Seoul weighs monitoring team in Ukraine, affirms no artillery shell supply plans

South Korea on Wednesday acknowledged the need to send a "monitoring team" to the Ukraine battlefield, but it denied allegations that it was considering supplying 155 mm artillery shells upon Ukraine's request. "We are obliged to look into, analyze and monitor North Korean armed forces' activities (in the Russia-Ukraine war) while taking a defensive posture," an official of the presidential office said on condition of anonymity Wednesday. "We feel the need to create and

Oct. 30, 2024

North Korea prepared for nuclear test, possibly before US election: Seoul defense intel agency

The Defense Intelligence Agency in Seoul said Wednesday that North Korea may conduct its first nuclear weapons test in seven years ahead of the US presidential election, in what would be its seventh such test. In a closed-door briefing to the National Assembly intelligence committee, the Defense Intelligence Agency said North Korea will attempt to draw Washington’s attention by staging a major provocation such as a nuclear test ahead of the election that is less than a week away. “No

Oct. 30, 2024

150 new K2 tanks to feature domestically produced power packs

The state-run Defense Acquisition Program Administration on Monday announced its bid to make 150 new K2 tanks' power packs -- which comprise a 1,500-horsepower engine and transmission -- fully homegrown. The tanks with South Korean-made 1,500-horsepower engines and gear shifts will be manufactured by 2028, according to the plan. A notable change in the manufacturing plan, according to DAPA, is the adoption of a transmission system produced by a South Korean company SNT Dynamics. Currently,

Oct. 30, 2024

Ukraine envoy to travel to S. Korea as Yoon, Zelenskyy vow strategic cooperation

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will appoint a special envoy to South Korea following talks held with President Yoon Suk Yeol over the phone pledging strategic cooperation in a bid to counter North Korean troops in Russia, according to the presidential office Tuesday. Yoon and Zelenskyy "denounced the illicit military cooperation between North Korea and Russia with the strongest language possible," as the two countries agreed to seek strategic countermeasures, Yoon's offic

Oct. 29, 2024

NIS says North Korean leader’s daughter clearly in line to rule

The South Korean intelligence agency said Tuesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s daughter Kim Ju-ae appears to be on a rising path to power. Citing the National Intelligence Service, Rep. Park Sun-won of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea told reporters there are growing signs suggesting a “clear elevation of Ju-ae’s status.” He was briefed on North Korea affairs by the NIS as vice chair of the National Assembly intelligence committee. The NIS said Kim&

Oct. 29, 2024

S. Korea marks 2nd anniversary of Itaewon tragedy

President Yoon Suk Yeol expressed his condolences as South Korea on Tuesday marked the second anniversary of the Itaewon crowd crush that claimed 159 lives in October 2022. "Today marks the second anniversary of the Itaewon tragedy," Yoon said at a Cabinet meeting he presided over at his office. "I feel sorry for those who tragically lost their lives and I express my condolences for the bereaved families who live in sorrow." Yoon said that making people feel safe in everyday

Oct. 29, 2024

Yoon says N. Korea's troop deployment in Russia constitutes security threats to S. Korea, world

President Yoon Suk Yeol said Tuesday that North Korea's troop deployment in Russia constituted security threats to both South Korea and the world, denouncing what he calls "illegal" military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow. Yoon made the remark during a Cabinet meeting amid North Korea's deployment of its troops in western Russia, with all signs suggesting that the North's troops may soon be ready for battlefield deployment against Ukraine forces. "This ill

Oct. 29, 2024

Yoon's foreign policy adviser visits Australia for frigate project

President Yoon Suk Yeol's foreign policy adviser, Chang Ho-jin, visited Australia on Monday to ask the country to allow South Korean firms to participate in its frigate project, Yoon's office said. In February this year, Australia announced a plan to acquire 11 new frigates for its Navy, with South Korean, Japanese, German and Spanish vessels being mentioned as candidates. On the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Laos early this month, President Yoon met Australian Prime Minister An

Oct. 28, 2024

Bipartisan panel formed to address livelihood issues amid tension over first lady probe

The ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea on Monday officially launched a joint consultative body for livelihood issues amid persistent tensions over various controversies surrounding the first lady. The establishment of the joint consultative body aimed at carrying out common policy pledges comes nearly two months after an agreement was made between leaders of the two rival parties early last month during their first official talks. The consultative body wi

Oct. 28, 2024

[Bills in Focus] Aircraft tariffs exemption, national pension reform

Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Customs Act Proposed by Rep. Park Soo-young (People Power Party) ● Proposed by Rep. Park, this bill aims to extend tariff exemptions on imported aircraft parts until the end of 2029 to alleviate costs in aircraft manufacturing and maintenance, which rely heavily on global supply chains. Under the current law, import tariffs on aircraft parts are fully exempt until the end of this year. Starting next year, the exemption rate is set to decrease by 20 percent

Oct. 28, 2024

Yoon's office reviews economic impact of Israel's attack on Iran, safety of S. Koreans in Middle East

SEOUL, Oct. 27-- South Korea's presidential office on Sunday held a meeting to discuss the economic impact of Israel's recent attack on Iran, and measures to protect and evacuate its nationals in the Middle East in the event of an emergency. Early Saturday, Israel's military conducted strikes against various targets in Iran, including missile manufacturing facilities, in response to Iran's missile attack earlier this month, according to foreign media reports. The office of

Oct. 27, 2024

First lady’s controversies to top agenda at meeting of party leaders

Controversies surrounding first lady Kim Keon Hee are likely to top the agenda at the upcoming second meeting between the leaders of the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party, observers said Sunday. People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon and Democratic Party Rep. Lee Jae-myung recently agreed to hold a second round of talks, following up on their first official meeting in early September. The date for the second meeting, however, is yet to be announced. The agreeme

Oct. 27, 2024

Govt. plans to unveil road map to tackle low birth rate, aging population

The Yoon Suk Yeol administration plans to unveil a population strategy road map next year, coinciding with the launch of a new ministry dedicated to addressing South Korea’s declining birth rate and rapidly aging population, the presidential office announced Sunday. You Hye-mi, senior presidential secretary for low birth rate issues, underscored the initiative, noting that "with the establishment of the ministry of population strategy and planning, defining the ministry’s vision

Oct. 27, 2024

Yoon calls for measures to protect Koreans amid escalating Iran-Israel conflicts

  President Yoon Suk Yeol called for all-out measures to protect Korean nationals amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, the presidential office said Saturday. Earlier in the day, Israel launched a series of airstrikes against Iran in return for the Islamic Republic's ballistic missile barrage on Israel earlier in the month. "The top priority is to protect Korean nationals (in Iran and Israel), and all necessary measures should be drawn up to prepare for worsening situations

Oct. 26, 2024

Pyongyang erects blockades along inter-Korean railways

In a latest development in North Korea’s isolationist policy, new blockades were being built along inter-Korean railways running along the east and west sides of the Korean Peninsula to fortify the border areas, South Korea's Unification Ministry confirmed Friday. Kim In-ae, vice spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification in Seoul, said in a briefing that North Korea "had already built barriers at the undermined sections of Donghae lines through additional construction projects.&quo

Oct. 25, 2024

Opposition slams Yoon's suggestion to send offensive weapons to Ukraine

South Korea's main opposition party lawmakers on Friday rallied in the halls of the National Assembly to condemn President Yoon Suk Yeol for his proposed shift in Ukraine aid policy in response to North Korean troop deployment by Russia. “The Yoon administration is reportedly considering providing ‘offensive weapons’ to Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s deployment of North Korean troops. This is an incredibly dangerous idea that treats people’s lives like pawns i

Oct. 25, 2024

Yoon's national security adviser in Washington for three-way talks: Seoul

Shin Won-sik, national security adviser for President Yoon Suk Yeol, is scheduled to attend a trilateral meeting of the top national security aides representing South Korea, the United States and Japan, according to the presidential office on Friday. "Shin is on a trip to the US to attend the meeting there scheduled on Friday," an official of the presidential office said on condition of anonymity. The three-way meeting is meant to discuss "ways to maintain continuity in the cooper

Oct. 25, 2024

Yoon's approval rating matches all-time low: Gallup Korea

President Yoon Suk Yeol's approval rating fell 2 percentage points to 20 percent in the fourth week of October, matching the record-low previously recorded in the second week of September, according to a weekly estimate by Gallup Korea on Friday. Additionally, the number of South Koreans who disapproved of the job Yoon was doing hit 70 percent -- an all-time high. The pollster's survey conducted Tuesday to Thursday on 1,001 respondents indicated that issues surrounding Yoon's wife

Oct. 25, 2024

Yoon says S. Korean-made arms will safeguard Poland

President Yoon Suk Yeol said weapons manufactured in South Korea will safeguard Poland's national security, as Yoon hosted a state dinner for Polish President Andrzej Duda Thursday, according to Yoon's office on Friday. Yoon was quoted by his office as saying that South Korea and Poland recognize the significance of national security, adding he was confident that South Korean-made arms will protect the land and air of Poland, and Polish-made drones will safeguard South Korea's lan

Oct. 25, 2024

PPP leader's call to appoint inspector for presidential family corruption sparks internal rift

Ruling People Power Party (PPP) chief Han Dong-hoon's call for appointing an independent inspector general investigating corruption by the president's family has sparked internal conflict, driving a wedge between him and the floor leader. During a supreme council meeting Thursday, Han reiterated his calls to begin the process to appoint an independent inspector general responsible for investigating corruption by the president's spouse, close relatives and senior presidential aides

Oct. 24, 2024