It shows at least on the surface that the North would like to embrace China's reforms.

Even though the crackdown on North Korea's illicit banking activities in Macau demonstrated that China is not completely immune to outside pressures to rein in bad behavior, Beijing is unlikely to shut down the North's remaining banking activities.

There was a consensus, at least among the two big parties, that reforms were crucial.

We heard through the authorities in the North that at least 15 to 20 villages have been destroyed.

But we don't know a lot about how evaporation from the ocean surface works when the winds get up to around 100 miles per hour, as they do in hurricanes,

There's a new assertiveness in terms of dealing with the foreign aid community, ... That reflects a confidence that they can better manage their food situation.