The Korea Times

Will Kim Jong-un attend Tokyo Olympics?

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been more forthcoming about overseas trips than Kim Jong-il, his predecessor and father. The international community is watching whether the North Korean leader will visit a foreign country for the Olympics next year. Yonhap By Do Je-hae President Moon Jae-in and his ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) are determined not to miss out on the chance for engaging North Korea and promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula during the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games.During the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games, a high-level delegation led by the North Korean leader's sister Kim Yo-jong visited PyeongChang, paving the way for the first summit between President Moon and Kim Jong-un on April 27, 2018. That was first of three Moon-Kim summits that year, culminating in the one in Pyongyang in September. Therefore, Olympic diplomacy has a special meaning for Moon, who is looking increasingly out of options for a breakthrough in inter-Korean r

Nov 23, 2020By Do Je-hae

Politics

Governors, mayors rush toward integration

Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-sup, right, and South Jeolla Governor Kim Young-rok hold an agreement for administrative integration during a ceremony in Gwangju, Nov. 2. YonhapAdministrative mergers gain momentum for tackling low growth, population crisisBy Do Je-hae Governors and mayors are rushing to merge with adjacent cities for economic benefits as well as administrative effectiveness. The trend is highlighted by a series of discussions on administrative integration by cities and provinces that have been struggling particularly with low population and lack of jobs. This includes the ongoing discussions to merge Daegu and the adjacent North Gyeongsang Province, Gwangju and South Jeolla Province and some cities in the interior Chungcheong region. The heads of local governments have underlined the need to integrate with neighboring cities and provinces to enhance their competitiveness by increasing their population and economic size for survival in the face of the ever-growing Seoul metropolitan area. As of last year, more than 50 percent of the nation's population resided in Seoul and the

Nov 22, 2020By Do Je-hae

Governors, mayors rush toward integration

Foreign Affairs

What can Korea do to ensure Biden's enthusiasm on North Korea?

Close coordination with US key to incorporating S. Korea's preferences into Washington's NK policy By Do Je-hae The election of former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has brought new challenges for President Moon Jae-in's engagement-centric North Korea policy.After the Democratic Party candidate's victory become clear, Cheong Wa Dae arranged a meeting for Moon on Nov. 11 with his close aides who have dealt with North Korea, including former national security adviser Chung Eui-yong and Im Jong-seok, Moon's first chief of staff and currently a special presidential adviser for foreign affairs who also leads the Foundation of Inter-Korea Cooperation. Both Chung and Im undertook crucial roles in realizing a series of summits between Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in 2018, the first of which took place on April 28, 2018, only weeks after the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. To dispel concerns about possible clashes with the Biden administration, Cheong Wa Dae is stressing that Seoul has a wealth of experience working hand in hand with a Democratic administration on North Korea and pro

Nov 22, 2020By Do Je-hae

What can Korea do to ensure Biden's enthusiasm on North Korea?

Defense

Importance of alliance highlighted during KDVA event

Participants at the 2020 KDVA Alliance Education Conference for Junior Service Members, hosted by the Korea Defense Veterans Association (KDVA) Korea Chapter, post for a photo at the at the Osan Air Base, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. /Courtesy of KDVABy Do Je-hae The Korea Defense Veterans Association (KDVA) Korea Chapter, an association of U.S. veterans who served in Korea as members of the United States Forces Korea (USFK), held the 2020 KDVA Alliance Education Conference for Junior Service Members, at Osan Air Base, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday.Maj. Gen. Lee Seo-young, former defense attache to the U.S. from 2011 to 2013, retired Gen. Choi Byung-hyuk, a former deputy commander of the U.S.-Korea Combined Forces Command, and Maj. Gen. Stephen Williams, chief of staff at the USFK, were among some 60 participants in the event. The event featured a lecture on the alliance and the security situation on the Korean Peninsula by Ambassador Hwang Joon-kook, a former minister for political affairs at the Korean Embassy in the U.S., followed by a luncheon. Hwang served as Korean ambassador to

Nov 19, 2020By Do Je-hae

Importance of alliance highlighted during KDVA event

Korea's strategic value re-rises amid US-China rivalry

Politics

Moon congratulates 4 Korean-Americans on recent House election victories

President Moon Jae-in / Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-seokPresident Moon Jae-in on Tuesday congratulated four Korean-Americans on their recent election to the U.S. House of Representatives. "Delighted and thrilled! Together with the Korean people, I extend my congratulations to newly elected Congresswomen Young Kim, Michelle Park Steel, and Marilyn Strickland, and Congressman Andy Kim who won a second term," Moon tweeted."They have friendly Korean names ― Young-oak, Eunjoo, and Sun-ja," Moon said, adding "Today, your friendly Korean names sound all the more glamorous."Republicans Young Kim and Michelle Park Steel won the 39th and 48th districts in Orange County, California, respectively, in the U.S. general elections earlier this month, joining Democrat Marilyn Strickland, who won the 10th district in Washington, to become the first Korean American women to serve in Congress in its 230-year history. Democrat Andy Kim won his race in New Jersey's 3rd district. "I am truly encouraged to see four Korean Americans having made to U.S. Congress all at the same time," Moon said in the Twitt

Nov 17, 2020By Do Je-hae

Moon congratulates 4 Korean-Americans on recent House election victories

Politics

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi may visit Korea

President Moon Jae-in, right, shakes hands with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on Dec. 5, 2019 at Cheong Wa Dae. Korea Times fileBy Do Je-haeThe latest news reports of China's state councilor and foreign minister Wang Yi's possible visit to Korea later this month is renewing focus on Chinese President Xi Jingping's pledge to visit the country this year.The U.S. presidential election has divided Cheong Wa Dae's attention in recent months. But since the election has concluded, Seoul and Beijing have resumed talks on arranging high-level visits, according to Cheong Wa Dae and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.The latest local news reports have highlighted the possibility that Wang could visit Korea before or after his visit to Japan.In Japanese media, the Mainichi Shimbun reported that Wang will visit Japan at the end of November. Speculations in the diplomatic community are rising that Wang's main mission during the prospective visits to Japan and Korea will be to discuss arrangements for Xi to visit the two neighbors.In particular, questions are being raised as to whether Xi will visi

Nov 17, 2020By Do Je-hae

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi may visit Korea

Politics

Korea forced to walk fine line between RCEP and CPTPP

President Moon Jae-in claps during the signing of the RCEP trade deal, at Cheong Wa Dae, Sunday. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, left in the screen, is seen during the virtual ceremony. Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-seok Country sandwiched between US, China over mega trade deals By Do Je-hae Some global mega trade deals involving or possibly involving Korea are expected to bring the country additional challenges. The signing of the 15-member Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) by Korea, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the 10 ASEAN nations, Sunday, during a virtual meeting of signatories has raised questions about the possible emergence of a multilateral trade rivalry between the U.S. and China, particularly under a new U.S. administration.With the launch of the RCEP, which is described by the international media as “China-led,” speculation is rising that a Joe Biden White House could pursue the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement

Nov 16, 2020By Do Je-hae

Korea forced to walk fine line between RCEP and CPTPP

NEWS ANALYSIS 'RCEP could be a boon to export-reliant Korea'

Politics

Moon, Suga to face each other at virtual ASEAN+3 summit

South Korean President Moon Jae-in (left on screen) addresses counterparts at the 2nd Mekong - South Korea Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), on a live video conference held online due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, in Hanoi. AP-YonhapBy Do Je-haePresident Moon Jae-in will meet new Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga for the first time at a multilateral diplomatic setting during a video-linked Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)+3 summit on Saturday.The ASEAN+3 summit gathers leaders from the 10 ASEAN members as well as those from Korea, Japan and China, for the purpose of advancing multi-dimensional cooperation between ASEAN and the three Asian neighbors, according to Cheong Wa Dae. The ASEAN+3 summit, which will be the first time Moon and Suga take part in a diplomatic event together, comes amid strenuous efforts from the Seoul government this week to appease Tokyo to help ease bilateral tension over history and trade issues. The need to improve strained bilateral ties has been particularly highlighted ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, whi

Nov 13, 2020By Do Je-hae

Moon, Suga to face each other at virtual ASEAN+3 summit

'South Korea to donate $10 million for COVID-19 vaccine support to developing nations': Moon

Politics

Moon announces 'New Southern Policy Plus strategy'

President Moon Jae-in speaks during a virtual Korea-ASEAN summit at Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. Yonhap By Do Je-hae President Moon Jae-in announced a more advanced version of his New Southern Policy for promoting ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during a video-linked Korea-ASEAN summit, Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday. During the summit, Moon introduced the New Southern Policy Plus strategy, an advanced version of his trademark diplomatic strategy to intensify cooperation with Southeast Asia on various fronts. “This year marks the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership between ASEAN and Korea. Korea has prepared a New Southern Policy Plus strategy, evaluating that the vision and achievements of the New Southern Policy are helpful to both ASEAN and Korea,” Moon said in a speech. “The New Southern Policy Plus strategy contains new and actionable measures focusing on seven key areas of cooperation, including comprehensive health and medical

Nov 12, 2020By Do Je-hae

Moon announces 'New Southern Policy Plus strategy'

'South Korea to donate $10 million for COVID-19 vaccine support to developing nations': Moon

Politics

No visible turnaround after NIS chief's meeting with Suga

National Intelligence Service chief Park Jie-won speaks with reporters after his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in Tokyo, Tuesday. YonhapBy Do Je-haeNational Intelligence Service chief Park Jie-won met with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Tuesday, in Tokyo. But the meeting seems to have ended without producing concrete answers about pressing issues, such as Suga's visit to Seoul for the upcoming Korea-Japan-China summit, and any hint of a solution for historical disputes between the two countries.Park, who is the highest-level Korean official to meet with the new Japanese leader, met with Suga for 25 minutes, according to the Japanese foreign ministry. Suga reportedly underlined the need for bilateral cooperation as well as Japan-South Korea-U.S. cooperation for dealing with issues such as North Korea. He also requested South Korea's support on the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea. According to media reports, however, the Japanese leader renewed his request to Park that Korea create the opportunity for the two countries to restore bilate

Nov 11, 2020By Do Je-hae

Do Je-hae

Read more

Will Kim Jong-un attend Tokyo Olympics?

Governors, mayors rush toward integration

What can Korea do to ensure Biden's enthusiasm on North Korea?

Importance of alliance highlighted during KDVA event

Moon congratulates 4 Korean-Americans on recent House election victories

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi may visit Korea

Korea forced to walk fine line between RCEP and CPTPP

Moon, Suga to face each other at virtual ASEAN+3 summit

Moon announces 'New Southern Policy Plus strategy'

No visible turnaround after NIS chief's meeting with Suga

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