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Politics
Seoul denies report on Kim’s 1st overseas trip
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade denied Wednesday allegations that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will make his first overseas visit to Iran next week. Iranian media earlier reported that Kim will make a trip to the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Tehran slated for Aug. 26 to 31…
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Seoul likely to return Noda letter
Seoul is likely to return Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s letter protesting President Lee Myung-bak’s visit to Dokdo back to Tokyo, according to a Cheong Wa Dae official, Wednesday. The official said the government has yet to make a decision. “However, we are considering seriously sending the letter back to…
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Politics
South Koreans, Chinese differ on way of handling NK defectors
Most of South Koreans think that the North Korean defectors in China should be treated in accordance with their free will while many Chinese say that the defectors should be sent back to the North, it was learned last week. It was revealed in a survey conducted recently by The AsiaN in cooperation with the Asia Journalist Association…
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Politics
Park Geun-hye pays tribute to liberal presidents
Rep. Park Geun-hye, the presidential candidate of the ruling Saenuri Party, made a surprise visit Tuesday to the grave of the late President Roh Moo-hyun, a symbolic gesture to rally support even from her opponents. Park, the former interim leader of the conservative party, said she went to the late…
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Park Geun-hye poised to talk with North Korea
Conservative presidential hopeful Park Geun-hye appears poised to reengage North Korea if elected, analysts said Tuesday, but her approach with the recalcitrant neighbor remains vague. Park, nominated by the ruling Saenuri Party the previous day, says building trust is the key to better cross-border relations. To do so, she says…
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Politics
Can she make it?
Park Geun-hye becomes 1st woman presidential candidate of ruling party Rep. Park Geun-hye, 60, daughter of the late President Park Chung-hee, won the ruling Sanuri Party’s nomination to compete in the Dec. 19 presidential election Monday. As predicted, the five-term lawmaker scored a landslide victory in the party primary by…
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Politics
More hurdles remain in NK-China biz ties
Despite bolstered business ties between North Korea and China, accusations by a Chinese firm over boorish conduct suggest that the allies have yet to clear major hurdles. Analysts say that the case of Xiyang, which claims the North reneged a major mining deal, show the need for caution in gauging…
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Politics
Taking Japan back to past
Noda turns nationalistic on neighbors Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is a determining factor in Japan’s confrontational stance in dealing with historical disputes with Korea, China and Russia. The history of Tokyo’s militarism and its devastating effects are on many people’s minds. Experts say that Noda was conciliatory at least…
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Politics
Anti-graft agency to submit bill on civil servants
The country’s anti-corruption agency announced Thursday that it will seek to introduce a law that would significantly help the country eliminate corruption in the public sector. Kim Young-ran, the head of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC), said that her agency spent more than a year consulting with related…
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Politics
Is North Korea becoming China’s satellite?
China has struck deals with North Korea this week to develop economic zones and foster investment in the impoverished country. The moves, analysts say, signals Beijing’s full support of fledgling North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The promises boost the viability of Kim, who is in his late twenties, but also…
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