Pyongyang proposes Red Cross talks over repatriationSouth Korea on Monday rejected North Korea’s demand to meet with the four boat passengers wishing to defect, escalating tensions as the communist state appears determined to have all 31 on board repatriated.In a message to the South, the North Korean Red Cross proposed that working-level officials meet Wednesday at their border village to determi

President Lee Myung-bak said Monday that South Korea's military is diversifying its role and mission, from deterring war on the Korean Peninsula to peacekeeping, recovery and rescue work abroad."Our troops are emerging as a military that contributes to the world's peace beyond the protection of its fatherland and peace on the Korean Peninsula," Lee said in his biweekly radio address.He pointed out

President Lee Myung-bak is carefully considering using his veto power against a controversial revision to the political fund law passed by a parliamentary committee last week to practically legalize lobbying towards lawmakers, a ranking presidential aide said Monday.After failing to pass the revision through parliament due to strong opposition from the public at the end of last year, the National

Four North Koreans who have expressed their wish to stay here after their boat accidentally drifted into South Korean waters are becoming the latest source of tension between the two Koreas. North Korea repeated over the weekend its demand for the return of all 31 nationals who strayed into South Korea on Feb. 5, refusing to accept Seoul’s decision to let four of them stay. While Seoul claims the

North Korea has deployed tanks and other weapons around its leader Kim Jong-il’s residences in Pyongyang to fortify them against a possible revolt spurred by the ongoing antigovernment protests in the Middle East, a Seoul source said Sunday.During a closed-door meeting with lawmakers Friday, a senior official of the National Intelligence Service confirmed reports of such activity, according to a l

The application process for the F-2 spouse visa will have stricter rules from Monday, the Ministry of Justice said Sunday. The latest revision to the immigration law came after several cases of abuse and fraud in international marriages.In July last year, a 20-year-old Vietnamese bride was murdered by her Korean husband, just eight days after arriving in Korea. Her husband had a history of mental

From now until June, preparations for the Danish Pavilion at EXPO 2012 in Yeosu will focus on pavilion design, content and business partnerships. Danish EXPO Commissioner Steen Christensen visited Korea on Feb. 17-18 to hold consultations with the Korean EXPO Commissioner and organizing committee as well visit the Yeosu site.During his visit, the Danish commissioner also briefed members of the Kor

The New Zealand government has launched an appeal to help the people of Christchurch and the Canterbury region affected by the Feb. 22 earthquake.The embassy has set up links at its website to assist those who want to donate to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.Launched by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, the appeal complements other fundraising activities by the Red Cross and the Salvation A

The electronics sector is one of the fastest growing industries in Mexico in terms of export potential and employment generation. Mexico manufactures a wide range of electronic products from audio and video, telecommunications, computer equipment and equipment parts to medical and commercial products.To highlight the many different avenues in which Korean firms can take part in the Mexican electro