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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.

S. Korea, US speed up talks for post-Hanoi summit strategies

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha arrives at Incheon International Airport, Sunday, from Washington, D.C., where she held talks with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. YonhapBy Lee Min-hyungKim Hyun-jong, second deputy chief of the National Security OfficeSouth Korea and the United States are speeding up their talks to revive stalled dialogue momentum with North Korea following the failure of the Hanoi summit.On Saturday, Kim Hyun-jong, second deputy chief of the National Security Office (NSC), left for Washington, D.C., for talks with his U.S. counterpart Charles Kupperman and other ranking security officials there.Kim's visit is aimed at shaping 솓 agenda for the upcoming summit between President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump, slated for April 11. Both leaders are expected to focus on sharing their views on the recent deadlock in denuclearization talks with the North.Upon arriving at Dulles International Airport, Kim hinted at the possibility of sending a South Korean special envoy to the North for mediating nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang.“It is a good

Mar 31, 2019By Lee Min-hyung
S. Korea, US speed up talks for post-Hanoi summit strategies

2 nominees quit after confirmation hearings

Two of seven nominees quit due to alleged ethical lapsesBy Lee Min-hyungCho Dong-hoChoi Jeong-hoPresident Moon Jae-in canceled nomination of KAIST professor Cho Dong-ho as science and technology minister, Sunday, hours after Choi Jeong-ho withdrew as land and transportation minister nominee.Cho and Choi were among seven people Moon nominated to ministers in a Cabinet reshuffle on March 8.Opposition parties had called on Moon to withdraw nominations of all seven, claiming they are all unqualified to lead ministries. Cho and Choi, especially, were the main political targets after various allegations of their ethical lapses were raised at confirmation hearings.The incidents may deal a further political blow to President Moon. They came after presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom resigned from the post, Friday, over allegations of property speculation. “We came to the conclusion that Cho failed to meet public expectations as a minister nominee considering the level of his integrity shown in a confirmation hearing,” Moon's top press aide Yoon Do-han said. “Moon has cancel

Mar 31, 2019By Lee Min-hyung
2 nominees quit after confirmation hearings

Moon withdraws nomination for new science minister

President Moon Jae-in on Sunday withdrew his nomination for his new science minister over his participation in an international conference deemed inappropriate.The withdrawal comes after the minister-nominee, Cho Dong-ho, came under fire in his parliamentary confirmation hearing for his participation in the 2017 World Biomarkers Congress, an international conference known to be organized by OMICS International."Nominee Cho Dong-ho did not reveal his participation in the non-performing overseas conference and it also was not revealed in background checks by the education ministry and other related organizations, which is why (he) was not screened out in our verification process," the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said of the reason for his nomination."It was pointed out in the process of his confirmation hearing that the nominee may not meet the eyes of the people, and (the president) decided to withdraw his nomination after due deliberation," it said.It marks the first time that the president is withdrawing his nomination of a Cabinet minister since he took office in May 2017.The

Mar 31, 2019
Moon withdraws nomination for new science minister

Early voting begins for by-election to elect 2 lawmakers

Rep. Lee Hae-chan of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, center, makes a speech for Yeo Young-guk, right, a single candidate from the liberal party for the Changwon district in South Gyeongsang Province during an election campaign in the city, Friday. Early voting has begun to elect lawmakers in two constituencies in South Gyeongsang Province for April 3's Assembly by-elections, which are being seen as a political litmus test for the upcoming 2020 general elections. / YonhapBy Park Ji-wonEarly voting has begun for next week's Assembly by-elections, with political analysts regarding the results as a “litmus test” ahead of next year's general elections.Eligible voters can vote for the April 3 elections in two South Gyeongsang Province districts in Changwon and Tongyeong-Goseong, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Election Commission. The key focus is who will fill in the vacancy left by the late Roh Hoe-chan of the country's most progressive Justice Party. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) agreed with the minor party for a single candidate

Mar 29, 2019By Park Ji-won
Early voting begins for by-election to elect 2 lawmakers

North Korea may revise Constitution in April: NIS

National Intelligence Service Director Suh Hoon, center, participates in a meeting of the National Assembly's intelligence committee to brief about the spy agency's activities and North Korea, Friday. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geunBy Park Ji-wonSouth Korea is preparing for North Korea's possible amendment of its Constitution to make its leader Kim Jong-un the official head of state, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) said during a National Assembly briefing, Friday.Rep. Lee Eun-jae of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) quoted the spy agency as saying, “Considering that Kim didn't take a parliamentary job during the election for Supreme People's Assembly members on March 10, the NIS is monitoring various possibilities such as a constitutional amendment during a meeting of the Supreme People's Assembly scheduled to be held on April 11.”The remarks came amid speculation that the North may change its governing structure to be led by one leader, as the present dual structure has made it difficult for Kim to be recognized as the head of state on diplomatic occ

Mar 29, 2019By Park Ji-won
North Korea may revise Constitution in April: NIS

Moon's approval rating falls to lowest level since inauguration: poll

President Moon Jae-in / YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in's job approval rating declined to 43 percent, the lowest point since his inauguration in May 2017, a Gallup Korea poll said Friday.In the poll, of 1,003 adults, conducted by the leading pollster nationwide from Tuesday to Thursday, only 43 percent said they approved of Moon's job performance as president, down 2 percentage points from the previous week.The reading of 43 percent marked the lowest figure for Moon, who took office about two years ago with an approval rating of over 80 percent.Forty-six percent said they disapproved of Moon's presidential performance, marking a 2 percentage-point rise from a week earlier.It is the third time, after the third week of last December, and the second week of this month, that Moon's disapproval rating has exceeded his approval rating. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, with a confidence level of 95 percent.The presidential approval rating was higher among respondents in their 20s (49 percent), 30s (52 percent) and 40s (54 percent). By contrast, the disappro

Mar 29, 2019
Moon's approval rating falls to lowest level since inauguration: poll
  • Presidential spokesman offers to resign over real estate speculation

Presidential spokesman offers to resign over real estate speculation

Presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom. YonhapPresidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom offered to step down on Friday over allegations that he made a speculative real estate investment in a lucrative urban redevelopment zone in Seoul.Kim has come under fire amid reports that he bought a building in western Seoul for about 2.6 billion won (US$2.28 million) in July last year, by taking out a bank loan worth 1 billion won.The deal was clinched at a time when the government announced tougher measures to curb skyrocketing housing prices and stem overheated real estate speculation, especially in redevelopment areas."As I've decided to leave, the faces of reporters covering the presidential office are called into my mind first," Kim said in a message to reporters."My wife made a decision (to buy the building) without my consultation, but this is all my fault," he added.Kim was appointed as President Moon Jae-in's spokesman in February 2018. He is now the fourth official at the presidential office to step down due to issues that have sparked public uproar.The move came one day after Kim asserted t

Mar 29, 2019
Presidential spokesman offers to resign over real estate speculation
  • Cheong Wa Dae spokesman denies property speculation
  • Moon's approval rating falls to lowest level since inauguration: poll

PM calls for Asia's participation to resolve NK issue for peace

Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon gives a keynote speech at the opening of the annual Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan Province, China, Thursday.By Park Ji-wonPrime Minister Lee Nak-yon asked Asian countries to play a role in urging North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons and bringing peace to the Korean Peninsula during an annual international forum in China.“The two Koreas and the United States remain on course for talks. I would like to express my appreciation to China, Japan and Russia for their support and hope they continue to play a meaningful role,” Lee said during a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia held on China's tropical island of Hainan, Thursday.His speech came following the failed summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump in Hanoi due to their differences on the range of denuclearization and sanctions relief. The government has been making efforts to revive the dialogue as a mediator.“It is regrettable that the denuclearization talks were deadlocked. But I believe the Korean Peninsula will

Mar 28, 2019By Park Ji-won
PM calls for Asia's participation to resolve NK issue for peace

Cheong Wa Dae spokesman denies property speculation

By Jung Da-minCheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom. Korea Times filePresidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom is in the hot seat following a media report that he possibly engaged in property speculation.Last July, Kim bought a two-story building in an area slated for redevelopment in Dongjak-gu, southern Seoul, for 2.57 billion won ($2.26 million). He received a loan of over 1 billion won to buy the building.The Chosun Ilbo reported Thursday the purchase could have been speculative considering the large size of the loan.But Kim said he bought the building to live with his family after leaving Cheong Wa Dae.“I have lived in the official residence at Cheong Wa Dae since February last year after living for about 30 years on a lease after I got married,” Kim said.Members of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party in front of the two-story building purchased by Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom, located in Dongjak-gu, southern Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

Mar 28, 2019
Cheong Wa Dae spokesman denies property speculation
  • Presidential spokesman offers to resign over real estate speculation

Lawmaker seeks permission to bring baby to Assembly

Rep. Shin Bo-raBy Park Ji-wonRep. Shin Bo-ra of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) has asked National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang for permission to bring her six-month-old baby to plenary sessions.The 36-year-old mother said this was to share the experiences of working mothers with men, and to get the Assembly to create a family-friendly working environment, Shin said.She said working parents must receive support from their employers as well as the country “systemically.”Shin gave birth to a son last September and took maternity leave. She later proposed a bill to allow mothers to bring babies under 24 months of age into Assembly sessions because they needed breastfeeding.The National Assembly Act stipulates that only National Assembly members, the prime minister, members of the Cabinet, government delegates, persons necessary for the auditing of bills and those permitted by the Speaker can have access to chambers within the Assembly building. The rules do not explicitly ban infants, but they possibly require the Assembly speaker Moon's permission. If he app

Mar 28, 2019By Park Ji-won
Lawmaker seeks permission to bring baby to Assembly
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