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Activists, opposition party stage anti-Moon rally

Activists and members of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party protest against the controversial justice minister candidate, Cho Kuk, at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, Saturday. YonhapThe main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) on Saturday staged an anti-government rally to denounce the Moon Jae-in administration's policies and its personnel management.The officials of the LKP and its supporters occupied streets for the first time since May 25, when they protested against a move to fast-track key bills, including electoral reform. The LKP claimed that some 100,000 people joined its latest rally at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul.The leaders of the LKP in particular criticized Moon's recent nomination of Cho Kuk, a former senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, as justice minister. Cho has been facing a series of scandals ranging from illicit college admission allegations about his daughter to his family's dubious investment in a private equity fund.The LKP officials also slammed the Moon administration's recent decision to terminate a military intelligence-sharing deal

Aug 25, 2019
Activists, opposition party stage anti-Moon rally

Brazilian troops begin deploying to fight Amazon fires

A tract of the Amazon jungle burns as it is cleared by loggers and farmers in Porto Velho, Brazil Aug. 24, 2019. ReutersHandout aerial picture released by Greenpeace showing smoke billowing from the Jamanxim National Forest ― APA (Environmental Protection Area) ― in the Amazon biome in the municipality of Novo Progresso, Para State, Brazil, on Aug. 23, 2019. AFPA the carcass of a bovine lies next to an area of burnt vegitation near Porto Velho, Amazon region, Brazil, Aug. 24, 2019. EPABacked by military aircraft, Brazilian troops on Saturday were deploying in the Amazon to fight fires that have swept the region and prompted anti-government protests as well as an international outcry. President Jair Bolsonaro also tried to temper global concern, saying that previously deforested areas had burned and that intact rainforest was spared. Even so, the fires were likely to be urgently discussed at a summit of the Group of Seven leaders in France this weekend. Some 44,000 troops will be available for ``unprecedented'' operations to put out the fires, and forces are heading to six Brazilian

Aug 25, 2019
Brazilian troops begin deploying to fight Amazon fires

Seoul urged to make 'fair' demand in defense cost sharing talks

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha shakes hands with U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris after they sign the 10th Special Measures Agreement, or the latest defense cost sharing agreement, at the former's headquarters in Seoul on March 8. YonhapBy Lee Min-hyungWith defense cost-sharing negotiations between Seoul and Washington approaching, calls are growing for South Korea to also make what are considered “fair” demands, rather than focusing on defending itself from intensifying political pressure from the United States, military and diplomatic experts said Friday.The allies have yet to officially start negotiations for the 11th Special Measures Agreement (SMA) with a foreign ministry official only saying the upcoming talks will start sometime in September, at the earliest, after the Chuseok holidays.“We will announce a new chief negotiator for the talks. He will be assigned to handle the entire process and asked to narrow the conditions and differences with Washington regarding Seoul's share burden,” the official told reporters last week. Experts are voic

Aug 24, 2019By Lee Min-hyung

North Korea FM rebukes US counterpart amid nuclear deadlock

By Lee Min-hyungNorth Korea Foreign Minister Ri Yong-hoU.S. Secretary of State Mike PompeoNorth Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho rebuked U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for complicating their nuclear negotiations, after the top U.S. diplomat made remarks that Washington would “keep on the sanctions that are the toughest in all of history” against the North.“It is misjudgment for Washington to stand up to the North by not scrapping its hostile stance with the sanctions,” the North's state-controlled Korean Central News Agency quoted Ri as saying, Thursday.The statement came in response to Pompeo's recent comments that the U.S. will stick to the so-called maximum pressure strategy against the North by keeping the tough sanctions in place unless Pyongyang does the “right thing” for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.“(The U.S. will) continue to work toward convincing Chairman Kim and the North Korean leaders that the right thing to do is for them to denuclearize,” Pompeo said in a local media interview earlier this week.Despite

Aug 23, 2019By Lee Min-hyung
North Korea FM rebukes US counterpart amid nuclear deadlock

Cho Kuk to donate assets to society

Justice minister nominee Cho Kuk leaves his office, Friday, in central Seoul after announcing he would donate some of his family's assets to society and relinquish ownership of a private education foundation run by his family in response to mounting callsMoon's embattled aide fights calls for him to withdraw from nominee consideration By Do Je-hae President Moon Jae-in's nominee for justice minister Cho Kuk is determined to fight off mounting calls for him to withdraw from consideration. The politician is facing allegations of corruption involving himself and his family members ahead of a National Assembly confirmation hearing.The former senior presidential aide for civil affairs announced measures, Friday, to regain public trust amid the wide-ranging suspicions over his family's wealth, in addition to allegations related to his daughter's education and receipt of scholarship money despite her family's wealth and her poor academic performance.Cho said he will donate all the assets in the names of his wife and children to the underprivileged. “I will donate funds in the names of

Aug 23, 2019By Do Je-hae
Cho Kuk to donate assets to society

S. Korea says 'had sufficient talks with US on GSOMIA termination'

Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Hyun-chong speaks to reporters at Cheong Wa Dae, Friday. Korea Times photo by Ryu Hyo-jinSouth Korea consulted with the United States often and adequately before deciding to end a military intelligence pact with Japan amid a trade conflict, Cheong Wa Dae said Friday.It was responding to Washington's expression of "strong concern" and "disappointment" over Seoul's decision Thursday to terminate the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA)."It's true that the U.S. hoped for the extension of the agreement," South Korea's Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Hyun-chong said in a press briefing.Thus, he added, it was "natural" for Washington to be disappointed with Seoul's move.Asked if the U.S. really showed "understanding" on it, Kim avoided a direct answer.He just reiterated that the allies had "sufficient communication and consultation" with each other on the matter, especially through their presidential national security councils (NSCs).In July and August, the NSCs of the two sides discussed the issue nine times by telephone, he

Aug 23, 2019
S. Korea says 'had sufficient talks with US on GSOMIA termination'

Seoul ends military agreement with Japan

Kim You-geun, deputy director of Cheong Wa Dae's National Security Office, announces a decision to scrap an agreement with Japan on sharing military intelligence, Thursday afternoon. YonhapBy Do Je-hae, Kim Yoo-chulIn a stunning move that could further worsen already deteriorating ties between South Korea and Japan, the government announced Thursday that it was scrapping a military-intelligence sharing pact with Tokyo.“South Korea tried to resolve trade friction via open dialogue; but Japan didn't respond. Japan removed South Korea from its list of trusted trading partners without providing a clear reason as to why. These actions have resulted in a grave change in security cooperation between the two countries. Maintaining the military agreement is against South Korea's national interests,” Kim You-geun, deputy director of the presidential National Security Office (NSO), said in a press briefing Thursday.Kim added that Seoul would notify Tokyo of the decision via diplomatic channels before the deadline for the automatic extension of the General Security of Military Inform

Aug 22, 2019By Do Je-hae
Seoul ends military agreement with Japan

S. Korea to scrap military info-sharing pact with Japan

Kim You-geun, deputy director of South Korea's presidential national security office, announces the decision to terminate a bilateral agreement with Japan on exchanging classified military information or GSOMIA at the presidential office, ThursdaySouth Korea announced its decision Thursday to ditch a bilateral agreement with Japan on exchanging classified military information, citing a "grave change" in security cooperation conditions attributable to Japan's export restrictions.Seoul plans to inform Tokyo of the measure before the Aug. 24 deadline via a diplomatic channel, according to Kim You-geun, deputy director of South Korea's presidential national security office.The government concluded that it does not meet the national interest to maintain the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), he said in a statement. (Yonhap)

Aug 22, 2019
S. Korea to scrap military info-sharing pact with Japan

Justice Party asks for Cho's explanation on alleged irregularities

Rep. Sim Sang-jeung, second from right, chairwoman of the Justice Party, speaks at the National Assembly, Thursday. YonhapBy Park Ji-wonThe progressive Justice Party has officially asked Justice Minister nominee Cho Kuk Thursday to explain the corruption and fraud allegations involving him and his family amid growing calls for his nomination to be withdrawn.Rep. Sim Sang-jeung, chairwoman of the Justice Party, said her party has sent a letter to Cho calling for an explanation on the suspicions against him and his daughter in particular while urging the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) to agree to hold a confirmation hearing for Cho in the National Assembly.“There are rising public concerns over the nominee. It is wrong for the LKP to weaponize the situation for their interests. But there are a lot of suspicions that should be cleared during a National Assembly confirmation hearing for Cho. In particular, the allegations against his daughter should be examined swiftly,” Sim said at the National Assembly, Thursday.Claiming that the LKP is simply making allegations

Aug 22, 2019By Park Ji-won
Justice Party asks for Cho's explanation on alleged irregularities
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