Top prosecutor says justice minister probe in line with protocol

South Korea's top prosecutor on Wednesday said an ongoing probe into allegations surrounding Justice Minister Cho Kuk's family is being conducted in an appropriate manner.Replying to reporters on the sidelines of an international anti-drug conference, Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl said the investigation "is being conducted in accordance with the (appropriate) procedure."Yoon's remarks come amid criticism on the appropriateness of ongoing probes into corruption allegations involving

PoliticsSept. 25, 2019

ADB cuts growth outlook for S. Korea to 2.1%

The Asian Development Bank has slashed its growth outlook for South Korea this year to 2.1 percent, the bank said in a report released Wednesday.The latest outlook marks a sharp drop from April's 2.5 percent forecast.The bank cited the country's poor economic performance and adverse external factors that apparently include the US-China trade dispute.    The ADB also lowered its 2020 growth outlook for South Korea to 2.4 percent from the previous 2.5 percent.The South Korean econom

EconomySept. 25, 2019

Moon requests IOC support for two Koreas' joint bid for 2032 Olympics

NEW YORK -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday met with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, requesting his support for the plans to jointly host the mega sports competition with North Korea. At the start of the meeting, Moon credited the IOC for playing a critical role in last year’s PyeongChang Winter Olympics with North Korean participation, requesting Bach’s support in hosting the Summer Olympics in 2032 jointly with North Korea. “We will active

Foreign AffairsSept. 25, 2019

Seoul mulls discussion with N. Korea on sending cheering squad to World Cup qualifier in Pyongyang

The unification ministry said Wednesday that it is considering discussions with North Korea about sending a cheering squad to Pyongyang for next month's World Cup qualifier between the two Koreas.On Tuesday, the Korea Football Association in Seoul said that it has been informed by the Asian Football Confederation that the North will host South Korea on Oct. 15, as scheduled, for their Group H match in the second round of the Asian qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. "With regard to t

Social AffairsSept. 25, 2019

BTS video 'Blood Sweat & Tears' hits 500m YouTube views

BTS' 2016 music video "Blood Sweat & Tears" surpassed the YouTube milestone of 500 million views Wednesday, becoming the eighth BTS video do to so.The video for "Blood Sweat & Tears," the main track of the K-pop band's second full-length album, "Wings," hit the threshold Wednesday morning, nearly three years since its release in October 2016. It was the eighth BTS music video to pass the milestone. Other BTS videos that have achieved the feat include "D

PerformanceSept. 25, 2019

Justice minister's son summoned over allegedly forged internship certificates

The prosecution has summoned the son of Justice Minister Cho Kuk over suspicions that allegedly false internship certificates issued for him might have been used in his applications to graduate schools.The 23-year-old son was called in Tuesday as prosecutors are looking into alleged forgery of certificates over his internship experience at an institution of public interest and human rights at Seoul National University, where his father serves as a law professor.His summons is part of prosecutors

Social AffairsSept. 25, 2019

Trump attacks globalism and urges action on Iran at UN

UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- President Donald Trump stood before world leaders at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday and rejected "globalism" and liberal immigration policies while exhorting the world to act against Iran's "bloodlust.'' His speech and subsequent meetings had to compete with news from Washington that the House is moving forward with an impeachment inquiry.In his address, Trump took aim at China, Venezuela and what he called a "growing cottage industry" of radic

World NewsSept. 25, 2019

Famed opera singer Placido Domingo withdrawing from all future Met performance

NEW YORK (AFP) -- Placido Domingo, the legendary opera singer facing myriad sexual harassment accusations, is withdrawing from all future performances at New York's Metropolitan Opera, both he and the institution announced Tuesday.The 11th-hour decision comes just one night before the 78-year-old Spaniard, dubbed the "king of opera," was scheduled to perform in the Met's sold-out first production of "Macbeth." "Placido Domingo has agreed to withdraw from all future perfo

World NewsSept. 25, 2019

[Newsmaker] Another suspected African swine fever case reported in S. Korea

South Korea reported a new suspected African swine fever case on Wednesday, adding to concerns over the potential spread of the deadly animal disease despite massive disinfection efforts.The suspected case was reported at a farm on Ganghwa Island in Incheon, around 60 kilometers west of Seoul, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The ministry confirmed the fifth ASF case from the same location a day earlier.If confirmed, it would mark the sixth ASF case confirmed in

Social AffairsSept. 25, 2019

US House passes resolution on S. Korea, Japan relations

The US House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a resolution stressing the importance of US alliances with South Korea and Japan.The resolution, led by Rep. Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, came as trade and historical disputes between South Korea and Japan have threatened to undermine trilateral cooperation with the US.Engel also sent a letter to US President Donald Trump last week urging him to address the escalating tensions.The resolution expresses "the se

Foreign AffairsSept. 25, 2019

'Arthdal Chronicles' likely to have second season

The blockbuster TV fantasy series "Arthdal Chronicles" will likely come back with a second season despite its lower-than-expected viewership, its broadcaster tvN said Monday."We're positively considering making a second season," an official from tvN said. "The decision has not been finalized yet, but the possibility is high." Details of the second season's filming and airing date, staff and cast have not yet been decided, she noted."Arthdal Chronicles" is

TelevisionSept. 25, 2019

S. Korea, US hold 2nd day of talks on defense cost sharing

South Korea and the United States held a second day of talks on sharing the cost of stationing American troops here on Wednesday as US President Donald Trump renewed calls for allies to pay their "fair share."The two sides launched the negotiations on Tuesday to renew the Special Measures Agreement on determining how much Seoul should pay for stationing some 28,500 US soldiers in the country.The current deal is set to expire on Dec. 31. During the first day of talks, the two sides exch

Foreign AffairsSept. 25, 2019

WFP provides 1,425 tons of food aid to N. Korea in Aug.

North Korea received 1,425 tons of food aid from the World Food Programme last month, the UN food agency's monthly report showed Wednesday, as the impoverished country struggles to cope with chronic food shortages.The amount is down from the 2,188 tons provided a month earlier, according to the WFP report. A total of 557,930 people received the aid across North Korea last month. "Nutritional support is focused on areas of the country where food security and nutrition are fragile and reaches

North KoreaSept. 25, 2019

19 killed, dozens wounded as Pakistan jolted by shallow 5.2 quake

MIRPUR, Pakistan (AFP) -- At least 19 people have been killed and 300 injured after a shallow earthquake rattled northeastern Pakistan, tearing car-sized cracks into roads and heavily damaging infrastructure.The quake sent people in Lahore and Islamabad running into the streets. With rescue operations expected to continue overnight, residents in the worst-hit areas described their horror as walls collapsed and houses fell.The epicentre of the 5.2-magnitude quake was near the Kashmiri city of Mir

World NewsSept. 25, 2019

S. Korea, Russia to form joint investment fund, accelerate FTA talks

South Korea and Russia agreed Tuesday (Moscow time) to launch a fund for the industrial materials and parts sectors, and to speed up free trade negotiations, Seoul's finance ministry said.During the annual meeting on economic cooperation between South Korea and Russia, held in Moscow, South Korean Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki proposed a $1-billion joint fund to beef up the supply chain of industrial materials and parts by investing in core technologies, according to the ministry. Russia's delega

Foreign AffairsSept. 25, 2019

Top Democrat announces formal Trump impeachment inquiry

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Tuesday the opening of a formal impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump, saying he had violated the constitution in seeking help from Ukraine to hurt Democratic opponent Joe Biden."The actions of the Trump presidency revealed (the) dishonorable fact of the president's betrayal of his oath of office, betrayal of our national security and betrayal of the integrity of our elections," she said."Therefore, today I'm

World NewsSept. 25, 2019

Trump says N. Korea must denuclearize to tap potential

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that North Korea must denuclearize in order to tap its "tremendous" economic potential.In a speech to the UN General Assembly in New York, Trump said he delivered that message to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.His remarks come as the United States and North Korea are expected to resume working-level denuclearization negotiations in the coming weeks."I've told Kim Jong-un what I truly believe -- that, like Iran, his country is full of tremend

North KoreaSept. 25, 2019

Moon’s Blue Sky proposal also supports Paris Accord efforts: Environment Minister

NEW YORK – The idea of designating an International Day for Blue Sky is aimed at facilitating international cooperation on air pollution, and bringing forward a low-carbon era, Seoul’s Environment Minister Cho Myung-rae said Tuesday. The proposal for the International Day for Blue Sky was made by President Moon Jae-in at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York on Monday. Saying international cooperation was critical to fighting climate change and air pollution, Cho said that Moon&rs

Foreign AffairsSept. 25, 2019

NSCs of Seoul, Washington to maintain close cooperation

NEW YORK – South Korea’s national security office chief Chung Eui-yong met Robert O’Brien, the recently appointed US national security adviser, on Tuesday, Seoul’s presidential office said. According to Cheong Wa Dae, the two met in New York and agreed to continue working closely together on various issues. “(Chung and O’Brien) said that the close communication and cooperation between the two sides’ national security councils will be continued, and that

Foreign AffairsSept. 25, 2019

Korea, Australia seek closer ties

NEW YORK -- President Moon Jae-in and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison held a summit meeting in New York on Tuesday (US time), expressing hopes for stronger bilateral ties and cooperation in wider range of fields. “The friendship between the two nations has led to active economic exchange, and advanced into a relationship of cooperation in energy resources and infrastructure,” Moon was quoted as saying by Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Ko Min-jung. “I hope for cooperation t

Foreign AffairsSept. 25, 2019