US committed to improving S. Korea-Japan relations: Knapper

The US administration of President Joe Biden is very committed to improved relations between South Korea and Japan as cooperation between the allies is key to dealing with various regional issues, including a nuclear-armed North Korea, a US diplomat said Tuesday. Marc Knapper, deputy assistant secretary of state for Korea and Japan, also said he feels very "optimistic" about Seoul-Tokyo relations. "I think we've seen very early on, I mean, absolute proof that this administration

Foreign AffairsApril 7, 2021

[Newsmaker] Govt. to expand free coronavirus testing to prevent new wave of infections: PM

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Wednesday the government will expand free coronavirus testing, with recent spikes in new cases spurring concerns of a fourth wave of infections. The country reported 668 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, the most since Feb. 18, as sporadic cluster infections continued to increase across the country. "We will expand free testing so that anyone can get a free coronavirus diagnostic test regardless of the social distancing stage or symptoms," Chung sa

PoliticsApril 7, 2021

S. Korea investigating new bird flu case

South Korea's agricultural ministry said Wednesday it is investigating a new suspected case of highly pathogenic bird flu case amid the country's prolonged battle against the animal disease. The latest suspected case was reported at a duck farm in Jangheung, 394 kilometers south of Seoul, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. If confirmed, it will mark the first case since late March. Since November last year, South Korea has reported 108 cases of the H5N8 strain of

Social AffairsApril 7, 2021

Moon sends letter to UAE's crown prince over nuclear power plant operation

South Korean President Moon Jae-in sent a congratulatory letter to the de facto ruler of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the nation's 50th founding anniversary and the start of its first nuclear power plant, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday. In the letter to Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Moon congratulated the nation on beginning the commercial operation of the Barakah plant constructed by South Korea. Three more reactors are being built there. Moon described th

PoliticsApril 7, 2021

1 Marine tests positive for new coronavirus

A Marine based in the southeastern port city of Pohang tested positive for the new coronavirus, the defense ministry said Wednesday. He was confirmed to have been infected after undertaking a COVID-19 test to exit quarantine, as he came into close contact with a civilian who earlier tested positive, according to the ministry. The latest case raised the total number of infections reported among the military population to 668. The authorities are carrying out virus tests on members of the Defen

Social AffairsApril 7, 2021

New virus cases most since mid-Feb., another wave of pandemic looming

South Korea reported the most new coronavirus cases since early January on Wednesday as sporadic cluster infections continued to pile up across the country, raising concerns that the country may again grapple with another wave of the pandemic. The country reported 668 more COVID-19 cases, including 653 local infections, raising the total caseload to 106,898, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. It marked a sharp rise from 478 the previous day and the largest since 674 da

Social AffairsApril 7, 2021

N. Korea moves submersible missile test stand barge: US think tank

North Korea has moved a submersible missile test stand barge at a shipyard on its east coast, a US think tank said Wednesday, noting the move could be part of preparations for a submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) test or for maintenance. Citing satellite imagery collected Tuesday, Beyond Parallel, a project of the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, revealed the activity, warning the "implied threat" of SLBM testing would pose "significant challeng

North KoreaApril 7, 2021

Bellwether mayoral by-elections kick off in Seoul and Busan

Voters went to polls to cast ballots for new mayors in Seoul and Busan, the country's two biggest cities, on Wednesday in by-elections deemed a critical bellwether for next year's presidential contest. Voting began at 6 a.m. at 3,459 polling stations across the country and will last till 8 p.m. Besides the two mayoral seats, 19 other regional public posts are up for grabs, including the county governor for Uiryeong in South Gyeongsang Province and a ward office head in the southeastern In Seou

PoliticsApril 7, 2021

N. Korea's decision to skip Olympics consistent with its COVID-19 response: Price

WASHINGTON -- North Korea's decision to skip the Summer Olympics appears to be in line with its strong measures against the COVID-19 pandemic, a spokesman for the US State Department said Tuesday. "We are aware of reports that North Korea has decided not to participate in the Summer Olympics, which would appear consistent, in fact, with the DPRK's stringent response to COVID-19," Ned Price said at a daily press briefing. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the

Foreign AffairsApril 7, 2021

IOC hasn't heard from N. Korea on skipping Tokyo Olympics: spokesperson

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Tuesday it hasn't received an official word from North Korea regarding the latter's decision not to participate in this year's Tokyo Summer Games. "The IOC has not received any official application from the NOC of DPRK to be released from their obligation to take part in the Olympic Games according to the Olympic Charter," an IOC spokesperson said in a statement released to Yonhap News Agency. NOC is short for the National Olympic Commi

North KoreaApril 6, 2021

By-election campaigns dominated by property allegations, negative battles

Rival parties were wrapping up their campaigns for local by-elections Tuesday dominated by corruption allegations and negative tactics rather than policy competition. Voters in 21 local entities will cast ballots Wednesday to pick the new mayors of Seoul and Busan and fill other regional administrative and legislative posts. The ruling Democratic Party (DP) and main opposition People Power Party (PPP) mounted fierce campaigns, as the elections are seen as a key barometer of voter sentiment ahe

PoliticsApril 6, 2021

Korea confident of fighter deal despite default

Indonesia is defaulting on a deal with South Korea to build Korea’s first homegrown fighter jets, sitting on its contribution to the project worth at least 8 trillion won ($7.1 billion), but Seoul is confident that it could manage the undertaking without the Southeast Asian country. The KF-X program, in which Indonesia seeks a 20 percent share and technology know-how while Korea holds the rest, is set to reveal its prototype jet early this month, but Indonesia has so far paid just $2

DefenseApril 6, 2021

NK’s withdrawal from Tokyo Olympics thwarts Seoul’s hope of rapprochement

North Korea on Tuesday announced it will not participate in the upcoming Tokyo Summer Olympics due to coronavirus concerns, thwarting Seoul’s hopes to use the games as an opportunity for rapprochement with the reclusive regime.  Pyongyang said the decision to skip the Olympics to be held on July 23 to Aug. 8 was to “protect athletes from the global health crisis caused by the malicious virus infection.” The decision was made when the North’s national Olympic commit

North KoreaApril 6, 2021

Cheong Wa Dae reaching out to biz community via on-site meetings

Cheong Wa Dae announced Tuesday it will redouble efforts to communicate with the local business sector in a bid to resolve difficulties facing firms here and provide other necessary support. The move comes at President Moon Jae-in's instruction, which was issued during an internal meeting last week. Lee Ho-seung, Moon's chief of staff for policy, is scheduled to hold a series of meetings with leaders of major lobby groups here. The top Cheong Wa Dae secretary in charge of policy issues will v

PoliticsApril 6, 2021

[News Focus] Korea ranks No. 24 of 31 OECD members in 2020 employment

SEJONG -- South Korea’s employment rate had been outstripped by those of most members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development even before the coronavirus pandemic hit. And despite its relatively successful handling of the pandemic, Korea’s ranking made little progress in 2020. Korea recorded a 65.9 percent employment rate for people aged 15-64 last year. In a comparison by the French-based organization of 31 of its members, Korea ranked 24th. The OECD ha

Social AffairsApril 6, 2021

By-election voters asked to observe quarantine, distancing rules

Quarantine authorities on Tuesday asked the public to thoroughly comply with social distancing and other anti-coronavirus rules in the voting process for this week's mayoral by-elections in Seoul and Busan. By-election voting for the two mayoral seats and 19 other regional public posts is scheduled to begin at 6 a.m. and last till 8 p.m. on Wednesday at 3,459 polling stations across the country. The Central Disease Control Headquarters said in a media briefing that voters must always wear a ma

PoliticsApril 6, 2021

Cabinet approves recently concluded S. Korea-US defense cost sharing deal

South Korea's Cabinet approved a recently concluded defense cost sharing deal with the United States on Tuesday, a foreign ministry official said, noting that the government will request parliamentary consent for it at an early date. Last month, the two countries concluded the deal, under which Seoul is to pay 1.183 trillion won ($1.05 billion) this year, up from 1.038 trillion won in 2019, for the upkeep of the 28,500-strong US Forces Korea (USFK). The government is expected to request the Na

DefenseApril 6, 2021

N. Korean firm loses suit against S. Korean companies in disputes over export payment

A North Korean firm on Tuesday lost a lawsuit claiming millions of dollars for metal it supplied to South Korean companies in 2010, in a rare legal battle between businesses from the two Koreas. In a ruling against the North Korean National Economic Cooperation Federation, its member company and their South Korean deputy, the Seoul Central District Court said that four South Korean firms need not pay the plaintiffs about 5.3 billion won ($4.7 million) for the zinc they imported from North Korea

North KoreaApril 6, 2021

S. Korea records highest temperature for March, earliest cherry blossom bloom in Seoul in 99 yrs

South Korea recorded its highest average temperature for March last month, with Seoul seeing its earliest cherry blossom bloom on record, the state weather agency said Tuesday. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), last month's average temperature was 8.9 C, the highest since monitoring on a national scale began in 1973. The previous records were 8.1 C in 2018 and 7.9 C in 2020. High atmospheric pressure brought high temperatures, which in turn led to the earliest cherry

Social AffairsApril 6, 2021

Single foreigners raising Korean kids can also get child support

Marital status will no longer matter in getting child care support from the government under a new rule that will benefit low-income foreigners raising their Korean children. Under current rules, foreigners who are not married to Korean nationals are not eligible to receive a monthly child care support of 200,000 won ($180) per child even though they are raising their Korean children. This will change when a set of revised rules on support to single-parent families takes effect in May. The ch

Social AffairsApril 6, 2021