N. Korea Clamps Down on Border

North Korea today made good on its threat to restrict border crossings from South Korea, severely hampering trade and ending tourism with its neighbor. The move, blocking large numbers of South Koreans and reducing border-crossing hours, is a protest against South Korea's new hardline president that negates years of hard-fought progress. It's likely also a signal to Barack Obama not to underestimate North Korea, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Meanwhile, state-controlled media claims North Korea's rumored-to-be ailing dictator Kim Jong-Il made a public appearance to inspect his air force, reports the Daily Telegraph. The dispatch, among several that suggest the leader is active, didn't say where or when the inspection occurred. Kim reportedly told the airmen to study his ideology to prepare themselves "as human bombs and self-blasting heroes."
(More North Korea stories.)