South Korea has developed an index that measures the level of crisis in North Korea and the possibility of the communist country's transition to a new political system, a government official said Sunday.   The index, called the North Korea Situation Index (NKSI), will not be made public and used only for internal decision-making because its announcement may spark the ire of the North, the official at the Ministry of Unification said.   "The ministry recently concluded the calculation of the NKS

North Korea Jan. 26, 2014

 South Korea plans to formally notify North Korea and China early next month of its plan to conduct an annual military exercise with the United States that Pyongyang has demanded be called off, a government source said Sunday.   The South Korean and U.S. militaries are scheduled to hold the annual Key Resolve command post exercise for two weeks from late February to early March to improve their joint combat readiness and capabilities to deter threats from North Korea.   "We will notify China and

North Korea Jan. 26, 2014

South Korean President Park Geun-hye said Saturday that North Korea should resolve its nuclear problem first if it wants to bring peace to the Korean Peninsula, officials said.   Park met with Marco Rubio, a U.S. senator for Florida, at her office and discussed matters of mutual concern, including the North's nuclear problem, said the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.   "North Korea suddenly offered a conciliatory gesture, but history shows that the North provoked or reneged on its promise foll

World News Jan. 26, 2014

한국에도 잘 알려진 '파라과이 응원녀' 라리사 리켈메(28)이 파라과이 국가대표 미드필더 조나단 파브로(32)와 결혼한다고 외신들이 전했다.리켈메는 지난 19일(한국시각) 자신의 트위터에 서로 결혼반지를 끼고 있는 손가락 사진을 공개했다. 그는 지난해부터 파브로와 연인 사이임을 밝히며 공개석상에 자주 모습을 드러냈다. 리켈메는 2010년 남아공 월드컵에서 섹시한 의상으로 응원하는 모습이 소개되며 스타로 급부상했다. 당시 파라과이가 우승하면 누드 세리머니를 펼치겠다는 파격 공약으로 화제를 모았다.2010년 11월에는 한 중매업체의 주선으로 한국남성들과 선을 보기 위해서 내한하기도 했다. (khnews@heraldcorp.com)<관련 영문 뉴스>Paraguayan model Riquelme announces her marriage with soccer playerParaguayan model and actress Larissa Riquelme will get married with J

한국어판 Jan. 23, 2014

 The South Korean economy grew at a slower pace in the fourth quarter than in the previous quarter as construction investment contracted, the central bank said Thursday.   Korea's gross domestic product (GDP), the broadest measure of economic performance, grew 0.9 percent in the October-December period from three months earlier, compared with a 1.1 percent on-quarter gain in the third quarter, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).   The fourth-quarter growth was the slowest since a 0.8 percent o

Latest News Jan. 23, 2014

  A South Korean national was released by gunmen in Libya Wednesday, three days after being captured, according to an embassy official.   Han Seok-woo, the chief of the Libya unit of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), was abducted in Tripoli by four Libyan gunmen on his way home.   The Libyan government is protecting Han and the South Korean Embassy in Libya will soon get custody of him, the official said.   "It has been confirmed that there is no problem with Han's health," th

Latest News Jan. 23, 2014

Pope Francis is considering visiting South Korea in August, a Vatican spokesman said Wednesday.   The pope "has been invited to attend a meeting of young Asian Catholics (in South Korea) and that a trip is under study," the Rev. Federico Lombardi told reporters in the Vatican City, according to the Associated Press.   The Catholic Church of Korea has said it requested last year the papal visit to South Korea and received a positive response from the Vatican.   South Korean Catholic Church offici

Latest News Jan. 23, 2014

 President Park Geun-hye arrived in this Swiss ski resort on Tuesday for an annual gathering of political and business leaders from around the world that she plans to use to appeal for investment in South Korea.   Park arrived in Davos after wrapping up a state visit to Bern.She is the second South Korean president ever to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, also known as the "Davos Forum," after her predecessor, Lee Myung-bak, did so in 2010.   Park plans to use the gathering

Latest News Jan. 22, 2014

 International Monetary Fund said Tuesday that the global economic recovery is strengthening as countries move away from austerity budgets and their banking systems are fortified.   But the Fund remained cautious, saying the rebound in advanced economies is uneven and that they still face the threat of deflation.   Meanwhile, emerging economies are wrestling with tighter monetary conditions and slower domestic demand.   The Fund increased its estimate for world growth this year slightly, by a te

Latest News Jan. 22, 2014

    A South Korean trade agency employee kidnapped in Libya has been confirmed to be unharmed, a ranking government official said Tuesday.   Han Seok-woo, the head of the Libya unit of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), was abducted Monday by four unidentified Libyan gunmen on his way home, prompting Seoul to ramp up efforts to win his release.   "Han has been confirmed to be unharmed," the official said, without disclosing how he confirmed his safety and who was behind the abd

Social Affairs Jan. 21, 2014

   The United States and South Korea are concerned about the recent development in North Korea and its possible provocations, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns said Tuesday, expressing commitment to talks for denuclearizing the communist country.   Burns made the remarks during a press briefing in Seoul following the meeting with Seoul's First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kyou-hyun.     The deputy secretary is here for a two-day visit from Monday on the first leg of his three-nation visi

North Korea Jan. 21, 2014