N. Korea holds artillery fire competition: state media

North Korea has conducted an artillery fire competition to boost the country's defense capabilities as set forth by the "militant policy" of the ruling Workers' Party, state media reported Sunday. The competition was held Saturday to inspect "how the mechanized troops of the KPA have conducted drills in order to increase their mobile artillery combat capabilities," according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). KPA stands for the Korean People's Army. Pak Jong-chon, a

North KoreaNov. 7, 2021

[Eye Plus] Path of hardship behind success to be witnessed in the Museum of Korean Emigration History

The Museum of Korean Emigration History, South Korea’s first museum on the history of emigration, attracts visitors with its exhibits on embracing the lives, joys and sorrows of Koreans overseas by providing a network of the compatriot societies at home and abroad. The cultural exhibit center located in Jung-gu of Incheon is the first historical museum that takes pride in highlighting the emigration of Koreas since being established in June 13, 2008, to commemorate the 100th anniversary o

Social AffairsNov. 6, 2021

[Photo News] Monster spud could be largest potato in the world

What could be the world’s largest potato was found in Wellington, New Zealand, on Aug. 30. Donna and Colin Craig-Browns, a couple living in New Zealand, dug up a potato that weighs 7.9 kilograms. They were unsure of its identity before digging it out but once they did, they were absolutely flabbergasted. To give their discovery a funny twist, the couple decided to name the potato Doug, after the way it was unearthed.  The previous potato record-holder weighed 4.98 kilograms. The cou

Social AffairsNov. 6, 2021

[Photo News] COVID-19 vaccination for kids begins in the US

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has given final approval to using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children aged 5-11 years old. CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Tuesday that approximately 28 million children are now eligible to receive the vaccine for free. Last week, the FDA authorized a 10-microgram dose of the Pfizer vaccine for children under 12, which is one-third of the adult dose. Health authorities forecast that the lower dose will help reduce the chances of si

Social AffairsNov. 6, 2021

Memorial for Korean victims of atomic bomb erected in Japan's Nagasaki

A memorial stone for thousands of Korean victims of a US atomic bombing of Nagasaki in 1945 was erected in the Japanese city on Saturday, its promoters said. The monument was unveiled at a ceremony in Nagasaki Peace Park, which commemorates the atomic bombing of the city on Aug. 9, 1945, with some 100 people, including South Korean Ambassador to Japan Kang Chang-il, Nagasaki city council members and a peace delegation of Japanese high school students, attending the event despite the rainy weath

Diplomatic CircuitNov. 6, 2021

Nearly 1,500 caught drunk driving in first 4 days of 'living with COVID-19': police

Nearly 1,500 people were caught while driving under the influence (DUI) in the first four days after the country lifted business hour restrictions and raised the cap on private gatherings under its "living with COVID-19" scheme, police said Saturday. A total of 1,486 people were busted for DUIs between Monday and Thursday, according to the police, with 384 of them having blood alcohol content levels high enough to have their licenses suspended and the rest with levels warranting havin

Social AffairsNov. 6, 2021

Military reports 7 additional COVID-19 cases

South Korea's military reported seven additional COVID-19 cases Saturday, bringing the total caseload among its personnel to 2,074, the defense ministry said. All the newly confirmed cases were found to be breakthrough infections. With the latest tally, there have been 374 breakthrough cases in the military. (Yonhap)

Social AffairsNov. 6, 2021

New cases over 2,000 for 4th day amid relaxed virus curbs

South Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed above 2,000 for the fourth consecutive day Saturday as the country relaxed virus curbs under its "living with COVID-19" scheme that allows people to gradually return to normalcy. The country reported 2,248 new COVID-19 cases, including 2,219 local infections, raising the total caseload to 377,712, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said. Saturday's figure is down from 2,344 cases from the previous day but still substantially la

Social AffairsNov. 6, 2021

Lotte aquarium seeks to transport beluga whale to wildlife sanctuary

Lotte World said Friday that it plans to send its only-surviving beluga whale in its aquarium to a wildlife sanctuary next year in a move for its eventual release into its natural habitat. The theme park business unit of Hotel Lotte Co. said it is in contact with a whale sanctuary in Iceland, and plans to talk with sanctuaries in Russia and Canada. Lotte World said the East Sea -- the body of water between South Korea and Japan -- is also considered as a site for releasing "Bella," o

Social AffairsNov. 5, 2021

Ex-school principal accused of spycam voyeurism handed over to prosecution

Police on Friday transferred to the prosecution a former elementary school principal accused of installing a spy camera in a female teachers' restroom. The Anyang Dongan Police Station in Anyang, 23 kilometers south of Seoul, concluded its probe into the 57-year-old man, who was arrested late last month, and handed the case over to the prosecution, recommending he be indicted on sexual offense charges, officials said. He has admitted to having fitted a tiny camera inside a tissue box in the re

Social AffairsNov. 5, 2021

US reiterates commitment to NK sanctions amid China and Russia’s push to ease them

The US said it remains committed to imposing UN Security Council resolutions on North Korea aimed at limiting its nuclear and ballistic missile program, amid Beijing and Moscow’s push to ease sanctions on the regime.  “We do remain committed to the sanctions regime,” Ned Price, the spokesperson for the US State Department, said during a daily press briefing on Thursday (US time). “We call on all UN members to fulfill their sanctions obligations under existing UN Sec

North KoreaNov. 5, 2021

4 out of 10 North Koreans undernourished: FAO

Around 42 percent of North Koreans have suffered from undernourishment over the past three years, a UN report said Friday, as the impoverished nation grapples with acute food insecurity amid the prolonged pandemic and severe weather conditions, compounded by international sanctions.  As many as 10.9 million people in North Korea, or 42.4 percent of the population, were undernourished from 2018 to 2020, according to the Statistical Yearbook – World Food and Agriculture 2021 released

North KoreaNov. 5, 2021

Yoon Seok-youl picked as presidential nominee for People Power Party

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl has been declared the official nominee for the main opposition People Power Party for next year’s presidential election. The party announced Friday that Yoon will be its presidential nominee after gaining a total of 347,963 votes, or 47.85 percent, to defeat his rival Rep. Hong Joon-pyo, who came in second with 41.5 percent. Former Rep. Yoo Seong-min received 54,304 votes, or 7.47 percent, while former Jeju Gov. Won Hee-ryong achieved 23,085 votes,

PoliticsNov. 5, 2021

[Newsmaker] Death penalty sought for adoptive mother over toddler’s murder

Prosecutors again demanded death penalty for the adoptive mother in a highly publicized child abuse case that led to the death of a 16-month-old baby girl. At the Seoul High Court on Friday, prosecutors asked for the highest criminal penalty for the defendant, surnamed Jang, who was indicted in December on charges of fatally abusing her adopted daughter named Jeong-in from March to October 2020. The child was found to have suffered severe abdominal injuries and internal bleeding due to Jang&rs

Social AffairsNov. 5, 2021

Ex-Prosecutor General Yoon wins presidential nomination of main opposition People Power Party

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl won the presidential nomination of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on Friday. Yoon won 47.85 percent of votes cast in a four-day poll of party members and the general public this week, followed by Rep. Hong Joon-pyo with 41.50 percent. Former Rep. Yoo Seong-min won 7.47 percent, while former Jeju Gov. Won Hee-ryong won 3.17 percent. The results were announced at a national convention at the Kim Koo Museum and Library in Seoul. (Yonhap)

PoliticsNov. 5, 2021

S. Korea secures 60m Pfizer vaccine doses for 2022

South Korea on Friday signed a deal with US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. to buy 30 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to be administered next year, bringing the total amount to 60 million, health authorities here said. The deal is a follow-up to an earlier deal signed in August that secured 30 million doses and had an option for an additional 30 million doses, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The contract is part of South Korea's plan to secure enough

Social AffairsNov. 5, 2021

Over 20 rallies to occur in Seoul on first weekend after easing of gathering curbs

The center of Seoul is expected to be crowded with nearly 4,000 demonstrators taking part in more than 20 rallies of varying sizes on the first weekend after the easing of gathering restrictions under the government's "living with COVID-19" scheme, police said Friday. Before this month, rallies and demonstrations, except for one-person protests, were banned across Seoul as part of authorities' anti-coronavirus campaign. With the launch of the "living with COVID-19" strategy

Social AffairsNov. 5, 2021

Prosecutors' office raided in connection with opposition's political meddling scandal

The Supreme Prosecutors Office (SPO) was raided Friday as part of a probe into allegations that a sitting prosecutor conspired with the main opposition party to investigate pro-government figures when opposition presidential contender Yoon Seok-youl was in office as prosecutor general, sources said. Authorities are currently looking into suspicions that Son Jun-sung, a prosecutor who previously served at the SPO, asked the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) to file a complaint against pro

PoliticsNov. 5, 2021

Cheong Wa Dae launches task force to tackle supply shortage of urea water solution

The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae has launched a task force to tackle supply shortages of urea water solution (UWS), a key material used in diesel vehicles to reduce emissions, an official said Friday. "We will establish a comprehensive response system like we have for material, components and equipment sectors so that we can utilize various channels to check cooperation in industrial and logistics communities, and diplomatic efforts with urea production countries, like China," sa

Social AffairsNov. 5, 2021

Seoul vows close communications with UNSC following NK sanctions relief proposal

South Korea will continue close communications with key UN Security Council (UNSC) members, the unification ministry said Friday, after China and Russia again proposed easing sanctions against North Korea. Deputy ministry spokesman Cha Duck-chul said South Korea was aware that the two countries have circulated such a draft resolution to UNSC members, and that it will closely monitor related moves at the council. "The government will ... continue close communications with the United States

North KoreaNov. 5, 2021