Speculation is rising that US President Donald Trump may visit the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas during his visit to the South next month. On Wednesday, Trump hinted that he would visit the DMZ, saying “Well, I’d rather not say but you’ll be surprised” when asked whether the tense inter-Korean border would be in his itinerary. US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at the White House on Wednesday. YonhapSince US President Ronald Ragan, all but one US president visiting South

Politics Oct. 26, 2017

The stepfather of murder suspect Lee Young-hak was found dead Wednesday at his home in Gwangwon Province. According to police, Lee’s stepfather, whose identity has been withheld, died in an apparent suicide. Lee is currently under arrest for murdering a friend of his daughter and disposing of the body with the help of his teenage daughter. Lee is also suspected of embezzling donations he received from the public to treat his daughter’s medical expenses.  (Yonhap)Lee’s stepfather was under invest

Social Affairs Oct. 25, 2017

The Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday named five court-appointed lawyers to take former President Park Geun-hye’s corruption case.Park’s defense team resigned en masse on Oct. 16, in protest against the court’s decision to extend the warrant holding the former president in custody.Former President Park Geun-hye leaves the Seoul Central District Court after a hearing on Oct. 16. YonhapAt the time, Park and her lawyers expressed distrust in the court and claimed that she was being subjecte

Social Affairs Oct. 25, 2017

President Moon Jae-in will address the National Assembly on Nov. 1, highlighting his policy goals in an attempt to facilitate the smooth processing of next year’s budget plans.  President Moon Jae-in. YonhapThis will be the second time for Moon to address the National Assembly since he took office on May 10. His first parliamentary address was on June 12, in which he highlighted the need for the supplementary budget. As he did in his first address, Moon is expected to explain his administration’

Politics Oct. 23, 2017

North Korea will not return to the six party talks unless issues with the US are resolved, a high level North Korean diplomat said Saturday. According to reports citing participants of the Moscow Nonproliferation Conference, North Korean Foreign Ministry’s Director General of North America Affairs Choi Sun-hee said that Pyongyang will not return to six party talks, and that the country will only negotiate with the US. North Korean Foreign Ministry’s Director General of North America Affairs Choi

North Korea Oct. 22, 2017

President Moon Jae-in on Sunday said that the government will quickly resume the construction of two nuclear reactors as recommended by the deliberation committee, while strengthening safety regulations and developing renewable energy technologies.On Friday, the commission for deliberating on the fate of Shin Kori-5 and Shin Kori-6 reactors announced that 59.5 percent of a 471-member jury supported the resumption of the project. Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Park Soo-hyun announces President Moon Jae-

Social Affairs Oct. 22, 2017

Former President Park Geun-hye on Thursday refused to appear at her trial due to health reasons, sparking speculations that she may boycott her trial in protest, or as a political ploy. On Wednesday, the Seoul Detention Center, where Park has remained in custody since her arrest on March 31, relayed Park’s statement that she could not attend her trial Thursday to the Seoul Central District Court. In the handwritten statement, which was faxed to the court, Park cited health reasons for her inabil

Politics Oct. 19, 2017

Pressuring North Korea to come to the negotiation table without any condition is the US’ goal, US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan reiterated Wednesday. Speaking at a joint press conference after a three-way meeting with Seoul’s First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lim Sung-nam and Japan’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Shinsuke Sugiyama, Sullivan reaffirmed Washington’s goal in dealing with North Korea.  South Korean, US and Japanese diplomats hold a joint press conference in Seoul

North Korea Oct. 18, 2017

President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday nominated Gwangju High Court chief Yoo Nam-seok as a Constitutional Court justice. The announcement came just as Cheong Wa Dae denied reports that issues regarding the Constitutional Court president and the vacant justice position would be decided in tandem with the Constitutional Court Act revision pending at the National Assembly.  Constitutional Court in Seoul on Wednesday (Yonhap)“Yoo spent four years at the Constitutional Court working as a researcher of t

Politics Oct. 18, 2017

Ahn Cheol-soo, chairman of the minor centrist People’s Party, on Wednesday accused President Moon Jae-in and his office of incompetence and missing the beat in Seoul-Washington relations. Speaking at a party meeting on Wednesday, Ahn said US President Donald Trump’s Asian tour itinerary reflects South Korea’s lack of status. People`s Party chief Ahn Cheol-soo speaks at a party meeting in Seoul on Wednesday. Yonhap“(Trump) stays in Japan for three days, but his stay in South Korea, the country di

Politics Oct. 18, 2017

US President Donald Trump’s visit to Korea next month will take the form of a state visit, marking the first state visit by a US leader since 1992. According to Seoul’s presidential office, Trump will arrive early on Nov. 7 in Seoul, where he will attend welcome ceremonies and hold a summit meeting. “The schedule was agreed to in consideration of President Trump’s flight schedules, and in consideration of ceremony schedules,” Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Park Soo-hyun said Tuesday. US President Donal

Politics Oct. 17, 2017

The South Korean military is drawing up an offensive-defense strategy aimed at concluding a military conflict with North Korea within the shortest time possible. The plan, revealed by the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the parliamentary audit Monday, calls for the country’s surveillance and missile capabilities to be strengthened.  Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Jeong Kyeong-doo speaks during a parliamentary audit at the JCS in Seoul on Monday. Yonhap“A war plan designed to e

Defense Oct. 16, 2017

Controversy surrounding the 2014 ferry disaster is being rekindled as the prosecution readies to launch a fresh investigation into related allegations brought against the previous Park Geun-hye administration. On Thursday, the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae revealed that documents indicating that the Park Geun-hye administration’s presidential aides altered documents concerning former President Park Geun-hye’s actions on April 16, 2014, when the ferry sank, killing more than 300 people.  T

Social Affairs Oct. 15, 2017

The Ministry of Justice on Sunday announced its plans for establishing the new investigation body for illegal activities of high level government officials. The plans call for the organization to be established as a body independent of the judiciary, legislature and the administration.  Ministry of Justice in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. YonhapEstablishing the organization, the idea of which has floated for two decades, needs to be approved by the National Assembly. Under the Justice Ministry’s

Social Affairs Oct. 15, 2017

Records concerning former President Park Geun-hye’s activities during the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster have been altered, Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday. In the disaster, the Sewol ferry sank off the country’s southwestern coast, resulting in 295 deaths and nine passengers unaccounted for. Since the wreckage was brought ashore in April this year, the remains of four of the nine missing passengers have been found. According to President Moon Jae-in’s chief of staff Im Jong-seok, documents were found th

Politics Oct. 12, 2017