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Kang Seung-woo

Korea Times Business Reporter

Kang Seung-woo is the Business Desk editor at The Korea Times. Prior to this position, he covered politics, national affairs, finance and sports.

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North Korea

'Discussions on inter-Korean humanitarian projects make progress'

South Korea's chief nuclear envoy Noh Kyu-duk leaves Incheon International Airport for Tokyo, Sunday. YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooSouth Korea's chief nuclear envoy Noh Kyu-duk said, Sunday, that discussions with the United States on inter-Korean humanitarian projects had made significant progress.He made the remarks at Incheon International Airport before traveling to Tokyo to hold a trilateral meeting with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts ― Sung Kim and Takehiro Funakoshi ― during a three-day visit there. Noh also plans to sit down with each of them one-on-one. Noh's trip is noteworthy given that he will meet the U.S. envoy for the fourth time in four months ― after once in June and twice in August ― as the Biden administration is firmly committed to providing its support for inter-Korean humanitarian cooperation projects. In addition, the trilateral meeting comes after a recent International Atomic Energy Agency report suggesting that North Korea has restarted its nuclear reactor in Yongbyon. “I expect that the upcoming talks will be a productive step to accelerate the Korean Pe

Sep 12, 2021By Kang Seung-woo
'Discussions on inter-Korean humanitarian projects make progress'
North Korea

North Korea steps up efforts to draw attention from US

A commercial satellite image by 38 North shows North Korean troops preparing for a military parade in Pyongyang. YonhapPyongyang anxious about no action from USBy Kang Seung-wooNorth Korea appears to have increased its provocative military activities on purpose in a bid to get the attention of the Joe Biden administration, according to Pyongyang watchers.According to 38 North, a U.S.-based website specializing in the North Korean regime, troop formations were observed earlier last week at Mirim Airport in Pyongyang, raising speculation that the country is preparing for a military parade ahead of its state and ruling party founding anniversaries on Sept. 9 and Oct. 10, respectively. The airfield has served as a rehearsal ground for large-scale military parades.“This could indicate an upcoming military parade in Oct, as we saw in 2020,” it said on Twitter, Thursday.“The unification ministry will closely watch any signs, without prematurely determining, for the possibility of the North holding a military parade,” Cha Deok-cheol, deputy spokesperson of the unifica

Sep 3, 2021By Kang Seung-woo
North Korea steps up efforts to draw attention from US
North Korea

Phased approach to North Korea's nuclear program gaining traction

South Korean nuclear envoy Noh Kyu-duk, left, speaks in front of the U.S. Department of State building in Washington, Monday, after meeting with his U.S. counterpart Sung Kim on North Korea. YonhapInterim deal may recognize Pyongyang as nuclear powerBy Kang Seung-wooGrappling with the fallout from its withdrawal from Afghanistan, the United States is weighing the possibility of shifting its tone on North Korea's nuclear program ― in other words, seeking to maintain the status quo on the Korean Peninsula rather than aggressively pursuing complete denuclearization. Under the circumstances, diplomatic observers believe that the Biden administration is open to reaching an interim deal, which means that the two sides would take simultaneous steps that could lead to the denuclearization of North Korea and they believe are more practical and realistic. Last week, when Sung Kim, the U.S. special representative for North Korea, visited Seoul, he indicated that Washington would want to stably manage the situation on the Peninsula due to the crisis in Afghanistan. According to Rep. Tae Yong-ho,

Sep 3, 2021By Kang Seung-woo
Phased approach to North Korea's nuclear program gaining traction
Foreign Affairs

Opposition contenders make diplomatic discourtesy to Duterte

Yoon Seok-youl, a presidential contender of the main opposition People Power Party, speaks during his meeting with party members of North Chungcheong Province in Cheongju, Tuesday. YonhapYoon, Hong slammed for inappropriate references to Philippine presidentBy Kang Seung-wooWith smear campaigns intensifying ahead of next year's presidential election, some presidential hopefuls are committing a diplomatic discourtesy by belittling the head of a friendly nation while criticizing other contenders.Critics urge them to hold their tongues to avoid damaging diplomatic relations with allies and hurting national interest. On Wednesday, Yoon Seok-youl, the leading contender of the conservative main opposition People Power Party (PPP), referenced Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in his criticism of pro-capital punishment remarks by Rep. Hong Joon-pyo of the same party. Hong, a five-term lawmaker, had posted on Facebook that if he is elected president, he would call for the death penalty for a man accused of beating his 20-month-old stepdaughter to death.“Seeing a possible head of gov

Sep 2, 2021By Kang Seung-woo
Opposition contenders make diplomatic discourtesy to Duterte
  • Hong rises, Yoon tumbles in main opposition party primary
Law & Crime

Horrific crimes reignite debate over death penalty

Banners are hung in Daejeon, Wednesday, to urge a court to hand down a death penalty for a man who killed his 20-month-old stepdaughter in June. YonhapKorea has not executed criminals since 1997By Kang Seung-wooA series of atrocious crimes of late are once again sparking debate over capital punishment. South Korea is classified as “abolitionist in practice,” which means that the government retains the death penalty but has not actually executed a criminal in the past 10 years or longer. The last execution here took place Dec. 31, 1997, when 23 convicted of murder were hanged. However, the issue has been brought to the fore again following the homicide of a 20-month-old toddler by her stepfather in June and the murder of two women last month by a sex offender who removed his electronic monitoring anklet while on parole. The 29-year-old stepfather, identified as Yang, allegedly covered the baby girl with blankets because she would not stop crying and punched and stomped her to death. Furthermore, the parents hid the baby's body in an ice box in their bathroom.The crime has

Sep 1, 2021By Kang Seung-woo
Horrific crimes reignite debate over death penalty
North Korea

IAEA report puts pressure on Seoul's bid to restart peace initiative

This satellite photo released in May by 38 North, a U.S.-based website for analysis of North Korea, shows satellite imagery of North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear complex. YonhapIAEA says North Korea appears to have restarted nuclear reactor in YongbyonBy Kang Seung-wooA recent International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report indicating that North Korea has restarted its nuclear reactor in Yongbyon is likely to pour some cold water on South Korea's efforts toward the early resumption of the stalled Korean Peninsula peace process, according to diplomatic observers, Monday. “Since early July, there have been indications, including the discharge of cooling water, consistent with the operation of the reactor,” the IAEA said in its annual report, adding that there were no indications of reactor operation from early December 2018 to the beginning of July of this year.“The new indications of the operation of the reactor and the radiochemical laboratory are deeply troubling,” the report also said. The report comes as Noh Kyu-duk, the South Korean chief nuclear envoy, flew

Aug 30, 2021By Kang Seung-woo
IAEA report puts pressure on Seoul's bid to restart peace initiative
Politics

Meeting with young biz owners

Former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong, second from left, a presidential hopeful of the main opposition People Power Party, talks during his meeting with young small business owners at a restaurant in southern Seoul, Sunday. The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has hit them hard as the government bans more than two people from getting together after 6 p.m., while placing a 9 p.m. curfew on restaurants and cafes. Yonhap

Aug 29, 2021By Kang Seung-woo
Meeting with young biz owners
North Korea

Seoul, Washington expected to hold in-depth talks over humanitarian aid to Pyongyang

Noh Kyu-duk, South Korea's chief nuclear envoy, leaves Incheon International Airport, for the United States, Sunday, to meet officials of the State Department and the White House National Security Council. YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooSouth Korea's chief nuclear envoy Noh Kyu-duk's trip to the United States is raising speculation that Seoul and Washington are expected to discuss inter-Korean humanitarian projects in a more concrete way, according to diplomatic observers, Sunday. In addition, the two sides may also share ideas on the U.S. offering partial sanctions relief, in exchange for North Korea's partial steps toward denuclearization.Noh's four-day visit to Washington, D.C. is seen as carrying extra weight, given that it follows his American counterpart Sung Kim's official trip to Seoul last week. According to the foreign ministry, Noh plans to meet representatives from the State Department, the White House National Security Council and others, to follow up on discussions held with Kim here during his trip.“The government has had a series of in-depth consultations with the Joe B

Aug 29, 2021By Kang Seung-woo
Seoul, Washington expected to hold in-depth talks over humanitarian aid to Pyongyang
Foreign Affairs

391 Afghans to arrive here Thursday in evacuation operation

Afghans who helped the Korean government's activities in their country board a military aircraft at Kabul airport, as part of Korea's operation to evacuate them to Korea amid growing fears of possible Taliban retaliation against those who have aided the United States and its allies, in this photo released Wednesday. Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign AffairsGovernment grants special stay permits to Afghans hereBy Kang Seung-wooA total of 391 Afghans, who helped the Korean government's activities in their war-torn country, will arrive in Korea today. They are being evacuated amid growing fears of possible Taliban retaliation against those who have aided the United States and its allies, the foreign ministry said, Wednesday.Upon arrival, they will stay at a government-run training facility in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, which also accommodated hundreds of Koreans airlifted from the Chinese city of Wuhan last year amid mounting fears over COVID-19.“Some 380 Afghans will be airlifted by military aircraft to Incheon International Airport, Thursday,” Second Vice Foreign

Aug 25, 2021By Kang Seung-woo
391 Afghans to arrive here Thursday in evacuation operation
Foreign Affairs

Cooperative forum for Korea-China future ties launched

Korean members of the Committee for Future-Oriented Development of Korea-China Relations watch a congratulatory message from Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong on the launch of the cooperative forum during its launching ceremony at the Plaza Seoul, Tuesday. YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooA committee of Korean and Chinese government officials, diplomats and scholars has been launched to discuss improving relations between the two nations, which will celebrate 30 years of diplomatic ties in 2022.Members of the Committee for Future-Oriented Development of Korea-China Relations held the launching ceremony, Tuesday.The two sides agreed in principle to form the cooperative panel in their foreign ministers' meeting in November 2020 to draw up and suggest a roadmap on the development of relations between Seoul and Beijing. In the Track 1.5 dialogue mechanism, 18 members, including former and incumbent government officials and private sector experts, participate from each country. Those from the Korean side includes former National Assembly Speaker Lim Chae-jung who is co-chairperson of the committee, a

Aug 24, 2021By Kang Seung-woo
Cooperative forum for Korea-China future ties launched
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