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Candidates’ shift toward NK engagement draws concern
Experts are concerned that both liberal and conservative presidential candidates are leaning too much toward a policy of engagement with North Korea as part of campaign tactics geared at signaling a departure from the hard-line policies employed by President Lee Myung-bak. What matters, they say, is that the major candidates…
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Turkey deploys military vehicles along border with Syria
Turkey deployed additional tanks and missile defense systems to the Syrian border following five days of artillery exchanges with President Bashar al-Assad’s armed forces. The vehicles sent to Suruc town of the southeastern Sanliurfa province included a large number of tanks and missile defense systems, according to the report. Turkey…
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Politics
Saenuri hit by internal dispute
The ruling Saenuri Party was mired in a feud Monday as disgruntled members showed no signs of backing down on their call for a campaign shake-up even after a key post holder quit. Rep. Park Geun-hye, presidential candidate of the ruling party, warned the rebels, urging them not to play…
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Politics
Lawmaker calls for overhaul of NK defector services
Seoul needs to overhaul its support system for North Korean defectors as too many escapees from the Stalinist state live in sub-standard living conditions here, a lawmaker said Monday. Rep. Shim Yoon-joe of the ruling Saenuri Party said that because President Lee Myung-bak and previous administrations have not done enough…
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Politics
Seoul will cover NK with ballistic missiles
New agreement with US allows S. Korea to hike range to 800km The government said Sunday that it has reached an agreement with Washington, allowing it to develop longer-range ballistic missiles with bigger warheads that will put the whole of North Korea within striking range. Chun Yung-woo, a senior presidential…
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Politics
‘Japan’s claim to Dokdo illegitimate’
This is the third in a series of contributing articles by international and Korean experts shedding light on Japan’s claim on Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo and other affairs that prove Japan’s lack of remorse about historic misdeeds it has committed. ― E.D. As neighboring countries, Russia, China, Korea and…
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Politics
All 3 candidates vow closer ties with China
The next president will face a tough foreign policy landscape featuring the U.S.-China rivalry in East Asia and intensified territorial disputes between China and Japan. The three major presidential candidates echoed that boosting relations with China will be a key policy task for the next president as Seoul-Beijing ties are…
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Politics
N. Korea steps up election interference
Seoul called on North Korea to halt its efforts to influence the Dec. 19 elections, Friday, after Pyongyang slammed conservative presidential candidate Park Geun-hye for “distorting” history over her father’s authoritarian rule. The North’s attack on Park, who on Monday apologized to those who suffered under the rule of late…
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Politics
Who’s top speaker?
Park direct, Moon well spoken, Ahn complex All three presidential candidates have their style of speaking, which experts say could make a decisive difference in the Dec. 19 election. Choi Jin, president of the Seoul-based think tank Institute of Presidential Leadership, said, “Rep. Park Geun-hye of the ruling Saenuri Party…
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Politics
Lee warns against NK provocations
President Lee Myung-bak ordered strong action Wednesday against any North Korean acts of provocation that may increase ahead of the Dec. 19 presidential election. President Lee also expressed his disappointment about the lack of expected economic liberalization measures in the North’s Supreme People’s Assembly meeting. Pyongyang has in the past…
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