Experts see conflicting signs over economic overhaul under young leader Kim Jong-unIn July 2002, North Korea raised expectations of a change toward a market-oriented system with a set of bold macroeconomic experiments. It eased the rigid command economy by dissolving the rationing scheme, allowing for street markets, increasing wages and prices and introducing incentives and graded compensation. North Korea watchers were surprised to see its leaders professing “reform,” a term loathed in the iso

A quarter of a world away, Korea and Seychelles may appear to have little in common. The Asian and African countries in fact are similar in many aspects ― a relatively small size of land, ample marine life, fast-growing economy, vibrant democracy, educational zeal and a vision for environmentally friendly development ― on which they will continue to build cooperation, said Jean-Paul Adam, the country’s foreign minister.“Korea and Seychelles may seem like two different countries and seem very far

Two countries set to sign defense intelligence agreement on FridayThe Korean government will push ahead to sign the first military accord with Japan on Friday, officials said, brushing aside growing criticism over its clandestine and hasty handling of the politically sensitive issue. The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the General Security of Military Information Agreement to facilitate the sharing of intelligence on North Korea and search and rescue-related missions. The Foreign Ministry said Thurs

On Nov. 29, 2011, more than 3,000 participants gathered in the bustling city of Busan to attend the fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness. Its outcome, the “Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation,” is the most inclusive agreement on the effectiveness of development cooperation to date.In addition to setting out shared principles, common goals and differentiated commitments to effective cooperation, participants agreed to forge a global partnership to support these efforts

Leaders of overseas Korean communities on Tuesday called for improvements in the absentee voting process to boost their participation in the December presidential election. They stressed the need for the government to devise new voting methods that are easier yet secure, such as post, proxy or electronic systems. “Many overseas Koreans demand improvements in the system because they have a hard time making two trips to cast their vote between the diplomatic missions and their homes far away,” sai

The government said Monday it appointed Jeon Kyong-mann, a leading defense specialist, as the new executive director of the state-run Institute for Unification Education.Jeon, 61, will replace Cho Myung-chul, a North Korean defector who became a proportional representative of the ruling Saenuri Party following the April general election. Jeon’s two-year tenure took effect immediately. He is a former vice president of the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses and has held various posts at the gove

The Unification Ministry on Monday unveiled six ceramic jars that emblemize its drive to boost public awareness and raise funds to prepare for unification with North Korea. Minister Yu Woo-ik on Saturday took part in the glaze firing of the so-called “unification jars” on the last leg of a 40-day course with a renowned potter Kim Jeong-ok in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province.The white porcelain vessels are a symbol of Yu’s ongoing campaign to create a “unification account” to bankroll a futur