South Korean President Park Geun-hye fired her chief spokesman because of what her office said Friday was a “disgraceful incident” during Park's trip to the United States, in what could be a domestic blow after an otherwise widely praised appearance in Washington.

Ahead of a nuclear-powered U.S. carrier's visit to South Korea, North Korea on Friday called this week's summit between the U.S. and South Korean presidents a prelude to war against Pyongyang. Yet it also said it was waiting “with patience” to see if Seoul changes its policies.

A Korean-American sentenced to 15 years hard labor in North Korea was a missionary who used his tourism business to form groups to overthrow the government, the state's Supreme Court said.

The unusual award of a top medal for bravery to a North Korean traffic policewoman has fueled speculation that she might have intervened in an incident that had threatened the life of leader Kim Jong Un.

North Korea has taken a major step back from a planned missile test, U.S. officials said, even as Pyongyang and Seoul exchanged fresh threats Tuesday of swift military retaliation to any provocation.

President Barack Obama and South Korea's new leader Park Geun-hye will seek to present a strong front against North Korea's nuclear threats when they meet at the White House on Tuesday. But they also want to leave the door open to talks with Pyongyang.

The withdrawal from the industrial complex in North Korea's border town of Kaeseong has been completed, with the seven remaining South Koreans having returned home and US$13 million in back pay and severance pay having been delivered to the North on Friday. Now there is no predicting what will become of the industrial complex, where small South Korean manufacturers have operated for the past decade.

South Korea on Monday dismissed an “incomprehensible” list of North Korean demands for reviving suspended operations at a jointly run industrial park.

North Korea said Sunday it would not use a jailed U.S. citizen as a “bargaining chip” with Washington, and no prominent Americans would be invited to discuss his case.

Even if North Korea gives up its nuclear arms, Japan would not resume aid to the isolated state until it clears up abduction cases dating back more than three decades, a minister said Friday.