After being advised by the State Department to lie low and let diplomacy take its course, today's trial of Laura Ling and Euna Lee in Pyongyang has convinced their families to appeal directly to the North Korean government for the release of their loved ones.

A roundup of links to local stories of global importance from around the world.

A roundup of links to local stories of global importance from around the world.

A roundup of links to local stories of global importance from around the world.

In this lesson, students will learn about the conditions in authoritarian North Korea that have compelled many North Koreans to attempt a dangerous escape to what they see as the “Heaven” of capitalist South Korea. Also discussed is often-successful propaganda used by the North Korean government to convince its citizens that North Korea is in fact the real “Heaven.” Contained within are lesson activities as well as video segments which may be used on their own or in conjunction with the lesson.

North and South Korea share a language and a peninsula, but they're two very different countries. This slideshow compares daily life in the two countries.

Wide Angle interviews Bruce Klingner, North Korea expert at The Heritage Foundation, about North Korea’s recent rocket launch.

Learn more about North and South Korea from these additional resources.

Behind the scenes with filmmakers Micah Fink and Jong Suk Lee.

A roundup of links to local stories of global importance from around the world.

A round-up of today's global news headlines.

A round-up of how nations around the globe are dealing with the economic downturn: bailouts, I.M.F. loans, and schadenfreude.

FOCAL POINT is a new series of web-exclusive documentary shorts on international current affairs produced by Wide Angle, in collaboration with independent producers from around the globe.