Kang apologizes for misdeeds as opposition launches onslaught

As opposition lawmakers waged attacks over suspected irregularities, Foreign Minister nominee Kang Kyung-wha apologized while defending against some of their allegations and stressing her credentials as a seasoned diplomat, during her confirmation hearing Wednesday. The National Assembly grilled the former UN official together with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister nominee Kim Dong-yeon and Constitutional Court President nominee Kim Yi-su in separate sessions. Opposition legislators rel

June 7, 2017

Abe's special envoy to visit Korean province this week

MUAN -- A group of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's special envoys will visit South Korea's southwestern province of South Jeolla as part of a four-day trip to South Korea, officials at the provincial government said Wednesday.The group, led by Toshihiro Nikai, secretary general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, will make a stopover in Mokpo, a coastal city in the province, on Saturday-Sunday before departing for Seoul to hold talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in to convey

June 7, 2017

Voting begins in California by-election involving Korean-American candidate

LOS ANGELES -- Polls opened Tuesday in a California by-election that could produce the first Korean-American member of the House of Representatives in more than 18 years.The run-off vote in California's 34th district pits Robert Ahn, a Los Angeles city planning commissioner, against California Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez. Should Ahn win the election, he would be the first Korean-American to serve in the House since Jay Kim served in the House from 1993 to 1999.(Yonhap)The election was set up after X

June 7, 2017

Gallucci appointed new chairman of US-Korea Institute

Former US nuclear negotiator Robert Gallucci has been appointed chief of a Washington-based think tank specializing in Korean issues.Gallucci, who served as chief nuclear negotiator with North Korea during the first nuclear crisis in the early 1990s, has taken office as chairman of the US-Korea Institute at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, the institute announced. (Yonhap)The website 38 North, known for its expertise on North Korea issues, is also run by the institute.

June 6, 2017

Chinese driver responsible for fatal bus fire posed as victim: police

BEIJING -- Chinese police believe the Chinese driver of a school bus held responsible for a fatal bus fire that killed 11 children and a teacher last month posed as a victim in an apparent attempt to claim damages, diplomatic sources said Monday.The Shandong provincial police agency shared their belief with the bereaved families of the victims on Sunday when they briefed them on the completion of their investigation into the cause of the incident. This provided photo shows the bus that was gutte

June 5, 2017

[Herald Interview] ‘North Korean human rights vital to regional security’

As the world focuses on neutralizing North Korea’s nuclear and missile brinksmanship, equal attention should be given to grave human rights violations in the country, a former United Nations official said, stressing “there can be no security without accountability.”For Michael Kirby, former chair of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the issue has been close to his heart. He grew up in postwar Australia watching newsreels of Nazi concentration

June 5, 2017

ASEAN showcases rich cuisines, tourism offers

Marking the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the ASEAN-Korea Cultural Exchange Year, a culinary and tourism promotional event took place at Coex in Seoul from Thursday to Sunday. Ten celebrity chefs from the 10 member states flew to Korea for the event and showcased their national dishes, including Brunei’s ilkan goreng berkuah, Cambodia’s prahok ktiss, Indonesia’s sate maranggi, Laos’ laab kai, Malaysia’s pulut kuning and rendang, Myanmar’s shan noodle salad, t

June 5, 2017

‘Thailand litmus test for booming ASEAN market’

The Eastern Economic Corridor in Thailand is an axis of industrial estates southeast of Bangkok. It is the Thai government’s flagship project to turn the country into the hub of the region’s advanced industries and commercial networks. Comprised of the Pin Thong Industrial Estate, Hemraj Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate, Amata City Industrial Estate and Rayong Industrial Estate, the scheme integrally underpins the “Thailand 4.0” economic restructuring initiative, aimed at spurring entrepreneur

June 5, 2017

US school for disabled children to dedicate statue in memory of Korean adoptee

NEW YORK -- A US school for children with disabilities said Sunday it will dedicate a statue next week in memory of a South Korean boy murdered by his American adoptive father.The Linwood Center, located in Howard County, the US state of Maryland, said on its website that it will hold a ceremony marking the dedication of the sculpture called "Hyunsu's Butterfly" on the school's premises on June 12. This provided photo, taken on Feb. 24, 2014, shows flowers placed in front of a photo of Hyunsoo O

June 5, 2017

N. Korea draws more attention at Shanggri-La, minister says

SINGAPORE -- North Korea has been in the spotlight at the forum here of top defense officials from around the world, reflecting increased global concern about its military threats, officials here said Sunday.“The biggest characteristics of the session this time is that more attention has been paid to the North Korean nuclear and missile issue than in the previous ones,” said South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo. This photo provided by the Seoul defense ministry shows Han Min-koo, South Kore

June 5, 2017

Russia argues THAAD can be used offensively

SINGAPORE -- A top Russian defense official on Sunday accused South Korea and the US of escalating tensions in Northeast Asia by deploying the powerful Terminal High Altitude Area Defense on the Korean Peninsula.Deputy Defense Minster Lt. Gen. Alexander Fomin claimed the missile system can be used for launching "long-distance attack missiles," and should not be viewed exclusively as a defensive system."That's why we are alarmed. It's a direct threat to Russia," he said, speaking at a plenary ses

June 4, 2017

US to welcome President Moon with maximum respect

WASHINGTON -- The United States intends to welcome South Korean President Moon Jae-in with maximum respect and a "full program" of events when he visits Washington later this month for his first summit talks with President Donald Trump, a South Korean official said Thursday.US officials expressed the intent when South Korean national security adviser Chung Eui-yong visited the White House for discussions with his US counterpart H.R. McMaster about setting up the summit, a South Korean official s

June 2, 2017

[Breaking] 1 Korean dead, 3 injured in Manila shooting: embassy

One South Korean died and three others were injured in a shooting attack at a resort hotel complex in Manila, Seoul's embassy in the Southeast Asian country said Friday. Foreign media reported that a gunman barged into a mall at the Resorts World Manila complex early in the day and fired shots multiple times toward a large TV screen, before he poured gasoline on gambling tables and set them on fire.(Yonhap)The South Korean Embassy in the Philippines said a man presumed to be in his mid-40s died

June 2, 2017

China calls fatal bus fire inside tunnel act of arson

BEIJING -- The Chinese government on Friday called a bus fire last month that killed 10 South Korean children in China an act of arson, the South Korean Embassy in Beijing said.The Chinese foreign ministry notified the South Korean Embassy of the outcome of an investigation into the cause of the incident on May 9, when a school bus carrying 11 kindergarten students and a teacher caught fire inside the Taojiakuang Tunnel in Weihai, a city in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong.Along with the

June 2, 2017

Korea says US withdrawal from Paris accord 'regrettable'

South Korea's foreign ministry said Friday it is "regrettable" that the United States has withdrawn from a landmark global agreement aimed at curbing climate change. On Thursday (local time), US President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal from the Paris climate accord, saying that it disadvantages the US to the exclusive benefit of other countries. (Yonhap)"It is regrettable in that the global solidarity and efforts for (a better) response to climate change has been undermined due to the US

June 2, 2017

Korean defense minister in Singapore for security forum

South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo arrived in Singapore on Friday to attend a regional forum on North Korea's threats and other security challenges.The 16th Asia Security Summit also involves US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and two dozen other ministerial-level officials from around the world.The three-day forum, better known as the Shanggri-La Dialogue, will open Friday night, coming on the heels of a series of North Korea's ballistic missile launches. South Korean Defense Minister Ha

June 2, 2017

US imposes sanctions on NK's top office State Affairs Commission

WASHINGTON/SEOUL -- The United States imposed fresh sanctions on North Korea on Thursday, blacklisting the regime's highest office, the State Affairs Commission, money-making firms and other entities and individuals as it further tightens the screws on Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programs.The sanctions came after a series of successful missile tests by North Korea in recent months that demonstrated steady progress in its pursuit of various types of missiles, including a nuclear-tipped

June 2, 2017

S. Korea not to rush inter-Korean dialogue: vice unification minister

South Korea's new vice unification minister on Thursday raised the need to push for inter-Korean dialogue in a prudent manner by taking into account North Korea's changes in its attitude.Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung said that any rush for inter-Korean talks can give the wrong message to the North at a time when Pyongyang is not giving up its nuclear and missile development programs. This photo taken on June 1, 2017, shows new vice unification minister Chun Hae-sung. (Yonhap)"The direc

June 1, 2017

Korea's Ulju, Portugal's Sintra to ink pact on friendship, cooperation

ULSAN -- The municipality of Ulju, southeastern South Korea, is set to form a pact with the Portuguese city of Sintra next week to seek friendship and cooperation in tourism, local officials said Thursday.Ulju chief Shin Jang-yeol and Sintra Mayor Bas?lio Horta will represent each side when the two towns sign the pact on Monday in the Portuguese city, southwest of Lisbon. This undated file photo shows Cape Ganjeol in Ulju on South Korea`s southeast coast, where sunrise can be viewed earliest on

June 1, 2017