The marathon in the world’s most isolated country is a rare chance for foreigners to interact en masse with North Koreans. It has been open to amateur foreign runners since 2014.

Sport and cultural exchanges between countries and individuals “who are not on the best of terms” could help ease tensions, Spavor said in an interview. “At the very least, the involved individuals … can break down or dismiss preconceived negative ideas about each other.”

In a vast parking lot outside Cambodia’s famed Angkor Wat temples complex stands a new museum built by North Korea, part of a lucrative charm offensive by a hermit state exporting its monumental art to a handful of foreign allies. [...] “North Korea has discovered soft power, it has discovered cultural diplomacy ... they are trying to broaden the image of what North Korea is about..."

The reconceptualization of Jeju’s peace role from diplomacy to regional cultural exchange and new and renewable energy promotion has been a feature of Won’s governorship. [...] Won also wants to increase exchanges with North Korea and the event also included a seminar on the repercussions of Pyongyang’s recent nuclear test for North-South relations.

North Korea has launched an estimated 1 million propaganda leaflets by balloon into South Korea amid increased tension between the rivals following the North's recent nuclear test, Seoul officials said Monday. A Cold War-style standoff flared since the North's claim on Jan. 6 that it had tested a hydrogen bomb.

In 2013, North Korea conducted its third nuclear test, and the world responded by inducing a period of brinksmanship that came dangerously close to spiraling the unending Korean War out of control. [...] Any creative collaboration one could possibly imagine between the US and North Korea is not only theoretically possible, but an actual reality.

North Korea on Saturday rejected the idea of resuming talks to end its nuclear program, saying previous such attempts ended in failure, and reiterated its demand that the US come to the table to negotiate a peace treaty.

So there I was, on stage, swinging three hula-hoops in front of a big crowd of wildly cheering North Koreans. It's not what I went there to do and I had not anticipated that this sort of thing might happen.