North Korea on Wednesday proposed the two Koreas unconditionally reopen governmental talks to resolve the current crisis between the countries."We courteously propose having wide-ranging dialogue and negotiations with the political parties and organizations of South Korea including its authorities," the North said in a joint statement adopted in a meeting of the North Korean government, political

 WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Wednesday met with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi as they seek to prepare for Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to Washington this month on North Korea, the trade imbalance and other issues.   "We are preparing diligently for the upcoming state visit by President Hu Jintao," Clinton said just before the start of the meeting at

WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- The United States on Wednesday expressed skepticism about North Korea's proposal for unconditional dialogue with South Korea to ease tensions, saying Pyongyang must first apologize for recent provocations and show commitment for denuclearization. "We all understand that ultimately to resolve the challenge of North Korea, there has to be dialogue," State Department spokesman

Chung Mong-koo, chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, said Wednesday his company plans to invest about 12 trillion won ($ 10.64 billion) this year, up 15 percent from last year.The nation‘s second-largest conglomerate also plans to employ “a large number of staff” this year when its steel-making unit, Hyundai Steel, is set to complete its third blast furnace, Chung said in a New Year meeting of financi

Hyundai Motor Group looks set to win its months-long competition with Hyundai Group to take over Korea’s top construction company. Creditors of Hyundai Engineering & Construction, including Korea Exchange Bank, launched their preparations Wednesday to sign a memorandum of understanding with the automobile giant by as early as next week.Their move followed a court ruling Tuesday which supported the

South Korea and the U.S. are in agreement that North Korea should first solve issues with Seoul before rejoining the multinational peace talks with four other regional powers, a Seoul official said Wednesday. Top envoys of Seoul and Washington on North Korea discussed the terms of resuming the stalled six-nation denuclearization talks with the reclusive state, apparently noting the inevitable need

Han River rescuers are to receive a new high-speed, uncapsizable boat following a recent accident that claimed the lives of two of their colleagues.Seoul Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters said Wednesday that it planned to deploy the 12-meter rescue boat at a water rescue department in Yeongdeungpo.The boat has a top speed of 50 knots, faster than any of the current response craft, enabli

The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Wednesday refused to promulgate an ordinance passed by the city council last month to provide free school meals to all students. The decision is forecast to escalate the conflict between the two sides as the council is moving to make an arbitrary proclamation later this week. Mayor Oh Se-hoon, affiliated with the conservative ruling Grand National Party, said h