Media Shows Images Of Kim, (Washington Times)…Unattributed, December 17, 2008. Pg. 13

SEOUL — North Korea stepped up its campaign to prove leader Kim Jong-il is well and in control by showing him looking at an electronic copy of a newspaper dated Tuesday in a series of photos released through its official media.

U.S. and South Korean officials have said Mr. Kim, 66, suffered a stroke in August, raising questions about leadership in Asia’s only communist dynasty and about who was making decisions about the North’s nuclear program .

Despite re-emerging in early October in official media reports about making public appearances and seen in undated photographs, there had been no definite and up-to-date image that showed the reclusive leader in good health.

In the series of photographs released by KCNA news agency, Mr. Kim is seen inspecting a library in the northern Jagang province and looking at a computer monitor displaying an electronic copy of the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper dated Dec. 16.

N. Korea Fuel Aid Halted, (Washington Times)…Yoo Choonsik, Reuters News Agency, Dec 14, 2008.

FUKUOKA, Japan — North Korea on Saturday threatened to slow the disablement of its main nuclear plant after Washington said energy aid to the nation had been suspended because of failed talks on verifying the North’s operations.

China, Japan and South Korea expressed regret that the North had failed to agree to specific steps on verifying its nuclear activities at multilateral talks in Beijing last week.

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said all five countries negotiating with North Korea – Japan, Russia, China, the United States and South Korea – had agreed that future fuel shipments would not go forward until there was progress on a so-called verification protocol with Pyongyang.

North Korea: New Round Of Nuclear Talks Under Way, (New York Times)…Andrew Jacobs, A new round of talks aimed at persuading North Korea to discontinue its nuclear program began in Beijing on Monday.

Hunger Stalks 40% Of Population, (Washington Times)…Unattributed
United Nations agencies reported that nearly 40 percent of North Korea’s population will need food assistance in the coming year, largely because of critical shortages of fertilizer and fuel.

U.S. Official Holds Talks On Nukes, (Washington Times)…Unattributed

Top U.S. nuclear diplomat Christopher Hill said he had substantive talks with his North Korean counterpart Thursday, but wants to ensure that broader six-party talks next week zero in on the specifics of a deal.

U.S. Wants Deal In Writing, (Washington Times)…Unattributed

The top U.S. negotiator in talks to rid North Korea of nuclear weapons said Tuesday that Pyongyang must agree to a verification of its disarmament activities and that the deal must be put in writing.

N. Korea Cuts South’s Access To Factory Site, (Washington Post)…Blaine Harden, Dec 2, 2008.

North Korea, one of the world’s most shuttered states, pulled the curtains tighter Monday, drastically cutting South Korean access to a joint industrial complex in the border city of Kaesong.

N. Korea Halts Most Border Traffic, (Los Angeles Times)…John M. Glionna

Tourism is shut off and trade greatly restricted as Pyongyang fulfills a threat and leaves the nation further isolated.