N. Korea claims COVID-19 situation takes ‘favorable turn,’ slams officials’ ‘slackness’

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un rebuked cadres for their “slackness” in handling the COVID-19 outbreak while the country claimed that the pandemic situation was taking a “favorable turn,” the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Wednesday. Kim on Tuesday convened a rare first meeting of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Center Committee of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, the highest decision-making body, to discuss the spread of infectious

North KoreaMay 18, 2022

Constitutional reform will bring genuine democratization: Kazakh ambassador

Constitutional reform in Kazakhstan will facilitate expansion of citizen participation in governance and ensure genuine democratization of political processes, Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Korea said Tuesday. Speaking at a roundtable on constitutional reform via video conference, Kazakh Ambassador Bakyt Dyussenbayev said that the planned reform -- up for a referendum on June 5 -- will transform his country’s political system. The online roundtable discussed the referendum on consti

Diplomatic CircuitMay 18, 2022

North Korea likely to launch ICBM within 48 to 96 hours: US official

North Korea appears to be preparing for a possible intercontinental ballistic missile test within the next 48 to 96 hours in time for US President Joe Biden’s visit to Seoul and Tokyo this weekend, CNN reported Wednesday. An official familiar with the matter told CNN that a government assessment shows that “things we have noticed in the past for a launch are the things we are noticing now.” While the official did not provide specific details on the latest satellite imagery

North KoreaMay 18, 2022

[Newsmaker] Cryptocurrency crashes take a mental toll on young investors

“Where did all the posts about Luna go? Have you guys all gone to Han River?” This anonymous comment on the Bitcoin section of online community DCinside captures the depressing mood of online cryptocurrency communities in recent days. The crash of Korean-made cryptocurrency terraUSD, also known as UST, and its sister token luna, has made headlines around the world as its impact was felt in the global cryptocurrency market. “Going to Han River” – a rather dark p

Social AffairsMay 18, 2022

Yoon hails spirit of Gwangju Uprising in change of tone for conservatives

President Yoon Suk-yeol on Wednesday paid tribute to protesters of the Gwangju Democratic Uprising, an unusual move for a conservative president that some say is aimed at dispelling concerns of his bloc’s negligence of the Jeolla provinces and to strengthen the message of national unity. “The spirit of May is the restoration of universal values and constitutional spirit of liberal democracy. That spirit belongs to all of us and is a valuable asset of the Republic of Korea,” Y

PoliticsMay 18, 2022

PM nominee to be put to vote as opposition digs in over justice minister appointment

Whether Prime Minister nominee Han Duck-soo will join the Yoon Suk-yeol administration is to be decided Friday, as the parliament is slated to vote on his appointment as the last part of the confirmation process. The National Assembly has scheduled a plenary session at 2 p.m. Friday to vote on whether to approve Han’s appointment to the office of prime minister. The Democratic Party holds sway over the final vote, as it controls 168 seats and holding super majority at the legislative bran

PoliticsMay 18, 2022

More global efforts are needed for sustainable water, Henk Ovink says

Henk Ovink, a flood expert and special envoy from the Netherlands to the United Nations, says investment in water projects must be scaled up, as population growth and economic development adds to water-related challenges. “No matter where in the world, water is life -- it helps build a better future and inform sustainable actions, and it helps bring us together,” Ovink said in a written interview with The Korea Herald. Ovink said three water-related challenges - scarcity, pollu

Social AffairsMay 18, 2022

[Hwang’s China and the World] China will not side with Moscow to engage new Cold War

At Bloomberg’s New Economy Forum in Beijing back in 2019, the former United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger mentioned that the US and China were still in the “foothills of the New Cold War,” which basically meant that we had not entered it yet. From my personal view, there must be a few objective criteria before determine that the New Cold War has begun: Will Biden’s 4 years also present Trump-ish foreign policies? Will China become more opaque and assertive?

Foreign AffairsMay 18, 2022

Korea Quiz (3) Spoon theory

Test your knowledge of Korea with our weekly quiz on the language, culture, history or anything K-related.  Answer: b Spoon theory is a euphemism used to describe a person’s family background, usually related to financial situation and social influence, by comparing it to spoons made of different materials. The phrase is derived from the English expression “born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth,” and the most common use is referring to a person of a wealthy

Social AffairsMay 18, 2022

My homework is your work: Students seeking shortcut

* From waking up a dozing student to tidying up graves, online advertisements with unusual but real job descriptions offer a peek into the Korean society. The Korea Herald looks at some of these unusual ads. The following is the third installment. –- Ed. A job ad that still exists on the hyperlocal community app Karrot Market is from a person searching for someone to do his or her homework assignment about “algorithm in computer engineering.” “I think I’ll be ask

Social AffairsMay 18, 2022

N. Korea silent on S. Korea's offer for COVID-19 talks for 3rd day: official

North Korea has remained unresponsive to South Korea's attempt to propose working-level consultations on its push to extend help to the neighbor in its fight against the COVID-19 outbreak for the third day, a ministry official here said Wednesday. The Ministry of Unification had sought to deliver a related message to the North on Monday through their liaison office to hold the talks and offer assistance in medical supplies to the neighbor, known for its dilapidated medical system. The two K

North KoreaMay 18, 2022

US Forces Korea launches permanent Apache helicopter unit

The US Forces Korea (USFK) has held a ceremony launching a permanently stationed air cavalry squadron consisting of new Apache attack helicopters in a key US base south of Seoul, its officials said Wednesday. The 5th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade was activated in the event at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, on Tuesday. It takes over from previous rotational aviation units. The new unit is known to have dozens of the latest AH-64E Version

Foreign AffairsMay 18, 2022

Yoon, PPP lawmakers travel to Gwangju en masse to commemorate 1980 democracy uprising

President Yoon Suk-yeol and some 100 lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) traveled to the southwestern city of Gwangju on Wednesday for a ceremony marking the 1980 pro-democracy uprising in an unprecedented outreach to the home turf of the main opposition party. The civil revolt, in which Gwangju citizens rose up against the then military junta led by late former President Chun Doo-hwan, has long been associated with the liberal opposition Democratic Party (DP), and the conservativ

PoliticsMay 18, 2022

S. Korea's new COVID-19 cases above 30,000 for 2nd day amid omicron slowdown

South Korea's new COVID-19 cases stayed above 30,000 for the second straight day Wednesday on a continued omicron slowdown as officials weigh a further easing of virus curbs toward returning to pre-pandemic normalcy. The country reported 31,352 new COVID-19 infections, including 35 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 17,861,744, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Wednesday's tally is down from the 35,117 reported the previous day. South Korea has pos

Social AffairsMay 18, 2022

NK leader criticizes problem in early response to COVID-19 crisis in key politburo meeting: state media

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un rebuked officials for failing to respond properly to the COVID-19 outbreak in its early stages as he presided over a ruling Workers' Party meeting, state media said Wednesday. His message came as the country reported more than 232,880 people with fever symptoms nationwide and six additional deaths, raising total fatalities to 62, as of 6 p.m. the previous day. At the meeting of the presidium of the political bureau held Tuesday, Kim said that "immaturity

North KoreaMay 18, 2022

US concerned about COVID outbreak in N. Korea, no delay in nuclear test expected: State Dept.

The United States is deeply concerned about the COVID-19 outbreak in North Korea and supports providing humanitarian assistance, including COVID-19 vaccines, to the impoverished country, a state department spokesperson said Tuesday. Ned Price, however, noted Pyongyang may still go ahead with its widely anticipated nuclear test. "Unfortunately, to date the DPRK has refused all vaccine donations from COVAX," the department press secretary said when asked in a daily press briefing if the

North KoreaMay 18, 2022

JCS chief visits frontline Army unit to check readiness

South Korea's top military officer on Tuesday visited an Army unit on the eastern front to check its readiness against possible threats from North Korea and border breaches, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. JCS Chairman Gen. Won In-choul inspected the frontline unit of the 22nd Division in charge of the eastern border area and its border defense system, it said. Citing the division's vast border operations area, which includes parts of the country's eastern coast, Won urged the troops to maint

North KoreaMay 17, 2022

N. Korea still unresponsive to S. Korea's outreach for talks on COVID-19: official

North Korea has remained unresponsive for the second day to South Korea's attempt to offer dialogue on COVID-19 medical supplies and health care cooperation, a ministry official here said Tuesday. The Ministry of Unification had sought to deliver a related fax message to the North on Monday through their liaison office. It is seeking to hold working-level consultations on the ongoing epidemic in the impoverished neighbor and assistance in medical supplies, including vaccines, masks and test ki

North KoreaMay 17, 2022

Pyongyang criticizes Yoon for rehashing old-school North Korea policy

North Korea criticized South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol as a person who likes to “show off,” and said Yoon is rehashing an old-school North Korea policy, Tuesday. Uriminjokkiri, one of the North’s propaganda websites, called Yoon a “manspreading ship owner” who solely pursues his own authority and pleasure, and bothers his subordinates by ordering the relocation of the presidential office and the residence. The website also pointed how Yoon has “imper

North KoreaMay 17, 2022

Could Moon act as special envoy to North Korea?

US President Joe Biden’s plans to meet former South Korean President Moon Jae-in during his visit to Seoul this weekend, have raised eyebrows, as Moon no longer holds office. The schedule has prompted observers to speculate on the purpose of the meeting, with the possibility that Seoul and Washington are considering asking Moon to serve as an intermediary to North Korea among the most widely held expectations. Former Unification Minister Chung Se-hyun said Biden was meeting Moon for a

North KoreaMay 17, 2022