The UN Security Council ordered emergency talks Tuesday on North Korea's nuclear weapon test, which UN leader Ban Ki-moon condemned as a "deeply destabilizing" provocation.The isolated North Korean government ignored a "strong warning" from its close ally China against staging the test, a UN diplomat said.The 15-nation council, which called closed talks for 9:00 am New York time (1400 GMT), passed a resolution last month threatening "significant action" against Pyongyang in the event of a new nu

North Korea Feb. 12, 2013

The following is a chronology of major events leading to North Korea's third underground nuclear test on Tuesday.▲2006July 4: North Korea test-fires at least six missiles, including a long-range Taepodong-2, despite a chorus of international warnings.July 5: North Korea test-fires a seventh missile, despite international condemnation of its earlier launches.July 17: The U.N. Security Council unanimously votes to impose sanctions on North Korea over the missile tests. The resolution bans U.N. mem

North Korea Feb. 12, 2013

South Korean stocks traded marginally lower late Tuesday morning, led by losses in utilities and insurance companies, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) inched down 0.11 points, or 0.01 percent to 1,950.79 as of 11:20 a.m.State-run electricity provider Korea Electric Power Corp. slid nearly 2 percent, with No. 1 life insurer Samsung Life Insurance falling 1.2 percent. In contrast, tech and construction firms gathered ground, with flat panel giant LG Display ga

Feb. 12, 2013

South Korean stocks opened a tad higher on Tuesday, driven by gains in large-cap firms, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 2.36 points, or 0.12 percent, to 1,953.26 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Top-cap Samsung Electronics climbed nearly 1 percent, with second-largest listed company Hyundai Motor advancing 0.8 percent and chipmaker SK hynix rising 1.2 percent.  The local currency was trading at 1,096.20 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m.,

Feb. 12, 2013

South Korea's financial authority said Monday it has uncovered a large-scale hacking scheme that resulted in the theft of personal financial transaction information of hundreds of bank clients. According to the Korea Financial Telecommunications and Clearings Institute (KFTC), a group of hackers allegedly stole a total of 461 authenticated certificates, in an apparent bid to withdraw cash from victims' bank accounts.The KFTC, which settles financial transactions among individuals, said it report

Social Affairs Feb. 11, 2013

The Europe-wide scandal over horsemeat sold as beef spread Sunday as leading French retailers pulled products from their shelves and threats of legal action flew.France promised the results of an urgent inquiry into the scandal within days and the government announced crisis talks with meat industry representatives on Monday night.As Britain dismissed calls for a ban on EU meat, producers and distributors insisted they had been deceived about the true nature of the meat and vowed to take legal a

World News Feb. 11, 2013

South Korean stocks closed 0.23 percent lower on Thursday as the prolonged currency volatility continued to weigh down the market, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) edged down 4.42 points to 1,931.77. Trading volume was moderate at 407.2 million shares worth 3.5 trillion won (US$3.22 billion) with losers outpacing gainers 410 to 383."Due to the prolonged appreciation of the local currency against the Japanese ye

Feb. 7, 2013

South Korean stocks traded almost flat late Thursday morning as the currency's volatility continued to weigh down on investor sentiment, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) inched up 0.06 percent, or 1.2 points, to 1,937.39 as of 11:20 a.m.Blue-chip exporters edged up, with market bellwether Samsung Electronics increasing 0.14 percent and top chipmaker SK hynix adding 1.43 percent. No. 1 carmaker Hyundai Motor moved up 0.25 percent.Retailers lost ground, with Lo

Feb. 7, 2013

A senior U.S. senator has proposed a farm bill that includes a provision making any food aid to Pyongyang from Washington more difficult, congressional and diplomatic sources said Wednesday.Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) re-introduced the five-year bill last month with the provision attached.If passed in both chambers of Congress, it would prohibit the U.S. government from providing food assistance to North Korea without a presidential waiver.Last year, the Senate passed the same versi

North Korea Feb. 7, 2013

A high-level delegation sent by South Korean President-elect Park Geun-hye arrived in Washington Wednesday amid lingering questions about its specific mission and mandate."(We) came here to deliver President-elect Park's intent on ensuring the further development of the bilateral ties on the military, political, diplomatic and economic fronts," Rep. Lee Hahn-koo, head of the delegation, told reporters upon arriving at an airport.Lee, the floor leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, is leading the g

Foreign Affairs Feb. 7, 2013

South Korean PGA Tour veteran Choi Kyoung-ju on Thursday was named a recipient of an award for his extensive charity work off the field.The Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA) said Choi, affectionately called K.J. Choi outside of Korea, is the 2013 winner of its Charlie Bartlett Award. Named after the first secretary of the GWAA, the award recognizes professional golfers for their "contributions to the betterment of society."Choi, 42, was acknowledged for his support for relief efforts an

More Sports Feb. 7, 2013

South Korean stocks began higher Thursday on the back of gains in blue chip exporters, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 0.26 percent, or 5.07 points, to 1941.26 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Blue chip exporters led the overall gain, with market behemoth Samsung Electronicsclimbing 0.28 percent and No. 1 carmaker Hyundai Motor adding 0.75 percent. Top chipmaker SK hynix also advanced 1.02 percent.Logistics shares also gathered ground, with Hyundai Gl

Feb. 7, 2013

Canadian firm BlackBerry said it would give away 12,000 special edition Z10 smartphones to application developers who stuck by the company.Formerly known as Research In Motion, BlackBerry changed its name last week as it launched two new phones, including the all touch-screen Z10. BlackBerry, once a pioneering company in the smartphone market, is now playing catch up to the likes of Apple and other companies that have eclipsed BlackBerry in sales. The new phones will be carried by Verizon Wirele

Industry Feb. 6, 2013