Handsome accordion player is North Korea's kingmaker: What We're Reading Now
Dec 23, 2011

IRAN
Iran Navy to Hold War Games Near Crucial Sea Lanes
Rick Gladstone, The New York Times -- December 22, 2011
Iran put neighbors on notice Thursday that it was about to conduct vast naval exercises in the Arabian Sea, including war games near the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for international oil traffic.

Bill Clinton says US must mull all options on Iran
Associated Foreign Press -- December 22, 2011
Former US president Bill Clinton said in a television interview to be shown Wednesday that President Barack Obama should not rule out military action on Iran, but there might be other ways "to skin the cat."

NORTH KOREA
North Korea Warns South to Respect Late Leader
Voice of America -- December 23, 2011
North Korea accused the South Friday of an intolerable response to the death of supreme leader Kim Jong Il by expressing sympathy for the North Korean people, but deciding not to send a government delegation to Kim's funeral next week.

Handsome accordion player is North Korea's kingmaker
Jack Kim, Reuters -- December 23, 2011
The power behind the throne in North Korea was a dashing accordion player in his youth, whose life changed when he met the daughter of autocratic founder Kim Il-Sung at university and wooed and married her despite the dictator's opposition.