Fights broke out between rival politicians in South Korea’s National Assembly today in an emotion-charged debate leading up to next week’s presidential elections.

Leaders of the two Koreas began formal talks today at the first summit between the divided countries in seven years.

The two Koreas are set to meet today for high-level talks after a seven-month hiatus, paving the way for mending inter-Korean ties that frayed over the communist North’s missile launches and nuclear test.

The leader of South Korea’s ruling party today apologised for dancing with a North Korean waitress during his recent trip to a North-South joint industrial zone in the communist country.

Japan’s rising sun flag flew at the Yasukuni war shrine and tourists thronged today in anticipation of the event of the year – a possible pilgrimage by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

South Korea’s prime minister offered his resignation today after drawing a firestorm of criticism for playing golf rather than overseeing the government’s response to a railway strike, the president’s spokesman said.

North Korea would consider dismantling its nuclear weapons programme if the communist country’s relations with the US, Japan and South Korea improved, China’s envoy to Seoul said today.

South Korea urged the United States and its allies to be calm following North Korea’s sudden declaration it is a nuclear power, reminding them that blustering and brinkmanship are nothing new in Pyongyang’s toolbox of diplomatic tactics.

The impeachment of South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun will go ahead, the country’s Constitutional Court said today, insisting that it will not be influenced by a stunning parliamentary election win for the party that supports the embattled head of state.

The pro-government Uri Party took a majority in South Korea’s hotly contested parliamentary elections today.

South Koreans voted today in tightly contested parliamentary elections that could determine the future of impeached President Roh Moo-hyun.

South Korea’s two main opposition parties submitted the country’s first ever impeachment motion today in a bid to remove embattled President Roh Moo-hyun for violating election laws.

Samsung, South Korea’s largest conglomerate, funnelled nearly €11.4m in illegal donations to the campaign of an opposition presidential candidate last year, prosecutors said today.

FEARS of North Korean nuclear ambitions could determine South Korea’s presidential election today , with one main candidate advocating a tough line on the North, while his rival espouses a more conciliatory approach.

Riding on a wave of popularity created by South Korea’s performance in the World Cup, the head of the country’s Football Association today announced he is to run for presidential office.