Yongbyon nuclear reactor appears to be in operation: IAEA report

The UN nuclear watchdog has detected "deeply troubling" indications that a key nuclear reactor at North Korea's main Yongbyon complex has been in operation since July, including the release of cooling water, an annual report showed Monday. Submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors on Friday, the report covered new developments of the five megawatt reactor, from which the North obtained spent fuel rods to extract plutonium -- a fissile material used for a

Foreign AffairsAug. 30, 2021

Seoul's top nuclear negotiator arrives in Washington for talks on N. Korea

South Korea's top nuclear envoy arrived here Sunday for talks with his US counterparts on ways to resume dialogue with North Korea. Noh Kyu-duk's trip to Washington follows his US counterpart Sung Kim's visit to Seoul last week. "I believe we are now at a critical point to restart the Korean Peninsula peace process," Noh said of the reason for his US visit. "I came to Washington in order to continue the discussions I had with Special Representative Sung Kim in Seoul last week.&q

Foreign AffairsAug. 30, 2021

Govt. calls for illegal foreigners to get vaccinated without worrying about getting busted

The government on Sunday called for all foreigners illegally staying in South Korea to receive COVID-19 vaccines, saying that it will not lead to deportation or other immigration measures. Seoul has allowed undocumented foreigners, including those who overstayed their visas, to get the vaccine shots, just like its own nationals, through the reservation procedures under the ongoing national inoculation program. "Even if a foreigner with an unqualified status gets inoculated, there will b

Social AffairsAug. 29, 2021

2.6-magnitude earthquake hits off S. Korea's western coast

A 2.6-magnitude earthquake struck off South Korea's western coast Sunday, the state weather agency said. The quake occurred at 6:47 p.m. in waters 62 kilometers northwest of an island located in Taean, a county in the central South Chungcheong Province, the Korea Meteorological Administration said. "There will be no earthquake damage," the KMA said. (Yonhap)

Social AffairsAug. 29, 2021

Parties lock horns over vote on ‘fake news’ bill

The floor leaders of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and the main opposition People Power Party are expected to debate the contentious “fake news” bill one last time before Monday’s plenary session. National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug had arranged a meeting of the two sides on Sunday, for the second time in less than a week to help settle their differences over the bill that would impose drastically higher penalties on media organizations for “fake news.&rdq

PoliticsAug. 29, 2021

Korea stretching vaccine supply to prioritize first doses over seconds

South Korea is stretching its COVID-19 vaccine supply to deliver first doses to as many people as possible at the cost of potentially running short of supply for second doses, as the deadline for the government’s vaccination goal looms. Hong Jeong-ik, heading the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s COVID-19 vaccination management team, admitted uncertainty in supply for people due their second doses in late September and October during a closed-door briefing Thursday.

Social AffairsAug. 29, 2021

[News Focus] Unemployment claims rise most in smaller cities, provinces

SEJONG -- The volume of government payouts for people who lost jobs has climbed sharply since COVID-19 pandemic hit the nation in January 2020, with recent monthly tallies outstripping the figures before the pandemic. All eight major cities and nine provinces in South Korea saw increases in the unemployment benefit payouts. However, there were disparities in the size of the increase. According to the Korea Employment Information Service, the number of recipients of unemployment benefits came

Social AffairsAug. 29, 2021

S. Korean, Laotian FMs discuss ways to expand bilateral trade, investment

The top diplomats of South Korea and Laos have discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and expand investment during their talks in the Southeast Asian country earlier this week, the foreign ministry said Sunday. The talks between Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and his Laotian counterpart, Saleumxay Kommasith, came as Seoul strives to advance its New Southern Policy aimed at deepening diplomatic and economic cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). During their tal

Diplomatic CircuitAug. 29, 2021

KIS students design website on sustainability and recycling

Two Korea International School students have launched a website to educate consumers on recycling ice packs as the school offers support for its members to carry out sustainability initiatives with its commitment to applied learning and service. The website named Ice Pack Project, designed by two 12th grade students, Justin and Alex from KIS, is designed to educate consumers why it is important to recycle ice packs and where to recycle them. The duo believed more ice packs need to be recycled

Social AffairsAug. 29, 2021

N.Korea stresses close relations with Cuba on 61st anniversary of diplomatic ties

North Korea on Sunday stressed its close relations with Cuba and expressed continued support and solidarity on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. "For the last 60-odd years, the DPRK and Cuba have strengthened and developed the fraternal and comradely relations of mutual support and close cooperation on the sacred road of joint struggle for accomplishing the socialist cause," the North's foreign ministry said on its website. DPRK stands for

North KoreaAug. 29, 2021

Suicide death rate drops in 2013-2017: data

South Korea's suicide death rate dropped steadily for over 2013 to 2017, government data showed Sunday. The data compiled by the health ministry and Korea Foundation for Suicide Prevention showed that 22.8 out of 100,000 South Koreans took their own lives in 2017, dropping from 24.4 in 2016. The country's suicide rate fell gradually from 27.4 out of 100,000 in 2013 to 25.9 in 2014 and 25.4 in 2015. The total number of suicide deaths declined for five straight years since 2013, when it stood at

Social AffairsAug. 29, 2021

Korea, Singapore discuss mutual recognition of vaccine certificates

National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug and his Singaporean counterpart Tan Chuan-Jin agreed on the need to mutually recognize COVID-19 vaccination certificates and to resume a reciprocal quarantine exemption arrangement at a virtual meeting held on Friday, officials said Sunday. They also shared views on the Korea-Singapore Digital Partnership Agreement and the Korean Peninsula. Park said, “We are keenly interested in the efforts of Singapore to strike the right balance between inf

Social AffairsAug. 29, 2021

Air Force chief, US space commander agree to form consultative body on space policy

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Park In-ho has signed a deal with the chief of the US space operations and agreed to form a joint consultative body on space policy to strengthen cooperation, his office said Sunday. During his visit to the Air Force Space Command in Colorado, Park signed a memorandum of understanding with Gen. John Raymond on the formation of a joint space policy consultative body on Friday (US time), becoming official partners in space security cooperation. The Air Force plans t

DefenseAug. 29, 2021

Seoul's nuclear envoy to visit Washington for talks on N. Korea

South Korea's top nuclear envoy is set to depart for the United States on Sunday for talks on efforts to resume dialogue with North Korea, the foreign ministry said. Noh Kyu-duk's four-day trip to Washington comes after his US counterpart Sung Kim's visit to Seoul last week, during which the two discussed humanitarian aid to the North amid heightened tensions over Pyongyang's protest against military exercises between the South and the US During his trip, Noh plans to meet officials from the S

Diplomatic CircuitAug. 29, 2021

New cases under 1,700; number of critically-ill patients on rise

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell below 1,700 Sunday due to fewer tests over the weekend, but the number of patients in critical condition stayed high, sparking concerns over more fatalities down the road. The country added 1,619 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,576 local infections, raising the total caseload to 248,568, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Sunday's tally compares with 1,793 on Saturday and 1,841 on Friday. Daily cases have stayed

Social AffairsAug. 29, 2021

USFK reports 11 more COVID-19 cases

The US military in South Korea reported 11 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, raising the total number of its infections to 1,297. Five infections were reported from Osan Air Base and three COVID-19 patients -- one soldier and two civilian workers -- were identified from Camp Humphreys, both located in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, according to US Forces Korea. USFK said three family members from its base in Daegu, about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, also tested positive. The

Social AffairsAug. 28, 2021

DP lawmakers withdraw contentious bill banning slander of ex-wartime sexual slavery victims

A group of ruling party lawmakers have withdrawn a controversial bill designed to curb slander of former wartime sexual slavery victims and their advocacy groups, in the face of strong criticism from opposition parties. According to a National Assembly website tracking legislative bills, the proposal to revise the act on protecting so-called comfort women was withdrawn on Wednesday after its submission 12 days ago. "Comfort women" is a euphemistic term for those who were sexually ens

PoliticsAug. 28, 2021

New cases hover around 1,800, with critical patients increasing

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell to slightly under 1,800 Saturday, but the number of critical patients kept rising, while health authorities started to discuss special antivirus measures for the upcoming Chuseok holidays. The country added 1,793 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,738 local infections, raising the total caseload to 246,951, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Saturday's tally compares with 1,811 on Friday, 1,882 on Thursday, 2,155 on Wedne

NationalAug. 28, 2021

S. Korea, Thailand agree on cooperation in health care, future industries, green technologies

The top diplomats of South Korea and Thailand agreed Friday to strengthen cooperation in future industries, health care and green technologies during their talks in the Southeast Asian country, the foreign ministry said. The talks between Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and his Thai counterpart, Don Pramudwinai, came as Seoul strives to advance its New Southern Policy aimed at deepening diplomatic and economic cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). At the talks,

Foreign AffairsAug. 27, 2021

S. Korea struggling to curb surges in coronavirus infections among foreign workers

South Korea is grappling with a growing number of coronavirus cases among migrant workers, many of whom are living and working in conditions highly vulnerable to cluster infections. New COVID-19 cases among foreign nationals last week reached 1,665, a 20.7 percent increase from the previous week, according to health authorities. They accounted for 13.6 percent of all new cases during the period, up 2.5 percentage points from 11.1 percent a week earlier and much higher than the proportion of t

Social AffairsAug. 27, 2021