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Politics
‘China tortured activist with electric shocks’
Rep. Ha Tae-kyung of the ruling Saenuri Party disclosed Friday that Kim Young-hwan, freed last week after 114 days in a detention center in China, was tortured with electric shocks during his internment, citing Kim as his source. The reported human rights abuses of Kim and three other Korean activists…
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Politics
Red light blinks for Park’s presidential bid
Rep. Park Geun-hye of the ruling Saenuri Party has been considered an unbeatable presidential candidate with strong results in public opinion polls since 2007. The general belief, however, is now being put to the test. The daughter of the late President Park Chung-hee is losing ground after ratings of Ahn…
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‘NK Army chief fired for defiant attitudes’
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un recently dismissed the reclusive regime’s Army chief for his refusal to cooperate in a move to tighten his grip on the North’s military, a ruling party lawmaker said Thursday, citing information provided by the country’s spy agency. “Gen. Ri Yong-ho appears to have been forced…
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Politics
NK leader fast cementing hold on leadership
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has asserted his leadership style with more speed than expected, analysts said Thursday, amid a series of moves aimed to build his personality cult. From attending a concert featuring Disney and other icons of American culture to the surprise acknowledgment of his 2010 marriage, watchers…
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Politics
2 trouble-hit lawmakers to stay in leftist party
The plan to expel two trouble-hit lawmakers of the minor Unified Progressive Party (UPP) was foiled Thursday. Only six out of 13 UPP legislators voted in favor of the move at a party meeting. The leftist party will inevitably face a backlash from the public as the results showed the…
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Politics
Presidential hopeful calls for S-N coalition
Park Joon-yung, a presidential contender of the main opposition party, has expressed his desire to form a coalition government with North Korea, should he win the upcoming presidential election. “I believe South and North Korea will be able to enter the first stage of unification on the assumption that the…
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Politics
Ahn beats Park in 2-way race: poll
Ahn Cheol-soo, professor at Seoul National University, has benefited from being featured in a popular TV show which aired earlier this week, according to a recent poll. The latest Realmeter poll, which was released Wednesday, found that his approval ratings jumped 10 percent, compared with survey results a week ago.…
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Politics
NK confirms myterious woman to be Kim Jong-un’s wife
North Korea confirmed Wednesday that a young woman repeatedly seen closely flanking its leader Kim Jong-un in recent public appearances is his wife. “General Kim Jong-un attended a groundbreaking ceremony along with his wife Ri Sul-joo,” the North’s state-run Korean Central TV reported Wednesday as it describes the young leader’s…
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Korea-Spain forum to focus on economic crisis
A two-day Korea-Spain forum opens at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul today. Organized by the Korea Foundation, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and Casa Asia, it is the seventh biannual forum. Amid rising concerns over the economic crisis in the European Union and its ripple effects across the world, the…
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Politics
Activist claims abuse in Chinese detention center
Kim Young-hwan, a human rights activist who was freed last week after 114 days of detention in China, testified Wednesday that the Chinese authorities violated his human rights. Speaking at a news conference held in Seoul, the 49-year-old activist said the Korean government was aware of this, adding he addressed…
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