North Korea on Sunday criticized South Korean President Park Geun-hye's policy toward the communist country that it said has led to a collapse of inter-Korean relations.Pyongyang's denunciation was made on the 14th anniversary of a joint declaration at their landmark summit in June 2000 that paved the way for eased military tensions and economic cooperation between the sides after decades of hostility.The summit agreement, known as the June 15 South-North Joint Declaration, came at the end of th

North Korea June 15, 2014

The United States ordered an aircraft carrier into the Persian Gulf and laid out specific ways for Iraq to show it is forging the national unity necessary to gain assistance in its fight against Islamic insurgents.Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Saturday ordered the USS George H.W. Bush from the northern Arabian Sea as President Barack Obama considered possible military options for Iraq. Hagel's press secretary, Rear Adm. John Kirby, said the move will give Obama additional flexibility if milit

World News June 15, 2014

The United States ordered an aircraft carrier into the Gulf Saturday over the Iraq crisis, where Sunni Arab jihadists have seized a swathe of the country, as Shiite Iran said it would consider helping foe Washington should it take action.The order came as Iraqi commanders that soldiers had recaptured two towns north of Baghdad, and thousands of volunteers answered a call to arms from top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.US President Barack Obama said he was "looking at all the option

World News June 15, 2014

Prosecutors sought an arrest warrant Sunday for the elder brother of the fugitive owner of the sunken ferry Sewol on charges of embezzlement and violation of a law requiring real names in property deals.The prosecution move came two days after Yoo Byung-ill, 75, was apprehended on a mountain road nearby the sprawling religious compound belonging to the Evangelical Baptist Church in Anseong, about 80 kilometers south of Seoul. He is the elder brother of Yoo Byung-eun, 73, who is believed to own C

Social Affairs June 15, 2014

South Korea's income disparity significantly widened over the past years with the gap between top and low income earners growing at one of the fastest rates in the world, data showed Sunday.According to the state statistics office, the average monthly income of South Korea's urban households nearly doubled from about 2.1 million won (US$2,060) in 1990 to a little over 3.9 million won last year.However, the country's Gini coefficient widened from 0.256 to 0.280 over the cited period.Gini coeffici

Social Affairs June 15, 2014

Four central European countries "strongly support" the denuclearization of North Korea as stability on the divided Korean Peninsula will help enhance their ties with South Korea, and urged the reclusive nation to be open to the outside world, their high-ranking diplomats have said.The so-called "Visegrad Group" member countries also want to further strengthen cooperation with Seoul and broaden the scope of ties in various fields, they said.The Visegrad Group, established in 1991, is an alliance

North Korea June 15, 2014

Two opposition lawmakers lost their parliamentary seats as the top court on Thursday confirmed their suspended jail terms in criminal cases.Rep. Bae Ki-woon of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy was sentenced to six months in prison with a two-year stay by the Supreme Court for violating the Public Official Election Act.Bae was convicted of bribing his accountant, identified only by his surname Kim, in February 2012 in exchange for spending election expenses that exceeded th

Politics June 12, 2014

Chinese President Xi Jinping will "soon" visit Seoul for a summit meeting with South Korean President Park Geun-hye, South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said Thursday, voicing hope that the upcoming visit by Xi will help strengthen bilateral relations. Yun made the remarks in his congratulatory speech for a public diplomacy forum in Beijing between South Korea and China. The speech was read by South Korean Ambassador to China Kwon Young-se. "Chinese President Xi Jinping will soon visit So

Foreign Affairs June 12, 2014

North Korea is expanding its passenger train routes to China and Russia, a North Korea website said Thursday, reflecting the communist country's efforts to attract more foreign travelers.North Korea's official portal site Naenara disclosed the expansion in its article featuring the country's international passenger train joint venture, established in April 2012, with Hong Kong.The joint firm is currently operating three passenger train lines linking Pyongyang to China's Dandong, Beijing and Shen

North Korea June 12, 2014