South Korea

PHILADELPHIA -- We all know the famous phrase of philosopher George Santayana, who warned: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." But those who raise false historical analogies may harm their cause as much as the memory-challenged. Such is the case with President Bush, who last week compared Iraq to Japan, South Korea - and Vietnam. We are engaged in a national debate of huge importance over how to rescue our Iraq policy from pending disaster. Republican stalwarts, whose support may be fraying, are mostly willing to back Mr. Bush's call to "stay the course," while the Democratic base believes we must leave Iraq as soon as possible.

WASHINGTON -- Ten years ago this month, a financial crisis began in Asia and quickly spread, rocking economies and triggering political upheavals around the globe. Today, Asian economies are again growing quickly as stock prices shoot to record highs. Some are wondering: Could there be another meltdown? While economists say government actions can never entirely banish bubbles, many believe reforms are in place to prevent the latest regional boom from ending with the kind of bust seen in 1997.

SEOUL, South Korea -- Posters paper the downtown, urging people to vote for the candidate who promises a "Clean Korea, Reliable President," or alternatively "A President For The Economy Who Makes It Happen." Organizers herd supporters they bus in from the countryside for outdoor rallies, where barrel-chested policemen are dispatched to tamp down trouble and candidates are welcomed with flickering candles held aloft in the chill evening air. All the usual signs of a political campaign in its frantic last stages are on display in Seoul as South Koreans prepare to elect a new president Wednesday.

SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea said it would begin shutting down its main nuclear reactor within a day of retrieving about $25 million that had been frozen in a Macau bank because of U.S. sanctions, Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico said yesterday. North Korea also offered to admit United Nations nuclear inspectors for the first time in more than four years, said Richardson, after an official visit to North Korea and a meeting with senior officials there. Fulfilling those offers would resolve North Korea's long dispute with the U.S. Treasury.

SEOUL, South Korea -- Call it the kimchi capers.A thief breaks into the homes of several prominent citizens, including two Cabinet members and two police chiefs, stealing all kinds of loot.But when a suspect is finally apprehended, he allegedly tells prosecutors that his victims have vastly understated their losses.A police chief failed to report a wad of cash the thief had found under a container for the pickled cabbage in the refrigerator, said Kim Kang Ryong, the 32-year-old burglary suspect.

THE ASIAN disease did not hit the healthy United States when it reached Brazil, which devalued its currency Wednesday. But spread of the ailment to the world's eighth-largest economy means the sickness has infected the Western Hemisphere.U.S. trade with Brazil is small but growing, while U.S. private investment in Brazil is huge. So the threat of inflation and devaluation in Brazil is more to U.S. portfolios than to U.S. exporters.The $41.5 billion credit pledged to Brazil by the International Monetary Fund and Group of Seven nations in November, in return for deficit reduction, was in the U.S. national interest.

WASHINGTON -- Steelmakers scored another victory yesterday in their campaign to limit steel imports when a government agency ruled that a surge in cheap Japanese and South Korean steel products used to build U.S. office buildings may have injured domestic producers.While the International Trade Commission voted to proceed with an investigation of the Asian producers, it dropped charges against German and Spanish producers, a move that disappointed U.S. producers."Imports from these two countries were a problem and did cause injury to the U.S. industry and they are likely to return," said Alan Price, an attorney for the U.S. steelmakers.

Richard C. Holbrooke, President Clinton's choice to be the top U.S. delegate to the United Nations, has agreed to pay $5,000 to the Justice Department to settle civil charges that he violated federal lobbying laws in his contacts with the U.S. Embassy in South Korea, government officials and friends of Holbrooke said yesterday.Officials said the settlement did not require an admission of wrongdoing by Holbrooke and should allow his nomination for the U.N. post to be submitted this month to the Senate for confirmation.

WASHINGTON -- The Clinton administration has notified members of the Senate that Richard C. Holbrooke is close to a deal with the Justice Department to settle conflict-of-interest allegations, and that his nomination as chief U.S. delegate to the United Nations is likely to be sent to the Senate within days, government officials said yesterday.Under terms of the agreement, they said, Holbrooke will pay a penalty of a few thousand dollars to settle Justice Department allegations that he violated federal lobbying laws in his contacts with the U.S. Embassy in South Korea in 1996.

SEOUL, South Korea -- Illustrating the two-pronged U.S. approach toward Communist North Korea, President Clinton sent a stern warning to Pyongyang yesterday about a suspected nuclear site but also delivered a virtual commercial for new cruise boat tours from South Korea to the north.Speaking at a news conference during a two-day visit to South Korea, Clinton and his host, President Kim Dae Jung, sent strong signals to North Korea that they want to increase its links to the outside world but will not tolerate efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction.

SEOUL, South Korea - -North Korea lashed out at the United States and South Korea on Wednesday, warning that it would attack the South if any of its ships were intercepted as part of a U.S.-led initiative to stem the world trade in nuclear weapons. North Korea's state-run news service reiterated the North's anger over South Korea's decision to join 100 other nations in the so-called Proliferation Security Initiative to blockade any nation suspected of trading nuclear materials. The developments came amid reports that North Korea had staged mass rallies to celebrate its second nuclear test, an event Monday that has brought condemnation elsewhere.

America's national pastime took a major hit last night. On home turf, no less. Daisuke Matsuzaka remained undefeated in the World Baseball Classic and defending champion Japan beat the United States, 9-4, in a semifinal at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Japan advanced to tonight's title game against South Korea, a 10-2 winner over Venezuela in a semifinal late Saturday night. Cleveland Indians outfielder Choo Shin-Soo hit a three-run homer to cap a five-run first inning for South Korea in that game.

SEOUL, South Korea - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said yesterday that U.S. officials and their allies are scrambling to prepare for North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's possible departure from power, a development she said threatened new turbulence in one of the world's most heavily armed regions. Arriving in Seoul for security talks, Clinton said persistent signs within the secretive Pyongyang government suggest that a change of leadership might be at hand. She said the South Korean government has been especially concerned about possible developments inside its impoverished northern neighbor.

Tensions rise between North, South Korea SEOUL, South Korea: North Korea declared all military and political agreements with South Korea "dead" today, warning that it would not honor past accords if Seoul continues to push the Koreas to the brink of war. The North's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea accused South Korean President Lee Myung Bak of raising tensions on the Korean peninsula with his hard-line position on Pyongyang. It warned that Lee's stance would only draw "a heavier blow and shameful destruction."

1 His first time: Tonight's Orioles-Indians game (7:05, MASN2) features Cleveland's Scott Lewis making his first major league start. Watch just in case he turns out to be another Cliff Lee. 2 In the soup: Loyola College tries to stay unbeaten in men's soccer today at home against Campbell (5 p.m.). No need to bring extra water, though. Campbell is the Camels. 3 Foot and a ball, though: City faces Poly in football - sort of football. The rivals actually are meeting in soccer at City at 3:45 p.m. 4 You don't say: On ESPN Classic at 9 a.m., watch back- to-back profiles of Yogi Berra (left)

BEIJING - Venus and Serena Williams of the United States won the gold yesterday, beating Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain, 6-2, 6-0. The Williams sisters failed to medal in singles but found considerable consolation in doubles, improving their lifetime Olympic record as a team to 10-0. They won the doubles gold at Sydney but didn't play in Athens four years ago because Serena was hurt. "It does mean more for me to win it with Serena, to share this kind of moment with your sister," Venus said.

* Archery: Neither the top seed nor the defending world champion reached the medal stand, as Viktor Ruban of Ukraine won the men's individual gold by beating Park Kyung-Mo of South Korea. Bair Badenov of Russia got the bronze when he beat top-seeded Juan Rene Serrano of Mexico. The lone American archer, Vic Wunderle, beat defending world champion Im Dong-hyun of South Korea but lost in the quarterfinals to Serrano. * Badminton: The first medals went to China. In women's doubles, Du Jing and Yu Yang beat Lee Hyojung and Lee Kyungwon of South Korea.

* Archery Vic Wunderle is the only U.S. archer still alive in the men's competition. * BaseballOn the opening night of play, the U.S. suffered a stinging defeat by South Korea, 8-7. The U.S. trailed 6-4 going into the ninth and was able to take a 7-6 lead but couldn't hold on. * Basketball The U.S. women beat Mali, 97-41. Lisa Leslie led all scorers with 16 points. Four others scored more than 10 points. The U.S. on Friday plays Spain, which beat the Czech Republic. * Beach VolleyballThe U.S. continued to steamroll through competition as the men's team of Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers beat Martin Conde and Mariano Baracetti of Argentina in the morning, 21-12, 21-13.

* Men's gymnastics: China won the gold medal it has long craved in men's gymnastics today, while the Americans settled for bronze. China's score of 286.125 was more than seven points ahead of Japan, the defending Olympic champion. The Americans were in the running for the silver until their final two events, but it was a solid finish for a team that had to replace not one, but two injured Hamm brothers in the 10 days before the games began. This was the second straight Olympic medal for the Americans, who finished with 275.850 points.

* Archery South Korea won a gold medal in the men's team competition, beating China in the final. France picked up the bronze. * Badminton Competition in women's doubles and women's singles continued without the eliminated U.S. doubles team. * Beach volleyball The U.S. men's team of Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal started out well with a 21-16, 21-15 win over Emiel Boersma and Bram Rommes of the Netherlands. The pair move on to a Tuesday match against Germany's Julius Brink and Christoph Dieckmann.