New cases fall under 2,000; post-holiday infections in focus

South Korea's daily coronavirus cases fell under 2,000 on Thursday, but health authorities are keeping their guard up against potential virus flare-ups after an upcoming major holiday as infections continue to spread in the capital area. The country added 1,943 COVID-19 cases, including 1,921 local infections, raising the total caseload to 279,930, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The latest caseload was down from 2,080 cases the previous day. Daily cases

Social AffairsSept. 16, 2021

US opposed counter-coup military moves against Chun's rise to power: declassified documents

The United States opposed potential counter-coup moves within South Korea's military in early 1980 aimed at reversing then Army Gen. Chun Doo-hwan's seizing of power from an earlier coup, declassified documents showed Thursday. The documents, disclosed by the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum at Seoul's request, contain diplomatic cables the US Embassy in Seoul sent to Washington reporting on the political instability in the South in the wake of Chun's military coup. Chun took power i

Diplomatic CircuitSept. 16, 2021

US launches new Indo-Pacific security partnership with Australia, Britain

The United States on Wednesday announced the launch of a new trilateral security partnership in the Indo-Pacific that President Joe Biden said marks a "historic step" in deepening his country's cooperation with Australia and Britain. Biden said the countries will also work to equip Australia with "conventionally armed" nuclear submarines under the new trilateral partnership, named AUKUS. "The United States, Australia, (the) United Kingdom have long been faithful and capa

Diplomatic CircuitSept. 16, 2021

N. Korea confirms missile launches from train

North Korea said Thursday that a railway-borne missile regiment held a firing drill a day earlier, confirming the launches, apparently from a train, of two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea. "The railway-borne missile regiment took part in the drill with a mission to strike the target area 800 kilometers away from its location after moving to the central mountainous area at dawn on September 15," the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The KCNA said the Nort

North KoreaSept. 16, 2021

US condemns N. Korean missile launch, stands ready to engage in dialogue: Price

The United States condemns North Korea's ballistic missiles but continues to stand ready to engage with the North in dialogue, a State Department spokesman said Wednesday. North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Wednesday (Seoul time). Ned Price noted the missile launches violated a "multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions." "We do condemn the DPRK's missile launches. These missile launches are in violation of multiple U.N. Security Council

North KoreaSept. 16, 2021

NK leader's sister warns of 'complete destruction' of inter-Korean ties

The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Wednesday accused South Korean President Moon Jae-in of being "foolish" and warned of "complete destruction" of inter-Korean relations for branding Pyongyang's weapons tests a "provocation."    The statement from Kim Yo-jong came shortly after Moon said that South Korea's upgrading of its missile capabilities can help deter North Korean provocation following the successful underwater test-launch of an indi

North KoreaSept. 15, 2021

US condemns N. Korean missile launch, urges Pyongyang to return to dialogue

The US State Department on Wednesday condemned North Korea's ballistic missile launches, calling the act a violation of UN Security Council resolutions that poses a threat to its neighbors and the international community.    A department official, however, said the US remains committed to dialogue with the North.    "The United States condemns the DPRK's missile launch," the department spokesperson told Yonhap News Agency while speaking on condition of anonymity.

North KoreaSept. 15, 2021

Top diplomats of S. Korea, Britain discuss climate change, Afghanistan

Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong spoke by phone with his British counterpart, Dominic Raab, on Wednesday and discussed joint efforts on climate change and other international issues, including Afghanistan, the foreign ministry said.    During the talks, the ministers welcomed that the two countries have been expanding cooperation into key global issues, like climate change and health security, and agreed to make efforts to boost the cooperation through high-level exchanges.  &n

Foreign AffairsSept. 15, 2021

Vice FM meets Oman's top diplomat, discusses bilateral cooperation

Second Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-moon has met with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi and discussed bilateral cooperation and other issues, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.    Choi paid the courtesy call on Albusaidi during his four-day Middle East trip that also took him to Qatar.    During the talks, Choi offered to reinvigorate various government channels, including the bilateral policy committee, and bolster cooperation at international stages. Albusaidi

Foreign AffairsSept. 15, 2021

S. Korean top nuclear envoy discusses NK missile launches with US, Japanese counterparts

South Korea's top nuclear negotiator, Noh Kyu-duk, held separate phone talks Wednesday with his counterparts of the United States and Japan to discuss North Korea's latest missile launches, the foreign ministry said.    In the phone talks, Noh and U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Sung Kim exchanged assessments on the North's firing of two short-range ballistic missiles, which took place earlier in the day, and discussed joint responses in the future, the ministry said. &

North KoreaSept. 15, 2021

S. Korea's NSC expresses 'deep concern' about N. Korea's missile launches

South Korea's top national security officials expressed "deep concern" Wednesday about a series of missile launches by North Korea.    They pointed out that the North's provocations came at a time when stabilizing the security conditions is very important, as they held an emergency session of the National Security Council (NSC), according to Cheong Wa Dae.    The NSC's standing committee meeting was chaired by Suh Hoon, director of national security at Cheong W

North KoreaSept. 15, 2021

Moon says S. Korea's SLBM development can be deterrent to N. Korean provocation: Cheong Wa Dae

  President Moon Jae-in said Wednesday that South Korea's upgrading of its missile capabilities can help deter North Korean provocation.    He was speaking to officials at the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) following the successful underwater test-launch of an indigenous submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) at a local test site.    Hours earlier, North Korea fired two ballistic missiles into the East Sea. Moon stressed that his country had conducted the SL

DefenseSept. 15, 2021

Korean health care startup commemorates Incheon Landing Operation anniversary

South Korean health care startup U-Medi on Wednesday hosted a commemorative event marking the 71st anniversary of the Incheon Landing Operation in Camp Humphreys at Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. The event, held in Pyeongtaek Ray Duke Memorial Library inside the military post, is the first joint event of the United States Forces Korea and private sector entities, according to U-Medi Chief Executive Officer Ha Won-beom. U-Medi, the Incheon-based startup, said the commemorative event is aimed at

DefenseSept. 15, 2021

NK seeks upper hand with missiles during Chinese FM’s visit: analysts

North Korea could be trying to gain the upper hand in its relations with the US and China amid their intensifying rivalry, analysts say in reference to the ballistic missile tests that took place in the North on the same day that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with South Korean leaders in Seoul.  South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said Pyongyang launched two ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Wednesday afternoon, just days after testing a new long-range cruise missile.

North KoreaSept. 15, 2021

Is Korea bending rules in vaccine sprint?

South Korea is close to reaching the COVID-19 vaccination milestone of a 70 percent first-dose rate sometime this week, more than six months since the campaign began on Feb. 26. By Tuesday’s end, 67 percent of the 51 million people here had been vaccinated with at least a single dose of a vaccine. But in the race to clear the vaccine target, some key recommendations are being loosely observed, experts point out, raising safety and other concerns. Going against age advice AstraZeneca

Social AffairsSept. 15, 2021

North Korea ups tension with ballistic missile launches

North Korea on Wednesday fired a pair of ballistic missiles into the East Sea, following a cruise missile test that took place less than a week ago. According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, two short-range ballistic missiles were fired from the central county of Yangdok at 12:34 p.m. and 12:39 p.m. and flew around 800 kilometers at a maximum altitude of around 60 kilometers. “South Korea and US intelligence authorities are analyzing details for additional information,&rd

North KoreaSept. 15, 2021

Seoul to invest W48.7tr through 2030 to be more global and inhabitable

Seoul city government will invest 48 trillion won ($40.8 billion) through 2030 to grow South Korea’s capital into a competitive and more habitable global city. In a master plan named “Seoul Vision 2030” unveiled Wednesday, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said his government will start working to tackle growing inequality and bring regulatory reforms to make improvements in Seoul’s housing, jobs, education and social welfare. The city government is setting 78 administrative objec

Social AffairsSept. 15, 2021

Seoul education office pulls back on school rebuilding project

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has decided to roll back on its school rebuilding project for nine schools in the capital, after it came under mounting pressure from parents who said it put their children’s safety and education at risk. The Seoul education office said Wednesday that it has excluded the nine schools, which had officially requested a withdrawal, from the list of 93 schools that were selected for the Green Smart Future School project. The plan involves rebuilding

Social AffairsSept. 15, 2021

Cheong Wa Dae to convene emergency NSC meeting on N. Korea's missile launches

President Moon Jae-in received an immediate briefing on North Korea's firing of ballistic missiles Wednesday, according to Cheong Wa Dae. Moon received the briefing from Suh Hoon, director of national security, immediately after North Korea launched "unidentified projectiles today," presidential spokesperson Park Kyung-mee said in a press statement. Cheong Wa Dae also plans to hold a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) standing committee as soon as the president returns to

PoliticsSept. 15, 2021

Moon requests China's unswerving support for Korea peace process

South Korean President Moon Jae-in expressed hope Wednesday that China will continue support for the Korea peace process while meeting with the neighboring country's visiting top diplomat. Commencing 40-minute talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi at Cheong Wa Dae, Moon took note of Beijing's role and contribution so far to the peace process. The session came shortly before news reports of North Korea firing what are believed to be ballistic missiles into the East Sea. "Our government will

PoliticsSept. 15, 2021