The Korea Herald

S. Korea, U.S. launch Agent Orange probe

South Korea and the U.S. have agreed to a joint investigation into the alleged burial three decades ago of Agent Orange at a U.S. military base in Waegwan, North Gyeongsang Province, a senior government official said Sunday.“Recognizing the urgency and importance of the matter, the U.S. has actively engaged in consultations with us. For a prompt, transparent resolution of the issue, the two sides

Politics May 22, 2011

S. Korea, U.S. launch Agent Orange probe

Lee, Park to tackle reform in ruling party

Meeting comes as factional strife looms large, party licks post-election woundsThe meeting between President Lee Myung-bak and former Grand National Party chairwoman Park Geun-hye, scheduled for this week, is drawing keen attention as the rare talks are to come amid the party’s efforts for reform.The ruling party has been seeking measures to revamp itself and shore up public trust since its by-ele

Politics May 22, 2011

New subs suspended last year due to weak bolts

The Navy decided to suspend the operation of the three newest 1,800-ton submarines early last year due to problems with their component parts, according to a lawmaker.Rep. Song Young-sun of the minority Future Hope Alliance party told media that weak bolts used to fixate their upper bridges and decks were broken or loosened during their maritime operations on a number of occasions.For the first 1,

Defense May 18, 2011

‘N.K. has 30,000 electronic warfare agents’

The North Korean military has around 30,000 electronic warfare specialists with capabilities rivaling those of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, Fox News reported Tuesday, citing defectors and other sources.The U.S. broadcaster’s report titled “North Korea’s cyber army gets increasingly sophisticated,” came after a series of cyber attacks on key government and corporate websites in South Korea

Defense May 18, 2011

China calls for inter-Korean dialogue

Amb. Zhang Xinsen says Beijing mediating between North and South KoreaChinese Ambassador to South Korea Zhang Xinsen on Monday called for an early resumption of the inter-Korean dialogue to address bilateral issues and bring about peace and stability on the peninsula.Speaking at a forum in Seoul, Zhang also stressed that the six-party talks aimed at denuclearizing North Korea can provide an effect

Politics May 17, 2011

Attacks may hamper Afghan PRT work

Officials put more weight on possibility of Taliban role in shelling of Korean baseRelentless rocket attacks on a base for South Korean aid workers and troops in Afghanistan are expected to hamper operations to help rebuild the war-torn country amid growing public angst here over their safety.This month alone, there were three attacks apparently targeting the base in Charikar City in the northern

Politics May 17, 2011

S. Korea seeks U.S. staff dispatch to border island

The South Korean military is seeking consultations with the U.S. over dispatching U.S. liaison staff to Bangnyeong Island, one of the five northwestern border islands, to deter North Korean provocations, officials said Tuesday.“South Korea and the U.S. are trying to come up with measures to enhance our defense of the five frontline islands, including sending U.S. military personnel as observers fo

Politics May 17, 2011

Reform aims for efficient command

Some retired generals doubt whether reform measures will be effectiveThe Ministry of National Defense is pushing ahead with a major military overhaul, aiming to make its bloated command apparatus “strong, speedy and slim” and ready itself to take back wartime operational control from the U.S. in 2015.The envisioned large-scale reform comes as the military is toiling to address a series of shortcom

Politics May 16, 2011

Rocket lands near S. Korea’s Afghan base

A rocket fell early Saturday just outside an Afghanistan base where South Korean aid workers and troops are stationed, but there were no reports of injuries, Foreign Ministry officials said. The rocket landed about 200 meters away from the wall surrounding the base in Charikar City in the northern Afghan province of Parwan at around 12:45 a.m., according to them. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said tha

Defense May 15, 2011

Bombing suspect’s motive was stock market profits, say police

The explosions at two public transportation hubs in Seoul last Thursday were masterminded by a man seeking profits from causing the stock market to fall, police concluded Sunday.Last week, the 43-year-old man, identified only by his surname Kim, invested in “put options” that appreciate when stock prices drop. He expected the blasts to panic investors into selling stocks, officials said.Kim hatche

Social Affairs May 15, 2011

Bombing suspect’s motive was stock market profits, say police

Police investigate two explosions in Seoul

Police are investigating two explosions at Seoul Station and Gangnam Express Bus Terminal about 30 minutes apart on Thursday.There have been no reports of injuries yet from the two blasts, officials said.The explosions caused chaos with citizens hurriedly leaving the two public transportation hubs. Police have not ruled out the possibility of terrorism, officials said.Police check a locker at Seou

Social Affairs May 12, 2011

Police investigate two explosions in Seoul

GNP lawmakers seek to recoup depositors’ losses

Some Grand National Party lawmakers are considering ways to enable depositors of suspended savings banks to partially recoup lost money, officials said Thursday.They are also mulling giving the state-run Korea Deposit Insurance Corp. the right to independently inspect savings banks to keep the Financial Supervisory Service in check. Critics said the FSS has wielded a “monopolistic” inspection auth

Politics May 12, 2011

GNP lawmakers seek to recoup depositors’ losses

Rights body urges N.K. defectors to report abuse

The state human rights watchdog chief on Thursday sent a letter to some 1,500 North Korean defectors, urging them to report cases of human rights abuse they had suffered or witnessed in the communist state, officials said Thursday.In the letter, Hyun Byung-chul of the National Human Rights Commission also expressed regret over the lack of “systematic” measures to express their agony and frustratio

Social Affairs May 12, 2011

S. Korean Army commander to receive U.S. military medal

Major Gen. Chun In-bumA Souh Korean Army commander will be decorated on Friday with a prestigious military medal from the U.S. government for his contribution to enhancing the bilateral military alliance, officials said Thursday.Major Gen. Chun In-bum, the head of the 27th Division, will receive the Legion of Merit from U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kathleen Stephens at her residence in central S

Defense May 12, 2011

S. Korean Army commander to receive U.S. military medal

Rules toughened to prevent draft dodging

Military manpower chief says measures will close loopholesThe military conscription agency has been implementing or seeking to introduce a series of measures to block those looking to exploit legal loopholes to dodge their compulsory service, the agency chief said Wednesday.They include toughening screening processes, securing an independent investigative authority, allowing elementary-school grad

Politics May 11, 2011

Articles by Song Sangho