The Navy said on Monday that it will carry out 37 tasks next year as part of its efforts to strengthen its operational readiness. The plans were announced following the biannual commanders’ meeting held in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong Province.The tasks include establishing a combat-oriented human resource management system and reorganizing units according to combat functions that come under four themes.The four themes are: establishing flawless combat readiness, establishing strong naval capabil

Three men were arrested on Monday on suspicions of aggravated robbery and assault against foreigners.According to Jinju Police Station in South Gyeongsang Province, Kim, his brother and a friend, also surnamed Kim, were arrested on suspicions of specifically targeting foreigners for aggravated robbery and assault.The police believe Kim and his accomplices are responsible for beating a 35-year-old Filipino outside of a supermarket in Jinju on the night of Nov. 27. The 35-year-old was on his way h

Some 1,200 Joseon Dynasty-era books looted by Japan during the colonial era will be returned to Korea on Tuesday afternoon, a government official said.According to the official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the books will be divided and delivered on two flights, each carrying 600 books. The books will arrive at the Incheon International Airport at 3:35 p.m. and 4:35 p.m., respectively, said the official.Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Park Suk-hwan and Japan’s ambassador to Seoul,

Glyn Davies to meet with South Korean chief negotiator this weekHigh-ranking officials of the U.S. and North Korea may hold a third round of negotiations on the stalled six-party nuclear talks after the new U.S. special envoy to North Korea visits his South Korean counterpart in Seoul this week, sources said.Glyn Davies, who has been serving as the U.S. ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, was appointed special envoy to North Korea, replacing Stephen Bosworth.Davies was introduc

South Korea’s Unification Ministry said the government will offer $5.65 million to North Korea for humanitarian purposes through the United Nations Children’s Fund, or UNICEF.The donated money will be used for vaccines for children and pregnant women, medicine kits for children, instant foods, food supplements and nutrients for prevention of malnutrition. The government said the donation will benefit about 1.46 million North Koreans.“The decision is in line with the government’s basic stance of

Cheong Wa Dae will be reorganized to enhance communication with the public and effectiveness in the management of state affairs during the last year of the president’s five-year term, the presidential office said Monday.In a bid to reach out to people in their 20s-40s, Cheong Wa Dae will institute a regular meeting to reflect their needs in crafting or implementing government policies. It will also create a senior-level post in charge of it.The reorganization was finalized during a meeting of se

The United States called on South Korea Monday to add pressure on Iran over its alleged nuclear weapons program, indicating that the Seoul government could soon impose fresh sanctions on Tehran.The remarks by Robert Einhorn, the State Department‘s special adviser for nonproliferation and arms control, came after the U.S. and several other nations recently announced additional economic sanctions against the Islamic state for its alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons. The measures, targeting Iran’s o

An increased number of college students from low-income families will be eligible for state scholarships as the government sets aside a larger amount of its budget to help reduce college tuition fees, the Education Ministry said Sunday.Last September, the government announced its plan to increase tuition support in next years’ budget to 1.5 trillion won ($1.3 billion) from the previous level of around 300 billion won, following up on its earlier pledge to cut tuition fees by 21 percent for stude