Trilateral cooperation with China, Japan at crossroads of 'leap or stagnation': vice FM

Trilateral cooperation among South Korea, China and Japan is at a "crossroads between a leap or stagnation," Second Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-moon said Tuesday, hoping that the neighboring countries will work together to move their relationships forward. Choi made the remark during an event to mark the founding of the Seoul-based Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat set up by the three countries to facilitate cooperation in a region long plagued by tensions over history and other

Foreign AffairsApril 27, 2021

Moon: It’s time to talk with North Korea

President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday reaffirmed his will to restore the collapsed diplomacy with North Korea in marking the third anniversary of his historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. “The Panmunjeom Declaration is a milestone for peace that no one can undermine,” he said during a weekly Cabinet meeting, referring to the landmark deal that was signed by the two leaders on April 27, 2018. “The path for peace, promised in the declaration, should not be reversed

North KoreaApril 27, 2021

Unification minister urges N. Korea to implement peace agreements on summit anniversary

SEOUL/PAJU -- Unification Minister Lee In-young urged North Korea on Tuesday to implement inter-Korean summit agreements and come out for talks as he marked the third anniversary of a historic 2018 summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Lee made the remarks during an event organized by civic groups to celebrate the anniversary of the Panmunjom Declaration adopted after the summit talks on April 27, 2018, stressing that South Korea is willing to resume talks wi

North KoreaApril 27, 2021

Seoul mayor says he will continue restructuring of Gwanghwamun Square

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said Tuesday he will continue the expansion of Gwanghwamun Square despite opposition from some citizens and simultaneously seek improvements to the landmark structure. Oh said at a press briefing that the remodeling project, which began in November before he took office, is already 34 percent complete and has incurred a cost of 25 billion won ($22.5 million). "Following a careful review and debate, the city of Seoul has decided to continue the restructuring of Gwang

PoliticsApril 27, 2021

Military to complete first dose vaccination of troops over 30s in 2 weeks

The military plans to complete giving the first doses of coronavirus vaccines to service members aged 30 or older in the next two weeks, the defense ministry said Tuesday, amid sporadic infections reported in barracks across the country. Starting Wednesday, 126,000 service members over the age of 30 will receive AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine shots in a full-fledged launch of a vaccination campaign in the military, the ministry said. "Our plan is to wrap up vaccinating those age 30 or old

DefenseApril 27, 2021

Foreign population in S. Korea falls below 2m for 1st time in over 5 years

The foreign population in South Korea has fallen below the 2 million mark for the first time in over five years amid the new coronavirus pandemic, government data showed Tuesday. As of March, the total number of foreign residents here stood at around 1.99 million, down 9.2 percent from a year ago when the corresponding figure was slightly over 2.2 million, according to data compiled by the Ministry of Justice. This marks the first time the foreign population has sunk below 2 million since Dec

Social AffairsApril 27, 2021

S. Korea develops new radar technology capable of detecting stealth fighters

A state-run defense development agency said Tuesday it has completed the development of a new high power and high sensitivity radar technology capable of detecting stealth fighter jets. The new technology will be used for wide area surveillance to monitor military aircraft operated by neighboring countries near the Korean Peninsula, according to the Agency for Defense Development. "Securing a homegrown radar technology to detect warplanes with a low radar cross section was essential as th

DefenseApril 27, 2021

[Graphic News] Number of S. Korean stay-at-home fathers hits record high

　The number of South Korean stay-at-home fathers reached an all-time high in March as fewer women took charge of bringing up kids, government data showed. 　A total of 13,000 South Korean men outside the labor force were in charge of child care last month, up 6,000 from a year earlier, according to the data from the Korean Statistical Information Service. 　It was the largest number since data tracking began in 1999. 　Those in their 30s and 40s accounted for 74.5 percent of stay-at-home dad

NationalApril 27, 2021

FM offers condolences over Indonesia's submarine sinking

Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong offered condolences to the families of the crew members killed in last week's deadly sinking of an Indonesian submarine off the island of Bali, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. The Indonesian submarine KRI Nanggala 402 with 53 people on aboard went missing last week while conducting a training exercise.Its military on Sunday declared all 53 crew members dead after it found its wreckage broken into three pieces at the bottom of the sea. "Foreign Minister

Foreign AffairsApril 27, 2021

Moon sends condolence letter to Indonesian leader over sub sinking tragedy

South Korean President Moon Jae-in sent a condolence letter to his Indonesian counterpart, Joko Widodo, over the deadly sinking of the country's naval submarine, Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday. Moon expressed regret about the deaths of 53 crew members and delivered a message of condolences and sympathy to the Indonesian people, according to presidential spokesperson Park Kyung-mee. He hoped that the Indonesian people will overcome grief from the tragic accident at an early date, she added. Indone

PoliticsApril 27, 2021

New virus cases in 500s for 2nd day; vaccine rollout to gather pace

South Korea's daily new virus cases stayed in the 500s for the second straight day Tuesday due to less testing as the country accelerates a vaccine rollout amid woes over another wave of the pandemic. The country reported 512 more COVID-19 cases, including 477 local infections, raising the total caseload to 119,898, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Tuesday's figure was slightly up from 500 the previous day. The daily caseload usually spikes from Wednesday as more p

Social AffairsApril 27, 2021

US to provide up to 10m AstraZeneca vaccine doses to other countries in coming weeks: White House

WASHINGTON --  The United States is expected to provide up to 10 million doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine to other countries in the coming weeks if and when the US Food Drug Administration (FDA) confirms its safety, the White House said Monday. Spokesperson Jen Psaki made the remark as South Korea and other countries have been calling for US help in addressing vaccine shortages. South Korean officials said they were trying to reach a "vaccine swap" deal with the US. "

Foreign AffairsApril 27, 2021

US support for India strictly humanitarian: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- The United States' support for India to deal with its latest spike in the COVID-19 outbreak is strictly based on humanitarian and health considerations, a State Department spokesman said Monday, dismissing views that the US may be choosing to help India over others for political reasons. Ned Price also argued the US support for India largely aims to contain the virus from further affecting the United States and other countries. "It certainly goes without saying that India is

Foreign AffairsApril 27, 2021

US must be ready to make concessions to N. Korea to advance denuclearization: lawmaker

WASHINGTON -- The United States must be ready to make concessions to North Korea that could include temporary sanctions relief if necessary to advance the North's denuclearization process, a US lawmaker said Monday. Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) also said South Korean President Moon Jae-in needs to explain exactly what options are on the table when he meets his US counterpart, Joe Biden, next month. "I do think that the United States should be prepared and could be prepared to be able to provide s

North KoreaApril 27, 2021

British aircraft carrier to visit S. Korea this year

A British aircraft carrier strike group will make a port call at the southeastern city of Busan later this year, Seoul's defense ministry said Tuesday, as the European country seeks to expand its presence in the Indo-Pacific region. South Korea has accepted Britain's request for its HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier to make a port call at Busan in the second half to boost "bilateral defense cooperation and friendly exchanges," the ministry said. Accompanied by multiple warships an

DefenseApril 27, 2021

Belgian ambassador says wife will soon turn up for police probe over assault incident

Belgian Ambassador to Seoul Peter Lescouhier on Monday notified government officials here that his wife will soon turn up to face a police investigation over an assault incident. Police have been looking into allegations that Lescouhier's wife slapped an apparel store employee in the face and another employee in the back of her head early this month. The employees had asked the wife if she paid for the clothes she was wearing at the time because the shop was selling the same apparel. The ambas

Foreign AffairsApril 26, 2021

S. Korea welcomes ASEAN leaders' call for end to Myanmar violence

South Korea on Monday welcomed the joint statement by Southeast Asian leaders that called for an end to violence in Myanmar and pursuit of a peaceful solution. Nine of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations issued the statement under the name of its secretary general after a summit in Indonesia, demanding its member Myanmar immediately end civilian killings that began after its military seized power in a coup in early February. The statement came as Myanmar's military leader Seni

Foreign AffairsApril 26, 2021

Defense ministry to check meal service for quarantined soldiers

The defense ministry said Monday it will launch inspections into growing complaints from soldiers that they were fed poor quality meals while in COVID-19 quarantine. Some service members have raised complaints over the quality of meals they were provided while in coronavirus quarantine upon returning from vacation, posting pictures of food that some even likened to prison meals. Some others also voiced complaints about the bad sanitation of temporary quarantine facilities. "The ministry

DefenseApril 26, 2021

Moon's disapproval reaches highest point: Realmeter

President Moon Jae-in's public disapproval rating hit an all-time high, a poll showed Monday, as the ruling bloc continues to struggle with fallout from its recent crushing defeat in local by-elections. In the five-day Realmeter survey conducted through last Friday, Moon's disapproval rating hit 63 percent, up 1.5 percentage points from a week earlier. The latest poll canvassed 2,532 people, aged 18 or older, nationwide. This marks Moon's highest disapproval rating since he took office in May

PoliticsApril 26, 2021

Moon urges halt to 'politicization' of COVID-19 vaccine issue

President Moon Jae-in asked South Koreans on Monday not to "politicize" the COVID-19 vaccine issue, as his government is striving to assure them that the country has already secured deals for enough supply of doses and that the overall inoculation program is on track. Doubts have grown over the government's stated scheme to get at least 12 million people here vaccinated in the first half of this year for the sake of achieving herd immunity by November. "If you watch (the situati

PoliticsApril 26, 2021