The United States should impose secondary sanctions on Chinese firms doing business with North Korea, former US human rights envoy Robert King said Monday, calling China a "problem" in dealing with Pyongyang."I think secondary sanctions which would particularly bite Chinese firms are something that we ought to be doing," King said during a discussion at the American Enterprise Institute think tank. When it comes to North Korea, King said China "really is the problem." Former US human rights envo

"Radiant Office," MBC TV's new late night office drama, debuted at No. 1 on a benchmark TV popularity index, while bigger shows took a back seat, data showed Tuesday. "Radiant Office" scored 254.1 points on the Content Power Index, becoming the most popular TV program during the March 13-March 19 period. (MBC)CPI, developed by entertainment company CJ E&M and Nielsen Korea, measures the popularity of TV shows based on the number of views of related news stories, online search tallies and buzz on

WASHINGTON -- The United States should consider opening direct talks with North Korea to curb its nuclear and missile development, with the initial goal of freezing the weapons programs in exchange for the relaxing of sanctions, a major US think tank chief said.Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, made the suggestion in an article in the Project Syndicate, saying that time is running out on the issue, and options other than diplomacy, including the use of military force,

Bouncing back from two surgeries, Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin has joined the starting rotation thanks to a solid preseason.Manager Dave Roberts told reporters in Glendale, Arizona, on Monday (local time) that Ryu will be one of five starters when the regular season opens April 3.In this Associated Press photo taken on March 11, 2017, Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a spring training baseball game in Phoenix

As the Samsung Lions prepare to bid farewell to veteran slugger Lee Seung-yuop after the 2017 Korea Baseball Organization season, his teammates would like nothing more than to send him off in style.Team captain Kim Sang-su and third-year star Koo Ja-wook, in particular, are hoping Lee's last game will come in the postseason.Kim Sang-su of the Samsung Lions smiles after a two-run single against the LG Twins during their Korea Baseball Organization preseason game at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Dae

When the Korea Baseball Organization starts its 36th season with all 10 clubs in action Friday, one team will have the proverbial bull's-eye on its back as it chases its third straight championship.The Doosan Bears have won the past two KBO titles and will enter the 2017 season firmly entrenched as the favorite once again.Members of the Doosan Bears celebrate their preseason victory over the Samsung Lions in the KBO at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on March 24, 2017. (Yonhap)Only two other franchises

From hulking sluggers to former major league starters, the 2017 Korea Baseball Organization season will not be short on star power, even as its greatest home run hitter embarks on a farewell tour.Former KBO MVP Lee Dae-ho has rejoined his former club Lotte Giants after spending the previous five seasons in Japan and the United States. He signed a four-year deal worth 15 billion won ($13.5 million), the largest contract ever handed to a free agent in the league's 35-year history. The Giants, who

The five counties of South Korea's eastern Gangwon Province plan to restart their efforts to be put on the list of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves this year, a provincial government official said Monday. The five counties are Cherwon, Hwacheon, Yanggu, Inje and Goseong, all located near the Demilitarized Zone, bisecting the two Koreas, and in a mountainous region, the official said. The attempt is the second of its kind, following one in 2012. This file photo shows the MAB International Co-ordinating

Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Monday called for a stern crackdown on fake news and other election crimes with the presidential election 43 days away.During a meeting of related ministers on preparation for the May 9 election day, Hwang also instructed the government to employ a "zero-tolerance" principle against any civil servants violating their obligation to remain politically neutral.Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn (Yonhap)"We have to come up with extr

Transparency will be the key goal sought by South Korea's troubled business lobby group to restore public confidence after its involvement in a massive corruption scandal that has engulfed the country in recent months, corporate sources said Monday.On Friday, the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) came up with a set of "drastic" reform measures to transform itself into a transparent, consensus-seeking and research-focused entity.  In this photo taken on March 24, 2017, FKI Chairman Huh Chang-

South Korea football coach Uli Stielike said Monday that the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Syria is a must-win match.South Korea, ranked 40th in the latest FIFA rankings, will face 95th-ranked Syria at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul on Tuesday in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. South Korean men's national football team head coach Uli Stielike (center) speaks during a press conference at the National Football Center in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on March 27, 2

Former big league manager Trey Hillman, now at the helm of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club SK Wyverns, said Monday he will demand professionalism from his new team.Hillman, who signed with the Wyverns last October, attended his first KBO media day in Seoul. He's only the second foreign skipper in the KBO's 35-year history after fellow American Jerry Royster, who managed the Lotte Giants from 2008 to 2010. Hillman is also the first man to manage in Major League Baseball, Nippon Profess

The Doosan Bears, having captured the past two Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) titles, were the proverbial Public Enemy No. 1 in the annual preseason gathering of the league's managers on Monday.The KBO held the media day with the 10 managers and their captains on hand in Seoul. Asked about their goals for the 2017 season, which will get underway Friday, opposing managers said they want to keep the Bears from completing a three-peat. Kim Tae-hyung (center), manager of the Doosan Bears, is flan

North Korea on Monday criticized that the Trump administration is following its predecessor's failed "strategic patience" policy toward Pyongyang."No big differences are found between Obama's ruptured 'strategic patience' policy and the incumbent US administration's (North Korea) policy," the Rodong Sinmun, a daily of the North's ruling Workers' Party, claimed in a commentary titled "A Wrong Policy Will Invite Ruin Only."  US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaks during a joint press conferenc

A state-funded chemical institute said Monday that it has developed a new anti-counterfeit film that changes color when it comes in contact with a person's breath, a finding that can be applied to various products like cigarettes and cosmetics.The Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology said it has successfully developed a transparent film which shows different colors such as blue and red if it has been breathed upon. (Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology)If companies use this

North Korea could conduct an additional nuclear test in the middle of next month amid growing speculation that a major provocation by the reclusive state is imminent, a diplomatic source in Beijing said Monday.Multiple foreign media reports have raised the possibility of the North carrying out its sixth nuclear detonation test by pointing to increased excavation activity at its Punggye-ri test site. CNN earlier said that Pyongyang is ready for a nuclear provocation "at any time," citing US gover

South Korean stocks closed 0.61 percent lower on Monday, as investors took to the sidelines on weakened risk appetite following a thwarted legislation of a US healthcare bill pushed forward by the Donald Trump administration, analysts said. The local currency rose against the US dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index finished down 13.29 points to 2,155.66. Trading volume was moderate at 390.9 million shares worth 5.02 trillion won ($4.51 billion) with decliners outnumbering gaine

Foreign pitchers filled the list of the Opening Day starters in the 2017 Korea Baseball Organization season announced Monday.The new season will begin Friday with all 10 clubs taking the field. And all 10 teams will have their foreign pitchers start their first games of the season, as announced by their managers during the annual KBO media day in Seoul. In this file photo taken on Oct. 29, 2016, Dustin Nippert of the Doosan Bears throws a pitch against the NC Dinos during the Korean Series at Ja

Renault Samsung Motors Co. said Monday it aims to sell about 40,000 in overseas markets by the end of this year as it has begun to ship its flagship SUV to Europe. Renault Samsung said it has started the shipment of the QM6 SUVs (sold as Renault Koleos outside of South Korea) initially to western Europe, the company said in a statement.  In this photo taken on Dec. 22, 2016, and provided by Renault Samsung Motors Co., a QM6 SUV travels along a unidentified road in South Korea. (Yonhap)The compan

Two former top rookie award winners in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) believe their new hotshot teammate is "the real deal."Lee Jeong-hoo, an 18-year-old rookie out of high school for the Nexen Heroes, was sensational in the preseason that wrapped up Sunday. He tied for the KBO lead with 15 hits in just 33 at-bats. Lee Jeong-hoo of the Nexen Heroes watches his hit against the NC Dinos in their Korea Baseball Organization preseason game at Masan Stadium in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Provin