The Korea Times

ANALYSIS Bloody purges may be imminent in North Korea amid worsening food crisis

This photo released on Aug. 22 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspecting the flood situation in a tidal area of South Pyongan Province, North Korea. Signs of a bloody purge of top-ranking officials appear imminent in North Korea as Kim searches for scapegoats amid a worsening food crisis, according to analysts on Tuesday. YonhapTop-level officials could be executed as Kim searches for scapegoats: analystsBy Jung Min-hoA bloody purge of high-ranking officials appears to be imminent in North Korea as Kim Jong-un, its dictator, searches for scapegoats amid a worsening food crisis, according to analysts.In assessments of the North's current economic and political situation, Tuesday, experts said at least several officials in charge of the economy, particularly food production management, could be executed. The North has often used such forms of punishment in the past to place the blame on bureaucrats for policy failures.The analyses come as North Korean Premier Kim Tok-hun is being investigated over flood damage in farmlands along its western coast. During his visit to a tidal are

Aug 29, 2023By Jung Min-ho

[ANALYSIS] Bloody purges may be imminent in North Korea amid worsening food crisis

Defense

INTERVIEW Author lays out case for nuclear-armed South Korea

A TV screen shows file images of U.S. President Joe Biden and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, July 22. The case for South Korea to develop its own nuclear weapons is still strong despite its trilateral partnership with the U.S. and Japan, according to Cheong Seong-chang, author of the new book, “Why We Should Become a Nuclear Power.” AP-YonhapExpert calls trilateral security ties 'short-term pain relief,' calling for solution for root causeBy Jung Min-hoCheong Seong-chang, an expert on North Korea at the Sejong Institute, a think tankA recently signed trilateral security agreement between Seoul, Washington and Tokyo promises to strengthen regional defense against North Korea's unfolding nuclear threats.But any sense of security brought about by the partnership should not fool anyone given the root problem left untouched, said Cheong Seong-chang, author of the new book, “Why We Should Become a Nuclear Power.”In a recent interview, Cheong, an expert on North Korea at the Sejong Institute, a think tank,

Aug 29, 2023By Jung Min-ho

[INTERVIEW] Author lays out case for nuclear-armed South Korea

Law & Crime

Recidivism rate prompts gov't to 'pay attention to' public opinion on resuming death penalty

gettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoThe Ministry of Justice is now paying close attention to recent changes in public opinion on resuming the implementation of the death penalty.In response to inquiries sent by The Korea Times recently, the ministry said its stance on the issue has not changed ― that there should be a thorough review before deciding whether to carry out capital punishment again. But “violent crimes seen recently and the rate of recidivism” forced officials to pay attention to growing calls for the resumption, it said.The statement comes amid mounting calls for stronger penalties against criminals after a series of violent crimes have occurred targeting random people.On Aug. 17, Choi Yoon-jong, 30, assaulted a woman in her 30s in an alleged attempt to rape her on a hiking trail in Seoul. This occurred just two weeks after Choi Won-jong, 22, rammed his vehicle into pedestrians before going on a stabbing rampage inside a mall near Seohyeon Station, leaving one woman dead and 13 others injured. Another man, 33, Cho Sun, attacked people in a similar way with a knife

Aug 26, 2023By Jung Min-ho

Recidivism rate prompts gov't to 'pay attention to' public opinion on resuming death penalty

North Korea

Seoul calls for abolition of 'K-pop ban' in North Korea

K-pop girl group BLACKPINK members stand on stage at the MTV VMAs at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., in this Aug. 28, 2022 photo. Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho urged Pyongyang to abolish its “anti-reactionary thought law,” also known as the "K-pop ban," which was adopted in late 2020 to specifically target South Korean cultural content. AFP-Yonhap'Anti-reactionary thought law' is sign of growing influence of South Korean culture: scholarBy Jung Min-hoSince its founding in 1948, the dictatorial regime in North Korea has strictly blocked the entry of any information from the outside that could threaten its stability and legitimacy. Those who spread messages deemed to deviate from its totalitarian principles have always been at risk of punishment under its publication law and administrative guidelines. This is why North Korea's decision in 2020 to adopt an “anti-reactionary thought law,” a move specifically targeting South Korea's cultural content, drew little attention here at the time.Nearly three years after the law came into force in North Korea to crac

Aug 25, 2023By Jung Min-ho

North Korea

ANALYSIS North Korea fails again to launch satellite but appears to have solved cause of 1st failure

A file image of a North Korean rocket launch is seen on a TV screen during a news program at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, Thursday. North Korea said on Thursday that its second attempt to launch a spy satellite failed. AP-YonhapPyongyang vows third attempt in two months after improving flight termination systemBy Jung Min-hoNorth Korea said, Thursday, that its second attempt to put a reconnaissance satellite into space failed, but the country immediately vowed to try again in two months, demonstrating its determination to push ahead with the project its leader Kim Jong-un labeled as a “top priority.”Citing the National Aerospace Development Administration, the North's official Korean Central News Agency reported that the first and second stages of the launch were successful, but an error in the “emergency blasting system” during the third-stage flight led to another failure.The space agency said the problem was “not a big issue in terms of the reliability of cascade engines and the system.”That means North Korea has solved the key technical caus

Aug 24, 2023By Jung Min-ho

[ANALYSIS] North Korea fails again to launch satellite but appears to have solved cause of 1st failure

Foreign Affairs

US envoy to Seoul expresses support for Japan's discharge plan

U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg speaks during an interview with Korean reporters at Habib House, his residence in central Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapTrilateral partnership is neither 'new NATO' nor 'military alliance': GoldbergBy Jung Min-ho, Joint Press CorpsU.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg expressed support, Wednesday, for Japan's plan to discharge treated radioactive wastewater from the disabled Fukushima nuclear power plant, saying Washington's position on that issue is aligned with that of Seoul.“I think that our position, the U.S. and Korea's align,” the envoy said during a meeting with Korean media outlets at Habib House, his residence in central Seoul. “Our reason for saying that is based on the science as we understand it. I think that Japan has also been open in the region and with us and others (including) the EU ― to describing to explaining what it's doing on a scientific basis.”Goldberg added, “I think Korea announced that they have several agreements moving forward, for example, having access to the IAEA facility

Aug 23, 2023By Jung Min-ho

US envoy to Seoul expresses support for Japan's discharge plan

Foreign Affairs

ANALYSIS Fukushima water release to test US-led trilateral partnership

President Yoon Suk Yeol stands with U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during a trilateral summit at Camp David, the presidential retreat, near Thurmont, Md., Aug. 18. Tokyo's decision to release treated radioactive wastewater from the ruined Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean this week is set to test their security partnership, according to experts on Wednesday. Reuters-YonhapHistorical issues, domestic politics will continue to challenge Seoul-Tokyo ties: expertsBy Jung Min-hoA day after Japan's announcement of a plan to release treated radioactive wastewater from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean this week, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) vowed, Wednesday, to put up an “all-out fight” against those responsible for the move.DPK leader Lee Jae-myung called the decision an act of “terrorism,” with some lawmakers even demanding the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol for failing to prevent Japan's decision.Over the past year, Yoon's attempts to mend relations with Japan by buryin

Aug 23, 2023By Jung Min-ho

[ANALYSIS] Fukushima water release to test US-led trilateral partnership

North Korea

ANALYSIS Timing of North Korea's satellite launch suggests growing impatience of its leader

This May 31 file photo shows the launch of North Korea's Chollima-1 rocket carrying a spy satellite from Tongchang-ri on the country's west coast. North Korea told Japan, Tuesday, that it will launch a satellite between Aug. 24 and 31 after the first botched attempt. YonhapFailure could lead to mass purges, nuclear weapons test: expertsBy Jung Min-hoNorth Korea informed Japan, Tuesday, that it plans to launch a satellite in two weeks, less than three months after a failed attempt to send its first reconnaissance satellite into space.According to Japanese media reports, Pyongyang is set to proceed with the plan between Aug. 24 and 31, prompting officials in both South Korea and Japan to issue warnings to ships passing through three potentially risky areas ― Korea's West Sea, the East China Sea and waters east of the Philippines (Luzon Island).Speaking to The Korea Times, experts said the North appears to have determined the timing of the next launch based on political needs, particularly ahead of the Day of the Foundation of the Republic, on Sept. 9, rather than the scientific readine

Aug 22, 2023By Jung Min-ho

[ANALYSIS] Timing of North Korea's satellite launch suggests growing impatience of its leader

Defense

UFS drills begin as North Korea's Kim inspects missile test

An FA-50 light combat aircraft takes off during a combined drill between South Korea and the U.S. on Monday. The allies have begun their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises to counter threats from North Korea. Courtesy of South Korea's Air ForceYoon calls for 'realistic' training for possible psychological, nuclear warfareBy Jung Min-hoThe South Korean and U.S. militaries began their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercises, Monday, focusing on preparations for a rapid transition to wartime operations in case of a North Korean attack.As part of the training, scheduled to continue until Aug. 31, about 580,000 officials from the government and its agencies will scrutinize the readiness for armed conflict and other types of security emergencies.This comes amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The same day, North Korea's state media reported that Kim Jong-un, its dictator, inspected the test-launching of “strategic” ― a term used for nuclear weapons ― cruise missiles.President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, Mond

Aug 21, 2023By Jung Min-ho

UFS drills begin as North Korea's Kim inspects missile test

N. Korea intends to launch satellite between Aug. 24 and 31: Kyodo

Foreign Affairs

ANALYSIS Trilateral ties strengthen deterrence against Pyongyang, but with greater risk

President Yoon Suk Yeol and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida shake hands during their trilateral summit with U.S. President Joe Biden at Camp David, the presidential retreat, near Thurmont, Md., Friday (local time). Reuters-YonhapExperts' views differ on sustainability of Seoul-Washington-Tokyo security partnershipBy Jung Min-hoThe leaders of South Korea, the United States and Japan said their trilateral partnership entered a new era after the summit at Camp David, Friday (local time), vowing to redouble their joint efforts in handling security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.In a joint statement in which they directly mentioned China, Russia and North Korea, President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida committed themselves to united actions against their common threats, saying the partnership is “stronger than ever.”Speaking to The Korea Times on Sunday, experts said the summit hosted by Washington was a truly historic one, which offers many opportunities and promises to South Korea. One of the most obvious and si

Aug 20, 2023By Jung Min-ho

[ANALYSIS] Trilateral ties strengthen deterrence against Pyongyang, but with greater risk

NK leader inspects cruise missile test as S. Korea-US military drills begin

Jung Min-ho

Read more

ANALYSIS Bloody purges may be imminent in North Korea amid worsening food crisis

INTERVIEW Author lays out case for nuclear-armed South Korea

Recidivism rate prompts gov't to 'pay attention to' public opinion on resuming death penalty

Seoul calls for abolition of 'K-pop ban' in North Korea

ANALYSIS North Korea fails again to launch satellite but appears to have solved cause of 1st failure

US envoy to Seoul expresses support for Japan's discharge plan

ANALYSIS Fukushima water release to test US-led trilateral partnership

ANALYSIS Timing of North Korea's satellite launch suggests growing impatience of its leader

UFS drills begin as North Korea's Kim inspects missile test

ANALYSIS Trilateral ties strengthen deterrence against Pyongyang, but with greater risk

Top 5 stories