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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AI Seoul Summit adopts declaration on safe, innovative, inclusive AI
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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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Revote on Marine probe bill to be held next week
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Embryo activist: Baby's lawsuit takes on S. Korea climate inaction
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Illit’s agency sues Ador CEO Min Hee-jin for defamation
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Rodman heading back to N.Korea to train basketball team
(AFP) -- Former NBA star Dennis Rodman, the new friend of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, will this month make a third visit to the reclusive state to train its basketball team, a source involved in the trip said Wednesday.The heavily tattooed former Chicago Bulls star is organising friendship exhibition games between North Korea and ex-NBA players in January."We're going back, most likely on December 18-21. Dennis is going to train the North Korean team and get them ready for the big match in
Dec. 4, 2013
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Purging of Jang’s associates continues: unification minister
Seoul’s Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae said Wednesday that North Korea is currently in the process of purging associates of Jang Song-thaek, the apparently ousted uncle of leader Kim Jong-un.During an emergency session of the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs and unification, Ryoo said the Seoul government knows Jang’s whereabouts and that his safety is not threatened for now. He added the apparent dismissal of Jang could impact the projects to construct special economic zones in th
Dec. 4, 2013
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Jang’s ouster raises prospect of shifts in N.K. power balance, foreign policy
The apparent ouster of Jang Song-thaek, a key guardian and uncle of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has raised the prospect of shifts in the reclusive state’s power structure and external policies.Some analysts said that the dismissal of Jang, seen as a dovish reformist, could weaken moderate voices among the power elites and push the regime toward a tougher policy.“One possibility is that Jang was ousted in a power struggle between his faction, which favors change and cooperation with the outs
Dec. 4, 2013
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‘N.K. nurtures science prodigies as hackers’
North Korea is aggressively beefing up its cyber warfare capabilities by adding child prodigies to its 3,000-strong special hacker unit targeting South Korea and its allies, an expert said Tuesday, citing the testimonies of North Korean defectors. Pyongyang regularly screens math and science prodigies to train them to be cyber experts through state-led education programs at home and abroad, according to Steven Kim, a professor at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. Kim said the selecte
Dec. 4, 2013
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Doubts linger over fate of Jang
A day after Seoul’s top intelligence agency talked of the possible purge of Jang Song-thaek, the powerful uncle of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, doubts still linger over his fate.Analysts argued that it would take more time to confirm his whereabouts. Some argued that Jang could be under temporary house arrest as part of a move to weaken his exalted status and centralize power for the dynastic ruler.“Rather than definitively purging Jang, I believe it was part of efforts by the North Korean l
Dec. 4, 2013
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Those who fell under Kim Jong-un
The apparent removal of Jang Song-thaek and his two lieutenants is the most extensive, but only the latest, purge of top officials as young leader Kim Jong-un tightens his grip on power. Jang, Kim’s uncle and vice chairman of the North’s National Defense Commission, was reportedly relieved of all political responsibilities. Ri Yong-ha and Jang Su-gil, senior officials suspected to be close to Jang, were executed last month according to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service. The two aides
Dec. 4, 2013
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[Newsmaker] Choe in spotlight after Jang's removal
The alleged removal of the North Korean leader’s powerful uncle Jang Song-thaek put the spotlight on Choe Ryong-hae, who is believed to be Jang’s rival and to control the country’s military. Choe is a vice marshal of North Korea’s military and the chief of the General Political Bureau, a powerful military organ under the direct control of the ruling Workers’ Party.Without Jang, Choe, a loyalist of the Kim dynasty, is considered to be in an unrivaled position, with his level of authority overshad
Dec. 4, 2013
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N. Korean media remains mute on Jang Song-thaek's dismissal: official
North Korea media have remained silent on speculations that its leader's uncle has been dismissed from power, Seoul's unification ministry said Wednesday."It is very likely that Jang Song-thaek has been sacked from all posts," said ministry spokeswoman Park Soo-jin. She, however, said that while there is precedence in regards to media outlets reporting on the dismissals and retirement of senior officials, nothing has been reported on Jang so far."We are keeping close tabs on the fact that no off
Dec. 4, 2013
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N.K. leader following his father's path in purging potential enemies: expert
North Korea's young leader, Kim Jong-un, is apparently demonstrating swift ruthlessness in eliminating his potential political rivals with reports that his uncle Jang Song-thaek has been ousted from all of his key posts, a U.S. expert said Tuesday.Alexandre Mansourov, who has long studied North Korean issues, said Kim seems to be following in his late father's footsteps. His father, Kim Jong-il, purged his own uncle Kim Yong-ju, regarding him as a threat to his power bid in the mid-1970s, said M
Dec. 4, 2013
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U.S. vet detained in N. Korea oversaw guerrilla group
An 85-year-old U.S. veteran being held in North Korea spent his war years there in one of the Army's first special forces unit, helping a clandestine group of Korean partisans who were fighting and spying well behind enemy lines. Now South Koreans who served with Merrill Newman, who is beginning his sixth week in detention, say their unit was perhaps the most hated and feared by the North and his association with them may be the reason he's being held.“Why did he go to North Korea?” asked Park B
Dec. 4, 2013
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67% of Americans view N.K. nuke as threat to the U.S., poll shows
Two out of three American people regard North Korea's nuclear weapons drive as a major threat to the well-being of the United States, according to poll results released Tuesday.The survey of 2,003 adults nationwide showed 7 percent of them view North Korea as representing the greatest danger to the U.S., an identical percentage with Iraq.The top threats were viewed as Iran and China, tied at 16 percent.The poll was conducted by the Pew Research Center from Oct. 30 to Nov. 6. The margin of error
Dec. 4, 2013
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Jang, N.K. leader’s guardian and reformist aide
Jang Song-thaek, believed to have been dismissed from the No. 2 post in North Korea, was the uncle, guardian, mentor and reform-minded assistant of young leader Kim Jong-un.Seoul’s National Intelligence Service told lawmakers Tuesday that the vice chairman of North Korea’s National Defense Commission is likely to have been fired. Lawmakers said that information about measures, if any, taken against his person has not been verified. The spy agency said it confirmed that two of his close associate
Dec. 3, 2013
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Technicians tasked with setting up RFID system check Kaesong complex
South Korean technicians tasked with inspecting potential sites in North Korea for wireless tagging system to facilitate cross-border movements of people and materials to and from the joint factory park returned home, the Seoul government said Monday.The six-member team returned to the South across the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that separates the two countries after spending the day checking prospective sites that can be used to set up the radio frequency identification tag (RFID) system.Seoul's
Dec. 2, 2013
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Park visits provinces in gesture to care for livelihoods despite political standoff
President Park Geun-hye traveled Monday to the southeastern city of Andong on a trip seen as aimed at underscoring her commitment to bread-and-butter issues despite the worsening parliamentary standoff with the opposition party.Park received a briefing from Andong Mayor Kwon Young-sae about policy directions the city is taking on key issues, such as job creation and cultural rejuvenation, which are among key goals of the Park administration. Andong in North Gyeongsang Province, some 190 km south
Dec. 2, 2013
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N.K. joins international satellite organization
North Korea joined the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO) convention last month as part of an ongoing effort to contribute to the development of maritime transportation and safety, state media reported Monday.The Korean Central News Agency, citing the chief delegate to the general assembly of the International Maritime Organization, said Pyongyang officially joined the convention on Oct. 15.The delegate, who attended the London meeting, said Pyongyang will take steps to improve f
Dec. 2, 2013
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N.K. preps for 2nd anniversary of late leader’s death
North Korea has been pushing for diverse propaganda campaigns in the run-up to the second anniversary of the death of leader Kim Jong-il.Kim Jong-il, predecessor and father of the North’s current leader Kim Jong-un, died of a heart attack on Dec. 17, 2011 on his way to a field guidance event, the communist country announced. He ruled the country for 17 years.In its Sunday edition, the Rodong Sinmun published articles and large pictures of the late leader to promote his feats and to inspire a sen
Dec. 2, 2013
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N.K. to hold construction sector leaders meeting
North Korea plans to hold a nationwide “study meeting” of construction sector leaders this month to share goals outlined by the ruling party in this field, state media reported Monday.The Rodong Sinmun, an organ of the Workers’ Party of Korea, said the meeting will be held in Pyongyang starting on Sunday and will run through Dec. 16. It also mentioned that the gathering will be attended not only by construction industry managers, but members of the military, the Cabinet, academia and regional WP
Dec. 2, 2013
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Technicians to set up RFID system in Gaeseong
Technicians have entered North Korea to set up wireless data transfer systems that can facilitate the movement of people and materials to and from the inter-Korean factory park in Gaeseong, the government stated on Monday.A six-member team crossed through the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that separates the two countries early on Monday and are checking sites that may be used to set up the radio frequency identification tag (RFID) system.The visit comes after Seoul and Pyongyang agreed on Friday to s
Dec. 2, 2013
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African elephant survival tops agenda at Botswana talks
JOHANNESBURG (AFP) ― African ministers and experts are meeting this week in Botswana to chart ways to stamp out a spike in elephant killings fuelled by a growing demand for ivory in Asia.“Poaching of elephants and associated ivory trafficking remain of grave concern,” said Richard Thomas, spokesman for the animal conservation group Traffic.The three-day meeting that opened on Monday in Gaborone has been organized by the Botswana government and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.P
Dec. 2, 2013
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N. Korea joins int'l satellite organization
North Korea joined the International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO) convention last month as part of an ongoing effort contribute to the development of maritime transportation and safety, state media said Monday.The Korean Central News Agency, citing the chief delegate to the general assembly of the International Maritime Organization said Pyongyang officially joined the convention on Oct. 15.The delegate who attended the London meeting said Pyongyang will take steps to improve friendly re
Dec. 2, 2013