North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was seen smiling while visiting a catfish farm, Pyongyang's state media said Tuesday, in what appears to be an inspection carried out following the death of his half brother.The North's leader inspected the Samchon Catfish Farm, praising its capacity to breed more than 3,000 tons of the fish annually, according to the Korean Central News Agency. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (C) inspects a catfish farm with a smile, according to this photo carried by the Rodong

North Korea Feb. 21, 2017

Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, a potential presidential candidate from the minor People's Party, said Tuesday that allocating more budget cannot fundamentally create more jobs, claiming the government should focus on industrial policies.Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party (Yonhap)"Some politicians are talking about creating a certain amount of jobs, but such remarks are misguiding," Ahn said, apparently targeting Moon Jae-in, former head of the main opposition Democratic Party who has been leading pol

Politics Feb. 21, 2017

North Korea appears to be keeping most of its joint industrial park with South Korea intact, informed sources said Tuesday, over a year after Seoul pulled all its companies out of the complex in retaliation for Pyongyang's nuclear and missile tests.No South Korean has been at the joint industrial complex in Kaesong, North Korea, since all 124 South Korean firms then operating there pulled out on Feb. 10, 2016. This file photo, taken on Feb. 10, 2017, shows an aerial view of the now closed joint

North Korea Feb. 21, 2017

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un might have ordered the murder of his half brother due to his "paranoia" as he could not stand any possible challenge to his rule, a high-profile defector said Tuesday.Thae Yong-ho, a former North Korean diplomat, told local TV channel YTN that if North Korea is confirmed to have killed Kim Jong-nam, it would be the result of the leader's long-harbored hatred against his elder brother as a potential rival. This photo taken on Feb. 9, 2017, shows Thae Yong-ho, a for

North Korea Feb. 21, 2017

Samsung Group's de facto leader, Lee Jae-yong, is likely to skip a board meeting of EXOR, the top investor in Fiat Chrysler, in April as he was arrested over an alleged role in the presidential influence-peddling scandal, a group official said Tuesday. Lee, the vice chairman of Samsung Electronics Co., has served as one of the outside directors of EXOR, the holding company of Italy's Agnelli family, since May 2012.EXOR is scheduled to hold its annual meeting of board members on April 5.  (Yonhap

Social Affairs Feb. 21, 2017

Overseas card spending by South Koreans hit a record high last year due to increased outbound travelers, the central bank said Tuesday.Overseas card spending amounted to $14.3 billion in 2016, up 7.8 percent from $13.26 billion in 2015, according to the Bank of Korea. Overseas card spending includes purchases made with debit and direct payment cards, in addition to credit cards.The hike was driven by a rise in the number of South Koreans going overseas last year.Official data showed that 22.38 m

Social Affairs Feb. 21, 2017

최근 익명의 사람들에게 질문을 받고 답하는 한 온라인 사이트에서 활동을 시작한 배우 고 최진실 딸 최준희 씨가 악플로 몸살을 앓고 있다. (사진=최준희 에스크 캡쳐)일부 네티즌은 최 씨에게 “엄마가 연예인이어서 좋겠다,” “엄마 안 보고 싶냐” 등 무례한 질문을 했다. 질문은 총 2345개에 달했다. 그 중 “최순실 딸 아니냐”는 엄마 이름을 조롱하는 질문을 던지는 네티즌도 있었다.  (사진=최준희 에스크 캡쳐)최 씨는 익명의 질문에 하나하나 답해주고 있었지만 “최순실 딸”에 대한 질문에는 “답 할 가치가 없다. 시력이 좋지 않냐”며 발끈하기도 했다.코리아헤럴드 지예은 인턴기자 (yeeunjie@heraldcorp.com)

한국어판 Feb. 21, 2017

US President Donald Trump named Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster to be his new national security adviser Monday, a week after sacking Mike Flynn accused of having inappropriate contact with Russia's ambassador."Gen. H.R. McMaster will become the national security adviser. He's a man of tremendous talent and tremendous experience. I watched and read a lot over the last two days. He is highly respected by everyone in the military, and we're very honored to have him," Trump said at his Florida resort.Tr

International Feb. 21, 2017

North Korea's apparent killing of the half brother of leader Kim Jong-un, a glut in coal production and other factors could have led Beijing to suspend coal imports from North Korea, a US expert said Monday.China suspended North Korean coal imports Sunday through the end of the year in accordance with the latest UN Security Council resolution adopted in December to punish Pyongyang for its fifth nuclear test in September. (Yonhap)The resolution centers on putting a significant cap on North Korea

North Korea Feb. 21, 2017

North Korea could step up cybercrimes to make up for revenue losses from China's suspension of North Korean coal imports, a news report said Monday.China suspended North Korean coal imports Sunday through the end of the year in accordance with the latest UN Security Council resolution adopted in December to punish Pyongyang for its fifth nuclear test in September.(Yonhap)The resolution centers on putting a significant cap on North Korea's exports of coal -- the country's single biggest export it

North Korea Feb. 21, 2017

South Korea is pushing to export its most famous organic green tea brand to tap fast growing markets in the United States and other countries, officials said Tuesday.The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said it signed a contract with Handong County on the south coast and tea exporter Vision Korea Corp. on exports of "Hadong organic green tea." (Yonhap)Under the contract, the county, which accounts for half the country's organic green tea output, will create a 482-hectare cultivati

Industry Feb. 21, 2017

US President Donald Trump should negotiate a freeze on North Korea's nuclear production as well as its nuclear and missile testing, even though completely ending the program should be the goal, the New York Times said Monday.The paper made the case in an editorial, arguing that "only a new round of engagement, backed by tougher sanctions, may hold any promise" and warning that the North now possesses the fuel for perhaps as many as 21 nuclear weapons and is steadily building its ability to deliv

Foreign Affairs Feb. 21, 2017

South Korea's fund market looks set to exceed 500 trillion won ($436 billion) on the growth of real estate and other alternative funds, data showed Tuesday.Funds under management totaled 498.6 trillion won, the largest-ever amount here, according to Korea Financial Investment Association. An image of real estate funds in a photo provided by Yonhap News TV. (Yonhap)It marks an increase of 43.1 trillion won from a year earlier.The volume stood at 317.2 trillion won at the end of 2012 and rose to 3

Feb. 21, 2017

 North Korea's nuclear weapons could get out of control and ultimately end up in the wrong hands if the regime collapses, a former CIA director said, warning the situation has become much more dangerous in recent years.Michael Morell, who served as CIA's No. 2 official from 2010-2013, said on CBS' "Face the Nation" that the North poses serious proliferation risks in addition to the possibility of the regime launching a nuclear missile at the US. Former deputy CIA director Michael Morell (Yonhap)

North Korea Feb. 21, 2017

Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., a major shipyard in South Korea, has received an order to build two oil tankers, industry sources said Tuesday.Under the deal with a Greek shipowner, Hyundai Heavy will build two very large crude carriers with 320,000 DWT by the end of 2018, the sources said, adding that the two sides have been in negotiations since January this year. (Yonhap)The value of the deal and other terms were not revealed, but an oil tanker with such a capacity is roughly priced at $82 mill

Industry Feb. 21, 2017