Economy
Fed to start tapering bond purchases this year: Bernanke
The Federal Reserve maintains its $85 billion-a-month asset purchase program, but says it could begin scaling back later this year.
Asia Pacific Jun 10, 2013
Two Koreas agree to high-level talks
North and South Korea agree to hold senior-level talks this week in Seoul, a breakthrough of sorts to ease tensions after Pyongyang's recent threats of nuclear war and Seoul's vows of counterstrikes.
Politics & Diplomacy Jun 7, 2013
North reopens hotline with Seoul ahead of talks
North Korea reopens a hotline with South Korea as the two sides agree to weekend talks aimed at mending ties after months of soaring tensions and threats of nuclear war.
National Jun 7, 2013
More Japanese abductees 'certainly' alive in N. Korea: former official
Hiroshi Nakai, a former state minister in charge of the abduction issue, asserted Thursday that at least three or four Japanese kidnapped by North Korea are “certainly” alive. The abductees Nakai referred to on a TV Asahi program are apparently in addition to the ...
Asia Pacific Jun 5, 2013
North Korea 'close to reactor restart'
North Korea may be just one to two months away from following through on its threat to restart a plutonium reactor that can produce fissile material for nuclear bombs, a U.S. research institute said Monday. But the North’s ability to put the 5-megawatt reactor ...
Politics & Diplomacy | ANALYSIS Jun 4, 2013
South Korean president gets baptism by fire
As presidential baptisms go, being threatened with a pre-emptive nuclear strike within 10 days of taking office is probably about as fiery as it gets. South Korean President Park Geun-hye will have completed 100 days on Tuesday — a period dominated by soaring military ...
Asia Pacific Jun 4, 2013
North Korea takes steps with capitalism
North Korean farmers knee deep in muddy paddies across the country have a new incentive during this year’s crucial rice planting season: possible bonuses that are part of an economic shift echoing ally China’s steps three decades ago toward embracing capitalism. Details about the ...
Social Issues Jun 2, 2013
North Koreans' hand-over 'dismays' U.N.
The United Nations and the United States on Friday took Laos and China to task for forcing nine young asylum seekers back to North Korea, warning that the countries were flouting international commitments.
National Jun 2, 2013
Lost at sea cases to be probed for North Korea link
The government will investigate whether Japanese nationals who disappeared at sea in the 1970s and 1980s fell victim to foul play at the hands of North Korea, Keiji Furuya, state minister in charge of the abduction issue, declared. Furuya said Friday the probe stems ...
National May 31, 2013
Abductee's son said among defectors
The son of a Japanese woman abducted by North Korea in the 1970s was among the group of nine defectors recently sent from Laos back to the reclusive country, a South Korean newspaper reports.
National May 29, 2013
Pyongyang offered to let Yokota's daughter go '10, but not to Japan
Pyongyang told Tokyo in May 2010 that it would allow Japanese abductee Megumi Yokota's daughter, Kim Eun Gyong, to leave North Korea as long as it wasn't to Japan, a source says.
Politics & Diplomacy May 28, 2013
North may have grabbed Japanese fishermen years ago
Japanese fishermen may have been abducted by North Korea decades ago while operating in the Sea of Japan, a South Korean activist says.
Asia Pacific May 27, 2013
Sibling spy case spotlights North Korean defectors
by Chico Harlan
Earlier this year, one of the most prominent North Korean defectors, Yoo Woo Sung, walked out of his apartment building in Seoul and found four South Korean government vehicles waiting for him. Authorities hauled Yoo away and arrested him on charges of espionage. They ...