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Podcast: NK's proposal rejected, Park's New Year's speech, and history textbooks

Today on The Korea Times Podcast: Pyongyang rejects Seoul's overture for talks while South Korea disagrees with the United State's assessment of North Korea's nuclear might. Plus shake-ups continue at Chang Wa Dae and new history books could be on the horizon for Korean students.NK rejects resolution for S-N talksThe Ministry of Unification said Friday that North Korea refused to accept an invitation extended by Seoul to resume inter-Korean talks. Expressing regret over Pyongyang’s continuous military provocations, the National Assembly resolution asked for talks without conditions to discuss humanitarian assistance for people in the repressive state and was seen as an attempt to lessen tensions on the peninsula.Seoul, U.S. differ over North's N-tipped missile technologyThe United States Defense Department said last week, it has yet to secure specific evidence to prove that North Korea has attained the technology needed to miniaturize a nuclear warhead. It's a view different from South Korea’s latest analysis in its 2014 Defense White Paper, that the reclusive state&rsquo

Jan 12, 2015
Podcast: NK's proposal rejected, Park's New Year's speech, and history textbooks

'Nut rage' meddling, Sewol bill, and Seoul-Tokyo ties

Today on The Korea Times Podcast: Heather Cho, the Korean Airlines former executive, is indicted on multiple charges and a compensation arrangement has been agreed upon for the Sewol victims’ families. Plus ties between Seoul and Tokyo may remain strained in 2015 and what’s next in the “memo gate” scandal.'Cho peddled influence in ministry's probe'The prosecution has concluded that Heather Cho, former Korean Air executive, exercised influence during the transportation authority's investigation into the "nut rage" incident. Prosecutors indicted her on Wednesday on charges of violating the Aviation Safety Law and interfering with the authority's official duties.Parties reach agreement on Sewol billsThe rival political parties reached agreement Tuesday on a set of measures to compensate the victims of the Sewol ferry disaster that claimed 304 lives. The agreement came 265 days after the Sewol sank on April 16 last year. Chief policymakers of the ruling Saenuri Party and main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy agreed to deal with the bill at a National

Jan 9, 2015
'Nut rage' meddling, Sewol bill, and Seoul-Tokyo ties

Podcast: 'Memogate' lies, oil woes, and China relations

Today on The Korea Times Podcast: Authorities conclude their investigation into “memogate” and the Korea National Oil Corp is considered a failure. Plus South Korea and China hold a second round of security talks in Seoul and a book detailing the experiences of 12 Comfort Women is released.'Memogate' all about lies: prosecutors Prosecutors concluded Monday that allegations at the center of the "memogate" scandal were based on rumors fabricated by two disgruntled presidential aides. The announcement of the outcome of their interim findings appeared to support comments made by President Park Geun-hye that reports published by the Segye Ilbo regarding a power struggle among her aides were “baseless.”KNOC reels under botched investment In 2009, the Korea National Oil Corp. purchased a Canadian refining firm, North Atlantic Refining Limited. That acquisition is now considered a total failure that was brought on through a mixture of mismanagement, lack of supervision, and an ill-prepared state drive.S.Korea, China to hold security talks South Korea an

Jan 7, 2015
Podcast: 'Memogate' lies, oil woes, and China relations

Missing women, IKEA's suspension, and the 'baby box' controversy

 Today on The Korea Times Podcast: Over 150 women are missing near Suwon and international retailer IKEA may be forced to shut its doors. Plus some fear an unwanted child donation station is encouraging abandonment and President Park asks the UN for help in facilitating inter-Korean talks.159 women missing in SuwonOver the past two years, 159 women over the age of 18 have been reported missing in Suwon, according to the Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency. It's also where last month’s gruesome “torso murder” took place. A Korean-Chinese illegal alien, Park Chun-bong, killed his Korean-Chinese ex-girlfriend and discarded her body parts in four separate places. Police said they have designated some districts in Suwon where there are large foreign communities as “vulnerable areas,” and will increase patrols and security measures. IKEA faces business suspension in KoreaSwedish furniture retailer IKEA faces a business suspension because of severe traffic congestion on roads surrounding its first shopping center, in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province. "Peo

Jan 5, 2015
Missing women, IKEA's suspension, and the 'baby box' controversy

Inter-Korean relations, 'nut rage' texts, and foot-and-mouth disease

Today on The Korea Times Podcast: President Park vows to improve the state of inter-Korean relations and the nut rage incident lands one sister in jail and another in hot water. Plus foot and mouth disease is detected in Gyeonggi Province and an app aims to keep women safe on the subway.President Park vows to improve inter-Korean relationsPresident Park Geun-hye pledged earlier this week to seek improvements in inter-Korean relations this year. “I will lay substantial grounds for and open a way to unification,” Park said in her New Year message.She vowed to take the initiative in relations with North Korea based on trust and change, and end the era of national division. Park stressed the significance of New Year, which is expected to be a critical juncture for inter-Korean relations.Emily Cho apologizes for text message to sisterEmily Cho, Heather Cho’s younger sister and a Korean Air executive, apologized Wednesday for a text message she sent to her sister this month, in which she promised to avenge her sister over the alleged nut rage incident.The prosecution had

Jan 2, 2015
Inter-Korean relations, 'nut rage' texts, and foot-and-mouth disease

Inter-Korean talks, court's 'biased' rulings and more memogate

Today on The Korea Times Podcast: Seoul proposes high level talks with North Korea and meets with Japanese counterparts to discuss the sexual enslavement of Korean women during World War II. Plus, some feel changes are needed in the nation’s constitutional court to prevent bias and prosecutors seek an arrest warrant in “memo gate" scandal.Seoul asks NK for talksSeoul has proposed holding minister-level inter-Korean talks next month to discuss mutual concerns including the reunion of families separated during the 1950-53 Korean War.Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae told a press briefing that a presidential committee to prepare for unification sent a fax message to North Korea offering dialogue. He hoped for a positive reply. The committee was launched in July, with a mission to build trust between the two Koreas and lay the groundwork for unification. President Park Geun-hye is chairwoman, while Minister Ryoo and former Korean Ambassador to China Chung Chong-wook serve as deputy heads.Seoul, Tokyo to discuss sexual slaveryThe vice foreign ministers of Korea and Japan met

Dec 31, 2014
Inter-Korean talks, court's 'biased' rulings and more memogate

Intelligence sharing, jailed tycoons and nuke jitters

Today on The Korea Times Podcast: Korea joins the United States and Japan in an intelligence sharing agreement and the ministry may pardon jailed tycoons to boost the economy. Plus Seoul remains on high alert after nuclear reactor hacks and police hunt down a murder suspect in Incheon.Seoul to sign intelligence pact with Japan, USSouth Korea, the United States, and Japan will agree on Monday to share military intelligence on North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, according to the Ministry of National Defense.Despite some built-in limitations, the pact will be the first of its kind for Seoul."The arrangement does not mean direct sharing with Japan. We will give our intelligence first to the U.S. and the tips will then be shared with Japan upon our approval, and vice versa," a ministry official said.Jailed tycoons may get paroled Saenuri Party Chairman Kim Moo-sung and Finance Minister Choi Kyung-hwan are advocating for the early release of business tycoons from prison.The two said have said that since the economy is in poor shape, imprisoned business leaders should be pardon

Dec 29, 2014
Intelligence sharing, jailed tycoons and nuke jitters

Podcast: Constitutional Court could be busy next year

Today on The Korea Times Podcast: The Constitutional Court prepares to rule on a number of laws which could have wide ranging impact on Korean society and experts chime in on the four-rivers projects. Plus school owners feel the government’s plan to ban English teachers may hurt students and an unbelievable price for a bag of potato chips. Constitutional Court to rule on disputed cases next yearLast week the Constitutional Court ruled to disband the United Progressive Party for engaging in pro-North Korea activities. The court is also set to rule on other controversial cases. Additional rulings are due on whether there should be laws banning adultery, whether sex workers should be punished and if a sacked teacher should be allowed to become a member of a union, as well as others. Experts discredit gov't inspection on 4-river projectEnvironmental experts said a government-led investigation failed to deliver a fair assessment on the four-river restoration project that took place under former President Lee Myung-bak.Their opinions come after a 13-member committee conclud

Dec 26, 2014
Podcast: Constitutional Court could be busy next year

UN Security Council takes up N. Korean rights

Today on The Korea Times Podcast: North Korea appears on the U.N. Security Council’s agenda and hackers penetrate a nuclear reactor. Plus host Steve Miller discusses fall-out from the dissolution of the Unified Progressive Party and answers questions if could KEPCO reduce electricity rates this winter?UN Security Council adopts NK human rights as agenda item The United Nations Security Council adopted North Korea's human rights record as an official agenda item for the first time in New York on Monday, a highly symbolic move designed to increase pressure on Pyongyang to improve the treatment of its own people.The issue was adopted in an 11-2 vote with two abstentions among the 15 council members. China and Russia, as expected, with whom the DPRK has friendlier relations, voted against adopting the issue as an official agenda item.It was the first time that North Korea's human rights situation has been put on the Security Council's agenda. It was also only the third time that the human rights situation of a country has become an agenda item of the council after that of Zimb

Dec 24, 2014
UN Security Council takes up N. Korean rights

Unprecedented ruling on UPP met with hurrahs, fears of McCarthyism

Today on The Korea Times Podcast: The Constitutional Court dissolves the United Progressive Party and only one judge dissents. Plus Seoul backs the United Nations on referring North Korea to the International Criminal Court and US Rep representative Honda calls Abe’s actions nonsense.Unprecedented ruling on UPP met with hurrahs, fears of McCarthyismThe Constitutional Court has dissolved the pro-North Korean Unified Progressive Party (UPP) in the first judiciary move to outlaw a political party since the nation’s Constitution was first drawn up in 1948.The nine-person panel voted on Friday with an overwhelming 8-1 majority in favor of disbanding the UPP, which was founded in 2011.The Unified Progressive Party had a hidden agenda to adopt North Korea’s socialism, organizing meetings to plot a rebellion, in violation of the basic democratic order of the Constitution, said the court’s President Park Han-chul when reading the ruling.Justice Kim voices only opposition Only one of the nine Constitutional Court justices ― Kim Yi-su ― voted against dissolving the

Dec 22, 2014
Unprecedented ruling on UPP met with hurrahs, fears of McCarthyism
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