North, South Korea OK Family Reunions

Massive flooding destroys 2,900 homes, but Arirang Games go on

(NEWSER) - With torrential rains causing flooding and extensive damage to North Korea, the South Korean Red Cross has offered $4.7 million in aid, reports Yonhap News . Record storms that overwhelmed South Korea last week and killed scores of people also hit the North, killing dozens, destroying 2,900 homes, and washing away more than 148,000 acres of farmland. North Korea has yet to respond to the offer. More»

5,000 tons of rice, cement to be shipped

(NEWSER) - South Korea will send $8.5 million in aid to flood-ravaged North Korea in a sign of warming relations, NPR reports. The 5,000-ton shipment of rice and cement represents the South’s first major aid shipment to its neighbor after an alleged torpedo attack from the North in March that killed 46 South Korean sailors. More»

Irate over 'smear campaign' in battleship's sinking

(AP) - North Korea says it will sever all ties and communication with Seoul as punishment for what it calls a "smear campaign" over the sinking of a South Korean warship. North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency quoted the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea as saying late today that Pyongyang would also expel all South Koreans working at a joint industrial park in the border town of Kaesong. More»

(NEWSER) - Travel between North and South Korea returned to normal today, eight months after Pyongyang clamped down on imports from the South. It's the latest sign of warming ties between the two Koreas, following a recent deal on reuniting separating families and the fight high-level diplomatic talks in two years. Negotiations last month between North Korea and South Korean automaker Hyundai led to the changes, reports CNN. More»

He and Lee will have 'united' response if Pyongyang fires rocket

(AP) - Barack Obama and South Korean counterpart Lee Myung-bak agreed today on the need for a "stern, united" international response if North Korea goes ahead with a planned rocket launch. The two presidents met before today's round of talks at the G20 summit in London. Yesterday Obama told Chinese president Hu Jintao that the US would seek UN Security Council punishment if North Korea launches the rocket. More»