North Korea is expected to hold an “intimidating” military parade on Feb. 8, a day before the opening of the PyeongChang Olympic Games, Seoul’s Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said Friday.Preparations for the parade are being made at the Mirim Airfield in Pyongyang to commemorate the founding anniversary of the North’s Korean People’s Army, according to Cho. Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon attends a forum in Seoul on Friday. Yonhap“There is a high possibility that it will be a very int

North Korea Jan. 26, 2018

At least 37 people have died in a fire that broke out at a hospital in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, on Friday. According to authorities, the fire began at about 7:30 a.m. at Sejong Hospital in the southern city. Eyewitnesses have since said that the fire broke out in the emergency room at about 7:30 a.m. and quickly spread to other parts of the hospital. (Yonhap)As of 5:00 p.m., at least 37 people had died, with several others being treated for injuries. At the time of the fire, 100 patie

Social Affairs Jan. 26, 2018

At least 31 people have died in a fire that broke out at a hospital in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province on Friday.According to the authorities, the fire began at about 7:30 a.m. at Sejong Hospital in the southern city. (Yonhap)As of 9:10 a.m., more than 40 people have been taken to nearby hospitals, three of whom have died. At the time of the fire, 100 patients were in the wards. All patients of the nursing home adjacent to the hospital – 78 individuals – are said to have been evacuated safely

Social Affairs Jan. 26, 2018

Four workers died of suffocation after a gas leak at steelmaker Posco’s plant in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, Thursday. According to the authorities, the workers inhaled nitrogen while working on a facility that supplies oxygen to a furnace at the Pohang steelworks at about 4 p.m. The workers are said to be employees of a Posco subcontractor. (Yonhap)The accident is thought to have occurred while the workers were replacing materials used at the facility. The authorities are investigating t

Social Affairs Jan. 25, 2018

The Supreme Court is facing increasing heat over allegedly surveilling judges and accusations of bending to political pressure.It had been alleged that the National Court Administration surveilled judges, and compiled a list detailing their character and actions. The allegations have sparked speculations that a blacklist -- much like that of cultural figures drawn up by the Culture Ministry during the Park Geun-hye administration -- had been compiled.Supreme Court in southern Seoul. YonhapIn con

Politics Jan. 24, 2018

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Wednesday he intends to hold a summit with President Moon Jae-in next month and convey his government’s position on the 2015 “comfort women” agreement. Speaking to reporters, Abe said he intends to visit South Korea next month to attend the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Olympics, as well as to hold the meeting with Moon. It had previously been reported that Abe was unlikely to attend the event due to dispute over the agreement. Japanese Prime Ministe

International Jan. 24, 2018

While Seoul continues to tout the PyeongChang Olympics as a rare opportunity for engaging North Korea, experts paint bleaker prospects. South Korea’s presidential office on Tuesday once again urged cooperation from all sides, and reiterated the Moon Jae-in administration’s hope to open a route to resolving security issues on the peninsula.A bus carrying the South Korean inspection team heads into North Korea across the inter-Korean border in Gangwon Province on Tuesday. Yonhap“The administration

North Korea Jan. 23, 2018

Faced with mounting criticism over the government’s handling of North Korea’s participation in the PyeongChang Olympics, President Moon Jae-in on Monday urged the media and political parties to support the government in related matters. “(North Korea’s participation) in itself, and the inter-Korean talks for this end, have great significance,” Moon said at Monday’s meeting with senior aides, adding the talks have come at a time when inter-Korean relations “have deteriorated to the worst state si

North Korea Jan. 22, 2018

Criticism and concerns about Seoul’s actions in dealing with North Korea continue despite Cheong Wa Dae’s attempts to allay concerns. In a statement that began with the words “Pyongyang, PyeongChang, pyeongwha (peace in Korean)” senior presidential press secretary Yoon Young-chan on Sunday attempted to appease critics and highlight the Moon Jae-in administration’s plans. “Voices of concern over North Korea’s participation in the PyeongChang Olympics and forming a unified women’s ice hockey team

North Korea Jan. 22, 2018

A North Korean delegation inspecting possible venues here for arts performances will arrive in Seoul on Monday for the second day of its two-day visit. The delegation will return to North Korea later in the day.The seven-member team, led by the head of the North‘s Samjiyon Orchestra, Hyon Song-wol, is to arrive in Seoul by KTX bullet train from Gangneung, Gangwon Province, to look around candidate venues in Seoul.  Hyon Song-wol, center, head of a North Korean delegation, arrives at Seoul Statio

North Korea Jan. 22, 2018

Investigators are looking into possible irregularities in a real estate transaction with the children of former National Intelligence Service chief Won Sei-hoon, local media reported Sunday. According to news reports citing unnamed prosecution officials, investigators looking into allegations surrounding Won have secured evidence of suspicious developments in a real estate purchase made by one or more of his children. Won, who is suspected of a wide range of wrongdoings including interfering wit

Social Affairs Jan. 21, 2018

A North Korean delegation arrived in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, Sunday to check out venues for its proposed art performances at next month‘s PyeongChang Winter Games. The trip came amid brisk inter-Korean cooperation on the North’s participation in the Olympic Games to open in three weeks.The seven-member team is led by Hyon Song-wol, head of the North‘s Samjiyon Orchestra, and known as one of the most influential women in the secretive communist nation. She also serves as director of the Mora

North Korea Jan. 21, 2018

President Moon Jae-in and French President Emmanuel Macron held a telephone conversation Thursday and discussed ways to work together on resolving the North Korean nuclear issue, and for a successful PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games. President Moon Jae-in and French President Emmanuel Macron (Yonhap)According to Cheong Wa Dae, the two leaders spoke for about 30 minutes from 7:20 p.m. during which Moon gave a detailed account of inter-Korean talks. Seoul’s presidential office added that Moon expr

Foreign Affairs Jan. 18, 2018

While the government celebrates Wednesday’s inter-Korean agreement on the PyeongChang Winter Games as a step forward in creating a “peace Olympics,” South Korea is once again finding itself divided over the North Korea issue. On Wednesday, the two Koreas agreed on a range of issues on North Korea’s participation in the games, including the use of the “Korean Unification” flag at the opening ceremony and forming a unified women’s ice hockey team. 　 Players from both South Korea and North Korea po

North Korea Jan. 18, 2018