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PHOTOS March 1 in 2019

President Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook, clad in hanbok, attend a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement against Japan's colonial rule at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, Friday. YonhapMembers of conservative groups march through the center of Seoul, Friday, in protest against the Moon government. Korea Times photo by Hong In-kiSinger Insooni performs during March 1 Movement anniversary celebrations at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, Friday. YonhapEwha Girls' High School students and the school's alumni march on Jeongdong-gil in Seoul, Friday. Yu Gwan-sun, an iconic independence fighter, was a student at Ewha Haktang, the school's predecessor, which missionaries established as the first modern educational institution for women in Korea. Yu died at 17 while imprisoned for leading pro-independence rallies. YonhapThe Air Force Black Eagles aerobatic team flies over the crowd celebrations at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, Friday. YonhapChristians attend celebrate the anniversary at Chungdong First Methodist Church in Seoul, Friday

Mar 1, 2019By Jung Min-ho

Moon vows to assist in settling NK-US deal

FULL TEXT Moon's March 1 address

President Moon Jae-in delivers a speech at a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement in central Seoul, Friday. YonhapThe following is an unofficial translation of President Moon Jae-in's address marking the 100th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement:Fellow Koreans and compatriots abroad,One hundred years ago today, we were united as one. At noon on March 1, students passed out the Declaration of Korean Independence. At two o'clock in the afternoon, the national representatives held a ceremony to declare Korea's independence at Taehwagwan in Seoul, and some 5,000 people read the Declaration aloud together at Tapgol Park. The protagonists of the March First Independence Movement were ordinary people such as laborers, farmers, women, soldiers, rickshaw pullers, gisaeng, butchers, serfs, street merchants, students and monks. These people also participated in a nationwide campaign to repay the national debt to Japan by quitting smoking to save, donating ornamental hairpins and rings made of gold and silver, and even selling locks of hair. On

Mar 1, 2019

Moon says Hanoi summit made 'meaningful' progress, vows South Korea's active role

Moon says Hanoi summit made 'meaningful' progress, vows South Korea's active role

President Moon Jae-in speaks at a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement against Japanese colonial rule at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, Friday. YonhapSouth Korea's President Moon Jae-in on Friday portrayed this week's fruitless summit between the United States and North Korea as part of a process for a "higher level" agreement and stressed the importance of Seoul's role of mediating between the two sides.During his speech marking the centennial anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement against Japanese colonial rule, Moon also put a positive spin on the Hanoi summit held Wednesday and Thursday, saying it produced "meaningful" progress."Importantly, they even discussed the issue of installing liaison offices, an important step toward the normalization of bilateral ties. I have high regard for President Trump, who has expressed his commitment to continuing talks and optimistic views," he said."Now our role has become even more important. My administration will closely communicate and cooperate with the United States and North Korea so

Mar 1, 2019

Moon says Hanoi summit made 'meaningful' progress, vows South Korea's active role

FULL TEXT Moon's March 1 address

South Korea 'disappointed' at summit, remains hopeful for progress

South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae expressed both disappointment and hope over the outcome of the second U.S.-North Korea summit held Thursday, insisting the countries have made more progress than ever, even without an agreement."(We) do feel regret that President (Donald) Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-un could not reach complete agreement at today's summit. But it also appears that they have clearly made more meaningful progress than at any time in the past," Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said in a released statement.The reaction came shortly after Trump and Kim ended their two-day summit in Hanoi without an agreement. (Yonhap)

Feb 28, 2019

South Korea 'disappointed' at summit, remains hopeful for progress

PHOTOS Last day of Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a press conference after he cancelled the signing of an agreement with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un on Thursday, the second day of the second U.S.-North Korea summit in Hanoi, Vietnam. YonhapA car carrying North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un heads to the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, the venue of the U.S.-North Korea summit, on Thursday, the second day of the two-day summit. YonhapVietnamese residents hold the national flags of the United States and North Korea on Thursday. YonhapTourists take photos in front of a picture of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump, in Vietnamese traditional costumes, shaking hands, Thursday, at the Hanoi Opera House in Hanoi, Vietnam. YonhapMedia staff from different countries on the road near the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, Vietnam, on Thursday, the second day of the U.S.-North Korea summit. YonhapVietnamese police controlling the road in front of the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, Vietnam, on Thursday, the second day of the U.S.-North Korea summit. YonhapVietnamese police for

Feb 28, 2019

Last day of Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi [PHOTOS]

'We expect good outcome from follow-up talks'

President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump / Yonhap By Kim Bo-eunPresident Moon Jae-in said he expects a good outcome in talks between the U.S. and North Korea that will follow the second summit between the leaders of the two nations held in Hanoi, Thursday, which failed to produce an agreement on denuclearization.“Because the leaders confirmed each of their stances and discussed details, I expect a good outcome in talks that will follow,” he said in a telephone call with U.S. President Donald Trump made on the latter's way back to Washington later in the day, according to Cheong Wa Dae.Trump expressed regret over the failure to reach a deal at the summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, but stated his willingness to continue talks with the North to resolve the denuclearization issue, the presidential office said in a statement.He also asked Moon to play an active mediating role to enable this, and Moon in response pledged to provide as much support

Feb 28, 2019By Kim Bo-eun

'We expect good outcome from follow-up talks'

Nearly 70% of S. Koreans want resumption of Gaeseong park

The Gaeseong Industrial Complex is seen from Dora Observatory on the South Korean side of the DMZ, which has separated the two Koreas since the Korean War, in this Sept. 25, 2013 photo. / AP-YonhapBy Park Ji-wonAlmost seven out of 10 South Koreans want the resumption of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex and tours to Mount Geumgang in North Korea, according to a poll released Thursday.In the poll of 502 adults nationwide conducted by Realmeter, 68.9 percent said they support the reopening of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex and resuming of tours to Mount Geumgang, which will only possible after the U.S. eases sanctions on the North. Meanwhile, 26.5 percent said they disagree with this idea.The support rate increased by about 20 percentage points compared to the survey conducted in June 2017, the pollster said.To be specific, other than supporters of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), supporters of ruling and minor political parties agreed with the resumption.The data came amid talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump in Hanoi. It has been

Feb 28, 2019By Park Ji-won

Nearly 70% of S. Koreans want resumption of Gaeseong park

Kim's new interpreter debuts

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's interpreter Sin Hye-yong is heading to the Metropole hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam, Wednesday. Sin was newly appointed as Kim's interpreter for this second summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump in Hanoi, Vietnam. / YonhapBy Park Ji-wonThe new interpreter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un came to the stage at the Hanoi summit, replacing former interpreter Kim Ju-song who translated North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's speech during the first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore last June.Accompanying Kim is Sin Hye-yong, according to a press release from the U.S. presidential office on Wednesday.Not much is known about Sin, who hadn't been identified by the media until the beginning of the summit. She made her debut when Kim met with Trump at Hanoi's century-old Metropole hotel where they had dinner together on the first day of the summit. Since then, she has been translating Kim's every word into English for Trump.The interpreter is the only person who is allowed to join the one-to-one meeting between the leaders, and is likely t

Feb 28, 2019By Park Ji-won

No deal in Hanoi

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a news conference after his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the JW Marriott hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam, Feb. 28, 2019. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukTrump says Kim Jong-un wanted sanctions lifted alongside denuclearization By Kim Yoo-chul, Lee Min-hyungHANOI ― U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un failed to reach an agreement on denuclearization at their summit here in the Vietnamese capital, Thursday.Ultimately, the breakdown of the summit “was about sanctions,” Trump said in a press conference after the meeting with Kim. “It wasn't a thing to be signing anything today. He (Kim Jong-un) is quite a guy, quite a character. We had some options but at this time, we decided not to do any of the options,” Trump told reporters in a hurriedly arranged press conference after holding extended talks with the North Korean leader.“Sometimes, you have to walk. This was just of those items. Basically, they (North Korea) wanted the sanctions lifted, and we couldn't do that. We haven't given up a

Feb 28, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul

Moon to unveil new inter-Korean cooperation policy on March 1

South Korean President Moon Jae-in will unveil the details of his new proposal for the future of the Korean Peninsula on the 100th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement, a Seoul official said Thursday. The announcement, coming one day after a second North Korea-U.S. summit, is expected to focus on future economic cooperation between the two Koreas and Seoul's commitment to playing a leading role in the process.On Friday, the president will attend the national ceremony marking the anniversary of the historical protests against Japan's colonial rule across the country in 1919. Japan ruled Korea from 1910-45.President Moon earlier highlighted the importance of the centennial, saying it marks an event when the nation took the matter into its own hands 100 years ago.He says the country will again set the course of its own nation for the next 100 years with the so-called new Korean Peninsula regime."We will actively prepare for the new Korean Peninsula regime that will move from war and confrontation to peace and coexistence, from factionalism and ideology to economy and prosper

Feb 28, 2019

Politics

Politics

PHOTOS March 1 in 2019

FULL TEXT Moon's March 1 address

Moon says Hanoi summit made 'meaningful' progress, vows South Korea's active role

South Korea 'disappointed' at summit, remains hopeful for progress

PHOTOS Last day of Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi

'We expect good outcome from follow-up talks'

Nearly 70% of S. Koreans want resumption of Gaeseong park

Kim's new interpreter debuts

No deal in Hanoi

Moon to unveil new inter-Korean cooperation policy on March 1

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