Defense ministry says change in military system requires social consensus

The defense ministry said Tuesday any change in the country's military system, such as the introduction of volunteer or female conscription systems, should be decided based on social consensus. Ministry spokesperson Boo Seung-chan made the remark during a regular press briefing after an online petition demanding female conscription earned more than 100,000 signatures as of Tuesday morning. Under the current law, all able-bodied South Korean men must carry out compulsory military service for ab

DefenseApril 20, 2021

Govt. commission chief offers to resign over decision to reinvestigate Cheonan ship sinking

The chief of a presidential committee offered to resign on Tuesday, holding himself responsible for the committee's now-retracted decision to reinvestigate the deadly 2010 sinking of a South Korean warship by North Korea. Earlier this month, the Presidential Truth Commission on Deaths in the Military retracted the decision made in December to launch a fresh probe into the case in which the warship Cheonan went down near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border between the two

PoliticsApril 20, 2021

Moon joins Boao forum, urges multilateral cooperation with 'enhanced inclusiveness'

South Korean President Moon Jae-in proposed Tuesday that Asian countries strengthen multilateral cooperation with inclusiveness enhanced against the spread of protectionism and unilateralism. He was delivering a video message to the 2021 Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) held in the Chinese province of Hainan. The conference, themed "A World in Change," has brought together Chinese President Xi Jinping and leaders of several other Asian nations both online and offline. Participants included s

PoliticsApril 20, 2021

[Newsmaker] Nuclear experts call on Japan to nix Fukushima water release plan

A group of South Korean nuclear researchers on Tuesday called on Japan to withdraw its decision to release contaminated water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea, urging for more information over the plan. South Korea has expressed concerns over Japan's announcement last week to release about 1.3 million tons of radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean from the plant, citing potential health risks. A group of experts at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute said J

Social AffairsApril 20, 2021

S. Korea to make sure to participate in IAEA monitoring team for Fukushima water release: ministry

South Korea will make sure to participate in an international monitoring team led by the UN nuclear watchdog for Japan's planned release of radioactive water from its wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. The ministry renewed the pledge in a report submitted to the parliament, as concerns have grown over potential health risks after Tokyo said it would start releasing over 1.2 million tons of Fukushima's contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean. Seoul has v

Foreign AffairsApril 20, 2021

Military reports 3 additional virus cases, total exceeds 700

Three Army soldiers have tested positive for the new coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections reported among the military population to 701, the defense ministry said Tuesday. The soldiers -- one based in the southeastern city of Gyeongsan, the second in the eastern city of Wonju and the third in Namyangju, northeast of Seoul -- were confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 after virus cases were reported at their units, according to the ministry. Of the total confirmed cases, 672 hav

DefenseApril 20, 2021

NK leader congratulates Cuban president on election as new ruling party chief

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un congratulated Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on his election as the new powerful head of its ruling communist party and vowed to strengthen bilateral ties, state media said Tuesday. Kim sent the message on Monday expressing his "absolute support" and offered "warm comradely greetings" to Diaz-Canel shortly after he succeeded Raul Castro as first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, the Korean Central News Agency said. "Kim Jong-u

North KoreaApril 20, 2021

[Graphic News] Noise complaints jump 60% as more stay home during pandemic

　Noise complaints surged more than 60 percent last year, as people spent more time at home amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a state environment promotion agency said. 　The Korea Environment Corp. said its hotline dedicated to the matter received 42,250 complaints last year, a 60.9 percent year-on-year increase. 　There were 12,139 requests for on-site inspections to determine the level of noise, a 52.3 percent increase from 7,971 requests in 2019. (Yonhap)

NationalApril 20, 2021

New virus cases in 500s for 2nd day; Seoul aims to vaccinate 3m by end-April

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases remained in the 500s for the second day Tuesday as health authorities vow to accelerate the country's nationwide vaccination campaign targeting the vaccination of 3 million by the end of this month. The country is also seeking to sign a "swap" deal with the United States to secure enough vaccines amid woes over supply shortage. The nation reported 549 additional COVID-19 cases, including 529 local infections, raising the total caseload to 115

Social AffairsApril 20, 2021

NK's largest youth group to hold first congress in 5 years next week

North Korea's largest youth organization will hold its first congress in five years next week, state media said Tuesday, in an apparent effort to tighten ideological discipline amid concerns about younger generations' increasing exposure to outside influences. The Kimilsungist-Kimjongilist Youth League, governed by the ruling Workers' Party, will hold its congress in Pyongyang on April 27, according to the Korean Central News Agency. "Achievements and experiences obtained from youth busin

North KoreaApril 20, 2021

S. Korea, China to jointly crack down on illegal fishing

South Korea's oceans ministry said Tuesday it plans to conduct a joint operation with its Chinese counterpart to curb illegal fishing activities in the Yellow Sea. Fisheries authorities from both countries will conduct joint rounds of inspections in the Yellow Sea from Wednesday to Sunday, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Under the plan, South Korea will deploy a 2,000-ton patrol boat, while China will send a 3,000-ton vessel. South Korea and China have been carrying out joi

Foreign AffairsApril 20, 2021

Senate majority leader urges swift passage of anti-hate-crimes act

WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday called for the swift passage of a bill aimed at curbing COVID-19-related hate crimes targeting Asian-American communities, insisting anyone opposing the bill would shame themselves. His remarks came hours before the Senate was set to vote on the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. "I dare any senator to vote against this legislation -- and if they do, shame on them," Schumer said at an event in Manhattan's Koreatown. He was joined b

Foreign AffairsApril 20, 2021

Female S. Korean diplomat stationed in Costa Rica dies in apparent suicide: ministry

A female South Korean diplomat stationed at the country's Embassy in Costa Rica has died in an apparent suicide, the foreign ministry said Monday. The official died early last week and is believed to have taken her own life, a ministry official said. The ministry declined to provide more details, citing the privacy of the deceased and the family. Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong has ordered a thorough probe into the death, the official added. The ministry is discussing funeral procedures wit

Social AffairsApril 19, 2021

AstraZeneca vaccines for 3.5m people to arrive in May-June

South Korea will bring in another 7 million doses of AstraZeneca‘s COVID-19 vaccines, enough for 3.5 million people, between May and June, health authorities said Monday. AstraZeneca vaccines will make up about 60 percent of the country’s rollout by the end of June, with a goal set to vaccinate 12 million out of the country’s population of 52 million. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency confirmed that AstraZeneca vaccines for 1 million people will arrive in the c

Social AffairsApril 19, 2021

Korea keeps serious vaccine safety issues quiet

South Korean government officials are failing to share sensitive COVID-19 vaccine safety issues transparently, a move that experts fear may fan public skepticism. A previously healthy front-line worker in her 40s is hospitalized with a serious neurological condition after receiving AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine last month, the parliamentary health and welfare committee said Sunday. The 45-year-old nursing assistant received her first AstraZeneca shot March 12. Soon after, she develope

Social AffairsApril 19, 2021

Oceans minister nominee vows measures against Fukushima water release

South Korea's oceans minister nominee said Monday the country will spare no efforts to protect the public from any harm stemming from the anticipated release of radioactive water from the Fukushima plant in Japan and bolster the monitoring of imported seafood products. Last week, the Japanese government said it will release into the sea the radioactive water, which has been stored in tanks at the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant, possibly starting in 2023. "We are preparing detailed counte

Social AffairsApril 19, 2021

NK imports from China spike in March

North Korea’s imports from China jumped in March amid growing speculation that Pyongyang may soon open its border and resume trade with its top ally, China. 　 North Korea’s shipments from China totaled $12.98 million in March -- a dramatic jump from February, when it logged $3,000 -- Chinese customs data released Sunday showed. 　 It marked the highest level since September 2020, when imports totaled $18.9 million. Since then the figure has nose-dived to nearly zero as the reclusiv

North KoreaApril 19, 2021

Minor quake hits waters off S. Korea's southwestern region: KMA

A 3.7 magnitude natural earthquake struck South Korea's southwestern waters on Monday afternoon, with no damage expected, the weather agency said. The quake occurred at around 2:20 p.m. in waters 54 kilometers northwest of Heuksan Island, part of the southwestern South Jeolla Province, 15 kilometers under water, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). The epicenter was at 35.07 degrees north latitude and 125.08 degrees east longitude. No damage is expected from the quake,

Social AffairsApril 19, 2021

S. Korean civic group slams Japan's Fukushima decision as criminal act

The National YWCA of Korea, one of the nation's largest women's organizations, on Monday urged the Japanese government to immediately scrap its plan to dump contaminated water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea. During a news conference in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, YWCA condemned Tokyo's planned discharge of radioactive water as a criminal act that will eventually put all of mankind to death. "Japan has chosen a cheap and reckless method, though Korea an

Social AffairsApril 19, 2021

Japan ambassador says S. Korea can take part in IAEA monitoring team for Fukushima water release

Japanese Ambassador Koichi Aiboshi said Monday that he thinks South Korean experts can be part of a UN nuclear watchdog-led monitoring team for his country's planned release of radioactive water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant. South Korea has expressed concerns about potential health risks over Japan's plan to release over 1.2 million tons of Fukushima's contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean and said it wants to take part in safety verification efforts by the International

Foreign AffairsApril 19, 2021