N. Korea says it conducted “important test” for developing spy satellite

North Korea on Monday said it conducted an “important test” for developing a spy satellite, which the country’s leader Kim Jong-un previously pointed to as a key task in its defense development plan. North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency said the National Aerospace Development Administration and the Academy of Defense Science “conducted an important test Sunday under the plan of developing a reconnaissance satellite.” The test confirmed the &ld

North KoreaFeb. 28, 2022

Moon calls for impenetrable defense posture

President Moon Jae-in called for a powerful defense posture Monday, saying peace can be achieved only based on strong defense, as the world is reeling from Russia's shocking invasion of Ukraine. "The peace and prosperity we enjoy have been achieved on the foundation of strong security," Moon told a commencement and commissioning ceremony for the Korea Army Academy in Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang Province. Based on strong defense capabilities, South Korea has pushed for peace efforts on

PoliticsFeb. 28, 2022

Military reports 740 more COVID-19 cases

The military on Monday reported 740 additional COVID-19 cases, raising the total caseload among its domestic personnel to 18,471. The new cases included 498 from the Army, 118 from the Air Force, 50 from the Navy, 31 from the Marine Corps and 31 from units under the direct control of the defense ministry. There were also seven cases from the ministry, three from the South Korea-US Combined Forces Command and two from the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Currently, 5,233 military personnel are under treatm

DefenseFeb. 28, 2022

Moon instructs officials to draw up humanitarian aid for Ukraine

President Moon Jae-in on Monday ordered officials to swiftly draw up a plan for humanitarian aid for Ukraine to help support the deteriorating humanitarian situation following Russia's invasion of the country. Moon also told officials that the government should set up contingency measures to minimize the impact of sanctions on Russia, presidential spokesperson Park Kyung-mee said. Moon said last week that South Korea will join international sanctions on Russia. Foreign ministry officials said th

Foreign AffairsFeb. 28, 2022

Seoul grants stay extension for Ukrainians in Korea

The South Korean government on Monday said it will grant special stay permits to Ukrainians living here, allowing them to overstay their visa until the situation in their home country stabilizes following Russia‘s invasion of the Eastern European country.  The Justice Ministry said 3,843 Ukrainians, who have been staying in the country on either short- or long-term visas, will benefit from the measure, including 538 whose visas were set to expire by June.  The government will

Foreign AffairsFeb. 28, 2022

Lee under fire over remarks on Ukraine

Ruling party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung has come under fire for appearing to blame Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for Russia's invasion of the country. Lee of the liberal Democratic Party (DP) made the controversial remarks during a TV presidential debate Friday while trying to underscore the political inexperience of main opposition candidate Yoon Suk-yeol of the conservative People Power Party. "In Ukraine, a novice politician of six months became president and declared

PoliticsFeb. 28, 2022

NK missile launch aimed at gaining attention amid Ukraine crisis: defense minister

North Korea's ballistic missile launch this week appears aimed at demonstrating its policy line of "power for power" and grabbing global attention amid the armed conflict in Ukraine, South Korea's defense minister said Monday. Suh Wook made the remarks during a hastily assembled meeting of top commanders, following Sunday's missile launch that the North claimed to be a test for developing a "reconnaissance satellite." Pyongyang unveiled its policy principle of "power for

North KoreaFeb. 28, 2022

Stay extension under consideration for Ukrainians in S. Korea: justice minister

The government is considering granting Ukrainians in South Korea stay extension on humanitarian grounds in the wake of Russia's invasion of the Eastern European nation, Justice Minister Park Beom-kye said Monday. "We are considering stay extension measures just like we did during the Myanmar crisis," Park told reporters, referring to the government's granting of special stay permits for Myanmar nationals last year after the military coup in the country. South Korea also airlifted more

Social AffairsFeb. 28, 2022

S. Korea appoints 10 new ambassadors in regular reshuffle

South Korea on Monday appointed 10 new ambassadors, including to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in a regular reshuffle, the foreign ministry said. Kwon Hee-seog, the country's top envoy to Italy, was appointed as the new ambassador of ASEAN, while Lee Seong-ho, the deputy minister for economic affairs, will serve as the ambassador to Italy, according to the ministry. Yun Seong-deok, the foreign policy adviser to the prime minister, was named the new deputy minister for econo

Foreign AffairsFeb. 28, 2022

New COVID-19 cases fall below 140,000, but deaths hit all-time high

South Korea's daily COVID-19 cases fell below 140,000 on Monday, but virus-related deaths soared to a record high, as the government suspended the enforcement of the vaccine pass system as part of efforts to free up resources and focus more on treating seriously ill patients. The country reported 139,626 new coronavirus infections, including 139,466 local cases, raising the total caseload to 3,134,456, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Monday's daily caseload

Social AffairsFeb. 28, 2022

[Graphic News] Majority of S. Koreans support eased business curfew: poll

　Six out of 10 South Koreans are positive about the relaxation of COVID-19 curbs on businesses, a poll showed.  　In the survey by the Korea Society Opinion Institute, 62.1 percent said the government should enhance the protection of severely ill patients and those with underlying conditions while easing the curfew on restaurants, cafes and other businesses.  　But 32.6 percent said restrictions on business hours should be maintained firmly until infections are back on the decline. 　

NationalFeb. 28, 2022

Putin puts nuclear forces on high alert, escalating tensions

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) _ President Vladimir Putin dramatically escalated East-West tensions by ordering Russian nuclear forces put on high alert Sunday, while Ukraine's embattled leader agreed to talks with Moscow as Putin's troops and tanks drove deeper into the country, closing in around the capital. Citing "aggressive statements" by NATO and tough financial sanctions, Putin issued a directive to increase the readiness of Russia's nuclear weapons, raising fears that the invasion of Ukrai

Foreign AffairsFeb. 28, 2022

NK officials pledge to shore up 'shortcomings' in carrying out ruling party tasks

Participants in an ongoing gathering of North Korea's ruling party officials have acknowledged "shortcomings" in implementing party tasks and pledged to improve them, Pyongyang's state media reported Monday. The 2nd Conference of Secretaries of Primary Committees of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), the first since late 2016, opened Saturday, as the North appears intent to tighten discipline and unity among party ranks amid economic woes aggravated by sanctions and pandemic-driven res

North KoreaFeb. 28, 2022

Presidential candidates enter final full week of campaigning

Presidential candidates on Monday kicked off their final full week of campaigning with polls still indicating a dead heat between ruling party nominee Lee Jae-myung and main opposition candidate Yoon Suk-yeol. Lee of the liberal Democratic Party is set to meet with voters in the southeastern region of the country, including in Pohang, Gyeongju and Daegu, as he seeks to woo the traditionally conservative base. In the evening, he is scheduled to visit his hometown of Andong to rally voters there.

PoliticsFeb. 28, 2022

Govt. to suspend vaccine pass enforcement at restaurants, cafes starting Tuesday

The enforcement of vaccine passes at restaurants, cafes and other multiuse facilities will be temporarily lifted starting Tuesday to reduce the burden of health workers mobilized to issue negative test certificates, Interior Minister Jeon Hae-cheol said Monday. Speaking at an interagency COVID-19 response meeting, Jeon said the decision will help the government prioritize its administrative capacity toward dealing with the fast spread of the omicron coronavirus variant and high-risk virus patie

PoliticsFeb. 28, 2022

N. Korea claims to have conducted test of 'reconnaissance satellite' seen as ballistic missile

North Korea claimed Monday to have carried out an "important test" for developing a "reconnaissance satellite" despite South Korea's characterization of it as a ballistic missile launch. Sunday's test came amid concerns the North could fire a long-range rocket under the disguise of a satellite launch or conduct other provocative acts following its veiled threat last month to suspend its voluntary moratorium on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests. &qu

North KoreaFeb. 28, 2022

North Gyeongsang Province to join metaverse, forms alliance

North Gyeongsang Province is aiming to create a “provincial metaverse” for 10 million people by 2026, officials said at a launching of a policy advisory group of experts for the virtual development. Holding a launching ceremony on Thursday, the provincial government said it has also formed a Metaverse Alliance to include corporates and universities. It is the first time a province here has created any such entity related to metaverse, the province added. “In the era of the

Social AffairsFeb. 28, 2022

N.Korea fires ballistic missile, resumes show of force after month-long hiatus

North Korea fired one ballistic missile toward the East Sea from Pyongyang on Sunday morning and resumed its show of force after a one-month pause. “Our military detects one ballistic missile being fired toward the East Sea from the Sunan area in Pyongyang at around 7:52 a.m.,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a written statement. Pyongyang reportedly launched the ballistic missile from a transporter erector launcher (TEL) at Sunan airfield toward a target on the east coast.&nbs

NationalFeb. 27, 2022

Yoon Suk-yeol pursues ‘peace through strength’ on the Korean Peninsula

Presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party seeks to establish “peace through power” on the Korean Peninsula, which is the guiding principle of his security and defense strategy. “Peace cannot be kept without strength,” retired Army Lt. Gen. Kim Yong-hyun, who advises Yoon on defense and security policy and previously served as chief director of operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told The Korea Herald. Yoon’s top defense

DefenseFeb. 27, 2022

Calls grow for revocation of Putin’s honorary degree at Yong In University

Amid the global shock waves from Russia’s full-fledged invasion of Ukraine, calls are growing for South Korea’s Yong In University in Gyeonggi Province to cancel the honorary doctorate it had granted to Russian President Vladimir Putin more than a decade ago, according to sources Sunday. On Sept. 21, 2010, Putin received an honorary doctorate in judo from the college, which has gained global recognition since its establishment in 1953 for its martial arts program that has trained wo

Social AffairsFeb. 27, 2022