Some raise possibilities of power struggles among elitesExperts are divided on whether the third-generation power succession in North Korea will be smoothly carried out following the death of its leader Kim Jong-il.Opinions differed over whether the hereditary transfer of power to his third son Jong-un would face any obstacles in the communist state, which Kim had ruled with an iron fist since his father and national founder Kim Il-sung died in 1994.Some argued that the process will proceed as p

Japanese travelers have long dominated the duty free shops for foreign tourists. However, this dominance has waned and Japanese are on course to be overtaken soon by Chinese tourists. Lotte Duty Free, the nation’s largest duty free seller operated by Hotel Lotte, said its sales to Chinese customers almost doubled from 8.9 percent to 16 percent this year amid a slight decrease in those to Japanese. When it came to its outlet on Jeju Island, Lotte said, Chinese sales made up almost 80 percent of t

Noda repeats Japan’s stance, demands removal of ‘Peace Statue’ in SeoulKYOTO, Japan ― President Lee Myung-bak on Sunday pressed Japan to address the long-standing issue of Korean women forced into sexual slavery during World War II, stressing its urgency as victims die of old age.Lee used most of his time during the summit talks with Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda here to underscore that the thorny issue has been a stumbling block in the way of the two nations working toward a “mature, fu

With exactly one year left before the presidential election, Rep. Park Geun-hye is poised to return to the helm of the Grand National Party on Monday, tasked with lifting the ruling conservatives from a crisis and winning back the confidence of voters. In a national committee meeting in the afternoon, the party is expected to endorse the appointment of Park as head of its emergency leadership council. Former chairman Rep. Hong Joon-pyo resigned earlier this month after he came under mounting pre

Liberals vowed to redouble efforts to unite all leftist forces against the ruling conservatives in elections next year, celebrating Monday the launch of a new political party created by a merger of three progressive groups. Holding its first official meeting, key members of the fledging Democratic Unified Party said it will be the driving force behind a new political movement in Korea, communicating with people online and offline. “The DUP launches on the basis of people’s desire for new politic