Most Popular
-
1
Blinken calls on China to press N. Korea to end its 'dangerous' behavior
-
2
Tensions heighten ahead of first president-opposition chief meeting
-
3
New celebrity-endorsed therapy for face contouring requires only a pair of rubber bands
-
4
Seoul to provide housing subsidy to married couples with newborns
-
5
Rapper jailed after public street fight with another rapper
-
6
[KH Explains] No more 'Michael' at Kakao Games
-
7
Nominee for chief of anti-corruption body pledges 'independence, effectiveness'
-
8
Woman gets suspended term for injuring boyfriend with knife
-
9
[Weekender] How DDP emerged as an icon of Seoul
-
10
Med schools expect 1,500+ new admission slots next year
-
Minor opposition party demands THAAD discussion at parliament
The deployment of a US missile defense system in the country should be discussed at the National Assembly, urged the minor opposition People’s Party Wednesday, adding that President Park Geun-hye should make more efforts to listen to the opposition bloc on the issue."Every conflict taking place in the country converges in parliament. Even today, the National Assembly is always noisy, but that is how it is supposed to be," Park Jie-won, the interim leader of the minor party said in a parliamentar
Sept. 7, 2016
-
Number of NK defectors up 15% on-year in first 8 months of this year
The number of North Korean defectors coming to South Korea rose 15 percent on-year in the first eight months of 2016, government data showed Wednesday, as the North's leader is tightening his iron-fisted rule on the country.In the January-August period, 894 North Koreans escaped and arrived in South Korea, compared with 777 the previous year, according to the data by the Ministry of Unification.As of end-August, the total number of North Korean defectors reached 29,688 it showed, with the tally
Sept. 7, 2016
-
US welcomes S. Korea's law on N. Korea's human rights
The US State Department said Tuesday it welcomes South Korea's law aimed at improving North Korea's human rights situation, declaring that the North's human rights record "has no parallels in the modern world."The landmark law, which passed through the National Assembly in March, went into effect on Sunday. The enactment came 11 years after the law was first introduced in the National Assembly in 2005. The legislation has since been a target of political bickering amid ideological differences o
Sept. 7, 2016
-
NK claims to have tested upgraded Rodong missiles
North Korea claimed Tuesday to have used an upgraded model of its mid-range Rodong projectiles during their test fire one day earlier in a fresh display of its unbridled ambition to shore up its nuclear and missile programs. State media said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un observed the liftoff in which three ballistic missiles flew some 1,000 kilometers above the East Sea toward Japan, expressing “great satisfaction” and calling for sustained efforts to develop the country’s nuclear capabiliti
Sept. 6, 2016
-
NK holds first meeting of economic officials in 10 years
North Korea held a meeting of officials in charge of the economy and policy planning to better carry out its leader's five-year development vision, Pyongyang's state media said Tuesday.On Monday, North Korea held a national meeting of senior officials in Pyongyang to encourage them to implement economic policy lines set forth by the congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea held in May, according to the Korean Central News Agency. (Yonhap)It marked the first time since 2006 that such a gath
Sept. 6, 2016
-
NK leader observes missile launches, calls for stronger nuke force
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un observed the latest launches of ballistic missiles and stressed the need to bolster the country's nuclear force, the state-run media said Tuesday.The North's leader was present for the test-firing of ballistic rockets by artillery units of the Korean People's Army, according to the Korean Central News Agency.On Monday, North Korea test-fired three mid-range Rodong missiles toward Japan in an apparent show of force as the Group of 20 major economies summit meeting
Sept. 6, 2016
-
Experts divide over S. Korea's nuke armament
Scholars, former government officials and politicians on Monday voiced differing views on whether or not Seoul should pursue a nuclear armament strategy, amid the rising calls from hawkish lawmakers from the ruling Saenuri Party that the country must take all steps to protect itself from Pyongyang's growing threat.The conflicting views came as North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test early this year, while continuing to take military action, including the launch of a submarine-launched ball
Sept. 5, 2016
-
NK condemns Korean law on Pyongyang's human rights
North Korea's propaganda websites on Monday condemned South Korea for implementing a new law aimed at improving Pyongyang's dismal human rights record.The North's propaganda website Uriminjokkiri said that South Korea is not entitled to take issue with North Korea's human rights situation, saying that the implementation of the law is a "sinister" move to undermine Pyongyang's dignity.The South Korean law on North Korea's human rights went into effect on Sunday, allowing the government to establi
Sept. 5, 2016
-
NK human rights law comes into force
A new law on North Korea’s human rights came into force Sunday, fueling momentum for decade-old efforts to ease the plight of the people and boost pressure on the reclusive regime.Under the plan, a foundation is expected to be set up in Seoul as early as this week with the mission to survey the communist state’s living conditions and provide policy advice.The Unification Ministry is gearing up to launch a records center later this month. It will document cases of Pyongyang’s rights violations an
Sept. 4, 2016
-
North Korea mobilizes 100,000 people to mark launch of SLBM: report
South Korea mobilized some 100,000 people to mark the successful launch of its submarine-launched ballistic missile in August, its main media outlet said Sunday.The daily Rodong Sinmun, an organ of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, said a large scale welcoming ceremony was held in Pyongyang on Friday to praise the dedication of those that contributed to the successful launch of the SLBM.The missile launched in the early hours of Aug. 24 flew some 500 kilometers and landed within Japan's air de
Sept. 4, 2016
-
North Korea's revised constitution omits calling previous heads as 'supreme leaders'
North Korea's revised constitution has omitted referring to the country's founder and his son as "supreme leaders," observers in Seoul said Sunday.According to North Korean watchers, the country's web-based propaganda portal site Naenara showed the preface of the constitution that says the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is founded on the ideas and leadership of the comrades Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il.The constitution was changed in June of this year by the Supreme People's Assembly, the
Sept. 4, 2016
-
Floods devastate North Hamgyong, at least 10 dead: report
Floods devastated parts of North Hamgyong Province in North Korea causing considerable damage to property and loss of life, a U.S.-based media outlet said Sunday.Citing an email sent by the United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative Tapan Mishra, the Voice of America said damage caused by the recent Typhoon Lionrock caused considerably more damage than previously thought. Northeastern coasts were affected the most by the typhoon.The U.N. officials said cities, such as Chongjin,
Sept. 4, 2016
-
Human rights law aimed at improving plight of North Koreans goes into effect
A new human rights act that aims to improve the plight of North Koreans went into effect Sunday with the government vowing to use the legislation to bring about change in the reclusive country.The law that had been held up in parliament for 11 years due to political wrangling was passed in March, and is expected to create conditions in South Korea to prod Pyongyang to treat its people humanely. It can also make it easier to tackle the separated families issue and assist North Koreans wanting to
Sept. 4, 2016
-
NK claims its submarines are being tracked by the US Navy
North Korea claimed Saturday that its submarines have been tracked by US Navy since last year.In an interview with the North's Korean Central News Agency, a spokesman for the country's foreign ministry said there have been reports that US nuclear-powered submarines have been secretly following the North's subs."The US military is neither confirming nor denying the reports, but the reports say it is an undeniable fact that the US is tracking our submarines and gathering information," the official
Sept. 4, 2016
-
Putin calls on NK to stop provocative behavior
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday called on North Korea to stop its provocative behavior and respect U.N. Security Council resolutions banning its nuclear and missile tests.During the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia's Far East port city of Vladivostok, Putin also said that Russia has "various channels" with North Korea and will use such channels to help address the ongoing nuclear standoff with the North."Russia is against the proliferation of nuclear arms," he said. (Yonhap)Presiden
Sept. 3, 2016
-
Building collapse caused by downpour kills 34 in N. Korea: source
A five-story apartment building collapsed in North Korea's northern region after heavy rains and claimed the lives of 34 people, a source familiar with the matter said Friday.The building located in Samjiyon county in Ryanggang Province bordering China collapsed on Wednesday due to a torrential downpour, according to the source, who declined to be identified.Seoul's intelligence agency confirmed that Ryanggang was hit by heavy rains in recent days."We are checking whether 34 North Koreans were k
Sept. 2, 2016
-
NK seeks to build finance complex, luxury hotel in eastern port city
North Korea will seek to build a finance complex and five-star luxury hotel in an effort to attract foreign investment into its eastern port city of Wonsan, the North's portal site said Friday.North Korea has unveiled a proposal to lure foreign investment to develop central areas of Wonsan into a trade and finance mecca, a project worth $196 million, according to Naenara.It said that the country plans to set up about 10 new buildings such as a department store and a gym in the city's central are
Sept. 2, 2016
-
Russia-based N. Korean diplomat defects to S. Korea with FX holding: source
A North Korean diplomat who was reported to have defected from his post in Russia last month entered South Korea with his family and huge holdings of foreign currency, a source said Thursday. "The diplomat involved in Pyongyang's trade representatives under its consulate general in Vladivostok defected and went to South Korea via a third country," the source said. The first secretary-level diplomat brought a "considerable" sum of foreign currency with him to the South along with his wife a
Sept. 1, 2016
-
S. Korea hails U.N. resolution for putting significant pressure on N. Korea
South Korea on Thursday hailed the latest United Nations resolution on North Korea for putting significant pressure on the communist country to give up its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. "(Seoul) assesses that a significant level of progress has been achieved," foreign ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck said as Resolution 2270 passed by the United Nations Security Council hits the six month mark. On March 2, the U.N council approved its toughest resolution yet in response to North Ko
Sept. 1, 2016
-
Heavy rain in N. Korea causes human losses, property damage: report
Recent heavy rainfall in North Korea's northern regions has caused considerable human losses and property damage, a Seoul-based media report said Thursday, citing sources in North Korea.Kim Seong-min, representative of Free North Korea Radio, said the torrential downpour and ensuing landslides earlier this week hit residential areas and farmlands in the country's North Hamgyong and Ryanggang provinces, leaving people dead and homes destroyed.But the North Korean authorities have not been able to
Sept. 1, 2016