BEIJING Yonhap) -- China expressed "concern" on Thursday over North Korea's firing of an artillery shell that happened minutes before a Chinese passenger jet passed through the trajectory of the shell.    North Korea has fired short-range missiles for days into the East Sea and launched a volley of artillery shells into the sea on Tuesday, in an apparent show of force against ongoing joint military drills between South Korea and the U.S.    Minutes after North Korea fired an artillery shell i

North Korea March 6, 2014

   SEJONG (Yonhap) -- South Korea's nuclear safety commission on Thursday resumed the operation of a nuclear reactor in the southeastern region that was shut down eight days ago due to what has been identified as damaged parts.   "It has been confirmed that the reactor had been shut down as two of the 73 control cards that operate control rods were damaged," the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission said in a released statement.   The Reactor Unit 5 at the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant in Uljin, 33

Social Affairs Feb. 6, 2014

현대그룹이 주축 계열사인 현대증권을 비롯해 금융계열사 3개사를 매각한다.현대그룹은 계열사와 자산 처분을 통해 총 3조3천억원 이상의 자금을 확보할 계획이다.현대그룹은 이 같은 선제적 자구안으로 최근 시장에서 제기된 현대그룹의 유동성 문제를 해소할 방침이라고 22일 밝혔다.현대그룹은 우선 현대증권, 현대자산운용, 현대저축은행 등 금융계열사를 모두 매각, 금융업에서 철수하기로 했다.금융계열사 매각으로 7천억원에서 1조원 이상의 자금을 조달할 예정이다.금융계열사 매각 방식은 SPC(특수목적회사) 설립을 통해 진행할 예정이다. SPC를 세워 금융계열사 등의 자산을 이전시키고 세부적인 매각방안과 절차는 주채권은행인 산업은행을 비롯한 금융권과 협의해 진행할 예정이라고 현대그룹은 설명했다.또 현대상선이 보유한 항만터미널사업 일부 지분을 매각하고 벌크 전용선 부문의 사업구조를 조정해 약 1조5천억원을 조달할 방침이다.이밖에 서울 장충동 반얀트리호텔도 매각하기로 했다. 반얀트리호텔 매각으로 3천40

한국어판 Dec. 22, 2013

   MEXICO CITY -- Authorities said Saturday that they broke up a trafficking ring that brought foreigners, mostly Asians, into Mexico intent on smuggling them into the United States.   Prosecutors said they detained seven Mexicans and three Bangladeshis accused of moving the migrants to Mexico's northern border with the United States at a huge cost and in grim conditions.   The migrants came from places like India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan, as well as Iran and Somalia, officials said.   Th

World News Dec. 22, 2013

정부는 외국인력정책위원회(위원장 김동연 국무조정실장)를 열어 내년 외국인력(E-9) 도입규모를 5만3천명으로 확정했다고 22일 밝혔다.올해 체류기간이 끝나 귀국 예정인 근로자 대체인력(1만7천명)과 중소기업의 추가 인력 수요 3만6천명을 반영한 규모로, 2013년 대비 3천명 늘었다.업종별로는 내국인 구인에 어려움을 겪는 제조업(4만2천250명), 농축산업(6천명), 어업(2천300명)에 집중적으로 배정했다.신규입국자는 4만7천400명, 재입국자는 5천600명이다.<관련 영문 기사>Korea to permit 53,000 foreign laborers next year　　By Suk Gee-hyun　　Korea will allow about 53,000 migrant workers under the non-professional employment (E-9) visa next year, an increase of 3,000 from this year, the Ministry of E

한국어판 Dec. 22, 2013

 South Korea will intensify its monitoring of patent right abuse in the software sector in order to prevent reckless lawsuits from hampering technology development in one of the fast-growing markets, the head of the country's antitrust watchdog said.   "We will closely monitor unfair business activities, including patent right abuse, which is regarded as a stumbling block to developing technologies in the software sector. We will consider related measures," Fair Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman N

Technology Dec. 22, 2013

 Mid-sized drug manufacturer Samil Pharm Co. has been charged with offering massive illegal kickbacks to doctors and hospitals, state prosecutors said Sunday.   The pharmaceutical company is suspected of giving what in the industry is known as "rebates" worth some 3.25 billion won ($3.1 million) to a total of 1,132 doctors and officials from 894 hospitals across the country in exchange for prescribing its products, they said.   Wrapping up an intensive eight-month probe, prosecutors said they ha

Social Affairs Dec. 22, 2013

LG Electronics will debut three new smart audio-video gadgets at next month's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the company said Sunday.   The new products include a wireless multi-room home audio system that can link all speakers for hi-fi dual-band sound streaming and a 4.1 channel 320-watt sound bar that includes subwoofers.   The company will also debut a 320-watt TV-top sound plate that features a wireless subwoofer and 4.1 channels. The product measures 39.5 millimeters in thic

Technology Dec. 22, 2013

Hyundai Group said Sunday it would secure around 3.3 trillion won ($3.1 billion) in emergency funds by selling its three financial units, including Hyundai Securities Co. This is part of its efforts to address the recent liquidity concerns in the market. “Though we have enough cash for the first half of next year, we have taken strong measures to ease the concerns of the market,” a Hyundai spokesman said. “We have repeatedly pondered the sale of financial organizations, which are among Hyundai G

Dec. 22, 2013

South Korean rapper Psy's music video, "Gentleman," surpassed the 600 million view mark on YouTube Friday.   The video has attracted more than 600.40 million hits since it was released in April, according to the video-sharing website.    The milestone was reached more than four months after the video broke the 500 million mark on July 31.   "Gentleman" had set a world record as the most-watched online video in a single day upon its release, breaking 100 million views in the shortest period of ti

Dec. 13, 2013

  Inter-Korean trade has gradually been returning to normal levels following the reopening of a joint industrial park in North Korea's border city of Gaesong in September, government data showed Sunday.   According to data from the Ministry of Unification and the Korea Customs Service, two-way trade between South and North Korea amounted to $152.15 million last month. The amount is equivalent to 80.9 percent of total bilateral trade in the same month last year.   "Exports have grown with the ent

Nov. 24, 2013

   GENEVA (AP) -- An Iran nuclear deal within reach, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and five other foreign ministers focused Saturday on the fine print of a draft agreement meant to satisfy not only the other side, but also to placate powerful domestic forces that fear giving too much for too little in return.    Diplomats refused to spell out details of the talks, held in a five-star Geneva hotel. But comments from both sides suggested negotiations focused on detailed wording that could be

World News Nov. 24, 2013