On the morning late last year that North Korea announced the death of Kim Jong Il, the dictator who for 17 years had presided over the world's most isolated regime, James (Chin-Kyung) Kim, a 76-year-old Korean-American educator, was in an interesting place: his office in Pyongyang, North Korea's capital. That alone is remarkable for a man who had in 1998 been a political prisoner of Kim Jong Il. But the fact that the institution James Kim created -- the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST) -- is up and running in the heart of North Korea is a minor miracle.
A U.S. envoy is meeting with North Korean officials in Beijing on Thursday to discuss Pyongyang's nuclear program, the first such talks since the death of the longtime leader Kim Jong Il.
Kim Jong Il's eldest son speaks about North Korea's new leader, his brother. CNN's Kyung Lah reports.
CNN's Jim Bittermann talks with a French neurosurgeon who treated Kim Jong Il after he had a stroke in 2008.
North Korea held a huge military parade in Pyongyang on Thursday, using the 70th anniversary of the birth of its late leader Kim Jong Il as an opportunity to try to invoke deeper reverence for his son and chosen successor, Kim Jong Un.
They share the same rotund facial features, similar expressions and gait. But the two sons of Kim Jong Il have never met, and based on a new book being published in Japan this week, there appears to be little fraternal allegiance, at least from the eldest son's side.
Video from North Korea shows a choreographed effort to dramatically grieve over Kim Jong Il. Anderson Cooper reports.
The body of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il will lie in state in the Kumsusan Memorial Palace in Pyongyang, which houses the corpse of his father, Kim Il Sung, North Korean state-run media reported Thursday.
Spectacular memorial for the "Dear Leader" shows solidarity in North Korea. CNN's Paula Hancocks reports.
Kim Jong Un has assumed "the supreme commandership" of the North Korean army, state media reported Saturday.
Huge crowds assembled in Pyongyang on Thursday at a national memorial service for the North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, the second day of state-orchestrated ceremonies to mourn the dictator who died earlier this month.
The funeral of the North Korean leader Kim Jong Il unfolded across the snow-laden streets of Pyongyang on Wednesday, a three-hour event that displayed the secretive regime's ability to choreograph elaborate state ceremonies.
Professor Choi Jong Kun of Yonsei University discusses whether North Korean mourners are showing true feelings.
North Korea kept the world on tenterhooks Wednesday, when the funeral of leader Kim Jong Il was expected to take place in Pyongyang.
As North Korea mourns the death of its "Dear Leader," CNN's Anna Coren looks at how the state controls its people.
A delegation of South Korean citizens returned Tuesday from their two-day visit to the North where they paid their respects to the deceased North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and met with his youngest son and chosen successor, Kim Jong Un.
A delegation of South Koreans traveled to the Communist North Monday to pay their respects to the late leader Kim Jong Il, lying in state at Kumsusan Memorial Palace.
Two departed leaders, two very different legacies. CNN's Jim Clancy contrasts the lives of Vaclav Havel and Kim Jong Il.
The U.N. General Assembly holds a moment of silence for late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
Since Kim Jong Il's death was announced on Monday, many people have marveled at the mourning scenes featured on North Korean state television, made viral on the Internet: North Koreans prostrate, weeping, hitting the ground. Many have asked whether the anguish is genuine. How could citizens mourn the passing of a totalitarian, such a gross abuser of human rights?
CNN's Tim Schwarz explains the transition of power in place for Kim Jong Un.
I'm so close I feel I could almost reach out and touch it. In the distance I see smoke stacks from shut down factories, grey stark buildings, and the odd old truck. Set against an austere, cold ice blue sky and bare trees, the few people visible can be seen walking slowly, speaking in small groups.
CNN's Stan Grant reports from a China-North Korea border town to gauge reaction to the passing of Kim Jong Il.
Kim Jong Un, successor to his father's dictatorship over North Korea, will have to find ways to balance political factions and generate revenue -- or he may not remain in power for long, analysts said Tuesday.
CNN's Brian Todd reports on whether North Korea's new leader, Kim Jong Un can survive.
Most of us don't know much about Kim Jong Il, the reclusive North Korean leader who died Saturday.
CNN's Paula Hancocks reports on the reaction of South Korea to the death of Kim Jong Il.
It was just after midday on a cold December Monday in South Korea's capital when news of Kim Jong Il's death filtered through.
Jamie Rubin, former U.S. Asst. Secretary of State, weighs in on how the U.S. is reacting to the death of Kim Jong-il.
Unlike in the death of any other world leader, reactions from the international community to the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il were somewhat muted. Few countries issued statements in the hours immediately after Kim's death was announced on North Korean state television. And some, like the United States, opted to focus on its relationship with South Korea.
Kim Jong Il's body lies in state in North Korea and Kyung Lah discusses China's reaction to his death.
The South Korean government sent its condolences to the people of North Korea following the death of leader Kim Jong Il, South Korean Unification Minister Yoo Woo-ik said in a televised press conference Tuesday.
CNN's Dan Rivers takes a look at the life of Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
Kim Jong Il was a source of misery for North Korea's impoverished people and of fear for a world wary of his belligerent rhetoric -- but as an enduringly bizarre presence on the global stage, he was also an unexpected source of entertainment.
The United States has seen no unexpected moves by the North Korean military since the announcement of Kim Jong Il's death, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday.
North Korea's longtime leader Kim Jong Il, the embodiment of the reclusive state where his cult of personality is deeply entrenched, has died.
Shares in Asia slumped on Monday, amid fears the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il could lead to instability on the divided Korean peninsula.
As North Koreans face an uncertain future without Kim Jong Il, the world's attention now turns to his youngest son, Kim Jong Un, whom the ruling Workers' Party has dubbed the "great successor."
Christine Amanpour looks at North Korea's heir apparent, Kim Jong Un.
The death of the North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has ushered in a period of tremendous uncertainty in Northeast Asia, with every move by countries in the region risking unpredictable reactions from others.
Like most aspects of his life, the health of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il was shrouded in secrecy.
Kim Jong Il's death comes only days before 2012, the 100-year anniversary of the birth of North Korea's founder and Kim's father, Kim Il Sung. North Korea's long-planned celebration of this anniversary will now be pre-empted by collective shows of mourning (but perhaps few real tears for Kim Jong Il), uncertainty despite clearly laid plans for succession and heightened strategic anxiety among North Korea's neighbors.
North Korea's enigmatic leader Kim Jong Il -- who, after succeeding his father 17 years ago, captained his poor, closed nation and antagonized its enemies -- is dead, state media reported Monday.
Kim Jong Il, the absolute dictator of North Korea, made a very rare trip outside the protection of his own borders this past August, albeit on a heavily armored private train. The reason for the trip was a meeting with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev to talk about forming deeper trade and labor alliances between the two countries. This would all seem quite normal and boring if it weren't for the fact that a) nothing is ever normal when it comes to North Korea and, b) Vice happened to also be in the Amur region at the exact same time as Kim Jong Il. But we were there to track down a different kind of North Korean in Siberia: slaves.
The pace of North Korea's planned regime change from Kim Jong Il to his twenty-something son appears to have slowed at the moment, two senior U.S. military officials said Thursday.
Just like any other first family in the world, North Korea's secretive Kim dynasty is often the focus of gossip and rumors, especially in neighboring South Korea.
Searching through Tumblr -- the not-quite-micro blogging platform that's a cross between Twitter and WordPress -- has a tendency to leave newbies confused and wondering if they're missing Tumblr's most interesting blogs.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il was visiting China on Friday, a South Korean official said, according to state-run Yonhap news agency.
Iran and North Korea's nuclear ambitions trouble Western nations. CNN's Jill Dougherty reports.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's eldest son is against his family holding power in the reclusive communist nation for another generation.
North Korea's increasingly reclusive leader Kim Jong Il, and his son made a rare appearance at Arirang celebrations.
VBS.TV gets into North Korea and documents their tour of "progressively stranger" encounters. For more, go to VBS.TV.
North Korea's ruling party wrapped up a rare meeting on Wednesday afternoon, state-run media said.
The youngest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il was named vice chairman of the Workers Party of Korea's central military commission, North Korea's state news agency reported Tuesday.
A regime in crisis. A leadership struggle. An uncertain transition. A system potentially on the brink of collapse.
The surprise announcement that the third son of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il had been made a general has dashed hopes in South Korea that the junior Kim might prove more economically focused than his father, should he succeed him.
CNN's Jaime FlorCruz takes a closer look at the man who could become North Korea's next "beloved leader."
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's youngest son apparently was among more than 30 military promotions announced Monday by his father during celebrations of the Workers' Party of Korea's 65th anniversary, North Korea's state news agency reported.
North Korea's ruling party will host its largest meeting in decades next week, possibly to set the stage for the handover of power from Kim Jong Il to his youngest son.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il could be paving the way for one of his sons to become his successor.
North Korea's political leaders are expected to meet this month in a rare gathering, possibly to set the stage for the handover of power from Kim Jong Il to his youngest son.
Dramatic changes in North Korean leadership this week appear to be paving the way for an eventual transfer of power from leader Kim Jong Il to his youngest son, analysts say.
CNN's Collen McEdwards talks to Han Park about the political developments behind the North Korean cabinet shuffle.
Park Sang Hak and his family jammed 150,000 sheets of paper, dollar bills, DVDs and tiny AM/FM radios inside bags attached to giant inflatable helium balloons.
You could say North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il has two primary obsessions.
North Korea's highest-ranking defector said "ideological warfare," not military action, would help topple the regime of Kim Jong Il.
Building a city
updated: Mon Nov 02 2009 07:28:00
CNN's Kristie Lu Stout gets a tour of the largest private real estate venture, South Korea's Songdo City.
As the chairwoman of South Korea's Hyundai group, Hyun Jeong-eun, faces business challenges few other executives can imagine.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Sunday met with a visiting North Korean delegation, and received a message from the North's reclusive leader Kim Jong Il, according South Korea's state media.
A report in South Korean media is fueling the ongoing speculation about the deteriorating health of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
North Korea's reclusive leader appeared in public Wednesday for the first time in months to commemorate the 15th anniversary of his father's death.
The eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, in a rare television interview Tuesday, shed some light on who might eventually take over leadership of the country.
State TV shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il at parliament in his first public appearance in months.
CNN's John Vause looks at the life of North Korea's reclusive leader.
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright speaks to CNN's Carol Costello about North Korea's missile launch.
U.S. diplomats on the North Korea beat must have the same goal as Goldilocks -- not too hot and not too cold.
A Chinese official met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il in Pyongyang on Friday, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun joined Talk Asia to discuss some of the major events during his presidency. The following is a transcript of his conversation with CNN's Sohn Jie-Ae.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il appears to have recovered enough from a stroke to run the country without difficulty, South Korea's spy chief told lawmakers Tuesday.
North Korea's official news agency says leader Kim Jong Il attended a soccer game in Pyongyang
Time.com: Kim Jong Ilupdated: Mon Sep 22 2008 23:00:00
Separating fact from myth regarding North Korea's secretive Dear Leader
North Korea on Wednesday denied claims that its reclusive leader Kim Jong Il is seriously ill and may have suffered a stroke, granting a rare interview to a foreign media outlet to dismiss what it said were "conspiracy theories."
CNN's Hugh Riminton looks at where the persistent reports of Kim Jong Il's poor health are coming from.
North Korea's Kim Jong Il has remained one of the most mysterious leaders in the world.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is believed to be recovering from recent surgery
North Korea's rejection this week of the Six Party nuclear disarmament terms didn't shock the diplomats who helped make them. But it did inspire a few choice words: Here we go again
U.S. President Bush pens letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. CNN's Richard Roth reports.
South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il begin their summit. CNN's Sohn Jie-Ae reports.
Seven years after a historic but virtually fruitless meeting, the rivals schedule a summit. But will it be any more successful?
Kim Dae-jung: KDJ Anjali Rao: AR
At the small stationery shop in eastern Seoul run by Kim Young-Shik, a customer is clearly flustered by the proprietor's looks. His frizzy black hair, wide-framed glasses and short stature bear a stark resemblance to a man South Koreans aren't used to seeing in person.
For all the attention he is getting, North Korea's Kim Jong Il is one of the most mysterious leaders in the world.
The brinksmanupdated: Fri Feb 11 2005 18:45:00
The United States and North Korea appear to be heading down a familiar road, with tensions at a high level.
Kim Jong Il has been portrayed as everything from a nuclear-armed egomaniac, to a cognac-swilling playboy with a bouffant hairdo, to a smart and skilled political player.
"Let me talk about North Korea," George W. Bush said to the Washington Post's Bob Woodward in an interview at the President's ranch in Crawford, Texas, last August. The veteran Post reporter had ju...
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