North Korea demands South Korea repatriate 11 defectors, Seoul declinesOctober 4th, 2009 SKorea refuses North's demand to return defectorsSEOUL, South Korea — North Korea has demanded South Korea repatriate a group of 11 North Koreans who defected by sea last week, but the South does not intend to return them, the Unification Ministry said Sunday. The 11 crossed into southern waters off the divided peninsula's east coast aboard a small barge early Thursday evening.
North Korea demands South Korea return 11 defectors, but Seoul says it won'tOctober 4th, 2009 North Korea demands SKorea return 11 defectorsSEOUL, South Korea — South Korea's Unification Ministry says North Korea has demanded Seoul return 11 people who defected to the South by sea last week. The ministry says in a statement that the North sent its demand in a message Sunday.
11 North Koreans defect by sea to South KoreaOctober 1st, 2009 11 North Koreans defect by sea to South KoreaSEOUL, South Korea — South Korea's military says a group of 11 North Koreans have defected by sea. An official at the Joint Chiefs of Staff says the North Koreans crossed into southern waters off the divided peninsula's east coast aboard a small barge early Thursday evening.
South Korean telecommunications regulator approves sale of Apple's iPhoneSeptember 22nd, 2009 South Korea approves sale of Apple's iPhoneSEOUL, South Korea — South Korea's telecommunications regulator said Wednesday it has given approval for Apple Inc.'s hit iPhone to be sold in the country — potentially shaking up a handset market controlled by domestic manufacturers. The Korea Communications Commission approved the sale of the device at a meeting attended by its five commissioners, said commission spokesman Lee Sang-hun.
US, South Korean planes conducted spying missions: North KoreaAugust 31st, 2009 PYONGYANG - US and South Korean spy planes conducted over 170 reconnaissance missions over North Korea in August, the official media reported Monday citing a military source. Some 90 flights were conducted by the US, which used the RC-135, U-2 and E-3 reconnaissance aircraft over waters near the northeastern part of South Korea, while South Korea was responsible for at least 80 flights, the Korean Central News Agency said.
South Korea to launch carrier rocket Aug 25August 21st, 2009 MOSCOW - South Korea will launch its first carrier rocket from the country's Naro Space Centre Aug 25, the Yonhap news agency reported Friday. South Korea postponed the launch of KSLV-1 after a technical problem Aug 19.
North Korea puts troops on alert over South Korea-US war gamesAugust 17th, 2009 SEOUL - North Korea Monday put its troops on alert as an annual joint South Korean-US war game commenced and accused its neighbour of planning an attack. North Korea would react to any provocation with a "merciless and prompt annihilating strike at the aggressors with all offensive and defensive means, including nuclear deterrent", state media quoted the high command of the Korean People's Army as saying.
South Korea to import Russian gasJuly 31st, 2009 SEOUL - South Korea will import Russian gas as part of a $100-billion pact signed by the two countries in September last year, WAM news agency reported Friday. South Korean Economy Minister Lee Yoon-ho will visit Russia in August to discuss the matter in detail, the report said.
Government approves trade pact with South KoreaJuly 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - The stage is set for a comprehensive economic pact between India and South Korea after the union cabinet Thursday approved signing of the agreement. "The union cabinet today (Thursday) approved the proposal for signing of a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) with South Korea," Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told reporters here.
North Korea threatens military strike against South KoreaMay 27th, 2009 SEOUL - North Korea Wednesday warned it will respond militarily to South Korea joining a US-led initiative to intercept ships carrying illicit weapons, the South Korean Yonhap news agency said.
South Korean parliamentary committee approves US free trade dealApril 22nd, 2009 SKorean parliamentary committee approves US FTASEOUL, South Korea — A South Korean lawmaker says a parliamentary committee has approved a free trade agreement with the United States, paving the way for the deal to be voted on by the entire legislature. The approval was announced Wednesday by Park Jin, the chairman of the National Assembly's trade committee.
South Korean delegation in North Korea for talksApril 21st, 2009 SEOUL - A South Korean delegation reached North Korea Tuesday morning to participate in talks amid mounting tensions in the Korean Peninsula. 'The delegation has crossed the border,' a spokesman of South Korea's Unification Ministry said.
South Korea agrees for talks with North KoreaApril 19th, 2009 SEOUL - The South Korean government Sunday said that it has decided to accept Pyongyang's offer for holding inter-Korean talks next week. It will be the first governmental talks between South Korea and North Korea since South Korean President Lee Myung-bak took office in February last year.
South Korea says North Korea has proposed meeting on joint industrial complexApril 17th, 2009 NKorea proposes meeting on joint factory parkSEOUL, South Korea — South Korea says that North Korea has proposed a meeting on a joint factory park in the North next week. Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Ho-nyeon told reporters Saturday that the North recently proposed a meeting to discuss the joint complex in the border town of Kaesong.
North Korea threatens to shoot down South Korean planesMarch 6th, 2009 SEOUL - North Korea Thursday indirectly threatened to shoot down South Korean passenger aircraft in its airspace, amid growing tension on the Korean peninsula. North Korea's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea made the threat as the US and South Korea prepared to undertake joint military exercises next Monday.