Most Popular
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Jimin of BTS, actor Song Da-eun suspected to be dating, again
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Police raid popera singer Kim Ho-joong's house over hit-and-run suspicions
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What's next for the government's push in quota hike?
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Trump may like to 'solve' N. Korean nuclear problem if reelected: ex-official
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Woman falls to death from acquaintance's home after exhibiting ‘unexplained' behaviors
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N. Korea slams planned S. Korea-US military drills, warns of 'catastrophic aftermath'
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‘Malice should not undermine the system, social order,’ says Hybe's Bang
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N. Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles toward East Sea: JCS
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[Robert J. Fouser] Social attitudes toward language proficiency
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[Graphic News] How much do Korean adults read?
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N. Korea extends olive branch to S. Korea
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called Wednesday for improved ties with South Korea as he hailed the recent purge and execution of his once-powerful uncle that has apparently strengthened his grip on power. In an annual New Year's message delivered live on the North's television and radio, the 30-something leader also pledged to rebuild the North's moribund economy in 2014 with emphasis on food production. "We will make aggressive efforts to improve relations between the North and the South,
Jan. 1, 2014
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China 'closely watching' N. Korea after execution of Kim's uncle
China's Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin said Beijing has been "closely watching" the situation on the Korean Peninsula, as North Korea's neighbors keep a wary eye on potential fallout from last month's execution of leader Kim Jong-un's uncle."China is closely watching the development of the situation on the Korean Peninsula," Liu said in a question-and-answer article posted on his ministry's website on late Tuesday.Without mentioning the execution of Kim's uncle, Jang Song-thaek, Liu emphasize
Jan. 1, 2014
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S. Korean, Chinese FMs discuss N. Korea over phone
South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se had phone talks with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, primarily on North Korea, Yun's ministry said Wednesday.The conversation, arranged at Wang's request, began at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and lasted about one hour, said the ministry in a news release.It was their first talks since North Korea executed Jang Song-thaek, the once-influential uncle of leader Kim Jong-un, in early December.Yun and Wang compared their assessment of the political situation in the
Jan. 1, 2014
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N.K. calls for improved relations with Seoul
North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un on Wednesday called on the two Koreas to work toward better relations and emphasized economic growth, raising cautious optimism amid escalated tension in the wake of the execution of his uncle. In his second verbal New Year’s address as the communist state’s leader, Kim said it is “time to end aspersions that do no good,” urging Seoul to come forward to improve cross-border ties. The remarks appear to contain relatively clearer reconciliatory signals than last ye
Jan. 1, 2014
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North Korea boasts of removal of "factionalist filth"
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Wednesday boasted of a surge of internal strength in the new year because of the elimination of ``factionalist filth'' _ a reference to his once powerful uncle and mentor, whose purge and execution last month have raised questions about the country's stability.Kim's comments in an annual New Year's message, including those focusing on one of the biggest political developments in Pyongyang in years, and certainly since the young leader took power two years ago a
Jan. 1, 2014
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N. Korea may stage provocation against Seoul around March: think tank
North Korea may stage provocations against South Korea early next year as part of efforts to further ensure internal unity following the execution of leader Kim Jong-un's once-powerful uncle and his associates, a Seoul think tank said Tuesday. The North executed Jang Song-thaek on charges of treason, along with other officials in early December. The shocking series of purges sparked concerns over potential instability in the isolated country. "There is a possibility that the North could
Dec. 31, 2013
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N. Korea recalls deputy UNESCO envoy
North Korea's deputy ambassador to UNESCO was called back to Pyongyang from Paris on Monday, a diplomatic source said, marking the latest summoning of North Korean diplomats following the recent execution of leader Kim Jong-un's uncle.Hong Yong, the North's deputy permanent delegate to UNESCO, and his wife were spotted at the Beijing airport before boarding an Air Koryo flight earlier in the day, the source said on the condition of anonymity.Last week, the North's ambassador to Sweden, Pak Kwang
Dec. 30, 2013
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Korea says N.K. continues purges on small scale
South Korea’s point man on North Korea said Monday that the communist country appeared to be continuing purges of officials after the high-profile execution of leader Kim Jong-un’s once-powerful uncle, Jang Song-thaek.Seoul’s Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae said in a parliamentary session small-scale purges appear to be under way in North Korea, noting that people close to Jang were recalled to Pyongyang.South Korea detected “circumstances of purges,” Ryoo told lawmakers, without elaborating.
Dec. 30, 2013
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Seoul approves private humanitarian aid to North Korea
South Korea endorsed private humanitarian aid to North Korea on Monday, an official said, in the latest assistance to Pyongyang despite lingering tensions on the Korean Peninsula.The two private aid groups are allowed to ship nutritional and medical supplies worth 240 million won ($227,000) to infants, children and people suffering from tuberculosis in the North, unification ministry spokesman Kim Eyi-do told reporters.The planned aid brought the total amount of assistance to the North from Sout
Dec. 30, 2013
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N. Korea urges S. Korean firms in Kaesong park to pay taxes
North Korea has demanded that South Korean firms operating in a jointly run factory park in the communist nation pay taxes to North Korea, an official said Monday, in an apparent breach of a September deal.The North said in a notice last week that the firms in the factory park in the North's western border city of Kaesong should pay taxes incurred between Jan. 1 and April 8, according to the official handling the issue at the unification ministry.The ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs,
Dec. 30, 2013
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S. Korea says N. Korea continues purges on small scale
South Korea's point man on North Korea said Monday that the communist country appeared to be continuing purges of officials after the high-profile execution of leader Kim Jong-un's once-powerful uncle, Jang Song-thaek.Seoul's Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae said in a parliamentary session small-scale purges appear to be under way in North Korea, noting that people close to Jang were recalled to Pyongyang.South Korea detected "circumstances of purges," Ryoo told lawmakers, without elaborating.
Dec. 30, 2013
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‘Purge won’t affect N.K.-China ties’
The recent execution of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s once-powerful uncle will not directly affect Pyongyang’s relations with China, a former Chinese official said.Jang Song-thaek, who was executed earlier this month for attempting to overthrow the regime, had been considered a key link between Pyongyang and Beijing. His execution raised speculations that relations between the two neighbors could suffer.The execution was so sudden and shocking, said Zhao Qizheng, former chairman of the Forei
Dec. 29, 2013
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Seoul moving to extend soft loans to North-linked firms
South Korea is pushing to extend special low-interest loans to companies with investments in North Korea that have been in trouble for years amid tensions on the Korean Peninsula, a government official said Sunday.South Korea suspended a tour program to Mount Geumgangsan in 2008 when a female South Korean tourist was shot dead near the scenic resort on the North’s east coast.Hundreds of local companies involved in projects in North Korea suffered another setback in 2010 when Seoul imposed sancti
Dec. 29, 2013
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North Korea beefs up nighttime border patrols
BEIJING (Yonhap News) ― North Korea has stepped up nighttime patrols and assigned more soldiers to parts of its border with China, a media report said Saturday, in an apparent attempt to ward off a flow of defections of its people. The number of North Korean soldiers who conduct nighttime patrols was higher than the number patrolling during daylight hours, marking an unusual reinforcement of border security compared with previous winter seasons, China’s state-run Global Times newspaper reported
Dec. 29, 2013
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Cabinet to tighten economic control
North Korea’s cabinet will tighten its grip on the economy after the shock execution of leader Kim Jong-un’s uncle, whose control over key sectors weakened the country’s finances, a senior official said.North Korea has also established a government agency to facilitate investments by overseas Koreans, another official was quoted Sunday as saying.Jang Song-thaek, the once-powerful uncle and political mentor of the young leader, was executed on Dec. 12 on charges of corruption and plotting a coup,
Dec. 29, 2013
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North Korea celebrates Kim’s rise to power
North Korea on Sunday celebrated leader Kim Jong-un’s ascension to power two years ago and swore allegiance to him, state media reported, in the latest in a series of events staged to show that the young leader is firmly in charge after the execution of his uncle.Kim took over as supreme commander of North Korea’s armed forces on Dec. 30, 2011, shortly after his late father Kim Jong-il died. This year’s anniversary came just weeks after Kim executed his powerful uncle Jang Song-thaek, prompting
Dec. 29, 2013
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N. Korea celebrates Kim's rise to power, pledges loyalty to him
North Korea on Sunday celebrated leader Kim Jong-un's ascension to power two years ago and swore allegiance to him, state media reported, in the latest in a series of events staged to show that the young leader is firmly in charge after the execution of his uncle.Kim took over as supreme commander of North Korea's armed forces on Dec. 30, 2011, shortly after his late father Kim Jong-il died. This year's anniversary came just weeks after Kim executed his powerful uncle Jang Song-thaek, prompting
Dec. 29, 2013
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S. Korea moving to extend soft loans to firms with ties to N. Korea
South Korea is pushing to extend special low-interest loans to companies with investments in North Korea that have been in trouble for years amid tensions on the Korean Peninsula, a government official said Sunday.South Korea suspended a tour program to Mount Kumgang in 2008 when a female South Korean tourist was shot dead near the scenic resort on the North's east coast.Hundreds of local companies involved in projects in North Korea suffered another setback in 2010 when Seoul imposed sanctions
Dec. 29, 2013
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N. Korea establishes agency handling investments from overseas Koreans
North Korea has established a government agency to facilitate investments in the communist nation by overseas Koreans, with its services to get into full swing by January, an official was quoted Sunday as saying.Pyongyang established the "economic cooperation office for overseas Koreans" in August to provide support and guidance for investments from Koreans living overseas, the agency's chief, Pak Kyong-jin, said in an interview with Minjoktongsin, a pro-North Korean website operated by a U.S.-b
Dec. 29, 2013
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N. Korean leader demands allegiance from military
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered front-line soldiers to become "human bullets" and "bombs" to protect him, the state media reported Saturday, amid rising concerns over potential political instability in the communist state.The Korean Central News Agency reported Kim made the comments while observing military training of two Army units, without elaborating on the location and time of the event.Kim ordered the soldiers to have "unshakable faith" to "protect the leader unto death in the spir
Dec. 28, 2013