my timesThe Korea Times
South Korea

Politics

Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

'N. Korea's role crucial for Moon's mine removal initiative'

South Korean soldiers remove landmines at Arrowhead Ridge in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, on May 28, 2018, as part of an inter-Korean military agreement under which the two Koreas decided to carry out a joint excavation project to retrieve war remains from the frontline hill area. YonhapBy Lee Min-hyungThe success of President Moon Jae-in's drive to collaborate with the United Nations on removing hundreds of thousands of landmines from the inter-Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ) will depend on North Korea's willingness to cooperate, experts said, Sunday.At the U.N. General Assembly, the South Korean leader stressed the significance of his proposal to transform the DMZ dividing the Koreas into an international peace zone. The President called for joint efforts with North Korea to remove landmines, invite U.N. bodies and seeking registration for the region as a UNESCO World Heritage site.Before leaving New York, the President wrote on the official Cheong Wa Dae Facebook account that his proposal will ensure security for both Koreas and allow for U.N. involvement, adding the proposal recei

Sep 29, 2019By Lee Min-hyung
'N. Korea's role crucial for Moon's mine removal initiative'

Moon warns prosecution against 'excessive' probe

President Moon Jae-in is facing a dilemma over calls to dismiss Justice Minister Cho Kuk over a widening corruption scandal. YonhapBy Do Je-hae President Moon Jae-in made a critical public comment, Friday, targeting the prosecution's ongoing investigation into corruption allegations involving Justice Minister Cho Kuk and his family. The President's message focused on the need for the reform of the prosecution, a core task of his administration. He has entrusted this to Cho, a former senior presidential aide for civil affairs, by appointing him as justice minister earlier this month, despite strong public backlash due to the wide-ranging allegations of corruption and illegalities involving Cho and his family.“With regard to the allegations against Justice Minister Cho, the prosecution is conducting a stern investigation. The legal procedures, including the investigation, will determine the facts regarding the allegations and whether the justice minister should be held responsible,” Moon was quoted as saying in a statement delivered by his spokeswoman Ko Min-jung during a p

Sep 27, 2019By Do Je-hae
Moon warns prosecution against 'excessive' probe

North Korea, US nuclear talks carefully in the making: Prime Minister

By Lee Min-hyungPrime Minister Lee Nak-yonThe United States and North Korea remain “very serious and careful” before restarting their nuclear dialogue in order to avoid repeating the failure of their summit in Hanoi, South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon said.“Washington and Pyongyang are walking on eggshells around each other even at the stage of preparations for the working-level talks in consideration of their experience with the Hanoi summit,” Lee told lawmakers at a National Assembly interpellation session, Friday.“The South Korean government expects the possible upcoming summit between Trump and Kim to become a meaningful step for the North's complete denuclearization.”The remark comes amid an air of expectation for resumption of nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang, with both sides reaffirming their determination to break the impasse in the nuclear disarmament talks in the next few weeks.By Friday, no specific timelines or locations for the upcoming working-level talks have been confirmed.Another summit between U.S. President Don

Sep 27, 2019By Lee Min-hyung
North Korea, US nuclear talks carefully in the making: Prime Minister

Friendly first lady shines on diplomatic stage

First lady Kim Jung-sook, right, and Japanese first lady Akie Abe hold hands during a UN event at the New York Public Library, Wednesday (KST). YonhapBy Do Je-haeFirst lady Kim Jung-sook showed off her brilliant people skills once again during an encounter with Japanese first lady Akie Abe during the United Nations General Assembly this week. The first ladies of the two neighboring countries hugged and held hands when they met Wednesday (KST) at the New York Public Library after a conference hosted by the United Nations Children's Fund and the World Health Organization, where Kim delivered a speech. It was the first time for a Korean first lady to speak at an U.N. event since a speech was given in 2002 by the late former first lady Lee Hee-ho. It is not unusual for the Korean first lady to be captured in delightful exchanges with people she meets, but this time it left a deep impression on the international community amid the icy relations between the two countries with the escalating bilateral row over trade, history and national security. Their warm greetings were particularly surp

Sep 26, 2019By Do Je-hae
Friendly first lady shines on diplomatic stage
  • Will Trump impeachment saga affect NK-US talks?

Calling for dismissal of professor

Alumni of Yonsei University hold a rally on the campus in Seoul, Thursday, to call for dismissal of sociology professor Lew Seok-choon, who has caused a public uproar by allegedly claiming that Korean victims of Japan's sexual slavery were a “kind of prostitutes” and the Japanese authorities did not directly force them into military brothels, during his lecture earlier this month. /Yonhap

Sep 26, 2019By Bahk Eun-ji

Ruling DPK divided over Cho Kuk scandal

Rep. Lee In-young, floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, third from left, speaks during a supreme council meeting of the party, Wednesday, at a conference hall in the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in central Seoul. On his left is DPK leader Rep. Lee Hae chan and right, Rep. Nam In-soon. YonhapBy Jung Da-min Members of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) have been divided over the issue of handling controversies surrounding Justice Minister Cho Kuk. This came as the approval rating for President Moon Jae-in dipped to its lowest in recent polls with that of the DPK also falling.Cho has been embroiled in a snowballing corruption scandal involving accusations that he and his wife used their influence to secure certificates and other qualifications for their children to ensure their acceptance into top universities, as well as allegations of shady financial dealings among his relatives and their family businesses. DPK floor leader Rep. Lee In-young said Wednesday that many of the party members at its general meeting the day before voiced their opposi

Sep 25, 2019
Ruling DPK divided over Cho Kuk scandal

Concerns rise over defense cost-sharing talks

Activists stage a protest against the U.S.' plan to shift a bigger share of costs to maintain U.S troops here, to South Korea during their upcoming defense cost-sharing negotiation, in front of the headquarters of the South's Ministry of National Defense in Seoul, on Aug. 9. YonhapBy Lee Min-hyungThe Korea-U.S. talks on defense cost sharing is emerging as one of the key issues between the two allies.The Special Measures Agreement (SMA) talks for determining Seoul's share of costs to maintain U.S. troops in Korea is gaining a lot of attention from the Korean public. It comes as additional pressure on Seoul, which is already struggling with grave diplomatic challenges ― particularly the ongoing feud with Japan over history, trade and national security.Representatives of the two countries opened the talks to renew the SMA in Seoul, Tuesday, only a few hours after President Moon Jae-in held a summit meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.During a speech at the U.N. President Trump called for a “fair share&rd

Sep 25, 2019By Lee Min-hyung
Concerns rise over defense cost-sharing talks
  • 'South Korea, US agree on transformation in North Korea policy'

Tteokbokki franchise CEO at center of debates

By Kang Seung-wooA CEO of a local “tteokbokki” (rice cake in spicy sauce) franchise has created a buzz after openly denouncing President Moon Jae-in and Justice Minister Cho Kuk. In the wake of the repeated criticism, supporters of Moon and Cho have vowed to boycott the franchise, while those critical of the current administration, including conservative extremist online community Ilbe, encourage people to visit the brand's stores.Kim Sang-hyun, head of Kukde Tteokbokki, uploaded the first controversial post to Facebook, Sept. 18, claiming President Moon is representing North Korea, followed by a Sept. 20 post saying there are many (North Korean) operatives in South Korea and they are Moon and his staff occupying Cheong Wa Dae.In another post on Sept. 20, Kim said a large number of great businessmen around him were treated like criminals under Moon's socialist regime. His harsh words toward the President continued, Tuesday, saying that Moon is trying to change the national identity, with the hashtag, “Moon Jae-in is a communist.”Kim also took a shot at the jus

Sep 25, 2019By Kang Seung-woo
Tteokbokki franchise CEO at center of debates

FULL TEXT President Moon's UN speech

South Korea's President Moon Jae-in addresses the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)The following is an unofficial translation of President Moon Jae-in's speech at the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly. It was provided by his office, Cheong Wa Dae.Thanks to the dedication of the United Nations and all the member states, many of the world's problems have been solved, and your efforts toward peace are coming to fruition. I would like to convey my deepest respect and appreciation.Let me offer my congratulations to Ambassador Tijjani Muhammad Bande on assuming the Presidency of the General Assembly. I am confident that, under his outstanding leadership, the 74th session of the General Assembly will become a catalyst for promoting multilateral cooperation.The United Nations and the Korean Peninsula share the same goal of "sustaining peace." I would like to pay tribute to the endeavors of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to sustain peace through a virtuous cycle of peace and development.Distinguished Pre

Sep 25, 2019
President Moon's UN speech [FULL TEXT]

Seoul, Tokyo foreign ministers to discuss thorny issues

By Lee Min-hyungKorean Foreign MinisterKang Kyung-whaJapanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu MotegiForeign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will be holding talks with her new Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi for the first time, Friday (KST) during the United Nations General Assembly to discuss issues of mutual interest.The upcoming meeting is gaining much attention, as the planned encounter will also be Motegi's official debut in diplomacy with South Korea amid the ongoing bilateral political confrontation.A key question regarding the Kang-Motegi meeting is whether the top Japanese diplomat, who took the role on Sept. 10, will continue the hardline approach of his predecessor Taro Kono in assessing the diplomatic squabble between the neighboring countries.The South Korean foreign minister will brief the South Korean media in New York, early Saturday (KST) on the outcomes of her meeting with Motegi, a high-ranking diplomatic source familiar with the issue told The Korea Times. It appears tough for the two ministers to come to a near-term agreement to end the trade-driven spat, which ha

Sep 24, 2019By Lee Min-hyung
Seoul, Tokyo foreign ministers to discuss thorny issues
  • Trump, Moon agree not to seek 'offensive stance' against North Korea
previous page
869870871872873
next page

Most Read in South Korea