The UN Security Council ordered emergency talks Tuesday on North Korea's nuclear weapon test, which UN leader Ban Ki-moon condemned as a "deeply destabilizing" provocation.The isolated North Korean government ignored a "strong warning" from its close ally China against staging the test, a UN diplomat said.The 15-nation council, which called closed talks for 9:00 am New York time (1400 GMT), passed a resolution last month threatening "significant action" against Pyongyang in the event of a new nu

The following is a chronology of major events leading to North Korea's third underground nuclear test on Tuesday.▲2006July 4: North Korea test-fires at least six missiles, including a long-range Taepodong-2, despite a chorus of international warnings.July 5: North Korea test-fires a seventh missile, despite international condemnation of its earlier launches.July 17: The U.N. Security Council unanimously votes to impose sanctions on North Korea over the missile tests. The resolution bans U.N. mem

South Korean stocks traded marginally lower late Tuesday morning, led by losses in utilities and insurance companies, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) inched down 0.11 points, or 0.01 percent to 1,950.79 as of 11:20 a.m.State-run electricity provider Korea Electric Power Corp. slid nearly 2 percent, with No. 1 life insurer Samsung Life Insurance falling 1.2 percent. In contrast, tech and construction firms gathered ground, with flat panel giant LG Display ga

South Korean stocks opened a tad higher on Tuesday, driven by gains in large-cap firms, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 2.36 points, or 0.12 percent, to 1,953.26 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Top-cap Samsung Electronics climbed nearly 1 percent, with second-largest listed company Hyundai Motor advancing 0.8 percent and chipmaker SK hynix rising 1.2 percent.  The local currency was trading at 1,096.20 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m.,

South Korea's financial authority said Monday it has uncovered a large-scale hacking scheme that resulted in the theft of personal financial transaction information of hundreds of bank clients. According to the Korea Financial Telecommunications and Clearings Institute (KFTC), a group of hackers allegedly stole a total of 461 authenticated certificates, in an apparent bid to withdraw cash from victims' bank accounts.The KFTC, which settles financial transactions among individuals, said it report

The Europe-wide scandal over horsemeat sold as beef spread Sunday as leading French retailers pulled products from their shelves and threats of legal action flew.France promised the results of an urgent inquiry into the scandal within days and the government announced crisis talks with meat industry representatives on Monday night.As Britain dismissed calls for a ban on EU meat, producers and distributors insisted they had been deceived about the true nature of the meat and vowed to take legal a

박근혜 대통령 당선인은 새누리당 황우여 대표와 민주통합당 문희상 비상대책위원장와의 긴급3자안보회동에서 “북한이 무모한 행동을 하기 전에 여야가 한 목소리로, 북한이 이것을 즉각 중단하고 올바른 선택을 하도록 강력하게 촉구할 때”라고 강조했다.박 당선인은 북한의 3차 핵실험을 대책을 논의하기 위한 여야 3자 회동에서 “북한이 이번에 잘못된 선택을 하게 된다면 새 정부가 한반도 신뢰 프로세스를 통해서 남북 간에 신뢰를 구축하고 지속 가능한 평화를 이루려고 하는 진정 어린 노력을 크게 저해할 것”이라고 말했다. 이어 박 당선인은 “북한은 핵을 가지고 그 어떤 것도 얻을 수 없다”며 “오히려 국제사회의 경고에도 불구하고 핵실험을 강행한다면 6자 회담 당사국은 물론 유엔, 국제사회, 정부로부터 어떤 강력한 대응에 직면하게 되고 북한은 더욱 고립을 자초하게 될 뿐이라고 생각한다”고 밝혔다, 또한 박 당선인은 “우리나라는 정부 교체기에 있는데 이럴 때에 우리 국민이 불안하지 않도록 도발에 대응하

South Korean stocks closed 0.23 percent lower on Thursday as the prolonged currency volatility continued to weigh down the market, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) edged down 4.42 points to 1,931.77. Trading volume was moderate at 407.2 million shares worth 3.5 trillion won (US$3.22 billion) with losers outpacing gainers 410 to 383."Due to the prolonged appreciation of the local currency against the Japanese ye

MBC ‘무한도전’ 팀과 한국 홍보 전문가 서경덕 성신여대 교수가 뭉쳐 태국 최대 휴양지인 파타야시 메인 전광판에 비빔밥 관련 영상광고를 올렸다.서교수가 뉴욕타임스, 타임스퀘어 비빔밥 영상광고를 상영하긴 했지만 태국에서 내보내는 것은 이번이 처음이다.비빔밥 광고는 연간 1천500만 명의 관광객이 방문하는 태국의 워킹스트리트 입구 메인 전광판에 하루 100회씩 6개월간 상영할 예정이다. 광고는 농악, 장고춤, 부채춤, 강강술래, 태권도 등을 활용해 비빔밥의 맛과 멋을 형상화했다.‘무한도전’의 김태호 PD는 “일본의 스시, 인도의 카레처럼 각 나라를 대표하는 음식이 있듯 세계인이 한국 하면 ‘비빔밥’을 떠올릴 수 있도록 지속적으로 홍보해 나갈 예정”이라고 설명했다. 두 팀은 중국의 왕푸징거리와 런던의 피카딜리 서커스를 포함한 아시아와 유럽의 주요 도시들을 방문하며 비빔밥 광고를 상영할 예정이다. (코리아헤럴드) <관련 한글 기사>Professor and comedians promote

South Korean stocks traded almost flat late Thursday morning as the currency's volatility continued to weigh down on investor sentiment, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) inched up 0.06 percent, or 1.2 points, to 1,937.39 as of 11:20 a.m.Blue-chip exporters edged up, with market bellwether Samsung Electronics increasing 0.14 percent and top chipmaker SK hynix adding 1.43 percent. No. 1 carmaker Hyundai Motor moved up 0.25 percent.Retailers lost ground, with Lo

A senior U.S. senator has proposed a farm bill that includes a provision making any food aid to Pyongyang from Washington more difficult, congressional and diplomatic sources said Wednesday.Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) re-introduced the five-year bill last month with the provision attached.If passed in both chambers of Congress, it would prohibit the U.S. government from providing food assistance to North Korea without a presidential waiver.Last year, the Senate passed the same versi

A high-level delegation sent by South Korean President-elect Park Geun-hye arrived in Washington Wednesday amid lingering questions about its specific mission and mandate."(We) came here to deliver President-elect Park's intent on ensuring the further development of the bilateral ties on the military, political, diplomatic and economic fronts," Rep. Lee Hahn-koo, head of the delegation, told reporters upon arriving at an airport.Lee, the floor leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, is leading the g

South Korean PGA Tour veteran Choi Kyoung-ju on Thursday was named a recipient of an award for his extensive charity work off the field.The Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA) said Choi, affectionately called K.J. Choi outside of Korea, is the 2013 winner of its Charlie Bartlett Award. Named after the first secretary of the GWAA, the award recognizes professional golfers for their "contributions to the betterment of society."Choi, 42, was acknowledged for his support for relief efforts an

South Korean stocks began higher Thursday on the back of gains in blue chip exporters, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 0.26 percent, or 5.07 points, to 1941.26 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Blue chip exporters led the overall gain, with market behemoth Samsung Electronicsclimbing 0.28 percent and No. 1 carmaker Hyundai Motor adding 0.75 percent. Top chipmaker SK hynix also advanced 1.02 percent.Logistics shares also gathered ground, with Hyundai Gl

Canadian firm BlackBerry said it would give away 12,000 special edition Z10 smartphones to application developers who stuck by the company.Formerly known as Research In Motion, BlackBerry changed its name last week as it launched two new phones, including the all touch-screen Z10. BlackBerry, once a pioneering company in the smartphone market, is now playing catch up to the likes of Apple and other companies that have eclipsed BlackBerry in sales. The new phones will be carried by Verizon Wirele

South Korean stocks ended almost flat on Wednesday as the prolonged currency volatility and North Korea's threat for a nuclear test continued to weigh down the market, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 0.1 percent, or 1.99 points, to 1,936.19. Trading volume was moderate at 342.9 million shares worth 3.5 trillion won (US$3.3 billion) with gainers outpacing losers 461 to 338."Despite the gains on Wall Street

South Korean stocks traded 0.1 percent higher late Wednesday morning, buoyed by gains in mobile carriers and technology firms, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) inched up 1.94 points to 1,940.12 as of 11:20 a.m.Mobile carriers led the market gain, with leading SK Telecom increasing 3.44 percent and No. 2 player KT moving up 2.11 percent.No. 3 player LG Uplus climbed 2.87 percent.Tech blue chips also continued to trade higher, with market behemoth Samsung Elect

South Korean stocks began higher Wednesday as investor sentiment got a boost from overnight gains on Wall Street, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 0.22 percent, or 4.28 points, to 1942.46 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Tech blue chips drove up the shares, with top chipmaker SK hynix increasing 0.84 percent and handset maker LG Electronics climbing 0.58 percent. Flat panel giant LG Display moved up 1.63 percent.Construction firms also traded higher, w

South Korean stocks ended 0.77 percent lower on Tuesday as investor sentiment was dented by rising concern over North Korea's nuclear test, analysts said Tuesday. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 15.03 points to 1,938.18. Trading volume was moderate at 361.3 million shares worth 3.7 trillion won (US$3.4 billion), with decliners far outpacing gainers 602 to 215."Rising geopolitical risks stemming from North Korea's pledge

Eight foreign nationals have been arrested on suspicion of using forged credit cards to fund lavish shopping sprees in Seoul, police here said Tuesday.According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, six foreigners, including a Malaysian ringleader identified by the initial M, are accused of using 120 fake credit cards under other people's names to purchase 270 million won (US$248,000) worth of jewelry and electronic goods during their three visits to Seoul, with the first instance taking plac