The Korea Herald

N. Korea's vice FM 'satisfied' with New York talks

North KoreaAug 3, 2011

Wrapping up a weeklong stay in New York, North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan Tuesday expressed satisfaction with the results of his talks with U.S. officials and said he expects further dialogue."(I) am satisfied with talks this time," Kim told reporters before his departure. "Dialogue w
Senate passes bill to prevent US default

World BusinessAug 3, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) _ The U.S. avoided a feared and catastrophic default on the American debt, as lawmakers on Tuesday passed a measure that ties an agreement to raise the government's capacity to borrow to steep cuts in government spending.The Senate passed the measure Tuesday, a day after it passed th
UK police arrest man over hacking allegations

World NewsAug 2, 2011

LONDON (AP) -- Police investigating phone hacking and police bribery at defunct British tabloid News of the World on Tuesday arrested a man, believed to be a former executive at the newspaper.The Metropolitan Police said a 71-year-old man had been arrested by appointment Tuesday morning at a Lo
Blast at POSCO kills 1, injures 2

Social affairsAug 2, 2011

An explosion inside a POSCO plant on Tuesday killed one worker and inured two others. Police and firefighters are investigating the cause of the blast at the company’s stainless steel plant in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province.A 28-year-old employee of the steelmaker’s affiliated company
Heavy downpours damage Dongdaemun gate

Social affairsAug 2, 2011

One of South Korea's most treasured relics was damaged during the heaviest downpours in decades last week, government officials said Tuesday.Some parts of the roof ridge of Dongdaemun (Great East Gate) chipped off due to the record-breaking rainfall that killed 62 and left thousands homeless in Seou
Members of progressive labor group face probe on espionage suspicions

Social affairsAug 2, 2011

South Korea's spy agency has sent summons to several members of a radical labor umbrella group over suspicions of their involvement in an alleged espionage case, sources said Tuesday.According to prosecution and labor group officials, the National Intelligence Service asked about 10 officials of the
S. Korea officially recognizes wartime kidnap victims

PoliticsAug 2, 2011

South Korea acknowledged Tuesday that 55 people were abducted by North Korea during the Korean War six decades ago, marking the first official recognition of kidnap victims.The announcement, intended to disclose the truth about kidnap victims during the 1950-53 war and restore their honor, came near
Samsung will launch new Galaxy Tab in Australia as planned

IndustryAug 2, 2011

Samsung Electronics Co. said Tuesday that it will release the new version of its Galaxy Tab tablet computer in Australia this month as scheduled, denying media reports that Apple Inc.'s lawsuit has prompted the Korean company to postpone sales there."The Galaxy Tab 10.1 model for the Australian mark
BOK buys gold for first time in 13 years

Aug 2, 2011

Foreign reserves rise to record-high $311 billion in JulyThe Bank of Korea said Tuesday it bought 25 tons of gold in the June-July period ― its first purchase since the 1997-98 financial crisis.The purchase touched off speculations about its motives at a time when gold prices are hitting record high
Demand for hybrid sedans rising

TransportAug 2, 2011

Hyundai Motor and Kia Motor are posting a rapid growth in sales of hybrid sedans at home, following outstanding performances in the U.S. market.In July, about 15 percent of Hyundai-Kia’s customers who purchased the automakers’ Sonata and K5 picked the hybrid version of the sedans, Hyundai Motor Grou
Seoul hits back at Tokyo’s renewed claim to Dokdo

Foreign affairsAug 2, 2011

Japan’s defense white paper lists Korean islets as its territorySouth Korea strongly protested against Japan’s move to claim Dokdo and will take strong countermeasures against any action to hurt its sovereignty, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. Japan described South Korea’s easternmost islets of D
Loan shark faces trial for massive spamming scheme

Social affairsAug 2, 2011

An illegal loan agent was indicted on charges of sending millions of spam messages to mobile phones to lure potential customers, prosecutors said Monday.The 34-year-old man, surnamed Kim, sent unwanted text messages to random cell phone users in violation of the local communications law, the Seoul C
Panel confirms 55 citizens abducted by N. Korea

PoliticsAug 2, 2011

A government panel to verify kidnappings of South Koreans by North Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War officially confirmed 55 South Korean abductees for the first time, the Prime Minister’s Office said Tuesday.The National Committee on Investigating Abductions during the Korean War, which is headed
N. Koreans apparently reaching outside world via Internet

North KoreaAug 2, 2011

More North Koreans are apparently surfing the Web to find out about their country’s ties with South Korea and the U.S., and other issues affecting them, according to the U.S.-funded Radio Free Asia.Questions have been raised over the surfers’ identities as the autocratic communist state has severely
DP slams P.M., Cheong Wa Dae over savings banks scandal

PoliticsAug 2, 2011

Opposition lawmakers once again lashed out at the presidential and prime minister’s offices for neglecting their supervisory duties during a special committee meeting on the savings banks state investigation on Tuesday. “President Lee Myung-bak promised in June to fully cooperate in the savings bank