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'Inter-Korean ties not in good shape'

Presidential National Security Office (NSO) chief Chung Eui-yong touches his glasses at the start of this year's annual National Assembly audit of the NSO, Friday. YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chulRelations between the two Koreas are “not in good shape,” Chung Eui-yong, chief of the presidential National Security Office (NSO), said Friday.“Since May, North Korea has conducted 12 tests of short-range and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). It's true that relations between the two Koreas are not in good shape,” the NSO chief said at the start of this year's National Assembly audit of the presidential office.Chung's remarks came a day after North Korea launched two missiles in an apparent move to pressure the United States to bring “better offers” back to discussions on Pyongyang's nuclear disarmament. Before the tests, North Korea warned it was losing patience with what it described as Washington's “hostile policy.” North Korean leader Kim Jong-un set the end of the year as a deadline for the U.S. to change its approach. Negotiators from W

Nov 1, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul

Biegun asked to revive US-NK denuke talks

In this June 28, 2019, photo, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun is seen during a meeting with South Korea's Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon, at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul. AP-YonhapBy Lee Min-hyung, Kim Yoo-chulWith U.S. President Donald Trump naming Washington's special representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun as second-in-command at the State Department, the key focus is on whether he will retain his “Pyongyang” portfolio and how his promotion will affect the nuclear disarmament talks.Political analysts in Seoul said Friday that Biegun's move and a continuity in the handling of the North Korea nuclear issue would be helpful in terms of maintaining Washington's approach.Biegun is known to have preferred pursuing a “dovish, reasonable and deal-for-deal” approach to the matter. He consistently said Washington understands the consequences if diplomacy fails by stressing that the outcome of the diplomatic processes would have ramifications well beyond the Korean Peninsula.Biegun l

Nov 1, 2019By Lee Min-hyung

Biegun asked to revive US-NK denuke talks

Xi voices willingness to maintain 'close communication' with Kim Jong-un

Opposition lawmaker Hwang loses Assembly seat over election law violation

By Kim Jae-heunHwang Young-cheulRep. Hwang Young-cheul of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party lost his National Assembly seat after the Supreme Court confirmed his violation of the Political Fund Law.The court upheld Thursday lower courts' decisions to sentence the 54-year-old lawmaker to two years in prison suspended for three years and fine him 5 million won.According to the Public Official Election Act, lawmakers lose their seats if they are fined 1 million won or receive a prison sentence of one year or more.Hwang took 239 million won illegally by having his aides return their salaries, and spent the money for his own purposes between 2008 and 2016.He also breached the Public Official Election Act by giving 2.9 million won to people in his constituency in cash at their relatives' weddings or funerals. A local court had initially sentenced him to two-and-a-half years in jail suspended for four years and fined him 5 million won. He was also ordered to forfeit 287 million won. At an appellate hearin, some of the charges were rejected and his jail term was reduced to two years in

Oct 31, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Opposition lawmaker Hwang loses Assembly seat over election law violation

Anniversary 'Korea will set diplomatic milestone in summit with ASEAN'

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha speaks at the ministry's headquarters in downtown Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign AffairsBy Lee Min-hyungAt a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty amid a global economic downturn, Southeast Asia is emerging as a new hub for growth with its massive trading and demographic potential. South Korea also hopes to latch on to this by solidifying partnerships with countries in the region, in a more sustainable manner, to tackle its sluggish economy.On the political front, Seoul's alliance with the Southeast Asian nations is crucial at a time when it needs to win more international support to achieve the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.The upcoming summit between South Korea and the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will be a “historic milestone” for both sides to draw a blueprint for an unwavering political and economic alliance, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha told The Korea Times in an interview marking the publication's 69th anniversary.Under the theme, “Advancing Partner

Oct 31, 2019By Lee Min-hyung

[Anniversary] 'Korea will set diplomatic milestone in summit with ASEAN'

Pope Francis, Kim Jong-un send condolences to Moon

Figure 1President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook grieve during a funeral mass for Moon's late mother Kang Han-ok at the Namcheon Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Busan, Thursday. YonhapBy Do Je-hae, Kim Yoo-chulPope Francis and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un shared their sorrow over the passing of President Moon Jae-in's mother as they sent condolence messages to the President, Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday. Kim's unexpected gesture, however, was quickly overshadowed by North Korea's firing of two short-range projectiles later on the same day. “North Korean leader Kim Jong-un delivered his condolences to President Moon Jae-in. The messages, which were handed over through the truce village of Panmunjeom included the North Korean leader's deepest condolence for the loss of President Moon's mother and best wishes during this difficult time,” Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Ko Min-jung said in a briefing.President Moon accepted the messages at the Namcheon Cathedral of the Holy Cross in the country's southern port city of Busan, Wednesday night, the spokesperson added.Separ

Oct 31, 2019By Do Je-hae

Pope Francis, Kim Jong-un send condolences to Moon

Anniversary GSOMIA decision leads to questions about alliance

Kim Hyun-chong, second deputy director of the presidential National Security Office (NSO), explains Korea's case for deciding to terminate the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) during a press conference at Cheong Wa Dae on Aug. 23. YonhapDartmouth professor stresses US role in facilitating Korea-Japan dialogueBy Do Je-hae Since the start of the Korea-Japan trade row in July, the U.S. has maintained a low-key stance in the conflict. But with the official conclusion of the military-intelligence sharing pact between Korea and Japan fast approaching, Washington is taking a more active approach in urging Seoul to reconsider its decision not to renew the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA).When Cheong Wa Dae announced the decision in August, Kim Hyun-chong, second deputy director of the presidential National Security Office (NSO) and the President's key man on dealing with the Korea-Japan row, underlined that the GSOMIA termination was decided for the sake of “national interest” and that the decision would contribute to strength

Oct 31, 2019By Do Je-hae

[Anniversary] GSOMIA decision leads to questions about alliance

Anniversary 'Kim wants US recognition as nuclear power'

President Moon Jae-in, center, smiles as U.S. President Donald Trump, left, shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during their meeting at the border village of Panmunjeom in Demilitarized Zone, on June 30. YonhapLeading historian on modern Korea assesses S. Korea's role in US-NK talks By Do Je-hae President Moon Jae-in will mark the halfway point of his five year presidency on Nov. 9. Cheong Wa Dae has trumpeted Moon's "outcomes" in inter-Korean relations as some of the key achievements of his presidency, but the public assessment of Moon in this regard is turning considerably negative despite his three summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in 2018 and the beginning of unprecedented U.S.-North Korea summit diplomacy. The South Korean leader's job approval rating has been on a downward trend due to his shortcomings in handling several key domestic affairs, such as the country's economic difficulties and the polarization of Korean society following a corruption scandal surrounding his former justice minister, Cho Kuk. But another major reason that more people are bec

Oct 31, 2019By Do Je-hae

[Anniversary] 'Kim wants US recognition as nuclear power'

Moon focuses on state affairs despite personal tragedy

President Moon Jae-in holds his grandson at a memorial altar for his late mother Kang Han-ok at the Namcheon Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Busan, Wednesday. YonhapBy Do Je-haeKang Han-ok, the mother of President Moon Jae-in, died Tuesday at a hospital in Busan, Tuesday. She was 92. President Moon is the first sitting president to lose a parent while in office.Moon remembered the life of the late Kang in an emotional Facebook post, Wednesday, and thanked the people for sharing their condolences. Leaders from Korea's major religious faiths enter the Namcheon Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Busan to pay their respects to the late Kang Han-ok, mother of President Moon Jae-in. Yonhap“Like all mothers in this country, she had some hardship, but her final words spoke of happiness. Throughout her life, she missed her hometown, to which she could not return,” Moon wrote of his late mother who was born in North Korea's South Hamgyong Province. She settled in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, in 1950 during the Korean War. “After my father died 41 years ago, she lived a life d

Oct 30, 2019By Do Je-hae

Moon focuses on state affairs despite personal tragedy

Ruling party chief apologizes over Cho Kuk scandal

Ruling DPK chief Lee Hae-chan looks at prepared documents at the start of a news conference at the National Assembly, Wednesday. YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chulRuling party chief Lee Hae-chan issued a public apology Wednesday over former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's alleged involvement in various financial wrongdoings and academic privileges allegedly given to Cho's daughter.“As the ruling party chief, I offer a very sincere apology to the public,” Lee said at a news conference at the National Assembly. “The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has been focusing on pursuing prosecutorial reform, leaving growing public calls to create a 'fair society' sincerely untouched. “I feel a huge responsibility for how the public, especially young people, feel about issues relating to the former justice minister.” But the party chief stressed that the DPK will continue teaming with Cheong Wa Dae and relevant government ministries to move forward with plans to curb the prosecution's iron grip. “Ironically, the so-called Cho Kuk scandal was an opportunity to reaffirm the prosec

Oct 30, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul

Ruling party chief apologizes over Cho Kuk scandal

Ahn Cheol-soo will return to political arena this year?

Ahn Cheol-soo, former leader of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party poses after finishing the Berlin Marathon, Sept. 28. Yonhap By Park Ji-wonAn internal feud is deepening between members of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party (BMP) following former BMP leader Ahn Cheol-soo's decision to pursue his academic interests rather than coming back to South Korea to unite the divided party and work toward the 2020 general election.Rep. Ha Tae-keung said it was possible Ahn would resume his political activities within this year, citing multiple political sources.“I learned that Ahn's visit to the United States was set up a long time ago according to his close aides.” He also urged Ahn to come back and join preparations for the general election if he wants to be elected president in the future.His remarks contradict Ahn who made it clear that he will continue to study in the U.S. as a visiting professor at Stanford University. He is expected to serve one year there. He

Oct 30, 2019By Park Ji-won

Politics

Politics

'Inter-Korean ties not in good shape'

Biegun asked to revive US-NK denuke talks

Opposition lawmaker Hwang loses Assembly seat over election law violation

Anniversary 'Korea will set diplomatic milestone in summit with ASEAN'

Pope Francis, Kim Jong-un send condolences to Moon

Anniversary GSOMIA decision leads to questions about alliance

Anniversary 'Kim wants US recognition as nuclear power'

Moon focuses on state affairs despite personal tragedy

Ruling party chief apologizes over Cho Kuk scandal

Ahn Cheol-soo will return to political arena this year?

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