A senior North Korean diplomat on Tuesday ruled out a meeting between top diplomats of the rival Koreas in New York as South Korea called for talks with North Korea on its human rights record.   North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su-yong is in New York to attend the U.N. General Assembly, the first time that North Korea has sent a foreign minister to the U.N. in 15 years.   The move raised speculation that Ri could meet with either U.S. or South Korean officials on the sidelines of the annual gath

North Korea Sept. 24, 2014

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called Tuesday for greater international attention to North Korea's human rights violations, saying that remaining silent about the problem would be the "greatest abuse of all."   Kerry made the appeal during a ministerial meeting he hosted in New York on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly while urging Pyongyang to shut down all political prison camps across the communist nation, which he described as an "evil system."   "We simply cannot be blind to th

North Korea Sept. 24, 2014

The United States on Tuesday made the Korean Peninsula the only exception to its pledge not to use anti-personnel landmines, citing the peninsula's "unique circumstances" and its commitment to South Korea's defense.   The White House announced the pledge, also vowing to destroy stockpiles of anti-personnel landmines that are "not required for the defense of South Korea." It also said the U.S. won't assist, encourage or induce anyone outside the peninsula to engage in activity banned under the Ot

Defense Sept. 24, 2014

Two more world records were set in weightlifting at the Asian Games on Tuesday as lifters from China and Chinese Taipei continued to flex their muscles on the way to the podium.   Lin Tzu Chi of Chinese Taipei broke world records in the clean and jerk and the total weight to win the gold medal in the women's63㎏ on Tuesday. She hoisted 145㎏ for the clean and jerk record and had a total of 261㎏, 4㎏ above the previous record.   Lin broke the total world record twice on Tuesday, first reaching 259㎏

Olympic Games Sept. 23, 2014

Some outdoor events at the Asian Games may be rained out later this week as a powerful typhoon is approaching South Korea, organizers said Tuesday.    Typhoon Fung-Wong, packing winds of up to 14 meters per second, is expected to bring up to 60 millimeters of rain Wednesday to this western port city where the Asiad is held, according to local weather officials.   "The organizing committee plans to run events in accordance with international regulations governing (weather-related delays)," said a

Olympic Games Sept. 23, 2014

South Korean gymnasts Lee Sang-wook and Yun Na-rae won bronze medals in the men's and women's individual all-around finals at the Asian Games on Tuesday.   Lee scored a total of 87.200 points from the floor exercise, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal bar, giving South Korea its first Asiad medal in the men's individual all-around in 12 years.   Yuya Kamoto and Masayoshi Yamamoto, both of Japan, took the gold and silver. Kamoto scored 87.950 points and Yamamoto earned87.500

Olympic Games Sept. 23, 2014

South Korea's national debt neared 490 trillion won ($470.8 billion) in 2013 as the government increased borrowing to make up for its deficit, a government report showed Tuesday.According to the report by the finance ministry, the debt owed by the central and provincial governments came to 489.8 trillion won in 2013, up 46.6 trillion won from a year earlier. The debt represents 34.3 percent of the country's gross domestic product.The central government's debt rose 38.9 trillion won on-year to 46

Sept. 23, 2014

South Korea on Monday called on local companies operating in Iraq to make utmost efforts to ensure the safety of their staff amid growing security threats from Islamic State militants there.About 80 Korean companies, including subcontractors, are doing business in Iraq with about 1,100 South Koreans staying in the Middle Eastern country. Concerns over the safety of foreigners are running high after IS' killing of several hostages from overseas."South Korean companies in Iraq should ensure the sa

Industry Sept. 22, 2014

The organizing committee of the ongoing Asian Games in Incheon said Monday it is sponsoring a photo exhibition that explores the raw beauty of the port city's mud flats."Incheon with Mysterious Tidal Flats" displays 55 photos of the city's iconic mud flats, which were designated to be "of international importance" by the Ramsar Convention in July.The exhibition kicked off at the Namdong Sorae Arts Hall in the southern part of the city on Sept. 15 for a 21-day run. The dates were set to coincide

Olympic Games Sept. 22, 2014

The South Korean female team won gold in the 25-meter pistol event at the Asian Games, edging out its rival China by one point.The team of Kim Jang-mi, Lee Jung-eun and Kwak Jung-hye claimed the first podium finish with 1,748 points, defeating China that took 1,747 points. India scored 1,729 for bronze.It is South Korea's first team gold in the women's shooting at the Asiad underway in the country's western city of Incheon, and the second medal of the day. Hours earlier, their colleagues grabbed

Olympic Games Sept. 22, 2014

After referees' reversal of their earlier decision to disqualify one of its athletes, the Chinese women's shooting team regained its world record and the gold medal in the 10-meter air rifle event at the Asian Games on Monday.The Chinese trio of Yi Siling, Zhang Binbin and Wu Liuxi combined for 1253.8 points to win the team gold at Ongnyeon International Shooting Range, breaking the previous world record set by their own teammates last year by 0.1 point.It is the first world record from shooting

Olympic Games Sept. 22, 2014

A former senior presidential secretary for education has been under a police probe on suspicion of running an illegal educational course when he worked as a university chief, police and education sources said Monday. Song Kwang-yong offered to resign on Saturday, three months after he assumed the post, which President Park Geun-hye immediately accepted. His abrupt resignation has raised speculation about his possible wrongdoings.Neither Song nor the president gave a reason for the resignation, s

Social Affairs Sept. 22, 2014