August 16th, 2010
11:56 AM ET

World WebPulse: North Korea tweets, mosque debate rages

Many of the tweets on the reported North Korean Twitter account are links to the country's official site.

Here's a look at some of the stories that are popular on Twitter, Google and other news and social media sites around the world.

North Korea Twitter account – 140 characters may be small, but it is becoming a big deal that the secretive North Korean government has opened a Twitter account, according to a report from Agence France Presse. So far the Twitter account @Uriminzok only has about 1,600 followers and most of the tweets are links to the country's official Web site.

AFP says one of the tweets dismissed accusations that a North Korean torpedo sank a South Korean warship in March while another criticized US-led sanctions against North Korea and Iran. This isn't North Korea's first foray into social media as the country opened a YouTube account recently.

China/Japan – Lots of people are searching on Google for the news that China is on track to overtake Japan as the world's second largest economy, according to figured released Monday.

Obama and the 'Ground Zero Mosque' – There's lots of discussion on social sites about the proposal to build an Islamic center and mosque near the site of Ground Zero after President Barack Obama weighed in on the controversy over the weekend. After seeming to support the controversial Islamic center, Obama then clarified his remarks by saying he was "not commenting on the wisdom" of the project but simply trying to uphold the broader principle that government should treat everyone equal, regardless of religion.

The debate continues to rage as the world's Muslims observe Ramadan, which has been a trending topic on Twitter since the holy month began. Check out CNN's Belief Blog for lots of interesting perspectives and stories on the proposed mosque.

What's your take on these stories? What else should we be paying attention to? Post a comment and let us know.

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Filed under: China • Japan • North Korea • Twitter • U.S. • Web Pulse • World • World Web Pulse
soundoff (8 Responses)
  1. John G

    The goverment has to treat everyone equal in regard to religion but I am not the government and I say a mosque at Ground Zero is wrong!

    August 16, 2010 at 1:31 pm | Report abuse |
  2. A Orike

    America is a democratic nation and the secondary school social studies definition of democracy being 'government for the people, by the people and of the people' and not 'government for the Christians, by the Christians and of the Christians'.....I am a christian but I do not oppose Obama's backing of a Mosque being built 3blocks away from ground zero!!!

    August 16, 2010 at 1:48 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Angie F

    I support the building of a Muslim Center two blocks away from were the twin towers once stood. What I would be highly in favor of however is if the Center was built in honor of those Muslims who were working at the World Trade Center who lost their lives.

    I think CNN should be more focused on Sudan with their plans for the upcoming Referendum elections as well as the fact that the United States has declared the atrocities in Darfur and Genocide yet has not acted in the seven years that this Genocide has gone on. Seeing as we are members of the United Nations AND signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that we are required to take action and not just push papers and say that that is considered giving it a shot to end the first genocide of the 21st Century that should never have occurred in the first place

    August 16, 2010 at 1:51 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Jeffrey Thompson

    President Obama, in his recent comments regarding the building of a mosque 2 blocks from the world trade center disaster zone, rightly drew a distinction between his support of the right of any citizen of the USA to build any building they wish as long as they go through the standard legal processes to aquire the licence to do so. He did make sure to mention that he questioned the wisdom of wishing to build the mosque in that location. I was frustrated to see a CNN "quick vote" on their website asking "do you agree with president Obama's support of the building of a mosque 2 blocks from the world trade center disaster zone?" It showed a lack of understanding of his stance on the matter and forced people to make a choice based on wrong information.

    August 16, 2010 at 3:21 pm | Report abuse |
  5. the jin :}

    the test of freedom of religion -and tollerance.

    if the world of islam is allowed to build a mosque -2 blocks from ground zero -–i would say step up the stakes -i would let them build a mosque on top of ground zero -under one condition .

    the condition – they allow the hebrews to completely rebuild the western wall temple in jerusalem next to the dome of the rock –i challenge the islamic world to this – to see if they would be understanding enough to grant freedom and respect freedom of other peoples religion --this is my recomended "ACID" "TEST" -to see if islam can be as tollerant as they expect everyone else to be -the double edged sword swings both ways here -what they demand they must relinquish .i love the irony --the jin:} .........

    August 16, 2010 at 5:42 pm | Report abuse |
  6. the jin :}

    any takers -–hamas --hezbollah --any religious leaders – national leaders –extremist group leaders – have what it takes to make a gesture for peace after conflict so profound -as to allow an enemy to construct a memorial religious site-in a place that brings so much national sorrow and grief and frustration and agravation – in a quest for peace -would any be able to control; there desires to destroy -or seek revenge or cause war -to let peace have a chance –this is what you ask of all the american people –cannot then we ask the same in steps of peace . -are you men enough to allow this -the jin :}

    August 16, 2010 at 5:48 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Geraldine

    Let them build the mosque at the top of the tower..

    August 16, 2010 at 7:16 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Mohammad

    Most of the comments against the idea are driven by hate feeling against the Moslims. This what helping rediacal group like al-Qiada. Today every 4th person on globe is Moslim and one need to respect their faith also.... along with others faith. In my opinion Obama is the understanding root cause of the world wide unrest and try to reduce it as much as possible. His wisdom and street experience is commendable.

    August 18, 2010 at 4:48 am | Report abuse |
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