Heightened activity at North Korea's nuclear test site may indicate that the reclusive country is getting ready to conduct another underground detonation in the near future, military officials here said Wednesday.South Korea's military said it will remain on high alert as the North might launch another long-range missile or conduct a sixth nuclear test or both next month to celebrate the 68th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Worker's Party of Korea on Oct. 10.  "The canopy erected to hi

North Korea Sept. 21, 2016

More than half of high-ranking civil officials' children have received favors in carrying out their compulsory military service, an opposition lawmaker said Wednesday, casting concerns over inequality among soldiers.According to the data compiled by Rep. Kim Joong-ro of the minor opposition People's Party, around 54.1 percent of family members belonging to high ranking public employees were assigned to rear area, non-combat units. He pointed out that on the whole, such positions only account for

Social Affairs Sept. 21, 2016

Consumers are resorting to packaged kimchi after record summer heat and drought have sent prices of napa cabbage, the side dish's key ingredient, up by more than 230 percent, retailers said Wednesday.At E-Mart, sales of packaged kimchi rose 67 percent so far this month compared to the same period last year, totaling 4 billion won ($3.58 million), company officials said. Such a rise is common during the summer vacation months of July and August, when travelers buy ready-made kimchi for convenienc

Industry Sept. 21, 2016

South Korea's parliament passed a new resolution Wednesday that urges Pyongyang to drop its nuclear development program, nearly two weeks after Pyongyang tested its fifth nuke underground despite strong opposition and warnings from the international community."We sternly warn North Korea that reckless provocations will only isolate it from the international community, and it will face more pressure," the resolution said, adding Pyongyang must take meaningful steps to give up all nuclear-related

Politics Sept. 21, 2016

South Korea's chief financial regulator called on the nation's umbrella bank union Wednesday to withdraw its plan to go on a general strike later this week, saying such a collective action will never win public support especially at a time when the local banking industry faces a "life-or-death" crisis.Yim Jong-yong, chairman of the Financial Services Commission, delivered the message in a meeting with the heads of seven major local banks to discuss ways to deal with the move by the Korean Financ

Sept. 21, 2016

None of the top 30 public enterprises have female executives, a corporate analyst said Wednesday, a finding that defies government efforts to raise women's presence in the business world.According to CEO Score, which tracks companies' performance and management, as of the end of June this year, there were no female executive-level officers among the 139 such officials at the surveyed public firms. There were two women in the C-suite in 2014, but they have retired.The government had said it wants

Social Affairs Sept. 21, 2016

A new rocket engine that North Korea claims to have successfully tested this week would be powerful enough to range the continental United States if it has the capability to put a satellite into orbit as claimed by Pyongyang, a top US commander said Tuesday.The North claimed earlier Tuesday that it successfully conducted a "ground jet test of a new type high-power engine of a carrier rocket for the geo-stationary satellite." It said the "single engine" has a thrust of 80 tons, which is three tim

North Korea Sept. 21, 2016

About four out of 10 teenage girls who have run away from home have at some point provided sexual services mainly for money, a survey showed Tuesday.According to the written survey of 92 runaway teen girls in Daejeon conducted from July-August by Yook Hye-ryon, a professor at Chungnam National University, 38 percent of the surveyed answered that they have engaged in prostitution. (123RF)Asked what age when they became involved in solicitation, 48.6 percent of the polled answered "between 14-16,"

Social Affairs Sept. 20, 2016