my timesThe Korea Times
South Korea

Politics

Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
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.

Complete inventory report by North Korea unlikely

GETTYIMAGESBANKBy Kim Bo-eunNorth Korea is likely to open up only a few of its nuclear facilities and agree with the United States to initiate verification progress for dismantlement of these facilities, analysts said Sunday.The forecast came as talks about a second summit between Pyongyang and Washington focus on the details of the former's denuclearization next month. Multiple reports have the two sides meeting for second summit sometime next month.For months after the first summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump, the U.S. had insisted on the North submitting a full list of its nuclear inventory, as it would consider this the first step in complete nuclear disarmament However, North Korea is known to have refused this, as it believes exposing all its nuclear facilities entails security concerns. After a months-long deadlock over the denuclearization steps Pyongyang should take, Washington appears to have taken a more flexible approach.“The U.S. appears to have accepted the North's stance that it is problematic to report all of its nucle

Jan 13, 2019By Kim Bo-eun
Complete inventory report by North Korea unlikely

History continues to pose challenge to Korea-Japan ties

President Moon Jae-in speaks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at a hotel in New York on September 25. YonhapSeoul reviews request for discussion of forced labor ruling with TokyoBy Kim Bo-eunDealing with history issues with Japan, yet seeking to develop bilateral relations has been the Moon Jae-in government's stance toward Tokyo. Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule of Korea and atrocities Tokyo committed during that time have posed difficulties in ties. Japan intended to conclude compensation for colonial era issues by a deal in 1965 when the countries formally established diplomatic relations. However, compensation under the deal was not defined as compensation for atrocities committed under Tokyo's occupation of Korea. Forced labor rulingIn October last year, the Supreme Court ruled that Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal (NSSM) must compensate  plaintiffs who were victims of forced labor during the colonial rule. The ruling came 21 years since the plaintffs filed the first in Japan in 1997, and 14 years after they filed their case with a local court

Jan 13, 2019By Kim Bo-eun
History continues to pose challenge to Korea-Japan ties

Ex-presidential chief of staff becoming major factor in politics

Im Jong-seok, former presidential chief of staff, gives a farewell speech at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. Cheong Wa Dae replaced top aides including Im. / YonhapBy Park Ji-wonFormer presidential chief of staff Im Jong-seok is emerging as a key factor in Korean politics.He left Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday, after working as President Moon Jae-in's top aide for 20 months. But he is already being regarded as a potential contender for president.While in office, the former lawmaker successfully positioned himself as a major liberal figure despite incessant ideological attacks from conservatives.He played a big part in Moon's major achievements, especially in building a reconciliatory mood between the two Koreas. Im also served as chief of the preparatory committee for Moon?s three summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un last year.However, political pressure increased on him after a former Cheong Wa Dae staffer raised allegations that the presidential  office conducted illegal surveillance of citizens. The prosecution is now investigating the case.The political commu

Jan 11, 2019By Park Ji-won
Ex-presidential chief of staff becoming major factor in politics

'Xi Jinping may visit North Korea in April, South in May'

Lee Hae-chan, head of ruling Democratic Party of Korea, center, holds hands with new presidential chief of staff Noh Young-min, right, and Kang Gi-jung, presidential secretary for political affairs, during their meeting at the National Assembly, Friday. / YonhapBy Lee Min-hyungChinese President Xi Jinping is likely to visit North Korea in April in an apparent move to play a part in the peace overtures on the Korean Peninsula, South Korea's ruling party head said Friday. “It is likely that Xi will visit the North in April and come to the South in May,” Lee Hae-chan, head of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, said in a meeting with new presidential secretaries.“Leaders in Northeast Asia are looking to meet frequently in the first half of this year,” he added without citing any sources. The peace momentum in the region will further improve after the second Washington-Pyongyang summit and inter-Korean summit, possibly scheduled in the near future, he said.It is very important for South Korea to take advantage of the rare momentum for peace in a way to vitalize

Jan 11, 2019By Lee Min-hyung
'Xi Jinping may visit North Korea in April, South in May'

Defense ministry not to use provocative terms against NK

Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo speaks in a media briefing at its headquarters in Seoul, in this file photo taken in November last year. / YonhapBy Lee Min-hyungThe Ministry of National Defense said Friday it will stop using provocative military terms against North Korea to reflect the ongoing peace momentum on the Korean Peninsula. In a medium-term strategic planning report, the ministry replaced phrases, such as “Kill Chain” and “Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMRP),” with new ones using toned-down rhetoric.Kill Chain refers to a pre-emptive strike system against possible missile threats from North Korea ― the ministry decided to change this to “strategic target strike.” KMRP has also been renamed as “overwhelming response.”The decision came against the backdrop of the inter-Korean reconciliation under which Seoul and Pyongyang are taking a series of steps to ease military tension.But the decision has also raised controversy that the phrase change is nothing more than a “play of words” to be in line with the P

Jan 11, 2019By Lee Min-hyung
Defense ministry not to use provocative terms against NK

Chinese leader to visit North Korea in April: ruling party leader

Lee Hae-chan, center, chairman of the Democratic Party, sits with Noh Young-min, right, presidential chief of staff, and Kang Gi-jung, presidential secretary for political affairs, during a meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday. YonhapChinese President Xi Jinping may visit North Korea in April in what could be his first trip to the neighboring country, South Korea's ruling party chief said Friday.Lee Hae-chan, chairman of the Democratic Party (DP), made the remark during his meeting with Noh Young-min, President Moon Jae-in's new chief of staff, at the National Assembly. Noh visited there for the first time for a meeting with party chiefs since he took the post three days ago."Xi's visit to North Korea seems to be scheduled for April, and in May, there appears to be a high possibility of his trip to South Korea," Lee said, without revealing the source of his information.North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited China earlier this week and held a summit with Xi ahead of a second summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.North Korea's state media said that Xi accepted Kim's inv

Jan 11, 2019
Chinese leader to visit North Korea in April: ruling party leader

Moon considers special pardons to mark March 1

Justice Minister Park Sang-ki announces the government plan to grant special pardons to minor offenders at the government complex in Seoul in this Dec. 29, 2017. / Korea Times fileBy Park Ji-wonPresident Moon Jae-in is considering granting special pardons to minor offenders and activists ahead of the 100th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement and the establishment of the government-in-exile on April 11 1919 under Japanese colonial rule.The Ministry of Justice has already sent documents to district prosecutors' offices asking them to submit a list of possible candidates for the presidential amnesty, officials said Thursday.The number of people who will be pardoned is not immediately known. But sources say it could be quite many, since the Moon Jae-in government may seek to give amnesty to as many people as possible to celebrate the centennial.The list may include protesters convicted of illegally protesting against the U.S. deployment of a missile defense system, those convicted of occupying land for a naval base on Jeju Island and people convicted of participating in ille

Jan 10, 2019By Park Ji-won
Moon considers special pardons to mark March 1

PM meets Samsung's Jae-yong, inspects 5G factory

Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, left, speaks with Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong during a visit Thursday to the firm's Suwon factory that produces fifth-generation (5G) network-related products. / YonhapBy Park Ji-wonPrime Minister Lee Nak-yon met Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Thursday, on a visit to the firm's factory in Suwon, in an apparent move to expand communication with the business community.The prime minister inspected the facilities with government officials including Science and ICT Minister You Young-min.Samsung makes fifth-generation (5G) network-related products at the factory, one of its future growth engines. It has been speculated that the prime minister will have a closed meeting with Lee to discuss the company's economic plans while asking for his cooperation in job creation. If it materializes, it will be the first time the prime minister has had a one-on-one meeting with the head of one of the country's conglomerates since his inauguration. The visit was likely aimed at urging the company to boost investment and job creation. During

Jan 10, 2019By Park Ji-won
PM meets Samsung's Jae-yong, inspects 5G factory

Japan seeks 'diplomatic solution' to forced labor dispute

Lee Chun-sik, the only surviving plaintiff of a suit against Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal for forced labor speaks after the Supreme Court ruled for the Japanese company to pay each of the plaintiffs 100 million won, at the court in Seoul, Oct. 30. / Korea Times fileBy Kim Bo-eunThe government is mulling over whether to accept Japan's request for talks on Supreme Court rulings ordering Japanese firms to compensate South Korean victims of forced labor under Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule.Japan's request for “diplomatic discussions” came Thursday, after a local court approved a request from plaintiffs to seize assets of Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal (NSSM).The request for the asset seizure was made, as the company refused to comply with the ruling.The foreign ministry said it would “thoroughly review” Japan's request for talks.The talks would be focused on forced labor rulings. After the Supreme Court ruled in favor of plaintiffs in the trial involving NSSM on Oct. 30 last year, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries was also ordered to compensate victims of forced la

Jan 10, 2019By Kim Bo-eun
Japan seeks 'diplomatic solution' to forced labor dispute

New Year Address 'Kim Jong-un understands USFK presence'

President Moon Jae-in gives his New Year's address at Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. YonhapBy Lee Min-hyungNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un is well aware that the United States Forces Korea (USFK) will continue to be stationed in the South despite his ongoing efforts for the regime's denuclearization, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said in a televised New Year's press conference, Thursday.“Kim Jong-un clearly understands the North's denuclearization has nothing to do with the presence of the USFK in the South, viewing its existence as part of the security alliance between Seoul and Washington,” Moon said.The remark came amid lingering concerns that North Korea may demand the withdrawal of the USFK in the future, as it will be difficult for the South to justify U.S. troops' continuing presence here after the possible declaration of the end to the 1950-53 Korean War.President Moon, however, dispelled such worries, underlining Kim made it clear not to link the USFK issue with the ongoing inter-Korean and Washington-Pyongyang dialogues.“Strategic weapons, deployed in Japan

Jan 10, 2019By Lee Min-hyung
[New Year Address] 'Kim Jong-un understands USFK presence'
  • New Year Address Gov't to strengthen social and employment safety nets
previous page
971972973974975
next page

Most Read in South Korea