Joseph Yun Li-sun

The arrests were made between Qingdao and Kunming and include 5 Chinese and Koreans who were trying to help them get to South-East Asia. The Beijing government set on sending them back home, where they face concentration camps or execution. Seoul "at work" to resolve issue, experts skeptical: "China does not want refugees from the north, it fears the economic impact."

The missionary Kim Jeong -wook had "confessed his crimes": espionage, underground religious activities, "malignantly hurting the dignity of the supreme leadership". North Korea prohibits all worship except of the ruling dynasty. Other missionaries sentenced and jailed.

Catholics, Protestants and Buddhists have set up a camp near the port on Jindo Island not far from where the Sewol ferry sunk with 476 people on board. As families continue to wait for news about those still missing, they find comfort in prayer and listening. The government charges the captain and three officers, whilst the head of the ferry company is holed up at home, surrounded by members of his 'Salvation Sect'.

An open letter signed by North Korea's powerful National Defence Commission calls for to end to the tensions and the re-opening of communication channels. Analysts and experts see it as a "pre-emptive strike" to undercut upcoming military drills between Seoul and Washington. Source tells AsiaNews that North Korea "needs money and does not want to become a Chinese protectorate."

Prime Minister Chung Hong –won’s statement this morning at a meeting to congratulate the archbishop of the capital after his appointment as cardinal . In 2014 there are two major events for the local Church.

Bishop Andrew Yeom Soo-jung is among the 19 new cardinals announced by Pope Francis. He pledged to "gather the scattered sheep" and "heal confrontation and rift." For his predecessor, Card Cheong, the new appointment opens a new chapter for the local church.

On 15 January, Bishop Lazarus You Heung-sik will preside over the ordination of new priests in the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio to Korea. "We thank the Lord for these fruits because our Church needs new forces in view of the many challenges we face every day."

The victim, identified only as Lee, held his demonstration on a flyover in the capital. In his last message before killing himself he asked the government to "tell the truth " about the electoral fraud of 2011 and the South Korean people to " stand up " for democracy .

Jang Song- taek , who is married to the late Kim Jong-il’s sister, was arrested ten days ago. In Overnight he was sentenced to death and immediately executed. Accused of plotting to grab power, he pays for his friendship with China.

Pope Francis' first apostolic exhortation touches "the whole of Korean society, not just Catholics". Now the Church must reflect and join the pope in the fight against the "structural causes of poverty" and social exclusion.

The decision was taken at the UNESCO general assembly. The Korean dish is thus added to humanity's 'Intangible Cultural Heritage' because it has "voluntarily" been passed through the generations and represents the communal spirit of Koreans in winter, solidifying their Korean identity.

The Catholic Priests' Association for Justice calls on the government to shed light on the abuses committed by the Secret Service and on President Park to step back and take the "honourable course of action". Saying that they are unafraid of retaliation and willing to bear their cross, they found encouragement in the pope's words and the "blood-stained records of the martyrs".