US President Donald Trump on Monday reiterated his view that progress had been made with North Korea, saying the US and the North had built mutual respect. Speaking ahead of his summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo, Trump predicted “good things” for North Korean issues.  “We’ve come a long way, there’s been no rocket testing, there’s been no nuclear testing, there’s been very little activity from that standpoint, we’ve come

North Korea May 27, 2019

President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday highlighted the importance of the South Korea-US alliance, saying the alliance remains firm and serves as the foundation of his drive for peace. The meeting was attended by South Korean Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo and Gen. Robert Abrams, chief of the US Forces Korea.President Moon Jae-in speaks during a meeting with senior US and South Korean military commanders, including Gen. Robert Abrams (right), chief of the US Forces Korea, at the presiden

Defense May 21, 2019

North Korea continued its criticism of South Korea on Monday, calling on Seoul to reject interference from foreign powers and taking issue with a meeting of a Seoul-Washington working group. Meanwhile, Chinese data showed that Pyongyang received aid from Beijing last year despite UN Security Council resolutions.  (Yonhap)A North Korean propaganda outlet on Monday accused the South Korean government of fueling discord by working with the US, focusing on a recent meeting of a Seoul-Washington work

North Korea May 20, 2019

President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump will hold their eighth summit in Seoul in June to discuss North Korea and bilateral issues, Seoul and Washington’s presidential offices said Thursday. “At the summit, the two leaders plan to discuss ways to strengthen the Korea-US alliance and to establish permanent peace through complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Ko Min-jung said in a statement. President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump sha

North Korea May 16, 2019

US-based human rights group Human Rights Watch on Tuesday said seven North Korean defectors are in custody in China and urged Beijing to take steps to protect them. According to Human Rights Watch, the seven North Koreans were taken into custody on April 28 and held in Anshan, Liaoning province. It cited unnamed South Koreans assisting families of the detainees.  (Yonhap)Human Rights Watch said the detainees consist of a 10-year-old girl, three men and three women. Some of the detainees had arri

North Korea May 15, 2019

A South Korean woman rescued from militants in Burkina Faso, West Africa, returned to Korea on Tuesday. The woman, whose identity has been withheld, returned from Paris aboard an Asiana Airlines flight. Korean woman (center) and French nationals rescued from militants speak to the media at a French military airbase on Saturday. YonhapShe was met by a joint investigation team consisting of personnel from the National Intelligence Service and other concerned government organizations. According to

Social Affairs May 14, 2019

President Moon Jae-in on Monday emphasized the importance of change, and urged political parties to move with the times. Speaking at the weekly meeting with senior aides, Moon said that the country has undergone dramatic changes since he took office, but political parties have changed little.  President Moon Jae-in speaks at a meeting with senior aides on Monday. Yonhap“It is regrettable that the political arena remains in the past, despite the changing world. There seems to be little difference

Politics May 13, 2019

South Korea and the US appear determined to stay the course on North Korea in the face of an increasingly belligerent Pyongyang.In the latest hint that Washington will, at least for the time being, continue on its current course, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the goal of the Trump administration’s North Korea diplomacy remains clear. “Past efforts, agreements that we entered into with North Korea, only produced more North Korean nukes and American diplomatic failure,” Pompeo said, speak

North Korea May 13, 2019

National Security Office deputy chief Kim Hyun-chong met with US special envoy for North Korea Stephen Biegun on Friday to discuss recent developments on the Korean Peninsula, Cheong Wa Dae said. According to Seoul’s presidential office, the meeting began at 3 p.m. and lasted 80 minutes, during which they discussed developments surrounding North Korea, as well as South Korea-US cooperation on the matter.  North Korea released a photo showing its launch of a short-range missile on Thursday. (Yonh

North Korea May 10, 2019

President Moon Jae-in on Thursday warned North Korea against further provocative actions, saying that Pyongyang recent actions could damage dialogue. Speaking in his first television interview with a local broadcaster, Moon also said that North Korea is likely to be hoping to pressure Seoul and Washington, and that additional launches cannot be ruled out.  (Yonhap)“(Seoul and Washington) preliminarily concluded that they are short range missile, as the range was long despite the low altitude,” M

Politics May 9, 2019

Nearly 100 lawmakers are now under investigation in connection with clashes that occurred at the National Assembly over the fast-tracking of contentious bills, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office said Tuesday.  (Yonhap)According to the prosecutors’ office, 14 criminal complaints have been filed in relations to the developments, and 97 lawmakers have been implicated. Of the lawmakers, 62 are from the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, 25 are from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea

Social Affairs May 7, 2019

President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump will hold a telephone conversation to discuss issues surrounding the Korean Peninsula, Cheong Wa Dae announced Tuesday.  Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Ko Ming-jung announces the plans for President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump`s telephone conversation on Tuesday. Yonhap“(Moon and Trump) will exchange views on matters related to the Korean Peninsula, and discuss ways to make progress in the current situation,” Cheong Wa Dae spokesperso

North Korea May 7, 2019

The contention over revising the investigative powers of police and the prosecutors’ office appears set to intensify, with Prosecutor-General Moon Moo-il holding a senior prosecutors’ meeting Tuesday. According to reports, Moon reiterated his stance that the bill on altering the investigative rights of the police agency and the prosecutors’ office violated fundamental principles of democracy at the meeting. Moon Moo-il. YonhapThe bill, which has been put on the fast track by the ruling Democrati

Social Affairs May 7, 2019

The first civilian forum dealing with South Korea-China cooperation in establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula will be held, the Korea-China City Friendship Association said Thursday. The event, co-hosted by the China Association for International Friendly Contact, will be held in Beijing on Tuesday.  Kwon Ki-sik. Korea-China City Friendship AssociationIt will include a panel discussion on Seoul-Beijing cooperation in establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula, and a welcoming dinner hosted b

Social Affairs May 2, 2019

North Korea should approach denuclearization talks with the US with a “wider scope,” Seoul’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha said Thursday.“The US is taking a comprehensive approach (to the talks) and looking for comprehensive dialogue,” Kang said at a meeting with the local media. Kang was responding to a question on which side – the North or the US – should alter its position to enable denuclearization talks to make progress.  Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha speaks during

Foreign Affairs May 2, 2019