Podcast: What's going on in North Korea?

In the latest edition of the Asia News Weekly on Korea Times podcast, host Steve Miller discusses the attention surrounding North Korea following the surprise visit of three senior officials to the South last week.

Daniel Pinkston, Senior Analyst and North East Asia deputy project director for Crisis Group, shares his thoughts on the motivations behind the visit, and on whether it is necessary for Kim Jong-un to make an appearance after a month-long absence.

According to Pinkston, the Oct. 4 visit by North Korean officials

Hwang Pyong-so, Choe Ryong-hae and Kim Yang-gon

served multiple purposes. First, the regime wanted to show its populace that Kim Jong-un is being proactive about unification. Second, it aimed to deepen political divisions in the South over how to handle Pyongyang. Third, the North wanted to show China that Pyongyang is taking the initiative to improve relations with Seoul.

Miller also delves into key developments in Hong Kong’s Occupy Central movement. How did we arrive at this juncture?

Meanwhile, the United States has lifted some restrictions on selling arms to Vietnam. Miller explains the change, the possible rationale, and and how China responded. The segment also sheds light on why the Philippines has stopped their land reclamation efforts in the South China Sea, while China continues theirs.