The Korea Herald

Financial regulator, police, stock exchange probe radiation leak rumors

The state financial regulator has launched an inquiry into rumors about the possible effects of radioactive leakage from Japan on Korean soil, which apparently contributed to Tuesday’s plunge in Korean shares, officials said Wednesday.In tandem with the police and Korea Exchange Inc., the Financial Supervisory Service is investigating allegations that some people were trying to manipulate stock pr

Politics March 16, 2011

Korean rescue team starts work in Japan

By Song Sang-hoSouth Korean rescue workers Tuesday began searching for survivors in a Japanese northeastern coastal city, devastated by last week’s earthquake and tsunami, according to the Foreign Ministry in Seoul.On Monday, the 102-member rescue team arrived in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture ― one of the hardest-hit regions in the country struggling to deal with the aftermath of the 9.0 magnitude qua

Politics March 15, 2011

Cheonan sinking marks 1st anniversary

South Korea plans to hold a series of commemorative events next week to mark the first anniversary of the sinking of the corvette Cheonan, which North Korea torpedoed in March last year, killing 46 sailors. The events, which will include a memorial ceremony on March 26, the day of the tragic sinking, are aimed at honoring the deceased soldiers and enhancing security awareness among South Koreans,

Politics March 15, 2011

Opposition leader visits Japanese embassy over quake

The leader of South Korea's main opposition party on Monday visited the Japanese Embassy in Seoul to express deep consolation for Japan's enormous human and property losses caused by massive earthquake and tsunami."I express my deepest consolation to the Japanese people," Sohn Hak-kyu, chairman of the Democratic Party (DP), said in his meeting with Masatoshi Muto, Japan's ambassador to South Korea

Politics March 14, 2011

S. Korea, Philippines defense chiefs hold talks

Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin discussed bilateral military exchanges and cooperation in the defense industry with Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin in Seoul on Monday, officials said.Gazmin, 68, arrived here Sunday for a four-day schedule. During his stay here, he is scheduled to visit Seoul National Cemetery, the monument in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, which marks the participation o

Politics March 14, 2011

S. Korea joins rescue work, readying more assistance

S. Korea sends 102-member rescue team to devastated areasSeoul has accepted a request to divert liquefied natural gas to Japanese power companies to help fight power shortages in the wake of Friday’s earthquake.Several of Japan’s nuclear power plants have been out of commission following the earthquake that ravaged the country’s northeastern coastal region.The state-run Korea Gas Corp. said it wou

Politics March 13, 2011

S. Korea joins rescue work, readying more assistance

Officials in Shanghai to probe sex scandal

A government investigation team arrived in Shanghai, China, Sunday, to investigate the sex-for-favors scandal involving several South Korean diplomats and a Chinese woman, officials said.The high-profile probe into the scandal involving at least four of South Korea’s elite officials is to continue through Saturday. The case has seriously eroded public trust in diplomats’ ethical standards.The dipl

Politics March 13, 2011

Gov. Kim faces potentially damaging probe

Prosecution probes alleged illicit funding involving sponsors of Gyeonggi governorGyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-su, one of the ruling bloc’s strong presidential hopefuls, is facing a potentially critical setback as prosecutors are expanding their inquiries into allegations of illicit political funding involving several of his sponsors.Prosecutors are investigating allegations that employees of Gyeong

Politics March 10, 2011

Gov. Kim faces potentially damaging probe

‘S. Korea behind North in electronic warfare’

Experts say latest GPS disruption proves new kind of military threat from NorthNorth Korea’s recent jamming of communications signals in South Korea is drawing keen public attention to its electronic warfare capabilities and raising questions over whether the South is making due efforts to enhance its own capabilities.Last Friday and Sunday, the North sent strong electric waves to the South, tempo

North Korea March 9, 2011

‘S. Korea behind North in electronic warfare’

Seoul to streamline military leadership

The Ministry of National Defense on Tuesday confirmed its plan to revamp the top military command structure for the first time in some 20 years in efforts to enhance interoperability among all military branches.It has also confirmed a series of measures to counter North Korea’s possible provocations and its asymmetrical military threats, streamline the military structure and deal with other types

Defense March 8, 2011

All universities to have female ROTCs

All universities with the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program in place will be allowed to recruit their female students for the program this year, officials at the Ministry of National Defense said Monday. A female ROTC cadet takes part in a bayonet drill in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, last week. (Park Hae-mook/The Korea Herald)A total of 109 four-year universities across the country will be

Politics March 8, 2011

China stole South Korean secrets on drone: lawmaker

China hacked South Korea’s secret military information on plans to introduce a U.S-made high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle, last June, an opposition lawmaker claimed Monday.Observers say Beijing may be unnerved by Seoul and Tokyo’s pursuit to secure unmanned reconnaissance aircraft as their bolstered intelligence capabilities could help the U.S. glean more intelligence on China.“After we talked

Politics March 7, 2011

Four North Koreans’ decision to live in South may add chill to bilateral relations

North Korea did not respond on Friday to the proposal to send back 27 of the 31 North Koreans whose fishing boat strayed across the western inter-Korean sea border on Feb. 5.Despite Pyongyang’s repeated calls to send all of its nationals back, Seoul has decided to return only 27. The South says that it cannot repatriate the four who wish to stay here, based on “international humanitarian principle

North Korea March 4, 2011

Parties gear up for April by-elections

Polls to elect three lawmakers, 23 other officialsRival parties are speeding up preparations for the April 27 by-elections as their lists of potential candidates take shape.The ruling Grand National Party and the main opposition Democratic Party are striving to field more competitive personalities for the elections, which are expected to serve as a political weathervane ahead of parliamentary and

Politics March 3, 2011

Seoul accelerates stealth fighter program

Boeing’s F-15SE, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 likely candidates for FX-III projectSouth Korea is accelerating moves to purchase a high-end fleet of stealth fighter jets to counter North Korea’s asymmetrical threats and keep pace with neighboring countries seeking to secure their own radar-evading combat aircraft.Under the FX-III acquisition project worth around 10 trillion won ($8.86 billion), the Seoul

Politics March 3, 2011

Seoul accelerates stealth fighter program

Articles by Song Sangho