WASHINGTON (AFP) - North Korea appears to be expanding its main launch site to permit more advanced missiles which may eventually be able to reach the United States, a think tank said Wednesday.Analyzing satellite images of the Sohae launch site over the past two months, Johns Hopkins University's US-Korea Institute said North Korea apparently tested a rocket engine needed for its road-mobile KN-08 intercontinental ballistic missile.The evidence indicates that North Korea may be preparing "for a

North Korea Jan. 30, 2014

SEOUL/SEJONG (Yonhap) – The move by the U.S. Federal Reserve to further reduce its monthly bond purchases by $10 billion will have little impact on South Korea's economy, the government said Thursday.An official at the finance ministry said the extent of stimulus cut announced overnight by the Federal Open Market Committee's (FOMC) had been anticipated for some time, and judging by present circumstances, it should not pose new challenges for the economy.Seoul expects Asia's fourth largest econom

Jan. 30, 2014

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - China and Japan accused each other of threatening stability Wednesday as a diplomatic battle over Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to a contested war shrine reached the UN Security Council.China's UN ambassador, Liu Jieyi, seized upon a debate on the lessons of conflict to slam Abe for going to the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors war criminals among the country's war dead.Attempts to change history "destabilize regional peace and pose a serious challenge to the pea

International Jan. 30, 2014

WASHINGTON (Yonhap) – Riding on a legislative document on Korean and other Asian women forced to serve in sexual slavery for Japanese troops during World War II, three U.S. congressmen sent a letter Wednesday to Secretary of State John Kerry urging him to address the issue.They are Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) and Adam Schiff (D-CA).The lawmakers said the letter is aimed at bringing the secretary's attention to the historic document attached to a spending bill for fiscal year 2014.

International Jan. 30, 2014

NEW YORK (Yonhap) – South and North Korea displayed rare unity on the U.N. Security Council Wednesday, as they fiercely condemned Japan for history "distortions."The two Koreas, backed by China, said that Japan's conservative leadership is fully responsible for escalating tensions in Northeast Asia over history and territorial issues.Amb. Oh Joon, South Korea's permanent representative to the U.N., accused Japanese leaders of having a "distorted view of what happened during the time of imperiali

International Jan. 30, 2014

FALLUJAH, Iraq (AFP) - Iraq is preparing a "major attack" to retake militant-held Fallujah, a senior official said on Sunday, spelling a new assault for the western city where U.S. forces repeatedly battled insurgents.Washington said it would help Baghdad in its battle against Al-Qaeda-linked militants but that there would be no return of U.S. troops.The takeover of Fallujah and parts of provincial capital Ramadi farther west is the first time that militants have exercised such open control in m

International Jan. 5, 2014

VATICAN CITY (AFP) - Pope Francis said Sunday he will make his first trip to the Holy Land, visiting Amman, Bethlehem and Jerusalem from May 24 to 26."In the climate of joy typical of this Christmas period, I would like to announce that from May 24 to 26, God willing, I will carry out a pilgrimage to the Holy Land," Francis told crowds gathered in St Peter's Square for the traditional Angelus prayer.Francis said the date of the announcement -- January 5 -- was significant because it "commemorate

International Jan. 5, 2014

A local publisher of a history textbook that is accused of containing right-leaning ideological biases claimed Sunday that progressive civic groups and politicians are engaging in a "witch hunt" to prevent its material from being taught in classrooms.Kyohak Publishing told Yonhap News Agency that its textbooks passed the inspections system set up by the education ministry and could be taught in schools.It said efforts by certain progressive groups can only be seen as an attempt to paint the book

Social Affairs Jan. 5, 2014

BANGALORE, India (AFP) – India was set for the launch of its first domestically-powered cryogenic rocket Sunday, as Delhi bids to join an elite club of countries with the technology after a crash and a fuel leak on previous attempts.Scientists were making final preparations for the launch of the rocket using a complex technology mastered by just a handful of countries, a top Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) official said.The 415-ton rocket carrying a two-ton advanced communications sate

International Jan. 5, 2014

PANAJI, India (AP) – Rescuers using backhoes and shovels searched for survivors Sunday under a massive pile of broken concrete and dust that was left when a residential building under construction collapsed in southern India, killing at least 15 workers.Authorities suspected dozens more may be trapped under the rubble, but were still trying to determine how many workers were on site when the five-story structure crumpled Saturday afternoon in the state of Goa. Witnesses reported seeing at least

International Jan. 5, 2014

BAGHDAD (AP) – A senior Iraqi military commander said Sunday that it will take a few days to fully dislodge al-Qaida-linked fighters from two key western cities.Lt. Gen. Rasheed Fleih, who leads the Anbar Military Command, told the state television Sunday that ``two to three days'' are needed to push the militants out of Fallujah and parts of Ramadi. Fleih added that pro-government Sunni tribes are leading the operations while the army only is offering aerial cover and logistics on the ground. H

International Jan. 5, 2014

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) – Police in Bangladesh fired at protesters and opposition activists torched more than 100 polling stations Sunday during a national election boycotted by the opposition and described as flawed by the international community. At least 11 people were killed in election-related violence.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's refusal to heed opposition demands to step down and appoint a neutral caretaker to oversee the election led to the boycott, undermining the legitimacy of the vot

International Jan. 5, 2014

JERUSALEM (AFP) - Peace talks between South Sudan's warring factions must not be a "gimmick" to buy time to win the upper hand on the ground, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry warned Sunday."Both parties need to put the interests of South Sudan above their own," Kerry told reporters in Jerusalem."The beginning of direct talks... is a very important step, but make no mistake it is only a first step. There's a lot more to do."Negotiations have to be serious, they cannot be a delay, (a) gimmick in

International Jan. 5, 2014

SANAA (AFP) - Two days of clashes between Shiite rebels and Sunni tribesmen fighting alongside hard-line Salafists in northern Yemen have killed at least 23 people, sources said on Sunday.Fighting has centered for months on a Salafist mosque and Koranic school in Dammaj, which has been besieged by the Shiite rebels known as Huthis.But the conflict has spread in the northern provinces, embroiling Sunni tribes wary of the power of the Huthis, who have repeatedly been accused of receiving support f

International Jan. 5, 2014

TEL AVIV, Israel (AFP) – Former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon was on Sunday facing "imminent" death, the Tel Aviv hospital where he is in critical condition said.The health of the 85-year-old Sharon, who was dubbed "the Bulldozer" both for his style and physique, has been worsening since Wednesday when he suffered serious kidney problems after surgery.And on Sunday, the director of Tel Hashomer hospital said Sharon was "still in danger of imminent death" although his "heart is holding out

International Jan. 5, 2014