With the U.S. and China expected to try resolving their once complicated relations by emphasizing common goals at their summit this week, South Korea is preparing for any changes which may occur in the regional powers’ attitude toward North Korea. U.S. President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao are expected to discuss a wide range of economic and diplomatic issues Thursday, inclu

The government has decided to launch a consulting group to discuss international marriage and multicultural policy together with foreign ambassadors here.The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family will hold an inaugural meeting Thursday inviting high-ranking diplomats from seven Asian countries where a growing number of women seek a Korean husband. The discussion forum comes amid concerns growing

The prosecution Wednesday filed an arrest warrant for Lee Ho-jin, chairman of Taekwang Group, over illegal transfer of wealth, creation of slush funds and breach of trust. The investigation is expected to serve as a warning to other conglomerates including Hanwha, the nation’s 13th-largest chaebol. According to the Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office, Lee has amassed a slush fund of more th

WASHINGTON (AP) ― U.S. companies have long demanded that China let its currency rise to make U.S. exports cheaper. But as President Hu Jintao visits Washington this week, U.S. companies are stressing other goals: Stopping the theft of intellectual property. And getting a fair chance to win government contracts.No one expects any big breakthroughs. Instead, many U.S. companies hold out hope that th

BEIJING (AFP) ― Pedestrians are flattened by trucks as they walk along China’s highways, cyclists are flipped high in the air by speeding cars and sudden death haunts the anything-goes intersections in cities.Global automakers may be salivating over massive car sales in the world’s most populous nation, but hundreds of people die on China’s roads each day ― and some of their deaths are shown in gruesome detail on television.The carnage in Beijing alone is staggering, prompting a local television

ISTANBUL (AFP) ― Iran and six world powers meet Friday in Istanbul for a second round of talks, amid guarded hope for progress in efforts to settle tensions over Tehran’s disputed nuclear program.The meeting follows a first round in Geneva last month, which broke a 14-month hiatus in negotiations between the Islamic republic and the so-called 5+1 group of Britain, China, France, Russia, the United

Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. announced Wednesday that it signed a contract to build two drillships for 1.14 trillion won ($1.03 billion) for the U.S.-based contract driller for gas Noble Drilling.Drillships are specialized vessels fitted with drilling equipment used in gas and oil exploration in offshore locations. With the latest contract, Hyundai Heavy has been awarded all three contracts for dr