Edging toward a punitive strike against Syria, President Barack Obama said Friday he is weighing ``limited and narrow'' action as the administration bluntly accused Bashar Assad's government of launching a chemical weapons attack that killed at least 1,429 people _ far more than previous estimates _ including more than 400 children. No ``boots on the ground,'' Obama said, seeking to reassure Americans weary after a decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. With France as his only major public ally

International Aug. 31, 2013

Son Yeon-jae finished a career-high fifth in the individual all-around competition on Friday at the World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Kiev, Ukraine.The 19-year-old earned a total of 70.332 points from four apparatus -- hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon -- for her first top-10 finish at the world championships. There were 24 finalists.Son was fifth in ball with 17.683 points and in clubs with 17.350 points. She was sixth overall in ribbon with 17.516 points, and seventh in hoop with 17.783 po

More Sports Aug. 31, 2013

　As seen in recent regular press conferences in the first eight months of 2013, the Vietnamese government has pointed out that the economy is showing positive signs. A fairly stable macro economy has been achieved, inflation is under control, bank interest rates have declined, credit growth has been on a good trend, challenges in production and trading sectors have been partly resolved, industrial outputs -- particularly in the processing and manufacturing industries -- have steadily improved, e

Aug. 31, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) - A senior administration official says there is “very little doubt” that a chemical weapon was used by the Syrian regime against civilians in an incident that killed at least a hundred people last week.The official says Sunday that the U.S. intelligence community based its assessment given to the White House on ``the reported number of victims, reported symptoms of those who were killed or injured, and witness accounts.'' The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the

International Aug. 25, 2013

서울 내 한 회사에 재직중인 Jasmine HS Kim씨 부부. 연말에 만료될 아파트 전세 계약 때문에 고민이 이만저만이 아니다. 집주인은 부동산 중개업자를 통해 이미 전세를 월세로 바꾸겠다고 통지한 상태. 할 수 없이 서울 내 입주 가능한 전세 아파트를 알아보기로 마음먹었지만, 이 또한 쉽지 않다. 전세 부동산 시장에 나와있는 물량이 워낙 적은데다, 그나마도 전세가가 천정부지이기 때문이다. 그러나 가족의 수입 대부분을 전세 집 한 칸에 쏟아 부을 수도 없는 노릇 아닌가.대출을 더 늘려 전세를 얻자니 그것도 문제다. 대출상환 기간이 좀 늘어난 것 빼고는 정부의 부동산 대책에서 오는 직접적인 혜택이 그다지 없는 것 같다. 고민에 고민을 거듭한 끝에 Kim씨는 결국 부모님께 손을 벌리는 방법 밖에 없다고 결론짓는다.  Kim씨 부부의 사례가 보여주듯, 현 주거 시장은 전세 물량이 바닥나고 월세가 넘쳐나는, 이른바 급격한 패러다임의 변화에 맞닥뜨린 실정이다. Kim씨 부부나 젊은 세대주들

한국어판 Aug. 25, 2013

U.S. Senator John McCain arrived in Seoul on Sunday to meet with South Korean government officials and activists to discuss issues of mutual interest including North Korea's nuclear weapons program and human rights conditions.The Arizona senator, accompanied by fellow Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, arrived at Incheon International Airport, the main gateway to Seoul, in the afternoon for his first trip here since 1991. During his two-day stay in South Korea, he is scheduled to meet with local activi

Foreign Affairs Aug. 25, 2013

North Korea claimed Wednesday that South Korea had abducted the nine defectors who were caught in Laos and accused Seoul and Washington of a smear campaign against Pyongyang."It was disclosed recently that the south Korean puppet group attempted to tempt and abduct many youngsters of the DPRK to take them to south Korea," an unidentified spokesman for the North's Red Cross said in a statement carried by the country's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). DPRK stands for North Korea's official name,

North Korea June 5, 2013

  The 12th Conference of the Parties to United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) will be held in South Korea's alpine city of Pyeongchang in September next year, the environment ministry said Tuesday.   The conference will be attended by 20,000 delegates from 193 countries, it said.   Ways to implement the so-called "Nagoya Protocol" will be discussed during the conference, the ministry said.   The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing

Olympic Games April 30, 2013

"Gentleman," the new hit single by South Korean rapper Psy, has set a Guinness world record as the most-watched online video in a single-day, according to the Guinness Web site.   "Gentleman" became the most-viewed online video in a 24-hour period when it drew 38.4 million hits on YouTube on April 14, the second day of its release, the Web site said in an article posted on Thursday (local time).   "Proving that 'Gangnam Style' was far from a one-hit-wonder, South Korean sensation Psy has secured

April 30, 2013

The National Assembly on Tuesday passed a set of bills calling for tax breaks on housing transactions in a move expected to boost the slumping real estate market.   Early this month, the government announced a package of stimulus measures, including the tax breaks, amid a protracted property slump in the country.   According to government data, more than 73,000 new homes remained unsold as of the end of February. Meanwhile, the average price of South Korean homes dipped 0.26 percent from a year

Politics April 30, 2013

 An American solider stationed in South Korea has been indicted for his alleged involvment in last month's BB gun shooting in a crowded Seoul nightlife district, prosecutors said Thursday.  Prosecutors said the soldier, a staff sergeant surnamed Lopez, has been arrested and charged with obstructing police in the execution of their duties and with breaching traffic laws.According to prosecutors, Lopez allegedly shot a BB gun at pedestrians in downtown Seoul last month and later led South Korean p

Social Affairs April 18, 2013

 A major South Korean broadcaster says it has banned Psy's new music video because the rapper is shown abusing public property. The “Gentleman'' video opens with Psy kicking a cone that says ``no parking.” State-funded KBS said Thursday the scene doesn't meet its standards as a public broadcaster. Two spokesmen say KBS has banned other videos for similar reasons in the past. They spoke anonymously because they say it is the broadcaster's company policy. “Gentleman'' was released last week on You

Performance April 18, 2013

   Two South Korean men have been arrested on charges of illegally circulating on the local market a U.S. military trailer used for counter-terrorism missions, police here said Thursday.   One of the suspects, surnamed Kim, is accused of selling the ZBV military trailer without government permission to another suspect who is an exporter of heavy equipment after purchasing it from a U.S. military arms dealer in June 2010, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said.   The ZBV military trailer, equi

Social Affairs Jan. 24, 2013

   One of South Korea's most decorated inline skaters will switch to speed skating on ice at an upcoming national competition, officials said Thursday.   The Korea Skating Union (KSU) said Woo Hyo-sook, who has won multiple world championships in inline speed skating, has registered as a speed skater on ice for the National Winter Sports Festival, set for Feb. 18-21 across the country.   Woo, 27, won three gold medals at the 2008 World Roller Speed Skating Championships in Spain, and added two m

More Sports Jan. 24, 2013