South Korea - The Korea Times

US steps up pressure on North Korea for dialogue

In this Feb. 2, 2018 file photo, U.S. President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with North Korean defectors where he talked with reporters about allowing the release of a secret memo on the FBI's role in the Russia inquiry, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. AP-YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chulWashington is stepping up pressure on North Korea to make sure dialogue is the only way to resolve all “outstanding issues” between the countries.Experts and political analysts in Seoul said “very little” has happened since the breakdown in Hanoi. They say the situation has worsened as the United States hasn't yet figured out how to break the current impasse in talks aimed at dismantling North Korea's nuclear program. The North is pushing the United States to ease sanctions in exchange for the minimal steps it has taken to denuclearize.But senior Washington and Seoul officials are teaming up to pursue a “dual-track approach” and seek to simultaneously pursue dialogue whilst maintaining the current level of economic sanctions.U.S. Secretary of Stat

Jun 4, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul

US steps up pressure on North Korea for dialogue

South Korean general to lead combined forces command

Three bodies recovered from Danube

Hungarian and Korean rescue team members search at the location of a boat accident on the Danube River in Budapest, June 3. AFP-Yonhap By Lee Min-hyungThe bodies of three passengers from the ill-fated sightseeing boat Hableany, which capsized and sank in an accident on the Danube River last week, have now been recovered, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Tuesday.Initially two bodies, those of a Korean man in his 60s and a Korean woman in her 50s, were recovered Monday, followed by the third, also identified as a Korean man, at 12:47 p.m. Tuesday (local time).The latest body was found 55 kilometers south of the accident site, according to Song Shun-keun, the defense attache at the South Korean Embassy in Budapest.He said a Hungarian military helicopter spotted the body and recovered it.The death toll from the accident has now risen to 10 Koreans, with 16 remaining missing; two Hungarian crewmembers are also unaccounted for.Earlier Tuesday, reporting on the di

Jun 4, 2019By Lee Min-hyung

Moon's confidant is trying to influence elections: LKP

Rep. Na Kyung-won, floor leader of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, speaks during a party meeting at the National Assembly, Tuesday. YonhapBy Park Ji-wonRep. Na Kyung-won, floor leader of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), criticized Yang Jung-chul, head of the Institute of Democracy under the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), Tuesday, over his recent series of meetings with liberal politicians. Na claimed these meetings are a potential move by Yang, a confidant of President Moon Jae-in, to influence the general election next year, and show how “arrogant” he is.Her remarks came after the Institute of Democracy signed agreements with think tanks under the Seoul city government and the Gyeonggi provincial government which are led by potential DPK presidential candidates Park Won-soon and Lee Jae-myung, respectively, on Monday. It is a rare move for a political party to join hands with think tanks under provincial governments.“Yang is trying to develop the DPK's policies and election strategies by taking advantage of provincial governments' th

Jun 4, 2019By Park Ji-won

Moon's confidant is trying to influence elections: LKP

Clean, fossil-free energy plan approved

The Office of Energy and Resources under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy holds a renewable energy policy forum at Korea Coal Association's headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul, May 24. Courtesy of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and EnergySouth Korea on Tuesday reaffirmed its strong commitment toward reduced dependency on conventional energy sources, such as coal, and more environment-friendly sources.The country's new energy policy roadmap, proposed in April, was approved at the Cabinet meeting, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy. South Korea's energy guidelines are renewed every five years with a 20-year goal.The proposal is in line with the Moon Jae-in government's push to phase out coal and nuclear plants and instead move toward clean and safe energy sources to meet the country's demand for electricity."The government plans to gradually decrease the number of nuclear and coal plants to have a clean and safe portfolio of energy," the ministry said in a statement.Wind turbines are lined up on Mout. Taegi situated over Hoengseong and Pyeongchang in Gangw

Jun 4, 2019

Ryu

S Korean pitcher-awardS Korean pitcher-award Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin named NL's best pitcher for MaySEOUL, June 4 (Yonhap) ― By many measures, Los Angeles Dodgers starter Ryu Hyun-jin had an outstanding month of May. And now he has an award to prove it.Ryu was named the National League (NL) Pitcher of the Month for May by Major League Baseball (MLB) on Monday (local time). It's the first monthly award for Ryu in his seven-year big league career, and the 32-year-old is only the second South Korean pitcher, after ex-Dodger Park Chan-ho, to be so honored.Park was the NL's top pitcher in July 1998, when he was 4-0 in six starts with a 1.05 ERA.Ryu had an even better month in May this year. He was a perfect 5-0 in six starts and posted a tidy 0.59 ERA, leading all NL pitchers in wins and ERA for the month.In 45 2/3 innings, Ryu struck out 36 and walked only three batters.Ryu rode a 32-inning scoreless streak last month, a stretch that included a complete game shutout against the Atlanta Braves on May 7. He didn't give up a run in four of his six starts in May. Ryu was also the NL Player of

Jun 4, 2019

North Korea snubs Abe's summit proposal

U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe react during delivering a speech to Japanese and U.S. troops as they aboard Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's (JMSDF) helicopter carrier DDH-184 Kaga at JMSDF Yokosuka base in Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, May 28. AP-YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chulNorth Korea rejected a summit proposal by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, calling the suggestion a “brazen-faced” move, Monday.A spokesman from the Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee said: “If Japan wants to talk about 'the right judgment and decision,' then that's exactly what we want to tell them,” citing recent remarks by Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono. Kono hinted at supporting “sanctions-easing” only after the North made “the right judgment and decision,” The spokesman continued: “Now, Japan is required to make a bold decision. They need to write a new history, and admit to the wrongdoings that Japan committed. The thickness of the skin of Abe's group is like a bear's paw as Japan wants to hold a summit with us wi

Jun 3, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul

North Korean leader's sister reemerges after days of absence

Report on post-Hanoi summit purge in North Korea 'false'

Kim Yong-chol, in the white circle, watches an arts performance with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, fourth from left, in this photo released on Monday by the North's Korean Central News Agency. The photo came amid rumors of him being purged after collapsed nuclear talks in Hanoi. YonhapBy Park Ji-wonNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un watched an art troupe's performance, along with his top aides, including Kim Yong-chol, who was rumored to have been purged after the no-deal summit in Hanoi, Pyongyang's media reported Monday.The leader attended the show “given by amateur art groups of the wives of officers of units of the Korean People's Army (KPA) selected in the seventh round of the second-term contest of art groups of KPA officers' wives,” the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.He appeared with his wife Ri Sol-ju and other top officials, including Kim Yong-chol, the North's counterpart to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in denuclearization negotiations with the U.S., the KCNA revealed.Rumors have circulated that Kim Yong-chol might have been punished in the leader'

Jun 3, 2019By Park Ji-won

Report on post-Hanoi summit purge in North Korea 'false'

North Korean leader's sister reemerges after days of absence

Korea may ask US to hand over classified Gwangju records

Kim Yong-chang, right, a former member of the U.S. 501st Military Intelligence Brigade, testifies about the Gwangju Democratization Movement in 1980 during a press conference at the National Assembly in this May 13, file photo. Korea Times fileBy Park Ji-wonPrime Minister Lee Nak-yon has indicated the government may ask the United States to share classified documents concerning the 1980 May 18 Gwangju Uprising, and may create another fact-finding committee to uncover details of the incident.Lee said Monday that he mentioned this during recent talks with Rep. Chun Jung-bae of the Party for Democracy and Peace (PDP).The issue may be discussed topic at the planned summit between President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump in late June, the lawmaker said.In a press release, Chun said Lee reacted positively to the idea of requesting Washington, through diplomatic channels, to hand over classified documents on the uprising.“The government will be look into ways to ask for classified reports from the U.S. concerning the May 18 Democratization Movement,” Lee was quoted

Jun 3, 2019By Park Ji-won

Korea may ask US to hand over classified Gwangju records

Korea, Cambodia seek to strengthen economic ties

Kim Sang-mook, third from left, KOTRA's Executive Vice President for Economic Cooperation and Trade Affairs, speaks during a panel discussion at The International Symposium on Korea-Cambodia Economic Cooperation, held at the National Assembly, Monday. From left are Seo Jung-soo, dean of Keimyung Adams College; Choi Kyung-hee, a researcher at Seoul National University's Asia Center; Kim; Ty Sokyun, a member of Cambodia's National Assembly; Long Dimanche, Cambodia's Ambassador to South Korea; and Yim Leat, a member of Cambodia's National Assembly.By Kim Bo-eunOfficials and academics from Korea and Cambodia discussed furthering economic cooperation at a symposium hosted by The Hankook Ilbo and The Korea Times, Monday.The event was held as the Moon Jae-in administration is seeking to strengthen economic and political ties with countries in Southeast Asia.Dignitaries attending the event included ruling Democratic Party of Korea floor leader Rep. Lee In-young; Seong Kyoung-ryung, chairman of the National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences; Chea Samnang, director

Jun 3, 2019By Kim Bo-eun

Korea, Cambodia seek to strengthen economic ties

Seoul may send 300,000 tonnes of rice to NK by end of June

Children at a kindergarten opened in 1954. In 1979, the kindergarten was turned into a pre-school institution for children gifted in music. Starting from the age of 4, successful applicants are enrolled in the kindergarten offering music, arts, choreography, and science courses. TASS-Yonhap By Kim Yoo-chulThe government is looking to send about 300,000 tons of food including rice to hunger-stricken North Korea following Washington agreeing with Seoul's decision to provide humanitarian aid, sources at Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said Sunday.“Seoul is expected to send around 300,000 tons of food products to North Korea in June at the earliest. The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are expected to be the delivery channels, though there are concerns over the cost of logistics planning and execution,” a source familiar with the matter said.The source added Seoul has been receiving requ

Jun 2, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul

Politics