President Park Geun-hye expressed hope Saturday that South Korea and China can contribute to peace and stability in Northeast Asia. Tensions persist in the region over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs as well as territorial and other history-related issues between South Korea and Japan and between China and Japan.Japan ruled the Korean Peninsula as a colony from 1910-45 and controlled much of China in the early part of the 20th century.Park said she hopes that South Korea and China can

Foreign Affairs Jan. 3, 2015

The United States announced retaliatory sanctions on North Korea on Friday in response to the communist nation's alleged cyber-attacks on Sony Pictures, warning the actions are just the "first aspect" of its response.President Barack Obama signed an executive order authorizing additional sanctions on North Korean individuals and entities in response to the North's "ongoing provocative, destabilizing, and repressive actions and policies, particularly its destructive and coercive cyber attack on S

North Korea Jan. 3, 2015

The IOC has approved plans for a more flexible sports program, a move that could lead to the inclusion of baseball and softball at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.The International Olympic Committee voted in favor of the revised system on the opening morning of a special two-day session to adopt President Thomas Bach's 40-point ``Olympic Agenda 2020'' reform package.The IOC will abolish the cap of 28 sports for the Summer Games and move to an ``events-based'' system that would allow new events to come i

World News Dec. 8, 2014

A Dutch court has ruled in a preliminary judgment that Uber, the ride-sharing service, must stop working with drivers who charge fares but do not possess a taxi license.The Commerical Appeals Court in The Hague sided with the Ministry of Transportation that Uber's "UberPop" service violates current taxi laws, which are under review. Use of Uber by licensed taxi drivers, or by individuals who don't seek payment, remains permissible. The court rejected a proposal by Uber to allow UberPop to operat

World Business Dec. 8, 2014

China said Thursday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Indonesia that allows Jakarta to join a regional bank led by Beijing to fund infrastructure projects in Asia. South Korea, Australia and Indonesia were absent last month when China and 20 other countries in the region agreed to set up the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), amid Washington's concerns over the new regional lender seen as a counterweight to established multilateral lenders such as the Asian Developme

World Business Nov. 27, 2014

UNESCO on Thursday added "nongak", traditional Korean music performed by farmers, to its intangible cultural heritage list for its creativity and cultural identity, the government said.The music was inscribed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during the 9th session of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Paris, it said.Nongak -- comprising drums, gongs, dancing, and acrobatic feats -- was originally performed by farmers, but n

Culture Nov. 27, 2014

South Korean stocks are likely to face growing volatility next week as fears over a weakening yen grip investors amid a lack of upward momentum, analysts said Saturday.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 1,939.87 on Friday, down 24.56 points from 1,964.43 the previous week.Seoul shares started the week on a weak note after the Bank of Japan's surprise move for additional monetary easing spurred concerns about the weakening yen and pummeled shares of exporters that c

Nov. 8, 2014

A South Korean Buddhist order said Saturday it will hold a joint memorial service in North Korea later this month to mark the anniversary of its founder's death.The Cheontae Order said it agreed during a meeting with officials from the North's Korea Buddhist Federation on Thursday to hold the joint memorial service to mark the 912th anniversary of the passing of Uicheon on Nov. 26.Founded by Uicheon, a Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) monk, the Cheontae school has since become the second-largest Buddhi

North Korea Nov. 8, 2014

Robin Williams had recently become increasingly paranoid when he committed suicide by hanging himself, coroners said Friday, adding that he had no alcohol or illicit drugs in his system.There were also signs that the comic actor -- who had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease -- had tried to cut his left wrist, according to an autopsy report.No suicide note or other indication that he planned to take his own life was found at the scene, it said.The 63-year-old, known for high-energy,

World News Nov. 8, 2014