L.A. Times - Asia

North Korea reportedly executes No. 2 official

By Barbara Demick and Jung-Yoon Choi — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 17:39:00 PST

Jang Song Taek, the uncle by marriage of Kim Jong Un, was attempting to seize power, North Korea's official news agency says.

BEIJING — Jang Song Taek, the uncle by marriage of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, was executed for attempting to seize power for himself, the official news service reported early Friday.

A citadel for Afghanistan's elite

By David Zucchino — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 03:00:00 PST

A family-run, glittering new gated community in Kabul appeals to powerful Afghans who, like its developers, are betting big on Afghanistan's future.

KABUL, Afghanistan — If Mohammed Ibrahim Caravan smells fear about Afghanistan's future, he doesn't show it.

More turmoil expected after North Korea's ouster of second-in-command

By Barbara Demick and Jung-yoon Choi — Mon, 9 Dec 2013 20:39:00 PST

After the public humiliation of Jang Song Taek, the relatives he appointed to high positions are expected to be part of an extended purge by Kim Jong Un.

BEIJING — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's spectacularly public ouster of his uncle, Jang Song Taek, could bring about more political turmoil as the purge extends to Jang's coterie of powerful relatives and supporters.

U.S. veteran held in North Korea says statement was coerced

From the Associated Press — Mon, 9 Dec 2013 21:02:00 PST

Korean War veteran Merrill Newman, detained for weeks in North Korea, says a videotaped confession and apology he made were coerced.

SAN FRANCISCO — The 85-year-old U.S. Korean War veteran who was detained for weeks by North Korea said Monday that the videotaped confession in which he apologized for killing North Koreans during the war was given involuntarily and under duress.

Bangladesh opposition leader hanged for war crimes; violence flares

By Carol J. Williams — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 12:08:00 PST

Bangladesh executed a leading Muslim opposition figure late Thursday who had been convicted by a government-constituted war crimes tribunal of offenses allegedly committed during the country's 1971 war for independence from Pakistan.

North Korea's Kim Jong Un ousts his second in command

By Jung-yoon Choi and Barbara Demick — Sun, 8 Dec 2013 20:46:00 PST

Jang Sung Taek, an uncle of Kim Jong Un, is removed from all his posts and labeled a criminal. He helped groom Kim to lead North Korea and was seen as relatively liberal.

SEOUL — In a palace intrigue that could shake the foundations of North Korea, 30-year-old leader Kim Jong Un has purged from the leadership the powerful uncle who had been his de facto regent for the last two years, North Korean news media confirmed Monday.

Record 2013 tourism in Japan despite islands spat, nuclear fallout

By Carol J. Williams — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 14:02:00 PST

Radiation contamination still afflicts large swaths of Japanese land and water nearly three years after the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

Thai prime minister asks monarchy to dissolve parliament

By Mark Magnier — Sun, 8 Dec 2013 22:19:00 PST

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra says she is seeking new elections after a mass resignation of lawmakers and weeks of street protests.

NEW DELHI — In the latest twist of Thailand's political crisis, beleaguered Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said Monday that she had petitioned the monarchy to dissolve parliament and hold new elections as a fresh wave of protesters descended on her offices and called on her to quit.

Afghan official assures U.S. that security deal will be signed soon

By David Zucchino and David S. Cloud — Sat, 7 Dec 2013 15:26:00 PST

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, in Kabul, says his Afghan counterpart told him the bilateral security agreement would be signed 'in a very timely manner.'

KABUL, Afghanistan — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, in Afghanistan on Saturday for a previously unannounced visit, said he had been assured by Afghanistan's defense minister that a post-2014 bilateral security agreement would be signed soon.

North Korea releases detained U.S. veteran

By Barbara Demick — Fri, 6 Dec 2013 21:02:00 PST

Korean War veteran Merrill Newman, 85, of Palo Alto, who had been accused of committing hostile acts against North Korea, is in Beijing and on his way home.

BEIJING — Merrill Newman, the 85-year-old war veteran from Palo Alto who was arrested in October on suspicion of committing hostile acts against North Korea, was released from Pyongyang and on his way home Saturday.