S. Korea completes production of core vacuum vessel sectors for intl. nuclear fusion research project

South Korea has completed the production of vacuum vessel sectors for the international thermonuclear experimental reactor project, aimed at achieving fusion power production at power plant scale, the science ministry said Friday. The country has completed building four vacuum vessels for the ITER, the world's largest tokamak to be set up in southern France, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT. A tokamak is a magnetic fusion device created to demonstrate the viability of fusion as

PoliticsNov. 22, 2024

S. Korea expects to create W59t in economic effect via zero carbon energy sources by 2033

South Korea expects to achieve an economic effect worth 59 trillion won ($42 billion) by enhancing the country's "zero carbon energy ecosystem" by 2033, the industry ministry said Friday. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy has announced the 5th Energy Technology Plan, outlining its energy technology vision and R&D investment strategy for the next 10 years through 2033. Under the plan, the government will focus on increasing the use of nuclear power, hydrogen, and ren

Social AffairsNov. 22, 2024

Union's 'work-to-rule' protest continues to delay Seoul subway trains

Seoul Metro, the operator of subway lines 1-8, said Friday that 27 trains were delayed by more than 20 minutes on the previous day, marking the second day of a slowdown strike by its unionized workers. With 3,189 subway trains in operation Thursday, their on-time rate stood at 99.1 percent, the operator said, noting that the current law defines a delayed train as one delayed by more than 20 minutes. Compared with the first day of the unionized workers' "work-to-rule" protest, th

Social AffairsNov. 22, 2024

Former Pentagon official expects Trump to seek reengagement with Kim Jong-un

US President-elect Donald Trump may seek to reengage with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un "at some point," though the dynamics of their meeting will differ due to Pyongyang's progress in its weapons programs and Russia's backing for the regime, a former Pentagon official said Thursday. Randall Schriver, who served as the assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs during Trump's first term, made the remarks amid expectations that Trump could try to

Foreign AffairsNov. 22, 2024

Top air force commanders of S. Korea, US, Japan discuss cooperation

The top air force commanders of South Korea, the United States, and Japan have held talks to discuss ways to strengthen their cooperation, such as expanding joint air drills, officials said, the latest in their trilateral security cooperation amid North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. In the video-conferencing talks held Thursday, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Lee Young-su and his US and Japanese counterparts, Gen. David W. Allvin and Gen. Hiroaki Uchikura, respectively, vowed to con

DefenseNov. 22, 2024

N. Korea denounces new UN human rights resolution as 'political provocation'

North Korea on Friday denounced a resolution recently adopted by a United Nations committee regarding the country's human rights violations as a "politically motivated provocation." A spokesman from North Korea's foreign ministry made the statement in a press release carried by the country's official Korean Central News Agency. On Wednesday, the UN General Assembly's Third Committee adopted a resolution calling the human rights situation in North Korea "grave

North KoreaNov. 22, 2024

Yoon vows to open new era of middle class by tackling polarization

President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed Friday to open a "new era of the middle class" by tackling polarization and reviving people's livelihoods. Yoon made the remark during a national prayer breakfast, referring to his goal of addressing social inequalities in the second half of his term. "In the second half, I will make the entire nation take part in the country's development by resolving polarization," he said during the event at a Seoul hotel. "I will open a new e

PoliticsNov. 22, 2024

US official says 'tariffs' not the only issue dictating trade amid worries about Trump's policy

A senior US diplomat said Thursday tariffs are "not the only issue" that will "make or break" trade, as concerns have lingered over President-elect Donald Trump's election-year proposal for sweeping tariffs on US imports that could affect trade with South Korea and other partners. Matt Murray, the US senior official for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation at the State Department, made the remarks as he addressed a question about whether the APEC platform can serve as an

Foreign AffairsNov. 22, 2024

Senior NK general wounded in Ukraine strike in Russia: WSJ

A senior North Korean general was wounded in a Ukrainian strike in Russia's western Kursk region, the Wall Street Journal has reported, citing Western officials. The newspaper on Thursday said it is the first time Western officials have said a high-ranking North Korean military officer has become a casualty in the Russia-Ukraine conflict since Pyongyang sent more than 10,000 troops to Russia last month in support of its invasion. The officials did not say who the general is or how badly h

North KoreaNov. 22, 2024

NK leader says past negotiations with US only confirmed hostile policy against Pyongyang

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said that his country went to every length in negotiations with the United States, but it only confirmed Washington's unwavering hostile policy toward Pyongyang, the North's state media said Friday. Kim made the remarks during a speech at the opening ceremony of an arms exhibition titled "National Defense Development-2024," in Pyongyang the previous day, the Korean Central News Agency said. "We have already gone to every length in ne

North KoreaNov. 22, 2024

Defense chiefs of S. Korea, U.S., Japan, Philippines, Australia discuss cooperation on sidelines of ASEAN meeting

Defense chiefs of South Korea, United States, Japan, the Philippines and Australia discussed multilateral cooperation on the sidelines of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) defense ministerial meeting in Laos. In their first joint meeting held in Vientiane, the defense chiefs "emphasized their shared commitment to advancing a vision for a free, open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region where international law and sovereignty are respected," according to Seoul'

PoliticsNov. 21, 2024

S. Korea issues travel ban alert for entire Kursk region in Russia amid intensifying clashes

South Korea is banning travel to the entire Kursk region in Russia amid intensifying clashes between Ukrainian forces and Russian-North Korean troops there, the foreign ministry said Thursday. The Level 4 travel ban, the highest of the four-scale travel warning system, will be applied to all areas in Kursk effective from Thursday midnight. Previously, a Level 4 advisory was applied to certain areas within 30 kilometers of the border in five Russian regions bordering Ukraine. However, with this a

PoliticsNov. 21, 2024

Police claim NK hackers stole cryptocurrency worth W58b

Hackers linked to North Korea’s military intelligence agency were found to be responsible for extorting ethereum cryptocurrency worth 58 billion won ($41.5 million) back in 2019, according to the National Office of Investigation of the Korean National Police Agency, Thursday. According to the KNPA, North Korea’s state-sponsored hacker groups Lazarus and Andariel were found to be involved in the theft of 342,000 ethereum tokens from the South Korea-based cryptocurrency exchange Upbit

Social AffairsNov. 21, 2024

Smugglers caught disguising 230 tons of Chinese black beans as diesel exhaust fluid

Smugglers who attempted to disguise 230 tons of black soybeans, known as “seoritae,” from China as an additive for diesel engines, have been arrested, customs officials said Thursday. The Incheon Regional Customs said it has referred 11 suspects to prosecutors without detention for alleged violations of customs law. The authorities have also issued wanted notice for two accomplices who are believed to be in China. The suspects are accused of smuggling 230 tons of black soybeans, wort

Social AffairsNov. 21, 2024

Complaints on deepfake sex crimes surge in South Korea

Complaints related to deepfake sex crimes have surged in South Korea this year, government data showed Thursday. From January to October, an average of 50 complaints per month related to deepfake sex crimes were reported to public complaint platforms, such as the state-run e-People website and local government channels, according to data compiled by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission. This represents a 1.7-fold increase from the 30 monthly complaints reported on average in 2023. Dee

Social AffairsNov. 21, 2024

N. Korea, Russia court softer image: From animal diplomacy to tourism

North Korea and Russia concluded a ministerial meeting in Pyongyang aimed at expanding cooperation in the trade, economic, scientific and technological sectors on Wednesday, at a critical moment when global attention is focused on what Pyongyang might gain in return for dispatching troops to support Russia's war efforts in Ukraine. The Unification Ministry in Seoul on Thursday noted that neither Pyongyang nor Moscow revealed core agreements in the economic and trade sectors -- areas that co

Foreign AffairsNov. 21, 2024

Oman celebrates 54th National Day

MUSCAT, Oman -- The Sultanate of Oman will celebrate its 54th glorious National Day on Nov. 18, marking milestone accomplishments in different areas. The citizens of Oman and various state institutions have rendered an indispensable contribution to the continuous achievements in the path of the comprehensive development during the renewed renaissance of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, who has outlined a wise and sound vision that leads to progress and prosperity in all fields. His Majesty&

Foreign AffairsNov. 21, 2024