HONG KONG (AFP) - Apple and Samsung have overtaken long-time leader Nokia for the top two spots in the global smartphone market, a report said Friday, underscoring the Finnish handset maker's ongoing struggles.US-based research firm Strategy Analytics said the US and Korean smartphone makers outpaced Nokia in the second quarter, with the sector posting record quarterly shipments of 110 million uni

Technology July 31, 2011

TOKYO (Yonhap News) -- Three Japanese lawmakers vowed Saturday they will go ahead with their trip to a Korean island next week, a day after Seoul formally informed Tokyo that it will bar them from entry.Korea quickly reaffirmed its stance on Saturday that immigration officials will deny entry to the lawmakers upon their planned arrival at an airport on Monday and send them back to Japan.The loomin

Politics July 31, 2011

YEONCHEON (Yonhap News) -- A Korean worker was slightly injured Saturday after an unidentified explosive device went off near the heavily fortified border with North Korea, military officials said.The accident happened around 9:40 a.m. when the 40-year-old, identified only by his family name Cho, was overseeing excavation work near a military base.Cho is currently being treated for debris injuries

Social Affairs July 31, 2011

Asiana Airlines Co. remained tight-lipped as it was revealed on Saturday that one of the two still-missing pilots of its crashed cargo plane had taken out a number of different life and property insurance policies a month before the accident.The Boeing-747 aircraft, operated by South Korea's second-largest air carrier, crashed into waters about 107 kilometers west of the southern resort island of

Industry July 31, 2011

Korea's prosecution said Friday that it detained five Koreans on charges of spying for North Korea by forming an underground anti-state organization.The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said five locals were imprisoned on suspicions of violating the country's national security law as they allegedly set up an anti-state organization, ordered by North Korea's ruling Workers' Party.A 48-yea

Social Affairs July 31, 2011

A 35-year-old man was arrested on Thursday for sexually assaulting several would-be entertainers he had enticed disguising himself as a TV program director.The suspect, identified by his surname Kim, was charged with attempted rape and other crimes, Yeongdeungpo Police Station in southern Seoul said.He had served a 10-month term until May for sex crimes.According to police, he tried to rape an asp

Social Affairs July 29, 2011

About 10 landmines remain buried in a Seoul mountain pounded by recent rainstorms and the military is bracing for possible contingencies, the defense ministry said Thursday.At a press briefing, ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said the military has removed most of the mines buried near an air defense artillery unit on Mount Umyeon, but "about 10 mines" have not been recovered.Dozens of homes in sou

Social Affairs July 28, 2011

Thousands of rescuers used heavy machinery and shovels Thursday to clear mud and search for survivors after huge landslides and flooding killed at least 39 people in South Korea.Three others were reported missing in the wake of the massive rains that have pounded Seoul and surrounding areas since Tuesday. It was the heaviest rainfall in South Korea this year.Among the dead were 10 college students

Social Affairs July 28, 2011

Police are investigating more than 100 cases of online trade in homemade explosive materials, brought to light after Norway’s shooting spree perpetrator used homemade explosives in his recent terrorist attacks, officials said Wednesday.“Local police are investigating individuals who have either sold poisonous or explosive materials online or have postings related to the two on their cafes or blogs

Social Affairs July 27, 2011

LG Electronics Inc., the world's third-largest mobile phone makers, said Wednesday that its second-quarter operating profit rose 25 percent from one year earlier, as its newly released smartphones helped the company narrow losses in the mobile business. Operating profit reached 158.2 billion won (US$150.9 million) in the April-June period, compared with an operating profit of126.2 billion won a ye

Industry July 27, 2011

Social Affairs July 27, 2011