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Exports to US reach all-time high, widen gap with China
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Trump rekindles criticism: US forces defending 'wealthy' S. Korea 'free of charge'
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[Music in drama] Rekindle a love that slipped through your fingers
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Opposition-led Assembly unilaterally passes bill to probe Marine's death
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Inflation eases in April, continues bumpy ride
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Seoul Metro to seek legal action against malicious complaints
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Golden chance to liquidate babies’ gold rings?
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[New faces of Assembly] Architect behind ‘audacious initiative’ believes in denuclearized North Korea
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Illit, mired in controversy, remains on Billboard charts for 5th week
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On May Day, labor unions blast Yoon's foreign nanny proposal
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S. Korea to send message to N. Korea to call for early resumption of family reunions
South Korea plans to send a message to North Korea this week to welcome Pyongyang's proposal to hold reunions for separated families and call for an early resumption of the humanitarian program, a government official said Sunday.North Korea, reversing its earlier decision, proposed Friday that the long-suspended separated family reunion program resume at a convenient time for South Korea after the Lunar New Year's holiday ends in early February. Seoul quickly welcomed the proposal.On Monday, the
Jan. 26, 2014
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Top U.S. diplomat in Asia to visit Seoul for talks on N. Korea
The top U.S. diplomat on Asia was due in Seoul on Sunday for discussions likely to focus on North Korea amid concerns the communist nation could attempt provocations in anger over planned military exercises in the South.Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel, who accompanied Deputy Secretary of State William Burns on a trip to China and Japan, is scheduled to meet with South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Kyung-soo to brief him on the results of Burns' discussions in Beijing and Tokyo.No
Jan. 26, 2014
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All relatives of Jang executed too: sources
All relatives of the executed uncle of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, including children and the country's ambassadors to Cuba and Malaysia, have also been put to death at the leader's instruction, multiple sources said Sunday.Jang Song-thaek, the once-powerful uncle, was executed last month on charges of attempting to overthrow the communist regime, including contemplating a military-backed coup. All direct relatives of Jang have also been executed, the sources said."Extensive executions have
Jan. 26, 2014
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S. Korea creates N. Korea situation index
South Korea has developed an index that measures the level of crisis in North Korea and the possibility of the communist country's transition to a new political system, a government official said Sunday.The index, called the North Korea Situation Index, will not be made public and used only for internal decision-making because its announcement may spark the ire of the North, the official at the Ministry of Unification said."The ministry recently concluded the calculation of the NKSI for 2013 and
Jan. 26, 2014
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S. Korea formally to notify N. Korea, China of military exercise plan
South Korea plans to formally notify North Korea and other neighboring countries early next month of its plan to conduct annual military exercises with the United States that Pyongyang has demanded be called off, a government source said Sunday.The South Korean and U.S. militaries are scheduled to hold the annual Key Resolve command post exercise for two weeks from late February to early March to improve their joint combat readiness and capabilities to deter threats from North Korea.After the Ke
Jan. 26, 2014
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Korea creates N. Korea situation index
South Korea has developed an index that measures the level of crisis in North Korea and the possibility of the communist country's transition to a new political system, a government official said Sunday. The index, called the North Korea Situation Index (NKSI), will not be made public and used only for internal decision-making because its announcement may spark the ire of the North, the official at the Ministry of Unification said. "The ministry recently concluded the calculation of the NKS
Jan. 26, 2014
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Seoul to notify N. Korea, China of military exercise plan
South Korea plans to formally notify North Korea and China early next month of its plan to conduct an annual military exercise with the United States that Pyongyang has demanded be called off, a government source said Sunday. The South Korean and U.S. militaries are scheduled to hold the annual Key Resolve command post exercise for two weeks from late February to early March to improve their joint combat readiness and capabilities to deter threats from North Korea. "We will notify China and
Jan. 26, 2014
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China FM calls for urgency in resuming nuke talks with N. Korea
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Friday resuming long-stalled nuclear talks with North Korea is a matter of great urgency, calling on relevant nations to create "favorable conditions" to reopen the six-nation talks aimed at ending the North's nuclear ambition. Wang made the remarks during a joint interview on Friday with some Chinese media organizations on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The interview transcript was posted on the Chinese foreign ministry's w
Jan. 25, 2014
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N.K. envoy says six-way talks depend on S. Korea, U.S.
North Korea's top envoy to the United Nations said Friday his country stands ready to rejoin the six-party talks on its nuclear program."We have long expressed a position for holding the six-way talks," Amb. Sin Son-ho told Yonhap News Agency after a news conference here. He added the timing of resuming the negotiations depends on "those who oppose" them. He was apparently referring to the U.S. and South Korea.The six-party talks, last held in December 2008, also involve China, Russia and Japan.
Jan. 25, 2014
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N. Korea proposes separated family reunions
North Korea on Friday made an abrupt proposal for the reunions of separated families living in both Koreas, and the South Korean government immediately welcomed the proposal.The North Korean Red Cross proposed holding the reunions at the Mount Kumgang resort "at a convenient time" after the Lunar New Year holiday, Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency said, adding that the proposal was made through a telephone message sent to the president of South Korea's Red Cross.The North said in the messag
Jan. 24, 2014
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Seoul snubs N. Korea overture, calls for action
South Korea on Friday once again turned a cold shoulder to the North’s offer of reconciliation, demanding action to prove its resolve to break from the past pattern of overtures followed by provocations. While welcoming Pyongyang’s pledge to cease slander, Seoul warned the communist neighbor against “attempting to evade responsibility for its previous military provocations by suggesting leaving behind the unsavory past.” “North Korea is insisting that its ‘crucial proposals’ don’t constitute a
Jan. 24, 2014
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U.S. updating N.K. contingency plans: Pacific commander
WASHINGTON (Yonhap) ― The United States is updating its contingency plans for a possible regime collapse in North Korea and various other scenarios, a top military commander said Thursday.Adm. Samuel Locklear, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, said his troops have “detailed planning” for many different types of scenarios of what might unfold on the Korean Peninsula.“And one of those would be a rapidly changing situation that would require stabilization of the peninsula. So that planning is ongoi
Jan. 24, 2014
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N. Korea insists overture toward South genuine
North Korea pressed South Korea Friday to accept its recent conciliatory overture, insisting that its proposal is neither deceptive nor a prelude to provocation.Last week, the North's powerful National Defense Commission offered a series of conciliatory gestures that called for, among other things, the cancellation of upcoming joint military drills between South Korea and the U.S.The commission has also called for a halt to all slander and military hostility between the two Koreas.South Korea ha
Jan. 24, 2014
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U.S. urges China's efforts to obtain 'early steps' by N. Korea
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns has called for China to boost bilateral cooperation so North Korea can take "meaningful and early steps" to give up its nuclear ambitions, according to a U.S. statement released on Thursday. Burns was in Beijing as part of his three-nation Asia trip that already took him to Seoul. He is set to leave for Tokyo later Thursday. In Beijing, Burns held talks with Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao and Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui."The Deputy Secretary
Jan. 23, 2014
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U.S. ready to send envoy to N.K. to free citizen
WASHINGTON (AFP) ― The U.S. said Monday it was ready to send an envoy to North Korea to bring back a jailed American who pleaded in front of reporters to go home.Kenneth Bae, a tour operator arrested in November 2012, made a public confession of wrongdoing ― often seen as a prerequisite for the totalitarian state to release foreign prisoners.State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the U.S. remained “very concerned” about Bae‘s health and was “actively” working to release him.“We continue to
Jan. 21, 2014
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U.S. concerned about reckless N. Korea: deputy secretary
The United States and South Korea are concerned about the recent development in North Korea and its possible provocations, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns said Tuesday, expressing commitment to talks for denuclearizing the communist country. Burns made the remarks during a press briefing in Seoul following the meeting with Seoul's First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kyou-hyun. The deputy secretary is here for a two-day visit from Monday on the first leg of his three-nation visi
Jan. 21, 2014
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N. Korea keeps up charm offensive despite S. Korea's rejection
North Korea continued its charm offensive toward South Korea on Tuesday despite Seoul's clear rejection of a series of overtures by Pyongyang. North Korea repeated its demand that South Korea scrap its upcoming joint military drills with the United States, saying Seoul should immediately halt "hostile military actions." The North's main newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun, said the country's recent overture is designed to end the armistice and establish lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. The
Jan. 21, 2014
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North Korea football players to compete in South
(AFP) -- North Korea said Monday its football players would participate in the Asian Games to be hosted in South Korea's western port city of Incheon later this year.Pyongyang's footballers will compete in both men's and women's events during the Asian Games, which will run from September 19 to October 4, the North's official Korean Central News Agency said in a brief article.South Korea has invited North Korea to participate in the so-called Asiad games through the Olympic Council of Asia, a bo
Jan. 20, 2014
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Jailed American appeals for release in North Korea
PYONGYANG (AP) ― An American missionary who has been jailed in North Korea for more than a year has appeared before reporters and is appealing to the U.S. government to do its best to secure his release. The missionary, Kenneth Bae, made the comments Monday at what he called a press conference held at his own request.Bae was arrested in November 2012 while leading a tour group. He was accused of crimes against the state and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. He was moved to a hospital last sum
Jan. 20, 2014
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N.K. says its football teams to compete at Incheon Asian Games
North Korea will send its male and female football teams to the Asian Games to be held in South Korea later this year, Pyongyang‘s state news agency said Monday, in an apparent move to ease tensions through sports exchanges.The Korean Central News Agency neither provided details nor named the South Korean host city of Incheon, a port city west of Seoul, which is set to host the 2014 Incheon Asian Games from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4.The move came days after North Korea called on Seoul to scrap its upco
Jan. 20, 2014