North Korea's reclusive leader appeared in public Wednesday for the first time in months to commemorate the 15th anniversary of his father's death. Kim Jong Il, 67, seemed frail and gaunt as he walked into the service flanked by senior party and military officials. It was his second public appearance since he was widely reported to have suffered a stroke in August. He was seen in April when he was reappointed as chairman of North Korea's ...

North Korea defended Thursday its right to explore outer space after reports that a rocket, believed by the United States to be a long-range missile, had been positioned on its launch pad. North Korea recently informed a pair of U.N. agencies that it plans to launch a satellite. The launch is believed to be slated for sometime between April 4 to 8, according to Yonhap, South Korea's state-sponsored news agency. North Korea's announcement has triggered international consternation. U.S. and South ...