Most Popular
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[H.eco Forum] H.eco Forum calls for transition to clean, carbon-free energy
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[Exclusive] LACMA admits it needs further research on donated Korean paintings
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Russia likely offering N. Korea technology aid to expand threats to US, others: Pentagon official
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[Bridge to Africa] Africa-Korea partnership: Why it matters for future
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[Herald Interview] Korean adoptees embark on journeys to find roots
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[Graphic News] Medical tourists visiting Korea reach record high
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‘Gimflation’ in S. Korea as dried seaweed prices grow on rising global demand
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Revote on Marine probe bill to be held next week
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Yoon to resume diplomatic activity via 3-way summit with Japan, China
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Illit’s agency sues Ador CEO Min Hee-jin for defamation
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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
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Seoul hardens line amid N.K. peace offensive
South Korea appears to be hardening its stance against North Korea as the Kim Jong-un regime steps up its peace offensive, which Seoul sees as an attempt to build rationale for a possible military provocation. The communist country’s propaganda machine has been churning out articles and editorials calling for efforts to improve inter-Korean relations in line with its leader’s New Year address. Last week it offered reconciliation through the cessation of slander and military drills with the U.S.
Jan. 20, 2014
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N. Korea leader guides night exercise of paratroopers
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has inspected an airborne unit conducting military drills, Pyongyang’s state news agency reported Monday, apparently aimed at improving night-time infiltration capabilities. The latest visit came shortly after both Seoul and Washington announced that they will go through with their annual military exercises as planned despite the North’s proposal asking them not to. The paratroopers showed Kim their “admirable actions of accurately landing on the designated points
Jan. 20, 2014
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Dennis Rodman checks into rehab
Dennis Rodman has checked into an undisclosed alcohol rehabilitation center to treat his long-time struggle with alcoholism, his agent says.Darren Prince declined on Saturday to say which facility will treat Rodman and how long he will be there. Rodman recently returned to the United States from his latest trip to North Korea.He later apologized for comments he made in North Korea about a detained American missionary, saying he had been drinking and was under pressure as he organized an exhibiti
Jan. 20, 2014
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N.K. renews calls for halt to ‘slander’
North Korea pressed South Korea Monday to accept its latest conciliatory overture amid simmering tensions on the Korean Peninsula over Seoul’s upcoming joint military drills with Washington.“The South Korean authorities should dispel prejudice and unnecessary suspicion toward their compatriots to salvage North-South relations,” said the North’s main newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun.The propaganda newspaper also called on South Korea to halt all slander, calling it a first step toward improving inter
Jan. 20, 2014
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Jailed American appears before reporters in N. Korea
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 summer in poor hea
Jan. 20, 2014
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N. Korean leader guides night jump exercise of paratroopers
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has guided a night jump exercise of the country's airborne units, Pyongyang's state news agency said Monday, amid tensions over upcoming joint military drills between South Korea and the U.S.The paratroopers showed Kim their "admirable actions of accurately landing on the designated points," the North's official Korean Central News Agency said early Monday.Kim highly praised the combatants and airmen for successfully performing their duties as he underscored the n
Jan. 20, 2014
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N. Korea's British ambassador in Beijing after trip to Pyongyang
The North Korean ambassador to Britain, Hyon Hak-bong, arrived in Beijing on Saturday after a trip to Pyongyang, a diplomatic source said, adding that his trip was unrelated to the recent execution of leader Kim Jong-un's uncle in a dramatic political purge. Hyon, who took up the post in December 2011, was seen arriving at the Beijing airport earlier in the day on an Air Koryo flight from Pyongyang. He didn't respond to questions by a group of journalists. "To my knowledge, a number of ambassado
Jan. 19, 2014
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Park orders airtight security posture against N. Korea
President Park Geun-hye called for an "airtight" security posture against North Korea from South Korean soldiers and other officials on Saturday, viewing the North's recent charm offensives as a possible prelude to imminent military provocations."In India, Park ordered the (South Korean) defense minister and other security-related ministers to make more efforts to keep an airtight security posture against (potential) provocations at a time North Korea is conducting a flurry of propaganda offensi
Jan. 18, 2014
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N. Korea vows to act first to end inter-Korean tensions
North Korea will take the first steps to fulfill its proposal made earlier this week to end inter-Korea tensions, the country's main newspaper said Saturday, calling on Seoul to follow suit."Our will to fulfill the latest important proposal is solid," said the Rodong Sinmun daily, which is run by the governing party. "As we have declared, we will first show our actions to fulfill it," it said. The newspaper article, however, did not elaborate on what specific actions the country will take.The Ro
Jan. 18, 2014
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China urges Koreas to improve ties amid Pyongyang's 'peace offensive'
China called on both South and North Korea Friday to take steps to nurture better cross-border relations, with Pyongyang's "peace offensive" raising fresh concerns that tension on the peninsula may rise sharply again ahead of joint military drills between Seoul and Washington.North Korea has proposed this week that both Seoul and Pyongyang stop military provocations and mutual slandering to improve bilateral relations, but demanded the cancellation of upcoming South Korea-U.S. military exercises
Jan. 17, 2014
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S. Korea studies scenarios of N. Korea's reconciliatory gesture
South Korea is evaluating the real intention behind North Korea's surprise peace gesture, while closely monitoring military moves there to see whether the communist neighbor is committed to keeping its word, government sources said Friday.After North Korea proposed Thursday the two Koreas halt all slander against each other, President Park Geun-hye's national security chief, Kim Jang-soo, convened an emergency security meeting with Cabinet members and security officials to discuss the North's pr
Jan. 17, 2014
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S. Korea rejects N. Korea's calls for canceling military drills with U.S.
South Korea said Friday it will go ahead with joint military exercises with the United States in coming months as planned, a move that analysts say may prompt Pyongyang to stage provocations.North Korea has repeatedly called on South Korea to scrap the joint military drills scheduled to run from late February to April. The North suspects the military exercises could be a rehearsal for a nuclear war against it. Seoul and Washington have said the routine drills are defensive in nature.On late Thur
Jan. 17, 2014