Kim on the move
The week's news at a glance.
Somewhere in China
Reclusive North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il crossed the border of his country this week in a rare trip abroad. “We confirmed he went to China by train,” a South Korean intelligence official told the Associated Press. “We don’t know why.” Kim is afraid to fly and makes his infrequent journeys in a specially outfitted luxury train that travels 110 miles per hour. North Korea has been refusing to return to disarmament talks unless the U.S. lifts economic sanctions. China is North Korea’s largest trade partner and ally and is seen as having the most influence over the totalitarian country.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Jonathan Powell: who is the man behind Keir Starmer's foreign policy?
Today's Big Question Prime minister's national security adviser is a 'world-class operator'
-
Summer sipping: the best fruit beers
The Week Recommends Check out these delightfully refreshing sweet and sour brews
-
How Putin misunderstood his past victories
In Depth Though Vladimir Putin has led Russia to a number of grisly military triumphs, they may have misled him when planning the invasion of Ukraine