North Korea appears willing to push for humanitarian aid from South Korea by calling for cross-border dialogue in its New Year's message, despite tension that soared when the North attacked a South Korean island last year, the government  said Saturday.In its analysis of a joint press editorial from Pyongyang, the Unification Ministry in Seoul also warned that the North will continue to create a r

North Korea Jan. 1, 2011

Two sailors were killed and 15 remain missing after a North Korean-registered cargo ship sank in the Yellow Sea off China, according to a news report Saturday.The North Korean ship "Kang Bong" sank on Friday morning amid strong gales off Lianyungang Port in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu, China's Xinhua News Agency reported.Three sailors had been rescued, and rescuers recovered the bodies

Social Affairs Jan. 1, 2011

The government confirmed two additional foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks on Saturday, despite nationwide quarantine efforts to contain the spread of the highly contagious animal disease.The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said cattle at farms in North Gyeongsang Province in the country's southeastern region and Gangwon Province on the east coast tested positive for FMD.All 9

Social Affairs Jan. 1, 2011

Twelve ruling and opposition lawmakers have introduced a bill that would make it legal for South Korean taxpayers to pay for the expected massive cost of an eventual reunification with North Korea, a ruling party lawmaker said Saturday.While reunification of the two Koreas is still a distant goal, it was the first time that lawmakers proposed such a bill to the National Assembly that would require

Politics Jan. 1, 2011

North Korea called Saturday for improvement in its relations with South Korea and a "full-scale offensive" to revive its moribund economy in its New Year message."Confrontation between north and south should be defused as early as possible," the North said in the joint editorial of its three leading newspapers, Rodong Sinmun, Joson Inmingun and Chongnyon Jonwi, adding nothing is "more vital" than

North Korea Jan. 1, 2011