The Korea Times

INTERVIEW Son still yearns for father abducted by North Korea decades ago

Hwang Won, center, one of the victims of the 1969 Korean Air flight hijacking by North Korea, smiles with his son, Hwang Won Jr. (Hwang In-cheol), left, and his niece in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, in this photo taken in March 1969. Courtesy of Hwang Won Jr. and Freedom Speakers InternationalAlthough 50 years have passed, Hwang Won Jr.'s search for father isn't over yetBy Jung Min-hoWhen a North Korean agent hijacked the Korean Air flight carrying his father and forced the pilot to land in North Korea in December 1969, Hwang In-cheol, who was just two years old at the time, did not know how the incident would later shape his own life.After international outcry, Pyongyang promised to repatriate all 50 passengers and crew on Feb. 4, 1970, only to break its promise by sending back 39 of them. His father, a producer for broadcaster MBC, was not on that list.The tragedy forced his family into misery. Yet, despite all the tears and sleepless nights, life went on: Hwang went to school, got a job and tied the knot with a women he loved. Slowly, he was accepting the reality that he would not

Oct 19, 2022By Jung Min-ho

[INTERVIEW] Son still yearns for father abducted by North Korea decades ago

Law & Crime

Pressure grows to investigate ex-president over possible cover-up

The prosecution logo is seen on the window of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul, Oct. 13. The prosecution is under increasing pressure to investigate former President Moon Jae-in as questions emerge over who ordered the deletion of intelligence reports giving an important clue to how the fisheries official ended up in North Korea's waters, where he was shot dead two years ago. NewsisQuestions arise over who ordered deletion of fisheries official intelligence reportsBy Jung Min-hoThe prosecution is under increasing pressure to investigate former President Moon Jae-in as questions emerge over who ordered the deletion of intelligence reports potentially containing clues as to how the fisheries official ended up in North Korea's waters, where he was shot dead two years ago.One of the key findings announced last week by the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) was that the official was wearing a life jacket emblazoned with Chinese letters ― a product that cannot be found in the South Korean market. This information debunks the very basis on which the Defense

Oct 17, 2022By Jung Min-ho

Pressure grows to investigate ex-president over possible cover-up

Foreign Affairs

INTERVIEW Moon partly responsible for Korea's failure to keep UN Human Rights Council seat: expert

Then President Moon Jae-in, right, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un walk toward the welcoming ceremony venue at the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom, in this April 27, 2018, file photo. Korea Times photo by Ko Young-kwonEx-president 'shamefully walked away' from roles to address rights abuses of North Koreans, Human Rights Watch official saysBy Jung Min-hoPhil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia divisionRuling party lawmakers have blamed the previous Moon Jae-in administration for South Korea's recent failure to keep its seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council, accusing it of shutting its eyes to North Korea's gross and obvious violations of human rights while seeking to improve inter-Korean relations throughout his five-year term. Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division, said he believes they were right to point out that Moon is not free of responsibility for the seat loss. Though he is not the sole reason, the international human rights expert believes his failures to do “even the minimum” on the rights

Oct 17, 2022By Jung Min-ho

[INTERVIEW] Moon partly responsible for Korea's failure to keep UN Human Rights Council seat: expert

North Korea

North Korea tests cruise missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads

This photo released Thursday by the North's official Korean Central News Agency shows the test-launch of long-range strategic cruise missiles at an undisclosed location in North Korea, Wednesday. Yonhap ICBM and nuclear weapons tests expected in coming months: analystsBy Jung Min-hoNorth Korea test-launched two long-range cruise missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads on Wednesday, Pyongyang's state news agency reported the next day. Leader Kim Jong-un, who supervised the test, praised it as a successful display of the military's expanding nuclear strike capabilities and a stark warning to its “enemies.” According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the missiles struck their targets as planned after traveling 2,000 kilometers in figure-eight trajectories. The cruise missile type, which is more difficult to detect by radar and has greater accuracy than a ballistic one, is a significant threat to South Korea and its allies, especially if it carries nuclear

Oct 13, 2022By Jung Min-ho

North Korea tests cruise missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads

Defense

Opposition leader criticizes gov't for joining military drills with Japan

Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, speaks during a meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. NewsisJoint drills in East Sea crucial against nuclear-armed Pyongyang with SLBM capability: expertBy Jung Min-hoRep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, renewed his criticism of the government's decision to join trilateral military drills with Japan, Wednesday, saying that South Korea should not work with its former colonial ruler as it could be “a stepping stone to a Korea-U.S.-Japan military alliance,” which could “stimulate the military unity of North Korea, China and Russia.” During a meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Lee, the former presidential candidate, who lost the March election to Yoon Suk-yeol by a razor-thin margin, said the government should apologize for taking part in the joint naval exercises in the East Sea with Japan and the United States in response to North Korea's series of weapons tests in recent weeks.“Five years before North Korea invaded t

Oct 12, 2022By Jung Min-ho

Opposition leader criticizes gov't for joining military drills with Japan

North Korea

South Korea plans to lift ban on North Korean media

The Rodong Sinmun newspaper, showing an image of North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, casting his ballot in the 14th Supreme People's Assembly elections, is displayed at a subway station in Pyongyang, in this March 11, 2019 file photo. South Korea plans to lift its ban on public access to North Korean media content as part of its efforts to promote freedom of expression and mutual understanding. AFP-YonhapFears of regime's propaganda influence overblown: expertBy Jung Min-hoSouth Korea plans to lift its ban on public access to North Korean media content to promote freedom of expression and mutual understanding despite the North's intensifying nuclear threats. An official told The Korea Times Tuesday that the Ministry of Unification has been stepping up its efforts over the past three months to give the public access to North Korean television and, in the long run, other media outlets such as Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North's Central Committee of the Workers' Party.“We have been discussing the issue with related government agencies, including which laws should b

Oct 11, 2022By Jung Min-ho

South Korea plans to lift ban on North Korean media

Defense

'We must be example of peace through strength'

Lt. Gen. Willard M. Burleson, the commander of the Eighth U.S. Army, speaks during his speech during an event honoring U.S. troops killed during the Korean War at the West Point Memorial Park of Korea Military Academy in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Korea Military AcademyCommander of 8th US Army vows to maintain combat readinessBy Jung Min-hoA top U.S. military officer in South Korea said the two allies should be the example of “peace through strength” in a speech at the Korea Military Academy event honoring the U.S. troops killed during the Korean War (1950-53).Lt. Gen. Willard M. Burleson, the commander of the Eighth U.S. Army, said South Korea and the U.S. should remember the great sacrifices of those who perished while defending democracy and freedom and honor their legacy by ensuring to protect the values with a strong alliance and defense posture.“It may be more important now than it (the alliance) has been since the end of the Korean War. We must be the example of peace through strength,” Burleson said at the West Point Memorial Park of the school in nort

Oct 7, 2022By Jung Min-ho

'We must be example of peace through strength'

Defense

JCS chief grilled over trilateral drills involving Japan, rising tensions

Kim Seung-kyum, chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), speaks during the parliamentary inspection at JCS headquarters in Seoul, Thursday. NewsisPyongyang launches more missiles as Seoul, Washington plan more drillsBy Jung Min-hoSouth Korea's top military officer vowed to sharpen capabilities to respond to and deter North Korea's evolving missile and nuclear threats, Thursday, during the National Assembly audit in which he was criticized over combined drills involving Japan and the rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.Earlier that day, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea in its latest provocation, which prompted South Korea, the United States and Japan to begin another round of trilateral joint exercises in the waters east of the peninsula.Kim Seung-kyum, chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), said a concerted effort with the U.S. military and practical training for improving execution capabilities, in case of conflict, are the keys to achieving that objective.“Above all, our military is focusing on strengthening capabilities to resp

Oct 6, 2022By Jung Min-ho

JCS chief grilled over trilateral drills involving Japan, rising tensions

Defense

INTERVIEW Washington's nuclear umbrella should be called into question: US scholar

U.S. President Joe Biden attends a meeting in Washington, Tuesday. Jennifer Lind, an associate professor of government at Dartmouth College, says South Koreans should not expect “a rational U.S. leader to take action that would risk a nuclear retaliation that destroys American cities and kills millions of people.” AFP-YonhapUS would not risk North Korea's nuclear attack to protect South Korea, professor saysBy Jung Min-hoJennifer Lind, an associate professor of government at Dartmouth CollegeEven when North Korea is ramping up the development of its weapons at an unprecedented pace and escalating the threat of a nuclear war against South Korea, Washington has so far issued vague warnings such as to “take all necessary measures” without mentioning whether a nuclear attack by the regime would be met with a nuclear response. To Jennifer Lind, an associate professor of government focused on East Asia at Dartmouth College, the reason for the ambiguity is plain and simple: the U.S. government will not make a concrete statement that it cannot back up with action. &ld

Oct 5, 2022By Jung Min-ho

[INTERVIEW] Washington's nuclear umbrella should be called into question: US scholar

North Korea

Moon gov't proposed $15-billion investment for Pyongyang through joint Olympics

Then-President Moon Jae-in, left, talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, center, as then-U.S. President Donald Trump looks on after their meeting at the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom, in this June 30, 2019, file photo. South Korea proposed investing a total of 28.5 trillion won last year to develop North Korea's infrastructure by co-hosting the Olympics jointly with Pyongyang in 2032, documents revealed Tuesday. AP-YonhapBy Jung Min-hoSeoul proposed investing billions of dollars to develop North Korea's infrastructure last year by co-hosting the Olympics jointly with Pyongyang in 2032, documents revealed Tuesday. According to a proposal the previous Moon Jae-in administration sent to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) through the Seoul Metropolitan Government on April 1, 2021, it would cost more than 22.6 trillion won ($15.7 billion) to improve infrastructure to the levels necessary to host the sporting event in Pyongyang; for Seoul, it would cost an additional 5.9 trillion won.Building a high-speed train line between the two cities, an Olympic Village in Pyong

Oct 4, 2022By Jung Min-ho

Jung Min-ho

Read more

INTERVIEW Son still yearns for father abducted by North Korea decades ago

Pressure grows to investigate ex-president over possible cover-up

INTERVIEW Moon partly responsible for Korea's failure to keep UN Human Rights Council seat: expert

North Korea tests cruise missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads

Opposition leader criticizes gov't for joining military drills with Japan

South Korea plans to lift ban on North Korean media

'We must be example of peace through strength'

JCS chief grilled over trilateral drills involving Japan, rising tensions

INTERVIEW Washington's nuclear umbrella should be called into question: US scholar

Moon gov't proposed $15-billion investment for Pyongyang through joint Olympics

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