South Korea's National Assembly is expected to adopt a resolution next week to denounce Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for paying his respects at a war shrine in what was seen as an attempt to glorify the country's militaristic past.Leaders of the ruling Saenuri and the main opposition Democratic parties called in unison Friday for an anti-Abe resolution after the Japanese leader paid homage at Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine that honors the country's war dead, including class A war criminals.South

Foreign Affairs Dec. 27, 2013

South Korean stocks traded 0.07 percent higher late Friday morning on gains in automakers and financial shares, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 1.36 points to 2,000.33 as of 11:10 a.m.Tech and financial shares led the overall market decline, with top market cap Samsung Electronics falling 0.05 percent.Automakers remained in the positive terrain. Industry leader Hyundai Motor rose 1.55 percent, and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors advanced 1.27 percent.

Dec. 27, 2013

Three celebrities, including TV personalities and a former K-pop singer, received suspended prison sentences Friday for betting on illegal sports gambling websites.The Seoul Central District Court sentenced comedian Lee Soo-geun, singer Tak Jae-hoon and Tony An, a former member of the popular 1990s boy band HOT, to six months in prison, suspended for one year.The three were found guilty of wagering hundreds of millions of won (hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars) on football teams in the Engli

Social Affairs Dec. 27, 2013

Arsenal is back on top of the Premier League with the season about to reach its halfway point as manager Arsene Wenger looks to win the trophy for the first time in a decade.Theo Walcott's double ensured Liverpool's stay atop the standings lasted less than a week as Arsenal came from behind to win 3-1 at West Ham and its title rival lost 2-1 at Manchester City on Thursday.As Liverpool dropped to fourth, City climbed a place to second to sit a point behind Arsenal after the traditional Boxing Day

Soccer Dec. 27, 2013

The stock market continued its upward climb Thursday as traders went back to work after the Christmas holiday, adding to what has already been a historic year for the market.Traders were encouraged by an unexpectedly large drop in claims for unemployment benefits last week, the latest sign that the U.S. job market is improving. Trading volume was very low, however, as most portfolio managers have closed out their positions for the yearThe yield on the 10-year Treasury note, a benchmark for many

World Business Dec. 27, 2013

The bidding for Japanese star pitcher Masahiro Tanaka has begun.All 30 major league teams have been notified that the 30-day period to sign the 25-year-old right-hander began at 1300 GMT Thursday, according to Major League Baseball spokesman Michael Teevan. Clubs have until 2200 GMT on Jan. 24 to attempt to reach an agreement with the ace.If Tanaka and a MLB team come to terms, that franchise is required to pay his Japanese club, the Rakuten Eagles, a posting fee, now capped at $20 million under

Baseball Dec. 27, 2013

Business sentiment among South Korean manufacturers inched up for January from a three-month low in December as the local economy shows signs of improvement, the central bank said Friday.The index that gauges manufacturers' outlook on business conditions reached 79 for January, up from 78 recorded for December, according to a monthly survey from the Bank of Korea (BOK). The index measures manufacturers' expectations for the coming month.A reading below the benchmark 100 means pessimists outnumbe

Dec. 27, 2013

Amid speculation about how the Obama administration has responded to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to a highly controversial war shrine, the State Department reiterated Washington's explicit disappointment Thursday."The United States is disappointed that Japan's leadership has taken an action that will exacerbate tensions with Japan's neighbors," Jen Psaki, the department's spokeswoman, said in an emailed statement.Her four-paragraph statement contained exactly the same wording as t

Foreign Affairs Dec. 27, 2013

A contingent of South Korean relief troops arrived in the Philippines on Friday to start their one-year mission to support the typhoon-stricken Southeast Asian nation's restoration efforts, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) here said. A total of 520 troops, mostly composed of engineers and medics, will carry out relief missions and provide humanitarian support in Tacloban, an area hardest-hit by Typhoon Haiyan last month. The unit is named "Araw," which means blessing and hope in Filipino. Two amp

Foreign Affairs Dec. 27, 2013

South Korean stocks started lower on Friday with losses in tech and financial stocks, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 8.79 points, or 0.44 percent, to 1,990.51 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Tech and financial shares led the overall market decline, with top market cap Samsung Electronics falling 0.07 percent.Automakers remained in the positive terrain. Industry leader Hyundai Motor rose 0.22 percent, and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors advanced 0

Dec. 27, 2013

The state-run railway operator said on Thursday it is recruiting hundreds of substitute workers to cope with a protracted strike by its union members.The Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL) said it has put out a public notice to hire 660 workers -- 280 train attendants and 380 drivers -- and that they will be placed to work after receiving job training."We plan to hire more workers if the strike is protracted further," said Jang Jin-bok, a spokesman of the rail company.More than 8,700 KORAIL workers w

Social Affairs Dec. 26, 2013

The ruling party urged the main opposition rival party Thursday to help persuade striking rail workers to return to work, reiterating a proposal to resolve the standoff with a parliamentary resolution banning privatization of the state rail monopoly.Rep. Hwang Woo-yea of the ruling Saenuri Party made the appeal, saying the loss from the prolonged walkout is snowballing to over 500 billion won ($472 million) and the rival parties should work together to improve efficiency of the state-run Korea R

Politics Dec. 26, 2013