Nation Multimedia Group is set to move into the local education market in a joint venture with South-East Asia University. “Nation University” is a 250 million baht joint venture. The group has already signed a 175 million baht ($5.7 million) takeover deal with Siritaj Rojanapruk, owner and license holder of Lampang’s Yonok University. Under the deal, Nation University will own and operate the uni

International Feb. 24, 2011

South Korean and U.S. marines plan to hold a joint maneuver this year on islands near the West Sea border with North Korea as the allies expand combined exercises to deter provocations from the North, a military official here said Tuesday.The planned drill would be the first of its kind involving marines from the two nations on the West Sea islands, one of which was targeted by a deadly North Kore

Defense Feb. 22, 2011

The prosecution asked a local court Tuesday to issue an arrest warrant for a 32-year-old doctor, who is suspected of killing his nine-month-pregnant wife, after an initial rejection earlier this month. The prosecution and the accused husband are now confronting one another over what people labeled the “Korean O.J. Simpson case.” The case dates back to Jan. 14, when police officers visited a studio

Social Affairs Feb. 22, 2011

South Korean spy agency denies roleIndonesia has officially asked South Korea to verify Seoul spy agency’s alleged trespassing into a hotel room of its envoys for intelligence gathering purposes, the Foreign Ministry here said Monday. Local media reports revealed Monday that three agents belonging to Seoul’s National Intelligence Service had been caught after entering a downtown hotel room to stea

Foreign Affairs Feb. 21, 2011

Rep. Kim Moo-sung, floor leader of the ruling Grand National Party, proposed Monday that parliament organize a special committee to lead discussions on Constitutional amendment.A mainstream faction of the party has recently renewed its drive to revise the Constitution written in 1987 to change the current single-term five-year presidency and allow re-elections.The drive, however, is unlikely to ea

Politics Feb. 21, 2011

China’s deputy nuclear envoy is visiting North Korea, an official said Monday, a possible sign that Beijing is stepping up efforts to resume six-party talks on Pyongyang’s nuclear programs.Amb. Yang Houlan arrived in Pyongyang on Sunday on a trip to accompany Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun, and the two countries are expected to discuss ways to reopen the stalled six-party talks, the official s

North Korea Feb. 21, 2011

On his way home from work, Oh Jong-seok stops twice a week at a corner convenience store in southern Seoul where he usually buys a pack of cigarettes and sometimes takes care of “important” business: buying national lottery tickets.The 34-year-old office worker is one of many regular customers of the store that’s abuzz selling tickets to people hoping to get rich quick by winning first prize in a

Social Affairs Feb. 21, 2011

North Korea has been digging special tunnels at a nuclear test site in Punggye-ri in North Hamgyong Province, sparking concerns that it may be preparing for another nuclear test, government and military sources said Sunday.North Korea conducted its two previous plutonium-fueled nuclear tests, one each in 2006 and 2009, at the site. “South Korea and U.S. intelligence authorities have spotted the No

North Korea Feb. 20, 2011

WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) ― A senior U.S. senator Monday called on the Obama administration to secure transparency in the distribution of food aid to North Korea before any resumption of the aid, which was suspended years ago over the same issue, is made.“Any resumption of U.S. food aid to North Korea should be contingent on North Korea allowing access and accountability by monitors in accordance w

North Korea Feb. 15, 2011

A senior Chinese official has supported North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s plans to cede power to his youngest son, the North’s official news agency reported Tuesday.Meng Jianzhu, Chinese state councilor and public security minister, “warmly congratulated Kim Jong-il upon his reelection as general secretary of the WPK and Kim Jong-un upon his election as vice chairman of the Central Military Commis

North Korea Feb. 15, 2011