S. Korea vows active response to US' investment curbs on China

The United States' planned restriction of investment in key technology sectors in China is expected to have a limited impact on the South Korean economy, but Seoul will closely analyze the measure and devise responses if necessary, the finance ministry said Tuesday. On Monday, the US Treasury Department issued final rules to curb US investments in artificial intelligence, semiconductors and other advanced technology sectors in China, effective Jan. 2, 2025, citing national security risks. &

Diplomatic CircuitOct. 29, 2024

US unveils final rules to limit AI, semiconductor, other tech investments in China

The United States issued final rules Monday to curb US investments in artificial intelligence, semiconductors and other technology sectors in China, calling them a national security measure to keep those advanced technologies away from "countries of concern." The Treasury Department unveiled the rules -- effective Jan. 2 next year -- to implement an executive order signed by President Joe Biden in August 2023, as Washington has been striving to limit China's access to critical tec

Diplomatic CircuitOct. 29, 2024

US says N. Korea has sent about 10,000 troops to eastern Russia

North Korea has sent around 10,000 troops to eastern Russia, which will likely augment Russian forces near Ukraine "over the next several weeks," a US National Security Council official said Monday, as President Joe Biden called the deployment "very dangerous." A NSC spokesperson made the remarks after North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed that North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia's western front-line Kursk region --

North KoreaOct. 29, 2024

[Graphic News] ER patients with heat-related illnesses up 31%, seniors most affected

The number of heat-related emergency room patients increased by 31.4 percent this year compared to the previous year, according to data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Between May 20 and Sept. 30, 3,704 people were treated for heat-related illnesses in ERs, marking a sharp rise from last year. This year, 34 people reportedly died from heat-related conditions, a 6.3 percent increase from the previous year. The most cases occurred in 2018, with 4,526 patients, making 2024 t

Social AffairsOct. 29, 2024

N. Korean troops may deploy to Ukraine-Russia front sooner than expected: Yoon

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol warned Monday that North Korean troops could be deployed by Russia to the front lines against Ukraine "sooner than expected," according to the presidential office. Yoon shared intelligence on North Korea's troop deployments to Russia and discussed potential response measures during a phone call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, held at her request, the presidential office said in a statement. "The (South Korean) pres

North KoreaOct. 28, 2024

NATO chief says he can confirm North Korean troops are in Russia's Kursk

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed on Monday that North Korean troops have been sent to Russia and that North Korean military units have been deployed to the Kursk region. "The deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea is a threat to both Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic security," Rutte told reporters after NATO officials and diplomats received a briefing from a South Korean delegation. Ukrainian forces staged a major incursion into Kur

North KoreaOct. 28, 2024

S. Korea to use homegrown transmission for K2 tanks

South Korea's defense authorities approved on Monday a plan to build K2 battle tanks with a homegrown transmission system, the state arms procurement agency said. Under the plan endorsed by the Defense Project Promotion Committee, K2 tanks will be equipped with a locally developed power pack, which comprises the transmission and the engine, starting from the fourth batch of production that will be built by 2028, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. "The K2 battl

DefenseOct. 28, 2024

Yoon's foreign policy adviser visits Australia for frigate project

President Yoon Suk Yeol's foreign policy adviser, Chang Ho-jin, visited Australia on Monday to ask the country to allow South Korean firms to participate in its frigate project, Yoon's office said. In February this year, Australia announced a plan to acquire 11 new frigates for its Navy, with South Korean, Japanese, German and Spanish vessels being mentioned as candidates. On the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Laos early this month, President Yoon met Australian Prime Minister An

PoliticsOct. 28, 2024

Chinese provincial govt. officials in S. Korea amid push for improvement in bilateral ties

A Chinese delegation of mid-level provincial government officials is visiting South Korea this week as part of efforts to boost cooperation and exchanges between the two neighboring countries, Seoul's foreign ministry said Monday. The delegation, made up of foreign affairs officials representing 16 provincial governments, including the Shandong, Sichuan, Guangdong, Liaoning and Jiangsu provinces, will begin a five-day visit to Seoul and other regions Monday, the ministry said in a release.

Foreign AffairsOct. 28, 2024

Police crack down on fake police uniforms during Halloween celebrations

Police said Monday they are intensively cracking down on the sale and wearing of police officer costumes during the Halloween celebrations. The police have been strengthening online monitoring to prevent the indiscriminate distribution and use of fake police uniforms and equipment since last Friday, the Korean National Police Agency said, adding the crackdown continues for two weeks before and after Halloween until Nov. 3. The KNPA said 54 major online retailers and second-hand transaction platf

Social AffairsOct. 28, 2024

Watchdog finds denial of space rental for LGBT festival infringes on right to equality

The national human rights watchdog determined Monday that denying rental spaces for a festival for sexual minorities on the grounds of potential conflicts with opposition groups constitutes a discriminatory act. The National Human Rights Commission issued the decision against the Seoul Museum of History and the Seoul city government's public activities support center after they refused to rent their spaces for this year's Seoul Queer Culture Festival, the biggest local festival for les

Social AffairsOct. 28, 2024

[Contribution] Advancing justice for the DPRK's human rights abuses

Ten years after the release of the groundbreaking United Nations Commission of Inquiry report on Human Rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which concluded that the regime is committing crimes against humanity, we traveled to the Republic of Korea (South Korea's official name) to meet with victims and survivors, ROK government officials and activists. Our goal was to promote justice and accountability for those responsible for the widespread and systematic abuses

North KoreaOct. 28, 2024

Teen charged in deadly assault of senior citizen in family dispute

A 15-year-old boy is being investigated for assaulting a senior citizen and causing his death. The Muan Police Station in South Jeolla Province said it is investigating the middle school student for death resulting from violence, punishable by up to three years in prison. The suspect is accused of using fatal violence against a neighbor in his 70s at around 5:40 p.m. on Oct. 13. The suspect told police that he punched the victim when he saw him arguing with his mother. The victim fell to the gro

Social AffairsOct. 28, 2024

36-week abortion an apparent murder: police

Doctors accused of performing a late-term abortion at 36 weeks could face murder charges, police said Monday, concluding in their investigation that the fetus was delivered alive. The case, which has drawn significant attention, involves a YouTuber in her 20s who sought pregnancy termination and later shared her experience online. “If a fetus is born alive, the case is subject to the crime of murder. After delivery, it is a living person," said Woo Jong-soo, head of the National Off

Social AffairsOct. 28, 2024

Bipartisan panel formed to address livelihood issues amid tension over first lady probe

The ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea on Monday officially launched a joint consultative body for livelihood issues amid persistent tensions over various controversies surrounding the first lady. The establishment of the joint consultative body aimed at carrying out common policy pledges comes nearly two months after an agreement was made between leaders of the two rival parties early last month during their first official talks. The consultative body wi

PoliticsOct. 28, 2024

S. Korea to hold talks with NATO allies amid NK troops in Russia

South Korea is set to convene its first 2+2 foreign and defense ministerial meeting with the United States in more than three years, paired with inaugural 2+2 talks with Canada, at a critical juncture marked by concerns of possible North Korean troop deployment to the Ukraine-Russia combat zone. The high-stakes meetings will take place in a pivotal week of diplomacy and include top diplomats and defense leaders from founding NATO members -- staunch allies of Ukraine since Russia's invasion.

Foreign AffairsOct. 28, 2024

Seoul aims to halve current suicide rate by 2030

The Seoul Metropolitan Government introduced a set of measures on Monday -- including increasing the staff of its 24-hour call center for people struggling with suicidal impulses -- to reduce its current suicide rate by 50 percent by 2030. It aims to shift its current suicide prevention policy, which currently solely focuses on high-risk groups, to addressing the broader public. “We want to shift the focus of our policy to a more comprehensive approach that empowers our citizens to take ca

Social AffairsOct. 28, 2024

Stroke patients in Korea show more history of smoking, diabetes: report

Diabetes and smoking are common causes of strokes, which can damage blood vessels and cause death, and stroke patients in South Korea have a higher rate of both stroke factors compared to Western countries, a study showed Monday, suggesting a need to strengthen prevention efforts to improve public health outcomes. According to an analysis of stroke treatment patterns in the country for 2021 by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's National Institute of Health, 35 percent of st

Social AffairsOct. 28, 2024

Two injured after bus causes gazebo collapse

Two people were injured Sunday morning when a passing bus precipitated the collapse of a suspended pavilion structure in rural Yangyang, Gangwon Province, according to fire officials. The incident occurred at approximately 9:21 a.m. Sunday when a bus's roof snagged wiring that was supporting a gazebo-style structure in front of the Daechi-ri town hall, fire officials said. The pavilion subsequently collapsed, striking two individuals who were underneath. The victims, identified only as wome

Social AffairsOct. 28, 2024

South Korean military warns of countermeasures against North Korean drone threats

South Korea’s military on Monday warned of “corresponding measures” in response to North Korea threatening to fly an uncrewed aerial vehicle over Seoul. “If a North Korean UAV infiltration takes place, we will be taking corresponding measures to protect the safety and property of our people,” Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Col. Lee Sung-jun said. The JCS spokesperson dismissed accusations by North Korea that the UAVs that flew over Pyongyang earlier this month h

DefenseOct. 28, 2024