Trade minister returns home after consulting with US over Japan's trade curbs

South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee returned home from the United States on Saturday after asking for Washington's support and mediation in Seoul's fight against export controls by Japan.During her five-day visit, Yoo met various political and business officials in Washington, including US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, to highlight that Tokyo's restrictions are not acceptable. Starting this month, without prior notice, Japan implemented strict regulations for exports of three key materia

IndustryJuly 27, 2019

N. Korea emphasizes economic development on armistice anniversary

North Korea urged its people to focus on economic development with a strong will to protect its regime on the armistice anniversary Saturday. The Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, said in an editorial that people and its soldiers should move forward in creating a strong communist nation, adding they should make a leap in the area of economic development on the 66th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.The armistice signed on July 27, 1953, l

North KoreaJuly 27, 2019

Loft collapse inside Gwangju nightclub kills 2, injures athletes at FINA championships

A loft inside a nightclub in the southwestern city of Gwangju collapsed Saturday, killing two people and injuring more than 10, including athletes competing at the 18th FINA World Championships, city authorities said. The Gwangju Fire and Safety Headquarters said the loft inside the nightclub collapsed around 2:30 a.m. and claimed the lives of two South Koreans. Authorities suspect the loft collapsed due to too much weight. Witnesses said there were about 100 people on the loft area, which

Social AffairsJuly 27, 2019

Trump says he is not upset by NK missile launch

US President Donald Trump said Friday he is not upset by North Korea's ballistic missile launches earlier this week, signaling a commitment to continuing nuclear talks with the regime.Trump's remarks came after North Korea test-fired two short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday (Seoul time) in the first such provocation since early May.Asked by reporters if he was upset, Trump said, "Nope, not at all.""They're short-range missiles and my relationship is very good with Chair

Foreign AffairsJuly 27, 2019

Lawmakers from S. Korea, US, Japan seek to boost cooperation, resolve trade spat

Lawmakers from South Korea, the United States and Japan met in Washington on Friday to help boost trilateral cooperation and resolve a trade dispute between Seoul and Tokyo.The biannual meeting, organized by The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation, came at a time of tense relations between the two US allies over Japan's adoption of stricter export controls against South Korea earlier this month.The controls, which affect exports of key materials used in the production of semiconductors and dis

Foreign AffairsJuly 27, 2019

NK marks armistice anniversary with warning of 'merciless' fight against invasion

North Korea threatened a "merciless" response to any enemy attacks Friday ahead of the 66th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War.Kim Su-gil, director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army, made the remarks during his speech at a meeting to mark the anniversary slated for Saturday. "We have to launch merciless attacks to vigorously crush those who even dare to invade 0.001 millimeter of our holy sky, land, and sea,

North KoreaJuly 26, 2019

[Gwangju Swimming] 2 Americans break world records in swimming

Two American swimmers broke world records at the world championships on Friday.First was Caeleb Dressel winning the men's 100m butterfly semis at the FINA World Championships in 49.50. Dressel topped Michael Phelps' 10-year-old record by 0.32. Minutes later, Regan Smith set a new world record in the women's 200m backstroke, winning the semifinals at 2:03.35. The previous record, set by Missy Franklin of the United States in 2012, was 2:04.06.Smith, 17, had set the junior world record in thi

More SportsJuly 26, 2019

[Gwangju Swimming] US pulls off three-peat in women's water polo

GWANGJU -- The United States captured its third straight world title in women's water polo on Friday, defeating Spain 11-6 to cap off an undefeated run to the top.The US became the first team in FINA World Championships history to win three consecutive women's water polo titles. Friday's game was a rematch of the 2017 final, when the Americans prevailed 13-6. The US never trailed in the match that was held on a day of heavy downpours.The US led 3-1 after the opening quarter. Spain pulled ev

More SportsJuly 26, 2019

US nuclear-powered attack submarine comes to S. Korean port

A US nuclear-powered attack submarine is visiting a South Korean port, government sources said Friday, amid heightened tensions following North Korean missile tests.The 6,900-ton USS Oklahoma City arrived at the southern port of Busan on Thursday, they said, to replenish supplies and have its crew rest. The submarine is reportedly scheduled to depart next week.The port call came on the same day that North Korea launched two missiles from Hodo Peninsula near the North's eastern coastal town

DefenseJuly 26, 2019

Moon's advisor says NK sanctions relief possible if Pyongyang takes concrete denuclearization steps

North Korea could get sanctions relief if it takes concrete denuclearization steps, including a verifiable dismantlement of its key Yongbyon nuclear facility, a special security advisor to President Moon Jae-in said Friday.Moon Chung-in, special presidential advisor for unification, foreign and security affairs, made the case amid a prolonged standstill in the talks between the North and the United States. "If the North shows concrete progress (in its plan) for denuclearization, I beli

North KoreaJuly 26, 2019

Ministry warns against food poisoning, flesh-eating bacterial infection

The Food Safety Ministry issued a warning Friday against food poisoning and flesh-eating infection associated with Vibrio bacteria, urging caution in beach-going and seafood consumption.The ministry said infections of Vibrio bacteria, which thrive in warming waters, are most commonly reported from July to September. Vibrio parahaemolyticus causes food poisoning and gastrointestinal illnesses, while vulnificus causes flesh-eating disease. Two main routes of infection identified by the ministry ar

Social AffairsJuly 26, 2019

[News Focus] Will Samsung cut memory chip production?

With SK hynix making a painful decision to cut production of memory chips Thursday, all eyes are on whether Samsung Electronics -- the world’s No. 1 DRAM producer with a market share of over 40 percent -- will follow suit. Samsung has denied it plans to cut production, but market analysts say the chip giant will slowly reduce its output of memory chips. This may sound negative to Samsung’s operations, but cutting down production would help shore up sagging prices in the memory segmen

TechnologyJuly 26, 2019

S. Korea says no change in planned joint military drills with US

The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Friday that South Korea and the United States will proceed with their planned joint military drills as scheduled, despite North Korea's warning.North Korea's state media said earlier in the day that the two short-range ballistic missiles the country fired Thursday were a "solemn warning" against South Korea, calling for the suspension of Seoul's planned military exercises and its purchase of what it called offensive weapons.Cheong Wa Dae said

DefenseJuly 26, 2019

SK Innovation Q2 net more than halves on weak margins

SK Innovation Co., South Korea's top oil refiner, said Friday that its second-quarter net profit tumbled 67 percent from a year earlier on weak refining margins.  Net profit stood at 168.9 billion won ($142 million) on a consolidated basis in the April-June period, compared with 512.6 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing.  Operating income plunged 41.6 percent on-year to reach 497.5 billion won in the second quarter, with sales declining 2.5 percent on-ye

IndustryJuly 26, 2019

Adoption, abandonment find new voices in ‘Side by Side’

Filmmaker team and husband-and-wife duo Glenn and Julie Morey held a screening and panel discussion for their short documentary film on international adoption, titled “Side by Side,” Thursday at the Seoul Non-Profit Organization Center. The short documentary showcases interviews with nine Koreans adopted into families in the US, the Netherlands, France and Sweden. Their emotional firsthand accounts range from abandonment to growing up abroad and, in some cases, reuniting with th

Social AffairsJuly 26, 2019

Overseas Koreans Foundation ordered to fix loose rule on scholarship program

The Overseas Koreans Foundation, a Foreign Ministry-affiliated organization, was found to have been supporting children of diplomats and expatriates with its scholarship programs designed for educating overseas Korean youths to contribute to the development of overseas Korean communities. The government watchdog Board of Audit and Inspection said Thursday it requested a correction to the organization’s loose standards in selecting scholarship recipients. “Taking account of the Overse

Social AffairsJuly 26, 2019

Watch LoL from in-game character perspective, says SKT

Telecommunications firm SKT is giving users a new option to watch League of Legends matches from an in-game champion’s perspective, the company announced Friday. Users subscribed to SKT’s 5G plan can put on goggles to enjoy three new services. Jump AR lets users virtually access the LoL Park stadium in Jongno, Seoul, from anywhere. VR Livestream broadcasts the LoL Championship Korea competition in virtual reality. And VR Replay enables viewers to watch the match from a champion&rsquo

IndustryJuly 26, 2019

Prosecutors to take on illegal business operations at Daesung-owned property

Investigation is underway into suspicions of illegal sex business operations at a Gangnam building owned by Daesung of K-pop group Big Bang. Seoul Gangnam Police Station said Friday the case involving four tenants of the boy band member’s property was sent to prosecutors in mid-June for violating facilities regulations.In April, police suspended operation of one of the building’s businesses -- which had been registered as a restaurant -- for hiring hostesses. The other three have als

Social AffairsJuly 26, 2019

[Newsmaker] Daesung denies association with alleged illegal business in his building

Big Bang’s Daesung on Friday apologized for the ongoing controversy surrounding his building in Gangnam, Seoul, while denying any association with an alleged illegal entertainment business at his property. News outlets reported earlier Friday that an illegal entertainment business had been operating in the Big Bang member’s building in the Nonhyeon-dong neighborhood of Gangnam. An initial report said that an illegal entertainment business -- speculated to involve prostitution --

PerformanceJuly 26, 2019

[Photo News] Ronaldo arrives in Seoul for match with Korean All-Stars

Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo landed at Incheon Airport on Friday afternoon. He will be leading Juventus in an exhibition match against the K League All-Star team, slated to take place at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Friday at 8 p.m.Hundreds of soccer fans waited at the airport to welcome the 34-year-old Portuguese player, who last visited Seoul in July 2007 for an exhibition match with Manchester United. By Choi Ji-won (jwc@heraldcorp.com)

SoccerJuly 26, 2019