[Editorial] US-China dialogue

China appears to be taking its pressure on South Korea over a US antimissile system to extremes.　A clear sign is its recent ban on package tours to South Korea. The number of Chinese tourists visiting the country may plunge 60 to 70 percent, hitting duty-free shops, airlines, hotels, restaurants and others.The main target is Lotte, which swapped its golf course in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, with the Ministry of National Defense for a military lot in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province. The min

March 5, 2017

[Editorial] Consumption cliff

Concerns that a “consumption cliff” might damage the economy are mounting.According to the industrial activity report for January released by Statistics Korea on Thursday, the drop in retail sales has gained speed, falling 0.3 percent in November, 0.5 percent in December and 2.2 percent in January.　It is the first time consumption has declined for three straight months since the global financial crisis in 2008. Sales of semi-durable goods such as shoes and bags rose 0.6 percent, while those of d

March 3, 2017

[Editorial] New Samsung

The reforms announced by Samsung Group are welcome, but the conglomerate’s own efforts will not be sufficient to address the problems that impelled it to revamp itself, such as corrupt ties between businesses and politics. The reforms announced Tuesday were prompted by the influence-peddling scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her confidante Choi Soon-sil. But the scope and boldness of the plans were greater than expected. That reflects how seriously Samsung and its jailed leader Lee J

March 2, 2017

[Editorial] THAAD pressure

The Ministry of National Defense has secured a golf course as the site to host a US anti-missile system here. The ministry Tuesday signed a contract with Lotte International to swap military land for the golf course. It reportedly seeks to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery quickly, expecting to complete the installation as early as May. The plan seems to be based on the consideration of the Constitutional Court’s decision on the presidential impeachment motion -- expected to

March 1, 2017

[Editorial] Half success

The team of independent counsel Park Young-soo on Tuesday ended its investigation into the influence-peddling scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her confidante Choi Soon-sil, as acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn rejected his request for extending the probe. The closure of the special investigation, however, does not mean the end of legal proceedings and political disputes over the alleged wrongdoings committed by the president. Opposition parties are already moving to impeach Hwang and l

Feb. 28, 2017

[Editorial] Biochemical weapons

North Korea’s chemical and biological weapons are in the spotlight, as Pyongyang has been accused of using VX nerve agent to kill Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of its leader Kim Jong-un, at an airport in Malaysia.South Korea and the US have focused on North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, but the assassination has aroused their attention to its chemical and biological weapons. Using VX to assassinate Kim Jong-nam indicates the communist state’s chemical warfare capability.VX is an extremel

Feb. 27, 2017

[Editorial] Dealing with N. Korea

US President Donald Trump has spoken from time to time about North Korea’s nuclear and missile development, but he has not given any convincing clues as to his administration’s future course of action. At least one thing is certain: Trump takes the North Korean problems seriously and he won’t sit idle.The intensity of his statements on the North has increased recently, especially since it test-fired a new intermediate-range ballistic missile on Feb. 12, the first such provocation since he took o

Feb. 26, 2017

[Editorial] Preventing disaster

The latest government statistics on the low birthrate and fast population aging offer a clear demonstration of the gravity of the demographic challenges the country faces.Indeed the current flood of related figures is startling: The number of babies born in December last year stood at a record-low 27,200, a drop of 4,700, or 14.7 percent, from a year earlier. The number for the whole of the year 2016 was 406,300, down 32,100, or 7.3 percent, from the previous year. It was the lowest since 1925.T

Feb. 24, 2017

[Editorial] Political solution

With the day of reckoning approaching on the impeachment motion for President Park Geun-hye, the two conservative parties have proposed a “political solution.” It calls for Park to step down before the Constitutional Court’s decision and instead receive indemnity from judicial actions against her.Such an idea was floated by Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the Bareun Party. “Confrontation between pro- and anti-impeachment protestors has a resemblance to a civil war. Whatever decision the court make

Feb. 23, 2017

[Editorial] Familiar denial tactic

It is nothing new for North Korea to tell bold lies after committing vile terrorist acts. Many still remember how the country behaved after committing mass killings such as a bomb attack on a South Korean presidential entourage in Myanmar in 1983 and the midair explosion of a South Korean passenger plane in 1987. Nevertheless, its response to the killing of Kim Jong-nam in Malaysia is outrageous. As usual, North Korea’s media is keeping mum on the assassination of the half brother of its ruler K

Feb. 22, 2017

[Editorial] Park faces ultimatum

The Constitutional Court appears determined to decide on the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye before March 13, when its acting chief justice Lee Jung-mi is to retire. The court made it clear that the final argument by Park -- if she decides to make one -- would not affect the trial schedule. Her defense team has been trying to prolong the trial. It managed to extend court proceedings by asking for a long list of witnesses, including even those unfavorable to Park. Lee told the defense Mond

Feb. 21, 2017

[Editorial] Killer regime

As expected, many factors strongly suggest that North Korea was behind the vicious killing of Kim Jong-nam, the half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. This leaves Malaysia and the world with a responsibility for action. First and foremost, Malaysian authorities should investigate the premeditated killing thoroughly. The case is drawing international attention because the victim is the estranged brother of the leader of the reclusive, totalitarian country, but any such apparent terroris

Feb. 20, 2017

[Editorial] Postarrest step

The arrest of Lee Jae-yong, the vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, on bribery and other charges Friday shocked the nation. Lee is the first head of Samsung to be arrested in its 79-year history. He was jailed as a suspect in connection with the corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her confidante Choi Soon-sil.　The court’s decision sparked a mixed reaction, with businesses worried that it would hamper their activities and that Korea’s corporate reputation would be tarnished

Feb. 19, 2017

[Editorial] Worrisome pledges

South Korea appears more insecure than ever. North Korea recently fired a mid-range ballistic missile in a way that makes it difficult for South Korea to intercept. In response, the hard-line new US government vowed to deal with North Korea “very strongly,” with pre-emptive strikes being discussed as an option. A day after the missile launch, Kim Jong-nam, the half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was assassinated in broad daylight at a bustling airport in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Inte

Feb. 17, 2017

[Editorial] Ruthless Kim

The apparent assassination in Malaysia of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s half-brother has intelligence agents, North Korea watchers and the media scurrying to find the motives behind the high-profile incident. One group points to the possibility that the North Korean leader ordered the killing of Kim Jong-nam in order to remove any potential threat to his power.Those who belong to the group say that Kim Jong-un wanted to get rid of his brother because Kim Jong-nam, being a key member of the K

Feb. 16, 2017

[Editorial] Obey court ruling

The floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties Monday agreed to accept whatever the Constitutional Court rules on the parliamentary impeachment of President Park Geun-hye. It should be no wonder that the political parties of a democracy would obey judicial decisions. Disobedience to rulings by the top court is an act of repudiation to the constitutional order. Yet the news of their agreement, though verbal, is a relief amid escalating confrontation between protestors for and against the

Feb. 15, 2017

[Editorial] Hectic week

This week will see some key developments in the scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her confidante Choi Soon-sil. Choi and other suspects will go through court hearings after which some of them will be indicted. The Constitutional Court deliberating Park’s impeachment will also hold hearings this week as the top court is trying to make a ruling before its acting president Lee Jung-mi retires March 13. The independent counsel team is also trying to beat the clock as the Feb. 28 deadline

Feb. 14, 2017

[Editorial] Watertight sanctions

North Korea fired a ballistic missile on Sunday, amid discussions of a pre-emptive strike on it in the US.　Analysts say it launched an intermediate-range missile instead of an intercontinental ballistic missile, apparently heeding US warnings against ICBM development. 　By firing a missile Sunday, North Korea seems to have abandoned its wait-and-see attitude toward the Donald Trump administration. It has shown its will to go its own way, no matter what happens.　North Korea should know the US has

Feb. 13, 2017

[Editorial] Confront bully

It seems there is no end to China’s mean-spirited bullying of South Korea. Its retaliatory actions against the plan to deploy a US advanced anti-missile system on the Korean Peninsula are spreading to all fronts. The vindictive actions are so massive and relentless -- they now appear to target everything Korean -- that South Korea should no longer maintain a wait-and-see attitude. A prime target of the well-orchestrated spiteful actions is Lotte Group, which had agreed with the Korean government

Feb. 12, 2017

[Editorial] Ample reasons

There is a conspicuous trend in the presidential race: Two men – one favored mainly by conservatives and the other by liberals – are gaining popularity, even at what many have called a “frightening pace.”Latest opinion surveys showed that the support ratings for both acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn and South Chungcheong Gov. An Hee-jung had broken the 15 percent mark, with that of front-runner Moon Jae-in holding above 30 percent.Ban Ki-moon’s decision last week not to seek the presidency is seen

Feb. 10, 2017