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Jung Min-ho

Korea Times Politics & City Reporter

Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.

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North Korea

North Korea will likely launch 1st spy satellite this month, analysts say

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his daughter Ju-ae inspect an aerospace agency in Pyongyang, Tuesday, in this photo released the day after by the North's official Korean Central Television. YonhapRegime seeks to strengthen intelligence capability with multiple satellitesBy Jung Min-hoNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un said his regime has completed the development of its first reconnaissance satellite and told officials to expedite the preparations for launching it as planned, state media reported Wednesday.During his Tuesday visit to North Korea's aerospace agency, Kim claimed that acquiring high levels of intelligence-gathering capability is essential to protecting its sovereignty against the United States. Based on his previous comment made at a plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party in December 2022, experts told The Korea Times that North Korea will likely launch its satellite this month ― possibly during the Seoul-Washington summit.“According to the plan North Korea previously announced, it will launch the satellite in April. It will most li

Apr 19, 2023By Jung Min-ho
North Korea will likely launch 1st spy satellite this month, analysts say
Others

Meet the man behind Busan citizens' campaign for World Expo 2030

Park Jae-yul, second from left in the front row, chairman of the civil society division of the Citizens Committee World Expo 2030, poses with Busan residents after welcoming events for the Bureau International des Expositions' delegation at Busan Station, April 4. Courtesy of Park Jae-yulBy Jung Min-hoIf citizens' enthusiasm was the most decisive factor in the race to host World Expo 2030, Busan would simply be unrivaled.The passion demonstrated in every corner of the Korean city during the on-site inspection earlier this month by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the event's governing body, left its delegation in no doubt that the people of Busan genuinely want the opportunity.“They want it because it is their project. The people ― not the central government or politicians ― started the campaign in 2014 by collecting signatures, which eventually became a national project. So they understand deeply what it means to host the World Expo where they live and how important it is for them,” Park Jae-yul, chairman of the civil society division of the Citizens Commi

Apr 19, 2023By Jung Min-ho
Meet the man behind Busan citizens' campaign for World Expo 2030
Foreign Affairs

9 in 10 Koreans pick US as most important partner country

gettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoNearly nine out of 10 Koreans think that the United States is their most important partner nation, a recent poll showed. According to a survey released on Sunday by the Federation of Korean Industries(FKI), a business lobby group, a whopping 89 percent picked the U.S. as Korea's No. 1 partner country.The respondents said the alliance, which marks its 70th anniversary this year, has benefited their country in many ways, including economic growth and scientific development.Asked whether it would have been possible for Korea to grow into the economic powerhouse that it is today without its alliance with the U.S., 64.6 percent said it would have been impossible. Among them, 52.3 percent said Washington's security support was necessary for Korea's development, with others saying its cooperation in the economy and American companies' partnerships were also helpful. Slightly more than half of them said they were in favor of strengthening relations, while 44 percent said they were satisfied with the status quo. Asked about the reasons for supporting a stronger re

Apr 17, 2023By Jung Min-ho
9 in 10 Koreans pick US as most important partner country
Foreign Affairs

Yoon's US visit unlikely to boost approval rating

President Yoon Suk Yeol stares at the floor during an event in the presidential office in Seoul, April 6. According to a poll released by Gallup Korea Friday, his approval rating dropped to 27 percent in the wake of U.S. surveillance allegations. It was the first time it fell below 30 percent since November 2022 following the Itaewon crowd disaster that killed at least 158 people. YonhapPresident's popularity crisis revives after Pentagon wiretappingBy Jung Min-hoExpectations were high among presidential aides and ruling party politicians only two weeks ago when it was announced that President Yoon Suk Yeol would address the U.S. Congress on April 27 during his trip to Washington. Many thought that his state visit to the United States ― the first by a Korean head of state in 12 years ― would help him recover his image as a trusted leader and put a stop to his declining approval ratings following his hasty and controversial push to improve relations with Japan.Yet skepticism is now growing that his visit will do little to achieve those goals. A mix of U.S. surveillance allegations, Wa

Apr 16, 2023By Jung Min-ho
Yoon's US visit unlikely to boost approval rating
North Korea

North Korea likely fired solid-fuel ballistic missile

A TV screen is seen reporting North Korea's missile launch with file footage during a news program at Seoul Station in Seoul, Thursday. AP-YonhapPyongyang's technical breakthrough could offer shorter launch time, greater mobilityBy Jung Min-hoNorth Korea on Thursday fired what is believed to be a solid-fuel ballistic missile that landed between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, raising fears of possible technical advancement in its weapons program.Speaking to reporters, a Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) official said North Korea's military appears to have fired a new type of intermediate-range ballistic missile ― possibly running on solid fuel.Solid fuel offers greater mobility for missiles and reduces preparation time before launch, compared with liquid fuel that takes more preparation time requiring activities that could be detected, therefore, giving some time for South Korea and the United States to prepare before launch.“Given the significance of North Korean founder Kim Il-sung birthday on April 15, North Korea highly likely tested its solid-fuel ballistic missile,” Cheon

Apr 13, 2023By Jung Min-ho
North Korea likely fired solid-fuel ballistic missile
  • N. Korea says it tested new solid-fuel ICBM to improve nuclear counterattack posture
Foreign Affairs

Russia or China possibly behind 'altered' Pentagon documents: US experts

An activist waves a "red card" to protest the U.S.' alleged spy operations on South Korean security officials in front of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap'We should not be shocked or let it damage Seoul-Washington alliance'By Jung Min-hoAs the United States' alleged attempt to spy on South Korea's top security officials is feared to raise trust issues between the two allies just two weeks before a summit in Washington, D.C., some U.S. experts are raising the possibility of a third country's role in leaking the classified Pentagon documents.Much of the story remains unclear: U.S. officials are investigating how the documents ended up recently on social media, including the source of the breach and the motive. Given that the leaked information is largely relevant to Russia's war in Ukraine and could damage efforts by the U.S. and its allies in that conflict by sowing distrust, Moscow and its partners are among the suspected perpetrators, experts contacted by The Korea Times said Wednesday.“There is the possibility that Chinese or Russian intelligence officials hacked so

Apr 12, 2023By Jung Min-ho
Russia or China possibly behind 'altered' Pentagon documents: US experts
  • What we know so far on the leaked Pentagon documents
  • US intelligence leak complicates summit with South Korea
North Korea

Seoul condemns Pyongyang for refusing to answer hotline calls, using its property

Unification Minister Kwon Young-se speaks during a press conference at the government complex in Seoul, Tuesday. NewsisIn rare move, unification minister criticizes North Korea's irresponsible attitudeBy Jung Min-hoSeoul on Tuesday condemned Pyongyang for refusing to answer regular inter-Korean liaison hotline calls over the past several days and using South Korean property without its consent, calling North Korea's behavior irresponsible.Unification Minister Kwon Young-se's remarks come as the North remains unresponsive to inter-Korean communication channels for the fifth straight day without giving any reasons.“The government expresses strong regret over its unilateral and irresponsible attitude. We sternly warn that North Korea is on the path to more serious trouble as it isolates itself [with such behavior],” Kwon said at the government complex in Seoul. “Moreover, North Korea has violated the property rights of our companies by using their equipment and facilities at the Kaesong Industrial Complex without their permission despite our government's requests and w

Apr 11, 2023By Jung Min-ho
Seoul condemns Pyongyang for refusing to answer hotline calls, using its property
North Korea

North Korea's underwater drones mean additional defense costs for Seoul: analysts

This photo, provided April 8 by the North's official Korean Central News Agency, shows a test of what North Korea claimed was an underwater nuclear-capable attack drone called Haeil-2, in North Korea's waters. Yonhap'Weapon capabilities may have been exaggerated, but allies should take it seriously'By Jung Min-hoAfter North Korea claimed it successfully tested a nuclear-capable underwater attack drone recently, South Korea's military immediately played it down, saying the capabilities of the weapon may have been exaggerated or even faked.That may be true. But, if left undisturbed, it could grow into a significant threat to Seoul and, in the long run, to its defense alliance with Washington, analysts told The Korea Times Monday.“One of North Korea's main goals in diversifying its delivery means for nuclear weapons is to increase the defense burden for South Korea and the United States. In that sense, the North will likely achieve what it wants by making the announcement,” said Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University. “The regime ma

Apr 10, 2023By Jung Min-ho
North Korea's underwater drones mean additional defense costs for Seoul: analysts
Others

Optimism prevails in Busan as Expo inspection ends

A Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) delegation leaves Korea amid a send-off by a children's choir at Gimhae International Airport, Busan, Friday, ending their four-day inspection of Busan, which is bidding to host World Expo 2030. Joint Press CorpsPublic's warm welcome, bipartisan support among highlights of BIE delegation's tripBy Jung Min-hoBUSAN ― A surge of positivity is apparently running through the minds of campaign officials for Busan's World Expo 2030 bid after a successful inspection by representatives of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the organizing body of the global exhibition. Speaking to reporters after the BIE delegation's press conference on Thursday, high-ranking government officials participating in the campaign said they were now more optimistic about the Korean city's chances of being selected.“It's quite obvious that they were deeply impressed by enthusiasm demonstrated by the citizens of Busan, which they mentioned repeatedly during the media conference,” an official said. “Given that a World Expo is a lengthy event t

Apr 7, 2023By Jung Min-ho
Optimism prevails in Busan as Expo inspection ends
  • Renowned French photographer to shoot Busan for Expo promotion
  • Busan's enthusiasm, civic pride impressed BIE mission: Busan mayor
Others

Busan has everything required to host 2030 Expo: BIE delegation chief

From left, Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) Secretary General Dimitri Kerkentzes, BIE Administration and Budget Committee President Patrick Specht, Busan World Expo Bidding Committee Secretary-General Yoon Sang-jick and Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon pose after a press conference at Signiel Busan in Busan, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulDelegates especially impressed by enthusiasm shown by citizensBy Jung Min-hoBUSAN ― Representatives of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) affirmed Busan's readiness to host the World Expo 2030, as they concluded their inquiry mission, Thursday, to evaluate the Korean port city's ability to host the global event.Speaking at a press conference, delegates of the World Expo organizing body said they were especially impressed by and grateful for the enthusiasm demonstrated by citizens on the streets.“Busan has everything that it takes to host the World Expo,” Patrick Specht, president of the BIE Administration and Budget Committee, said. “In terms of hospitality, Busan is excellent.”During their five

Apr 6, 2023By Jung Min-ho
Busan has everything required to host 2030 Expo: BIE delegation chief
  • PHOTOS BIE delegates inspect Busan
  • Young Koreans convince BIE mission team of Busan's Expo bid
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