Business as usual seems to be the consensus from foreign businesses and chambers of commerce in South Korea over the announcement of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s death on Monday.North Korea’s secretive leader died of a heart attack on Saturday sparking concerns both at home and abroad.“At the moment, the events and the way things are going to roll out will not affect business,” said Rob Edwards, chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in Korea.The American Chamber of Commerce expressed

Airlines concerned about passenger cuts from China, JapanThe government tightened security in airports and seaports Tuesday, a day after the announcement of the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, while the airline industry fears a possible drop in passengers. The Korea Customs Service ordered affiliate agencies to “thoroughly examine goods coming in from countries with a large terrorist presence including socialist nations and countries whose nationals have been caught for attempting to b

North Korea test fired a short-range missile on the east coast hours before the death of its leader Kim Jong-il was announced on Monday.According to local news reports, the South Korean government confirmed that North Korea conducted a missile test around 8 a.m.The number and type of missile fired was not confirmed. The exercise, however, is thought to be unrelated to the death of Kim Jong-il.“The event is an issue the (South Korean) military has been tracking, and it is thought to be unrelated

Left-wing urges for government-level delegation; Right-wing keeps silence, stresses security issuesAmid the aftermath of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s death, political responses varied on whether to pay a government-level condolence call to the communist state.North Korea’s state funeral committee said Monday, shortly after Kim’s death was made public, that it would not receive any foreign delegations.The gesture is, however, largely seen as a mere formality, as the country ended up acceptin

Alarmed South Korean lawmakers quickly agreed Monday to hold emergency meetings of various committees at the National Assembly to discuss the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and create measures to cope with the aftermath. The North’s state media reported earlier in the day that the 69-year-old Kim died of a heart attack on Saturday. South Korea’s military has been placed on emergency alert and its foreign ministry also placed its overseas diplomatic missions on emergency standby. Floor

SK Group’s chairman appeared before prosecutors Monday morning to be grilled over suspicions that he embezzled a massive amount of group funds in collusion with his younger brother.Chey Tae-won entered the prosecutors’ office in southern Seoul around 9:25 a.m., after getting notice of the summons by prosecutors on Friday.“I apologize for causing worries due to personal matters,” Chey told reporters. “It seems that there are some suspicions and misunderstandings around me, but I will answer (the

Inter-Korean cooperation expected to expand if Western-educated Kim’s son takes powerNews of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s death had no immediate impact on the joint industrial park just north of the inter-Korean border Monday, but observers are wary of temporary setbacks in production during the official mourning period.Once Kim’s Swiss-educated heir Jong-un firms up his control over the government, however, inter-Korean trade and economic collaboration are expected to expand in the long te

WASHINGTON (AP) ― The Obama administration is warily watching developments on the Korean peninsula after the death of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-il and may postpone decisions on re-engaging the reclusive country in nuclear talks and providing it with food aid, U.S. officials said Sunday.The administration had been expected to decide on both issues this week, possibly as early as Monday, but the officials said Kim’s death would likely delay the process. The officials spoke on condition of anon

SYDNEY (AFP) ― Australia on Monday said it was critical governments exercised calm and restraint after the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, while urging Pyongyang to engage with the global community.The North’s state media, in a shock announcement, reported Monday that the 69-year-old Kim died of a heart attack Saturday while on board a train during one of his field trips.Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said nuclear North Korea was the single most armed military zone anywhere in

A new system, or “scenario,” for accurate weather forecasts has been developed, as climate change continues to cause irregular weather patterns here, the state’s weather agency said Monday.According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the new scenario will help better prepare preemptive measure for storms as it has a resolution 100 times that of the previous method.The new scenario divides the entire country into one-square kilometer segments and will be able to predict the temperature a

A Chinese fishing boat captain accused of killing a South Korean Coast Guard officer last week admitted to his crime on Monday, reversing his previous denials.The 41-year-old captain’s admission came during an escorted visit by Coast Guard officers to a pier in Incheon, west of Seoul, for an on-the-spot investigation. Asked by reporters whether he admitted his crime, the captain said “Yes” through a Chinese interpreter. “I apologize for the victim who was killed because of my mistake as well as

Christian Loucq on Monday was inaugurated the new head of the International Vaccine Institute, the only international organization headquartered in Korea.IVI is devoted to research in vaccine development and introducing vaccines to the developing world. He will serve a four-year term, succeeding John Clemens.“I am humbled, honored and very enthusiastic to be joining the IVI team as director-general. Since its establishment in 1997, IVI has been a pioneering organization in many aspects of vaccin

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) ― North Korea on Monday urged its 24 million people to rally behind 20-something heir-apparent Kim Jong-un as the nation mourned the death of supreme leader Kim Jong-il.South Korea, meanwhile, put its military on high alert, while people in the streets of Pyongyang broke into tears as they learned the news that Kim had died at the age 69 of heart failure. The United States said it was in close contact with allies South Korea and Japan.The North’s official Korean Centr

North Korea and the United States are highly likely to delay bilateral nuclear talks set for this week in Beijing, following the report of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s death, a senior Seoul official said Monday. “In the wake of the North Korean leader Kim’s death, it would be difficult for the two sides to hold the talks in Beijing this week,” the official at Seoul’s foreign ministry said on the condition of anonymity.Pyongyang and Washington are set to hold the third round of meetings on T