He was heard about, revered and feared in equal measure, but the ruler of the world's most secretive regime was rarely seen in public. Kim Jong-il, who led the communist nation since the death of his father in 1994, died on a train while visiting an area outside Pyongyang, the capital.
2011, hopefully, will be remembered as the year that marked the beginning of the end of the world's worst dictators.
Would any former prime minister have travelled to a rogue country to negotiate for the freedom of just two of its imprisoned citizens?
"President Clinton has safely left North Korea with Laura Ling and Euna Lee," said Matt McKenna, spokesman for Bill Clinton. Clinton apologised to Kim Jong-Il for the behaviour of the two women journalists after which they were released, North Korea media reported.
China, which has a formal, mutual defence alliance with North Korea, is apprehensive about the stability of Kim Jong-il's regime. The Asian giant is planning to send troops to North Korea in case the nuclear arsenal falls into the wrong hands due to political instability, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph.
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, whose rags-to-riches story is cited as case study across the world, will be the chief guest at the 60th Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi.
Glimpses from the military parade to mark the 75th anniversary of North Korea's army at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang.
Here are some of the images from the parade.
Russia's unprecedented rapprochement with North Korea has raised concerns about the re-emergence of a Russia-China-North Korea alliance which could increase the probability of conflict on the Korean Peninsula, explains Dr Rajaram Panda.
Ahead of the G-20 summit in Osaka this week, Xi has reasserted China's role as a global player, points out Dr Rajaram Panda.
Japan's march to the 2026 World Cup continued on Tuesday as Hajime Moriyasu's side handed China a 3-1 defeat in Xiamen while Iran eked out a late 3-2 win over Kyrgyzstan and South Korea were held to a 1-1 draw by Palestine.
'Pyongyang's strategy seems to be a cry to be treated as equal with the US and Beijing and this aspiration is premised on equipping itself with weapons as devastating as theirs,' says Rajaram Panda.
'In 1984, Pyongyang just had one hotel and one could not move out without an official escort.' 'India was the only country with an embassy, apart from the socialist countries.'
North Korea on Wednesday test-fired a ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan.
The Kaesong lockdown is the first such known measure taken in a North Korean city to stem the pandemic.
The Korean summit, laden with symbolism in everything from the choice of location to the mango mousse for dessert, could just be the first round in a continuing dialogue, says Dr Rajaram Panda.
A look at Reuters Photojournalist of the Year Damir Sagolj's photographs.
In the most recent show of force, Pyongyang put its military might on display during a parade on April 15 marking the 105th birth anniversary of the country's founder Kim Il Sung, grandfather of present ruler Kim Jong Un.
KCNA said the new type of surface-to-ship cruise missile is designed to hit 'any enemy group of battleships' that threatened the country.
North Korea made its decision to pull out of Tokyo at a meeting of its Olympic committee and Sports Minister Kim Il Guk on March 25, the ministry said on its website.
We take a look at Time magazines top world leaders.
'The coming two months could unfold unpredictable results or unpredictable consequences or both at the same time,' says Rajaram Panda.
The football teams will be competing amid a tense political backdrop with international negotiations stalled over North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.
North Korea's official KCNA news agency issued a brief report early on Wednesday, saying the qualifier ended in a 0-0 draw after a series of "attacks and counterattacks".
Jong Chol Min and Kim Kum IL scored two goals each in the Group 'C' AFC Youth Football Championship match in Bangalore.
Brazil made a strong statement with a 2-1 victory over Spain in their opening Group D clash on October 7, and they would now look to build on the winning momentum.
Pyongyang wants the world to recognise its nuclear capability, says Srikanth Kondapalli.
South Korea's Rim Chang-woo lashed home the winner in the last minute of extra time to give the Asian Games hosts a 1-0 win over fierce rivals North Korea in the final of the men's soccer tournament on Thursday.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Tuesday
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