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South Koreans hold anti-Abe rally

Thousands of South Koreans took part in a candle-lit rally on Saturday (August 10) to protest against Japan's decision to impose restrictions on exports from its Asian neighbour.Protesters holding candles and placards reading "No Abe" gathered next to a "comfort women" statue near the Japanese embassy in Seoul. The statue commemorates Korean women forced to work in Japanese military brothels during World War Two.Earlier in the day, South Korean activists launched what they termed "No Abe Street"; hanging three hundred placards reading "No Abe" on the trees along a Seoul street near Seodaemun Prison where independent activists were jailed during the Japan's colonial rule.Protesters shout slogans as they hold signs and candles during a rally denouncing Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and also demanding the South Korean government to abolish the General Security of Military Information Agreement, or GSOMIA, an intelligence-sharing agreement between South Korea and Japan, near the Japanese embassy in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019. The letters read "No Abe.

Aug 12, 2019By Choi Won-suk

From North Korean defector to YouTube star

21-year-old Kang Na-ra fled to South Korea from the North in 2014 and is now a beauty and cosmetics social media influencer in Seoul. She said while the South Korean products still triumph, North Korean products are increasingly jumping on the K-beauty bandwagon. Michelle Hennessy reports.21-year-old Kang Na-Ra is a beauty influencer in South Korea. But the products she's reviewing here can't be bought where she lives in Seoul.That's because these beauty items are from North Korea. Kang is originally from the North she's a defector who fled just five years ago.Reuters brought her the North Korean cosmetics, which can also be bought in Russia and China. Here she's filming a comparison between products from the communist North, and the beauty-obsessed South.Kang Na-ra, a North Korean defector who is now a beauty YouTuber, puts on her makeup with North Korean cosmetic products, in Seoul, South Korea, June 11, 2019. Picture taken on June 11, 2019. ReutersFor a reclusive country that tightly regulates its citizens' appearance, the results might be surprising:1-YEAR-OLD NORT

Aug 12, 2019By Choi Won-suk

From North Korean defector to YouTube star

South Koreans are boycotting anything Japanese

At supermarkets across the country, Japanese products are being pulled off shelves as a "Boycott Japan" movement quickly gathers steam online.Korean customers are shunning beer, snacks or anything else from Japan. It's a hit that merchants here - are willing to take.SOUTH KOREAN DIRECTOR AT PRUNE-MART, CHO MIN-HYUK, SAYING:"We expect a 10-15% revenue drop. But despite our losses as a small business, we're going ahead with the boycott to protest the unfair export restrictions."Protesters in South Korea see the limits as retaliation after the two sides clashed on an issue that stretches back to World War Two. Japan had colonized the Korean peninsula and forced many Koreans to work for its companies during wartime.South Korea recently asked Japan to start a joint fund for the victims but Japan refused.It considers the matter settled. Instead, Tokyo slapped on trade restrictions, sparking Korean anger and the boycotts.Online, screenshots of Japan trip cancellations have been trending on social media.Twenty-nine-year-old Lee Sang-Won took a $100 hit

Aug 2, 2019By Choi Won-suk

South Koreans are boycotting anything Japanese

Boycott of Japanese goods to intensify as Tokyo expands export curbs

Angry Korean fans to sue after Ronaldo no show

Angry Korean fans to sue after Ronaldo no show.Football fans in South Korea are seeking compensation after Cristiano Ronaldo failed to play in a pre-season friendly. (Reuters)

Aug 2, 2019By Choi Won-suk

Inside Camp Humphreys: The largest overseas US army base

Behind the thick brick wall of the U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, some 65-kilometers south of Seoul, the environment is completely different to that of the rest of the city. The United States Army Garrison Humphreys, also known as USAG Humphreys, is America's largest overseas military base which is home to some 25-thousand people.The Korea Times had a rare chance to film inside the base, and see how American troops have created home away from home.

Jul 29, 2019By Lee Min-young

Inside Camp Humphreys: The largest overseas US army base

North Korea releases photos of leader Kim Jong Un watching missile launch

North Korea's official news agency KCNA on Friday (July 26) released still photographs of the state's leader Kim Jong Un watching a missile launch.KCNA said the latest launch was a warning to South Korean "warmongers" to stop importing weapons and conducting joint military drills, a message that analysts said was also aimed at the United States.Kim personally watched the test-fire of two short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday (July 25), the first since Kim met with U.S. President Donald Trump last month and agreed to revive denuclearisation talks.The missile tests raise doubts about the revival of denuclearisation talks, which stalled after the collapse of a second summit between Kim and Trump in Hanoi in February. (Reuters)

Jul 26, 2019By Choi Won-suk

North Korea releases photos of leader Kim Jong Un watching missile launch

U.S. urges North Korea to stick with diplomacy

The United States on Thursday urged North Korea to refrain from further provocations after the communist country test-fired two new short-range ballistic missiles and said it still hoped for a resumption of working-level talks on North Korea's denuclearization. Nathan Frandino reports.The U.S. on Thursday urged North Korea to avoid making any more provocative moves, after Pyongyang conducted its second missile test in two months.State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus."We want to have diplomatic engagement and continue to urge the North Koreans to resolve all of things through diplomacy."Earlier Thursday, the North fired off two short-range missiles that South Korea's National Security Council identified as a new type of projectile that poses a military threat to the peninsula.The South's Defense Ministry spokesperson urged the North to halt the tests, which follow a pair of earlier launches in May.Analysts said the test firing from the east coast city of Wonsan could jeopardize the recent decision by the U.S. and the North to revive stalled nuclear talks.Kim

Jul 26, 2019By Choi Won-suk

U.S. urges North Korea to stick with diplomacy

North Korea fires suspected missiles into ocean

North Korea fired at least two projectiles early on Thursday from an area near Wonsan, on North Korea's eastern coast, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said. Jillian Kitchener reports.At least two unidentified projectiles were fired from North Korea’s eastern coast early on Thursday — traveling about 260 miles to the east.That’s according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.Japanese government sources say the projectiles were short-range ballistic missiles.The White House, Pentagon and U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.Thursday marks the first missile test reported since U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met at the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas at the end of June.The U.S. and North Korea recently agreed to hold fresh talks… but since then, the isolated country has sharply criticized upcoming joint military drills by U.S the South Korean troops.On Tuesday, North Korea’s state news agency reported that Kim visited a factory

Jul 25, 2019By Choi Won-suk

North Korea fires suspected missiles into ocean

South Korea and U.S. to hold scaled-down military drills in August

South Korean and American armed forces are set to hold a scaled-down version of their annual military drills amid protests from North Korea.The U.S. and South Korea have announced that the 19-2 Dong Maeng military exercise will take place in August. South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reports that the exercise was first launched in March this year.Pentagon Spokesman Dave Eastburn said this is a regular exercise that shows U.S.commitment to their alliance with South Korea, and to the defense of the Korean Peninsula.During the exercise, the two sides will assess Seoul's initial operational capability. This is to verify whether South Korea is on track for its plan to retake wartime operational control of combined forces from the U.S. by 2022.The three requirements for the transfer include: South Korea acquiring key military capabilities to lead their combined forces, securing capabilities to respond early to nuclear and missile threats from North Korea and favorable security circumstances on the Korean Peninsula, accordi

Jul 23, 2019By Choi Won-suk

South Korea and U.S. to hold scaled-down military drills in August

Rising pop queen Mabel to release new album

On Tuesday morning, Mabel, a 23 year old singer who rocketed to stardom after only a few singles, met with the Korea Times at the InterContinental Grand Seoul Parnas in Samsung-dong, southern Seoul. Born into a musical family - her mother is Swedish singer-songwriter Neneh Cherry and her father producer Cameron Mcvey - Mabel was given a solid introduction to the industry. Now with her first album, “High Expectations,” about to be released, she is travelling to promote it in Korea and other countries in Asia. “I have set the bar really high, dreamt big and it just felt like fitting title for my debut album,” Mabel explained. Mabel is of mixed heritage and has been exposed to a range of cultures. She was born in Malaga, raised in Sweden, and now lives in England.

Jul 19, 2019By Lee Min-young

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