71.  A group of journalists who work outside the state media announced the formation Thursday of the first independent association for journalists in the communist state.

72.  A former East German medical official has been given the heaviest fine to date in trials dealing with the systematic doping program of athletes in the communist state.

73.  A prominent defector from North Korea said Monday an anti-government resistance force exists in the reclusive communist state.

74.  A North Korea delegation asked Japan Wednesday to ship more rice to help overcome a food shortage in the reclusive communist state, a Japanese lawmaker said.

75.  A U.S. State Department expert on North Korea will visit the communist state this week, a South Korean news report said Sunday.

76.  A U.N. food agency official urged North Korea to reform its inefficient farm industry Thursday as he appealed for another large-scale aid for the impoverished communist state.

77.  A South Korean official is discussing economic aid with North Koreans as an incentive to persuade the communist state to embrace a peace proposal, government officials said Saturday.

78.  Acknowledging a food crisis for the first time to the outside world, the reclusive communist state last week asked Japan for emergency food aid.

79.  Acknowledging a food crisis for the first time to the outside world, the reclusive communist state in the past week asked Japan for emergency food aid.

80.  Along with China, North Korea, Vietnam and Cuba, Laos remains a holdout of the one-party communist state.