Anthony Kuhn

North Korea and Russia each ratified a mutual defense treaty within days of each other. The pact means the countries will defend one another if attacked. And some say it may mean more involvement by North Korea in the war between Russia and Ukraine. We hear about the ramifications from our correspondent in Seoul.

The Security Council is the United Nations' most powerful body, with the ability to impose sanctions and authorize the use of force. There are five permanent members of the council: Russia, France, China, the U.S and Britain. And any one of those permanent members can veto council resolutions. The U.S. is proposing expanding the number of permanent members, including two permanent seats for African countries. We talk to the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. about the proposal.

And Seoul, South Korea is such a massive city, residents looking to experience nature can face a long journey to reach the countryside. As a result, the city's parks are catering to urban campers who want to sleep outdoors closer to home. We meet some of them.

Iran laid the body of President Ebrahim Raisi to rest, after he died in a helicopter crash. Though thousands attended funeral ceremonies, we hear from Iranians who say he won't be remembered fondly.

And in South Korea, a propaganda video from North Korea is banned after it goes viral on TikTok.

The plaintiffs argue that by not effectively tackling climate change, their government is violating its citizens' human rights.

Hawaiian-born Akebono was the first foreigner to win the highest ranking in Japan's national sport, sumo wrestling. He died in Tokyo this month, age 54.

President Biden is hosting a meeting with the leaders of Japan and the Philippines. It's an effort by the U.S. to build a network of alliances in the region, partly to compete with China.

President Biden hosts Japan's prime minister for a state visit highlighting tighter cooperation between their militaries. Both are shifting forces to deter potential adversaries, including China.

As the U.S. and Japan tighten their alliance and strengthen their military presence in the country's southwest Okinawan islands near China, Okinawa's long-running peace movement is in difficulty.

Southeast Asian countries could grow faster economically but they're held back by a lack of infrastructure. The region now has its first high-speed railway — in Indonesia.

Indonesia's railway is part of China's Belt and Road plan to build more than a trillion dollars worth of infrastructure. The U.S. says it's a way to mire countries in debt in order to exploit them.

A walk-out by South Korean doctors has hobbled the country's medical system. Most of them have defied a government ultimatum to return to work by Thursday.

Exit polls suggest the country's defense minister is in the lead. He has both the backing of the current president, but he also has a controversial record on human rights.

Indonesians vote for a new president on Wednesday, amid concerns about democratic backsliding, and a front-running candidate with a record of human rights abuses.

Yeonpyeong Island near the maritime border between North and South Korea has seen clashes in the past, and with military tensions running high, it's seen as a potential flashpoint.

Riding a wave of popularity of Korean cultural exports, high-end Korean eateries from Seoul to New York are winning acclaim.

As the new year begins, North Korea is signaling a major policy shift, abandoning efforts to unite with its neighbor to the South. It is even threatening to take the South by force of arms.

In South Korea's latest outburst of political violence, the country's opposition leader has been stabbed in public ahead of general elections in April 2024.

Japan's west coast suffered a series of major earthquakes and subsequent tsunami warnings on New Year's Day. Dozens of people have died, and aftershocks continue to shake the region.

As morning dawns in Japan, the country begins to survey the damage after a series of major new year's day earthquakes and subsequent tsunami warnings.

"Run philosophy" became a popular internet buzzword in recent years as political controls tighten and job prospects in China wane. Hear from some people now in Tokyo who recently fled China.