North Korea is expanding its main political prison camps, apparently due either to hikes in the number of prisoners or the consolidation of its facilities, a human rights group said here Monday.The findings came from joint research by the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) and DigitalGlobe, a commercial earth image provider.An analysis of satellite photos of Camp No. 25 in the remote northeastern area of Chongjin-si showed that agricultural development, maintenance and construction

Italy faced political paralysis Monday as near-complete results in crucial national elections showed no clear front-runner and raised the possibility of a hung parliament. The uncertainty bodes ill for the nation's efforts to pass the tough reforms it needs to snuff out its economic crisis and reassure jittery markets. The chaotic election scenes in the eurozone's third-biggest economy spilled across the Atlantic to send the Dow Jones index plunging more than 200 points in its sharpest drop sinc

South Korean stocks closed 0.46 percent lower on Monday due to rising uncertainties stemming from the Unites States, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) moved down 9.37 points to 2,009.52. Trading volume was low at 333.3 million shares worth 3.1 trillion won ($2.85 billion) with losers outpacing gainers 477 to 317."Investor sentiment was dented by the economic uncertainties in the U.S., despite rising hopes for th

Following is the full text of President Park Geun-hye's inauguration address - Ed. “Opening a New Era of Hope”My fellow Koreans and seven million fellow compatriots overseas, 　As I take office as the 18th-term President of the Republic of Korea, I stand before you today determined to open a new era of hope. I am profoundly grateful to the Korean people for entrusting this historic mission to me. I also thank President Lee Myung-bak, former Presidents, dignitaries who have come from abroad to cel

The value of worldwide shipments of smartphones are expected to dwarf that of PCs for the first time this year amid growing demand for mobile devices, data showed Monday.Global smartphone shipment value is forecast to reach US$239.6 billion this year, surpassing PC shipment value estimated at $218.6 billion, according to the data by market researcher Gartner Inc. and finance industry sources.If the estimated figures are on track, it will mark the first time smartphone shipments topped PC shipmen

South Korean stocks started lower Monday as investor sentiment was dented by rising concerns over the United States' sequestration, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 2.54 points, or 0.13 percent, to 2,016.35 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Shares lost ground across the board, with top chipmaker SK hynix moving down 1.14 percent and top flat panel manufacturer LG Display falling 0.49 percent. Top steelmaker POSCO lost 1.1 percent.Carmakers also traded l

After accumulating titles with Europe's biggest clubs as a player, Michael Laudrup reached unexpected heights in his first year as Swansea manager on Sunday by guiding the Welsh club to its first major trophy in its centenary season.In the heaviest victory League Cup final victory, Swansea overwhelmed Bradford 5-0 in front of 82,597 fans at Wembley Stadium to end the northern English club's hopes of becoming the first fourth-tier side to win a major title in Europe.Beating Bradford provided a re

The murder case involving Olympic star Oscar Pistorius took another unexpected turn Sunday with the news that his older brother, Carl, is himself facing charges for the death of a woman in a traffic accident. Carl Pistorius faces a charge of unlawful, negligent killing for a 2008 road death, “in which a woman motorcyclist sadly lost her life,” Kenneth Oldwage, the Pistorius family lawyer said on Sunday. The accident happened in Vanderbijlpark, south of Johannesburg. The charge of “culpable homic

Conservative candidate Nicos Anastasiades won Cyprus' presidency Sunday by one of the widest margins in 30 years, promising to do what it takes to quickly secure a financial rescue package from international creditors and prevent the country from sliding into economic oblivion.Anastasiades, 66, won the runoff election with 57.48 percent of the vote, well ahead of left-wing rival Stavros Malas, who nabbed 42.51 percent, final results showed.The election comes as Cyprus is negotiating a much-neede

Raul Castro announced Sunday that he will step down as Cuba's president in 2018 following a final five-year term, for the first time putting a date on the end of the Castro era. He tapped rising star Miguel Diaz-Canel as his top lieutenant and first in the line of succession. The 81-year-old Castro also said he hopes to establish two-term limits and age caps for political offices including the presidency _ an astonishing prospect for a nation led by Castro or his older brother Fidel since the 19

The U.N. Security Council is struggling to take what it calls "significant action" against North Korea for its latest nuclear test amid disputes among veto-wielding members, diplomatic sources said Sunday.In the wake of Pyongyang's third known nuclear experiment on Feb. 12, the U.S. government called for a "swift, credible and strong" response by the U.N. council.South Korea aims to release a tough sanctions resolution against North Korea within this month. Seoul holds the rotating presidency of

한국GM이 앞으로 5년간 8조원을 투자하겠다는 청사진을 내왔다. 지난 2002년 출범 이후 10년간 10조원을 투자한 것과 비교하면 60%가 확대되는 것이다. 신규 투자를 바탕으로 신차 6종을 국내에서 생산, 계발하고 내수시장 점유율은 현재 9.5%에서 두자리수를 달성하겠다고 발표했다. 현재 GM의 경차 및 소형차의 디자인을 담당하고 있는 부평 디자인스튜디오는 두배 이상 규모를 키워 미국, 브라질에 이어 세번째로 큰 디자인센터가 될 예정이다. 　"한국GM은 오늘날 GM의 성공스토리에 크게 기여했다. 우리는 한국에서, 한국과 함께, 한국을 위하여 역량을 키워갈 것이다"고 팀리 GM해외사업부문 사장이 금요일 간담회에서 밝혔다. 최근 지분매각과 크루즈국내생산 중단 등으로 불거진 "GM철수설"에 대해서는 "8조원 결코 가볍게 투자할 수 있는 금액 아니다"며 "GM은 한국에 남을 것"이라고 강조했다. 　(코리아헤럴드 이지윤 기자)　<관련 영문 기사>GM renews commitment to