The top diplomats from South Korea, the United States and Japan condemned North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch in the "strongest terms" Thursday, pledging to work together to respond strongly to provocations by Pyongyang.South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida reached the agreement when they held talks on the sidelines of the Group of 20 foreign ministers' gathering in the German city of Bonn, officials

Foreign Affairs Feb. 17, 2017

Officials representing President Park Geun-hye said Friday they were shocked by the arrest of the de-facto head of the country's No. 1 conglomerate Samsung Group, but made clear the move does not necessarily prove the chief executive is guilty.Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman of the world's leading tech giant Samsung Electronics Co., was arrested earlier in the day on charges that included bribery in connection with the high-profile scandal surrounding the president and her confidante.President Park

Politics Feb. 17, 2017

A US congressman has stressed that the murder of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's estranged half brother, Kim Jong-nam, if confirmed as an act by the country, should result in it being put back on the US terrorism sponsor list, a US broadcaster said Friday.Rep. Ted Poe, who serves as chairman of the House's subcommittee on terrorism and trade, told Radio Free Asia that it is a "very serious problem" if Kim Jong-un assassinated his half brother. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attends a meeting

North Korea Feb. 17, 2017

The number of South Koreans traveling to Japan has climbed to a record monthly high, due mainly to the latest streak of a cheaper yen, government data showed Friday. A total of 625,400 Koreans visited the neighboring country in January, hitting a record high on a monthly basis, according to tentative statistics compiled by the Japan National Tourism Organization.  A security checkpoint at Incheon International Airport is packed with people on Jan. 24, 2017, as thousands choose overseas getaways

Social Affairs Feb. 17, 2017

South Korean politicians on Friday welcomed the arrest of the de facto head of Samsung Group as a catalyst for establishing economic justice, while some expressed concerns about its possible impact on the nation's frail economy. Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman of the world's largest technology company Samsung Electronics Co., was arrested early in the day on charges that included bribery in connection with the high-profile scandal surrounding President Park Geun-hye and her confidante.Lee Jae-yong,

Social Affairs Feb. 17, 2017

US President Donald Trump said Thursday he will take care of the problem of North Korea, calling the communist nation one of "really really important subjects."Trump made the remark during a news conference announcing his new pick for labor secretary, arguing that his administration "inherited a mess" at home and abroad, including North Korea, and complaining about leaks of sensitive government information to the press. US President Donald Trump (Yonhap)"As you know, our administration inherited

International Feb. 17, 2017

The Constitutional Court said Thursday it plans to conclude President Park Geun-hye's impeachment hearings next week, prompting speculation that a ruling could come in early March.Park was impeached in December over allegations she let her friend Choi Soon-sil meddle in state affairs and colluded with her to extort money from conglomerates. The president has denied the charges. This photo shows the 14th hearing of President Park Geun-hye's impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court in Seoul o

Politics Feb. 17, 2017

South Korea's plan to import a vaccine against food-and-mouth disease from a British company may end up in smoke as it has yet to respond to a Seoul request for an emergency import, sources said Friday.South Korea remains gripped by a serious undersupply of FMD vaccines following the simultaneous outbreak of type A and type O viruses. Since the first outbreak on Feb. 5, nearly 800 cows have been culled so far. This undated file photo shows an FMD vaccine (Yonhap)After a type A case was reported

Technology Feb. 17, 2017

The board of the Federation of Korean Industries was set to meet Friday for discussions on ways to reform the organization now facing a series of departures by its key members that are threatening its very foundation.FKI officials said the board was expected to set the agenda for the general assembly scheduled to be held next Friday, noting they were expected to include the appointment of a new FKI chief. (Yonhap)The organization has been searching for a new leader to replace outgoing chairman H

Industry Feb. 17, 2017

South Korean exports of chips and other key products are forecast to expand at a double-digit rate in February on increased prices and a recovery in overseas demand, sources said Friday.The sanguine outlook, which local trade associations offered at a meeting hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, comes as the country's overseas shipments have been on the mend in recent months after a prolonged slump. (Yonhap)Overseas shipments of most flagship products are likely to increase in F

Feb. 17, 2017

South Korea's Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Thursday called for the protection of high-profile North Korean defectors after the murder of the half brother of the communist state's leader Kim Jong-un earlier this week.Hwang made the call during a regular meeting of ministers over a series of pending issues, such as Pyongyang's potential provocations, the spread of foot-and-mouth disease and the country's rising jobless rate.This photo, taken on Feb. 9, 2017, shows Acting Pr

Defense Feb. 17, 2017

A group of US Republican senators have urged the Treasury Department to significantly tighten the financial screws on North Korea to curb its dangerously accelerating nuclear and missile programs.The six senators -- Ted Cruz, Cory Gardner, Thom Tillis, Marco Rubio, Pat Toomey and David Perdue -- made the appeal in a joint letter urging Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to "execute the full extent of financial sanctions and targeted financial measures provided for under current law." (Yonhap)"As

Foreign Affairs Feb. 17, 2017

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson agreed Thursday to put together joint strategies to deal with North Korea based on an understanding that the communist nation has reached the final stage of nuclear armament, officials said.The two top diplomats reached the agreement when they held one-on-one talks in the German city of Bonn on the sidelines of the Group of 20 foreign ministers' gathering, officials said. It was the first foreign ministers' meetin

Diplomatic Circuit Feb. 17, 2017

South Korean futures firms and brokerage houses have declined sharply in the recent seven years due to a deep slump in the local derivatives market, industry data showed Friday.The number of futures firms stood at five as of September last year, more than halving from 11 tallied in 2009, with their employees shrinking to 395 from 683, according to the data compiled by the Korea Financial Investment Association. (Yonhap)Over the same period, the number of brokerages also fell to 56 from 62, while

Feb. 17, 2017