North Korea is upgrading one of its two major missile launch sites, apparently to handle much bigger rockets, and some design features suggest it is getting help from Iran, a U.S. research institute said Thursday.A successful satellite launch in December and a nuclear test on Tuesday, both in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions, have intensified concern that North Korea is moving toward its goal of building a bomb small enough to be fitted on an intercontinental missile.An analysis wri

North Korea Feb. 15, 2013

Radioactive isotopes of xenon were not detected in the atmosphere after North Korea’s nuclear test, Seoul’s Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety said Thursday. Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety said radioactive xenon was not found in the first batch of samples collected using mobile collecting equipment in the East Sea on Wednesday.Radioactive isotopes of various elements are released into the atmosphere following a nuclear test, and the material -- plutonium or uranium -- used in the explosive dev

North Korea Feb. 14, 2013

North Korea on Thursday warned it can acquire intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to counter hostile forces and bolster its self-defense capabilities.The political review carried by the Rodong Sinmun, an organ of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, said if "imperialists" have a nuclear arsenal, ICBMs and other types of space-bound weapons, North Korea should have them as well. The North often uses the word "imperialist" to describe the United States. It said having such strong defensive

North Korea Feb. 14, 2013

Global credit appraiser Fitch Ratings said Thursday that it maintains its sovereign ratings on South Korea despite heightened geopolitical tension following the recent nuclear test by North Korea.The credit ratings agency also said it maintains its rating outlooks at "stable."Last September, Fitch raised the ratings on South Korea from "A+" to "AA-," the fourth-highest of its rating system, and has maintained the level ever since.North Korea conducted its third nuclear test on Tuesday in defianc

Feb. 14, 2013

South Korea's National Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution condemning North Korea's nuclear test, calling it a serious threat to the lives and safety of the South Korean people."We cannot tolerate North Korea's nuclear test and strongly condemn it as a serious provocation threatening the lives and safety of the South Korean people," the resolution said."Responsibility for all issues arising from (the nuclear test) lies with North Korea."The resolution was adopted two days after the North c

North Korea Feb. 14, 2013

Lee Kun-hee, chairman of South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics Co., has retained his position as the wealthiest shareholder in the country thanks to a surge in share prices of the company and a key affiliate, industry data showed Thursday.Lee held 12 trillion won (US$11 billion) worth of shares as of Wednesday, up 31.2 percent from a year earlier, according to the data compiled by Chaebul.com, which tracks the country's conglomerates.The researcher said the rise came as shares of Samsung E

Industry Feb. 14, 2013

국내 환경에너지 기업인 부강테크는 상반기에 코스닥 상장을 위해 주관사 미래에셋증권하고 준비 중이라고 회사 관계자는 말했다.부강테크의 상장규모는 약 300-400억 정도 예상 되며 공모자금으로 국내외 다양한 환경어네지 프로젝트 사업에 투자할 계획이라고 밝혔다.IPO통해 현금력이 커질 뿐만 아니라 회사의 신용도가 높아지므로 앞으로 프로젝트 위해 은행으로부터 자금을 더 쉽게 확보할 수 있다고 관계자는 설명했다.부강테크는 프로젝트 사업을 “10배” 더 수행할 수 있는 능력을 확보하기 위해 상장을 추진 중이라고 했다. 그리고 전문분야인 수처리 시스템 외에 바이오 플랜트 기술개발 및 운영할 수 있는 “복합 에너지사”로 발전하기 위해서이다. 미국 법인을 소유하고 있는 부강테크는 글로벌 프로젝트로 확장하면서 장기적으로 또는 10년 내 미국 나스닥 상장을 목표를 두고 있다.회사는 올해 말레이시아의 클랑강 복원 사업인 “리버오브라이프”에 참여를 기대하고 있다. <관련 영문 기사>Mirae Asset

한국어판 Feb. 14, 2013

The Bank of Korea kept its key base rate unchanged at 2.75 percent for four consecutive months on Thursday as various economic indices show signs of recovery both at home and abroad.The inflation rate in South Korea remained stable, and geopolitical risks from North Korea concerning its provocative weapons tests had very limited effect on the South’s economy.However, BOK Governor Kim Choong-soo said that uncertainties remain as the U.S. and eurozone, Korea’s two major export markets, are still g

Feb. 14, 2013

A teenage boy was kidnapped, beaten and killed in an Indian village for falling in love with a girl from a higher caste, family members say.The body of Deenanath Kumar was found hanging from a tree in Surangapur village in the Jehanabad district of Bihar state after he had gone missing Sunday night, Gulf News reported Tuesday.His family claimed the grade-eight student was killed by men in the same village for falling in love with a girl from a higher caste.Villagers surrounded the local police s

World News Feb. 14, 2013

South Korea's ranking in terms of gold holdings jumped last year as the country continued to invest in the precious metal as part of efforts to diversify its foreign reserve portfolios, a report showed Thursday.South Korea's gold holdings came to 84.4 tons last year, the 36th largest among 100 countries surveyed, according to the report by the World Gold Council. The ranking was up from 56th tallied in July 2011.The rise came as the country has kept purchasing gold, which is regarded as one of t

Feb. 14, 2013

South Korean stocks began a tad higher Thursday on gains in tech and chemical shares, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 2.17 points, or 0.11 percent, to 1,978.24 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Foreigners snapped up a net 7.4 billion won (US$6.8 million) worth of local equities as of 9:15 a.m. Auto and chemical issues led the gain, with No. 1 carmaker Hyundai Motor rising 0.2 percent and industry leader LG Chem advancing 1 percent. Market behemoth

Feb. 14, 2013

Some U.S. lawmakers push for re-designation of N. Korea as terrorism sponsorA bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday proposed legislation to re-designate North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism.The move came in response to another nuclear test in North Korea earlier this week.“I strongly condemn the latest nuclear test conducted by North Korea. This deliberate and provocative action by the North Korean regime is yet another display of the regime’s hostile intentions and is a reminde

North Korea Feb. 14, 2013