U.N. Nuclear Sanctions

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As Iran gives in on its nuclear ambitions to rejoin the international community, North Korea is now the only country under United Nations sanctions for its nuclear program. As policymakers consider the success of a harsh sanctions regime in compelling Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons programs, U.N. sanctions on North Korea could become even stronger in the future.

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Iran was able to shed a disreputable moniker of a rogue country, because it kept the promise to abandon nuclear arms development. Iran was banned from trading in crude oil and engaging in financial transactions for developing nuclear weapons by producing highly enriched uranium. The United States even carried out secondary boycott to sanction third-party countries that dealt with Iran to completely block off Iran's monetary source. Such strong sanctions against Iran, which hasn't conducted a single nuclear test, illustrate how much stronger international measures against North Korea can get for the regime's four nuclear tests. In particular, the U.S. has been pressuring North Korea to follow Iran's example since Washington successfully struck a nuclear deal with Iran last year.

[Soundbite] Tony Blinken(U.S. Deputy Sec. of State (Oct. 2015))

North Korea is expected to face the harshest sanctions in history, since a provision in U.N. Security Council Resolution No. 2094, which was announced following North Korea's third nuclear test in 2013, stipulates that additional measures will be taken if Pyongyang conducts further nuclear tests.

2. Iran Market Opening

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Now that economic sanctions against Iran have been lifted, it can make a comeback to the international oil market. Meanwhile, the Iranian market has drawn attention for its potential to become a major export destination.

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The construction sector is seeing the biggest promise in the Iranian market. South Korean construction companies that won contracts for the "South Pars," the world's largest gas fields, in the mid-2000s are already preparing to obtain new orders. New construction projects in Iran are expected to surpass 129 billion U.S. dollars in scope. Exports of Iranian oil could act as a burden to South Korea's exports due to plummeting oil prices and economic recessions in oil-producing nations, but the oil refining sector is guaranteed benefits thanks to more diverse suppliers. Last year trade between Korea and Iran amounted to 6.1 billion dollars. Analysts say that once transactions in various sectors including marine transportation, shipbuilding, automobiles and steel are resumed, Korea's exports may surpass the record-high amount recorded in 2012.

[Soundbite] Kim Bong-man(Official, Fed. of Korean Industries) : "Iran has a population of 80 million people, and a correspondingly large consumer market. It's a massive market especially for export companies."

However, corporations and individuals seeking business transactions with Iranian partners must exercise extra caution. Although sanctions on financial and service sectors have been lifted, groups and individuals linked to terrorism are still subject to monitoring.

3. Supercomputers Focus

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High-performance computing machines known as super computers are employed in highly complex scientific and engineering contexts, including weather forecasting. Now their use is becoming ever-more versatile, and applies to such cutting-edge fields as space science and new materials development. Here’s more.

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This is the Korea Meteorological Administration's new supercomputer slated to go into operation in March. It cost nearly 50 million U.S. dollars to purchase and it consumes roughly 165,000 dollars worth of electricity per month.Inside the computer are numerous boards each equipped with eight central processing units or CPUs. There are 1,512 such boards in all, capable of doing 5 quadrillion computations per second. Equipped with the computational capacity equal to 70,000 personal computers, this supercomputer takes only an hour and a half to calculate a complex problem that would have taken an ordinary computer five years to solve.Supercomputers are used in wind tunnel tests, which measure wind resistance in vehicles, in predicting clashes of black holes that provide a glimpse into the birth of the universe, and in designing record-setting skyscrapers.

[Soundbite] Kang Ji-hoon(Official, KISTI) : "Findings in micro sciences and extreme sciences can lead to world-leading scientific andtechnological advances. We need supercomputers to produce those results."

Supercomputers, which used to solve problems for nuclear bomb development and weather forecasts, have now become an indispensable tool in future growth industries such as new materials development and DNA analysis.

4. Ice Climbing Wall

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At this time of the year temperatures often hit subzero levels, and stay there, but many people know how to make the best out of the freezing weather. We're taking you now to Gugok Waterfall in the city of Chuncheon, which is famous for its ice climbing wall.

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A winding, frozen waterfall has become a gigantic ice pillar measuring 50 meters in height. Climbers scale the precarious ice wall relying solely on ropes. At times, the situation appears life-threatening. But the climbers overcome their fears to conquer the frozen wall.

[Soundbite] Yoo Jung-min(Gyeonggi Prov. Resident) : "Descent is more thrilling than ascent. Women in particular feel a strong sense of accomplishment since they need to climb perfectly when climbing ahead of others."

The ice wall is smaller this year because of the severe drought, but the recent freezing weather is all the ice climbers need to enjoy this winter sport. The famed ice wall at Gugok Waterfall draws over a hundred climbers on holidays.

[Soundbite] Song Seung-gon(Seoul Resident) : "The ice is not as firm due to warmer weather and lower precipitation. I hope the weather will get colder and more snowy from now on."

Gangwon Province is a winter haven for those who love the fun of icy weather.

5. Health Resolutions

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Are you sticking to your New Year's resolution to work out? It's one of the hardest promises to keep, together with quitting smoking. But small and steady achievements can help you keep your resolution. Let’s take a look.

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This fitness club in Seoul is packed with people walking on the treadmills. They're determined to meet their workout goals set for this year.

[Soundbite] Kim Dong-su(Gym User) : "This year I plan to lose more than 5kg and maintain that weight."

But a considerable number of people give up exercising after a few days. In fact, 82% of office workers gave themselves failing grades in exercise, for having failed to achieve their workout goals last year. Their failures can be blamed on over-enthusiasm and a lack of detailed exercise methods. People should start out with light exercise regimens, working out about three times a week. Workout duration and intensity should be increased gradually only after following those initial schedules first. It also helps to use a smart device to check one's daily workout routine.

[Soundbite] Kim Min-cheol(Smart Device User) : "My workout seems to be increasing considerably. Checking the data keeps me motivated and prevents me from getting too idle."

Regular exercise is important since studies show abdominal fat can be reduced only after working out steadily for longer than 3 months.

6. Healing Forest

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A new business sector that combines traditional farming with processing and hands-on tourism programs and generates high added value has been dubbed a "sixth industry." A father and son team moving from a big city to Jangseong County, South Jeolla Province has built a new model of doing business in a rural area by creating healing cypress forests.

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This village is nestled at the foot of Mt. Chuknyeong, famous for its dense forests of cypress, known as a medicinal plant. Despite the cold weather, the forest is crowded with tourists who have come to try their hand at dyeing fabrics using cypress.

[Soundbite] Kim Young-ja(Cypress Dye Program Participant) : "It was my first time participating in a dyeing program. I'd like my children to try it too."

Kim Dong-seok settled down in the Mt. Chuknyeong area, home to 2.5 million cypress trees, 20 years ago. Kim started by cultivating seedlings and planting trees, but now he and his son also make craft items, as well as soap and skin care products. They also operate hands-on programs that are attended by more than 50,000 people annually.

[Soundbite] Kim Dong-seok(Cypress Plantation Owner) : "By offering hands-on programs, we were able to turn many visitors into regulars. This is how we fostered this business into the sixth industry."

By introducing guest houses run by their neighbors and selling agricultural produce grown by locals, Kim and his son are contributing to the prosperity of the village. Their successful experience of promoting the gifts of nature as tourist attractions through communal effort is helping this rural area build a better future.

7. Neighborhood Revival

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Gosi-chon in Sillim-dong, Seoul is a neighborhood named for its association with short-term residents preparing for exams. The scene in the neighborhood has changed since the introduction of the law school system and one-room residences called "gosiwon" have been transformed into shared houses for young people, bringing a new breath of live into the aging neighborhood.

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The signs "Vacancy" are hung on every building. Few customers are seen at restaurants.

[Soundbite] Lee Soo-ja(Restaurant Owner) : "People used to come down from over there and passed by. Now, there are few people walking by."

This is a one-room residence building located inside an alley.Residents gather to have a meal together. An empty building was renovated into a shared house for young people. Residents have their own rooms but share the kitchen and bathroom. They also divide utility bills. Sometimes, they experience inconveniences. However, the residents say that they rarely feel lonely, since they live together. The shared housing is also favored by foreign students.

[Soundbite] Morichisa(Japanese Exchange Student, Living in 'Share-Us') : "I can freely use the living room when doing my hobby activities. When I feel lonely, I come down to the first floor."

The monthly rents are lower than those of nearby one-room residences, thanks to the profits from the cafe on the first floor.The building is also no longer a collection of isolated rooms. It has become a house where residents live together and share. This new housing model is drawing attention for changing standards of living and breathing fresh life into the economically depressed neighborhood.

8. Entertainment News

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It seems that space is the new frontier for the Korean pop music industry. A new sci-fi inspired music video is grabbing attention while a series of songs with space travel themes are rolling out. Here is why on today’s entertainment segment.

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An astronaut floats in the vastness of space. His encounter with a huge whale is like a scene from a movie. Members of idol group Exo became astronauts for their latest winter album.

[Soundbite] "Hello, we are the Cosmic Girls."

This girl group consisting of 12 Korean and Chinese members will soon be making their debut. They are called the "Cosmic Girls." Through the image of the cosmos, the group aims to appeal to music fans overseas, transcending borders.

[Soundbite] The Name(Producer for the Cosmic Girls) : "We used the word 'cosmic' in the hope of being loved by people across the world. The number of members at 12 is based on the zodiac or Greek mythology."

Space offers endless scope for imagination and story-telling, along with a sense of mystery. The new space-related trend in the Korean pop music industry can also be attributed to the recent success of several movies set in outer space.

9. Knife-Cut Noodles

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Knife-cut noodles are among the favorite winter dishes in Korea. Today we're taking a look at some unusual knife-cut noodles, from the spicy Gangwon Province sort to the visually appealing Chinese-style variety.

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Knife-cut noodles are among the dishes that first come to mind when outdoor temperatures fall to subzero levels. First we visited a place that serves knife-cut noodles in an unusually delicious broth. Originating from Gangwon Province, these noodles are served in a spicy broth made with traditional fermented bean pastes. The savory noodles are made with ground beans and boiled in hot water before being mixed with the broth.In addition to its high nutritional value, this dish is also easy to digest because it's made with the fermented bean paste "doenjang" and the chili pepper paste "gochujang."Here's a tip on the best way to enjoy this dish to the fullest.

[Soundbite] Kim Hoe-yong(Gangwon Prov. Resident) : "It tastes great when you mix the broth with rice after eating the noodles."

This time we drop in on a joint with its own take on knife-cut noodles. Diners are mesmerized by how the noodles are cut.

[Soundbite] "I'm making Chinese-style knife-cut noodles."

The dough is shaved with a knife right before the noodles are boiled. It's looks a lot like shaving down wood with a plane. Then the noodles are topped with stir-fried fresh seafood and vegetables. Now the refreshing and deliciously spicy seafood knife-cut noodles are ready to eat.

[Soundbite] Baek Sun-jong(Incheon Resident) : "The noodles are very chewy and thick. They harmonize perfectly with the broth."

Here's another spot that serves unusual knife-cut noodles. Instead of meat, only vegetables and herbs are used in the broth.First, dried herbs and vegetables such as bracken and Taro stems are soaked in cold water and mixed with crushed red peppers, soy sauce and crushed garlic. Then the water where the herbs were soaked is boiled with radishes, scallions, crushed garlic, the herbs and chili pepper oil to make a soup. Next, the noodles made with spinach and steamed sweet pumpkins are boiled and the starch is removed before the noodles are added to the soup and boiled together.

[Soundbite] Song An-han(Gyeonggi Prov. Resident) : "It has a spicy and light taste. The three-colored noodles are very unique."

These delicious knife-cut noodles will keep your body and soul warm throughout the coldest months of the year.