WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump cited his decision to not label China a currency manipulator as an example of "flexibility," saying he made the decision against his campaign pledge because Beijing is helping solve the problem of North Korea."For me to call him a currency manipulator and then say, 'By the way, I'd like you to solve the North Korean problem' doesn't work. So you have to have a certain flexibility," Trump said in an interview with the Associated Press, according to a transc

WASHINGTON -- The United States and the international community could respond to an additional nuclear test by North Korea with a package of harsh sanctions, including a cutoff of crude supplies to the impoverished nation, a US expert said.Concerns have persisted that Pyongyang could carry out its sixth nuclear test, with satellite imagery of the test site showing completion of preparations. A test could come as early as Monday when the North marks the foundation anniversary of its military.(Yon

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump is expected to visit China in the second half of this year, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai was quoted as saying.Cui made the remark during a film screening event held at his embassy on Friday, saying the envisioned visit by Trump will be the most important event in relations between the two countries in the second half, according to the China Daily.The envoy did not mention any specific dates.US President Donald Trump (L) and Chinese P

WASHINGTON -- US Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly said Sunday that North Korea could perfect its capabilities to send a nuclear-tipped missile to the continental US during President Donald Trump's first term."Clearly there are countries on the planet that have a lot of nuclear weapons that would overwhelm any defense that we would deploy, Russia, as an example. But the minute North Korea gets a missile that could reach the United States, puts a weapon on that missile, nuclear weapon, th

South Korean historians and activists rallied in downtown Seoul Friday angered by a report that US President Donald Trump quoted Chinese leader Xi Jinping as saying the two Koreas "used to be a part of China."The members of the Institute of Korean Cultural Studies and other history institutions lambasted Xi for "absurd remarks." They demanded Xi apologize and the international community act against "the disingenuous and irrational fabrication of history." Members of history-related bodies rally

Hana Financial Group Inc., a major South Korean banking group, said Friday its net profit rose 12.4 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier on increased interest income and other synergy effects.Net profit came to 492.1 billion won ($434 million) in the January-March period on a consolidated basis, up 54.2 billion won from a year ago, the group said in a regulatory filing. It marked the highest quarterly net profit since the first quarter of 2012.Hana Financial Group said it has set asi

Samsung Electronics Co. is estimated to make less than 100,000 won ($88.20) for each Galaxy S8 smartphones sold, industry watchers said Friday, hovering far below the market price of 935,000 won.The calculation is based on the fact that Samsung's mobile business saw its operating margin reach 10.8 percent last year, and that the tech giant needs to also take expenditures on marketing and other costs into account. (Yonhap)Industry tracker IHS Markit also estimated that the 64GB Galaxy S8 smartpho

More South Koreans plan to keep working in early May when there is a string of holidays, but many expect to spend more money than last year, a survey said Friday.Job information portals JobKorea and Albamon asked 1,387 salaried employees and 699 job seekers about their plans for the first week of next month.  (Yonhap)Many locals get time off for May 1, Labor Day, while two days later is Buddah's Birthday. May 5 is Children's Day, a national holiday. Workers can use vacation days for the two days

Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Friday reiterated the government's commitment to fostering growth engines and new industries to stay ahead in intensifying global competition. Hwang made the remarks during a ceremony to mark the Day of Science on Friday, and the Day of Information and Communications on Saturday, respectively. "(Our country) will strive to create new industries and services by securing future growth engines such as smart cars and the Internet of Things,&q

South Korean stocks closed higher Friday as foreigners scooped up stocks on bargain hunting. The won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 10.75 points, or 0.50 percent, to close at 2,149.15. Trade volume was moderate at 274.59 million shares worth 4.63 trillion won ($4.1 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 424 to 356.Foreign and institutional investors bought a combined 323.75 billion won worth of shares, offsetting individuals' net selling wort

South Korea voiced its "deep disappointment" on Friday after Japanese politicians paid their respects at the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan's war criminals.Around 90 Japanese lawmakers visited the shrine earlier in the day to mark an annual spring festival, Japan's Kyodo News reported.(Yonhap)They included Seiichi Eto, an aide to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.Abe also sent a ritual offering, the report said. "The (South Korean) government expresses deep concerns and disappointment

Samsung Electronics Co. said Friday a renowned South Korean baker has joined the list of chefs providing one of the world's leading consumer electronics manufacturer with insight and expertise for the development of innovative products.The Samsung Club des Chefs was launched in 2013 with the participation of visionary chefs from around the world to contribute their unique insight and fresh ideas. From left are chefs Kang Min-goo, Lim Ki-hak, Kwon Hyung-jun, Yim Jung-sik and Lee Chung-hoo. (Yonha

State-run Industrial Bank of Korea said Friday that its first-quarter net profit jumped 15.9 percent from a year earlier on increased interest income and gains from asset sales.Net profit for the three months ending March 31 came to 437.7 billion won ($386 million) on a consolidated basis, compared to 377.7 billion won a year earlier, the lender said in a regulatory filing.The figure includes earnings of its non-bank affiliates.On a standalone basis, the bank saw its net profit rise 12.1 percent

Busan, South Korea's largest southern port city, has become the country's first city to have smart rail cars on its subway system, the rail cars' manufacturer said Friday.The smart rail cars control lighting, air quality and the volume of broadcasts by themselves depending on conditions in and outside the cars, Hyundai Rotem Co. said in a statement.    Hyundai Rotem's smart rail cars are added to a subway train in Busan, the country's largest southern port city. (Hyundai Rotem)Hyundai Rotem, an

BUSAN -- Global shipping companies have reduced their calls at South Korean ports despite adding more worldwide services, partly a result of Hanjin Shipping going bankrupt, a research organization said Friday.Four different shipping alliances have been realigned into three major players -- 2M, The Alliance and Ocean Alliance -- in April after South Korea's Hanjin, once the world's seventh largest maritime transport company, went under the month before. CKYHE, the alliance that Hanjin had led, di

North Korea has recently been churning out propaganda to stop conservatives from taking power in South Korea's presidential election.This week alone, a number of North Korean organizations attacked conservative political parties and their presidential candidates in an apparent bid to sway voter sentiment in favor of liberals.Conservative administrations in the South have typically pursued hardline policies to press Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons program but liberal governments have lar

Former Olympic swimming champion Park Tae-hwan will make his season debut in the United States next month, officials said Friday, as he's gearing up for his first world championships in six years.His agency, Team GMP, said Park has signed up for the 100m, 200m, 400m and 1,500m freestyle races at Arena Pro Swim Series in Atlanta from May 4 to 7. It will also double as the national team trials for July's world championships for Park. South Korean swimmer Park Tae-hwan speaks to reporters at Incheo

South Korea is set to impose anti-dumping duties on ferroalloy imported from Vietnam, India and Ukraine, the trade commission here said Friday.After a preliminary examination, the Korea Trade Commission said it will recommend the finance ministry levy punitive duties of 6.08-32.32 percent on ferro-silico-manganese imported from the three countries, for underselling South Korean products and causing damage to the local industry. The finance ministry is to determine whether to actually impose anti

South Korean midfielder Koo Ja-cheol returned to his homeland from Germany on Friday to rehab an injured knee.Koo, who plays with FC Augsburg in the German Bundesliga, tore a ligament in his right knee after landing awkwardly following an aerial battle for a loose ball against FC Cologne's Marco Hoger last Saturday. Medical examinations later showed it was a season-ending injury as the 28-year-old needs to be out for at least six weeks. South Korean midfielder Koo Ja-cheol speaks to reporters at

South Korea's finance minister held a meeting with the president of the World Bank Group to discuss ways to expand the country's participation in the organization, the ministry here said Friday.Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho met with WBG President Jim Yong Kim in Washington on Thursday (local time) on the sidelines of the Group of 20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting. The gathering runs from Thursday through Friday.They agreed that the organization's Seoul office will play a leadi