NO WINNERS
If anyone thought the insults hurled between North Korea and the United States couldn’t get any more ridiculous, then this week set a new standard in farce. The rogue nation imposed the death sentence on President Donald Trump because he apparently called their leader, Kim Jong-un, short and fat. Ordinarily this kind of behaviour would be quickly dismissed, but 2017 has seen tensions on the Korean peninsula rise to the most dangerous level ever.
The threat of nuclear war is real and experts calculate Kim Jong-un’s regime has now amassed as many as 60 nuclear warheads. As well, advances in the North’s ballistic missile program mean it can target not only mainland USA but also northern Australia. After months of negotiations, Nine Newscorrespondent Tom Steinfort was given rare permission to travel to North Korea. There he worryingly discovered a country whose people are ready for conflict, and bizarrely, almost gleeful that a consequence of it could be the end of the world.
Reporter: Tom Steinfort
Producer: Garry McNab
CHUCK OFF!
Charles Wooley reckons he got into journalism for no loftier reason than it looked like a lot of fun. And back when he started, it certainly was. Over the years though, he says the world has grown much more earnest, while new technology has eroded the traditional business of newspapers and TV. These days the craft and art of journalism doesn’t seem quite as enjoyable – unless you’re working on the NT News, Darwin’s daring, anything-goes daily newspaper.
The NT News is a fish and chip wrapper which is trying to buck the trend of declining circulation with outrageous front page headlines and cheeky stories, like the old days. So when the editor offered the 60 MINUTES reporter a job, Charlie happily went looking for a scoop.
Reporter: Charles Wooley
Producer: Ali Smith
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