The Korea Herald

Lawmaker calls for stronger policy on Dokdo

Jun 2, 2011

Rep. Kang, says ‘silent diplomacy’ is no more than a passive responseKorea should strengthen its policies on Dokdo given the Japanese government’s active involvement in recent years, said the chairman of the parliamentary subcommittee on Dokdo issues.Rep. Kang Chang-il, together with Reps. Moon Hak-jin and Chang Se-hwan of the subcommittee, visited early last week Kunashiri Island, the largest amo
Assembly grills Cabinet on N.K., savings banks

Jun 2, 2011

Lawmakers have blasted Cabinet members on the savings banks investigation and unofficial summit suggestions to North Korea during the four-day parliamentary interpellation which started Thursday.Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, who served as chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection in 2008-2010, denied any involvement in the slack supervision of savings banks during that time.The main opposition
Parties pounce on savings banks scandal

Jun 1, 2011

Junior pro-Lee Myung-bak lawmakers of the ruling Grand National Party submitted on Wednesday a bill to appoint an independent counsel to investigate Busan Mutual Savings Bank’s irregularities, party officials said.Other savings banks, which were declared near bankrupt and suspended earlier this year along with the Busan bank, are also to be dealt with by the independent counsel, according to the b
Panel calls for boosting sovereignty over Dokdo

Jun 1, 2011

The Korean government should focus on reinforcing its social and legal influence over Dokdo, lawmakers and experts said in a parliamentary forum.A seminar was held at the National Assembly on Wednesday by the parliamentary Dokdo Guardians, a group of lawmakers that was launched last month.The discussion was attended by Reps. Suh Sang-kee, Won Hye-young and Park Sun-young and a number of local expe
NK says Seoul offered summit talks

Jun 1, 2011

NK says Seoul offered summit talksNorth Korea said on Wednesday the South Korean government last month proposed holding a series of summit talks.A North Korean spokesman told state news agency KCNA that the proposal was offered during a secret meeting on May 9. Seoul offered holding three rounds of summit meetings in late June, August and next March, it added. Seoul also proposed a ministerial-lev
Seoul proposed 3 inter-Korean summits: N.K.

Jun 1, 2011

Anchor of the North Korean state broadcasting agency announces official statement. (Yonhap News)Ministry says North distorting South’s ‘real intentions’North Korea said Wednesday South Korea proposed to hold three meetings between their leaders and pleaded for any gesture to appease South Koreans still angry over last year’s attacks via an unofficial communication channel.Pyongyang’s powerful Nati
Queens may can Korean-only signs in K town

Jun 1, 2011

Queens, a district of New York, is to regulate foreign language signs by requiring English translations.Two Republican councilmen, Peter Koo from Flushing and Dan Halloran of Whitestone, are planning on introducing the controversial bill.When the new law is enforced, shop owners are forced to change their signs so that at least 60 percent is written in English. Some streets in areas like Flushing
Rival parties on collision course over bank scandal

May 31, 2011

Both sides say the other should take responsibility for savings bank problemsThe presidential office and opposition lawmakers are accusing each other of being associated with a corruption scandal involving savings banks that has led to the arrest of a former top state auditor for bribery.A senior Cheong Wa Dae official on Tuesday went on a counteroffensive against Park Jie-won, former floor leader
DP vows to thwart Korea-U.S. FTA

May 31, 2011

The main opposition Democratic Party has decided to oppose the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement bill in the June parliamentary plenary session and to urge the government to begin a renegotiation.In preparation for the June session, which is to kick off Wednesday, DP lawmakers gathered Tuesday in a daily workshop to discuss pending issues.“We refuse to ratify the current free trade bill, which is th
Lee to meet Park on Friday

May 31, 2011

Meeting comes as GNP is embroiled in leadership crisisPresident Lee Myung-bak will meet with the ruling party’s factional leader and strongest presidential hopeful Rep. Park Geun-hye this Friday, Lee’s aide said Tuesday, 10 months after their previous meeting in August last year.During the luncheon meeting with Lee, the former chairwoman of the Grand National Party will discuss the outcome of her
Rocket falls outside Korea’s Afghan base

May 31, 2011

Another rocket fell late Monday outside an Afghanistan base where South Korean aid workers and troops are stationed, but there were no injuries, Foreign Ministry officials said Tuesday.There have now been four attacks in May alone, with the latest apparently targeting the base in Charikar City in the northern Afghan province of Parwan. A total of nine attacks have occurred so far this year near or
Netizens to form party to cut tuition

May 31, 2011

Promoters open Internet page for ‘Education Revolution Party’With heated debates underway over college tuition cuts, netizens are preparing to form a new political party to take the matter into their own hands.The “Educational Revolution Party” webpage was recently opened by a Twitter user referring to himself as “Rainman,” but is currently under construction (http://www.edu4korea.net/).“We plan t
Army officer brought N.K. nuke site soil to South: reports

May 30, 2011

After 1999 mission, N.K. abducted Lt. Col. Jeong, then released him in dealA South Korean Army intelligence officer infiltrated areas near North Korea’s Yongbyon nuclear complex and brought samples of soil and water there to the South in 1999 for the government to assess its nuclear activities, news reports said Monday.Later, the lieutenant colonel, identified only by his surname Jeong, was abduct
Bank lobby probe closes in on senior officials, politicians

May 30, 2011

Rival parties agree to launch parliamentary investigationProsecutors are widening their probe into irregularities by Busan Mutual Savings Bank after picking up clues that the financially troubled bank had attempted to lobby many politicians and senior officials of the government, possibly including Cheong Wa Dae, to block financial regulators from ordering its closure.The prosecution said that it
Floor leaders gear up for June session

May 30, 2011

The floor leaders of the ruling Grand National Party and the main opposition Democratic Party met to discuss contentious issues prior to the National Assembly’s June session starting Wednesday.Rep. Hwang Woo-yea, floor leader and acting party leader of the GNP, and Kim Jin-pyo of the DP on Monday sought agreement over pending problems, including the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement bill and a parli