The leaders of Russia and China issued a joint statement opposing what they call "acts of military intimidation" against North Korea by the United States and its allies, a Russian news report said Thursday. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping issued the statement following a bilateral summit in Beijing, according to Russian news agency TASS. "The parties oppose the acts of military intimidation by the US and its allies that escalate confrontation with

South Korea and China discussed ways Thursday of strengthening bilateral cooperation on supply chains of critical minerals and key industry items, Seoul's finance ministry said. The discussions were made during the 18th Korea-China Meeting on Economic Cooperation held virtually between South Korea's Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok and Zheng Shanjie, chairman of China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. It was the fi

The unification ministry on Thursday unveiled an artwork inspired by three forget-me-nots at a garden show in an effort to raise public awareness of South Koreans detained in North Korea. Earlier this year, the government created an image of three blue forget-me-nots as a symbol of South Korean abductees, detainees and prisoners of the 1950-53 Korean War in hope of their safe repatriation from the repressive regime. The artwork by artist Nanan Kang, comprising a glass greenhouse filled with the

S. Korea to have first med school quota hike in 27 years, medical sector to appeal court decision

The Ministry of Environment is set to unveil a new flood warning system tailored for drivers this July after last summer's deadly incident of underground tunnel flooding. "For the first time this year, navigation guidance will be available to help drivers drive safely in low-lying and other hazardous areas when entering flood warning areas or near the discharge points of the 37 dams managed by the Ministry of the Environment," Environment Minister Han Wha-jin said during a press b

The debate has intensified over indoor spaces barring older people, notably sparked by local reports of residents in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, debating on online forums whether to designate a newly opened public swimming pool as a "no-seniors zone." One commenter posted: “People over 65 use the pool in a very dirty way, such as urinating in the water, and complain a lot, which ruins the atmosphere. Their use should be restricted.” The pool in question, reportedly

Scandal-ridden first lady attends official lunch, resumes official duties after 153-day absence

Korean media constrained by complex legal issues, concerns about witch-hunting, and stigmatization

In an unexpected turn of weather events, with snow reaching unforeseen depths and blanketing regions, the national weather agency issued a heavy snow warning for the mountainous areas of northern Gangwon Province as of Wednesday evening. This marked the first time in approximately 30 years -- since 1994 -- that the agency has issued such a warning in mid-May, underscoring the unprecedented nature of this weather event. “While heavy snow warnings have been issued in May in the past, the KMA

Lee Chang-sook declines to give details on whether he plans to summon, question first lady

South Korea’s Defense Ministry said Thursday it is mulling the establishment of an inaugural military medical school to secure doctors who would serve in the military for at least 10 years in an effort to improve the military medical system and enhance treatment capabilities. "The Defense Ministry has been actively promoting and reviewing measures aimed at enhancing military medical capabilities, including the recruitment of long-term service military surgeons and the specialization o

The Korea Military Academy’s Academic Board and the University of Utah Asia Campus agreed to forge educational cooperation to foster global talents and competent officers. The two institutions signed a memorandum of understanding Tuesday at the Korea Military Academy in northern Seoul to cooperate in strengthening English education. The agreement includes plans to develop a course that students from both colleges can attend and to come together to hold English-speaking contests, a KMA offi

Subway cars without seats have been added to Line No. 7 from Thursday. Seoul Metro announced that it removed the seats of a car on one of its Line No.7 trains on a trial basis in an attempt to alleviate congestion inside its trains during peak hours. The move comes four months after such a car was first added to Seoul Metro’s Line No. 4 in January. On Line No.7, the seatless subway car is deployed around 8 a.m. on weekdays, when the lane sees the highest density on the train running throug

First lady Kim Keon Hee will attend an official luncheon with the visiting Cambodian prime minister Thursday, the presidential office said, marking her return to public duties after she withdrew in December amid corruption allegations. The first lady will join President Yoon Suk Yeol, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and his wife during the luncheon, which will be held at the presidential office following a summit between the leaders. The last time Kim appeared in public was in December when s

An appellate court in Seoul was to deliver a critical ruling Thursday that would determine the fate of the government's highly contested plan to increase the nationwide medical school admission quota, officials said. The Seoul High Court will issue a ruling at around 5 p.m. on an injunction filed by the medical community seeking to halt the government's plan to increase the medical school quota by 2,000, court officials said. A court rejection of the request would pave the way for the