May 12 2014 - The Odd Couple: China and North Korea; Dean Cheng; Heritage Foundation
Apr 13 2014 - Another Chinese city opens train travel to Pyongyang; Yang Yi; Xinhua
Dec 23 2013 - China, Koreas in conflict over ancient kingdom; AFP
Jul 01 2013 - World Heritage Adds More Needs More; Luke Hunt; The Diplomat
Jun 23 2013 - North Korea World Heritage Sites: Kaesong Fortress Added To UNESCO List; AP
May 14 2013 - Will N.Korea Get Its 2nd UNESCO Heritage Site? Chosun
Nightwatch: US Army Furor Over Afghan Contradictions
Townhall finance; Townhall Finance; February 11 2012
South Korea-North Korea: Update. South Korea faxed to North Korea a proposal for working level talks to control pests at the 30 tombs in the northern cities of Pyongyang and Nampo that date back to the Goguryeo Kingdom of 37 BC to 668 AD. They became the North's first UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2004.
South Korean Unification Minister Yu Woo-Ik, who is in charge of cross-border ties, said he sees an opportunity for better ties after almost two years of high tensions. Yu last week said Seoul was considering offering support for pest control near the ancient tombs because they also historically significant to the South.
Comment: This is a test to determine the North's willingness to cooperate on a small matter that is important to both Koreas. It is a small step. If the North declines, then the Allies will know that they must maintain a high state of readiness because the regime in the North lacks confidence.
N Korea Suggests Rejecting S Korea's Offer For Talks
Yonhap News Agency; February 9 2012
SEOUL, Feb. 9 (Yonhap) -- North Korea indicated Thursday it would reject South Korea's offer to hold a meeting to discuss joint pest control near ancient tombs in the isolated country.
South Korea "has permanently lost qualifications to talk about the improvement of North-South relations," the North Korean Website Uriminzokkiri said, in an apparent anger over Seoul's negligent attitude toward the death of its leader Kim Jong-il in December.
The move came two days after South Korea proposed holding working-level talks with North Korea later this month to discuss how to eradicate pests in forests near the ancient tombs, which also have historical significance to South Korea.
S Korea Seeks Talks With N Korea To Ease ties
Sin Chew; February 8 2012
SEOUL, February 8, 2012 (AFP) - South Korea said Wednesday it has proposed holding working-level talks with North Korea, the first such approach since Pyongyang's new leadership took power and vowed to shun Seoul's government.
The unification ministry said it sent a faxed proposal Tuesday for talks about a possible joint pest control exercise near ancient tombs in the North.
Officials in the North said they were awaiting instructions from Pyongyang, a ministry spokeswoman told AFP.
S Korea Says Ball Is In North Korea's Court
Yonhap News Agency; February 1 2012
SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's point man on North Korea pressed Pyongyang Wednesday to move toward bilateral talks with a commitment to change the policies that have deepened its isolation and worsened its economy for decades.
South Korea has repeatedly called for dialogue with North Korea to ease tension and encourage the North to move in a positive direction following the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
Unification Minister Yu Woo-ik said Kim's demise in December heightened uncertainty on the divided Korean Peninsula, but could also serve as an occasion to make the North move toward change.
This Day In History
Jamaica Observer; January 31 2012
Today’s Highlight
1950: US President Harry Truman announces he ordered the development of the hydrogen bomb.
Other Events
Unesco To Help North Korean Pest Control Efforts At Ancient Tombs
BBC; January 23 2012
Seoul, Jan 24, 2012 (BBC Monitoring via COMTEX) -- The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said Tuesday [24 January] it will help North Korea eradicate pests at forests near ancient tombs.
The Complex of Koguryo tombs, located in the North's cities of Pyongyang and Nampo, has some 30 individual tombs from the late period of the Koguryo Kingdom, which controlled the northern half of the Korean Peninsula and northeastern China for more than 700 years until 668 A.D.
The relics, along with murals inside the tombs, became the first UNESCO World Heritage site in the communist North in 2004 in recognition of their historical and aesthetic value.