South Korea has formally decided to receive some technology support from Israel for the development of an advanced radar system in its KF-X fighter jet program, Seoul's arms procurement agency said Tuesday.The state-run Agency for Defense Development signed a contract with an Israeli defense firm on testing an active electronically scanned array radar being developed by a South Korean company, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration."It's about technology support related to t

Defense May 23, 2017

President Moon Jae-in pledged on Tuesday to uphold and transcend the dream of Roh Moo-hyun, his friend, co-worker and a former president whose fight against the establishment sharply divided the nation.During a memorial marking the eighth anniversary of his death, Moon reiterated his pledge to restore a normal nation, which he said has been undermined during the two conservative governments after Roh's death. (Photo courtesy of Moon's camp)"Our dream must now go beyond those of the Roh governmen

Politics May 23, 2017

The Donald Trump administration may push for naval blockades or the imposition of a "no-fly" zone against North Korea should it succeed in developing an intercontinental ballistic missile, an expert here said Tuesday.Trump would view it as a red line for the nuclear-armed communist nation, according to Shin Beom-chul, a professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy in Seoul. (Yonhap)In case of the North's successful development of ICBMs, "Taking military actions against Pyongyang will be th

North Korea May 23, 2017

The minor opposition People's Party will elect its new leader in August, its spokeswoman said Tuesday, as it strives to regroup in the wake of a defeat in this month's presidential election.Ko Yeon-ho said that the center-left party will hold a national convention in August to fill the party's top post that has been left vacant since former leader Park Jie-won resigned on May 10 to take responsibility for the election debacle. This photo, taken on Jan. 12, 2017, shows Ko Yeon-ho, spokeswoman of

Politics May 23, 2017

The top military officers of South Korea, the United States and Japan agreed Tuesday to promote "substantive" trilateral defense cooperation against North Korea's provocations, defense authorities here said.Army Gen. Lee Sun-jin, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had a video conference with his American and Japanese counterparts -- Gen. Joseph F. Dunford and Adm. Katsutoshi Kawano, according to Lee's office. Army Gen. Lee Sun-jin, chairman of South Korea`s Joint Chiefs of Staff, holds a vid

Defense May 23, 2017

South Korea said Tuesday that it would push to resume its joint industrial park and tour program with North Korea only in step with the resolution of the North's nuclear standoff.Seoul's reaffirmation came amid growing attention to whether Seoul would try to reopen reconciliatory projects with North Korea as it said Monday that it will flexibly review the resumption of civilian exchanges."(The resumption) of those projects would be pushed for as a long-term (goal)," said an official at the Minis

North Korea May 23, 2017

The rate of marriages of highly educated women has dropped sharply over the past 15 years amid the country's late- and non-marriage trend, government data showed Tuesday.Out of 1,000 women who graduated from college-level or higher educational institutions, 28.6 tied the knot in 2015, compared with 41.2 cases tallied in 2000, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea.(Yonhap)The corresponding figure for high school graduates also fell to 10 from 22.9 over the 15-year period, with the to

Social Affairs May 23, 2017

Former South Korean leaders were at the center of local media attention Tuesday as the start of a trial marked the plunge of a recently ousted former president while a memorial service for a once-disgraced late leader helped reinstate his honor.The trial for ousted former President Park Geun-hye began at a Seoul district court, also involving Park's longtime friend Choi Soon-sil who is at the center of the corruption scandal that eventually led to the March 10 removal of the former president. Ou

Politics May 23, 2017

The United Nations Development Plan has not applied for the renewal of its North Korea aid program for this year amid the UN sanctions against the country's persistent nuclear and missile development, a US broadcaster said Tuesday. "We've decided to put off the extension of the North Korea program as discussions (on aid to the country) continue," Voice of America said, citing an e-mail from the UNDP public relations office.  This composite photo, released by the (North) Korean Central News Agenc

North Korea May 23, 2017

More than 50 people suspected to be linked to four smuggling rings have been arrested on charges of trafficking tons of gold bars in and out of South Korea, the customs office said Tuesday.The Korea Customs Services said it has arrested six smugglers and booked 45 others without physical detention for violating the country's customs law. This photo shows pieces of gold smuggled into South Korea. (Courtesy of the Korea Customs Service)The suspects are accused of breaking down 2,029 kilograms of g

Social Affairs May 23, 2017

South Korea and Japan will hold their annual aviation talks this week, with Seoul asking for adjustments in flight course and safety distance between planes, the transportation ministry said Tuesday.The talks will be held on South Korea's southern island of Jeju from Wednesday to Friday, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. It will be the 12th round of the talks that began in 2005. (Yonhap)South Korea is asking Japan to adjust flight routes to shorten the flying dista

Foreign Affairs May 23, 2017

One out of 7 temporary workers have experienced depression, almost twice as high as those holding regular positions, a study showed Tuesday.The prevalence for depression was 13.1 percent among irregular workers, whose job conditions are far less favorable than for permanent workers and have to constantly worry about their contracts being terminated. The corresponding number for regular workers was 7.8 percent. (Yonhap)The study was conducted by professors Ham Byoung-ju and Han Kyu-man at Korea U

Social Affairs May 23, 2017

North Korean Heath Minister Kang Ha-kuk has been appointed one of five new vice presidents of the WHO's World Health Assembly, a US broadcaster said Tuesday. Kang and four others from Cabo Verde, the Cook Islands, Somalia and Suriname took up the post at the Health Assembly's 70th session that kicked off Monday in Geneva for a 10-day run, Voice of America said. WHO Director-General Margaret Chan attends the 70th session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva on May 22, 2016. (AP-Yonhap)They will

North Korea May 23, 2017

The four major parties agreed Monday to seek to vote on the parliamentary confirmation of Prime Minister-nominee Lee Nak-yon early next week, party officials said Monday.The parties will vote on the nominee during a plenary session next Monday should he go through a confirmation hearing, set for Wednesday and Thursday, without any serious trouble, they said. If they fail to hold the vote on that day, it will be deferred to next Wednesday.(Yonhap)The agreement came during talks involving the vice

Politics May 23, 2017

The search team looking into the salvaged Sewol ferry found bones of what is believed to be a complete form of a human body in the ship’s interior Monday.The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said that several bone fragments of a person wearing a life jacket were discovered during a search of the third deck of the ferry, where a passengers’ cabin was located.(Yonhap)On Wednesday, the ministry confirmed that a set of bones found intact in the wreck were from Danwon High School student Heo Da-yoon.

Social Affairs May 22, 2017