Samsung Electronics Co., the world's top computer memory maker, will likely spend more than 30 trillion won ($26.67 billion) in investment this year, industry sources said Tuesday.    The forecast came a day after company chairman Lee Kun-hee said that the company's investment for this year will be larger and bigger than last year's. The company earmarked 26 trillion won(US$23 billion) for investm

WASHINGTON -- The United States Monday called on North Korea to take concrete steps toward its denuclearization before reopening the six-party nuclear talks, which have been stalled for more than two years over the North's provocations.   "We have noted public statements about the potential for improved dialogue between North and South," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said. "Obviously,

South Korea's foreign exchange reserves rebounded in December from the previous month as a weaker U.S. dollar boosted the conversion value of assets in other currencies, the central bank said Tuesday.   The country's foreign reserves reached US$291.57 billion as of the end of December, up $1.34 billion from the previous month, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).   The foreign reserves expanded b

South Korean stocks began higher on Tuesday as overnight rallies on Wall Street boosted investor sentiment, analysts said.   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 3.77 points, or 0.18 percent, to 2,073.85 in the first 15 minutes of trading.   Shipbuilders led the climb with market leader Hyundai Heavy Industries jumping more than 3 percent and its smaller rival Daewoo Shipbu