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Russia's Role in Resolving DPRK-US Disputes: US President Donald Trump has called upon Russia to mediate in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that mediation would require mutual consent and is contingent on the situation between the parties. This suggests potential avenues for de-escalating tensions.
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Malaria Infections in DPRK Decline: The number of malaria cases in North Korea has decreased for four consecutive years, indicating successful efforts by international bodies like the World Health Organization to combat the disease. The decline was attributed to donations from organizations such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
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Inter-Korean Dialogue Reopening: South Korea welcomed North Korea’s intention to reopen the inter-Korean communication hotline, highlighting a move towards more frequent dialogue between the two nations. This development was seen as a positive step towards potential reunification efforts.
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North Korea’s Participation in Pyeongchang Winter Olympics: A Seoul-based inter-Korean sports exchange promotion group expects North Korea to send athletes and a cheering squad to the Winter Olympics, possibly to demonstrate a large delegation presence despite having a smaller number of athletes.
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Technical Upgrade at Korean Central Television (KCTV): North Korea’s main TV channel, KCTV, underwent a significant upgrade on December 4th, switching to widescreen high-definition broadcasting. This includes stereo sound, indicating modernization in media technology.
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Unilateral Closure of Kaesong Industrial Zone: The closure of the inter-Korean Kaesong Industrial Zone was a unilateral decision made by former President Park Geun-hye. The report questioned the validity of the administration’s claims regarding North Korea’s use of employee wages for nuclear development.
