Independent presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo vowed to seek closer dialogue and cooperation with North Korea as he announced his first official set of election pledges on Sunday.   "Upon the basis of firm security, I will facilitate peace on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and cooperation between the South and the North," the computer technology mogul-turned-politician said in a news co

Politics Oct. 7, 2012

 The Russian space program's Mission Control Center says it will move the International Space Station into a different orbit to avoid possible collision with a fragment of debris.   Mission Control Center spokeswoman Nadyezhda Zavyalova said the Russian Zvevda module will fire booster rockets to carry out the operation Thursday at 07:22 a.m. Moscow time (0322 GMT).   The space station performs eva

Technology Oct. 3, 2012

A Chinese-owned company has filed a lawsuit in a U.S. federal lawsuit against President Barack Obama for blocking its wind farm project deal in Oregon.In a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Washington, Ralls Corp., owned by Chinese nationals, alleged Obama acted in "an unlawful and unauthorized manner" in issuing his order without providing "any evidence or reasoned explanation" for hi

Oct. 3, 2012

The top prosecution pledged no leniency Wednesday on the possession and distribution of child pornography in the wake of a recent spate of sex crimes against children.   The Supreme Prosecutors' Office said it will make it a rule to detain for investigation anyone suspected of having made or distributed pornography featuring minors or introduced minors for the production of such porn.    Those who

Social Affairs Oct. 3, 2012

   WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican challenger Mitt Romney looks to use Wednesday's debate against  Barack Obama to revive his struggling presidential campaign, seeking not only to win over undecided voters but also fire up Republicans who have begun questioning whether he can win.    Though polls show the race remains tight ahead of the Nov. 6 vote, Obama clearly has momentum and the edge not only i

World News Oct. 3, 2012

Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae said Sunday that a provision of law should be repealed to ensure sex offenders can be punished without the need for a complaint from their victims.   The provision in the current law stipulates that those suspected of sexual offenses are prosecuted only when victims file formal complaints.   The loophole could allow sex offenders to get off scot-free as many victims are

Social Affairs Sept. 23, 2012

A New York truck driver said he was surprised to find out a hitchhiker he picked up was a suspect in a homicide.Manuel Velasco, 37, of Elmont, was pulled over Thursday night after an E-ZPass toll lane he passed through malfunctioned at the toll plaza of the George Washington Bridge, the New York Daily News reported.He and his passenger, Charles Kelley, 52, were questioned by police after they told

Sept. 23, 2012

 South Korea's self-sufficiency rate of rice, one of its staple grains, is expected to drop below 90 percent this year due to a decline in land available for rice cultivation, the government said Sunday.   The country's rice self-sufficiency rate is likely to reach 86.5 percent this year, based on the median output of 4.88 million tons over the past five years, according to the Ministry of Food, A

Sept. 23, 2012

The ruling Saenuri Party's presidential hopeful Park Geun-hye has taken a beating in the polls triggered by her controversial views on South Korea's modern history and a string of scandals involving aides, political watchers said Thursday.   The downturn in the polls has raised questions about her "closed" leadership style and reluctance to listen to advice over issues that can sway votes ahead of

Politics Sept. 20, 2012

 Global credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's said Friday that it has upgraded its sovereign credit rating for South Korea by one notch, citing reduced geopolitical risks stemming from North Korea.    According to an e-mailed statement, S&P raised Korea's credit rating from "A" to "A plus," the fifth-highest level on its rating grade, and maintained its rating outlook for Asia's fourth-largest e

Sept. 14, 2012

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) began moving into the newly built city of Sejong Friday, becoming the first government agency to be relocated to the administrative hub in central South Korea.   Sejong City, some 150 kilometers south of Seoul, came officially into being as a "special autonomous city" in July and will be home to 16 central government ministries and offices as well as 20 subsidiary

Politics Sept. 14, 2012