President Moon Jae-in on Monday left for New York to attend the UN General Assembly, where he is expected to address world leaders on the growing problem of North Korea. On the sidelines of the event, Moon is set to hold a series of summit talks including talks with US and Japanese leaders on Thursday. The South Korean president is also scheduled to meet with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. A separate meeting with US President Donald Trump is also being arranged.  President Moon Jae-in an

North Korea Sept. 18, 2017

Seoul and Washington will seek “stronger, and more practical” measures against North Korea, South Korea’s presidential office said Sunday. According to Cheong Wa Dae, President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump agreed to cooperate more closely and to work with the international community to further raise the pressure on Pyongyang. “(Moon and Trump) agreed to bring stronger and more effective sanctions and pressure to make the North Korean regime realize that provocations will bring tough

North Korea Sept. 17, 2017

President Moon Jae-in’s personnel choices have hit yet another setback, with even the ruling party shying away from giving him support. This time, the trouble came from Minister of SMEs and Startups nominee Park Seong-jin, an engineering professor with hard-right historical views and involvement in creation science -- an effort to provide a scientific basis to creationism.Since Moon tapped Park for the post, it has been revealed that Park has unusual scientific beliefs and has been involved in a

Politics Sept. 14, 2017

A trilateral summit meeting of South Korean, Japanese and US leaders is being negotiated, Cheong Wa Dae revealed Wednesday. Seoul’s presidential office also revealed that Seoul and Washington have also discuss the possibility of US President Donald Trump making a state visit to South Korea in November. According to a Cheong Wa Dae official, the three governments have been discussing holding a trilateral summit on the sidelines of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly set to take place lat

Politics Sept. 13, 2017

The UN has imposed its toughest sanctions on North Korea to date, but South Korea’s politicians and experts remain divided on how efficient they will be. On Tuesday, the presidential office and the ruling party welcomed the measures, hailing them as an example of the international community uniting to bring Pyongyang under control. Seoul’s presidential office welcomed the new resolution, saying that its approval confirms that the international community holds the shared belief that stronger meas

Politics Sept. 12, 2017

North Korea on Monday warned of a “last resort” attack against the US, ahead of UN Security Council’s deliberation on the latest US-led sanctions against the regime. The UNSC is set to deliberate on the resolution drafted by the US on Monday, and Washington and Beijing are said to be wrangling over clauses that would limit the supply of oil to North Korea.  UN Security Council meeting held on Sept. 4 following North Korea`s nuclear test on the previous day. YonhapAccording to local news reports

North Korea Sept. 11, 2017

Seoul’s decision to complete the deployment of a US missile defense system is fanning controversy within the country, while concerns for further retaliation from China grows. On Thursday, four more Terminal High Altitude Area Defense launchers were deployed at the site in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province against resistance from activists and local residents. China has been quick to criticize Seoul’s decision, raising concerns that it will carry out further economic retribution against South Ko

Politics Sept. 8, 2017

South Korean President Moon Jae-in continued seeking ways to cut North Korea’s oil supply on Thursday, in the face of resistance from Pyongyang’s biggest suppliers: China and Russia. In his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Moon received confirmation that Tokyo supports his plans. President Moon Jae-in delivers a speech during a session of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, Thursday. (Yonhap)“The two lea

Foreign Affairs Sept. 7, 2017

President Moon Jae-in‘s push to raise pressure on North Korea to a “new dimension” appears to have hit a wall with Russian President Vladimir Putin effectively ruling out further sanctions.Following a summit meeting with Moon in Vladivostok on Wednesday, Putin reiterated his view that sanctions are not the solution. In addition, Putin effectively rejected Moon’s suggestion of cutting off oil supply to North Korea. “No matter how much pressure is applied, North Korea will not give up its nuclear

Politics Sept. 6, 2017

Further hardening his stance against North Korea, President Moon Jae-in said that it is time for the international community to consider cutting oil supplies to the defiant regime. The remark came in a late-night phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, which capped a long day of trying to rally leaders of major powers against the North’s fast-advancing nuclear weapons program, while beefing up the South’s own military capabilities.“It is time that measures for fundame

North Korea Sept. 5, 2017

Seoul’s North Korean policies will shift to give military issues more weight as President Moon Jae-in seeks punitive measures “of the highest order” following Sunday’s nuclear test, it was revealed Monday. Speaking to the parliamentary defense committee, Minister of National Defense Song Young-moo said that the shift was decided at Sunday’s National Security Council meeting. “At yesterday’s NSC meeting, the consensus was that the direction the government should take is strengthening (readiness i

North Korea Sept. 4, 2017

North Korea on Sunday conducted its sixth nuclear test, claiming that it was now capable of producing intercontinental ballistic missiles fitted with thermonuclear warheads.Pyongyang’s latest provocation came amid international condemnation and sanctions, applied even by its ally China. North Korea’s nuclear test was detected by South Korean, Chinese and other authorities, at about 12:29 p.m.President Moon Jae-in (left) presides over the National Security Council meeting at the presidential offi

North Korea Sept. 3, 2017

North Korea on Sunday conducted its sixth nuclear test, claiming that it was now capable of producing intercontinental ballistic missiles fitted with thermonuclear warheads.Pyongyang’s latest provocation came in the face of international condemnation and sanctions, applied even by its traditional ally China. South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in convened the National Security Council meeting at 1:30 p.m. Moon’s top national security adviser Chung Eui-yong also held a telephone conversation with hi

North Korea Sept. 3, 2017

President Moon Jae-in will hold summit talks with leaders of Japan, Mongolia and Russia during the his two-day visit to Vladivostok, Russia, Seoul’s presidential office revealed Friday. Moon is set to attend the Eastern Economic Forum on Thursday and Friday. It will be his first visit to Russia since taking office on May 10.According to Cheong Wa Dae, Moon and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a summit meeting and an extended summit with top presidential aides in attendance on Wednesday

Politics Sept. 1, 2017

Deployment of four more Terminal High Altitude Area Defense launchers may begin as early as next week, local media reported Friday citing unnamed South Korean and US military sources. According to reports, Seoul’s Ministry of National Defense and US Forces Korea are likely to transport four additional THAAD launchers, and materials required for their temporary deployment to the site in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, next week.  A THAAD launcher stationed in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Provinc

Defense Sept. 1, 2017