The United Nations Security Council will likely convene an emergency meeting early next week to discuss countermeasures against North Korea's latest missile provocation, a government source said Saturday."An emergency meeting of the UNSC could be held early next week," the source said on the condition of anonymity. "But the exact date for the gathering can be determined after the weekend."The meeting is expected to come in response to the North's claimed second successful and improved interconti

North Korea July 30, 2017

North Korea's state-run television on Saturday disclosed edited footage of its test-fire of an intercontinental range ballistic missile conducted the previous night.According to the video footage that runs 2 1/2 minutes, the Hwasong-14 missile was moved on a transport erector launcher, known as a TEL, before being fired from a ground-based launch pad.The method of launch was similar to one disclosed in separate TV footage released on July 5 following North Korea's first intercontinental range ba

North Korea July 30, 2017

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is attempting to deter unity between South Korea, the US, China, Russia and Japan with a string of belligerent acts, the top American military commander here said Thursday.Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, who commands US Forces Korea, pointed out that the communist regime's nearly weekly missile tests have become "the new normal."The North test-fired 28 ballistic missiles in 2016 alone, followed by 10 others this year, including what is believed to be an intercontinental b

North Korea July 27, 2017

South Korean plans to sell a combined 6.7 trillion won ($6 billion) in state bonds next month, the finance ministry said Thursday. The government will issue 1.45 trillion won in bonds with a maturity of three years, and 1.65 trillion won in five-year bonds in August.It also plans to sell 1.5 trillion won in 10-year Treasurys and a combined 2.1 trillion won of bonds with a maturity of between 20 and 30 years. (Yonhap)

Economy July 27, 2017

Samsung Heavy Industries Co., a major shipyard here, said Thursday that it swung to the black in the second quarter of the year from a year earlier on cost-saving measures.Net profit reached 23 billion won ($21 million) in the April-June period, compared with a loss of 212 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing.Operating income reached 21 billion won in the second quarter, also turning around from an operating loss of 284 billion won a year earlier.Its sales dropped

Industry July 27, 2017

South Korean stocks finished higher Thursday, taking a cue from overnight gains on Wall Street as the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged, analysts said. The local currency rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 8.73 points, or 0.36 percent, to close at 2,443.24. Trading volume was moderate at 420 million shares worth 5.3 trillion won ($4.7 billion), with gainers outpacing losers 430 to 356.The local stock market opened higher on US gains and

Market July 27, 2017

The government panel tasked with overseeing public deliberation on the fate of two nuclear reactors decided Thursday to select around 350 citizens who will review whether to cancel the construction.The panel under the prime minister's office made the decision during their second meeting where its members discussed procedures to collect public opinions over the now-suspended construction in Ulsan, 414 kilometers southeast of Seoul.Panel members agreed to carry out the first opinion survey on the

Politics July 27, 2017

South Korea will put its "Surion" military helicopter to a formal test again on its anti-icing system within the next several months, the nation's arms agency said Thursday.The multi-role KUH-1 chopper was once an icon of South Korea's fast-developing defense industry, developed in 2009 by Korea Aerospace Industries in partnership with Airbus Helicopters.But it has become a source of public concern amid a series of reports of flaws including cracks in the airframe and a problem in the gearbox.Th

Defense July 27, 2017

South Korea has started looking into the operations of a foundation for victims of Japan's wartime sex slavery, established after a controversial "comfort women" deal with Japan in late 2015, according to a senior official Thursday."We've launched an inspection team that will review and assess activities of the foundation. It's expected to be wrapped up by late August but could also be delayed a bit," said Gender Equality Minister Chung Hyun-back, referring to the Reconciliation and Healing Foun

Foreign Affairs July 27, 2017

South Korea has completed an official development assistance project worth $4.7 million for El Salvador, which will benefit hundreds of farmers and their families in the northern part of the Central American country, the South Korean ODA agency said Thursday.Under the farmer-empowerment project which started in 2013, the Korea International Cooperation Agency built irrigation and solar energy generation systems as well as a community center for farmers in El Porvenir, Santa Ana, according to the

Social Affairs July 27, 2017

South Korea's vaccination rates for hepatitis B and several other major diseases are higher than those of the United States, Britain and Australia, government data showed Thursday.South Korea's vaccination rates for HepB, BCG, DTaP, IPV, Hib and MMR stood at 96.6 percent, according to the statistics by the Korea Centers for Disease Control which analyzed the vaccination records of 440,000 children born in 2013 in the four countries.(Yonhap)The comparable figures were 90.9 percent for the US, 94.

Technology July 27, 2017

Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. on Thursday posted a 14 percent on-year jump in its second-quarter net profit as major projects began to be reflected in the bottom line. Net profit for the April-June quarter rose to 216 billion won ($194 million) from 189.4 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a statement.  Hyundai E&C headquarters in northern Seoul. (Yonhap)"The company has focused on winning plant and infrastructure projects in overseas markets. Initial payments for the proje

Industry July 27, 2017

President Moon Jae-in's approval rating rebounded to the highest it's been in three weeks, a survey showed Thursday, amid a government plan to increase tax rates only for the superrich.In a survey conducted by Realmeter, 74.7 percent of 1,533 voters surveyed said they approved of the president's management of state affairs, up 2.3 percentage points from the weekly survey conducted last week and released Monday.The latest survey, conducted at the request of local radio station tbs, took place bet

Politics July 27, 2017

SsangYong Motor Co.'s union has accepted a wage deal to avoid any production losses amid tough competition from rivals, the company said Thursday."The company and its union shared the view that a stable labor-management relation is essential in increasing sales of the G4 Rexton SUV and maintaining its leading status in the subcompact SUV market," the company said in a statement. The 3,451-member union held a vote to decide whether to accept this year's wage deal or not. A total of 3,295 workers

Mobility July 27, 2017

North Korea on Thursday rejected Hyundai Asan Corp.'s request to hold a memorial service in the reclusive country next month to mark the anniversary of the death of its former chairman, a corporate source said.The operator of the now-suspended tour program to Mount Kumgang on North Korea's east coast has held the memorial service for Chung Mong-hun at the scenic resort since his death in August 2003. The company, however, did not seek approval for the visit last year due to tensions on the Korea

North Korea July 27, 2017