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“Chances of a third nuclear test in North Korea are low, but cannot be ruled out,” said South Korea’s Unification Minister Hyun In-taek Friday.
Hyun denied the possibility of an imminent nuclear test in North Korea, which was raised by local conservative media during a parliamentary audit.
A team of Chinese military officers will travel to North Korea on Saturday, China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency reported Friday.
Guo Boxiong, vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, will lead the team on its visit at the invitation of North Korea. North Korea appears to be moving at full speed with its heir apparent Kim Jong-un’s hereditary power succession, including naming him to high military posts.
Meanwhile, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Friday in a report that North Korea is heading toward a “new chronic food crisis” due to floods, drought and suspension of international food aid in some areas.

Three S. Koreans arrested for attempted defection to N. Korea
Prosecutors said Friday they have arrested three suspects of trying to defect to North Korea.
According to prosecutors, a medical doctor surnamed Shin and two others have been charged with attempting entry into the North via China, receiving help from an acquaintance in Sweden last February.
The three returned to South Korea after failing to cross the border of North Korea. They met through a pro-North Korea on-line community and their reasons of defection were reportedly that they were “sick of [South] Korean society.”

First joint N.Korea-S.Korea university to open next week
The first university founded jointly by North Korea and South Korea is scheduled to open next week in Pyongyang, reported the Yonhap News Agency Friday, citing a school official.
The project to build Pyongyang University of Science and Technology was launched in 2001 after the two countries’ governments approved a South Korean nonprofit organization to participate in it. The university’s stated aim is to promote reconciliation and prosperity among the Korean people, separated since the 1950-53 Korean War, and “help North Korea develop the necessary economic and intellectual infrastructure to function as a member of the international community.”

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