US, South Korea may differ on end-of-war proposal

Washington and Seoul appear to be on different trajectories on the matter of declaring a formal end to the Korean War, with a top US security official saying the allies could have “different perspectives” on the timing and conditions. 　 US national security adviser Jake Sullivan made the remarks Tuesday (US time) amid Seoul’s renewed push to declare a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War, as a way to nudge Pyongyang back to talks and ultimately to convince the regime to aband

North KoreaOct. 27, 2021

Breakthrough cases near 20,000, most frequent among those in 30s

South Korea has reported nearly 20,000 coronavirus infections involving people who tested positive for COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated, health authorities said Wednesday. There were 19,954 breakthrough cases out of more than 26.93 million people who have received the full-dose vaccine regimen, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Since the country's nationwide inoculation campaign began in late February, 36.7 million people, or 71.5 percent of the country's 52 mil

NationalOct. 27, 2021

Over 35% of Koreans drink tap water: survey

More than 3 in 10 Koreans drink tap water or boil it before drinking, a survey showed Wednesday. According to the Environment Ministry’s survey on people’s tap water consumption, 36 percent of the respondents said they drink water straight from the tap or boil it before drinking. The Environment Ministry conducted the first tap water drinking habit survey from April to June under the revised Water Supply and Waterworks Installation Act, which was amended in October last year. The

Social AffairsOct. 27, 2021

Public officials caught for DUI to face tougher disciplinary rules

Government employees will be subject to much tougher rules against drunk driving and inhumane misconduct under a soon-to-be-revised law, the Ministry of Personnel Management said Wednesday. The ministry issued an advance notice of a revision of the Decree on Disciplinary Action against Public Officials, saying any government employee caught driving drunk with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.2 percent or higher can be expelled from office. According to the revision, public officials refusing

Social AffairsOct. 27, 2021

S. Korea's childbirths at fresh low in August

The number of babies born in South Korea dropped to a record low in August, data showed Wednesday, underscoring the country's gloomy demographic situation with its chronically low birthrate. A total of 22,291 babies were born in August, down 0.5 percent from a year earlier, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea. It marked the lowest tally for any August since the country began compiling related data in 1981. South Korea has been struggling with a constant fall in childbirths as m

Social AffairsOct. 27, 2021

Former president Roh given state funeral

Former President Roh Tae-woo will be given a state funeral, the prime minister said Wednesday, citing his achievements as president. Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said at a Cabinet meeting Wednesday, “While serving as the 13th president, the deceased made many achievements in the country’s development. The government will honor his achievements with the people through a state funeral.” Kim told the Ministry of Public Administration and Security and related ministries to thorou

PoliticsOct. 27, 2021

Unification ministry to host DMZ peace forum

South Korea's unification ministry said Wednesday it will host a forum this week on the peaceful use of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas. The event will take place at a hotel in the northeastern county of Yanggu on Thursday, with World Food Programme Executive Director David Beasley set to deliver a keynote speech by video, according to the ministry. The DMZ, which is about 250 kilometers long and 4 km wide, is one of the world's most heavily fortified borders, with the r

North KoreaOct. 27, 2021

Cabinet approves greenhouse gas reduction target

The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the government's pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent from 2018 levels by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The pledge, which was passed at a Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, represents a significant raise in the country's previous greenhouse gas reduction target of 26.3 percent. President Moon Jae-in plans to introduce the country's vision globally in person at the 26th United Nations Climate Change C

PoliticsOct. 27, 2021

Cabinet to discuss proposal to hold state funeral for late ex-President Roh

The government will hold a Cabinet meeting Wednesday to discuss whether to hold a state funeral for late former President Roh Tae-woo, the country's last general-turned-president accused of deep involvement in a coup and the bloody crackdown on a pro-democracy uprising. The Cabinet meeting is aimed at holding discussions on a state funeral proposal but tabling the proposal at a Cabinet meeting itself raised views that the government was close to deciding to hold a state funeral for him. Presid

PoliticsOct. 27, 2021

Military reports 2 additional COVID-19 cases

South Korea's military reported two additional COVID-19 cases Wednesday, bringing the total caseload among its personnel to 2,019, the defense ministry said. An officer of the Joint Chiefs of Staff based in Seoul tested positive after a family member was infected. An Army officer stationed in Yangju, north of Seoul, also tested positive after a virus case was reported at the base. Of the cumulative cases in the military, 1,963, or 97 percent, have been fully cured, with 56 still under treatme

DefenseOct. 27, 2021

New virus cases soar to nearly 2,000 ahead of start of phased return to normalcy

South Korea's new coronavirus cases soared to nearly 2,000 Wednesday, as fresh concerns emerge over people letting their guard down ahead of the start of a gradual easing of virus curbs aimed at returning to normalcy. The country added 1,952 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,930 local infections, raising the total caseload to 356,305, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The latest count is a big jump from the previous day's 1,266 and 1,190 reported on Monday, al

Social AffairsOct. 27, 2021

Moon's office faces dilemma over state funeral for ex-leader Roh

The office of President Moon Jae-in was mulling how much courtesy to extend to late former President Roh Tae-woo, including whether to hold a state funeral for the country's last general-turned-president accused of deep involvement in a coup and the bloody crackdown on a pro-democracy uprising. Moon has not issued any message yet since Roh died Tuesday at age 88, suggesting that soul-searching is under way to determine the right balance between paying respect to a late predecessor and public se

PoliticsOct. 27, 2021

N. Korea calls for implementing five-year economic plan at Cabinet meeting

North Korea has held a Cabinet meeting and urged officials to put utmost efforts to accomplish the country's five-year economic development plan, state media reported Wednesday. The enlarged plenary meeting of the Cabinet took place via video links the previous day, chaired by Premier Kim Tok-hun, with Vice Premier Pak Jong-gun making a report on the country's economic performance, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). During the meeting, Pak analyzed deficiencie

North KoreaOct. 27, 2021

US unaware of N. Korean participation in COP26 climate summit: State Dept.

The United States is not aware of North Korea's possible participation in the upcoming UN climate change conference, a state department spokesperson said Tuesday. Ned Price said the US accordingly had no immediate plans to engage with North Korea at the climate conference, known as the Conference of the Parties (COP), set to be held in Glasgow, Britain. "I am not aware. First of all, I would have to refer you to Pyongyang to speak to any plans they may have to participate in Glasgow next

Foreign AffairsOct. 27, 2021

US, S. Korea aligned on N. Korea, but may differ on sequence of steps: NSA Sullivan

The United States and South Korea are aligned on the need to engage with North Korea diplomatically, but may differ when it comes to when and what steps should be taken to bring the recalcitrant North back to the dialogue table, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Tuesday. His remarks come amid a South Korean push for a declaration of the end of the Korean War that it insists can be a catalyst to restart dialogue with North Korea. "We may have somewhat different perspectives o

Foreign AffairsOct. 27, 2021

Top security official says hard to predict another inter-Korean summit

President Moon Jae-in's security adviser said Tuesday it is difficult to predict whether another summit between Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un can take place, citing "many uncertainties." Suh Hoon, director of the National Security Office at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, made the remarks during a parliamentary audit, amid speculation Moon is pushing for another inter-Korean summit to help salvage his drive for lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. "We have ju

DefenseOct. 26, 2021

IAP launches regional office for eastern Europe, Central Asia

The members of the International Association of Prosecutors decided to launch a regional office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia in St. Petersburg, Russia, organizers said Tuesday. The decision was reached during the IAP’s 52nd Executive Committee Meeting and 26th General Meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia, from Oct. 20-22. At the opening event on Oct. 20, IAP President Hwang Cheol-kyu, who is the chief prosecutor of the International Center for Criminal Justice in Korea, and Deputy Pr

Social AffairsOct. 26, 2021

‘Comfort woman’ calls on Seoul to bring case to UN body

A 93-year-old former “comfort woman” pleaded with the South Korean government on Tuesday to take the issue of Japan’s wartime sexual slavery to the UN Committee Against Torture.  Speaking at a virtual press conference, Lee Yong-soo urged President Moon Jae-in to refer the case to the UN body, which monitors adherence to the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment -- which both South Korea and Japan have ratified. 

Foreign AffairsOct. 26, 2021

Death of ex-President Roh raises mixed reactions

The news of former President Roh Tae-woo’s death on Tuesday was met with mixed reactions. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea expressed condolences, but also pointed to his part in military regimes. Saying that the party wishes for Roh to rest in peace, Democratic Party spokesperson Rep. Lee Yong-bin said the late ex-president extended military rule despite being elected democratically, and that he was a “criminal in history” for his part in crushing the 1980 Gwangju Democ

PoliticsOct. 26, 2021

UNESCO’s Learning Cities conference kicks off in Incheon’s Yeonsu-gu

The fifth International Conference on Learning Cities, held by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, kicks off in Incheon’s Yeonsu-gu on Wednesday to promote lifelong education for sustainable and healthy urban lives. Upholding learning cities’ green goal, the conference is set to be “paperless,” fully utilizing electronic documents. It is the district office’s effort to keep in step with UNESCO’s values and to meet its sustainable development goals, ac

Social AffairsOct. 26, 2021