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N Korea strikes chord with Clapton invite By Anna Fifield in Pyongyang Published: February 25 2008 22:08 | Last updated: February 25 2008 22:08 North Korea has invited Eric Clapton to perform in Pyongyang in a highly unusual move that could see the English guitarist playing in the world’s most isolated state next year. The invitation will boost hopes that North Korea is growing more interested in building cultural bridges to the outside world, even as diplomatic negotiations over its nuclear programme stall. The New York Philharmonic will perform in Pyongyang tonight. The North Korean State Symphony Orchestra plans to...

/begin my translation N. Korea: Signs of Succession Intrigue (laying down post-Kim Jong-il era) Yonhap News 2007.05.27 09:00 Choi Sun-young and Chang Yong-hoon = Recently in N. Korea, signs of preparation for post-Kim Jong-il era are showing up, prompting outsiders’ attention. Two sons born from Kim Jong-il and his third wife Ko Yong-hee(deceased on May, 2004), Jung-chol(age:26,) and Jung-un(age: 23), are reportedly accompanying Kim Jong-il and showing up at various public events such as visit to military units. The two sons used to frequently accompany Kim Jong-il’s visits to military units while their mother was still alive, but after her...