The Korea Times

North Korean leader seeks economic breakthrough via China

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping bid farewell at Pyongyang International Airport in Pyongyang after the latter's visit to North Korea in this June 2019 photo. / Korea Times fileBy Kang Seung-wooNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un's verbal message to Chinese President Xi Jinping praising Beijing's COVID-19 success was aimed at revitalizing the virus-dented bilateral economic ties, experts said, Friday.According to Pyongyang's state-run news organization Korean Central News Agency, Friday, Kim “congratulated Xi, highly appreciating that he is seizing a chance of victory in the war against the unprecedented epidemic.” “Kim wished Xi Jinping good health, expressing conviction that the Chinese Communist Party and people would cement the success made so far and steadily expand it and thus win a final victory under the wise guidance of Xi,” it added. However, it did not specify when and how the message has been delivered to the Chinese leader. The report came as the coronavirus pandemic has devastated the North's economy mainly due

May 8, 2020By Kang Seung-woo

North Korean leader sends congratulatory message to Putin

North Korea

'2 Koreas need joint system against infectious diseases'

By Kang Seung-wooUnification Minister Kim Yeon-chul Thursday cited the need to set up a joint response system against infectious diseases between South and North Korea as part of efforts directed toward inter-Korean healthcare cooperation. Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul speaks during a press conference at the ministry in Seoul, Thursday. / Yonhap“The coronavirus pandemic impacted not only our everyday lives but also inter-Korean relations in various ways. Novel infectious diseases and other natural disasters are unconventional security threats and how to deal with them is the unification ministry's job,” Kim said in a press conference. “In that respect, the ministry is making preparations in various manners, but the most important thing from a public health perspective is to build a joint response system between the two Koreas against infectious diseases.”Kim added that such a system should be sustainable, comprehensive and cooperative. The minister also said there are many fields on which the two countries can cooperate. “Experts believe that health

May 7, 2020By Kang Seung-woo

'2 Koreas need joint system against infectious diseases'

Politics

Outgoing floor leader

Rep. Lee In-young, outgoing floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), expresses his gratitude after receiving a flower bouquet from party Chairman Lee Hae-chan for his one-year service during a party meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. During his term, the DPK secure 163 parliamentary seats in last month's general election. The ruling party plans to select a new floor leader today. / Yonhap

May 6, 2020By Kang Seung-woo

Politics

'Everyday life disease control'

A microphone is wrapped with a disposable protective cover ahead of a plenary session at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday, when Korea officially shifted to a policy of “everyday life disease control” after two months of social distancing in order to contain the spread of COVID-19. / Yonhap

May 6, 2020By Kang Seung-woo

Politics

Political conflict intensifying over North Korean defectors-turned-politicians

Suh Hoon, chief of the National Intelligence Service, attends a plenary session of the Intelligence Committee at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. / YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooThe controversy over two North Korean defector-turned-lawmakers-elect's incorrect speculation on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's health is expanding to a political feud between the rival parties, as they argue whether it will be appropriate for the two to be placed on National Assembly committees dealing with classified information on Pyongyang.The unexpected fracas comes after Thae Yong-ho and Ji Seong-ho, both of whom were elected to the National Assembly last month, came under heavy fire for their unconfirmed remarks on Kim's health that contradicted the government's stance. Thae, a former North Korean diplomat, told CNN that Kim was unable to stand up by himself, while Ji, an advocate for North Korean human rights, said that Kim had probably died. Amid intensifying criticism on their remarks, they both apologized, Monday.The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is claiming that they should not be a

May 6, 2020By Kang Seung-woo

North Korea

Calls growing for discreet approach to NK intelligence

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visits a fertilizer factory in Sunchon, South Pyongan Province, in this Friday photo released by the Korean Central News Agency, Saturday. / Yonhap By Kang Seung-wooNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un's dramatic return to public view from a nearly-three-week hiatus, and despite a barrage of rumors surrounding his health, shows that obtaining a crumb of authentic information about the world's most secretive regime is still a tough nut to crack.In addition, given that misinformation about the country could have unexpected and wide ramifications, divulging unconfirmed rumors and reports should be kept to a minimum, according to security experts.On Saturday, the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that Kim had participated in a fertilizer factory completion ceremony in Sunchon, South Pyongan Province, the previous day. It also showed a video clip of him cutting the tape, smoking and talking with his staff from a green electr

May 3, 2020By Kang Seung-woo

Calls growing for discreet approach to NK intelligence

Defense

S. Korea remains firm against US pressure for defense cost-sharing

Members of the USFK Korean Employees Union stage a protest in front of Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, April 1, when nearly half of the Korean staff at U.S. military bases here were placed on unpaid leave in the absence of the defense cost-sharing deal. / YonhapBy Kang Seung-woo Seoul is standing firm against Washington's repeated pressure for a hefty increase in its share of the cost for the upkeep of the 28,500-strong United States Forces Korea (USFK) stationed here. Although the lack of deal has put thousands of Korean workers at U.S. military bases on unpaid leave, the government is not accepting the U.S. demand, but instead responding by setting up special laws to support the workers.“Korea and the U.S. are still in negotiations over the defense cost-sharing deal and nothing has been officially decided yet,” the foreign ministry said in a statement Thursday.Cheong Wa Dae also said that the allies were still in talks, adding that there was nothing new to reveal.The government' statements came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump told Reuters that K

Apr 30, 2020By Kang Seung-woo

Defense

Air chiefs' COVID-19 video conference

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Won In-choul speaks at the Gyeryongdae military headquarters in South Chungcheong Province, Thursday, during a video conference with air force chiefs from across the Indo-Pacific region. Won shared the Korean military's knowhow related to containing COVID-19. Twenty countries, including the United States, France and Japan, participated in the conference. / Courtesy of ROK Air Force

Apr 30, 2020By Kang Seung-woo

Foreign Affairs

Businesspeople to get entry ban exemption for China

Korean businesspeople check in at Incheon International Airport, Wednesday, to leave for Vietnam, as the Vietnamese government has granted them exemptions from entry ban imposed to prevent spread of COVID-19. / YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooKorea and China have agreed to introduce a fast-track entry system allowing Korean businessmen to travel to 10 Chinese areas despite current entry restrictions imposed to counter the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the foreign ministry, Wednesday.This is the first time the Chinese government has reached a fast-track agreement with a country amid the coronavirus outbreak. Under the plan that will take effect May 1, when Chinese companies or Korean firms operating in those regions apply for the special entry of Korean businesspeople who have visas from the Chinese authorities, they can enter the 10 regions, which include Shanghai, Tianjin and Shandong Province.The agreement came after Seoul and Beijing had a video conference on cooperation on coronavirus quarantine measures.“The Chinese government plans to introduce the entry system in the 10 areas f

Apr 29, 2020By Kang Seung-woo

Businesspeople to get entry ban exemption for China

Politics

Refusal to accept election results

Rep. Min Kyung-wook of the main opposition United Future Party carries boxes of ballots from Incheon's Yeonsu-B constituency at the regional office of the National Election Commission, Wednesday. After losing in the April 15 general election by a small margin, he refused to accept the results and requested a court to order the election watchdog to preserve the ballots for a recount, a request which the court accepted. / Yonhap

Apr 29, 2020By Kang Seung-woo

Kang Seung-woo

Read more

North Korean leader seeks economic breakthrough via China

'2 Koreas need joint system against infectious diseases'

Outgoing floor leader

'Everyday life disease control'

Political conflict intensifying over North Korean defectors-turned-politicians

Calls growing for discreet approach to NK intelligence

S. Korea remains firm against US pressure for defense cost-sharing

Air chiefs' COVID-19 video conference

Businesspeople to get entry ban exemption for China

Refusal to accept election results

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