North Korea’s recent series of missile tests poses a challenge to the alliance between South Korea and the US, constraining the choices of the Moon Jae-in government even before his planned first summit with Donald Trump amid a global sanctions and pressure campaign against Pyongyang. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said Pyongyang launched at least one Scud type projectile from its eastern coast Monday morning, its ninth ballistic missile test and third provocation since Moon took office on

1. What’s the goal of North Korea’s missile program? North Korea has been spurring its missile development at an unprecedented pace since last year, seeking to diversify its missile lineup and delivery means and thus boost its deterrence against the US. The ultimate objective of North Korea’s nuclear and missile program is to secure the capability to hit the US with a nuclear-equipped missile, which will ensure the regime’s survival and give it greater negotiating power.2. How far the North has

South Korea's former Ambassador to the US Hyun Hong-choo, noted for his active role in expanding Seoul's diplomatic frontiers in the 1980s-1990s, passed away Saturday. He was 76.The cause of his death is not immediately known. A memorial altar for him is set up at Asan Medical Center in Seoul.Hyun, who served as Seoul's top envoy to the US from 1991-1993, has transcended the fields of politics, diplomacy, academia, government administration and the prosecution with his expertise, experience and

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Earth is likely to hit more dangerous levels of warming even sooner if the US pulls back from its pledge to cut carbon dioxide pollution, scientists said. That's because America contributes so much to rising temperatures. President Donald Trump, who once proclaimed global warming a Chinese hoax, will soon decide whether the United States stays in or leaves a 2015 Paris climate change accord in which nearly every nation agreed to curb its greenhouse gas emissions.   US Presiden

President Moon Jae-in's policy advisory panel on Saturday reaffirmed his stance that police must enhance its protection of human rights before they are given more power in an effort to better keep the prosecution in check.Concerns have lingered over Moon's election pledge to give more investigation authority to police with critics pointing to their history of allegedly excessive crackdowns on street protesters, some of which resulted in fatalities.  Park Beom-kye, a senior member of the State Af

South Korea's military dispatched a naval unit in waters off Somalia after pirates presumably hijacked a fishing vessel, officials said Saturday. The 234-ton vessel, which had a crew of three South Koreans and 18 Indonesians catching squid, lost contact after relaying that it was being followed by a suspected pirate vessel, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. South Korea's anti-piracy Cheonghae Unit was participating in international operations to combat piracy in nearby waters before

COLOMBO (AFP) -- Indian medical teams and emergency relief arrived in Sri Lanka Saturday as the monsoon-related death toll reached 100 and authorities warned of more flooding in low-lying areas.A ship carrying medical supplies docked in Colombo, sent by India to help deal with the worst flooding in the island's western and southern regions in 14 years after record rainfall. Indian Navy troops offload emergency supplies from the Indian ship Kirch at Colombo harbour in Colombo on May 27, 2017. (AF

MANCHESTER (AFP) -- Britain has arrested a "large part" of the network behind Manchester's suicide bomb attack, police said Friday, while the government came under fire for cutting police budgets as election campaigning resumed.Nine suspects are currently in detention on UK soil in connection with the blast, for which the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility. Police in Libya have detained the father and brother of 22-year-old bomber Salman Abedi.Mark Rowley, head of Britain's counter-t