Most Popular
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Yoon's approval rating plunges to all-time low
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S. Korea votes in favor of Palestinian bid for UN membership
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Bae Doo-na shares portraying Korean identity in Hollywood's 'Rebel Moon'
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Russia's denial of entry of S. Korean national unrelated to bilateral ties: Seoul official
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[From the Scene] Monks, Buddhists hail return of remains of Buddhas
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Medical schools granted enrollment quota flexibility for next year
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Yoon offers first one-on-one meeting with opposition leader next week
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France rejects opening Paris flight routes to T'way Air, deals blow to Korean Air merger
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Iran fires air defense batteries in provinces as sound of explosions heard near Isfahan
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Chinese man behind drug scam targeting teens nabbed in Cambodia
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Lee praises Korean troops for 'perfect' raid on Somali pirates
President Lee Myung-bak expressed appreciation for the successful rescue operation by the country's navy for a South Korean chemical freighter and its 21 sailors seized by Somali pirates and reaffirmed Seoul's resolve not to tolerate any future attacks on South Korean people."Our military carried out the operation perfectly under difficult circumstances," Lee said in a brief statement broadcast li
Jan. 21, 2011
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U.S. welcomes Koreas' agreement to resume talks
WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- The United States Thursday welcomed North Korea's proposal for high-level inter-Korean military dialogue to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula after the North's shelling of a front-line island and torpedoing of a South Korean warship last year. "I think following that, the Republic of Korea agreeing to enter talks with the North Koreans -- clearly, conditions were cr
Jan. 21, 2011
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Seoul to up pressure on N.K. nuke program
Evaluating the outcome of the U.S.-China summit as positive, South Korea repeated on Thursday that the resumption of any kind of dialogue with North Korea “depended fully” upon the nuclear-armed state’s earnest intent to halt provocations and disarm. Overcoming their once-divided view on how to deal with Pyongyang’s growing belligerence, U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao
Jan. 20, 2011
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Seoul fraught by Somali pirates’ ship hijackings
The Seoul government appears to be agonizing over how to deal with Somali pirates, after a South Korean cargo vessel carrying 21 crewmembers was seized last Saturday.The 11,500-ton Samho Jewelry freighter, carrying eight South Koreans, was captured in the Arabian Sea between Oman and India en route to Sri Lanka from the United Arab Emirates.The government has reiterated its vow not to negotiate wi
Jan. 20, 2011
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Ex-lecturer aims to lead change in civil service
Being the first in something always draws attention. Such was the case for Yoon Eun-key, who became the first non-bureaucrat to take the helm of the Central Officials Training Institute eight months ago.The former corporate consultant, lecturer, radio host and university president has held a dozen job titles, but had never served in the public sector before.“With my experience in corporate educati
Jan. 20, 2011
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S. Korea positive on outcome of U.S.-China summit
South Korea appreciates the outcome of the U.S.-China summit, an official said Thursday, after the high-stakes meeting called for inter-Korean dialogue as an "essential step" in reducing tensions and expressed "concern" about North Korea's uranium enrichment program.U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao held a summit in Washington on Wednesday (U.S. time) that touched on a wi
Jan. 20, 2011
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Obama, Hu call on N. K. to stop provocations
WASHINGTON -- The United States and China Wednesday called on North Korea to stop provocations and abide by its denuclearization pledge.U.S. President Obama (right) and Chinese President Hu Jintao attend a joint news conference at the White House after summit talks on Wednesday. (AP-Yonhap) Speaking at a joint press conference at the White House withChinese President Hu Jintao, U.S. Presiden
Jan. 20, 2011
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Seoul in talks with U.S. on longer missile range
South Korea has recently begun consultations with the U.S. over whether to revise their long-standing missile agreement and allow Seoul to develop longer-range ballistic missiles in order to better safeguard itself, according to a government source.The move comes as North Korea continues to develop nuclear programs and long-range missiles that pose a threat not only to its southern neighbor, but a
Jan. 19, 2011
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GNP lawmakers seek to restrict speaker’s role
A group of reformist lawmakers in the ruling Grand National Party on Wednesday submitted a revision bill to curb the National Assembly speaker’s authority in calling for a vote on bills at his own discretion. The bill aiming to prevent the dominant party’s unilateral propulsion of parliamentary proceedings is expected to face opposition from the ruling camp, which has been criticized for passing several controversial bills by taking advantage of the system.Rep. Jungwook Hong submitted the bill o
Jan. 19, 2011
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Obama, Hu summit draws attention in Seoul
With the U.S. and China expected to try resolving their once complicated relations by emphasizing common goals at their summit this week, South Korea is preparing for any changes which may occur in the regional powers’ attitude toward North Korea. U.S. President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao are expected to discuss a wide range of economic and diplomatic issues Thursday, inclu
Jan. 19, 2011
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Obama, Hu to discuss N. Korea, Iran, yuan and human rights
WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- The White House said Tuesday North Korea will be among the major topics at the crucial Sino-U.S. summit here Wednesday. Also high on the agenda are Iran's nuclear ambitions, the Chinese currency yuan's revaluation and human rights. "There are a whole host of issues and topics that we anticipate that the two leaders will discuss tomorrow before meeting with you guys," Ro
Jan. 19, 2011
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Minister-nominee rejects allegations
Choi Joong-kyung pledges to stabilize commodity prices, create jobsWhile defending himself against ethical suspicions at a parliamentary hearing Tuesday, President Lee Myung-bak’s economy minister-nominee pledged to focus on stabilizing commodity prices and creating more jobs once parliament approves his appointment. Choi Joong-kyung, who formerly served as senior presidential secretary for econom
Jan. 18, 2011
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Prosecutors: Berlusconi had many prostitutes
ROME _ Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi had sex with a significant number of prostitutes, Milan prosecutors alleged Monday in documents seeking authorization to search some of his properties.The prosecutors are leading a probe aimed at determining if the 74-year-old media mogul paid for sex with a 17-year-old Moroccan girl nicknamed Ruby who attended parties at one of his villas last year. Prosti
Jan. 18, 2011
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‘Iran paid N.K. for arms via Bank Mellat Seoul branch’
A U.S. diplomatic cable provided to WikiLeaks suggested that North Korea likely received payment for weapons sales to Iran via a Seoul-based branch of an Iranian bank blacklisted for aiding Iran’s nuclear weapons programs.According to the cable dated March 24, 2008, which was released on Sunday by the Norwegian daily Aftenposten, “Hong Kong Electronics,” an Iranian-based enterprise, wired a total
Jan. 17, 2011
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Choung denies wrongdoing in hearing
Culture minister-nominee grilled over alleged tax evasion, real estatePresident Lee Myung-bak’s culture minister-nominee pledged to end the cultural gap between social classes while being grilled by parliament over ethical issues on Monday. “I will push for policies that help integrate society,” said minister-designate Choung Byoung-gug during his parliamentary confirmation hearing. “I pledge to m
Jan. 17, 2011
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Support programs for Cheonan survivors
A foundation established last year to honor the 46 sailors killed in North Korea’s torpedo attack on the corvette Cheonan is to begin several support programs this week for survivors of the disaster.The foundation, named “Cheonan-ham Foundation,” will offer 5 million won ($4,480) to each of the 58 survivors during a ceremony Friday in Seoul, officials said.The ceremony will also see the launch of
Jan. 17, 2011
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Hu calls for early resumption of 6-way talks
WASHINGTON -- Chinese President Hu Jintao Sunday called for early resumption of the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear dismantlement deadlocked for years over the North's provocations and ensuing international sanctions. "China actively advocates and promotes the six-party talks process," Hu said in a written interview with The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. "We hope that
Jan. 17, 2011
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Destroyer approaching hijacked vessel
By Shin Hae-inA 4,500-ton South Korean destroyer was proceeding toward a Korean commercial vessel apparently hijacked by the Somali pirates Sunday, as the Seoul government remained firm against holding direct negotiations or paying ransom for the 21 crew members.The 11,500-ton Samho Jewelry freighter, carrying eight South Koreans, is believed to have been seized Saturday in the waters between Oman
Jan. 16, 2011
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Allies urge N.K. to clear way for inter-Korea talks
As regional powers are coming together on the terms of restarting stalled peace talks with North Korea, the outcome appears to be lying in the hands of the nuclear-armed state which clearly has the most to gain through the dialogue.Members of the aid-for-denuclearization talks have been engaged in a flurry of diplomacy this month, discussing the best solution to the high-running tensions between t
Jan. 16, 2011
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U.S. opens door to N.K. engagement
Gates warns Pyongyang to renounce hostilityU.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday that “diplomatic engagement” with North Korea, starting with direct inter-Korean dialogue, is possible as a next step to deal with the belligerent communist state.“With regard to next steps on North Korea, diplomatic engagement is possible, starting with direct engagement between DPRK (North Korea) and the S
Jan. 14, 2011