South Korean lawmakers held emergency meetings of various committees to discuss the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and how to cope with its aftermath.The North's state media reported earlier in the day that the 69-year-old Kim died of a heart attack on Saturday. South Korea's military has

North Korea Dec. 19, 2011

SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Yonhap) -- The sudden death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il triggered speculation over whether his heir-apparent son, Kim Jong-un, will take over the country as planned.Kim Jong-un has been groomed as the leader-in-waiting since last year when he was named vice chairman of the Cen

North Korea Dec. 19, 2011

SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's finance minister said Monday the government is keeping close tabs on developments and will take all necessary steps to determine the economic impact of the North Korean leader's death."Seoul is checking all changes, carefully analyzing their implications and

Dec. 19, 2011

SHANGHAI (AP) _ Asian stock markets slid Monday amid news that the mercurial leader of nuclear-armed North Korea has died, raising fears of increased political instability in the region.South Korea's Kospi index dived 4.1 percent to 1,765.15. Japan's Nikkei 225 index was down 1.1 percent at 8,304.47

Dec. 19, 2011

SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak ordered Monday all government officials to be placed on emergency response status, following the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. Under the order, all government officials are restricted from taking leave or traveling and required to mainta

North Korea Dec. 19, 2011

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States was Sunday "closely monitoring" reports on North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il's death and said it was committed to stability on the Korean peninsula and the security of its allies.Kim's death, announced by North Korea's official media, posed an immediate and grave f

North Korea Dec. 19, 2011

North Korea Dec. 19, 2011

SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Yonhap) -- North Korea and the United States are highly likely to delay bilateral nuclear talks set for this week in Beijing, following the report of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's death, a senior Seoul official said Monday. "In the wake of the North Korean leader Kim's death, it

North Korea Dec. 19, 2011

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) _ Iran's state TV broadcast video of a young man Sunday it claimed was a CIA spy who sought to infiltrate Iran's secret services.The TV identified the man, apparently in his late 20s, as Amir Mirzaei Hekmati, an American-Iranian who received special training and served at U.S. mili

World News Dec. 19, 2011

ROME (AP) _ Pope Benedict XVI made an emotional visit Sunday to Rome's main prison, meeting with detainees, denouncing prison overcrowding and calling for greater dignity for inmates everywhere.Benedict spent over an hour at Rome's Rebibbia prison, fielding questions from a half-dozen inmates who sp

World News Dec. 19, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) _ When someone is talking to you, your brain is listening, processing and thinking about what is being said _ even if you are in the driver's seat trying to concentrate on traffic.That is why drivers get distracted during cellphone conversations, even when using hands-free phones, re

World News Dec. 16, 2011