News on South Korea

Year's biggest sandstorm turns Beijing sky orange

2010-03-20T05:45:11Z

<div id="subtitle">Year's strongest sandstorm hits northern China, turns Beijing skies orange with grit</div><div><p>China's capital woke up to orange-tinted skies Saturday as the strongest sandstorm so far this year hit the country's north, delaying some flights at Beijing's airport and prompting a dust warning for Seoul.</p><p>The...

NKorean loggers in Russia making defection bids

2010-03-19T22:30:11Z

<div id="subtitle">3rd North Korean logger attempts to defect in Russia, propelled by dream of 'freedom of life'</div><div><p>The North Korean's note, scrawled in pen, was simple: "I want to go to South Korea. Why? To find freedom. Freedom of religion, freedom of life."</p><p>The ex-logger, on the run from North Korean authorities, handed the note over to a South ...

Peru aims for Japan, South Korea trade talks in April

2010-03-19T17:15:47Z

<div><p>Peru is aiming to complete negotiations on free trade agreements with Japan and South Korea in April, Trade Minister Martin Perez said Friday.</p><p>The new round of talks with South Korea will take place in Washington...

S.Korea rebuffs N.Korea threat to seize assets

2010-03-19T09:15:53Z

<div><p>South Korea Friday rebuffed North Korean pressure to lift a tourism ban which has cost Pyongyang millions of dollars, and a Seoul official said trade worth millions more dollars could dry up unless ties improve.</p><p>The shutdown of the Mount Kumgang resort has i...

France urges G20 to curb excessive bank profits

2010-03-19T06:16:09Z

<div><p>French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on Friday criticised excessive bank profits following the global slump and said tougher financial regulations would be the key issue at this year's G20 summit.</p><p>"Look at the profit of the banking sector this year following the crisis: this is unacceptable. We must be strongly determined to balance this within the G20," Kouchner said in a wide-ranging speec...

Samsung aims for double-digit sales growth

2010-03-19T03:30:11Z

<div id="subtitle">Samsung sees strong 2010, aims for double-digit sales growth as global economy expands</div><div><p>Samsung Electronics predicted a strong 2010 as economic expansion in advanced and large developing economies gains speed and said it is aiming for double-digit sales growth from last year's record high.</p><p>The world's largest manufacturer of flat screen televisions and se...

S.Korea rejects N.Korea threat to seize assets

2010-03-19T00:15:49Z

<div><p>South Korea said Friday it would only resume tours to North Korea if Pyongyang provided safety guarantees, rejecting the regime's threat to confiscate Seoul's assets at a resort north of the border.</p><p>The unification ministry, which handles relations with the isol...

South Korea Samsung Electronics

2010-03-18T22:16:20Z

Shareholders of Samsung Electronics participate at the company's annual shareholders' meeting in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, March 19, 2010. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

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'Mr Microchips' proves popular in S.Korean schools

2010-03-18T10:00:17Z

<div><p>Robot teachers -- who never get angry or make sarcastic remarks -- have been a hit with pupils during a pilot project in some South Korean schools, a government report said Thursday.</p><p>Elementary school children responded favourably to the robotic teachers, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said, citing a survey by educational researchers.</p><p>English-teachi...

N.Korea says may seize S.Korean assets at resort

2010-03-18T09:15:58Z

<div><p>North Korea has threatened to seize South Korean assets at a resort in its territory, Seoul officials said Thursday, amid growing impatience at the South's refusal to let its citizens travel there.</p><p>The North's Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, a state body in charge of cross-border...

US company accused of exporting military tech

2010-03-18T05:45:44Z

<div id="subtitle">US company charged with exporting technology used by US military to South Korea, Russia</div><div><p>A U.S. company is accused of illegally exporting defense technology used by the U.S. military to South Korea, SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea has executed a ruling party official blamed for a botched currency reform, in a desperate attempt to quell public unrest and stem negative impact on Pyongyang's power succession, a news report said on Thursday.</p><p>The execu...

South Korea North Korea Currency Reform

2010-03-18T01:45:38Z

Tourist looks at North Korean's clothes at a unification observation post near the border village of the Panmunjom (DMZ) that separates the two Koreas since the Korean War, in Paju, west of Seoul, South Korea, Thurday, March 18, 2010. North Korea executed a fo...

South Korea green growth to hurt environment: report

2010-03-18T00:45:34Z

<div><p>SEOUL (Reuters) - A massive river restoration project at the center of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's green growth strategy will harm globally threatened bird species and destroy critical habitat, a conservation group's report said.</p><p>Lee's government intends to spend 22.2 trillion won ($1...

War games over despite N.Korea threats

2010-03-17T22:15:56Z

<div><p>A major US-South Korean military exercise ended Thursday without incident despite harsh North Korean criticism of the drill and its threats of retaliation for any aggression.</p><p>"No unusual North Korean military movements were detected during the exercise," said a spokesman for the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff.</p><p>The annual Key Resolve/Foal Eagle exercise this y...

War games over incident despite N.Korea threats

2010-03-17T21:15:35Z

Colo. company accused of exporting military tech

2010-03-17T18:15:12Z

<div id="subtitle">Colorado company charged with exporting technology used by US military to South Korea, Russia</div><div><p>A Colorado company is accused of illegally exporting defense technology used by the U.S. military to South Korea, South Korea was known as "Abortion Republic," is no longer easy. In recent weeks, the government has begun enforcing a long-ignored ban on the procedure for the first time.</p><p>It took Mrs. Kim 10 tries to find a doctor willing to perform a...

South Korea Abortion Debate

2010-03-17T09:18:53Z

In this photo taken Friday, March 5, 2010, South Korean women hold up placards during a rally against the government crackdown on abortion in Seoul, South Korea. Getting an abortion, once so routine here that South Korea was known as "Abortion Republic," is no longer easy. In recent weeks, the government has begun enforcing a long-ignored ban on the procedure for the first time. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-jo...

SKorean women caught in abortion limbo

2010-03-17T09:32:20Z

<div id="subtitle">Pregnant SKoreans desperate amid abortion crackdown in former 'Abortion Republic'</div><div><p>Having a third child wasn't in Mrs. Kim's plans. She and her husband are already struggling to get by.</p><p>But getting an abortion, once so routine here that South Korea was known as "Abortion Republic," is no longer easy. In recent weeks, the government has begun enforcing a long-ignored ban ...