From the New York Times on Friday:
“We will not stand idly by as North Korea builds the capability to wreak destruction on any target in the region — or on us,” Mr. Gates told a major security conference here that has been dominated by North Korea’s test this week of a nuclear device and the firing of at least six short-range missiles, all in defiance of international sanctions. (news summary and video clip inside…)

Make no mistake, reading the quarantine blogs (1, 2) shows us an upbeat group of teachers who have bided their time sun-tanning, reading, chatting, and generally acting like kids at camp. They appear to be well fed, healthy, grateful and respecting their hosts’ house rules.

But both bloggers inside have now reported that their quarantine regime is tightening despite negative flu symptoms. (more…)

The North Korean regime has done it again. The AP and other news agencies are reporting that North Korea has detonated a second nuclear test device, this time near the northeastern town of Kilju, near where the first test was conducted in October 2006. (more…)

Major television news sources, KBS and SBS, have reported that the former South Korea president, Roh Moo Hyun, 62, was found earlier this morning (approx. 7:30am) at the base of a cliff behind his home, unconscious with injuries to his head. He was transferred to Busan National University Medical Center between 8-8:30am and attempts to revive him failed. He was pronounced dead shortly afterward. (more inside…)

Kim Jong Nam, the eldest son, was passed over for succession after he tried to sneak into Japan with a faked passport. Now it appears, according to a source who recently defected from the North, that the youngest son, Kim Jong Un, is also out of contention for the top leadership post of North Korea. It is currently held by an ailing Kim Jong Il whom many watchers speculate may pass on sooner rather than later.

That leaves the middle son, Kim Jong Chol, 29, who is currently in training for succession. As the HuffPost reports:

Wednesday’s report contrasts with widespread media speculation that leader Kim considers the middle son too “girlish” to become leader, and is grooming the third and youngest son, Jong Un, 26, as his successor.

Media reports have said the Swiss-educated middle son is suffering from an excess of female hormones.

This gives us entirely new ideas of what “grooming” might mean for the middle son.

Zoo Borns, a blog featuring some of “the newest and cutest exotic animals from around the world,” announced recent additions to the Seoul Everland Resort zoo.

[photos: Zoo Borns]

Ms. Kim Joo-ri (김주리), 21, was crowned Miss Seoul at the Sejong Hotel this Tuesday. Korea Times photo doesn’t do her justice. Nuff said.

[photos: Chosun]

Geeks are abuzz over a new search engine that might be the harbinger of the Singularity, or not. Check out the Wolfram Alpha engine here, and test out how smart it is by asking it the toughest question you’ve got. We were especially impressed with, “What is the weather in Seoul?” But then again, most of us can look out the window faster.

[WSJ]

The government’s not a fan of hit count manipulation. In the aftermath of the Minerva fiasco, one might say they are trying to provide a little redress to the squelching of critics such as Minerva. Members of the cyber crime division at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency have begun investigations of four individuals, who unlike Minerva, actually supported the government online –albeit through the alleged manipulation of public opinion by boosting hits on their posts. (more…)