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Politics
UN scretary general calls for dialogue on Dokdo
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for a peaceful resolution of the controversy involving Japan’s challenge to Korea’s sovereignty over its easternmost islets of Dokdo, Monday. The comments came at a time when relations between South Korea and Japan hit rock bottom following President Lee Myung-bak’s unprecedented visit to…
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Politics
Presidential hopefuls clash on Dokdo
The leading presidential contenders of the ruling and main opposition parties are waging a verbal war over the late President Park Chung-hee’s remarks on Dokdo. Rep. Moon Jae-in of the opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) alleged the late former President expressed his desire to destroy the country’s easternmost islets to…
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Seoul to keep Dokdo out of court
Seoul has rejected Tokyo’s move to take the issue of Dokdo to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) following President Lee Myung-bak’s surprise visit to the islets. “Our government’s basic stance is that we will not accept the call, as Dokdo is undeniably our territory,” said a foreign ministry official.…
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Politics
NK collapse may trigger Sino-US war: expert
In the event North Korea collapses, it could cause a war between the United States and China in the coming decades, a U.S. security expert warned Wednesday. A report by James Dobbins, director of the International Security and Defense Policy Center at the RAND National Defense Research Institute, said in…
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Politics
“Korea-US alliance should be revised”
The long-standing military alliance between Seoul and Washington should be revised in order for South Korea to have a better relationship with China, said Pan Zhenqiang, a senior advisor of the China Reform Forum (CRF), Thursday. The CRF is a policy-research organization officially affiliated to the Central Committee of the…
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NK boosts exchanges with Laos
North Korea has signed four agreements with Laos to boost economic and cultural exchange, Pyongyang’s state media said Thursday as the Stalinist country continues its outreach across Southeast Asia. The agreements were reached a day earlier during a visit by Kim Yong-nam, president of the North’s Presidium of the Supreme…
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Politics
Activists may take China to UN
Activists said Thursday they would take China’s alleged torture of human rights activist Kim Young-hwan to the U.N. this month with evidence, embarking on a campaign to raise international awareness of Beijing’s human rights abuses. Choi Hong-jae, a spokesman of the committee, demanded China tell the truth about Kim, make…
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Politics
NK leader’s sister takes role in regime
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s recent public relations makeover, including the emergence of his wife, has surprised some with its effort to drag the Stalinist state into modernity. But who is behind the slick new image? Some analysts suspect the role is being filled by the twenty-something leader’s younger sister,…
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Politics
Kim visits military unit ahead of Ulchi drills
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited a military unit, Pyongyang’s state media reported Tuesday, amid a spate of harsh rhetoric against upcoming Seoul-Washington military drills. Kim’s inspection of the Korean People’s Army Unit 552 swings attention back to the military following the regime’s recent focus on economic matters. It…
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Politics
North Korean leader meets 1st foreign dignitary
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un received his first senior foreign dignitary since taking power last December, state media said Friday, hosting a Chinese official to cement support from his chief ally. Kim met the previous day with Wang Jiarui, head of the International Liaison Department of China’s Communist Party, the…
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