The Associated Press says it's reached agreements with the North Central News Agency, including one to open an AP news bureau in Pyongyang. AP says it would be the first permanent text and photo bureau operated by a Western news organization in the North Korean capital. The second memo of understanding outlines cooperation on journalistic and photo/video technology issues, including a joint photo exhibition by the two agencies in New York next year.

 North Korea, a totalitarian country ranked near the bottom in the world on the press freedom index, presents one of the toughest challenges for journalists.