President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans struggled inconclusively Thursday to find common ground that could avert an economy-tanking default and possibly end the 10-day-old partial government shutdown that has idled 350,000 federal workers.“We expect further conversations tonight,” Majority Leader Eric Cantor said cryptically, after he, Speaker John Boehner and a delegation of House Republicans had met for an hour or so with Obama at the White House.He spoke at dusk, long after Boehn

Prosecutors raided Hyosung Group and its chairman’s residence on Friday in a widening probe into the group and the owner family suspected of evading taxes for more than 15 years.Hyosung chairman Cho Suck-rai and the group’s senior executives are suspected of fabricating accounting records to dodge tax and amass slush funds overseas. Residences of the chairman’s three sons have also been raided, according to prosecutors at Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office.Investigators have confiscated

North Korea on Thursday warned it could disclose comments made by South Korean politicians during their visits to the communist country if Seoul continues to make an issue out of the 2007 inter-Korean summit transcript.The Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea (CPRK) said the ongoing dispute in South Korea over alleged comments made by late President Roh Moo-hyun is an insult to its "highest dignity" and can only be viewed as an unacceptable provocation.In the North, the term "highes

Hundreds of documents meant to ensure the safety of South Korea's nuclear reactors have been forged, a top official said Thursday.Kim Dong-yeon, a minister at the Prime Minister's Office, said government officials combed through about 22,000 test results for parts used in 20 reactors that are currently online. Among the test results, 277 documents or 1.2 percent were fabricated, said Kim.A separate probe of 218,000 out of 275,000 test results for eight other reactors also showed that 2,010 docum

The prosecution summoned the former records secretary during the Roh Moo-hyun administration as part of its probe into the 2007 inter-Korean summit transcript, as new allegations emerged of the existence of a video of the former president ordering the deletion of the transcript.Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office summoned Kim Jeong-ho on Thursday as a witness who served as the last records secretary under Roh and was involved in the transfer of presidential archives to the National Archiv

The recidivism rate for juvenile offenders has been on a steady rise in recent years, police said Thursday.The second conviction rate for juvenile offenders arrested over the past four years rose from 32.4 percent in 2009 to 35.5 percent in 2010, 36.9 percent in 2011 and 37.3 percent in 2012, the National Police Agency said in a report submitted to a ruling party lawmaker.The share went up to 41.9 percent in the first eight months of this year alone.The number of youth convicted for more than ni

South Korean stocks closed almost flat Thursday as concerns over a possible default of the United States government dented investor sentiment, analysts said. The local currency gained against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 1.36 points, or 0.07 percent, to finish at 2,001.40. Trading volume was low at 218.7 million shares worth 3.85 trillion won ($3.58 billion) with losers outpacing gainers 459 to 324.Analysts said Seoul shares closed flat as the cong

In the words of their own manager, the Doosan Bears have beat themselves with sloppy play to fall behind the Nexen Heroes two games to none in their Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) first-round playoff series.The Heroes walked off on the Bears twice to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series. They can eliminate the Bears with a win in Game 3 Friday at the Bears' home, Jamsil Stadium.While the finishes of the two games were surely dramatic -- the first was won on a ninth-inning sin

The amount of outstanding state bonds issued by South Korea has exceeded 450 trillion won ($418.2 billion) as the government is raising money to make up for tax revenue shortfalls caused by the prolonged economic slump, data showed Thursday.According to the data provided by the finance ministry, the outstanding state bonds, including Treasurys and currency stabilization bonds, stood at 457.3 trillion won as of August. This marked the first time that the amount has topped the 450 trillion won mar

North Korean media on Thursday confirmed the appointment of Ri Yong-gil as the Korean People's Army (KPA) chief of general staff.Ri's appointment to the senior post had been suspected since August when he was seen making public appearances as a four-star general and was consistently mentioned ahead of Jang Jong-nam, the minister of People's Armed Forces, in various public announcements.The confirmation was made when the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that North Korean leader