2 intl. aid agencies get temporary sanctions exemptions for projects in N. Korea

Two international humanitarian assistance organizations have received temporary sanctions exemptions for their aid projects in North Korea, a UN website showed Saturday.The World Health Organization and Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) will be allowed to bring in medical items necessary for their projects in the impoverished state for six months each from Sept. 20 and Sept. 23, respectively, according to the UN Security Council committee for sanctions on North Korea. The WHO ha

North KoreaSept. 29, 2019

Another suspected African swine fever case tests negative in S. Korea

A new suspected case of African swine fever reported in South Korea on Saturday tested negative amid concerns over the spread of the highly contagious and deadly animal disease despite extensive quarantine efforts.The suspected case, which was earlier reported at a farm in the city of Yangju, 30 kilometers north of Seoul, tested negative, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. South Korea has confirmed nine cases of African swine fever since Sept. 17, when the first wa

Social AffairsSept. 29, 2019

Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin clinches ERA title with 7 shutout innings in final reg. season start

Los Angeles Dodgers' starter Ryu Hyun-jin has finished the 2019 season with the lowest ERA in the majors.The South Korean left-hander tossed seven shutout innings in the Dodgers' 2-0 win over the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Saturday (local time), lowering his major league-best ERA from 2.41 to 2.32.Ryu was lifted for pinch hitter Jedd Gyorko to begin the top of the eighth, with the Dodgers leading 2-0. The bullpen made the score stand, and Ryu finished the year at 14-

BaseballSept. 29, 2019

2 N. Korean diplomats in Beijing possibly on way to New York

Two North Korean diplomats arrived in Beijing on Saturday, raising the possibility that they could be on their way to New York to attend the UN General Assembly session.Jang Il-hun, former deputy ambassador to the UN, and Kim Chang-min, director general at the foreign ministry's international organizations bureau, were seen at the airport in Beijing earlier in the day apparently after disembarking from a flight from Pyongyang. They did not respond to questions about the purpose of their trip and

North KoreaSept. 29, 2019

Seoul's filing of complaint with Tokyo over trade row a 'good thing,' WTO economist

The chief economist at the World Trade Organization has called South Korea's recent filing of a complaint with the global trade body over Japan's export curbs a "good thing."Robert Koopman said South Korea should try to "use things like the WTO" to try to bring countries together to reach agreement on how to navigate uncertain times."That's a good thing, I think. Trying to use the WTO's existing systems to resolve disputes -- I think that's what it's there for. I'm glad

IndustrySept. 29, 2019

Large-scale rally held to support justice minister, reform drive

A large number of people gathered in Seoul on Saturday to support Justice Minister Cho Kuk and his drive to reform the prosecution despite a widening investigation into corruption allegations involving his family.A candlelight demonstration was held late in the day in southern Seoul where the Supreme Prosecutors' Office is located.Participants voiced support for Cho, claiming that the media is conspiring with the prosecution to derail his reform drive."The prosecution and the media are tryi

Social AffairsSept. 29, 2019

National Assembly to launch annual audit of govt. agencies

The National Assembly is scheduled to kick off its annual audit of government agencies this week, officials said Sunday, with a row over corruption scandals involving the justice minister's family likely to come under scrutiny.This year's audit of more than 700 government organizations will start on Wednesday and run until Oct. 21.The House Steering Committee will examine the performance of the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae on Nov. 1. The Intelligence Committee will audit the National Intell

PoliticsSept. 29, 2019

S. Korea ranks 20th in Allianz wealth report

South Korea ranked 20th out of 53 countries surveyed by German insurer Allianz Group in terms of per capita financial assets last year, according to its report on Sunday.According to the recently released Allianz Global Wealth Report, Koreans' financial assets stood at an average of 39 million won ($33,000) per person in 2018, slightly up from a year earlier. Last year, the United States topped the list with per capita financial assets of 240 million won, followed by Switzerland with per capita

EconomySept. 29, 2019

[Newsmaker] Typhoon Mitag may affect S. Korea next week

Typhoon Mitag, the season's 18th typhoon, could affect the Korean Peninsula next week, the weather agency said Saturday.The typhoon formed in the Philippine Sea earlier in the day and is moving northwest at a speed of 56 kilometers per hour, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.  As of 9 a.m., Mitag was classified as "small" with a central pressure of 1,000 hectopascals (hPa). The maximum sustained wind speed near its center was 61 kph, or 17 meters per second.It m

Social AffairsSept. 28, 2019

Another suspected African swine fever case reported in S. Korea

South Korea reported a new suspected case of African swine fever on Saturday, adding to concerns over the potential spread of the deadly animal disease despite extensive quarantine efforts.The suspected case was reported at a farm in the city of Yangju, 30 kilometers north of Seoul, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Should the case test positive for the highly contagious disease, South Korea will have experienced 10 confirmed ASF cases since Sept. 17, when th

Social AffairsSept. 28, 2019

Nine injured in cargo ship fire at Ulsan port

Nine sailors were injured after a fire broke out on a cargo ship and spread to another vessel following an explosion in the southeastern port city of Ulsan, authorities said Saturday.The 25,881-ton vessel for transporting petroleum products from the Cayman Islands caught fire following the explosion at around 10:51 a.m. when it was in a berth at Yeompo Quay in Ulsan, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul. A total of 25 people, all foreign nationals, were aboard the ship, but were all rescued, a

Social AffairsSept. 28, 2019

White House sends positive signal to Pyongyang with 'relationship transformation' message, Seoul official says

The White House has made clear its resolve to "transform" relations with North Korea, effectively sending a strong signal to Pyongyang ahead of the envisioned resumption of working-level nuclear talks, a South Korean government official has said.He was briefing foreign correspondents here on Friday on the outcome of the New York summit between President Donald Trump and President Moon Jae-in earlier this week.Cheong Wa Dae earlier said Moon and Trump "exchanged views on how to ach

North KoreaSept. 28, 2019

S. Korea is not free-riding on alliance with US: ex-US ambassador

Former US Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert on Friday rejected the notion that South Korea is free-riding on the United States' troop presence in the country, saying the two nations are "very, very strong allies."Lippert, who served as the last US ambassador to Seoul under former President Barack Obama, made the remark as negotiations on renewing a burden-sharing deal between South Korea and the US got under way this week. US President Donald Trump has made clear that he want

North KoreaSept. 28, 2019

Seoul shares forecast to remain in tight range next week

South Korean shares are expected to remain in a tight range next week as investors take to the sidelines amid ongoing political uncertainties in the United States, analysts said Saturday.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index closed at 2,049.93 points on Friday, down from 2,091.52 points a week earlier. The index started strong on Monday as investors were buoyed by hopes on the upcoming US-China trade talks.The index then dropped by more than 1 percent on Wednesday, ending a run of

MarketSept. 28, 2019

FM Kang meets UNDP chief, holds talks on NK projects

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha met with United Nations Development Programme chief Achim Steiner in New York for talks on issues of mutual interest, including support for North Korea, her ministry said Saturday.During the meeting held on Friday (New York time), the two sides exchanged views on such issues as the various ongoing joint projects between South Korea and the UN body, the UNDP's projects regarding North Korea and the implementation of reform measures for the UN development system, ac

North KoreaSept. 28, 2019

Cho Kuk scandal brings forth ideological clash

The political ideological clash in South Korea appears have heightened following the alleged impropriety of Justice Minister Cho Kuk’s family with rival groups set to hold simultaneous rallies in Seoul on Saturday. The joint action of people supporting the government’s efforts to fight judicial injustice said they will hold their seventh candlelight vigil on 6 p.m. in front of the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul.On the same day, protesters demanding his resignation w

PoliticsSept. 27, 2019

SK Innovation to sell stakes in two Peruvian gas fields for $1b

SK Innovation Co., South Korea's leading refiner, said Friday it will sell all of its stakes in two Peruvian gas fields for 1.25 trillion won ($1.05 billion).    SK Innovation said its board of directors approved the plan to sell its 17.6 percent stakes in two Peruvian gas fields -- Block 88 and Block 56 -- to Argentine oil firm Pluspetrol.    The Korean refiner said it will use the cash to diversify its portfolio in other promising energy sectors, including battery and m

IndustrySept. 27, 2019

A journey to find memories, origins

Global silver reserves are shrinking fast and may run out as early as 2029 if we continue to mine the metal at the current rate without finding any new deposits, according to some experts.Korean-French artist Daphne Nan Le Sergent recalled reading reports about diminishing silver supplies earlier this year and worrying if the depletion of silver would mean the disappearance of traditional photography.Sergent’s exhibition “Silver Memories: How to Reach the Origin” at Atelier Her

Arts & DesignSept. 27, 2019

[From the scene] Korean students join global climate strike

Some 500 students on Friday took to the streets in central Seoul to demand bolder measures to mitigate climate change, joining the global movement triggered by Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg.Some of the students skipped classes and others came with their classmates, teachers and parents. They called for action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as scrapping plans to build new coal fired power plants in Korea and abroad by 2020, and transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy by 205

Social AffairsSept. 27, 2019

[Herald Review] Send in the clowns: ‘Joker’ pokes where it hurts for a fiendish joke

This film is f---ing intense. I apologize for the vulgarity, but there is just no other way to put it. There are films that push you to the limit, have you on the edge, and then there’s “Joker,” starring the brilliance of Joaquin Phoenix.Unlike films like “Requiem for a Dream” -- for which honestly I don’t even know “intense” is the right word -- director Todd Phillips’ new film doesn’t have a lot of extreme in-your-face moments. That i

FilmSept. 27, 2019