Topic: The Korea Times

Horizons
Samsung says it will ship half a billion phones in 2013

Samsung expects to sell 510 million phones in 2013, the company announced on Wednesday. Samsung says most of those devices will be smart phones, cementing the company's status as the world's biggest phone manufacturer.

Global News Blog
Whose Islands are they? South Korea tries branding in its dispute with Japan

Japan and Korea have long sparred over the Takeshima/Dokdo islets. The latest bid to promote Korea's claim: Napa Valley wine labels.

Korean baseball: Could scandal unseat the country's most lucrative sport?

As Korea's eight baseball teams wind up spring training in the US and Japan, their sport is reeling under a bribery scandal that could threaten baseball’s ascent as the national pastime.

Horizons
Mini iPad set for release by end of 2012: report

An iPad with a 7.85-inch screen is allegedly due to arrive here by the end of the year. But is the iPad "Mini" for real? 

Global News Blog
Steve Jobs's death sets off global tributes and industry action

Steve Jobs's Apple products reached across the globe, and so is news of his passing, particularly in Asia, where his innovation transformed the technology industry.

Terrorism & Security
Japan's fresh claim to disputed islands reignites feud with South Korea

A Japanese defense report released today reiterates the country's claims to a small chain of islands that South Korea also claims as its own.

Chapter & Verse
Korean literature's rise on the back of "Please Look After Mom"

Will one bestselling novel – "Please Look After Mom" – help Korean literature find its way in the global marketplace?

Terrorism & Security
South Korea launches new round of military drills

South Korea launched a planned round of multi-day military exercises Wednesday, while rebuffing the North's recent conciliatory gestures.

Terrorism & Security
Obama urges China to help diffuse North Korea tension

In a phone call Monday, President Obama asked Chinese President Hu Jintao to put pressure on North Korea, even as US held military drills with South Korea.

Horizons
Galaxy Tab sales top 600K units, Samsung says

Samsung Galaxy Tab is a hit among consumers – to the tune of 600K units sold globally.

Terrorism & Security
North and South Korea clash across tense border

An artillery exchange Tuesday between North and South Korea may be the 'most serious incident' since the Korean War. Two South Korean soldiers were left dead.

Terrorism & Security
Kim Jong-il snubs Jimmy Carter to seek China ties, son's accession

Kim Jong-il's visit to China comes as Jimmy Carter visits Pyongyang to seek the release of an imprisoned American.

Five countries challenging Google

Online privacy has become a key civil liberty battleground. Companies such as Face­book and Google are amassing data about users' choices and activities, which busi­nesses – and governments – would like access to.

Across Europe, a backlash against the storage of online users data is growing. In Germany almost 35,000 people, including Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, sued their own government over the issue.

Here are five countries where Google faces privacy, censorship, or other fights.

Terrorism & Security
South Korea warns North Korea after artillery barrage

South Korea on Tuesday threatened to 'deal sternly' with North Korea after Pyongyang launched an artillery barrage Monday near their disputed maritime border.

South Korean whistleblower Kim Yong-chul breaks silence on Samsung

South Korean whistleblower Kim Yong-chul, who has written a book about his efforts to expose alleged corruption and greed at Samsung, faces censure and isolation.

Terrorism & Security
South Korea markets plunge on news North Korea is preparing for war

South Korean stocks continued to fall Tuesday on reports that North Korea was preparing for military action and had accused the South's Navy of trespassing.

Terrorism & Security
South Korea's leader calls Cheonan warship sinking 'no accident'

President Lee Myung-bak today called for a review of South Korea's defenses against the North, while using his strongest language yet to imply that the North sank the South's Cheonan warship on March 26.

Global News Blog
North Korea seizes South-owned resort as warship tensions grow

North Korea has seized five hotels owned by South Korea in a jointly operated resort. The move comes as the South weighs its response to the Cheonan warship sinking.

Figure skating

Though figure skating will have some hot competition from Canadian favorites hockey and curling at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, the perennial crowd-pleaser is sure to wow fans – especially South Koreans, who could win their first medal.

Terrorism & Security
North Korea asks for peace treaty with US: Sincere or delay tactic?

North Korea has requested a formal peace treaty with the US, with which it has technically been in a state of war for over half a century.

Terrorism & Security
North Korean, South Korean navies trade fire on disputed border

A South Korean ship fired on a North Korean vessel after it says the North's ship crossed into the South's waters. The exchange ratchets up tensions before US President Obama's Asia visit, scheduled for mid-November.

Terrorism & Security
South offers grand bargain to North Korea to give up nuclear weapons

The South says it is tired of an approach that lets North get perks for small concessions.

Global News Blog
South Korea on guard after deadly flash flood from North

Seoul demanded an apology Tuesday after Pyongyang released without warning a torrent of dam water that killed six people in the South.

Terrorism & Security
Report: North Korea invites US for nuclear talks

US special envoy Stephen Bosworth is said to have accepted the offer, one of several recent overtures from Pyongyang.

Terrorism & Security
N. Korea frees South Korean worker: sign of warming relations?

The Hyundai engineer, who has been held since March, was released after the company's chairwoman traveled to Pyongyang Monday.