South Korea urged Japan Thursday to reflect on its World War II biological and chemical warfare unit responsible for some of its most notorious war crimes, after a militaristic photo of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe evoked the "painful memories of Unit 731." Unit 731 was the Japanese Imperial Army's covert biological and chemical warfare research and development unit, carrying out a special project that used prisoners of war for experiments.Historians say the unit, based in Harbin, held prisoners fr

Politics May 16, 2013

The return home of the last group of South Koreans from a suspended inter-Korean industrial complex in North Korea was being delayed Monday for reasons that were not clearly explained.More than 400 South Korean workers and managers have returned home since April 9 when North Korea unilaterally withdrew all of its 53,000 workers from the South Korean-run factory zone in the North's border city of Gaeseong in anger over U.S.-involved military exercises in the South.The last group of 50 South Korea

North Korea April 29, 2013

South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Monday lashed out at North Korea, calling it "too unpredictable" over its unilateral suspension of a jointly run factory complex, saying there is nothing Pyongyang can achieve unless it becomes responsible about its promises.Park made the remark during a meeting with two U.S. lawmakers -- Rep. Steve Chabot, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, and Rep. Eni Faleomavaega, a Democrat from American Samoa -- calling on the

North Korea April 29, 2013

Three big names in the Korean art world are among the lineup of this year's Edinburgh International Festival, sponsors of the event's Korean programs said Monday.Nam June Paik Art Center, an art museum run by Gyeonggi Province; photographer and media artist Kim Hyung-su and YMAP, a contemporary dance troupe, have been invited to the festival scheduled for Aug. 9-Sept. 1, according to the British Council, one of the sponsors.The provincial government established the art center in 2008 in honor of

Culture April 29, 2013

South Korea's National Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution condemning Japan's recent moves to glorify its militaristic past despite strong protests from its Asian neighbors, including Seoul.Tensions between South Korea and Japan flared anew last week after several Japanese Cabinet ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso, visited a shrine honoring Japan's war dead. The visits were seen in South Korea as a sign that Tokyo has not repented for its wartime atrocities and brutal colon

Politics April 29, 2013

경기침체와 물가상승 그리고 임금격차로 인해 소비 양극화가 갈수록 심각해지고 있다.통계청에 따르면, 작년 하위 10%인 1분위의 소비지출 중 의식주 – 생활 필수품, 주거, 질병 치료 등 – 전체 소비의 절반 이상을 차지했다.반면, 여유가 있는 고소득층, 즉 상위 10%인 10분위의 주 소비는 교통, 교육과 숙박 이었다. 전체 소비 대비 고소득층의 교통 또는 여행은 14.4%으로 가장 큰 것으로 나타났다. 교통은 고가의 자가용 운영과 기름값 부담이 포함된 것으로 분석된다.또한, 고소득층의 교육 소비(14%)는 저소득층의 약3배 가까이 달해 교육 양극화가 심화한 것을 보여주고 있다. 작년 고소득층의 의식주 소비는 저소득층의 절반도 되지 않았다.저소득층은 기본적인 생활을 위해 소비하는 반면, 고소득층은 여유로운 삶에 더욱 많은 돈을 쓰고 있다.　<관련 영문 기사>Consumption inequality grows between rich and poorTop earners spend on

한국어판 March 19, 2013

A mechanic working at the U.S. Army in South Korea was arrested for threatening a South Korean citizen with a knife, police here said Saturday.A 48-year-old aircraft maintenance crew from the 8th U.S. Army, identified only by the initial J, allegedly threatened a 42-year-old South Korean citizen, known as Choi, with a knife the previous day while having a dispute over a near accident involving their cars on a street in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul.He has been handed over to the

Social Affairs March 9, 2013

South Korea will take necessary steps to stabilize its markets in case any additional provocations by North Korea result in heightening geopolitical risks, a senior finance ministry official said Saturday.The steps will be part of what is specified in contingency plans the government came up with to prepare for all stages of situations, Vice Finance Minister Shin Je-yoon told a meeting with other policymakers."The government is seeing that the U.N. Security Council's decision to impose sanctions

March 9, 2013

Sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear programme are not "the fundamental way" to resolve the crisis, China's foreign minister said Saturday, days after the UN tightened measures against Pyongyang.China is the North's sole major ally and by far its biggest trading partner, including being its primary energy supplier. It voted Thursday for the UN resolution that stiffened restrictions on North Korea's financial dealings, notably its suspect "bulk cash" transfers, and blocked imports of so

North Korea March 9, 2013

Nine people have died and one is still missing in a fire that broke out on a fishing boat operating off this western port city, local maritime police said Saturday. The fire started at about 5:20 a.m. on the 20-ton fishing boat operating in the waters about 24 kilometers southwest of the port city, according to the police. Gunsan is located 274 kilometers south of Seoul.The accident forced all 11 crew members on board to jump off the boat. Ten have been rescued but nine of them were pronounced d

Social Affairs March 9, 2013

Flaring up already heightened tension on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea slammed tougher sanctions against its nuclear test and continued ramping up war rhetoric on Saturday.An unidentified spokesman for the North's foreign ministry denounced the U.N. Security Council's toughened sanctions to punish the North's third nuclear test, calling them "clear proof" that the U.N. is "abused" by the United States that aims to bring down the Pyongyang regime "by disarming and suffocating it economically.

North Korea March 9, 2013

China's inflation has reached a 10-month high but remains under the government's target.Data released Saturday by China's National Bureau of Statistics show consumer prices rose 3.2 percent in February, up from the previous month's 2 percent.The spike came amid rising prices for meat products and fresh vegetables, as Chinese families stocked up for banquets to celebrate this year's Lunar New year, which took place during February.Analysts predict price pressure will rise throughout 2013 but stay

World Business March 9, 2013

South Korea earned four medals, including two titles, on the opening day of the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Debrecen, Hungary, on Friday.Park Seung-hi and Shim Suk-hee swept up gold and silver medals in the women's 1,500 meters, the first race of the day. Then in the men's 1,500ｍ, Sin Da-woon and Kim Yun-jae also went first and second. In the women's race, Park came in at 2:23.634, with Shim just behind at 2:23.755. Shim took the lead midway through the race, but Park charge

More Sports March 9, 2013

Seven years of U.N. sanctions against North Korea have done nothing to derail Pyongyang's drive for a nuclear weapon capable of hitting the United States. They may have even bolstered the Kim family by giving their propaganda maestros ammunition to whip up anti-U.S. sentiment and direct attention away from government failures.In the wake of fresh U.N. sanctions leveled at North Korea on Thursday for its latest nuclear test, the question is: Will this time be different?Since 2006, North Korea has

North Korea March 9, 2013