The city of Dandong, on China's north eastern border, offers a glimpse of how the black economy may be transforming North Korea - and it's not only the humans who want to sample Chinese life.
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As North Korea bars prominent Americans to visit to plead for the release of Kenneth Bae, author Adam Johnson, whose book on North Korea won the Pulitzer Prize, describes the secretive state.
An American is sentenced to 15 years hard labour in North Korea after the Communist regime accused him of trying to overthrow the state.
No mass parades and no missile launches, just muted celebrations in North Korea to mark its founder's birth. The United States is urging the regime: stop the threats and enter talks.
Read more from John Sparks on the World News blog
Technology helps outside world seep into North Korea
John Sparks speaks with North Korean defectors and activists to get an understanding of the secretive regime and how technology is helping the outside world to seep across the border.
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North Koreans are managing to catch a glimpse of the outside world - from foreign soap operas on television to smuggled films on DVD. John Sparks reports on the first rumblings of change.
The BBC hits back at criticism from the London School of Economics which claims an undercover Panorama reporter put a group of its students at risk on a trip to North Korea.
by John Sparks
N Korea missile test would be 'huge mistake' - Kerry
US Secretary of State John Kerry raises the stakes in the war of words with North Korea, warning Pyongyang that it knew "what the outcome of the conflict would be" if America had to defend its allies.
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South Korea and its American allies raise their alert levels on expectation that the north is preparing a missile launch in the coming days. John Sparks reports from the border area.
Following last week's warning that foreign diplomats in Pyongyang should quit their embassies, North Korea advises foreigners in South Korea to leave the country.
