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President Moon visits National Cemetery to start New Year

The Korean President Moon Jae-in, center, together with the Prime Minister Lee Nak-yun, right, and Cheong Wa Dae aides, takes a vow of silence at the National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapThe Korean President Moon Jae-in offers a wreath stand to Hyunchungtap Memorial Tower inside the National Cemetery, Wednesday. YonhapThe Korean President Moon Jae-in, before leaving the National Cemetery, leaves a comment on the visitor's notebook, Wednesday. His message read: "The new 100 years of the Republic of Korea, may all prosper here!" YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in made a rare trip to the National Cemetery on Wednesday to pay his respects to the country's war veterans and heroes before starting the first working day of the new year.The president was joined by all 19 members of his Cabinet, including Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, on his visit to the Seoul National Cemetery.Such visits are customary for the president and other leaders before or after major events.Moon is now in the third year of his single five-year presidency. (Yonhap)

Jan 2, 2019

President Moon visits National Cemetery to start New Year

Moon insists difficulties 'necessary' for much-needed change

North Korean leader prioritizes economic growth

A cement-making factory in North Korea's city of Sunchon. YonhapBy Kim Bo-eunHow to spur economic growth was one of the main topics of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's New Year's address, Tuesday. He devoted half his speech to emphasizing the need for economic expansion.“We need to strengthen the might of our socialist self-dependent economy,” he said. “We must achieve the strategic goals of the state's economic development, based on our own technical skills, resources, a creative spirit of the people and revolutionary passion.”The speech on the state's ambitions comes at a time the regime has pledged to give up its nuclear program and focus on building the economy.Last April, at a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Committee, Kim vowed to place priority on developing the economy, stating Pyongyang had completed work on its nuclear capability.It is Kim's plan to take denuclearization steps to lift sanctions that have been placed by the United Nations Security Council and individual states, to enable economic development.He said in the spee

Jan 1, 2019By Kim Bo-eun

North Korean leader prioritizes economic growth

'Kim's address shows wishes for better ties with South, US'

Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom. Korea Times fileBy Kim Bo-eunNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un's New Year address demonstrated his wishes for improving ties with South Korea and the United States, Cheong Wa Dae said.“Chairman Kim's firm willingness will have a positive influence in resolving the issues of the Korean Peninsula in the new year,” spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said in a text message to reporters.The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and most parties welcomed the North Korean leader's address, in which he affirmed his willingness for the state's denuclearization.“We welcome the fact that (the North Korean leader) clearly stated firm willingness for complete denuclearization and establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula and for improved inter-Korean relations,” the DPK's spokesman Hong Ihk-pyo said in a statement.Referring to Kim's remarks that he is prepared to sit down with U.S. President Donald Trump again for denuclearization talks, the spokesman said, “This shows positive prospects of a high-level meeting and summit between North

Jan 1, 2019By Kim Bo-eun

'Kim's address shows wishes for better ties with South, US'

Kim wants to resume suspended economic projects with South

South Korean citizens watch a television report on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's New Year address, at Seoul Station in central Seoul, Tuesday. / YonhapNK leader urges end to Seoul-Washington joint drillsBy Lee Min-hyungNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un showed strong willingness to restart the suspended inter-Korean tourism and business projects this year in his New Year address, Tuesday. But resuming these projects is impossible under the current sanctions regime led by the U.S. Observers here say he intends to get sanctions relief from the U.S. through projects with South Korea.“I am willing to resume tourism to Mount Geumgang and reopen the Gaeseong Industrial Complex (both in North Korea) for nothing,” Kim said.The remark came against the backdrop of the rapidly thawing inter-Korean relations. Starting last year, the young leader of the North offered to join hands with the South for complete denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula.Last year, Kim held three rounds of summits with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and reached a series of agreements centerin

Jan 1, 2019By Lee Min-hyung

Kim wants to resume suspended economic projects with South

Presidential aide denies spying claims

The President's secretary for civil affairs Cho Kuk answers a lawmaker's question during a National Assembly steering committee meeting held Tuesday. / YonhapBy Kim Bo-eunSenior presidential secretary for civil affairs Cho Kuk denied allegations that Cheong Wa Dae spied on political opponents in an interpellation session at the National Assembly, Tuesday.The denial came amid growing political offensives by conservative parties over the claims raised by Kim Tae-woo, a prosecution investigator who was part of a team under Cho's supervision. Cho said Kim raised the illegal surveillance claims after being found to have been involved in corruption allegations in Cheong Wa Dae's internal probe, but opposition parties are taking advantage of him for political reasons. The prosecution is expected to indict Kim on corruption charges soon.“The point in this case is that Kim is raising groundless allegations against Cheong Wa Dae, for which he worked, after his irregularities were found in his work. He is under a corruption investigation, no more no less,” Cho said.Kim has claimed h

Dec 31, 2018By Kim Bo-eun

Japan's reluctance to reveal radar frequency fuels dispute

Seen above is video footage released by Japan's Ministry of Defense on Friday. / Screen capture from YouTubeBy Lee Min-hyungThe ongoing diplomatic tension between Seoul and Tokyo is showing no signs of abating, with Japan reiterating its firm determination not to disclose critical data that holds the key to resolving the recent conflict between a South Korean warship and Japanese patrol airplane. Seoul wants Japan to reveal data on the frequency of the radar waves to back up the latter's repeated claim that the Korean destroyer directed its fire-control radar at the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force's P-1 patrol aircraft.But Japan declined to do so, citing concerns over a leak of confidential military information. With a lack of such critical information, Japan released video footage on Friday which the country claims is proof to show that the Korean warship locked fire-control radar on the Japanese aircraft on Dec. 20.The footage showed the Japanese patrol plane was flying only about 150 meters above the South Korean vessel, which Seoul viewed an “irregular act of provocati

Dec 31, 2018By Lee Min-hyung

Japan's reluctance to reveal radar frequency fuels dispute

Moon ends 2018 with lowest approval rating

In this April 27, 2018, file photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, poses with President Moon Jae-in for a photo inside the Peace House at the border village of Panmunjom in Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), South Korea. AP-YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chulPresident Moon Jae-in finished off his second year with his lowest approval rating yet. The fall is due to continuing economic hardship, growing concerns over the pace of reconciliation with North Korea and allegations of organized plots by Cheong Wa Dae to illegally monitor private civilians.The approval rating of the President retreated by 1.2 percentage points to 45.9 percent last week, according to a poll conducted by Realmeter of 2,011 people across the country. The results were released on Monday.The polling results followed after a tumultuous year in which the President has tried hard to encourage a rapid reconciliation with North Korea, paying less attention to economic-related issues that have served to exacerbate divisions in the country.The local pollster said the steady decline was mostly due to allegations that Cheong Wa Dae was op

Dec 31, 2018By Kim Yoo-chul

Moon ends 2018 with lowest approval rating

Army opens AI research center

By Lee Min-hyungArmy Brigadier General Kim Yong-samThe Army has launched an artificial intelligence (AI) research center, with a view to developing smarter software systems in use for troop management and military training, the armed forces said Monday.“As of the beginning of 2019, the Army's AI research unit will be launched for the first time in the nation's military history,” the Army said in a statement. A group of 50 AI experts in the military will work for the center.The decision comes in line with the ongoing technological paradigm shift represented by such terms as hyper-connection and hyper-intelligence, according to the Army.In recent years, the AI has become the talk of the global research town, with a growing number of tech companies identifying big data-driven technology as their next key growth engine. The AI systems can carry out human-like predictions after piling up enough datasets.The Army also plans to place its AI software into hardware systems, such as drones and its cutting-edge combat uniform called “Warrior Platform.”“The AI techn

Dec 31, 2018By Lee Min-hyung

INTERVIEW 'Kim Jong-un should meet Moon before Trump'

Former Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at his office in Seoul on Dec. 19. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukBy Kim Bo-eunNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un needs to get advice from President Moon Jae-in for negotiating with the United States ahead of his possible second summit U.S. President Donald Trump, former Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun said.“Pyongyang is not so apt when it comes to reading between the lines in negotiations with Washington,” Jeong said in a recent interview with The Korea Times.“It should be advised by the South on how to proceed with talks by giving concessions such as reporting key nuclear facilities and allowing inspectors to check them.”Jeong said Kim's visit to Seoul, if realized, will be a critical moment in moving the peace process forward.Fortunately, Kim seems to be eager to visit Seoul soon. On Sunday, Cheong Wa Dae said Kim sent a letter to President Moon, expressing his strong willingness to discuss denuclearization with Moon in Seoul.Jeong said Moon is in a position to med

Dec 31, 2018By Kim Bo-eun

[INTERVIEW] 'Kim Jong-un should meet Moon before Trump'

Revised S. Korea-U.S. free trade pact to take effect this week

South Korea said Monday that the revised free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States is set to take effect this week, a move that could improve commerce and investment, and further deepen bilateral relations.The two sides are scheduled to exchange a written notification Tuesday that they have completed domestic procedures for the implementation of an updated arrangement, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said.The move comes after Seoul and Washington carried out negotiations on how to revise their original free trade deal, which went into effect in 2012. The U.S. mainly focused on tackling its deficit in the auto sector."The role of the South Korea-U.S. FTA will be to further strengthen the basic framework of the already strong relations," the ministry said.Under the revised accord, the U.S. will hold onto the 25 percent tariff on Korean-made pickup trucks for another 20 years to 2041.It also obliges Seoul to double the 25,000-vehicle unit threshold for U.S. car imports that do not have to comply with domestic industry regulations, which would enable 50,000 vehicles to

Dec 31, 2018

Politics

Politics

President Moon visits National Cemetery to start New Year

North Korean leader prioritizes economic growth

'Kim's address shows wishes for better ties with South, US'

Kim wants to resume suspended economic projects with South

Presidential aide denies spying claims

Japan's reluctance to reveal radar frequency fuels dispute

Moon ends 2018 with lowest approval rating

Army opens AI research center

INTERVIEW 'Kim Jong-un should meet Moon before Trump'

Revised S. Korea-U.S. free trade pact to take effect this week

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