LYON (AFP) - The mysterious disappearance of a Malaysia Airlines plane with 239 people on board was not likely caused by a terrorist attack, Interpol said Tuesday after revelations two passengers had used stolen European passports."The more information we get, the more we are inclined to conclude it was not a terrorist incident," Ronald K. Noble, head of Interpol, told reporters.He pointed to declarations by Malaysian police that one of the two suspect passengers was a 19-year-old Iranian illega

World News March 11, 2014

South Korean doctors have voted to go on strike later this month in protest of the government's plan to introduce telemedicine and other contentious medical policies, the doctors' association announced Saturday.In January, doctors threatened to go on strike in March unless the government changes its plan to introduce telemedicine and other programs. Neighborhood doctors fear telemedicine would lead to a reduction in their income as they suspect patients would favor larger hospitals.The Korea Med

Social Affairs March 1, 2014

North Korea blasted U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Saturday for calling the communist nation an "evil place" and denouncing its human rights conditions, saying it shows that the United States remains hostile toward Pyongyang.The top American diplomat made the "evil place" remark in an interview with MSNBC on Wednesday, saying the North is "one of the most closed and cruel places on earth." On Thursday, Kerry also criticized Pyongyang for its human rights record that the State Department d

North Korea March 1, 2014

TOKYO (AFP) -- Hundreds rallied in Tokyo Saturday to protest at Japanese prosecutors' decision to drop charges over the Fukushima nuclear crisis, with no one yet punished nearly three years after the "man-made" disaster."There are many victims of the accident, but there is no (charged) assailant," chief rally organiser Ruiko Muto, 61, told the protestors, displaying a photograph of Kawauchi village which was hit by the nuclear accident."We are determined to keep telling our experiences as victim

World News March 1, 2014

South Korean President Park Geun-hye urged Japan on Saturday to muster up the courage to face up to history in order to mend frayed relations between the two countries, saying Tokyo will find itself more isolated if it keeps denying the past."True courage is not to deny the past, but to look squarely at history as it is and teach growing generations the correct history," Park said in an address marking Korea's 1919 nationwide uprising against Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule."I believe the Japanese

National March 1, 2014

The South Korean stock market is expected to gather ground next week on expectations of economic stimulus moves in Europe and China, analysts said Saturday.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 1.13 percent from the previous week to close at 1,979.99 Friday, supported by Seoul's economic plan announced early in the week. The three-year blueprint envisions broad deregulations, stimulating domestic demand and boosting the country's potential growth.While the market growth

March 1, 2014

South Korea's trade surplus shrank significantly from a year earlier last month as imports grew at a faster rate than exports, the government said Saturday.The country's overall outbound shipments rose 1.6 percent on-year to US$42.98 billion in February with its imports gaining 4 percent to $42.06 billion, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.The country's trade balance stayed in the black for the 25th consecutive month with a surplus of $926 million in February. The figure, h

March 1, 2014

North Korea reiterated its call Saturday on South Korea to take concrete steps to improve strained ties, while keeping silence on Seoul's offer to hold family reunions later this month.Seoul has been waiting for Pyongyang's answer to its offer to hold reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War at Mount Kumgang, a scenic resort on North Korea's east coast, on Feb. 17-22.South Korea made the proposal days after the North offered to hold family reunions at a "convenient time" for Seou

North Korea Feb. 1, 2014

Arsenal's South Korean striker Park Chu-young has signed for Watford on a loan deal until the end of the season, subject to English Premier League clearance, the London-based football club said Saturday.The 29-year-old played for FC Seoul and AS Monaco before joining the Gunners, and he spent the last season on loan at Celta Vigo in Spain.While the South Korean has scored 23 goals in 61 international matches for his country, the talented but much-maligned forward has made only seven appearances

Soccer Feb. 1, 2014