Most Popular
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Tensions heighten ahead of first president-opposition chief meeting
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Seoul to provide housing subsidy to married couples with newborns
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[KH Explains] No more 'Michael' at Kakao Games
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Rapper jailed after public street fight with another rapper
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Woman gets suspended term for injuring boyfriend with knife
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Samsung chief bolsters ties with Germany’s Zeiss
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NewJeans pops out ‘Bubble Gum’ video amid troubles at agency
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[Grace Kao] Hybe vs. Ador: Inspiration, imitation and plagiarism
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Med schools expect 1,500+ new admission slots next year
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Nominee for chief of anti-corruption body pledges 'independence, effectiveness'
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[Newsmaker] Kim faces tough choice over overseas trips
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is facing a tough diplomatic decision over when and where to make his international stage debut ahead of a series of foreign events this year, including Russia’s 70th anniversary celebration of the victory in World War II.The decision calls for Pyongyang’s careful calibration of strategic interests amid diplomatic estrangement from China, Russia’s engagement with the North, the U.S.’ harsh criticism of its cyberattacks and military threats, and an impasse in inter
Jan. 27, 2015
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U.N. chief ready to assist Koreas to discuss unification
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed his willingness to help the two rival Koreas open dialogue on unifying their divided land, the foreign ministry said Tuesday, amid a flurry of Seoul's policies to lay the groundwork for unification.Since taking office in February 2013, South Korean President Park Geun-hye has been pushing to prepare for a potential unification of the two countries. Last year, she launched a presidential committee in charge of preparatory work for unifica
Jan. 27, 2015
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S. Korea foils N. Korea's rule revision plan on Kaesong
North Korea won't be allowed to unilaterally revise rules on the security and safety of South Korean businessmen at the Kaesong Industrial Complex, officials here said Tuesday.It was belatedly known that Pyongyang notified Seoul in September of its plans to rewrite relevant regulations.In case South Korean firms withdraw businesses from the zone at the decision of the South's authorities, the North will be able to demand reparation, seize properties, and even detain businessmen involved if neede
Jan. 27, 2015
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Japan special envoy hopeful about release of hostage, pilot
A special Japanese envoy in Jordan has expressed hope that both a Japanese hostage and a Jordanian pilot held by Islamic militants will return home “with a smile on their faces.” Deputy Foreign Minister Yasuhide Nakayama said he hopes the two countries can cooperate to secure the release of the two men from the Islamic State group. Nakayama spoke to reporters Monday night after another day of crisis talks in the Jordanian capital. Jordanian pilot Mu'ath al-Kaseasbeh has been held by the extremis
Jan. 27, 2015
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U.S. military to hold seminar on N.K nukes, missiles
The United States plans to hold a high-level military forum this week to explore ways to better respond to North Korea's weapons of mass destruction amid their growing security threats to the world, officials said Tuesday.The Korea Senior Seminar (KSS) "will take place at the U.S. Special Operations Command Wargame Center in Tampa, Florida, tonight (U.S. time) on how to respond to North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs," a military officer here said, requesting anonymity.Gen. Curti
Jan. 27, 2015
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S. Korean envoy leaves for Tokyo for N.K. nuke talks
South Korea's chief nuclear envoy left for Japan on Tuesday to hold talks with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts on ways to resume the long-stalled multilateral talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear program, officials said.Hwang Joon-kook is scheduled to meet with Ambassador Sung Kim, the U.S. special representative for North Korea policy, and Japanese chief envoy Junichi Ihara in Tokyo on Wednesday, according to the foreign ministry.Hwang will make a three-day visit to Tokyo that also in
Jan. 27, 2015
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N. Korean military stages river-crossing drill
North Korea's front-line troops staged a river-crossing attack exercise, state media said Tuesday, as Pyongyang is upset about U.S. President Barack Obama's recent remarks and the continued scattering of propaganda leaflets by South Korean activists.North Korean leader Kim Jong-un "organized and guided" the winter drill of the armored infantry sub-units of the motorized strike group in the western sector of the front" of the country's military, reported the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). It
Jan. 27, 2015
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'Cracks' developing in N. Korea's information control: U.S. envoy
North Korea's control of information for its hunger stricken people is starting to develop "cracks," with more people listening to foreign radio broadcasts and watching outside TV programs and movies, the U.S. human rights envoy said.Amb. Robert King, special envoy for North Korean human rights issues, made the remark during a speech last week in Brussels, according to a transcript provided Monday by the State Department.He was addressing the European Parliament subcommittee on human rights."Cra
Jan. 27, 2015
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U.S. says no change in its position on six-party talks with N. Korea
The United States remains unchanged in its North Korea policy that it is up to the communist nation to reopen the six-party talks on its nuclear program, an official said Monday, urging Pyongyang to honor international obligations."Nothing has changed on our policy," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said at a regular briefing. "The fact is that the ball remains in North Korea's court. They need to abide by their international obligations. As you know, we remain in close touch with our six-
Jan. 27, 2015
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Seoul pushing to convey DMZ park plan to N. Korea
South Korea is pushing for a meeting with North Korea during an international conference in Switzerland this week to convey its plan to create a peace park in the Demilitarized Zone bisecting the Koreas, officials said Monday.The plan to set up the ecological park in the DMZ was first drawn in 2013 by the Park Geun-hye government as part of efforts to facilitate peace on the Korean Peninsula.In its annual policy report for this year, the unification ministry again brought up the plan, saying tha
Jan. 26, 2015
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Five parties in consensus on nuke talks
The five countries that negotiate with North Korea in the six-party denuclearization talks have reached consensus on the need to address Pyongyang’s nuclear capabilities, resume dialogue and devise ways to lead effective negotiations, a senior Seoul official said Monday.The official at Seoul’s Foreign Ministry also said that it would be a mistake to think that Washington had closed its doors for dialogue to the reclusive state, after the U.S. blamed the North for the cyberattack on Sony Pictures
Jan. 26, 2015
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Two Koreas continue war of nerves
A war of nerves over the resumption of inter-Korean dialogue continued Monday as North Korea ratcheted up pressure on the South to lift its economic sanctions and cancel the annual South Korea-U.S. military drills slated for next month.Seoul’s Unification Ministry reiterated that it was not willing to take any further “preemptive” steps to encourage Pyongyang to come forward, following Seoul’s proposal for inter-Korean dialogue late last year. “We are not thinking of taking any preemptive steps
Jan. 26, 2015
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S. Korea sees 'possibility' of Kim's visit to Russia: source
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could visit Russia in May, choosing Moscow as his first destination abroad over Beijing, a South Korean diplomatic source said Monday.Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited world leaders, including Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping, to attend a May ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Moscow received a positive signal from Pyongyang over the invi
Jan. 26, 2015
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S. Korea, 4 nations hope for early nuke talks: official
South Korea and four parties to the six-way talks on ending North Korea's nuclear program share the need to break the stalled process for Pyongyang's denuclearization as early as possible, a Seoul official said Monday.The multilateral talks on North Korea's nuke programs -- involving the two Koreas, the U.S., China, Japan and Russia -- have been dormant since late 2008, when Pyongyang walked away from the bargaining table.The official at Seoul's foreign ministry said that the five parties, excep
Jan. 26, 2015
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S. Korea rejects North's 'preconditions' for talks
South Korea on Monday spurned North Korea's demands that Seoul should first remove cross-border sanctions and halt joint military drills with the United States before trying to hold inter-Korean dialogue.Since Seoul's offer to hold high-level talks in late December, the North has repeatedly called for the lifting of the so-called May 24 sanctions and the suspension of annual joint military drills with the U.S. without accepting or rejecting the overture.Following the North's torpedoing of the So
Jan. 26, 2015
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S. Korea vows firm military posture against N.K. provocations
South Korea vowed Monday to maintain strong military readiness against any provocations by North Korea following a recent salvo of threats from its archrival.In the latest threat, North Korea warned Sunday that the South would "face stern punishment" unless it reverses course and creates a mood for dialogue, repeating calls for a halt to its joint military drills with the United States and sending of anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border.In a commentary carried by the North's main newspaper
Jan. 26, 2015
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Seoul pushing to convey DMZ park plan to North
South Korea is pushing for a meeting with North Korea during an international conference in Switzerland this week to convey its plan to create a peace park in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) bisecting the Koreas, officials said Monday. The plan to set up the ecological park in the DMZ was first drawn in 2013 by the Park Geun-hye government as part of efforts to facilitate peace on the Korean Peninsula.In its annual policy report for this year, the unification ministry again brought up the plan, say
Jan. 26, 2015
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Pyongyang warns of ‘stern punishment’ against Seoul
North Korea warned of “stern punishment” on Sunday, accusing the South of failing to forge “even the basic mood” for dialogue and of belittling its peace offensive.The accusation came as the two Koreas were caught in a war of nerves over the resumption of dialogue: Seoul has offered to hold talks unconditionally to discuss pending bilateral issues, while Pyongyang has demanded the lifting of economic sanctions against it.“South Korea should not haphazardly and thoughtlessly interpret our histori
Jan. 25, 2015
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N.K. leader may join Bandung Conference in April: source
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may attend an international meeting to open in Indonesia in April, a government source here said Sunday.If Kim does so, it would be his debut to the international diplomatic scene as the isolated nation’s leader.There has been no report of overseas trips by him since he took power in December 2011.Keen attention is being paid to whether Kim attend a Moscow ceremony in May to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II.South Korea
Jan. 25, 2015
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U.N. to provide N. Korea with $2 million in aid
The United Nations will provide $2 million in aid to North Korea as part of its humanitarian efforts, a news report said Saturday. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, part of the U.N. Secretariat responsible for humanitarian actions, plans to deliver the financial support to its peer organizations working in the reclusive regime, according to a new report by Radio Free Asia.The aid will be provided through the Central Emergency Response Fund, which has offered a total of $6.
Jan. 25, 2015