The U.N. says sexual violence in conflicts worldwide increased by 25% last year, with the highest number of cases in the Central African Republic, Congo, Haiti, Somalia and South Sudan.

The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Thursday dismissed South Korean claims the North is removing some of its loudspeakers along the inter-Korean border, mocking the government in Seoul for clinging to hopes of renewed diplomacy between the war-divided rivals.

The North Korean leader's powerful sister Kim Yo Jong said peace overtures being made by South Korea's new liberal government were "deception" and denied Pyongyang had taken reciprocal action, state news agency KCNA reported on Thursday.

South Korea’s peace overtures are a “pipe dream”, the powerful sister of North Korea’s Kim Jong-un has warned, in comments mocking Seoul for its recent attempts to ease hostilities.