The Korea Herald

Interoperable missile defense architecture : official

Feb 22, 2015

Building an interoperable missile defense system is a major focus the United States places on trilateral cooperation with its two key Asian allies, South Korea and Japan, a senior American diplomat said.A man in Seoul Railway Station watches a news program showing the recent missile launch conducted by North Korea.(AP)Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Anita Friedt made the remark at the Japan Institute of International Affairs in Tokyo earlier Friday, echoing what Assistant Secretary
Australian FM calls Indonesia to ease tensions: reports

Feb 21, 2015

SYDNEY, (AFP) -- Foreign Minister Julie Bishop called on Indonesia to give two Australians on death row an "indefinite stay of execution" as she clarified her Prime Minister's comments linking their fate to aid, media reports said Saturday.Tensions between the two nations have grown after Indonesia confirmed Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, ringleaders of the so-called Bali Nine heroin trafficking group, were among the next group of prisoners to face the firing squad.Prime Minister Tony Abbott
Nissan executive known as 'father of the Z' dies at 105

Feb 21, 2015

TOKYO (AP) -- Yutaka Katayama, a former president of Nissan Motor Co.'s U.S. unit who built the Z sportscar into a powerful global brand in the 1970s, has died. He was 105.Known as the "father of the Z," Katayama won international respect for the Datsun Z as an affordable sportscar at a time when Japan-made products were synonymous with slipshod quality. Katayama, who died Thursday, retired from Nissan in 1977. Carlos Ghosn, who has led a turnaround at the Japanese automaker under an alliance wi
California governor blocks parole for ex-Mexican Mafia chief

Feb 21, 2015

SACRAMENTO, California (AP) -- Gov. Jerry Brown has blocked parole for a former leader of the notorious Mexican Mafia prison gang who has turned on his former comrades and now aids law enforcement.Brown announced Friday that he was blocking the release of 52-year-old Rene ``Boxer'' Enriquez.Enriquez has been in prison since 1993 serving a sentence of 20 years-to life in prison for two murders, multiple assaults and conspiracy to traffic in controlled substances.He drew attention last month when
West looks impotent as Ukraine ceasefire frays: analysts

Feb 21, 2015

PARIS, (AFP) -- The continued fighting in eastern Ukraine has made a mockery of the West's latest attempts to negotiate a ceasefire but may ultimately pave the way for a more durable peace, say analysts.It did not take long for the latest truce, brokered by France and Germany and signed in the Belarussian capital Minsk last week, to look as impotent as previous deals.With barely a pause, pro-Russian rebels continued their assault on the key transport hub of Debaltseve, ultimately forcing the Ukr
Arrest of Caracas mayor sign of broader Venezuela crackdown

Feb 21, 2015

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Opponents of President Nicolas Maduro poured into the streets Friday to condemn the surprise arrest of Caracas' mayor for allegedly participating in a U.S.-backed plot to overthrow his government. The protests came a day after an armed commando unit dressed in camouflage raided Mayor Antonio Ledezma's office and hauled him away. The detention, recorded by security cameras, set off a wave of spontaneous demonstrations in middle-class neighborhoods loyal to the oppos
French minister meets with Google, Facebook, Twitter

Feb 21, 2015

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The French interior minister says he has asked Google, Facebook and Twitter to work directly with French officials during a live investigation and to immediately remove terrorist propaganda when authorities alert them to it.French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve met Friday with representatives from the search engine and social networks during a one-day visit to the Silicon Valley and San Francisco.Cazeneuve says he hopes the meeting is the first step in building a stro
Australia clears up after twin cyclones, more floods expected

Feb 21, 2015

ROCKHAMPTON (AFP) - Australia was clearing up Saturday after two severe cyclones left a trail of destruction, wrecking hundreds of homes and cutting electricity to tens of thousands, even as authorities warned of more flooding and gusty winds to come.Tropical Cyclone Marcia barrelled through the northeastern state of Queensland Friday at the highest-rated category five, ripping apart houses, uprooting trees and bringing down power lines.The severe system hit hours after category four Tropical Cy
Shipping firms, dockers union reach tentative deal on US ports: source

Feb 21, 2015

LOS ANGELES, (AFP) -- US West Coast dockworkers and port operators have reached a tentative deal on a new labor contract, a source close to the negotiations said late Friday, averting a shutdown that would have hit about half the country's trade.The new agreement could free up operations at the ports that have slowed significantly since the labor contract expired in July at key ports for trade with Asia.A source close to the investigation confirmed the deal to AFP, but details were not immediate
Building in Dubai's Marina district in flames

Feb 21, 2015

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- One of the world's tallest residential towers caught fire early Saturday in Dubai's Marina district, sending bright yellow flames several stories high, but there were no reports of casualties, civil defense officials said.The fire broke out at about 2 a.m. in the 86-story Torch tower on the northeastern end of the densely populated district, which is packed with multi-story skyscrapers. Debris from the fire cluttered nearby streets after the blaze appeared to
State Department spokeswoman named Obama's communications director

Feb 21, 2015

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki has been named the new communications director for President Barack Obama after serving as the face of the department for more than two years.Psaki will take over the White House job on April 1, replacing Jennifer Palmieri, who is leaving reportedly to join Hillary Clinton's campaign."Jen worked on both my campaigns. She's served in the White House, and she's traveled the world as an adviser to Secretary Kerry," Obama said in a statement. "I fully trus
Russia edges out N. Korea as country Americans consider greatest enemy: Gallup

Feb 17, 2015

Russia has overtaken North Korea as the country Americans consider their greatest enemy, as tensions between Washington and Moscow have been running high over the situation in Ukraine, according to a Gallup survey Monday.Eighteen percent of the 837 adults, who responded in the Feb. 8-11 telephone poll, picked Russia as the greatest enemy of their country, a big jump from only 2 percent in 2012 and 9 percent in 2014, according to the results published on Gallup's website.The survey had a margin o
Suspect in shooting of 3 students had 13 guns, stash of ammo

Feb 14, 2015

RALEIGH, North Carolina (AP) _ The suspect in the deaths of three Muslim college students in North Carolina had at least a dozen firearms stashed in his home, according to search warrants released as world leaders decried the shootings.Warrants filed in court Friday listed an inventory of weapons seized by police from the Chapel Hill condominium of Craig Stephen Hicks, the 46-year-old charged with three counts of first-degree murder.The warrants list four handguns recovered from the home Hicks s
Russia asks UN Security Council to take action on Ukraine

Feb 14, 2015

UNITED NATIONS (AP) _ Over the past year, the United States and other members of the U.N. Security Council have loudly accused Russia of backing separatists in Ukraine, but the threat of a Russian veto has blocked them from taking action in close to 30 meetings on the crisis. Now, Russia is asking for their support. Russia circulated a surprise draft resolution, obtained Friday by The Associated Press, endorsing the new cease-fire agreement on Ukraine and calling on all parties involved to fully
U.S. governor announces his resignation amid scandal

Feb 14, 2015

SALEM, Oregon (AP) _ One of the longest-serving U.S. governors announced his resignation amid allegations his fiancee used her relationship with him to enrich herself.Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber on Friday said he broke no laws and said in a lengthy statement that his resignation would be effective on WednesdaySecretary of State Kate Brown, a Democrat like Kitzhaber, was expected to assume the office and become the first openly bisexual governor in the U.S. Kitzhaber handily won re-electi