North Korea should stop its uranium enrichment program and implement denuclearization measures if it wants to resume the stalled six-party talks, a senior U.S. diplomat said Tuesday.“I think that both the Republic of Korea, the United States and our other partners have been very clear on what North Korea must do to be able to have a resumption of the six-party talks,” U.S. Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman told reporters in Seoul after meeting with South Korean foreign

South Korea will hold a military drill in the West Sea on Wednesday, the one-year anniversary of North Korea’s attack on Yeonpyeongdo.In the drill, units including the Northwest Islands Defense Command, Air Force Operations Command and the Navy Operations Command will engage in an exercise simulating last year’s attack under the command of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Jung Seung-jo. The exercise will also include a drill defending Baengnyeong Island against a North Korean attempt t

A former South Korean Army soldier is being investigated for suspicions of espionage.According to the Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency on Tuesday, the former sergeant first class was arrested on suspicion of passing on military secrets to North Korea.Police suspect that the soldier, Kim, 34, whose full name was undisclosed to the media, crossed through Shenyang, northeastern China into the North and handed over information gathered during and after his military service.The police report found t

A Seoul multicultural support center has begun enrollment for free occupation, language and social support training for foreign brides, migrant workers and multicultural children, according to city officials Tuesday.The Seoul Haevichi Multicultural Family Support Center is accepting up to 360 students on a first-come, first-served basis for its seven courses divided into 26 classes, which will begin December 5.The curriculum includes Korean language courses, care-giving and babysitting occupatio

10.2 trillion won earmarked for IP investment by 2016 The government will invest 10.2 trillion won ($8.9 billion) by 2016 in the country’s intellectual property capabilities, the Presidential Council on Intellectual Property announced Tuesday.The figure was included in the national intellectual property plan approved by the council Tuesday.Plans for executing the measures will be drawn up from plans submitted by 21 concerned government ministries and 16 major regional governments. The action pla

NEW YORK (Yonhap News) -- The human rights panel of the United Nations General Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution condemning North Korea’s human rights abuses as part of annual move to put pressure on the communist regime, diplomats here said.The Third Committee of the U.N. General Assembly, which handles social, humanitarian and cultural issues, approved the measure co-sponsored by South Korea and 51 other member states. A total of 103 members voted in favor and 16 were against it, with 55

WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) -- Stephen Bosworth, a former top U.S. envoy on North Korea, said Monday that he does not want to use the words “management strategy” regarding North Korea and pointed out that there is no “hard evidence” of Pyongyang’s nuclear ties with Teheran. “I would not use those words myself,” he said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency, the first with Korean media since he quit two and a half years of service as special representative for North Korea policy last month.As Wash

Advises government to address North’s confiscation of assets at mountain resort A presidential advisory panel on national reunification has recommended to President Lee Myung-bak inter-Korean talks for the resumption of tours to the Mount Geumgang resort in North Korea.The recommendation by the National Unification Advisory Council came as Seoul has softened its hard-line stance toward Pyongyang in efforts to improve ties that turned sour following two deadly attacks last year.“Although the Nort

The country’s air passenger traffic inched up last month on the back of upbeat demand for international flights for holiday getaways, the government said Tuesday.The number of passengers on international routes shot up 6.4 percent in October compared with a year ago to 3.83 million. That set a fresh high for the month, according to the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs. All-time monthly high was recorded last August with 4.23 million.Domestic air passenger traffic also surged 5.5

South Korean stocks closed 0.34 percent higher on Tuesday as hopes for seasonal shopping demand and positive U.S. economic data outweighed the fallout from failed U.S. debt-reduction talks, analysts said. The local currency lost ground against the U.S. dollar.After a weak open, the benchmark KOSPI strengthened 6.25 points to 1,826.28. Trading volume was moderate at 261.4 million shares worth 3.82 trillion won ($3.33 billion), with decliners outnumbering gainers 443 to 368. “The impact of the U.S

LS Industrial Systems Co. said Tuesday it had won two contracts worth $115 million from the Iraqi government to install electrical substations in the Middle Eastern country’s capital.Under the deal, Korea’s top maker of electrical equipment will establish 35 medium-voltage substations in Baghdad within a year. It also plans to supply an additional four air-insulated switchgear substations, including transformers, for a separate order.The contracts come as part of the Middle Eastern country’s $37