• South Korea, China warn North Korea on nuclear test

    Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed his commitment to opposing North Korea’s nuclear ambitions during telephone talks with President Park Geun-hye, Wednesday, according to presidential spokesman Min Kyung-wook. Xi’s remarks came at a time when the North is thought to be preparing to carry out a fourth nuclear test later this…

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  • N. Korea offers condolences over S. Korean ferry victims

    North Korea has expressed its condolences over the sinking of a South Korean ferry in a telephone message through its Red Cross Society, the unification ministry said Wednesday. The message under the name of Kang Su-rin, the chief of the Red Cross Society of North Korea, was sent to Yoo…

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  • War-torn Afghanistan holds successful election

    The first round of Afghanistan’s presidential election was held Saturday and, based on most reports, so far so good. That is particularly true in light of the threat of violence posed by the Taliban and, potentially, other heavily armed elements in and outside the country. Turnout among the 12 million…

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  • Remake of spy agency

    NIS chief must step down for his boss, nation Since its birth in the early 1960s, Korea’s national intelligence agency has kept changing its name and image in keeping with the times. What has remained unchanged in the past half-century has been the public’s view of the agency as an…

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  • NK’s call for joint drone investigation spurned

    Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday spurned North Korea’s call to conduct a joint investigation into three aerial drones that crashed near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) which the South claims were sent by the North for surveillance purposes. “In no crime case would a suspect be allowed to investigate the evidence…

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  • Obama will return royal seals to Korea

    U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to return nine stolen Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) seals to Korea during his Asian trip next week, a source familiar with the situation said Tuesday. They are three state seals, which kings used on diplomatic and other significant documents, and six ceremonial ones, which royal…

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  • Park makes apology to save spy master

    President Park Geun-hye apologized Tuesday for the spy agency forging evidence in an attempt to convict a former Seoul city employee of spying for North Korea. Park’s remarks came on the heels of the apology from National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Nam Jae-joon after Seoul prosecutors indicted two NIS officers,…

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  • President high popularity may affect local elections

    Will President Park Geun-hye’s popularity help the governing Saenuri Party win the upcoming June 4 local elections for representatives of municipal governments and legislatures? A majority of experts agree that it will but they are split over the extent of influence. “Experiences tell us that local elections are always a…

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  • South refutes N. Korea’s denial of drone incursion

    The defense ministry criticized North Korea, Monday, for describing recent drone incursions as a fabrication by South Korea. After recovering three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and examining them over the past three weeks, the ministry’s interim result released Friday identified the drones as coming from the reclusive state, based on…

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  • PM’s China trip reveals President’s priorities

    Prime Minister Chung Hong-won’s visit to China is seen as an indication of closer Korea-China ties. But observers question whether this could come at cost to the Korea-U.S. alliance. Chung finished his five-day visit to China, Sunday, which included a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang. “President Park Geun-hye…

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