The three cities hoping to stage the 2018 Winter Olympics wrapped up their vying in Durban on Tuesday, ahead of the voting that starts on Wednesday.

North Korea criticised major land and sea military exercises staged by the South on Thursday, but stopped short of threatening a retaliatory strike.

Kim Tae-young, South Korea’s defence minister, has resigned two days after an attack by North Korea and amid criticism on the South’s response.

South Korea has referred the alleged sinking of one of its warships by a North Korean torpedo to the United Nations Security Council.

South Korea on Monday announced steps to tighten the vice on the North’s already stumbling economy in punishment for sinking one of its navy ships.