By Kurt Achin Seoul 06 May 2008 South Koreans are drawing political battle lines about the government's plan to resume imports of American beef. Officials and scientists in both countries say consuming U.S. beef is safe. But a media campaign, driven...
By Kurt Achin Seoul 24 April 2008 The United States and South Korea are each gearing up for a crucial vote to ratify a major trade liberalization deal. In South Korea, opponents of the pact are trying to block a separate compromise to open up the cou...
By Nico Colombant Dakar 22 April 2008 Desertification is pushing further south in West Africa, crossing borders and creating devastating effects on local populations. One example where the desert is advancing is from Mauritania to northern Senegal. V...
By Kurt Achin Seoul 18 April 2008 South Korean officials have publicly announced details of a deal to resume imports of United States beef. South Korea cited health concerns when it banned U.S. beef five years ago. The issue has been a major source o...
By Kurt Achin Seoul 17 April 2008 The chairman of one of the world's biggest and best-known corporations is facing criminal charges for tax evasion and other alleged misdeeds. Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee, arguably the most powerful businessman in So...
By Kurt Achin Seoul 08 April 2008 South Koreans are celebrating the launch of their country's first space traveler. Yi So-yeon has become the first South Korean woman to blast into orbit on her way to a research mission on the International Space Sta...
By Tom Rivers London 05 April 2008 Despite the delay in the release of Zimbabwe's official election results, South African President Thabo Mbeki said Saturday that the international community should wait for first round results to come out before con...
By Kurt Achin Seoul 02 April 2008 South Korean officials have issued their first formal response to recent moves by North Korea, labeling some of the North's recent statements inappropriate. The exchange comes as high-level American and South Korean...
By Kurt Achin Seoul 31 March 2008 South Korea is opting for a low public policy profile amid escalating tensions with North Korea. Seoul officials kept quiet, a day after Pyongyang threatened to turn the South into ashes. VOA's Kurt Achin reports fro...
By Kurt Achin Seoul 28 March 2008 South Koreans are now counting the days to their country's historic first astronaut in space, set to launch aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket on 8 April. The mission is full of landmarks: it will be the first time a Sout...