US, S. Korea should put more diplomatic efforts toward transforming relationship with N. Korea

President Yoon Suk-yeol presented “digital transformation” as a solution to the global complex crisis in his keynote speech on Monday at the B20 Summit involving representatives of companies from 20 major countries held on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. B20 Summit established in 2010 has served to channel the voice and aspirations of the global business community to G20 leaders. Yoon delivered a keynote speech on the theme of the role of companies in overcoming the global complex c

South Korea’s first diplomatic strategy for the Indo-Pacific region appears to show the intention to align with the United States in the US-China rivalry, experts based in Seoul said Monday. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday unveiled the country's first Indo-Pacific strategy for freedom, peace and prosperity for the region, at the biannual Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Cambodia. There, Yoon highlighted the importance of maintaining peace and stability i

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo called for extra crowd safety measures after the national college entrance examination, or Suneung, which will take place on Thursday. “Suneung will involve some 500,000 people across the nation," Han said at a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting held Monday. "Related authorities should do their best regarding COVID-19 disinfection so test takers can take the exam in a safe environment." Han also mentioned the import

A union of fire department workers filed a complaint against Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, alleging he failed to perform his duties regarding the crowd surge in Itaewon that has taken the lives of at least 158 people. The union filed a complaint against Lee on Monday on charges including dereliction of duty and professional negligence resulting in death to the special investigation division set up by the National Police Agency to look into the tragedy. "The special investigation divisio

Prosecutors have asked for three years in prison for Yang Hyun-suk, the founder and former chief of K-pop powerhouse YG Entertainment, who is on trial for allegedly trying to block an investigation into a drug scandal involving a rapper under his company. The trial began at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District, southern Seoul, on Monday. The prosecution criticized Yang for failing to show remorse or admit to the crime. The former CEO has been indicted for allegedly threatening and

The ruling and main opposition parties remain at loggerheads over the Itaewon tragedy, with the two sides refusing to give way in discussions over a parliamentary investigation. On Monday, ruling People Power Party Floor Leader Rep. Joo Ho-young and Democratic Party of Korea Floor Leader Rep. Park Hong-keun met with National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo to discuss the issue, but parted ways after only confirming their differences. Park urged the ruling party to participate in the parliamentary i

North Korea remains unresponsive to South Korea's move to send back the body of a presumed North Korean woman who was found near a border river in July, according to Seoul's unification ministry Monday. At the 9 a.m. daily opening call via the inter-Korean liaison hotline, the North did not make any comment on the South's move to return the body Thursday through the truce village of Panmunjom, the ministry said. "As we deemed our intent as being delivered to North Korea, we w

Unionized firefighters filed a complaint against Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min on Monday for alleged negligence in connection with the crowd crush in Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood. Lee, who is in charge of public safety, has come under public criticism for the lack of proper crowd management and response to the crowd surge in the popular nightlife district of Itaewon on Oct. 29 that killed at least 158 people. Firefighters, affiliated with the Korean Government Employees Union, h

A key South Korean military intelligence unit will be given additional areas of responsibilities, such as cybersecurity, to better protect the country's defense technologies, the defense ministry said Monday. The ministry put on public notice a revision to a decree governing the operation of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, as it has been striving to shield the arms industry from potential technology thefts, cyberattacks and other threats. Under the revision, the DCC will undertake

South Korea's new COVID-19 cases hit the highest Monday tally in nine weeks amid concerns of the virus' resurgence in the winter. The country reported 23,765 new COVID-19 infections, including 54 cases from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 26,217,994, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said. Monday's tally is up from 18,665 the previous week and the highest of all Mondays since 36,917 counted on Sept. 12. South Korea's COVID-19 outbreaks have been on the

The death toll from the crowd crush in Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood rose by one to 158, authorities said Monday. The additional victim is a South Korean woman in her 20s, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters said. A total of 132 South Koreans and 26 foreign nationals were killed during the crowd surge in the popular nightlife district of Itaewon on Oct. 29. Funeral procedures for 130 South Koreans have been completed and the bodies of 24 foreign nationals have been s

BALI -- President Yoon Suk-yeol arrived in Bali, Indonesia, late on Sunday for a three-day visit that will include his attendance at a Group of 20 (G-20) summit and various business events. In Bali, Yoon will continue his two-nation tour that took him first to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, for summits involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and separate summits with the leaders of the United States, Japan, Cambodia, Thailand and the Philippines. On Monday, Yoon will take part in a South Ko

Three release joint statement on sharing real-time information on North Korean missiles

Former top Pentagon official Randall Schriver says not at point of giving up hope for denuclearization of North Korea via diplomacy