SEOUL, South Korea — “The Worm,” of all people, is our new 007 in North Korea. While attending a celebrity party, the US’ unofficial ambassador to Pyongyang, Dennis Rodman, told the Miami Herald that he’s been in contact with the FBI ever since he visited Pyongyang with an HBO documentary crew in February.

By Geoffrey Cain
PRI’s The World

Apr 16, 2013

SEOUL, South Korea — Today is the 101st anniversary of the birthday of North Korea’s “Great Leader,” Kim Il Sung. For North Koreans, it’s pretty much the most important holiday of the year, along with Kim Jong Il’s birthday on Feb. 16. They’ll get three days off.

By Geoffrey Cain
PRI’s The World

Apr 15, 2013

SEOUL, South Korea — We’ve heard a lot of talk in recent weeks about the military side of the North Korea threat. Today, the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency is reporting that North Korea could have the capabilities to build a nuclear warhead small enough to fit on a missile — even though there’s a lot of disagreement over that part.

By Geoffrey Cain
PRI’s The World

Apr 12, 2013

SEOUL, South Korea — Well, we don’t really know the answer. Last time there was a Korean War from 1950 to 1953, some historians say it nearly did go nuclear — although there’s disagreement over the extent President Harry Truman was willing to consider the Bomb based on vague public statements.

By Geoffrey Cain
PRI’s The World

Apr 11, 2013

SEOUL, South Korea — Today is April 10, the date of the fake apocalyptic ultimatum that North Korea gave to foreign embassies in Pyongyang and expatriates in South Korea. The regime essentially advised them to pack up and leave, or else they can’t be protected regardless of whatever happens after today.

By Geoffrey Cain
PRI’s The World

Apr 10, 2013

SEOUL, South Korea — Now that North Korea has recalled its workers from the Kaesong Industrial Zone — an area north of the DMZ where hundreds of South Korean managers oversee 51,000 North Korean laborers — it’s farewell to hope for a peaceful unification, at least for now.

By Geoffrey Cain
PRI’s The World

Apr 8, 2013

DONGDUCHEON, South Korea — Amid the cacophony of North Korean war threats, the streets are uneventful outside Camp Casey, an often-buzzing American military base about 20 miles south of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) near the North Korean border.

By Geoffrey Cain
PRI’s The World

Apr 6, 2013

I’m now in Yangju, a mostly rural town about a 30 minute’s drive south of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) near the North Korea border.

By Geoffrey Cain
PRI’s The World

Apr 5, 2013

South Korean media are reporting that Korean and US intelligence satellites have spotted North Korea moving what appears to be medium-range ballistic missiles to its east coast. Meanwhile, the regime said on Thursday that it has the “final approval” to launch “merciless” military assaults against the US, including the use of nuclear weapons.

By Geoffrey Cain
PRI’s The World

Apr 4, 2013

SEOUL, South Korea – More bluster today: the wire services are reporting that North Korea, for now, isn’t allowing South Korean businesspeople to enter the Kaesong industrial zone. That’s the special administrative area north of the border where several hundred South Korean managers supervise some 50,000 North Korean laborers, who make garments and handbags.

By Geoffrey Cain
PRI’s The World

Apr 3, 2013