Download Ri Seong-woong is North Korea’s most famous punk rock star. 

A series of shows featuring the legendary Ri have recently screened in neighbouring South Korea.

But wait. Is he real?

Jason Strother meets the band that dreamt and drummed Ri into existence.

Download The Korean peninsula is again on high alert with Pyongyang just launched its long-range rocket -  threatening to spark a regional confrontation.

It flew only a few minutes before crashing into waters off the Korean Peninsula.

The North Korean government says the rocket is carrying a satellite.

The United States, South Korea and Japan say the launch is a disguised ballistic missile test which breaches UN resolutions.

The governments of South Korea and Japan are vowing to shoot the rocket down if it strays into their territory.

But Pyongyang says this will trigger merciless retaliation.

Even North Korea's chief ally, China, admits it's worried by the developing situation.

The 30 metre high rocket is now on the launch pad in North Korea.

Radio Australia’s Mark Willacy has more.

Download For many South Koreans the best way to beat the summer’s heat is a bowl of cold noodles. 

Naengmyeon, as its known, was originally a popular winter dish from North Korea, but was brought south by refugees during the Korean War. 

These days, more recent defectors have started opening up their own restaurants that specialize in naengmyeon and other culinary staples from back home. And some of them say food can help bridge the gap between the two Koreas.

From Seoul, reporter Jason Strother has the story.

Download South Korean civic groups are delivering hundreds of tons of flour to North Korea.

For the past year, most forms of cross border humanitarian aid had been banned, since Seoul blamed the north for sinking its navy ship in March 2010.

But the South Korean government still isn’t easing its own stance on providing relief, even as the European Union and other international groups prepare to send aid.

And some observers question if North Korea really is as hungry as it says it is.

Reporter Jason Strother was on hand to watch some of the aid depart for the north from a park just seven kilometers south of the Korean demilitarized zone.