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Breaking into Japanese Embassy

University students are apprehended by police after attempting to enter the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, Thursday, to protest Japan's release of wastewater from its crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean. Japan began discharging the first batch of treated wastewater despite concerns raised by neighboring countries and fishing groups in the region. Yonhap

Aug 24, 2023

DPK to toughen seafood import ban, draw up support measures for fishermen after Fukushima water release

Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung speaks at an emergency plenary meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Aug. 24. Yonhap The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Thursday proposed a law aimed at banning imports of seafood exposed to radioactive water as Japan began releasing contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant.The bill is one of four measures that the DPK has decided to pursue to ensure the safety of seafood and support fishermen and others affected by the Fukushima water release as local seafood consumption is expected to drop further in the wake of the water discharge.The DPK made the decision at a general meeting of its lawmakers, and after the meeting, Rep. Lee So-young, a party spokesperson, said the proposed import ban on "seafood exposed to contaminated water" could include all fishery products from Japan."There is a possibility of the ban covering all fishery products from Japan," L

Aug 24, 2023

DPK to toughen seafood import ban, draw up support measures for fishermen after Fukushima water release

Japan begins release of treated radioactive water from Fukushima plant

Yoon calls for removing regulatory barriers to spur investment, business

President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a regulatory innovation meeting at G Valley Industrial Museum in western Seoul, Aug. 24, in this photo provided by the presidential office. YonhapPresident Yoon Suk Yeol called Thursday for quickly removing regulatory barriers to improve the public's livelihoods and spur investment and business.Yoon issued the call as he presided over a government-business meeting on regulatory barriers affecting industrial complexes, the environment and hiring."Regulations are made with good intentions but they also distort markets or create monopolies and oligopolies," he said during the fourth regulatory innovation strategy meeting held at G Valley Industrial Museum in western Seoul."Ultimately, these regulations often hamper fair competition," he continued. "The government has until now completed around 1,400 cases of regulatory improvements and put a lot of effort into regulatory innovation. But people in the field are requiring it to be bolder and faster."Yoon stressed that speed is of utmost importance in removing regulations and urged public officials to

Aug 24, 2023

Yoon calls for removing regulatory barriers to spur investment, business

Old weapons, new tricks: North Korea seeks to turn old Soviet fighter jets into kamikaze drones

A South Korean soldier aims a jammer gun to shoot down a drone during the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise held on Tuesday near the Daecheong Dam in Cheongju City, North Chungcheong Province. The 11-day exercise kicked off on Monday. YonhapDefense analyst calls for preemptive strategy to deal with UAVsBy Kang Hyun-kyungNorth Korea has kicked off a military modernization program recycling hundreds of outdated fighter jets into suicide drones, according to a veteran intelligence analyst.“The North is trying to transform Soviet fighter aircraft into kamikaze drones armed with precision-guided munitions,” Choe Su-ryong, a former agent of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), told The Korea Times on Monday, citing an informant based in North Korea. “These unmanned suicide drones will be used to strike South Korea's major industrial and infrastructure facilities.” Choe retired from the NIS in 2011, ending two decades of service as a secret agent.The fighter aircraft he was referring to are the MiG series of jets made by the former Soviet Union.North Korea is known t

Aug 24, 2023By Kang Hyun-kyung

Old weapons, new tricks: North Korea seeks to turn old Soviet fighter jets into kamikaze drones

Opposition leader to appear for questioning for 5th time

Lee Jae-myung, chariman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), speaks to reporters while entering the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, Aug. 17, to undergo questioning over allegations that he had provided administrative favors to a private developer for a property project in Seongnam while serving as the mayor in the mid-2010s. YonhapOpposition leader Lee Jae-myung will appear before prosecutors this week for questioning over allegations of third-party bribery in connection with a company's allegedly illegal money transfers to North Korea, a party spokesperson said Wednesday.The announcement by Park Sung-joon, a spokesperson of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), follows the Suwon District Prosecutors Office's summons of Lee issued earlier in the day.Park said the DP leader will present himself before prosecutors for questioning Thursday morning, quoting him as saying that "I will squarely respond to the investigation."Should Lee show up Thursday, it would be the fifth time that he has appeared for prosecution questioning. Lee has been under investig

Aug 23, 2023

Opposition leader to appear for questioning for 5th time

Unification ministry to downsize, overhaul amid tense inter-Korean ties

This photo shows an inside view of the unification ministry headquarters at the government complex in Seoul, July 28. YonhapThe unification ministry said Wednesday it plans to slim down and overhaul its organizational structure, including units that oversee inter-Korean exchanges, amid strained ties between the two Koreas and heightened tensions on the peninsula.Under the plan, the ministry plans to cut 81 employees, roughly 13 percent of its workforce, and merge four divisions ― including those that oversee inter-Korean exchanges and the operation of a now-defunct joint industrial complex in the North ― into one, according to an official gazette.The move comes as President Yoon Suk Yeol urged for a change in the ministry's function in early July, saying it should no longer act like a "support" agency for the recalcitrant regime.To prevent a potential policy vacuum coming from the overhaul, the ministry said it plans to "flexibly" run its organization should inter-Korean ties shift to a stage of dialogue and exchange, according to the announcement made prior to legislation.At the sam

Aug 23, 2023

Unification ministry to downsize, overhaul amid tense inter-Korean ties

Chief justice nominee stresses restoration of trust in judiciary

Supreme Court Chief Justice nominee Lee Gyun-ryong speaks to reporters at the Supreme Court in Seoul, Aug. 23. YonhapSupreme Court Chief Justice nominee Lee Gyun-ryong said Wednesday that he will be committed to restoring public trust in the judiciary.In his first public remark after nomination the previous day, Lee said he will constantly reflect on ways for the court to serve freedom and rights and meet the people's expectations by restoring trust in the judiciary and its authority.He also stressed that fairness and neutrality of trials are fundamental to any country's judicial system but refrained from elaborating further.Lee made the remarks before reporters on his way to meet incumbent Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su at the Supreme Court.Lee, known to be a representative conservative judge in the judiciary, has previously criticized Kim, a liberal judge, over controversial judicial system changes under his leadership. Kim's six-year tenure is to end on Sept. 24 and Lee will succeed him after undergoing a parliamentary confirmation hearing and vote.Lee was also asked about his relati

Aug 23, 2023

Chief justice nominee stresses restoration of trust in judiciary

Yoon names new chief justice, industry minister

Presidential Chief of Staff Kim Dae-ki, left, introduces Trade, Industry and Energy Minister nominee Bang Moon-kyu, center, new Government Policy Coordination Minister Bahng Ki-sun during a press briefing at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Tuesday. YonhapPresident turns his attention back on domestic economyBy Nam Hyun-wooPresident Yoon Suk Yeol nominated Judge Lee Gyun-ryong as the chief justice of the Supreme Court, and Policy Coordination Minister Bang Moon-kyu as the new industry minister, Tuesday.Lee and Bang were among Yoon's two new minister nominees and a number of vice ministers. “For over 30 years, Lee has been dedicated to the field of judicature (administration of justice) and legal research, acknowledged by his rulings in advancing the rights of people with disabilities and has championed the protection of workers' rights,” presidential Chief of Staff Kim Dae-ki said in a press briefing.The new Chief Justice nominee, currently a judge at the Seoul High Court, will replace outgoing Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su, whose six-year term is set to

Aug 22, 2023By Nam Hyun-woo

Yoon names new chief justice, industry minister

Opposition party, civic groups up in arms over Japan's imminent Fukushima wastewater discharge

Activists stage a protest in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, Tuesday, urging the Japanese government to revoke its decision to start releasing treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean, Thursday. YonhapYoon administration says it sees 'no scientific, technical problems' in release planBy Ko Dong-hwanKorea's main opposition party and civic groups have pledged to hold an all-out protest against Japan's announcement, Tuesday, to release treated wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean starting Thursday.The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) denounced Japan's decision by staging rallies at the National Assembly and in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul to condemn the decision.“Japan made the vicious decision to discharge contaminated water into the ocean, which belongs to all humans, without scientific proof, understanding from neighboring countries or agreement by the Japanese people,” DPK Chairman Rep. Lee Jae-myung said.The party said in another statement, “The war criminal nation

Aug 22, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan

Opposition party, civic groups up in arms over Japan's imminent Fukushima wastewater discharge

Korea says Fukushima release plan has no scientific, technical problems

Park Ku-yeon, the first deputy chief of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, speaks during a daily briefing on the Fukushima issue at the government complex in Seoul, Aug. 22. YonhapKorea sees no scientific or technical problems with Japan's plan to release radioactive water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean later this week, an official said Tuesday.Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced earlier that the release of Fukushima water will begin Thursday. Last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) gave final approval to the discharge plan, saying it meets international standards."Our government has judged that the Japanese side will discharge the contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant as originally planned and has determined that there are no scientific or technical problems with the planned discharge of the contaminated water," said Park Ku-yeon, the first deputy chief of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, during a daily briefing on the Fukushima issue.Park, however, clarified that the Korean governm

Aug 22, 2023

Politics

Politics

Breaking into Japanese Embassy

DPK to toughen seafood import ban, draw up support measures for fishermen after Fukushima water release

Yoon calls for removing regulatory barriers to spur investment, business

Old weapons, new tricks: North Korea seeks to turn old Soviet fighter jets into kamikaze drones

Opposition leader to appear for questioning for 5th time

Unification ministry to downsize, overhaul amid tense inter-Korean ties

Chief justice nominee stresses restoration of trust in judiciary

Yoon names new chief justice, industry minister

Opposition party, civic groups up in arms over Japan's imminent Fukushima wastewater discharge

Korea says Fukushima release plan has no scientific, technical problems

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