North Korea is continuing to produce fissile material for its nuclear weapons at its main nuclear research site in Yongbyon and new construction is underway to readjust the facilities, the International Atomic Energy Agency said in an annual report."There were indications consistent with the reactor's operation, including steam discharges and the outflow of cooling water," the IAEA said in a recent report, titled "Application of Safeguards in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.""Based on

North Korea on Friday rejected a recent United States report that accused its regime of severe religious persecution, denouncing the US move as an attempt to tarnish Pyongyang's image.The US State Department unveiled the 2016 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom early last week, confirming human rights abuses such as executions, torture and denial of the right to religious freedom inflicted on those engaging in religious practices.Since 2001 the department has designated North Korea

South Korean shipyards, led by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., are still struggling to cut costs through unpaid leave for their workers and shutting down dry docks idled amid a lack of orders, industry sources said Sunday.For decades, the shipbuilding sector has been one of the key growth drivers for Asia's fourth-largest economy. South Korea is home to Hyundai Heavy and two other top ranked shipyards -- Samsung Heavy Industries Co. and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co.But they suffered

The worldwide market for mobile phone displays is expected to overtake that of TVs screens for the first time ever this year, brought on by the change in consumer demand, industry trackers said Sunday.According to IHS Markit, growth of mobile panels averaged 17 percent annually in the past seven years, effectively bridging the gap with TV screens that have traditionally led the market. The US-based information and solutions provider said while mobile phone-related displays have surged forward, s

유명 탈북 시민운동가를 집요하게 스토킹해온 40대 탈북여성에게 법원이 실형을 선고했다.서울남부지법 형사8단독 남천규 판사는 경범죄처벌법 위반·업무방해·건조물침입 혐의로 기소된 정모(42·여)씨에게 징역 1년에 벌금 10만원을 선고했다고 26일 밝혔다. (사진=연합뉴스)법원에 따르면 정씨는 올 3∼5월 유명 탈북 시민운동가인 A(55)씨에게 교제를 요구하며, A씨가 운영하는 대북 인터넷 방송국에 수차례 찾아가 난동을 부린 혐의 등으로 재판에 넘겨졌다.정씨는 방송국 사무실 초인종을 반복해서 누르는 것은 기본이었고, 전자키 비밀번호를 무작위로 끈질기게 눌러 출입문을 열고 방송국에 침입하기도 했다.올 4월에는 이틀 연속 방송국에 찾아가 "A씨와 결혼을 하겠다"고 우기며 20여분 동안 사무실 출입문을 주먹이나 발로 두드렸다. 이 때문에 기사 작성과 녹음 등 방송국 업무가 마비됐다.한 달 뒤에는 빌딩 경비원이 잠시 자리를 비운 사이 건물에 들어가 방송국 출입문 앞에 드러누워 "제발 A씨를 만나

미국 인디애나 주에서 만 2세 남자 어린이가 혼자 차창을 여닫다 창틈에 목이 끼어 숨지는 사고가 발생, 어린 자녀를 둔 부모에게 경종을 울리고 있다.25일(현지시간) 시카고 ABC방송과 폭스뉴스 등에 따르면 인디애나 주 라파예트의 로건 밴더클리드(2)는 지난주 아버지의 자동차 안에서 자동버튼으로 창문을 여닫다 목이 끼면서 질식해 뇌손상을 입고, 일주일 만인 전날 결국 사망했다. 로건 밴더클리드 [고펀드미닷컴]사고 당일 로건은 누나 켄드라(5)와 함께 아버지를 따라 점심 외식을 하고 가족 농장으로 돌아왔다.아버지 드류는 "도착해보니 아이들이 잠들어 있었다. 좀 더 재울 생각으로 차 안에 에어컨을 켜두고 주시하면서 약 10m 떨어진 곳에서 농기계를 세차했다"고 밝혔다.얼마 지나지 않아 로건은 잠에서 깨어나 자동버튼을 이용해 창문을 내리고 고개를 내밀었다. 그리고 다시 창을 올리다 목이 끼었다.드류는 "어느순간 로건의 머리가 차창 밖에 나와있고 목이 창틈에 끼어있는 것이 보였다"며 "달려

South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo will visit the United States next week for talks with his American counterpart on North Korea, his ministry announced Friday.Song is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Defense Secretary James Mattis at the Pentagon on Wednesday during the trip aimed at confirming the strength of the alliance amid serious security conditions on the Korean Peninsula, it said. (Yonhap)It would be Song's first meeting with Mattis as Seoul's top defense official.Song a

Actor and singer Park Yu-chun of boy band JYJ on Friday was discharged from nearly two years of mandatory military service.Park was discharged late Friday from the Gangnam District Office in southern Seoul, where he served as a public worker in substitution for his military service. All able-bodied South Korean men between the ages of 18 and 35 must serve in the military for about two years, as the country remains technically at war with North Korea. Park Yu-chun (Yonhap)While serving his duty,

A senior British official said Friday a package of both sanctions and diplomacy is needed to denuclearize North Korea and now is not the right time to have dialogue given the graveness of its threat. Mark Field, minister for Asia and the Pacific at the UK Foreign Office, expressed skepticism toward emerging calls for talks in South Korea, the United States and other key stakeholder nations over Pyongyang’s evolving nuclear and missile programs.  Mark Field, minister for Asia and the Pacific at t

MOSCOW (Yonhap) -- Top diplomats of South Korea and Russia on Friday agreed to closely work together to bring North Korea to the negotiating table over its nuclear programs. Foreign Ministers Kang Kyung-wha and Sergey Lavrov also shared expectations that the upcoming leaders’ summit will give new momentum to the development of bilateral ties between the two countries. Foreign Ministers Kang Kyung-wha (left) and Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov (Yonhap)Kang arrived in Moscow Thursday for a three

Former South Korean national figure skating champion said Friday he's determined to win an Olympic spot at the final qualifying event next month.Lee, a three-time South Korean champion, won the men's singles title at the Figure Skating Korea Challenge last month in Seoul and earned the right to compete at the Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany starting on Sept. 27. It's the last Olympic qualifying competition where six tickets to the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games will be up for grabs. Lee June-hyoung (