Xinhua world news summary at 0800GMT, Dec. 12

PYONGYANG -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) top leader Kim Jong Un attended the 8th Conference of Munitions Industry which was opened here Monday, state media reported Tuesday.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the conference was set to review the achievements and experience in the munitions industry and discuss measures to usher in a heyday of development of the Juche-based defense industry under the banner of simultaneously developing the two fronts. (DPRK-Kim Jong Un)

- - - -

MOSCOW -- Russia has begun a partial withdrawal of its troops in Syria under the order of President Vladimir Putin, local media reported on Tuesday.

Putin announced the withdrawal during an unannounced visit to the Hmeymim military airfield in Syria on Monday. (Syria-Russia)

- - - -

TOKYO -- The Japanese government on Tuesday gave the go-ahead to join a U.S-led plan to build a new space station in the moon's orbit.

The Japanese government hopes the ambitious plan will provide opportunities for Japanese astronauts to visit the lunar surface for the first time. (Japan-U.S.-Space Stations)

- - - -

SYDNEY -- Astronomers have used a powerful array of telescopes across Australia and the rest of the world to examine a black hole 55 million times more massive than the Sun.

The research published Tuesday showed how the International Center for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) used two radio telescopes and several optical telescopes to get a closer look at the intricate workings of a galaxy known as Centaurus A. (Australia-Black Hole) Enditem