Articles by Song Sangho
Song Sangho
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Row escalating over island visit by Japan lawmakers
Seoul plans to slap entry ban on fourA diplomatic conflict between South Korea and Japan is escalating as four Japanese lawmakers are pushing ahead with their plan to visit Ulleung Island, while Seoul plans to ban their entry into the country.Despite repeated warnings, the lawmakers of Japan’s main opposition Liberal Democratic Party have stuck to their plan to visit the island, the closest they c
Politics July 29, 2011
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Korea to send 39 troops to PKO exercise in Mongolia
South Korea will send 39 troops to Mongolia later this week for an annual international peacekeeping exercise, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Friday.At the invitation of the Mongolian military, the troops will participate in the 13-day “Khaan Quest” drill that will begin in an area some 56 kilometers west of the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator on Sunday. The exercise was created in 2003 to enhance
Defense July 29, 2011
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N.K. vows to begin disposal of resort assets
Seoul hints it could rely on international law to resolve issueNorth Korea on Friday notified South Korea that it would begin taking “practical steps” to dispose of South Korean assets at its Mount Geumgang resort, a move that could further aggravate inter-Korean ties.Friday was the deadline by which the North had demanded the South “dispose of its rights to the properties” at the scenic resort on
Politics July 29, 2011
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Military searches for stray landmines
Joint Chiefs of Staff mobilizes 1,700 troops to join restoration effortsThe military has ordered a search in southern Seoul, as well as in Gyeonggi and Gangwon Provinces to verify whether landmines and other ammunitions were washed into populated areas following torrential rains this week, officials said Thursday.It has also sent some 1,700 troops and heavy equipment to help restore the areas that
Social Affairs July 28, 2011
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Weak ground on Mt. Umyeon prompts deadly landslides
The landslides on Mount Umyeon in southern Seoul on Wednesday after two days of torrential rain could be attributed to weak ground, experts said Thursday.They also noted that the Seoul municipality did not take sufficient measures to stave off landslides even though concerns have persistently been raised over the possibility of earth falls near it. Downpours on the mountain took the lives of 17 pe
Social Affairs July 28, 2011
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Marine Corps to take stringent steps to stamp out abuse at barracks
Measures to include disbanding of units found to have serious problemsThe Marine Corps is seeking to introduce a set of severe measures to stamp out physical and verbal abuse in its units, which have been blamed for suicides and a shooting rampage in recent months, officials said Monday.It plans to take the red name tag, a long-standing marine emblem, off the uniforms of those caught mistreating f
Defense July 18, 2011
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S. Korea, China agree to high-level military dialogue, bolster security cooperation
Defense chiefs of South Korea and China on Friday agreed to establish an annual “strategic defense dialogue,” paving the way for enhanced cooperation in tackling peninsular and regional security issues, officials said.During their talks in Beijing, Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin and his Chinese counterpart Gen. Liang Guanglie also expressed their opposition to “any acts that undermine peace and sta
Politics July 15, 2011
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New USFK chief vows to bolster alliance
Gen. Thurman takes charge of U.S. forces in S. Korea, vows to deter N.K. provocationsA new U.S. Forces Korea commander took office on Thursday, vowing to further strengthen the long-standing bilateral alliance and deter any provocations on the Korean Peninsula.Gen. James D. Thurman, who replaced Gen. Walter Sharp, will also serve as the heads of the United Nations Command and the Republic of Korea
Defense July 14, 2011
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Bugging scandal hits politics, journalism
State broadcaster KBS denies bugging allegations, calls probe threat to press freedomAllegations of bugging involving the state-run broadcaster KBS have sparked criticism over “unethical journalism,” with others denouncing the ongoing investigation into the claims as an infringement on press freedom.The suspicion is that on June 23, a 33-year-old KBS reporter, surnamed Jang, bugged a closed-door m
Politics July 13, 2011
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Seoul mayor marks 1st year of 2nd term, decries spending
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon pledged to fight “welfare populism” in a city council bill to offer free school meals at all schools in the capital.“If we don’t overcome ‘welfare populism,’ the democracy of our nation cannot move forward,” he noted at the press conference marking the first year of his second term Wednesday.“Seoul citizens have made a wise move to put the free school lunch on referendum and
Politics July 13, 2011
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N.K. calls for S. Korean plans to dispose of Geumgang assets
North Korea on Wednesday demanded that the South present its plans to dispose of the Seoul-owned assets at the Mount Geumgang resort by July 29, according to a government official.The North also said that should the South make no response by then, it would unilaterally dispose of the assets held by South Koreans.The demand came as a 10-member delegation of Seoul government officials and investors
North Korea July 13, 2011
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Navy to bloster presence on Ulleung, move seen to protect Dokdo islets
The Navy has decided to expand a helicopter landing facility on Ulleung Island and dispatch two more military helicopters to it, according to a lawmaker.The move comes as Seoul seeks to bolster its capabilities to defend the easternmost islets of Dokdo over which Japan has been persistently making sovereignty claims.Rep. Song Young-sun of the minority Future Hope Alliance party said that the Navy
Defense July 13, 2011
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S. Korean, Swiss defense chiefs talk regional security
Defense chiefs of South Korea and Switzerland held talks on Tuesday in Seoul to discuss regional security issues and ways to enhance bilateral military ties, the Ministry of National Defense said. Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin (left) and his Swiss counterpart Ueli Maurer shake hands prior to their talks at the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul on Tuesday. (Yonhap News)Defense Minister Kim Kwa
Defense July 12, 2011
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Defense minister to visit China this week
Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin will depart for China on Thursday for a three-day schedule that includes talks with his Chinese counterpart and other top government officials there, officials here said Tuesday.During their talks slated for Friday, Kim and Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Liang Guanglie will discuss a wide range of regional security issues including those concerning North Korea and ways
Defense July 12, 2011
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USFK confers annual Good Neighbor Awards
The U.S. Forces Korea on Monday conferred its annual Good Neighbor Awards to 24 Korean and U.S. civilians and military staff for their contribution to strengthening the alliance between the two nations.Fourteen South Koreans, including Dongducheon Mayor Oh Sea-chang and Pyeongtaek Culture Center head Oh Yong-won, were given the awards in the category of individuals during the ninth GNA ceremony at
Defense July 12, 2011
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