North Korea's official newspaper on Friday called for all-out efforts to maximize grain production this year, saying successful farming is a "life-or-death" matter that could determine the country's fate. "The top priority issue of this year's national policy is successful farming," the Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the country's ruling Workers' Party, said in an editorial. "All citizens living in this country should provide every possible support while regarding good fa

North Korea July 23, 2021

K-pop juggernaut BTS will appear on the popular BBC radio show "Live Lounge" next week, the group's agency said Friday. The group will perform its first Billboard Hot 100 chart topper "Dynamite," its latest hit song "Permission to Dance" and a special cover of "I'll Be Missing You" by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans on the British radio show next Tuesday (local time), Big Hit Music said. "Live Lounge" on BBC Radio 1 is known for its segment featurin

K-pop July 23, 2021

Three more newly enlisted soldiers at an Army boot camp have tested positive for the new coronavirus, bringing the total caseload recently reported at the base to 122, the defense ministry said Friday. The soldiers at the Korea Army Training Center in the central city of Nonsan were confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 while in quarantine following the mass outbreak at the base earlier this month, according to the ministry. In Jinhae, some 410 kilometers southeast of Seoul, a Navy officer was

Defense July 23, 2021

Samsung Electronics Co. said Friday it has released upgraded software-defined networking (SDN) solutions to help mobile operators and enterprises better manage their 5G networks. The South Korean tech giant said its new SDN solutions will support enterprises in various sectors, including education, retail and energy, introducing new 5G application, services and infrastructure. SDN is a network architecture approach that enables the network to be easily controlled via software solutions. It all

Industry July 23, 2021

South Korea plans to begin a pilot operation of a mobile driver's license in January next year in a bid to help people verify their identities more conveniently, a senior government official said Friday. First Vice Finance Minister Lee Eog-weon said if introduced, mobile driver's licenses will be easily used at offline and online settings. To ease concerns about a possible infringement on privacy, the government plans to use blockchain technology to strengthen the protection of personal inform

Economy July 23, 2021

TOKYO -- Every country starts at zero in the medal count at the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday, the first full day of competition after the opening ceremony. By the end of it, South Korea is hoping it will have a crooked number next to it on the table. South Korea will look to grab a handful of gold medals in archery, fencing, shooting and taekwondo. Having won a record 23 gold medals in Olympic archery competitions, South Korea will seek to add to that total in the inaugural mixed team competitio

Olympic Games July 23, 2021

South Korea's state energy bourse said Friday the country is expected to maintain a stable supply of electricity despite the sweltering summer heat, although growing demand from the industry sector may lead to lower power reserves. "On Friday, South Korea's peak energy demand is expected to reach around 90.3 gigawatts (GW)," the Korea Power Exchange said in a statement. "The power reserve ratio is expected to stand at 10.1 percent, maintaining the stable supply of energy."

Economy July 23, 2021

South Korea will extend the toughest virus restrictions in the greater Seoul area for another two weeks amid no signs of a letup in the fourth wave of new COVID-19 outbreaks, health authorities said Friday. Seoul, the surrounding Gyeonggi Province and the western port city of Incheon have been placed under Level 4, the highest in the four-tier virus curbs, since July 12, and the measures will be extended for another two weeks starting Monday until Aug. 8, according to the authorities. Gatherin

Social Affairs July 23, 2021

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases dropped Friday from the previous day's all-time high, but authorities extended the toughest virus curbs in the wider Seoul area to curb a further rise in new infections. The country added 1,630 COVID-19 cases, including 1,574 local infections, raising the total caseload to 185,733, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The latest figure was down from a record high of 1,842 on Thursday when 270 patients from a virus-hit Ch

Social Affairs July 23, 2021

South Korean stocks opened flat Friday as the country extended the toughest curbs for the greater Seoul area amid the resurgence of COVID-19. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) lost 0.1 point to 3,250.11 points in the first 15 minutes of trading. Stocks retreated as the fourth wave of the new coronavirus weakened investor sentiment, while strong earnings provided some relief. Earlier in the morning, the South Korean government extended the toughest virus restrictions in t

Market July 23, 2021

TOKYO -- The opening ceremony for the Tokyo Olympics scheduled for Friday evening will be founded on the host nation's hopes of bringing the world together through sport during the coronavirus pandemic. According to details shared by the local organizing committee last week, the concept for the opening ceremony has been titled, "United by Emotion." The organizers noted challenges that people around the world have faced over the past year due to the pandemic and said, "That is wh

Olympic Games July 23, 2021

Five American service members and a civilian worker for the US military in South Korea tested positive for the new coronavirus upon arrival here from the United States, US Forces Korea (USFK) has said. One of the service members arrived at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, on a US government chartered flight, and four service members and a civilian affiliated with the US Department of Defense arrived on international commercial flights at Incheon International Airport,

Defense July 23, 2021

First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun and US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman held talks in Seoul on Friday over stalled nuclear diplomacy with North Korea and other bilateral and global issues. The strategic dialogue comes as Washington pushes to cement regional alliances and partnerships to confront shared challenges, including China's growing assertiveness. The agenda for the meeting included regional challenges that "threaten to undermine the rules-based international order

North Korea July 23, 2021

WASHINGTON -- The United States and China may share similar interests when it comes to the issue of denuclearizing North Korea despite their sometimes competitive and even adversarial relationship, a State Department spokesman said Thursday. Ned Price made the remarks as Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman is set to visit China for discussions on issues that will include ways to rein in Pyongyang's nuclear and provocative ballistic missile programs. "The DPRK is one of those areas whe

Foreign Affairs July 23, 2021

GM Korea Co., the South Korean unit of General Motors Co., and its labor union reached a tentative wage deal on Thursday, one day after its unionized workers went on partial strike for higher pay. The deal includes an increase of 30,000 won ($26) in monthly base pay and a one-off bonus of 4.5 million won. The wage agreement is subject to a vote by union members. Unionized workers at GM Korea Co. launched a partial strike Wednesday to demand higher wages amid the protracted pandemic. The uni

Mobility July 22, 2021