The US Department of State has approved a possible sale to South Korea of up to 25 F-35A radar-evading fighters and related equipment to help the East Asian ally maintain a "credible" defense capability, a government agency said Wednesday. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency under the Department of Defense made the announcement on the potential government-to-government Foreign Military Sale estimated to cost US$5.06 billion. "The proposed sale will improve the Republic of Kore

Defense Sept. 14, 2023

The United States is concerned about growing defense cooperation between North Korea and Russia, a National Security Council official said Wednesday, adding the US will take appropriate steps if necessary to counter any potential arms deal between the two countries. John Kirby, NSC strategic communications coordinator, underscored that Russian support for North Korea's illicit nuclear and ballistic missile programs would be of "significant concern" to the US. "In a similar fa

Foreign Affairs Sept. 14, 2023

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Wednesday pledged to throw his full support behind Russian President Vladimir Putin as the two isolated leaders held a rare summit at Russia's rocket launch facility, as concerns grow over a possible arms deal between Pyongyang and Moscow. Proposing a toast at an official dinner after the summit, Kim told Putin that the Russian army and people will triumph over "evil" forces, in apparent endorsement of its war in Ukraine. Kim said he was confid

North Korea Sept. 13, 2023

Two well-known authors of food-themed comic books representing Korea and Japan shared their opinion during a meeting in Seoul on Wednesday that the two Asian neighbors can get closer through each other's delicious food. Huh Young-man, known for the Korean comic book series "Sikgaek," and Masayuki Kusumi, author of the Japanese series "The Solitary Gourmet," met at a traditional Korean hanok house in central Seoul to casually talk about the food cultures of the two coun

Culture Sept. 13, 2023

Jurgen Klinsmann, beleaguered head coach of the South Korean men's national football team, is set to return to Seoul this week after a recent European trip following a last-minute schedule change, officials said Wednesday. The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced Klinsmann will return to South Korea with the rest of the home-based members of the national team Thursday afternoon. The Taegeuk Warriors played two friendly matches in Europe this month, with a goalless draw against Wales l

Soccer Sept. 13, 2023

South Korean Industry Minister nominee Bang Moon-kyu vowed Wednesday to expedite efforts to restore and further develop the ecosystem of the country's nuclear power generation industry to better achieve net-zero goals and energy security. During a parliamentary confirmation hearing, Bang also pledged efforts to boost exports amid unfavorable global business circumstances and to strengthen cooperation with the United States, Japan and other partners on stable supply chains in advanced indu

Politics Sept. 13, 2023

A desperate search for thousands of people missing after catastrophic flooding in the Libyan city of Derna entered its third day on Wednesday, with thousands already confirmed dead and the toll expected to rise. The flood was caused by a powerful storm that burst dams nearby, unleashing a torrent of water that has devastated a quarter or more of the Mediterranean city, washing away buildings along with their residents. Officials in eastern Libya say the death toll so far stands at more than 5,00

World News Sept. 13, 2023

North Korea fired an unspecified ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Wednesday, South Korea's military said. The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced the launch but gave no further details, pending an analysis. Pyongyang's latest saber-rattling came as its leader Kim Jong-un is on a trip to Russia this week to meet with President Vladimir Putin. The North last fired two short-range ballistic missiles on Aug. 30. (Yonhap)

North Korea Sept. 13, 2023

South Korea's import prices spiked by the most in 17 months last month due to the higher price of crude oil, central bank data showed Wednesday. The import price index rose 4.4 percent in August from a month earlier, following a 0.2 percent fall the previous month, according to the preliminary data from the Bank of Korea. The rise marks the sharpest since March last year, when the comparable figure was 7.6 percent. From a year earlier, the prices fell 9 percent. Import prices are a major fa

Economy Sept. 13, 2023

South Korea's job additions rebounded in August after slowing for four consecutive months, but the growth was led mostly by seniors, data showed Wednesday. The number of employed people came to 28.67 million in August, up 268,000 from a year earlier, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea. The country's jobless rate came to 2 percent last month, down 0.1 percentage point over the period. In July, the country added 211,000 jobs on-year, the lowest in 29 months. South Korea&#

Economy Sept. 13, 2023

South Korean stocks opened slightly higher Wednesday, as investors await US inflation data for August that will offer clues as to what direction the Federal Reserve will take in its interest rate hike cycle. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 4.94 points, or 0.19 percent, to 2,541.52 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The United States is set to release the consumer price index for August later in the day, with the reading on producer prices to be released Thursday. The upcomi

Market Sept. 13, 2023

South Korea will send a disaster relief team and humanitarian aid worth US$2 million to Morocco, which is struggling with the effects of last week's powerful earthquake, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. Last Friday, the 6.8 magnitude quake struck the North African country, and the death toll had risen to over 2,800 as of late Monday (local time), according to foreign media reports. To support relief and rescue efforts, South Korea conveyed to Morocco its intention to dispatch the Korea Di

Foreign Affairs Sept. 12, 2023

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was grilled by prosecutors again Tuesday over allegations of his involvement in a company's illegal remittance to North Korea in 2019. Lee, chair of the main opposition Democratic Party, left the Suwon District Prosecutors Office after around five hours of questioning on charges of third-party bribery, three days after he underwent the first round of questioning on Saturday. "I don't know why (investigators) called me again, as they again failed to

Politics Sept. 12, 2023

The board of directors at South Korea's public broadcaster KBS passed a motion Tuesday to dismiss CEO Kim Eui-chul with the end of his term still more than a year away. Six out of 11 board members, who are considered aligning with the ruling bloc, voted for Kim's dismissal during a meeting at the company headquarters in Seoul, according to sources familiar with the matter. The five others, who stand with the opposition bloc, abstained from the vote in protest. President Yoon Suk Yeol a

Television Sept. 12, 2023

The upcoming summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is poised to present a significant challenge to the universal values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, Oleksandra Matviichuk, a Ukrainian Nobel Peace Prize laureate, said Tuesday. Kim arrived in Russia on Tuesday for a rare summit with Putin, raising speculation they may discuss the North's supply of ammunition and weaponry to support Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The

Foreign Affairs Sept. 12, 2023