South Korea is considering resuming its humanitarian assistance to North Korea via international organizations as Seoul seeks to spur civilian inter-Korean exchanges, a government official said Monday.South Korea has suspended its aid to the vulnerable in North Korea through UN agencies since the North's nuclear and missile tests in 2016.But President Moon Jae-in said at the Group of 20 summit last week that humanitarian assistance in the welfare and medical sectors should not be linked to polit

North Korea July 10, 2017

A parliamentary committee on Monday adopted a report on the outcome of a confirmation hearing for Science, ICT and Future Planning Minister nominee Yoo Young-min, clearing the way for his official appointment.The adoption of the report is a key procedure before President Moon Jae-in formally appoints him. This photo, taken on July 4, 2017, shows Science, ICT and Future Planning Minister nominee Yoo Young-min speaking during a parliamentary confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul.

Technology July 10, 2017

South Korea's Navy took over a new 1,800-ton submarine Monday aimed at beefing up its underwater warfare capability against North Korea, a state arms procurement agency said.The delivery ceremony of the Yu Gwan-sun submarine was held at the shipyard of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. on Geoje Island near the country's southeastern port city of Busan, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.The submarine, named after the Korean independence fighter Yu Gwan-sun (19

Defense July 10, 2017

The head of South Korea's antitrust watchdog said Monday that he will strengthen the enforcement of fair trade laws by expanding civil actions against rule-breaking companies."I will introduce a system that will allow multiple economic players to enforce trade rules at the same time," Fair Trade Commission Chairman Kim Sang-jo said in a conference held in Seoul. "I will make efforts to get trade law violations be resolved through civil suits." Under the current Fair Trade Act

Economy July 10, 2017

The number of foreign cruise tourists visiting South Korea has declined sharply in recent months, government data showed Monday, amid a diplomatic row with China over the deployment of a US anti-missile system.China has been banning package tours to South Korea since March as part of its economic retaliation against South Korea over the THAAD deployment, which Beijing considers a security threat.Chinese accounted for 91 percent of about 1.95 million foreign tourists who came to South Korea

Economy July 10, 2017

President Moon Jae-in's approval rating edged up again last week due in part to his stern response to North Korea's missile launch and brisk diplomacy to rein in the provocative state, a survey indicated Monday.In the Realmeter survey conducted from Monday to Friday, Moon's rating was tallied at 76.6 percent, up 1.3 percentage points from a week earlier.Those who disapproved of his job performance comprised 16 percent, down 1.3 percentage points from the previous week, while 7.4 percent said the

Politics July 10, 2017

Government authorities said Monday they will be examining the e-cigarette IQOS for any health risks starting next month.IQOS, a product that heats tobacco, went on sale locally in June. Its manufacturer, Philip Morris International, claims that it has removed health-harming substances in the product by 90 percent compared with conventional burning cigarettes. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said it will verify the claims, and measure nicotine and tar levels: the two chemicals that are said

Technology July 10, 2017

North Korea is busy bracing for possible floods after it has been struggling to fight drought damage in its western provinces, its news reports showed Monday.The country's northeastern areas were hit hard by massive floods in August 2016, prompting the country to shift its drive from hard work to flood recovery."We are aware that it is important to prevent floods from damaging crops. We are making efforts to tackle possible flooding and winds, together with fighting droughts," the state-run radi

North Korea July 10, 2017

North Korea's chief delegate to a recent Food and Agriculture Organization meeting has condemned the UN's sanctions as an act threatening its sovereignty and economic development, the country's official news wire said Friday. The head of the DPRK delegation made the criticism in an address at the 40th FAO conference in Rome on Tuesday, the Korean Central News Agency said in an English-language dispatch.Stressing that a peaceful environment is a prerequisite to realizing the UN's sustainable deve

North Korea July 7, 2017

The top nuclear envoy of South Korea will join a regional security conference to be held next week in Singapore, where he will discuss with his counterparts from the United States and Japan countermeasures against North Korea's recent missile provocation, the foreign ministry said Friday.The Northeast Asia Cooperation Dialogue will kick off Tuesday for a two-day run. The informal security meeting is usually attended by officials and civilian experts from the states of the now suspended six-party

North Korea July 7, 2017

South Korean stocks finished lower Friday, taking a cue from overnight falls on Wall Street, although Samsung Electronics, the top cap here, delivered a record quarterly high for the second quarter, analysts said. The Korean won rose against the US dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 7.94 points, or 0.33 percent, to close at 2,379.87.Trade volume was moderate at 303 million shares worth 4.97 trillion won ($4.31 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 485 to 307.The loc

Market July 7, 2017

More than 1,700 South Korean scientists and engineers gathered Friday to seek ways to capitalize on the changes as the world is transformed by the "fourth industrial revolution."The annual forum -- hosted by the country's largest scientist's group, the Korean Federation of Science and Technology Societies -- was held at the COEX convention center in southern Seoul."I believe the core value of the fourth industrial revolution is people. The scientists and technicians gathered here today all face

Technology July 7, 2017

The discord between parties escalated Friday as the ruling party leader refused to apologize for derisively commenting on a minor opposition party's denial of its leaders' involvement in a fake tip-off scandal. The opposition People's Party has demanded Choo Mi-ae, the head of the ruling Democratic Party, apologize and resign over her remarks that played down its internal probe into an alleged fabrication of misinformation about President Moon's son. Choo ignored its demand Friday and went furth

Politics July 7, 2017

A South Korean judge is set to be elected the head of the management body at the International Criminal Court, the foreign ministry here said Friday.The ICC's bureau has recently decided to recommend Kwon O-gon, who formerly served as vice president of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, as the next president of the ICC's Assembly of States Parties, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  (Yonhap)The president of the assembly is customarily chosen through recomm

Foreign Affairs July 7, 2017

The chief of a South Korean online game developer is facing a legal battle against his partner over a joint venture they set up in China, according to legal and industry sources on Thursday. Kwon Hyuk-bin, chief executive and founder of Smilegate Holdings Inc., was called in for questioning by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office earlier in the day.  This file photo, taken on Oct. 8, 2013, shows Kwon Hyuk-bin, chief executive and founder of online game developer Smilegate Holdings Inc.

Technology June 22, 2017