South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Saturday held a surprise meeting aimed at strengthening inter-Korean ties amid uncertainty over the future of a planned summit between the United States and North Korea. In a text message sent to reporters, presidential chief press secretary Yoon Young-chan said the leaders of the two Koreas held a two-hour meeting at Panmungak, a North Korean building inside the border village of Panmunjeom. The meeting came about a month

North Korea May 26, 2018

　With the US President Donald Trump abruptly calling off the much-anticipated summit with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un, speculation is rampant over why Trump made such a decision and whether there is any chance for the summit to be rescheduled. 　In an interview with The Korea Herald, experts said the decision to pull out of the summit is mostly attributable to Trump’s trademark “gamesmanship” -- a maneuver designed to increase his leverage for the denuclearization talks in the event that he

North Korea May 25, 2018

Top US commander in South Korea on Friday downplayed jitters following the cancellation of the summit between the US and North Korea, saying that the opportunity for the much-anticipated meeting is “just delayed.” Gen. Vincent Brooks, the commander of US Forces in South Korea, said while he was disappointed by the fact that the summit did not pan out as planned on June 12, he still considers that the opportunity remains for a diplomatic breakthrough on the Korean Peninsula. “We all had high expe

North Korea May 25, 2018

President Moon Jae-in on Friday morning expressed regret over the cancellation of a scheduled summit between the US and North Korea, calling for the two countries’ leaders to communicate directly to rekindle the momentum for denuclearization talks. “I am very perplexed and regretful that the North Korea-US summit will not be held,” presidential spokesperson Yoon Young-chan quoted Moon as saying during an emergency meeting convened after US President Donald Trump called off his meeting with North

North Korea May 25, 2018

　With North Korea eventually accepting a list of South Korean journalists to cover the shutdown of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, expectation is growing that suspended inter-Korean talks will resume after a South Korea-US air drill ends Friday.  　Following a summit between President Moon Jae-in and his US counterpart Donald Trump, Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday that President Moon expects the two Koreas to resume suspended meetings after the end of the ongoing Max Thunder exercise. 　North Korea a

Defense May 23, 2018

South Korea shoulders over 70 percent of the cost of stationing US troops here, a progressive civic group claimed Tuesday, suggesting its cost-sharing was higher than the estimates by the governments in Seoul and Washington.Citing its analysis of the two government’s defense budgets, Solidarity for Peace and Reunification of Korea said as of 2016 South Korea contributed 72.6 percent to the stationing cost, well over the official government figure of 42 percent. Under the current cost-sharing agr

Defense May 22, 2018

　With the diplomatic breakthrough between the two Koreas dominating most narratives in South Korea, concerns are growing that the inter-Korean detente may hinder the military’s efforts to overhaul its defensive posture. 　Originally expected to be announced earlier this month, the defense reform plan remains unannounced to the public since Defense Minister Song Young-moo briefed President Moon Jae-in on the scheme on May 11.The delay is feeding speculations whether the Moon administration, in par

North Korea May 21, 2018

　South Korean President Moon Jae-in and President Donald Trump Sunday held a phone conversation ahead of their meeting this week, pledging to maintain close coordination as North Korea ratcheted up harsh rhetoric ahead of its first summit with the US. 　During the phone call made between 11:30 a.m. and 11:55 a.m. the two leaders discussed their views on the “various responses” by North Korea, according to the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae. 　“The two leaders exchanged their opinions about Nort

North Korea May 20, 2018

With the nomination of Pacific Commander Adm. Harry Harris as the new US top envoy to South Korea last week, expectations are high about the role that he will play amid the fast-paced diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula. 　President Donald Trump on Friday nominated Harris as the new ambassador to South Korea, a post that has been vacant for 16 months since his predecessor Mark Lippert left the position in January last year. 　Harris had initially been nominated as US ambassador to Australia, but was

North Korea May 20, 2018

With North Korea rejecting Libya’s denuclearization as a model for its own denuclearization, the US presented an alternative named after its President Donald Trump amid concerns over North Korea’s threat to walk away from their planned summit.　White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Wednesday mentioned a “Trump model” while responding to remarks by North Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-Gwan, who expressed “repugnance” for being compared to Libya as an example for giving up nuclear weapo

North Korea May 17, 2018

Despite North Korea’s decision to postpone high-level talks with South Korea in protest against a combined air drill with the US, the ongoing Max Thunder exercise will proceed as scheduled, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday.　About 100 aircraft from the allies’ air forces, including eight F-22 stealth fighter jets, are participating in the exercise that kicked off Friday, according to military officials. The annual drill is scheduled to continue until May 26.　“The exercise will proceed as plann

North Korea May 16, 2018

While North Korea appears to be dismantling its nuclear test site ahead of its first-ever summit with the US next month, doubts persist over whether Pyongyang will uphold its pledge for complete denuclearization, due to the lack of a thorough verification process.　　Citing satellite imagery captured May 7, US-based North Korea website 38 North said Monday that key operational support buildings have been removed at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, which North Korea said would be shut down between

North Korea May 15, 2018

 　Defense Minister Song Young-moo on Monday pledged to resolve questions surrounding the military’s helicopter shootings and sexual assault allegations against civilians during the pro-democracy uprising in Gwangju in 1980. 　During a meeting with the survivors of pro-democracy movement in Gwangju, Song said that the military would address its every wrongdoing during the former President Chun Doo-hwan‘s crackdown of the pro-democracy movement.    　Song’s remark came after the allegation that the

Defense May 14, 2018

BUSAN -- South Korea’s military on Monday celebrated the launch of its second amphibious assault vessel, pledging to ratchet up efforts to defend against maritime challenges in surrounding waters. 　Named after South Korea’s southernmost island, the 14,500-ton Marado vessel made its first public debut at the shipyard of Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction, a shipbuilder located in Yeongdo, Busan.　　Defense Minister Song Young-moo hosted the launch ceremony, which was attended by top military br

Defense May 14, 2018

US President Donald Trump showed “interest” in holding a three-way summit with the two Koreas after next month’s meeting with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un, South Korea’s presidential office said Friday. 　During the meeting with reporters, a senior Cheong Wa Dae official said South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in stressed the need for holding a three-way summit during his phone call with Trump on April 28, a day after the inter-Korean summit.　“President Moon talked about the idea of a meeting o

North Korea May 11, 2018