The global economy needed this weekend’s Group of 20 meeting in China to produce a “Sputnik moment.” Instead, and despite growing awareness of the risks to growth and financial stability, the gathering concluded essentially with a reheated version of previous policy statements. This is a far cry from the individual and collective actions that G20 members must take if the global economy is to avoid even more disappointing growth and greater financial instability.　Meeting in Shanghai, the minister

ViewpointsFeb. 29, 2016

Thai policy makers, dictators, military leaders or what have you, have never learned how to handle criticism from the international press and the recently issued regulation for foreign media reflects that long-standing mindset.　The stated requirement – that foreign media representatives must demonstrate their attitude towards the monarchy and political development in the country – eats into one’s personal space.　It is like the government is trying to delve into the heart and soul of a person and

EditorialFeb. 29, 2016

The new sanctions that China has reportedly agreed to impose on North Korea are truly a “major upgrade” to existing penalties, as American diplomats say. To make sure they are ultimately effective, however, it’s important to appreciate their limitations.　Under the terms of a Security Council resolution expected to be approved this week, countries will have to inspect any cargo going into or coming out of North Korea. Sales of conventional weapons and aviation fuel to the North will be prohibited

EditorialFeb. 29, 2016

Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun was named on Monday South Korea's chief envoy handling the North Korean nuclear issue, the ministry said.Kim replaces Hwang Joon-kook as special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, who serves as Seoul's top envoy to the now-stalled six-party talks on North Korea's denuclearization.Hwang will serve as Seoul's ambassador to London.Since joining the foreign service in 1984, Kim has mostly handled North America and North Korea affairs

PoliticsFeb. 29, 2016

The United States is committed to using the full range of its defense capabilities to safeguard South Korea in the event of war with North Korea, a defense ministry official here said Monday after attending a joint defense exercise in California.The allies held their annual anti-nuclear joint exercise at Vandenberg Air Force Base last week where some 40 defense officials from the two countries discussed warfare strategies to counter North Korea's nuclear and weapons of mass destruction threats.

DefenseFeb. 29, 2016

The tvN TV drama "Signal" registered a national rating average of 10.9 percent for the 11th episode on Friday, proving to be a big hit after "Reply 1988" syndrome.Starting with a 6 percent rating for its first episode on Jan. 22, "Signal," which screens every Friday and Saturday, has been gaining an additional 1 percent with each following episode on average, according to Nielsen and reports on Saturday.The drama, starring Kim Hye-soo, Cho Jin-woong and Lee Je-hoon, is about detectives working o

TelevisionFeb. 29, 2016

The digitalized hits of the legendary rock band the Beatles have conquered the top six slots in the international sections of major South Korean music charts, data showed Monday. The songs became available on South Korean music streaming websites at midnight, as Universal Music Group, the distributer, authorized 10 South Korean music streaming services to provide online and mobile digital audio streaming and downloading services for the songs. As of 10 a.m., the Beatles' "I Want To Hold Your Han

PerformanceFeb. 29, 2016

A U.S. college student detained in North Korea has confessed to his "severe" crime of stealing a political sign from a hotel there and has asked for forgiveness, the North's state media said Monday.Otto Frederick Warmbier, a student at the University of Virginia, was questioned by North Korean officials after being caught committing, what the media there called, an anti-North Korea activity.Warmbier said that on Jan. 1 he stole a political sign that had promoted "the Korean people's love for the

North KoreaFeb. 29, 2016

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se will attend a series of U.N. meetings in Geneva this week to address North Korea's human rights situation, among other issues, his ministry said Monday.Yun plans to leave for Switzerland on Tuesday to join the 31st session of the U.N. Human Rights Council and the Conference on Disarmament during his three-day stay, the ministry said in a press release.On Wednesday, he is scheduled to deliver speeches at high-level panel meetings in both conferences and hold talks wi

North KoreaFeb. 29, 2016

Apartment prices are now turning down after having remained unchanged for weeks, adding fuel to the debate over whether the housing market is at an increasing risk of oversupply.The average weekly transaction price for apartments was down 0.01 percent across the country last week, according to data from the Korea Appraisal Board. It marked the first price decrease since the third week of June 2014.Lower prices in Seoul led to the decline. In particular, house prices in some posh districts in sou

IndustryFeb. 29, 2016

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The Philadelphia Museum of Art has received a major bequest of over 50 works of American art, including the museum’s first painting by Edward Hopper. The artworks are from the estate of collector Daniel Dietrich II, who died last year. The suburban Philadelphia philanthropist was an heir to a family conglomerate that once included Luden's cough drops. The museum also is receiving a $10 million endowment from Dietrich’s charitable funds.Besides Hopper's 1962 painting "Road an

PerformanceFeb. 29, 2016