South Korea - The Korea Times

North Korea, US exchange signal for resuming nuclear talks

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reads a letter sent from U.S. President Donald Trump at his office in this photo provided by the North's Korean Central News Agency, Sunday. YonhapBy Lee Min-hyungThe United States and North Korea are exchanging positive signals to resume their suspended nuclear talks possibly in the near future.It was not until recently that the prospect arose. Last week, the leaders from the two countries engaged in letter correspondence, in their bid to break the months-long stalemate in their dialogue on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un expressed satisfaction on the content of each other's letters, raising hopes further for their third meeting.On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reiterated Washington's willingness to restart the talks “in no time.”“We are ready to go. We are literally prepared to go at a moment's notice if the North Koreans indicate that they're prepared for those discussions,” Pompeo told reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.He also sa

Jun 24, 2019By Lee Min-hyung

North Korea, US exchange signal for resuming nuclear talks

Trump considers visiting DMZ

Gov't budget may rise sharply next year

Rep. Lee Hae-chan, left, chairman of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, has a talk with Rep. Cho Jeong-sik, the party's chief policymaker, during a party meeting at the National Assembly, Wednesday. YonhapBy Lee Min-hyungThe ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has called for an expansionary fiscal policy for next year by securing over 500 trillion won ($429.7 billion) in the state budget in light of stagnant economic growth and pervasive uncertainty in global trade.The voice comes amid growing economic uncertainty in Korea. The growth rate was minus 0.3 percent in the first quarter, the lowest in 10 years since the local economy was hit hard by the global financial crisis in 2008.With the external trade and economic outlook remaining murky, the party is underlining the need to brace for the uncertainty by raising the budget next year.“The government is advised to implement the expansionary budget for next year on a level at least above an increase of this year’s 9.5 percent,” Rep. Cho Jeong-sik, chief policymaker of the party, said last week during a party mee

Jun 23, 2019By Lee Min-hyung

Naval forces drive out North Korean fishing boat

A North Korean fishing boat, left, is forced to return to its territorial waters after being found adrift 114 kilometers northeast of the South Korean eastern islets of Dokdo on Saturday morning. On the right is a South Korean patrol ship. YonhapBy Lee Min-hyungSouth Korean maritime forces drove out a North Korean fishing boat, Saturday, hours after the ship crossed into South Korean waters off the east coast.A patrol aircraft of the naval force found the five-ton boat adrift 114 kilometers northeast of the South’s easternmost islets of Dokdo at around 9 a.m.The South’s Korea Coast Guard then dispatched a 1,500-ton patrol ship to send the North Korean vessel back to its territorial waters.At around 12:10 p.m., a North Korean naval force contacted its southern counterpart to ask for help in sending back the ship, according to the coast guard.It said the ship was presumed to be a squid fishing boat with seven North Korean sailors on board.The maritime security force tried to find out why the ship was adrift in South Korean waters, but North Korean sailors declined to commen

Jun 23, 2019By Lee Min-hyung

Naval forces drive out North Korean fishing boat

Moon's new chief policy secretary: 'Policy to focus on job creation, income growth'

Kim Sang-jo, new chief policy secretary of President Moon Jae-in. YonhapThe new chief policy secretary of President Moon Jae-in has said he will spare no efforts to create more jobs and improve incomes, as South Korea's economy has shown signs of slowing growth on faltering exports and investment.Kim Sang-jo, former chairman of the Korea Fair Trade Commission who was known for actively campaigning against the wrongdoings of family-run business conglomerates, or chaebol, before taking the public job, was named to the post on Friday."Policy efforts will be focused on improving jobs and incomes," Kim told reporters on Friday.Many analysts said the reshuffle is unlikely to bring a significant change in the government's key economic policies, but Kim said he will show "sufficient flexibility" by adjusting the priorities of economic policies.South Korea's economy remains gripped by stubbornly sluggish domestic demand and flagging exports stemming from a worsening trade dispute between the United States and China.In the first quarter of the year, the economy contracted 0.4 percent from thre

Jun 23, 2019

Moon's new chief policy secretary: 'Policy to focus on job creation, income growth'

'Seoul sent message for 4th inter-Korean summit'

Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul speaks during a press briefing at the Seoul Government Complex, Wednesday. YonhapBy Park Ji-wonUnification Minister Kim Yeon-chul said Friday the government has officially sent a message to North Korea about holding another inter-Korean summit before U.S. President Donald Trump's planned visit, here, at the end of this month.“Holding another inter-Korean summit within this month is still possible. The government officially asked North Korea to review the South's proposal about holding a fourth encounter between President Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un before Trump's June visit, here,” Minister Kim said at the start of a forum held in the National Assembly. “If another inter-Korean summit happens before Trump's in-person meeting with President Moon, then that would be a huge plus in terms of gaining new momentum for a possible third U.S.-North Korea summit.”The minister added South Korean officials are communicating with their North Korean counterparts to plan another meeting between the leaders of the Koreas, dilige

Jun 21, 2019By Park Ji-won

'Seoul sent message for 4th inter-Korean summit'

Pyongyang, Beijing agree on deepening relations

President replaces economic advisers amid sluggish economy

President Moon Jae-in named Fair Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Kim Sang-jo, left, as his new senior secretary for policy, and First Vice Finance Minister Lee Ho-seung, right, as his new senior secretary for economic affairs. / YonhapBy Yi Whan-wooPresident Moon Jae-in named Fair Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Kim Sang-jo as the new senior presidential secretary for policy, Cheong Wa Dae said Friday.It also said First Vice Finance Minister Lee Ho-seung was named as the new senior presidential secretary for economic affairs.Kim Sang-jo replaces Kim Soo-hyun and Lee replaces Yoon Jong-won, both of whom have served in the positions for less than a year.Moon's new picks for Cheong Wa Dae's top two economic advisers comes amid a prolonged sluggish economy, which has elevated concerns over the effectiveness of Moon's signature income-led growth strategy ahead of the general elections next year.Kim Sang-jo, an outspoken critic of family-run conglomerates, is the architect of Moon's economic and business reform initiatives.Cheong Wa Dae said Kim is expected to carry out his “historic

Jun 21, 2019By Yi Whan-woo

President replaces economic advisers amid sluggish economy

Moon replaces top presidential secretaries for policy, economic affairs

Kim Sang-jo, left, and Lee Ho-seungPresident Moon Jae-in named new senior presidential secretaries for policy and economic affairs on Friday as the Korean economy slows down amid a sluggish job market.Moon nominated Kim Sang-jo, head of the country's antitrust watchdog as new senior presidential secretary for policy to replace Kim Soo-hyun, according to the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.The country's first vice finance minister, Lee Ho-seung, will succeed Yoon Jong-won to become the senior presidential secretary for economic affairs, it added.The replacement of key presidential economic aides is apparently intended to boost policy coordination with government agencies as the Korean economy slows down in the face of heightened uncertainty such as the trade war between the United States and China.The move appears to aim to hold their predecessors accountable for the failure to prop up the economy. It has been less than one year since Kim and Yoon were appointed to the posts.As he entered his third year in office earlier this year, Moon called for efforts to yield visible economic a

Jun 21, 2019

Moon replaces top presidential secretaries for policy, economic affairs

Reporter's Notebook What's all the fuss about past heroes?

  Late General Kim Won-bong (1898-1958), left, and General Paik Sun-yup (1920-). Korea Times file66 years on since armistice, ideological conflict further polarizing South KoreansBy Jung Da-minWhile President Moon Jae-in was delivering a speech at a ceremony marking the 64th Memorial Day at the National Cemetery in Seoul on June 6, some right-wing activists were staging an anti-Moon rally on the other side of the cemetery. Moon in his speech called for the unification of liberal and conservative factions beyond the ideological conflict that has continued for nearly 70 years, But he sparked another ideological battle with his remarks giving credit to Gen. Kim Won-bong, leader of a secret society called the Korean Volunteer Corps, for his independence activities in the 1930s and 1940s against Japanese imperialism. Lawmakers of conservative parties including the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) and the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party have criticized Moon for honoring Kim, citing that he later served the North Korean regime before being purged in 1958. Four days aft

Jun 21, 2019

[Reporter's Notebook] What's all the fuss about past heroes?

LKP leader triggers stir with remark against migrant workers

By Kang Seung-wooCriticism is mounting over the main opposition party leader's recent remarks discriminating against foreign workers.Liberty Korea Party Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn / YonhapLiberty Korea Party (LKP) Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn told small- and mid-sized business leaders in Busan, Wednesday, that his party will try to revise relevant laws to introduce a different minimum wage for migrant employees, citing their “little contribution” to the Korean economy ― although he did not provide any hard numbers.His remarks immediately drew a backlash for inciting antipathy toward foreign workers and some even said he was promoting a far-right populist stance.“His remarks are the final step in thoughtless words that obviously promote discrimination against foreign workers, showing the LKP is a political party that stands against migrants and migrant workers,” an association of 32 civic groups said. “Desperate for votes ahead of next year's general election, the LKP is using migrant workers as a scapegoat.” The association said migrant employees work and li

Jun 20, 2019By Kang Seung-woo

LKP leader triggers stir with remark against migrant workers

Xi asks Kim to resume US-NK denuke talks

In this image taken from a video footage run by China's CCTV, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, walk together on Xi's arrival at an airport in Pyongyang, Thursday afternoon. CCTV via APBy Kim Yoo-chul, Lee Min-hyungPresident Xi Jinping asked North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to resume his country's nuclear dialogue with the United States as China supports a process on finding a “political solution” in achieving denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported Thursday.“The international community expects the United States and North Korea to restart a productive dialogue. In the past year, the peninsular issue has seen bright prospects for resolution through dialogue and won the recognition and expectations of the international community,” CCTV quoted Xi as saying during his summit with Kim.It added that Xi said China would support the North Korean leader's leadership and guarantee stable security. “The situation on the peninsula concerns the peace and stability of the region,&rd

Jun 20, 2019By Lee Min-hyung

Politics