South Korean stocks closed 0.68 percent higher Monday, boosted by gains in tech and auto large-caps on the back of firm foreign buying, analysts said. The local currency rose slightly against the U.S. dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) advanced 13.75 points to finish at 2,048.14. Trading volume was light at 252.3 million shares worth 3.83 trillion won ($3.61 billion), but decliners outstripped gainers 436 to 382. The main index bobbed in and out of positive territory

North Korea's young leader Kim Jong-un is set to hold talks with the visiting Mongolian president this week, a South Korean diplomatic source said Monday, in what would be his debut on the summit diplomacy stage since becoming the North's leader. Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj arrived in Pyongyang earlier in the day, marking the first visit by a head of state to North Korea since Kim took power in late 2011 upon the death of his father, Kim Jong-il. "We have been informed that First Secre

미국 언더그라운드 록 음악의 전설로  불리는 루 리드가 27일(현지시간) 별세했다고 대중문화 전문지 '롤링스톤' 등이  보도했다. 향년 71세.오랜 기간 폭음과 마약 사용으로 건강이 나빠진 리드는 올 초 간 이식수술을 받았으며, 지난 4월 예정됐던 5차례의 캘리포니아주(州) 콘서트도 모두 취소한 것으로 알려졌다.뉴욕 태생의 리드는 1964년 뉴욕에서 결성된 록 밴드 ‘벨벳 언더그라운드'에서 기타리스트, 작곡가 겸 가수로 활동했으며, 1970년 밴드를 떠나고 나서도 솔로 아티스트로 성공적인 길을 걸었다.그는 당시로는 생소했던 아방가르드 록과 팝아트를 주류 음악계에 소개했으며, 세계적인 팝 아티스트 앤디 워홀과 '예술적 동지'로 불렸다.벨벳 언더그라운드는 상업적으로는 성공하지 못했지만 많은 평론가에 의해 1960년대에 가장 중요하고 영향력 있는 그룹 가운데 하나로 평가됐으며, 1996년 '로큰롤 명예의 전당'에 올랐다.소셜네트워킹서비스(SNS)인 트위터와 페이스북 등을 통해 별세 소식이

The state financial authorities said Sunday they plan to take a stronger action against violation of real-name financial transaction law in a bid to enhance market transparency.The Financial Services Commission and Financial Supervisory Service said they plan to impose heavier fines on violators and also take a stronger measure against the usage of borrowed-name accounts by business tycoons.The move came amid rising criticism from the public that the existing rules are perfunctory due to the lax

Multinational enterprises operating in South Korea accounted for two-thirds of unpaid tariffs imposed between 2008 and 2012, data showed Sunday, drawing calls for the tightening of customs-related probes.According to the Korea Customs Service data submitted to parliament, the amount of unpaid tariffs imposed on foreign firms by fixing transfer price came to 786.5 billion won ($740.5 million) over the cited period.The number accounts for some 65 percent of the country's combined evaded tariffs of

A drifting North Korean fishing boat was rescued by South Korea's Navy and Coast Guard in the East Sea on Saturday and sent back to the North the next day in accordance with the seamen's wishes, military and police officials here said."One North Korean fishing boat troubled by its mechanical failure was towed to the waters off the South Korean port of Geojin on Saturday. It was sent back to North Korea at 9:48 a.m. Sunday without repairs, after authorities found that its sailors have no intentio

North Korea informed South Korea on Saturday that it will not permit a defector-turned South Korean lawmaker to visit an inter-Korean industrial park on its soil next week, the unification ministry said.The notice came a day after the Seoul government provided North Korea with the list of 24 ruling and opposition lawmakers who plan to visit the joint factory zone in the North's border city of Kaesong on Wednesday.The visit is being arranged as part of the annual parliamentary inspection of Presi