S. Korea says North ignores deadline for talksApril 26, 2013 - 09:36 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - South Korea says Pyongyang has ignored Seoul’s deadline for responding to a demand for talks on a shuttered inter-Korean factory park, The Associated Press reports. Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Hyung-suk said Friday, April 26 that Seoul is considering countermeasures but refused to discuss what they might be. Pyongyang barred South Korean managers and cargo from entering North Korea’s Kaesong factory complex this month and recalled 53,000 North Korean workers. Seoul promised unspecified “grave measures” if Pyongyang didn’t respond to its demand for talks by noon Friday (0300GMT). Some analysts said Seoul may pull out the roughly 175 South Korean managers who remain at the complex. The suspension came amid weeks of North Korean threats aimed at Washington and Seoul over joint military drills and UN sanctions meant to penalize Pyongyang over its February nuclear test. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | IDBank, Dalma team up for Caucasian Deer Reintroduction Program IDBank has joined Dalma Garden Mall’s Green Challenge to support the Caucasian red deer reintroduction project. Through Ucom’s support the 12th Sunchild Festival concludes On May 24-28, with the support of Ucom, the 12th international environmental festival Sunchild took place in Yerevan. U.S., Turkey emphasize importance of Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal Jake Sullivan and Akif Cagatay Kilic have discussed the normalization process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Armenia coach expects good football in Slovenia friendly The Armenian national team has left for Ljubljana a friendly match against Slovenia on June 4. |