The ruling and opposition parties struggled Tuesday to find a compromise over how to reform the National Intelligence Service mainly to ensure its political non-interference following revelations of its alleged tampering with last year's presidential race.The ruling Saenuri and the main opposition Democratic parties have been in negotiations to set new rules of activity for the spy agency accused of mobilizing some of its agents to post Internet comments last year in favor of then ruling party p

Politics Dec. 24, 2013

South Korea has approved private humanitarian aid to North Korea, an official said Tuesday, despite tensions on the Korean Peninsula.The two private aid groups are allowed to ship powered milk and nutritional supplies worth 215 million won (US$202,000) to infants, children and pregnant women in North Korea, said an official of the Unification Ministry handling inter-Korean affairs.The planned aid brought the total amount of assistance to the North by South Korea's private aid groups to 6.55 bill

North Korea Dec. 24, 2013

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and other top officials visited one of the country's most sacred sites on Tuesday to pay their respects to the two late leaders, the North's media reported.North Koreans mark key anniversaries by visiting the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang, home to the embalmed bodies of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, who are the grandfather and father of the current leader.The North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim paid homage to the two late leaders "

North Korea Dec. 24, 2013

President Park Geun-hye said Monday she wants to issue special pardons next month for those convicted of small offenses committed in the course of trying to make a living.Park ordered her aides to make preparations for the pardons to be issued around Lunar New Year's Day, which falls on Jan. 31, saying she wants to ease difficulties for ordinary people, presidential spokeswoman Kim Haing said.The planned pardons must be designed to give real benefits to ordinary people and exclude those convicte

Politics Dec. 23, 2013

한국으로 토플(TOFEL)과 미국 대학원 입학능력시험(GRE) 대리시험을 치른 중국인 네 명이 적발돼 유죄로 선고할 경우 추방될 예정이다. 서울중앙지검 형사7부(김형렬 부장검사)는 위조여권을 이용해 한국에 입국해 대리시험을 치른 혐의(업무방해 및 위조사문서 행사)로 J(28•여)씨 등 중국인 4명을 구속 기소했다고 23일 밝혔다.검찰 관계자는 “범인들이 대리시험을 한 번 치르면 120만∼130만원을 받는데 2회 정도만 응시해도 중국 직장인의 한달 치 월급을 훌쩍 넘는다”며 단기간에 손쉽게 돈을 벌 수 있다는 유혹에 빠져 대리시험을 치른 것으로 보인다”고 말했다.이들 4명에는 중국 유명 방송사 직원, 컴퓨터 프로그래머와 중국 명문대생들이 포함되어 있는 것으로 드러났다. 검찰에 따르면 이들은 지난해 10월부터 지난달까지 중국 현지의 인스턴트 메신저 ‘큐큐(QQ)’를 통해 의뢰를 받아 건당 200만원까지 받으며 한국에서 대리시험을 치른 혐의를 받고 있다.이들이 한국에서 대리시험을 치른 이

한국어판 Dec. 23, 2013

South Korea's spy agency chief on Monday denied as "totally untrue" persisting news reports that close aides to the executed uncle of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have fled the communist nation and sought asylum in China, lawmakers said.National Intelligence Service Director Nam Jae-joon also reported to a parliamentary intelligence committee that North Korea has beefed up artillery units and exercises, and could attempt provocations against the South between January and March, the lawmakers

Politics Dec. 23, 2013

North Korea's state media praised the late grandmother of leader Kim Jong-un on Monday in what could be the country's latest attempt to strengthen Kim's leadership following the bloody purge of his uncle.The North's main newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun, urged North Koreans to follow in the footstep of Kim Jong-suk for her devotion to safeguard her husband, the North Korean founder Kim Il-sung.The latest praise came a day before the birthday of the grandmother, who is known in North Korea as an anti

North Korea Dec. 23, 2013

South Korean stocks traded 0.73 percent higher late Monday morning, led by gains in tech and automaking firms, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 14.51 points to 1,997.86 as of 11:10 a.m.Samsung Electronics, the largest market cap, rose 0.56 percent, and SK hynix advanced 3.54 percent.Industry leader Hyundai Motor gained 1.56 percent, and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors surged 2.01 percent.Financial shares also remained in positive terrain, with Hyundai

Dec. 23, 2013