A fresh batch of vehicles has recently been found at North Korea‘s nuclear test site, shoring up speculation that the country may be preparing for another underground detonation, a US think tank said Sunday, citing satellite imagery.The 38 North, a blog run by the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University, said that four or five vehicles or trailers were present at the entrance to the North Portal, where the communist state carried out four rounds of nuclear tests.A satellite image showing

North Korea March 26, 2017

Five South Koreans were injured in what UK authorities called a terrorist attack near the British Parliament in London on Wednesday, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday. The attack left five people dead, including a police officer and the attacker who drove a car into pedestrians on the Westminster Bridge, and another 40 wounded, according to London police.Armed police stand outside the Houses of Parliament in London on Thursday. (Yonhap)Three Korean women and a man, in their 50s and 60s, suf

Foreign Affairs March 23, 2017

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson raised strong objections to China’s escalating economic retaliation against South Korea over advanced missile defense assets to be deployed here during his recent visit to Beijing, a US envoy said Wednesday. The secretary also boosted pressure on Beijing to ratchet up efforts to thwart Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions, warning of further sanctions on Chinese businesses engaged in illicit dealings with the communist state, Seoul officials said.  US Secretary of St

North Korea March 22, 2017

For Seoul, US State Secretary Rex Tillerson’s first visit last week was significant in many aspects. He sent a strong message to North Korea on its nuclear program, issued open criticism for China’s economic retaliation against South Korea over THAAD, and helped defuse concerns about the bilateral ties under the Donald Trump administration. (Yonhap)But his trip was overshadowed chiefly by controversy over the decision not to have a dinner meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se.

Foreign Affairs March 21, 2017

US President Donald Trump on Monday issued a fresh bout of criticism against North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, saying he was “acting very, very badly” in light of the communist state’s recent test of a new rocket engine. Pyongyang’s state media said it tested a new high-thrust rocket engine Saturday, a step seen as part of its efforts to build an intercontinental ballistic missile, for which Kim has said a test is in the final stage of preparations. US President Donald Trump (Yonhap)“He’s acting

North Korea March 20, 2017

With Washington taking a North Korea policy overhaul, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Friday declared that the existing “strategic patience” approach is over, saying all options including military action are on the table. At a joint news conference with Seoul’s Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, Tillerson also urged China to cease its economic retaliation against South Korea over its plan to host a US missile shield here, calling it “unnecessary, inappropriate and troubling.” “Efforts for Nor

Foreign Affairs March 17, 2017

The foreign ministers of South Korea and the US held talks Friday as Washington calls for a “new approach” to North Korea and Seoul is taking heat from China’s economic retaliation over a plan to host a US missile shield here. A North Korean soldier takes a snapshot from outside the window while US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (right) listens to USFK Commander Gen. Vincent K. Brooks during his visit to Panmunjeom, the truce village on the inter-Korean border, Friday. (Yonhap)　US Secretary of

Foreign Affairs March 17, 2017

In recent years, there has been fierce debate over the value and efficacy of volunteerism as more young students, faced with increasing job scarcity, opt to take on a temporary, nearly-unpaid position in a harsh environment for the sake of earning professional skills and experiences. But Olivier Adam, executive coordinator of the UN Volunteers, said that despite social and environmental differences in each country, there are “a lot of misperceptions” volunteers give their services without receiv

Foreign Affairs March 16, 2017

Seoul and Washington are ramping up diplomacy with a series of high-level talks amid North Korea’s evolving threats and China’s economic retaliation over a plan to install a US missile shield here. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is scheduled to arrive in Seoul on Thursday as part of his maiden Asia tour that includes stops in Tokyo and Beijing starting Wednesday. He is expected to visit acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn and hold talks with Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se. US Secretary of State R

Foreign Affairs March 14, 2017

Former President Park Geun-hye’s top secretaries tendered resignations en masse Monday, one day after she departed the presidential office in disgrace in line with a court decision to expel her over a corruption scandal. The offer was made by Chief of Staff Han Gwang-ok, senior political affairs secretary Hur Won-je and eight others in charge of civil, personal, economic, press, foreign and security, future strategy, educational and cultural, and labor and welfare affairs. Acting President and P

Politics March 13, 2017

With the Constitutional Court scheduled to unveil its ruling on the fate of then President Park Geun-hye at 11 a.m. on Friday, acting Chief Justice Lee Jung-mi arrived at the courthouse earlier than usual to gather with other judges for their one last deliberation before reaching a verdict. Amid a burst of camera flashes, the most intriguing component of the scene were two tiny pink hair rollers still attached to the back of her bobbed curly hair. The image went viral in no time, despite court o

Social Affairs March 12, 2017

A day after the court ruled to remove President Park Geun-hye from office, hundreds of thousands of South Koreans gathered to celebrate the result in central Seoul on Saturday, while her supporters called for the impeachment to be invalidated. As of 7 p.m., an estimated 500,000 had turned up in Gwanghwamun Square, according to organizers. They set off fireworks and complete strangers in the crowd shook hands, exchanging gratitude and smiles and waving candles together. For them, Friday’s verdict

Social Affairs March 11, 2017

One day after President Park Geun-hye was formally ousted by the court, thousands of her supporters took to the streets in central Seoul on Saturday, calling for the impeachment to be nullified.“We cannot accept or yield to a ruling by the Constitutional Court. In the name of the people, we demand the dissolution of the court and a retrial by nine new justices,” said Jeong Kwang-yong, head of an association of groups against Park’s impeachment. Supporters of former President Park Geun-hye stage

Social Affairs March 11, 2017

Thousands of supporters of former President Park Geun-hye staged a march in central Seoul on Saturday, rejecting the Constitutional Court's historic ruling that expelled her from power a day ago.  Pro-Park protestors unfurl the national flag, the icon of their rally, in Seoul Plaza on Saturday. (Bak Se-hwan/The Korea Herald) Pro-Park protestors stage a parade toward the Namdaemun gate from Seoul Plaza on Saturday. (Bak Se-hwan/The Korea Herald) Pro-Park protestors hold a placard likening major n

Social Affairs March 11, 2017

Thousands of supporters of former President Park Geun-hye staged a rally in central Seoul on Saturday, calling for a reversal of the Constitutional Court's historic ruling that expelled her from power a day ago. Protesters stage a rally around Seoul Plaza on Saturday. (Ock Hyun-ju/The Korea Herald)Protesters hold flags calling for a disbandment of the National Assembly during a rally around Seoul Plaza on Saturday. (Ock Hyun-ju/The Korea Herald)Protesters hold a sign calling for a refounding of

Social Affairs March 11, 2017