[David Ignatius] Trump’s showdown with Iran weak

Sometimes in foreign policy, the best course of action for a powerful country is the most limited, at least visibly. That may be the case now in America’s confrontation with a cornered but potentially venomous Iran. The US-Iran showdown is a classic test between a strong nation and a much weaker one. An embattled Tehran has seemingly tried to goad America, shooting down a US spy drone, allegedly mining ships near the Persian Gulf, and allowing proxies to fire missiles at civilian airports

ViewpointsJune 30, 2019

[Jeffrey D. Sachs] America’s economic blockades and international law

US President Donald Trump has based his foreign policy on a series of harsh economic blockades, each designed to frighten, coerce and even starve the target country into submitting to American demands. While the practice is less violent than a military attack, and the blockade is through financial means rather than the navy, the consequences are often dire for civilian populations. As such, economic blockades by the United States should be scrutinized by the United Nations Security Council under

ViewpointsJune 30, 2019

Soccer-playing stars splash across small screen

On the coattails of Son Heung-min’s memorable outing in the UEFA Champions League finals and the Korean national team’s second-place finish in the U-20 World Cup, the country’s soccer scene is now being celebrated on the small screen, with an array of programs related to the kick-happy sport.Leading the way is a documentary series on the Tottenham Hotspur forward himself, a documentary series “Sonsational: The Making of Son Heung-min” on tvN. The six-part docum

TelevisionJune 30, 2019

Trump, Kim hold historic DMZ meeting

The leaders of the two Koreas and the US gathered for the first time Sunday at the border village of Panmunjom, making history in Korean Peninsula issues. In a manner similar to President Moon Jae-in’s summit with Kim in April last year, Trump and Kim met at the Military Demarcation Line, respectively on the South Korean and North Korean side. After a brief greeting across the MDL, Trump and Kim walked several steps into North Korea, after which they came back to the South Korean

North KoreaJune 30, 2019

Samsung conducts first human rights impact inspection at Vietnamese plants

Samsung Electronics has conducted its first inspection on human rights at its smartphone manufacturing plants in Vietnam, where health, safety and labor violation issues regarding female workers have been raised. According to the company’s recently released sustainability report 2019, Samsung said it had run on-site inspections, including interviews and document reviews, for Human Rights Impact Assessment from last year to earlier this year, as part of the procedure for due diligence

IndustryJune 30, 2019

[Feature] Korean banks ready to work less but pressured to hire more

Starting Monday, local banks and financial companies come under the 52-hour workweek rule, becoming late starters in South Korea’s initiative to reduce long working hours and improve the quality of life.Due to the one-year grace period, the financial sector is apparently off to a better start than the manufacturing sector which had undergone radical changes in the labor environment last year, simultaneously with the double-digit hike in the nation’s hourly minimum wage.Their core dil

MarketJune 30, 2019

[Photo News] Photo News: Trump meets Kim Jong-un at Panmunjom, inter-Korean border village

     

North KoreaJune 30, 2019

Rallies welcoming, protesting Trump held in central Seoul

Civic groups continued to hold rallies opposing and welcoming US President Donald Trump’s visit to Seoul on Sunday as Trump held a summit with President Moon Jae-in and met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the Demilitarized Zone.　Trump arrived in Seoul on Saturday after attending the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan. On Sunday, Trump held bilateral talks with Moon at the presidential office and met with Kim at the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone dividing the Koreas.

Social AffairsJune 30, 2019

Moon, Trump visit DMZ observation post together

US President Donald Trump visited an observation post along the inter-Korean border, overlooking North Korea, and received a briefing from front-line troops Sunday. The trip to the Observation Post Ouellette came just ahead of Trump's planned meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the truce village of Panmunjom, also known as the Joint Security Area, located not far away from there.Wearing a suit, Trump looked at the northern side across the DMZ with no binoculars, according to TV foota

North KoreaJune 30, 2019

NPMK shines light on short-lived crown prince of Joseon, ‘patron of arts’

An ongoing exhibition at the National Palace Museum of Korea shines a light on the life and accomplishments of Crown Prince Hyemyeong, a 19th century regent of the Joseon era (1392-1910) considered a patron of the arts who was gifted in poetry and literature. Opened last week, “Hyomyeong: Crown Prince and Patron of Arts” is being held through Sept. 22 at the museum located inside Gyeongbokgung in Seoul. The exhibition is themed around how Hyomyeong (1809-1830) worked to promote the a

CultureJune 30, 2019

Trump, Kim Jong-un to meet at Panmunjom: Moon

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have agreed to meet at Panmunjom, an inter-Korean border village, President Moon Jae-in announced after a summit with Trump, who called it "just a step" that's perhaps "important."Moon noted that it will be the first time for the leaders of the Cold War foes to hold a meeting at Panmunjom since the Korean War ended with the Armistice Agreement in 1953. Moon was speaking at a joint press conference with Trump at Che

North KoreaJune 30, 2019

Prosecution probes hiring irregularities involving LKP leader’s son

The prosecution said Sunday that it had launched an investigation into possible hiring irregularities at telecom company KT involving the son of Hwang Kyo-ahn, chairman of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party. The minor Minjung Party’s youth branch filed a complaint against the Liberty Korea Party leader for alleged obstruction of business, claiming that his son was hired by the country’s largest telecom company because of Hwang’s position.The complaint was filed after Hwang

Social AffairsJune 30, 2019

[Breaking] DMZ 'closed to tourists' on N. Korean side: tour firm

The Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas was closed to tourists on the North's side on Sunday, a tour company said, amid speculation US President Donald Trump and Kim Jong -un would meet there."The DMZ is closed to tourists visiting from the North Korean side today," tweeted Koryo Tours, the market leader in western tourism to the isolated country. (AFP)

North KoreaJune 30, 2019

Trans-Korea gas pipeline project needs ‘economic approach’

The two Koreas and Russia should take an economic -- not political -- approach to the trans-Korea gas pipeline project to make the idea feasible, said the chief of the Korea Energy Economics Institute at a forum on Friday. “As for the gas pipeline project, South Korea, North Korea and Russia have different interests and calculations,” said Cho Yong-sung, president of the KEEI, in a keynote speech during a forum, titled “Trans-Korea Gas Pipeline Project: Enhancing Regional Coope

IndustryJune 30, 2019

Trump calls on Korean business leaders to invest more in US

US President Donald Trump on Sunday called on owners of South Korea’s biggest conglomerates to expand their investments in the United States during a meeting before a bilateral summit with President Moon Jae-in. Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Hyundai Motor Group Senior Vice Chairman Chung Euisun, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, CJ Group Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik, Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin, Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn and other officials from the business c

EconomyJune 30, 2019

Trump on possible Kim encounter: 'He very much wants to'

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that Kim Jong-un "very much wants" to meet him, a day after inviting the North Korean leader to "say hello" in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula."We'll see. He very much wants to. We are trying to work it out," Trump told reporters about a possible third face-to-face meeting between the pair after summits in Singapore and Hanoi."It will be very short but that's OK. A handshake means a lot," he added, wi

North KoreaJune 30, 2019

[Photo News] Trump's DMZ diplomacy

President Moon Jae-in, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump held a historic trilateral meeting at the Demilitarized Zone on Saturday, after Kim accepted Trump’s unexpected offer to meet at the inter-Korean border. Accompanied by Kim, Trump crossed the Demarcation Line dividing the two Koreas. The two leaders also held talks in the Freedom House at the truce village of Panmunjom.Sunday, June 30Saturday, June 29 

Foreign AffairsJune 30, 2019

Trump says he will visit DMZ with Moon

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that he will travel to the inter-Korean border together with South Korean President Moon Jae-in later in the day. He made the announcement during a meeting with a group of South Korean business leaders at a Seoul hotel. It marks the first official confirmation that Moon will join Trump's "long-planned" trip to the Demilitarized Zone.Cheong Wa Dae has kept it a secret whether Moon would go there or not apparently for security reasons.On his offer of

Foreign AffairsJune 30, 2019

Trump offers to meet Kim at inter-Korean border

 WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- US President Donald Trump has offered to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the inter-Korean border during his two-day trip to South Korea.Trump made the offer on Twitter on Saturday (Japan time), hours before he flew into Seoul after attending the Group of 20 summit in Osaka, Japan."After some very important meetings, including my meeting with President Xi of China, I will be leaving Japan for South Korea (with President Moon)," Trump wrote."

Foreign AffairsJune 29, 2019