N. Korea holds massive rally amid tensions with US

North Korea held a massive rally in Pyongyang on Sunday in the latest move to show its unity amid nuclear tensions with the United States.Hundreds of thousands of North Koreans marched at Kim Il-sung Square, with some of them holding pickets calling for unity, among other things. The participants, including Premier Kim Jae-ryong, pledged to thoroughly carry out tasks set forth at the recent crucial party meeting.North Korean officials "emphasized that they would bring about a rich harvest y

North KoreaJan. 6, 2020

Iran will forego 'limit' on centrifuges as tensions with US soar

TEHRAN (AFP) -- Iran on Sunday announced its fifth reduction in its nuclear commitments, saying it will forego the "limit on the number of centrifuges", as tensions with the United States soar after the killing of a top Iranian commander in a US strike.Iran's 2015 nuclear agreement with the United Nations Security Council's five permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany has been hanging by a thread since the US withdrew unilaterally from

World NewsJan. 6, 2020

PM nominee calls for efforts to resume economic projects with N. Korea

President Moon Jae-in's choice for prime minister called Sunday for joint efforts with North Korea for the resumption of their long-stalled economic projects.Chung Sye-kyun said in a written answer to parliament ahead of his confirmation hearing that the two Koreas need to make efforts to normalize their joint factory park in the North's western border town of Kaesong and a tour program to Mount Kumgang, North Korea's scenic mountain on the east coast, as soon as conditions are met. Chung did no

PoliticsJan. 5, 2020

Carlos Ghosn's escape: What we know

From jumping bail and fleeing to Lebanon to be met with an arrest notice from Interpol, Carlos Ghosn's escape from Japan has been worthy of a Hollywood plot.Here's what we know about the former Renault-Nissan boss's flight:The exact circumstances of his departure from Japan, where he was under house arrest pending trial, are still shrouded in mystery.On Thursday, Kyodo News quoted an associate of Ghosn, Imad Ajami, as claiming the tycoon was helped by two private security operatives who pretende

World BusinessJan. 5, 2020

Reigning S. Korean football MVP rejoins league champions

Midfielder Kim Bo-kyung, the 2019 South Korean pro football MVP, couldn't beat Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors for the league title last year. So he's joining them this year.Fresh off their third consecutive K League 1 championship, Jeonbuk announced on Sunday they're bringing back the playmaking midfielder after two seasons away. Financial terms were not disclosed.Kim, 30, spent the 2019 season with Ulsan Hyundai FC, on a one-year loan from his original club in Japan, Kashiwa Reysol. The former Premier

SoccerJan. 5, 2020

Schools unite, call Moon's anti-elitism policy 'unconstitutional'

Sixteen of Korea’s elite private high schools have united to oppose the Moon Jae-in administration’s plan to strip them of their administrative autonomy, calling it “unconstitutional” in a joint statement to be submitted to the government Monday.“Abolishing the private school system undermines the diversity and autonomy of education -- a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution -- and forces students into a uniform educational system without r

Social AffairsJan. 5, 2020

Seoul officials on alert over heightened risk of US-Iran conflict

Seoul officials said Sunday they were cautiously watching escalating tensions between the US and Iran and staying vigilant about the possible repercussions here. 　　The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched a task force to evaluate the current situation in the Middle East and to discuss measures to protect Koreans living in the area, the officials said. 　On Friday, the US confirmed that President Donald Trump had ordered the airstrike that killed Qassem Soleimani -- the head of Iran’s el

Foreign AffairsJan. 5, 2020

[Graphic News] Trump, Obama tied as most admired man in 2019

　President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama tied as the most admired man of 2019, according to a Gallup survey in the US.　This is the first year Trump has risen to the top spot in the annual survey and the 12th year for Obama. Each was named by 18 percent of respondents to the open-ended survey conducted Dec. 2-15, 2019.　Obama tied former President Dwight Eisenhower for the most times named as most admired man since the survey began in 1948.　Former first lady Michelle Obama was nam

World NewsJan. 5, 2020

Old stories to grace stage with new interpretations

The 2020 dance scene will be packed with productions that reinterpret well-known stories, offering fresh insights into time-honored tales. Eifman Ballet, led by Russian choreographer Boris Eifman, will perform “Beyond Sin” and “Anna Karenina” in May. Eifman is recognized for his reinterpretations of Russian novels with dramatic expression.“Beyond Sin” is a choreographic interpretation of Dostoevsky’s “The Brothers Karamazov.” Eifman has disti

PerformanceJan. 5, 2020

NK museum in Cambodia closes as workers repatriated

Cambodia has confirmed the shutdown of seven North Korean businesses in the country, including a museum near the Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap, to comply with UN-led sanctions.According to Japan’s Kyodo News last week, which cited Cambodian government officials, Angkor Panorama Museum recently halted operations, along with six North Korean restaurants. Established in 2015 by the hermit state with a $24 million investment, the museum had been staffed by North Koreans. The closures add to a

North KoreaJan. 5, 2020

[Newsmaker] K-pop chart manipulation resurfaces after SBS investigative program

The K-pop chart manipulation issue has once again come into the spotlight, following an SBS investigative journalism show that aired Saturday.The episode about the controversial issue caused an immediate stir on social media platforms and in search engine trends. On the latest episode of “Unanswered Questions,” industry insiders highlighted suspicions of music chart manipulation when a song, especially one by a relatively unknown musician, suddenly pops up on the charts without

PerformanceJan. 5, 2020

[A. Gary Shilling] Simple economics to contain health care costs

Spending on US health care is out of control, expanding steadily from 5 percent of gross domestic product in 1960 to 18 percent in 2018. There are, however, ways to curb the explosion in costs from both the demand and the supply side.Health care costs per capita in the US are almost double those of other developed countries, but life expectancy is lower than many, even South Korea, according to the CIA and Eurostat. Without restraint, costs will accelerate as more and more postwar babies age. Th

ViewpointsJan. 5, 2020

[Hal Brands] Trump’s Iran policy spirals toward control

The US airstrike that killed Qassem Soleimani, head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Quds Force, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a leader of Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, was not simply a sharp departure in the Trump administration’s policy toward Tehran. It also marks a larger shift in America’s response to Iranian influence and provocations in the Middle East. President Donald Trump has gambled that an extraordinary escalation will allow it to reassert control of an intensifying U

ViewpointsJan. 5, 2020

[Monitor] EV sales by Hyundai, Kia more than double

Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia Motors said they have seen their combined electric vehicle exports more than double last year.In 2019, the two carmakers exported 63,414 EVs, up from 27,798 units a year earlier.Their other eco-friendly vehicles including plug-in hybrid and fuel cell EV models also increased 16 percent to 226,581 units last year.Hyundai’s all-electric models include the Ioniq and the Kona Electric. Kia sells the Niro Electric and Soul electric boxcar in global markets. H

MobilityJan. 5, 2020

[Newsmaker] New conservative party sets sail ahead of April parliamentary elections

A new conservative party was launched Sunday, spearheaded by eight lawmakers who defected from the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party to build a right-wing party pursuing reforms.Rep. Yoo Seong-min and seven other lawmakers officially announced the launch of the party, tentatively named the New Conservative Party, at the National Assembly, less than four months before the April 15 parliamentary elections."Those who are willing to guard new conservative values have gathered here ... I am sur

PoliticsJan. 5, 2020

[News Focus] Who’s going to be fintech star in 2020?

An inflow of new players is likely to intensify the heated digitalization race in South Korea’s financial industry this year, along with the industry-wide efforts to expand the scope of business and accelerate innovation. Taking a bold step in a heavily regulated country in terms of customer information protection and security, traditional banks and financial institutions late last year started what is called an open banking service.Offering new business opportunities to small-sized financ

MarketJan. 5, 2020

Politics-themed stocks to rally ahead of April general elections

Ahead of the April parliamentary elections, politics-themed stocks are already experiencing a roller-coaster ride. While Seoul’s benchmark Kospi has stayed in a box pattern, stocks related to political figures are expected to show more volatility as elections approach.Related stocks could either surge or dip depending on the candidates’ political moves or performance. Since stock price manipulators take advantage of such stocks, financial authorities have vowed to monitor them closel

MarketJan. 5, 2020

N. Korea again calls for self-reliance to fight sanctions

North Korea on Sunday said it will not wait for the lifting of international sanctions and called for self-reliant measures to overcome the situation.The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North's ruling Workers' Party, said in an editorial that Pyongyang must employ the strategy of "frontal breakthrough" as proposed by leader Kim Jong-un."There is no need to hesitate with any expectation of the lifting of sanctions, now that we know the real intention of the United Stat

North KoreaJan. 5, 2020

Hyundai Motor steps up car-sharing business in Los Angeles

Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's largest carmaker, has stepped up its car-sharing business in Los Angeles, about two months after entering the market. Last November, Hyundai Motor set up a venture, MoceanLab, to offer mobility services in the US city with 15 Ioniq plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.Hyundai Motor plans to deploy about 300 Ioniq electric cars and vehicles from its affiliate, Kia Motors Corp., company officials said. Hyundai Motor's car-sharing business is a part of the US city'

IndustryJan. 5, 2020