From the Donga Ilbo:
According to informants, the North regime sent a ministerial order through the phone lines on August 19 calling for normalizing the operation of its nationwide distributing system from October 1… It is said that even human resources in charge of local rationing offices are insufficient almost 10 years after the system’s collapse.
That [...]

No surprise that, ‘North Korea delays nuclear talks’:

North Korea blamed war games between South Korea and the United States on Monday for a delay in resuming six-party talks on its nuclear weapons programs, but said negotiations could resume in the week of September 12.
However, the ‘war games’ (i.e., joint military exercises) were planned far in [...]

A minor example, but one that will stick:
North Korea has told Hyundai Asan it will halve the number of South Korean tourists allowed to visit the North’s Mt. Kumgang to 600 a day…
That is from an average of 1,000-1,200 tourists per day. Why would North Korea do this?
The move apparently comes in protest at the [...]

Without a doubt not exactly the best timing from the U.S.:
North Korea criticized the United States Saturday for appointing a special envoy to monitor its human rights conditions, calling the move a “not good omen” ahead of a new round of nuclear disarmament talks. On Aug. 19, the White House named Jay Lefkowitz, a conservative [...]

After 40 years the records have been released, ostensibly to, “help end allegations of behind-the-scene deals.” While that is an issue, the issue that likely was more compelling to the ROK government is Tokdo (Dokdo)/Takeshima:
The allegation that Seoul yielded the Dokdo islets to Tokyo to use as leverage for the talks was found to be [...]

This may be interesting. Awhile back the North declared it could prove that it doesn’t have a Uranium-based nuclear program, and now it’s time to walk the talk, as far as negotiations are concerned. NK is big on making an initial offer, then paring it down to something meaningless. If the U.S. expresses interest in [...]

Next week several hundred families separated in the Koreas since the war will have a reunion at Keumgangsan. However, ex-ROK soldiers (aka POWs) who have been in the North since the war will not be among those meeting. The South at least brought the issue up, but likely not with enough spine to be anything [...]

South Korean news this week, when viewed overall, paints a picture that is both sad and pathetic at the same time.
A North Korean delegation in the South for Liberation Day (8.15) celebrations are cheered by young South Koreans (also calling for the withdraw of U.S. forces), while the ROK government engages in censorship by blocking [...]

This character is a common site at various protests. Why would Liberation Day be any different?

This 15 August marks the 60th anniversary of the liberation from the Japanese by U.S. forces (note: I flatly reject revisionist history on this point) . Seoul is planning a large celebration at the City Hall, which is covered in South Korean flags, in the downtown area.

More City Hall pictures here.
Of course the emphasis [...]