Siegfried Hecker, a nuclear scientist based at Stanford University who has visited North Korea's nuclear facilities seven times, emphasized at a conference in Busan, South Korea, on Tuesday that China is the only country that can penalize North Korea if it chooses to, saying Beijing "holds the key to the price" North Korea will pay if it moves forward with its weapons pursuit.

WSJ: China Seeks Peacemaker Role on North Korea

This conference laid the foundations for the negotiations that led to the creation of IPBES. A decisive step was taken in Busan (South Korea) in June 2010, when the governments of 75 countries approved the creation of this platform.

UNESCO: OFFICE IN DHAKA

Still, judging by the bot manning the bar at the APEC forum in Busan, South Korea, we're inching ever closer to the day when ex-jocks don't have a guaranteed post-high school job at that local bar that sells booze to underage football players.

ENGADGET: "T-Rot" robotic bartender with pressure-sensitive grip

One of the early papers to come out of the project is a look at how the city of Busan, in South Korea, is using cloud-based city services to improve efficiency, reduce emissions and serve its residents better.

FORBES: Can IT Make Cities Better?

Beaches are not often associated with South Korea, but Busan delivers with a beautiful coastline of sparkling ocean, dramatic rock formations and golden beaches, despite the ubiquitous high rise developments.

BBC: South Korea��s second city

Roh was born on August 6, 1946 in Kimhae, near South Korea's second largest city of Busan.

CNN: Getting to know Roh