Most Popular
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Torrential rainfall forces 1,500 to evacuate, causes widespread damage to homes, roads
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[KH Explains] Can smart chargers ease tensions over EV fires?
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1 in 5 households to have breadwinner over 80 in 30 years
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[Online Predators] Online reviews of sex tourism in Southeast Asia proliferate
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Assembly to review disputed appointment of national soccer team coach
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New Fifty Fifty off to strong start
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Arrival of fall calls for more outdoor festivals
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Evicted guest burns down inn; 3 killed
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[Herald Interview] US election may unleash growth for Korea: Laffer
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Yoon's Prague visit sets stage for W24tr nuclear power plant deal
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Park to hold summit with China’s Xi on June 27
President Park Geun-hye will hold her first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on June 27, her office announced Friday, a high-stakes meeting where North Korea is expected to be a key topic.The summit is the highlight of Park’s June 27-30 state visit to the neighboring nation that will also include a series of meetings with other newly installed top Chinese officials, a university speech and a meeting with Chinese business leaders, presidential spokeswoman Kim Haing said.Park and Xi plan t
June 7, 2013
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Seoul slams repatriation of N.K. defectors at U.N.
South Korea on Wednesday criticized the repatriation by Laos of nine North Korean defectors at a U.N. meeting, calling for the international community’s support to ensure their safety and humanitarian treatment. The seven men and two women aged between 15 and 23 were caught by Laotian authorities while trying to reach the South Korean Embassy on May 10. They were expelled to China last week and now likely face severe punishment in their oppressive homeland. Shin Dong-ik, deputy minister for mult
June 5, 2013
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[Photo News] Nuclear talks
June 3, 2013
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S. Korea, China hold talks ahead of Park's state visit to Beijing
Senior diplomats from South Korea and China held regular talks on Monday to discuss a range of issues, including North Korea, ahead of President Park Geun-hye's state visit to Beijing later this month, officials said. The one-day meeting in Beijing is also expected to discuss last week's deportation of nine young North Korean defectors, who were arrested in Laos then returned to the North via China."There is a possibility that the issue of North Korean defectors could be discussed," said a senio
June 3, 2013
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Korea to be player in largest suspension bridge in S. America
Korea will likely be a major player in building South America’s largest suspension bridge this year.Chile laid out plans to build the $720 million, 2.5-kilometer suspension bridge as part of measures commemorating its bicentennial in 2010. It will award the contract to one of eight consortia this year, according to investment officials visiting Korea last week.The Chilean delegation wrapped up its four-day drive at the Chilean Embassy in Korea on Thursday to attract big local brands like Hyundai
June 2, 2013
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Europe, Korea look to security cooperation for future ties
The European Union and Korea affirmed further cooperation in security operations in the Indian Ocean and around the Horn of Africa during a reception celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties at a hotel in Seoul on Monday.Korea and the EU are coordinating policies on security issues, including Korean participation in operations around the Horn of Africa and against piracy in the Indian Ocean.“We have established a broad range of interaction channels on political and security issues. We
June 2, 2013
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ASEAN drives envoy discussion at Jeju Forum
A panel of foreign envoys and experts chaired by ASEAN-Korea Secretary General Chung Hae-moon, discussed how the Southeast Asian regional organization serves as a driving force for broader regional integration during a working session of this year’s Jeju Forum.“ASEAN Plus Three and the East Asian Summit are two major vehicles driving cooperation and integration toward our shared goal of an East Asian community,” said Moon by phone on Friday from the forum.The working session, titled “East Asian
June 2, 2013
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Envoy reactions mixed at Korean cooperation plan
A South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs leaked plan to establish a special organization tasked with promoting cooperation with Africa and share Korea’s development experience with the region elicited mixed reactions among African envoys ― surprise, annoyance and even outspoken criticism. Instead of promoting the stated claim of cooperation with African nations, some African ambassadors responded to news of the plan that was leaked in early May with a mix of surprise and annoyance at not bein
June 2, 2013
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Rep. Royce protests China's repatriation of nine North Koreans
The head of the U.S. congressional panel on foreign affairs has lodged a strong protest with the Chinese government against its recent repatriation of nine North Korean defectors, his office said Friday.Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, sent a letter to China's President Xi Jinping expressing his concern over recent reports of the forced repatriation of nine North Korean defectors, some as young as 15, who now face extreme punishment in North Korea, including
June 1, 2013
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U.N. concerned about North Korean defectors
A United Nations human rights investigator and the U.N. refugee agency voiced concern on Thursday about reports of nine North Korean defectors, some of them possibly children, who were sent back by Laos to North Korea via China this week.Chinese authorities are obliged under international law not to return them to North Korea, where they could face persecution and possibly death, Marzuki Darusman, U.N. special rapporteur on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, said.“I have very real concer
May 31, 2013
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U.S. dismisses Osaka mayor's inflammatory remarks
The U.S. government on Tuesday delivered thinly veiled disparagement of the outspoken mayor of Osaka, Japan, who is under fire over a series of comments on "comfort women" and American troops in the region.Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who co-heads the opposition Japan Restoration Party, canceled his trip to the U.S. next month amid growing criticism.He recently said Japan's sexual enslavement of Korean and other Asian women during World War II was a necessity for its troops. And he urged U.S. soldiers
May 29, 2013
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U.S. to replace top negotiator in nuclear talks with S. Korea
The U.S. State Department confirmed Tuesday that it is replacing Washington's top negotiator in the thorny talks with South Korea on their civilian nuclear cooperation."We can confirm that Special Advisor Robert Einhorn is leaving the State Department," a department official told Yonhap News Agency, requesting anonymity.Over the past two years, Einhorn, the department's nonproliferation czar, has led U.S. negotiations with South Korea on revising their accord on nuclear energy."Assistant Secreta
May 29, 2013
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Seoul names new chief nuclear negotiator
Ambassador to Australia Cho Tae-yong was appointed Monday new chief envoy to the stalled six-nation talks aimed at denuclearizing North Korea.Cho, 57, will replace Lim Sung-nam as the Foreign Ministry’s special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs. Lim has been named South Korea’s ambassador to Britain. Since his 1980 entry to the ministry, Cho has resumed various key positions including chief of protocol, ambassador to Ireland, special advisor to the minister, director
May 27, 2013
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Lawmakers visit Japan over imperialist remarks
Four South Korean woman lawmakers visited Japan Monday to protest against nationalistic politicians for their allegations that the country was justified in using foreign sex slaves during World War II.Ruling Saenuri Party Reps. Kim Hee-jung, Ryu Ji-young and Kim Hyun-sook, and Rep. You Seung-hee of the main opposition Democratic Party arrived in Tokyo for a three-day visit to deliver letters of protest to Japanese lawmakers and civic groups.All four lawmakers serve on the parliamentary committee
May 27, 2013
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Seoul pushes trilateral talks with U.S., China
South Korea is pushing for a three-way strategic dialogue with the U.S. and China next month as part of its efforts to step up policy coordination over North Korea and other regional issues, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said Monday.Seoul and Canberra will also launch their first joint meeting of foreign and defense ministers on July 4 to reinforce their security cooperation and middle power diplomacy. The trilateral consultation was a core component of President Park Geun-hye’s foreign policy p
May 27, 2013
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Tokyo protests Japanese scholars’ Dokdo visit
BUSAN (Yonhap News) ― Two Japanese scholars said Saturday that they have been warned by their government in Tokyo for visiting South Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo, to which Japan has also laid claims.Norio Kuboi, a former professor at Momoyama Gakuin University, Yoshihiro Kuroda, a former lecturer at the Kobe Shoin Women’s University in Osaka, and another Japanese made the visit to Dokdo on Thursday where they declared the islets Korean territory. Right after the trip, the scholars said th
May 26, 2013
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Envoys celebrate 50 years of African unity
Fifty years ago, African countries ― many of which newly wrested their independence from European colonial rule, came together to form the Organization of African Unity. Now called the African Union, the regional body officially celebrated on Saturday the 50th anniversary of its establishment ― and the group had a lot to celebrate.Economically, African countries have for years posted the fastest growth rates in the world. Politically, there are fewer civil conflicts on the continent and more dem
May 26, 2013
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CICI gives award to Panamanian envoy for sharing Kuna artwork
Panamanian Ambassador to Korea Aram B. Cisneros Naylor was awarded this year’s CQ Culture Prize for sharing the artwork of the Central American nation’s native Kuna people. “Tonight’s event is the result of our growing friendship with CICI,” said Cisneros during an elegant “graduation” reception organized by the Corea Image Communication Institute at the Banyan Tree Club and Spa on Tuesday.“Building friendships between organizations and countries is similar to people building a friendship,” he s
May 26, 2013
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Slovakia promotes spa towns as travel destinations
Slovakia is known in Korea as the “Detroit of Europe,” a hub of manufacturing for global car companies such as Kia Motors.Less known here is the Central European nation’s rich tradition in mineral springs and spa resort towns. Some 1,800 mineral springs and 24 historic spa towns pepper the small country of 5.5 million people.The Slovak Embassy pitched their rich spa tradition to an audience of travel agents and journalists during a reception at the chancery on Thursday.Three spa towns ― Piestany
May 26, 2013
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Queen’s birthday marks strong Korea-U.K. relations
The British Embassy in Korea commemorated 130 years of diplomatic relations between Korea and the United Kingdom during celebrations for the Queen’s Official Birthday, which celebrates Britain’s reigning monarch Queen Elizabeth II, at the ambassador’s residence in downtown Seoul on Thursday.More than 500 guests from business, politics and the media gathered to network and honor the Korea-U.K. partnership at this year’s event, the embassy said in a press statement.“Today, as we honor the Queen an
May 26, 2013