Asia Compact | 04.01.2013, 21:15 UTC

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Asia Compact 04.01.2013 | 21:15 UTC Asia Politics 'Nothing new in Kim Jong Un's speech' North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un first surprised the world with a televised new year speech and then spoke of "radical change." But North Korean expert Rüdiger Frank warns of reading too much into the message. Pyongyang's New Year speech fails to impress A divided peninsula and a divided nation S. Korea's pres-elect pledges 'new era' on Korean peninsula Business Asia Thailand no longer world's top rice exporter Thailand has lost its decades-old status as the world's largest rice exporter. An industry group has said it's been toppled by Vietnam as a Thai government scheme for farmers continues to draw a mixed response. News Disasters Seven die in children's home fire in China's Henan A fire at a home for orphans and abandoned children in China has killed at least seven youngsters, possibly having injured many more. The shelter was being run out of the home of a street vendor. Asia North Korea Pyongyang's New Year speech fails to impress Kim Jong Un's televised address to North Korea spoke of the need for radical economic improvements and appeared to adopt a more conciliatory tone to the South. However, some experts are far from convinced. 'Nothing new in Kim Jong Un's speech' Activist takes hotel chain to task over Pyongyang South Korea condemns North Korea's successful rocket launch   Unsubscribe   Personal Data   Feedback   Imprint © Deutsche Welle 2013