Reuters

By Jack Kim, Reuters

SEOUL - A hacking attack on the servers of South Korean broadcasters and banks originated from an IP address based in China, officials in Seoul said on Thursday, raising suspicions the intrusion came from North Korea.

An unnamed official from South Korea's presidential office was quoted by the Yonhap news agency as saying the discovery of the IP address indicated Pyongyang was responsible for the attack on Wednesday. Read the full story.

How Hwee Young / EPA

English soccer player David Beckham in action during a game with students from a middle school in Beijing, China, on March 20, 2013.

Ever the style icon, David Beckham kept his suit on as he played soccer with school children in Beijing on Wednesday. Beckham is embarking on a five-day tour of the country in his new role as ambassador for the Chinese Super League.

Chinese soccer has been marred by scandals and corruption, ITV News reports, but Beckham said he was "very proud and thankful for this opportunity." He would not confirm whether he was being paid for his ambassadorial work.

The former England captain recently joined French side Paris Saint-Germain after six years with Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy.

Alexander F. Yuan / AP

Beckham speaks to students of Beijing's No. 2 high school during an event to promote soccer in China.

Lintao Zhang / Getty Images

Fans look on from behind a fence.

How Hwee Young / EPA

Beckham is in Beijing to begin his role as China's first global soccer ambassador.

Feng Li / Getty Images

A delegate gets the newly-elected Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and incoming Premier Li Keqiang, right, to sign autographs after the election of the new president on March 14, 2013 in Beijing.

Reuters reports — China's parliament formally elected heir-in-waiting Xi Jinping president on Thursday, completing the country's second orderly political succession since the Communist Party took power in 1949.

The largely rubber-stamp National People's Congress chose Xi in a tightly scripted ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing, putting the final seal of approval on a generational transition of power.

There was virtually no opposition among the carefully selected legislators to Xi becoming president. Xi drew just one no vote and three abstentions from the almost 3,000 delegates. Read the full story.

Feng Li / Getty Images

China's newly-elected President Xi Jinping, right, shakes hands with former President Hu Jintao, left, as other delegates clap during the fourth plenary meeting of the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People on March 14, 2013 in Beijing.

Related:

Stuck behind the scenes as China's leadership changes hands

China's president-in-waiting Xi Jinping returns to Iowa

More news from China on NBC's Behind the Wall

Wang Zhao / AFP - Getty Images

Chinese professional basketball player Yao Ming is surrounded by jounalists as he leaves the Great Hall of the People after the second plenary meeting of the first session of the 12th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing on March 7, 2013.

Lintao Zhang / Getty Images

Hong Kong movie star Jackie Chan is surrounded by journalists and outside the plenary session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference on March 7, 2013 in Beijing, China.

Story: China seeks to pacify middle class; boosts defense spending

How Hwee Young / EPA

A Chinese boy stands in front of a tree with light decorations celebrating the Lantern Festival in a shopping area in Beijing, China, on Feb. 23. The Lantern Festival will fall on Feb. 24, the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, which also marks the end of the new year festivities.

Slideshow: Chinese New Year: The year of the snake

Chaiwat Subprasom / Reuters

The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, begins on Feb. 10 and marks the start of the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac.

Launch slideshow

Petar Kujundzic / Reuters

A performer inserts a live snake through his nose and mouth during a performance at the Ditan Temple Fair celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year in Beijing on Feb. 11. The Year of the Snake, according to Chinese astrology, began Sunday.

Published at 2:20 p.m. ET.

Slideshow: Chinese New Year

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Carlos Barria / Reuters

Men light fireworks as residents celebrate the start of the New Year in Shanghai, Feb. 9. The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, begins on Feb. 10 and marks the start of the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac.

Related story: Chinese give Year of the Snake a raucous, colorful welcome

Slideshow: Chinese New Year: The year of the snake

Chaiwat Subprasom / Reuters

The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, begins on February 10 and marks the start of the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac.

Launch slideshow

Lee Bu / EPA

Rescuers work at the disaster scene where eight vehicles fell off a bridge, after an explosion of fireworks on a truck in Mianchi county, in central China's Henan province on Saturday, Feb. 2. Nine people have been found dead as a section of over 80 meters long on the 30-meter-high bridge collapsed after an explosion of the truck in the morning. Earlier reports said 26 people were killed in the accident.  Read the full story.

Lee Bu / EPA