Pyongyang, North Korea
North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il ended years of official denial this week when he admitted that Korean spies kidnapped 11 Japanese citizens decades ago to steal their identities. During a landmark visit by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Kim expressed regret for the kidnappings, which he said had occurred in a different era. The apology could be a first step toward a rapprochement. The two enemies have never had diplomatic relations, and talks two years ago broke down over the issue of kidnapping victims.
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.
-
RFK Jr.'s focus on autism draws the ire of researchersIn the Spotlight Many of Kennedy's assertions have been condemned by experts and advocates
-
Protein obsession is oversaturating the health food spaceUnder the Radar Some experts say that fiber is now the most important macro to focus on
-
Codeword: April 23, 2025The Week's daily codeword puzzle
