South Korea's exports to Vietnam have spiked over 10 percent so far this year, making it the world's third-largest importer of South Korean goods, data showed Thursday.In the January-July period, shipments to Vietnam jumped 10.1 percent on-year to $18.02 billion, according to the data from the Korea International Trade Association.The amount marks the world's third-largest, after the $68.52 billion worth of goods shipped to China and the $39.63 billion to the United States over the cited period.

The US remains "concerned" over North Korea's provocative actions and is keeping a close eye on Pyongyang amid fresh anxiety over its continued pursuit of nuclear and missile programs, the White House said Wednesday.White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest made the remark during a regular press briefing after the North test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile in the East Sea. It flew over500 kilometers, making it the longest flight by such a missile for the North, before landing within

President Park Geun-hye will host a luncheon Thursday for South Korean athletes who participated in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics to express her appreciation for their hard work during the quadrennial event, her office Cheong Wa Dae said.The gathering at the presidential office will bring together some 310 athletes and sports officials, including Olympic golf champion Park In-bee, gold medalist shooter Jin Jong-oh and rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon-jae.The list of the participants also includes Culture

Tens of thousands of unionized workers at South Korea's top automaker Hyundai Motor Co. will decide this week whether to accept a tentative agreement on their wage increase in a vote, union leaders said Thursday, which may decide the fate of the company as well.The vote will be held Friday, two days after company management and union leaders reached the tentative deal.Under the proposed agreement, Hyundai Motor workers will have their base monthly pay raised by 58,000 won ($51.70), and receive 3

South Korea's three tiremakers have been reluctant to conduct big price cuts despite a recent tumble in the cost of rubber and other raw materials, data showed Thursday.The tire companies -- industry leader Hankook Tire Co., No. 2 Kumho Tire Co. and Nexen Tire Corp. -- reduced their tire prices by 0.9 percent to 2.5 percent in 2015 from the previous year, according to the companies' 2015 business reports. The prices of their tires ranged from 50,000 won ($44.60) to 70,000 won last year.In contra

South Korean shares opened slightly lower Thursday as investors became wary of recent dips in global oil prices.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 4.45 points, or 0.22 percent, to 2,039.31 in the first 15 minutes of trading.The decline also followed overnight losses on Wall Street.The Dow Jones industrial average slipped 0.35 percent to close at 18,481.48, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq plunging 0.81 percent to 5,217.69.Investors were apparently spooked by an earlier report that US

Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Thursday renewed his calls for a prompt passage of the government's extra budget plan, stressing that a further delay would complicate efforts to create jobs and reinvigorate the regional economy.Earlier this month, ruling and opposition parties agreed to put an 11 trillion-won ($9.82 billion) extra budget bill to a vote on Monday. But they failed to meet the timeline amid differences over the selection of witnesses for parliamentary hearings on the restructuring

South Korea's listed companies with increased foreign ownership saw their share prices climb relatively more than their peers this month, data showed Thursday.According to the data by Daishin Securities Co., the top 20 issues in terms of foreign ownership gains reported an average return rate of 6.32 percent in the first 23 days of August.The yield rate dwarfed the comparable 1.67 percent for the entire main KOSPI market. Out of the 20 companies, 15 saw their share prices gain ground.Electronic

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called the North's launch of a ballistic missile from a submarine "the greatest success," saying his country has full capability to carry out nuclear attacks, Pyongyang's state media said Thursday.The North's leader observed the launch of the submarine-launched ballistic missile Wednesday, saying it was "the greatest success and victory," according to the official Korean Central News Agency.Kim said the results of the test-fire showed North Korea "joined the f

 진행자: 윤민식, Kevin Lee Selzer1. 성주 군민, 사드 제3후보지 검토 요청기사요약: 한미가 북한 미사일 위협에 대항해 사드를 성주 성산포대에 배치하기로 결정을 했으나, 성주 군민들의 반발로 제3후보지 배치가 유력하게 떠올랐다. 성주 군민들은 국방부에 정식으로 제3후보지 검토를 요청하고 국방부는 이를 받아들였으나, 거론되는 지역의 인접한 김천시에서 반발하는 등 논란이 계속 진행중이다.아이튠즈(아이폰): https://itunes.apple.com/kr/podcast/koliaheleoldeu-paskaeseuteu/id686406253?mt=2 팟빵 (안드로이드): http://www.podbbang.com/ch/6638Residents’ group to request alternate location for THAAD[1] Residents of Seongju-gun, North Gyeongsang Province, on Sunday reached a consens

호주 북동부의 한 여행자 숙소에서 23일 밤 프랑스 국적의 남성이 아랍어로 '알라후 아크바르'(신은 위대하다)를 외치며 흉기를 휘둘러 영국 여성 1명이 숨지고 다른 남성 2명이 다쳤다고 현지 경찰이 전했다.경찰은 29살의 이 남성이 1년 기한의 여행자 비자를 소지하고 있었다며 '이슬람 국가'(IS)와 같은 무장단체와의 연계성은 아직 드러나지 않았다고 24일 전했다.이 남성은 경찰에 체포돼 병원 치료를 받고 있으나 목숨이 위험하지는 않은 것으로 전해졌다.이 남성은 퀸즐랜드주 타운스빌 남쪽 홈 힐의 여행자 숙소 '셸리스 백패커스'(Shelley's Backpackers)에서 전날 늦은 밤 약 30명 앞에서 흉기를 휘둘렀으며, 21살의 영국인 여성이 현장에서 숨졌다.부상자 2명 중 30살 영국인 남성은 크게 다쳐 병원 치료를 받고 있으며, 또 다른 호주인 남성은 경상으로 치료를 받고 퇴원했다.현장에서 숙소의 개 한 마리도 공격을 받고 죽었다.경찰은 가해 남성이 공격할 때와 경찰에 체포될

A group of South Korean scientists has developed a technology to diagnose breast cancer in women with dense breasts in 10 minutes, Seoul's science ministry said Wednesday.It is more difficult to detect cancer in women with dense breast tissues, compared to fatty breast tissues, through mammography screening and further ultrasound screening is usually required.The team led by Professor Yoo Yang-mo of Sogang University discovered the technology to screen a patient by using multiple ultrasound mach

The chief of POSCO, South Korea's No. 1 steelmaker, said Wednesday that the local steel sector is facing trade tussles and weak demand, urging each steelmaker to step up their efforts to overcome such headwinds.At a forum held in Seoul, Kwon Oh-joon, chairman of POSCO, said the current environment for local steelmakers is "a global steel trade war.""The local steel sector is facing hurdles such as growing protectionism and weak demand (from local companies)," he said."The current situation tells

The top diplomats of South Korea, China and Japan on Wednesday vowed to spearhead global efforts against North Korea’s continued missile provocations as they held a trilateral meeting to discuss cooperation and other pending issues of mutual concern.The talks, held in Tokyo earlier in the day, marked the first time that foreign ministers of the three countries got together following the last such event held in Seoul in March 2015. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and his Japanese and Chinese counte

Residents of South Korea's southern city of Gimcheon will stage a rally Wednesday to protest the government's decision to review an alternative site for the deployment of a US anti-missile system.About 10,000 residents are expected to gather at a sports complex in the city in North Gyeongsang Province, to protest the decision to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system and denounce the neighboring county of Seongju for asking that the site be changed. Earlier this week, the governme

Ecopro Co., a South Korean battery materials leader, will set up a joint venture with the Chinese resources recycling company GEM Co. to produce cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries in Pohang, the southeast city's municipal government said Wednesday.Representatives from the two companies, the Pohang municipality and the North Gyeongsang provincial government signed a memorandum of understanding the same day to build a plant for the production of the key material for lithium-ion batteries.

South Korean shares closed slightly lower Wednesday as foreigners turned to selling amid concerns of a US rate hike and a further decline in global oil prices. The local currency lost ground against the US greenback.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index slipped 6.17 points, or 0.3 percent, to 2,043.76. Trading volume was slim at 280.2 million shares worth 4.03 trillion won ($3.59 billion).Gainers outnumbered losers 404 to 388.The index opened slightly higher but later pared earlier gai

South Korea will set up a new stock market monitoring system using artificial intelligence by 2018, the nation's bourse operator announced Wednesday.The move is intended to counter unfair stock trading taking advantage of information technology, social micro-blogging sites and robo-advisors, according to the Korea Exchange."Market monitoring to predict and early warn of abnormal trading is necessary by using IT based on big data and AI," said Kim Young-choon, head of the market oversight system

South Korea's finance minister on Wednesday said the government plans to install air conditioners in all military barracks and police dormitories, adding it will allocate more funds toward improving conditions at such facilities.Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho said the government has allocated 63 billion won ($56.2 million) of next year's budget to installing some 30,000 air conditioners for the welfare of its soldiers and police officers who are serving their mandatory duties to defend the country.C

President Park Geun-hye on Wednesday visited a front-line Army unit to offer her encouragement and to call for a robust readiness posture, her office Cheong Wa Dae said, amid a spike in tensions triggered by North Korea's submarine-launched ballistic missile launch and its menacing rhetoric.Accompanied by Defense Minister Han Min-koo and dozens of senior military and government officials, the commander-in-chief met with border troops who are participating in the ongoing annual military drills jo