Donate

Kim Il-sung

A new multiple launch rocket system is test fired in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang March 4, 2016.

Some Americans are panicking about North Korea. Here’s why South Koreans aren’t.

Conflict

Saturday is a big day in North Korea: The 105th anniversary of the birth of the country’s founder, Kim Il Sung. It’s thought that North Korea will conduct a nuclear or missile test to mark the occasion. But South Koreans aren’t that worried.

No Kum Sok, age 3, wearsing a pith helmet, with his father, No Zae Hiub (right), an all-star pitcher for his company’s baseball team, in Sinhung, Korea, in 1935.

This Florida man escaped from North Korea in a MiG-15 fighter jet

Books
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un visits the “Pyongyang Baby Home and Orphanage” on New Year's Day, in this photo released by the government-run Korean Central News Agency.

In between the crass jokes, ‘The Interview’ got a lot right about North Korea

Arts
Jang Song-thaek in army uniform standing with his nephew and North Korea's top leader, Kim Jong-un, at a military parade in Pyongyang (February of 2012).

What comes next after North Korea has a top official put to death?

Global Politics

South Korea backs off speculation that North preparing for nuke test, but tensions remain

Global Politics
Tell us about your experience accessing The World

We want to hear your feedback so we can keep improving our website, theworld.org. Please fill out this quick survey and let us know your thoughts (your answers will be anonymous). Thanks for your time!

North Korea rages over U.S.-South Korea military exercise

Global Politics

Tensions on the Korean peninsula are running high, with North Korea vowing to take pre-emptive military strikes against South Korea and U.S. forces around the Pacific Ocean, while the South is promising to respond to any aggression with bullets first, and politics later.

As North Korea mourns, leaders try to tie Kim Jong-un to his grandfather

Kim Il-sung was a revered figure in North Korea through his death and even today. His son, on the other hand, Kim Jong-il was less loved, despite the enormous outpouring of grief seen recently. Many defectors say the country seems to be trying to link the young successor with his popular grandfather.

South Korea on alert as North Korea mourns passing of Kim Jong Il

As North Koreans mourn the death of their dictator, people in South Korea are trying to figure out how their lives may change with the new leadership, presumably of Kim Jong Un, the dictator’s son.

On the Ground in South Korea

After a week of aggressive threats from North Korea,  Pyongyang continues to warn of an imminent missile test, possibly on Monday, the birthday of Kim Il-sung, the late founder of North Korea.  Today, Secretary of State John Kerry flew to  Seoul, in an effort to defuse international tension.   This week, the  BBC’s Dan Damon has been hosting his program […]

Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s Overtures Toward North Korea

Arts, Culture & Media

Rev. Sun Myung Moon, whose followers are known as “Moonies,” was a controversial religious leader who proclaimed to be the Messiah. He met with many world leaders during his life, including North Korea’s Kim Il-Sung.

We respect your time, attention and privacy

This is a news website, not a click casino. We do NOT employ deceptive behaviors, display annoying ads or use third party cookies and trackers to monetize your visit or help advertisers track you across the internet.

Simply, we ask that you would consider a donation to support the journalism we produce every weekday. Thank you.

This is The World

The World is a public radio program and podcast that crosses borders and time zones to bring home the stories that matter.

Follow The World

Subscribe to The World’s Latest Edition podcast for free using your favorite podcast player: