North Korea has replaced the No. 2 figure at its defense ministry, according to the country's official media, marking the second change in the ministry's top leadership to be revealed in recent days. The Korean Central News Agency, monitored in Beijing, carried a report saying North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited an army factory accompanied by officials including Jon Chang Bok, whom KCNA identified as "first vice minister of the People's Armed Forces." That position was previously held by Hyon Chol Hae.

South Korea Thursday criticised an "unhelpful" visit to North Korea by a senior aide to Japan's prime minister, saying it weakened the united front needed to deal with Pyongyang. Isao Iijima arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday on a visit that clearly surprised both Seoul and Washington, which have been working closely with Tokyo on coordinating North Korea policy. South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho Tai-Young said it was "important" that the US and its two close allies continue to work in tandem.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Wednesday he may meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un if it could help resolve the longstanding issue of Pyongyang's kidnapping of Japanese citizens. "If a summit meeting is deemed as an important means in considering ways to resolve the abduction issue, we must take it into consideration as a matter of course in negotiating with them," Abe told a parliamentary committee. The prime minister, responding to a question from an opposition lawmaker, was speaking the day after his senior aide arrived in Pyongyang on a surprise visit.

South Korean President Park Geun-Hye personally apologised Monday for an "unsavoury" incident during her US summit visit that led to the dismissal of her chief spokesman. Yoon Chang-Jung was sacked over allegations that he had sexually harassed a female intern -- a Korean-American -- while accompanying Park on her May 5-9 trip. "I feel apologetic that an unsavoury incident... occurred near the end of my visit to the US and greatly disappointed the people," Park told a meeting of senior aides.