but that the boat's engine had broken down. they are reported to have said they were not trying to defect. the coast guard said if thir story is true, it will be the first time a north korean boat has been found drifting in japanese waters not carrying defectors. sources say if the three men want to return to north korea, japanese immigration authorities will probably give them permission to enter japan and will then fly them to china from where they will return home. >>> now here's a quick look at some stories making headlines across the middle east. >>> foreign minister sala said iran is not worried about new sanctions. eu is making final adjustments on their plans to restrict oil imports. tankers pass through the waterway of the straits of hormuz. business leaders say they would consider taking military action if iran tries to close the strait. defense secretary phillip hammond says any attempt would be illegal and would fail. >>> a senior u.s. official has expressed support for th

the north koreans gave us greater acess. can you see how many people coming with us . the country has been very gracious to us. but it is -- we don't wander around with complete freedom. but they are gracious letting

(laughter) for more we go to north korean state t.v. pyongyang government mandated news leader. >> (translated): i am announcing in the most wolfe mind that our great leader kim jong-il passed away due to a sudden illness. >> stephen: that's right, kim jong-il is kim jong-dead. and folks... (cheers and applause) his plan here, his little scheme here is so obvious he clearly slipped away while i was on break because he knew i would gloat. after all, i am his number-one global opponent. jim? i. >> north korea, an isolated country ruled by a lunch lady in meineke overalls. elevator repairman onesy. i was going to send a giant novelty check until i realized for kim jong-il this is a giant novelty check. not to mention, folks, i have personally crushed his spirit with my spot-on impression. (laughter) but even though kim jong-il was my sworn enemy, i do feel for the millions of north koreans who are fulfilling the central government's mandate to be grief stricken. so let's take a fond look back at the life of lil' kim jong-il. (laughter) jim

korean peninsula stable. >> translator: once dialogue begins, every issue concerning the problems between the two koreas can be discussed. >> unification minister says the country will continue to demand an apology for north korea's attack on yeongpeong island in november of 2010. it is alleged sinking of a south korean navy ship in march of the same year. it is no longer a precondition to starting talks. he also says high-level dialogue may have to wait until the north korean leadership consolidates its power. >>> british foreign secretary, william hague, is visiting myanmar in an effort to improve bilateral ties. he is the first british foreign minister to visit the country in 57 years. he will meet president thein sein and prodemocracy leader aung san suu kyi during the two-day visit. britain is considering easing economic sanctions on myanmar if the country makes progress on democratization. the u.s. and japan is also trying to improve relations. u.s. secretary of state, hillary clinton, visited the country last november. the first u.s. secretary to do so in over 50 years. japanese foreign minister, koichiro gemba went there last month. >>> the european union is set to impose a ban on crude oil import

he told the south korean soldiers that they must remain on guard. >> translator: our country faces the world's most belligerent forces. we must ward off any provocation by the north. >> south korean government sources say the leadership transition from the late kim jong-il to kim jong-un has been going smoothly and that there has been no sudden or suspicious moves by the country's armed forces. >>> russia's foreign minister says he is open to discussions with japan about jointly developing a group of disputed islands. he is scheduled to visit japan later this month. sergei lavrov says the islands off hokkaido became part of russia at the end of world war ii. japan does not recognize russia's territorial claim. >> translator: as to signing a peace treaty with japan, including the demarcation of territorial borders, russia understands the importance of resolving issues in a way that is acceptable to both countries. >> lavrov says developing the islands jointly with japan would be possible under russian law. he said he wants to discuss the proposal with his japanese counterpart during his visit. >>> a japanese company is fielding a lot of calls about its life-saving

most analysts put the new north korean's age at either 28 or 29. >>> and birthday celebrations also planned for the duchess of cambridge tomorrow. the former kate middleton turned 30. she and her husband prince william walked the red carpet a few hours ago at the london premiere of steven spielberg's film "warhorse." ♪ let's dance >>> and another birthday for the ageless david bowie, turning 65 today. david jones adopted the name david bowie in the late '60s and hits and grammys soon followed. >>> one hour special day more s calendar. the african national congress turned 100 years old this weekend. former president nelson mandela we're told will not attend the festivities due to his failing health. >>> a thrilling tourist adventure goes horribly wrong. could have been worse, though. this is erin worth, a tourist from australia, plunging toward the river right there. oh, my gosh. and then the cord of that bungee breaks. watch the cord, one more time there. she falls to the water below, 300 feet, and amazingly, she actually survives that. >> it wasn't black straightaway and i felt like i had

activists, north korean border guides had shut down the -- shot down three men trying to cross the river into china. in the north korean capital, tens of thousands rallied to swear loyalty to the country's new leader, kim jong un. eight researchers nightmare -- a researcher's nightmare. some of the contents of the library after it collapsed will never be recovered, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. >> gradually, the experts are rebuilding the city are cut. 600 out of 65,000 original documents have been painstakingly put back together. this constitutional document is one example. for users of the archive, it is an exciting step forward. >> for me, it is very important. it is a stroke of luck as i look to identify a writer, which can only be done by looking at the original. >> the building collapse in march 2009. fortunately, 95% of its press conference were recovered. process of restoring them to their original condition is progressing well but could take decades to complete. >> what will try to do over the next 30 years is return the archive to

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>> well, this is not the only reaction that the north korean government has come out with. they have not responded to offers of assistance by the office of the high commission for human rights. they have not actually continued to implement recommendations that come from the universal report. they have not been able to meet the requirements of reporting. so, this is not an unusual reaction from the north korean government, but they do continue to engage in the human rights council. there is hope for possible improvement in that sense. as far as the reporting is concerned from the special reporter, i would say that this is a denial of the real situation in the country because the reports are based on various information that comes from credible sources. >> ok. we will leave it there. thank you very much. in other news, a major clothing stores are being urged to stop child labor use in their supply chains. the bbc has seen evidence that children as young as 10 are working in dangerous conditions for little pay. >> on a transport system from another age, the cotton harvest is t

another man with free north korean radio they were trying to assassinate. her man was part of the education center for unification that they were trying to assassinate. assassination is alive and well. north. defections have been an issue for some time. 22,000 north koreans have been at defected, 200 have been returned. you normally don't see that and other parts of the world, but you do see that there. one last black male case of this year that i want to tell you a -- about. -- one last blackmail case of this year i want to tell you about. he was in bangladesh for a conference in october. he got involved with a woman. they approached him to recruit him. all indications are that he did not work with the pakistanis, but he turned himself in. he went back to india, and they are deciding whether to prosecute him or not. it became public just before christmas, and it is being done by the best whitby road -- is being done by the investigative bureau for in the ipad espionage is alive and well -- the investigative bureau for india. espionage is alive and well. the

kim jong un made his first appearance in north korean media in september 2010. it happened during the nomination of new party leadership. a photograph showed him sitting two places to the right of his father. he held the title of vice chairman of the party's central commission. kim jong un featured prominently during his father's funeral. he began commander in chief of the armed forces on december 30th, the day the official period of mourning ended. the state tv biography you mentioned repeatedly shows kim jong un in scenes similar to ones his father was in. for example, he rides a horse. kim jong il used to appear on a white horse. observers say these images are meant to cement kim jong un's legitimacy as leader. >> how is the transition of power going so far? >> the north korean regime is continuing to culture the personality ff kim jong un and was done for his father and grandfather. kim jong un is being portrayed as a man of the people. citizens are told how he ordered -- or how he himself replied to letters from ordinary workers. north korea is prepared for

official said that china wants to monitor the progress of the new north korean leader, kim jong-un. rrespondent in beijing says that china is exercising caution to avoid provoking north korea. >>> pro-democracy activists in myanmar are saying the number of political prisoners released by the government so far falls short of what western countries had expected. the pro-democracy activists say at least 33 short-term prisoners have been freed, far fewer than the more than 1,000 prisoners the united states and european nations have set as a condition for lifting economic sanctions. the activists also say no major political prisoners serving long sentences have been granted amnesty. that includes those involved in activities against the former military-led government. last month u.s. secretary of state hillary clinton urged the current military dominated myanmar government to release all political prisoners. on wednesday president thein sein called for national reconciliation in his independence day statement. he did not mention the release of political prisoners. >>> the german president

official to visit the region since the death of a north korean leader kim jong-il. campbell met separately with chinese vice foreign minister zhang zhijun and cui tiankai in beijing on wednesday. campbell spoke with reporters after the meetings. >> on north korea, i think the united states and china share strong determination to maintain peace and stability. >> campbell told the ministers at the u.s. wants to continue to exchange views with china about north korea. another u.s. official said that china wants to monitor the progress of the new north korean leader, kim jong-un. nhk's correspondent in beijing says that china is exercising caution to avoid provoking north korea. >>> mitt romney is a step closer to becoming the leader of the u.s. republican party. and he got there thanks to eight votes. the former massachusetts governor came out on top in the gop's first contest to pick their candidate for november's presidential elections, squeaking past former senator rick santorum to win the iowa caucuses. official results posted by the republican party of iowa say rom

north's new leadership from provoking the south. u.s. assistant secretary of state campbell met south korean chief enjoy on north korea and other senior officials in seoul. after the meeting campbell referred to talks he had on wednesday in beijing with members of the chinese government. >> we also urged china to make clear the importance of restraint by the new north korean leeradership. we stressed north korea should take steps to improve relations with the rok and to abide by the international obligations and commitments. >> campbell said he and his south korean counterpart confirmed their countries will remain closely aligned. he said u.s. secretary of state hillary clinton will meet in washington with fthe foreign minister in the near future. he hopes senior officials from japan, south korea and the united states will continue to meet to maintain a united stance on north korea. >>> the south korean government is modifying the way it deals with its northern neighbor. the unification minister says his country will take a flexible stance in attempts to foster dialogue and keep the korean p

official to visit the region since the death of north korean leader kim jong-il. campbell met separately with china's vice foreign ministers zhang zhijun and cui tiankai in beijing on wednesday. campbell spoke with reporters after the meetings. >> on north korea, i think the united states and china share strong determination to maintain peace and stability. >> campbell told the ministers that the u.s. wants to continue to exchange views with china about north korea. another u.s. official said that china wants to monitor the progress of the new north korean leader, kim jong un. nhk's correspondent in beijing says that china is exercising caution to avoid provoking north korea. >>> pro-democracy activists in myanmar say the number of political prisoners released by the government so far falls short of what western countries had expected. the pro-democracy activists say at least 33 short-term prisoners have been freed, far fewer than the more than 1,000 prisoners the united states and european nations have set as a condition for lifting economic sanctions. the activis

korea has said there will be no policy changes with the change in leadership. >>> meantime the north korean military established a new leadership saying they would defend kim jong un until death. they aired the photographs of the young leader during what appears to be his first field inspection of north korean military units. >>> fiji has lifted its state of emergency. emergency laws were imposed in 2009 that gave the police and military extended powers. the rule also banned public meetings and censored the media. in a new years day speech fiji's military ruler sent consultations to map out a new constitution will start next month. >>> hawaii made state history when a new law went into effect allowing same sex civil unions. >> we now pronounce you are legally joined as partners in life. fords [ cheering and applause ] >> four same sex couples exchanged vows in the opening moment of 2012. hawaii's governor signed a law allowing same sex marriage in february of last year. yesterday's lawyers lisa goodman and drew were the first same sex couples to make it official. they helped draft delaware

talk about the spy wars of north and south korea because nobody spies and does things like the north koreans. if we think other countries are strong, north korea's like that. in july 2010, two north koreans who had come into the south were sentenced by a court for ten years for attempting to assassinate the former secretary of the north korean ruling communist party. this is the man in charge of their communist organization. he, himself, had defected to the south in 1997, and so this has been a real problem for north korea that this man, who was a real problem for them, and so they sent an assassination team to track him down and to kill him. two of them were arrested in july of 2010, and this colonel, this particular colonel, who was a north korean reconnaissance bureau, colonel general now, was in charge of the assassination operation, and he ordered the men that when you find him, cut his head off. they were arrested in july. in january, beginning of this year, a third korean was jailed # and given ten years for trying to assassinate the same man in korea. that was in january, and this ma

the death of the north korean dictator has raised questions and hopes over whether the dictatorship one of the last in the world will follow or will this extremely close society remain isolated condit's new leader too so little is known about the lately to his great successor his third and youngest son kim turning is a bit of a dark course even his age remains a subject of speculation his thought to be twenty seven or twenty eight his new ascension to power increases the media hunger for information about him so his expensive education in switzerland said lead tracked it's a lot more interest and entrepreneur in moscow with russian origins alexander how good she believes he could have been one of kim's classmates when news spread that kim trannie may have gone to an elite school in this week's margins in late ninety's the businessman brought out his all the book to refresh his memory there were quite a few koreans some quieter than others. with the last name kim. as kim is the most common name in the koreas alexander remembers the koreans always different from other students they were v

the north korean industry issued a statement saying u.s. offered to resume food shipments and they have suspended assistance to north korea for more than two years. but the statement said that the u.s. has drastically changed the types of food being sent. analysts say the ministry aims to underscore a promise made by by the u.s. to deliver the remaining 300,000 tons of grain. >>> japan's leading economic data shows a slowing global demand. we have the business report. >> imports are up. japan managed a surplus and in the surplus fell for a ninth straight month. the finance ministry said in a preliminary report on thursday the current account balance fell 85.5% in yen terms from a year earlier to 1.8 billion. the trade balance was in the red for a second straight month, exports fell 3.1% while imports were up 14%, that's due largely to a price hike in crude oil and natural gas. the income surplus, however, grew 13%, helping the overall accoun balance to stay in the positive. the surplus has shown a steady increase for eight consecutive months

part of the north korean system but also mainly in respect of the outside world an immune respect to the americans so it is not north korea and since don't want to open up that soon americans and want to keep it. constrained somewhat like they want to contain china around different differently but it's all part of the same same package so what can join one can do is in many respects fairly limited. we will again will have sued i don't really depend so much on the americans. prospects for the struggling european currency remain low and the new here as the euro fell sharply at the out of twenty eleven debt ridden countries are racing to implement morris terry measures with spain announcing almost nine billion euros in cuts professor of either you competition law dr marcus curse as whether the single currency lives or dies will be determined this year two thousand and twelve is going to be the decisive year for the europe are there we have some to boo breaking decisions. which means that we could even take into consideration whether or not to split up the us or the euro will not survive

in a new year's message north koreans have been urged to make every effort to bring their country to prosperity and to the fan its new leader kim jong il and to the death that comes after a two day state funeral was held for his father kim jong il and the streets of the capital pyongyang are just more if a national has been looking into what we know about the new have the state. the death of the north korean dictator has raised questions and hopes over whether the dictatorship one of the last in the world to follow or will this extremely close society remain isolated on its new leader to do so little is known about the late leader's great successor his third and youngest son kim to name is a bit of a dark course even his age remains a subject of speculation his thought to be twenty seven or twenty eight. his new ascension to power increases the media hunger for information about him so his expensive education in switzerland said lead tracked it's a lot more interest and entrepreneur in moscow with russian origins alexander how good she believes he could have been one of kim's classma

well in a new year's message north koreans have been urged to make every effort to bring their country to prosperity and to defend its new leader kim jong un quote to the death that's going against hopes in the west that the death of kim jong il would herald a more open country but asia specialist dr tom beale thinks foreign nations have an interest in keeping things as they are. not as we know he was educated in switzerland not see that's going to happen. but letting go it's grossly overestimate is freedom of action. to the north korean system but also mainly respect to the outside world only new respect to the americans so it is not north korea since don't want to see americans and want to. trade some what's like they want to contain china to do something differently but it's all part of the same the same package so what one can do is in many respects fairly limited. we will again will have sued i don't really depends very much on the americans watching r.t. it's good to have you with us on this first day of two thousand and twelve prospects for the struggling european currency remai

in a new year's message north koreans have been urged to make every effort to bring their country to perspire ready and to fan its new leader kim jong un known to the doubts that's going against hopes in the west that the death of kim jong il would herald a more open country but age especially as dr tim feel things foreign nations have an interest in keeping things as they are. as far as we know he was educated in switzerland dogs do that's going to have an effect don't you know but letting go it's grossly overestimating is freedom of action. part of the north korean system but also mainly in respect of the outside world immune respect to believe the americans so it is not north korea and since does not that soon merkel's and want to. constrain. somewhat like they want to contain china i would have sent you differently but it's all part of the same package so what one can do is in many respects fairly limited. we will again will have soon but i don't really depend so much on the americans. prospects for the struggling european currency remain low energy here as the euro fell sharply

people able to shed some light on the new leader of the world's most secretive country the man north koreans are being urged to defend to the death. there's not much new year cheer from economists predicting a return to recession in europe for two thousand and twelve in fact leaders use new year messages to warn of hard times ahead for their countries german chancellor angela merkel said you. was facing its most severe test in decades french president nicolas sarkozy has warned that the debt crisis blanketing the continent was far from over many governments have been forced to slash their spending to meet debt obligations as economic growth in europe has been at a standstill for months investment advisor patrick young says he doubts the single currency has a viable chance of survival over the next twelve months. unfortunately the prognosis for the new year must be one of a terrible hangover it is absolutely to my mind clear that we are going to have a crushing recession it's a tragedy but the european union has alternately made no effort to resolve its problems we've had one shower after ano