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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.

Bumpy road ahead for new unification chief

New Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul receives questions from reporters at the ministry's headquarters in Seoul, Tuesday, a day after he took office as the head of the ministry. YonhapBy Lee Min-hyungNew Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul faces the daunting task of moving President Moon Jae-in's peace drive forward as the denuclearization talks between North Korea and the United States remain deadlocked. No one would dispute Kim's top priority is to make a breakthrough in inter-Korean relations.But the North started stepping up aggressive rhetoric against the ministry right after Kim took office Monday.On Tuesday, the North's propaganda outlets denounced the ministry for seeking to carry out what they called “valueless” inter-Korean projects.Citing the ministry's 2019 plan for developing inter-Korean relations, North Korean website Uriminzokkiri released sarcastic commentary.“The plan is nothing more than an empty shell of no value,” the propaganda outlet said.“We cannot see any willingness or efforts [from the ministry] to develop inter-Korean relation

Apr 9, 2019By Lee Min-hyung
Bumpy road ahead for new unification chief

Kim Jong-un may unveil new nuclear strategy on Thursday

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un looks at a men's shoe during a recent visit to Taesong Department Store, which is to reopen after renovation, in this photo released by the North's Korean Central News Agency, Monday. YonhapBy Lee Min-hyungNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-unAll eyes are on North Korea to see if it makes a major announcement on its nuclear plans, Thursday, when the regime plans to hold a major parliamentary meeting.Last month, North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui hinted that the regime's leadership would soon make public its “crucial decision” on denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.Officials from the United States and South Korea view the upcoming session of the regime's top legislative body ― the Supreme People's Assembly ― as a critical moment for the North to announce its upcoming nuclear strategies.U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday the U.S. would pay close attention to any possible remarks from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during the first session of the 14th Assembly in Pyongyang.“It is a big day,” Pompeo said. &ldquo

Apr 8, 2019By Lee Min-hyung
Kim Jong-un may unveil new nuclear strategy on Thursday
  • North Korea to replace ambassador to Vietnam

North Korea to replace ambassador to Vietnam

By Lee Min-hyungKim Myong-gil, outgoing North Korean ambassador to VietnamNorth Korea has decided to replace its ambassador to Vietnam, its state-run news agency reported Monday.“North Korean ambassador to Vietnam Kim Myong-gil made a farewell visit to Vietnamese Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, Friday,” the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.The KCNA, however, did not say who will succeed Kim, but North Korea watchers here say Kim Jong-un may appoint one of his confidants to spur economic partnership with the Southeast Asian country.Kim Myong-gil is known as a key envoy to have assisted in the North Korean delegation in February in Hanoi during the second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un.At that time, the regime's young dictator made a surprise visit to the North Korean embassy in the Vietnamese capital, as part of his first official schedule after arriving in Hanoi for the summit.“The Vietnamese government will place high value on friendly relations with North Korea, and continue to support peace and stability on the Korean

Apr 8, 2019By Lee Min-hyung
North Korea to replace ambassador to Vietnam
  • Kim Jong-un may unveil new nuclear strategy on Thursday

Moon to visit three Central Asian countries from April 16

President Moon Jae-in speaks at the start of a nomination ceremony for his new Cabinet members at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chulPresident Moon Jae-in will visit three Central Asian countries over eight days from April 16, Cheong Wa Dae said, Monday.“President Moon's eight-day state visit to Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan will start April 16. Among key issues to be discussed during the President's planned summits with the heads of the respective Central Asian countries are potential economic benefits from collaboration in Seoul's New Northern Economic Policy,” Cheong Wa Dae vice spokeswoman Ko Min-jung said in a briefing.This is the first time President Moon will visit the former Soviet bloc countries since he took office in 2017, the presidential office said, adding his trip will start with a three-day state visit to Ashgabat, where a summit with Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, is planned.Then, Moon will fly to Uzbekistan for a four-day trip and a summit with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, during which the South Korean leader will f

Apr 8, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul
Moon to visit three Central Asian countries from April 16

Moon appoints disputed nominees as ministers

President Moon Jae-in, right, shakes hands with SMEs and startups minister Park Young-sun during a nomination ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chulPresident Moon Jae-in named disputed nominees Kim Yeon-chul and Park Young-sun as unification and SMEs ministers, Monday, despite protests from the opposition parties.Kim and Park were among five newly-appointed Cabinet ministers.Their appointments came after the National Assembly refused to accept President Moon's calls to adopt confirmation hearing reports ― a procedure giving consent to presidential nominations ― for them.The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn vowed “an all-out struggle” to stop what he described as Moon's “dictatorship,” hinting at boycotting Assembly sessions.In an appointment ceremony held at Cheong Wa Dae, Moon said, “The Ministry of SMEs and Startups is asked to take a central role in assisting ventures, startups and small business owners attain sustainable growth. As a minister, you are able to push collaborative cross-boundary efforts

Apr 8, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul
Moon appoints disputed nominees as ministers
  • LKP raises offensives against President

President appoints 2 new ministers despite opposition objections

From left, Park Young-sun, nominee for culture minister and Kim Yeon-chul, nominee for unification minister.President Moon Jae-in on Monday appointed two new ministers strongly opposed by the opposition, possibly putting his government and ruling party on a collision course with the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP).The president appointed Park Young-sun, a ruling Democratic Party lawmaker, as the new venture minister in a ceremony held at his office Cheong Wa Dae.Kim Yeon-chul was appointed the new unification minister. Kim previously headed the state-run Korea Institute for National Unification.Moon's appointment of the two new ministers came after LKP twice refused to publish reports on the outcome of their confirmation hearings held last month.Parliamentary approval is not required for the appointment of new government ministers but doing so without the hearing reports often leads to political strife."If President Moon Jae-in does not withdraw his nomination for venture firms minister nominee Park Young-sun and unification minister nominee Kim Yeon-chul, our party cannot

Apr 8, 2019
President appoints 2 new ministers despite opposition objections

Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho passes away

Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho died from a chronic lung disease, said Korean Air, a Hanjin affiliate, Monday. He was 70. Courtesy of Korean Air By Park Si-soo, Kim Hyun-binHanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho died from a chronic lung disease, Korean Air, a Hanjin affiliate, announced in a statement on Monday. He was 70.Korean Air didn't specify the disease. The company said Cho had been receiving treatment at a hospital in Los Angeles since December.The process of transporting his body to Korea and the funeral schedule will be announced soon, it said.Korean Air President Cho Won-tae, the late chairman's only son, is reportedly in Los Angeles.Cho Yang-ho's death came 13 days after he lost his board seat at Korea Air after shareholders voted down his reappointment amid a slew of scandals haunting him and family members. He didn't attend the meeting.Shareholders voted 64.1 percent in favor of the reappointment but fell short of the necessary two-thirds threshold by 2.5 percent points as 35.9 percent voted against him.The incident marks the first time shareholders have voted to stri

Apr 8, 2019
Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho passes away

Moon to name unification, SME ministers

Kim Yeon-chul, left, unification minister nominee and Park Young-sun, right, SMEs and startups minister nominee. Yonhap fileBy Jung Da-minPresident Moon Jae-in will approve the appointment of Kim Yeon-chul and Park Young-sun the respective nominees to head up the ministries of unification, and SMEs and startups, on April 8, without the National Assembly's adoption of confirmation hearing reports for the two, sources said Sunday.“It's highly likely President Moon will proceed to appoint Kim and Park as ministers as the hearings are not legally-binding,” one of the sources said. Kim and Park are longtime confidants of Moon.The opposition want the two to voluntarily withdraw after the adoption of the hearing reports was denied. The main opposition Liberty Korea Party criticized Kim's pro-North Korean views and Park for refusing to submit required documents concerning alleged ethical lapses. On April 2, Cheong Wa Dae asked the Assembly to re-send the confirmation hearing reports for Kim and Park, as well as interior and safety minister nominee Chin Young. The Assemb

Apr 7, 2019
Moon to name unification, SME ministers

Main opposition party criticized for politicizing Gangwon fire

Liberty Korea Party (LKP) Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn, right, inspects fire-affected areas in Goseong, Gangwon Province, Friday. / Courtesy of LKPBy Park Ji-wonThe main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) is being criticized for allegedly blocking a Cheong Wa Dae official in charge of disaster control from leaving a National Assembly meeting amid a fast-spreading fire in Gangwon Province and politicizing the tragedy.When the deadly fire started in Goseong on Thursday at 7:17 p.m., National Assembly House Steering Committee members were being briefed by President Moon Jae-in's national security adviser Chung Eui-yong and other presidential officials. Chung is chief of the presidential office's control tower tackling national disasters. The briefing started in the afternoon and lasted until late into the night.Committee chief Rep. Hong Young-pyo was informed that the fire was spreading into Sokcho and sent a senior officer to the control tower at 9:30 p.m. About 10 p.m., Hong asked attending lawmakers to allow Chung to leave the Assembly to assist in coming up with measures to deal with th

Apr 7, 2019By Park Ji-won
Main opposition party criticized for politicizing Gangwon fire
  • Sokcho mayor in hot seat over wildfire response

President Moon makes surprise visit to site of massive fire in Goseong

President Moon Jae-in on Friday made a surprise visit to the eastern city of Goseong, where more than 10,000 firefighters and military personnel have gathered to put out a massive fire that started the day before.Moon's trip to the site of the fire came hours after he ordered the government to consider designating Goseong and other affected places as special disaster zones, which would entitle the areas and their residents to special government support.The government earlier declared a national state of emergency, a move aimed at ensuring faster mobilization of government resources necessary to fight what local authorities have called an "unprecedented disaster."The move came after the blaze engulfed vast areas in five cities and counties along the eastern coast.More than 800 fire engines and 13,000 firefighters and rescue workers, including ones from the military, have been mobilized from around the entire nation.Still, one person has been confirmed killed and 11 others injured after initial efforts to contain the fire were frustrated by strong gusts of wind spreading it to other ar

Apr 5, 2019
  • Massive wildfire wreaks havoc on Gangwon towns
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