S. Korean Parliament Brawls Over Media Bill

(NEWSER) - A melee erupted in South Korea’s parliament today as opposition MPs attempted to break into a closed committee chamber, the BBC reports. Members of the ruling party had barricaded the door as they began the process of ratifying a controversial free trade agreement with the US. Opposition lawmakers used construction tools to pry open the door, only to encounter security guards who sprayed them with fire extinguishers. More»

And regime's nuke ready for testing, maybe tomorrow

(NEWSER) - Thirty North Korean officials who took part in talks with South Korea were either executed or died in "staged traffic accidents" for failing to improve relations, according to Amnesty International. The human rights group's annual report found that another 200 were arrested in January as the regime transferred power from Kim Jong-il to his son, Kim Jong-un. Pyongyang typically rounds up officials who fail to satisfy the regime, even when they're only carrying out orders, the Telegraph reports. More»

Flights not in danger, South Korean officials say

(NEWSER) - Commercial flights into and out of South Korea found their GPS signals mysteriously jammed this weekend, officials revealed today, and they weren't shy about casting suspicion on their neighbors to the north. More than 250 flights were affected, though officials say none were in danger because they automatically switched to other navigation systems. North Korea has been linked to such GPS attacks in the past, MSNBC reports. More»

North Korean army promises 'unprecedented peculiar means and methods'

(AP) - North Korea's military says it will launch "special actions" soon meant to wipe out conservative South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's administration. The army statement carried by state media Monday said the actions will last 3 to 4 minutes and be carried out "by unprecedented peculiar means and methods of our own style." It gave no more details. North Korea has issued a steady stream of harsh criticism against Lee and his government. Pyongyang says Lee insulted the North's recent celebrations of the birth centennial of national founder Kim Il Sung. More»

But purported document advises waiting for a new president in South Korea

(NEWSER) - Kim Jong Il's last wish was for peace with South Korea—or at least, it was according to a document that a pair of South Korean think tanks claim is the dear leader's will. In it, Kim writes that North Korea should renounce its war with South Korea, but continue building its military and nuclear arsenal in order to maintain its global stature, the Telegraph reports. More»