South Korean stocks are expected to continue to build up gains next week on the back of strong economic data, analysts said Saturday.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index closed at 2,355.30 on Friday, up 2.9 percent from the previous week, renewing its all-time high.On Monday, South Korean shares breached the 2,300-point mark for the first time ever as foreign investors scooped up major tech stocks amid sound corporate earnings.The index continued to set fresh record highs this week, m

Market May 27, 2017

Preparing for North Korea's growing threat, the Pentagon will try to shoot down an intercontinental-range missile for the first time in a test next week. The goal is to more closely simulate a North Korean ICBM aimed at the US homeland, officials said Friday. The American interceptor has a spotty track record, succeeding in nine of 17 attempts against missiles of less-than-intercontinental range since 1999. The most recent test, in June 2014, was a success, but that followed three straight failu

North Korea May 27, 2017

President Moon Jae-in on Saturday expressed his wish to meet Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, soon to discuss how to more effectively communicate with people online, his office said.The president posted a message on his Facebook account in response to an email that Zuckerberg sent him last Sunday to congratulate him on his victory in the May 9 election.   Facebook founder, chairman, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg (right) waves as he makes a commencement address at Harvard University in Cambridge,

Politics May 27, 2017

Washington has recently finalized a four-point policy plan on North Korea that calls for applying “all available sanctions and pressure” to incite the country to change its course and ultimately resolve the nuclear standoff through dialogue, South Korean lawmakers said Thursday. Joseph Yun, special representative for North Korea policy at the US State Department, introduced the plan to a group of visiting lawmakers led by Rep. Kim Kwan-young of the minor opposition People’s Party. (Yonhap)The de

North Korea May 26, 2017

The Moon Jae-in government on Friday gave its first approval to a civic group’s proposal to reach out to North Korea for malaria control, heralding a turnaround in Seoul’s approach to humanitarian aid that has been increasingly politicized amid military tension. The Seoul-based Korean Sharing Movement submitted a request to the Unification Ministry early this month to make contact with North Korean officials to carry out preventive activities against malaria. The approval was made for the first

North Korea May 26, 2017

Foreign Minister nominee Kang Kyung-wha on Thursday called for humanitarian assistance to North Korea irrespective of the political situation, while stressing the need for stronger sanctions in the event of additional provocations. The former UN diplomat also said she is keen to meet with the victims of the Japanese military’s sexual enslavement during World War II, which has beleaguered relations between the two countries. 　“In fact, I reached out to one of them when I was here on vacation last

Foreign Affairs May 25, 2017

From maniac to smart cookie to madman, US President Donald Trump’s descriptions of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has varied extensively, sparking criticism that it may send misleading messages not only to Pyongyang, but to allies and friends. Trump called Kim a “madman with nuclear weapons” during a phone call with Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte last month, according to a transcript of the conversation written by Manila and obtained Tuesday by The Washington Post. (Images from TNS)The d

North Korea May 24, 2017

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has lauded the latest test of a new intermediate-range ballistic missile as a “complete success,” approving its deployment for field combat, state media said Monday. In Sunday’s launch, the Pukguksong-2, also known as KN-15, flew about 500 kilometers before falling into the East Sea, reaching an altitude of 560 kilometers, Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said. The same model was introduced through a previous successful test on Feb. 12, built on the technology for bu

North Korea May 22, 2017

Foreign Minister nominee Kang Kyung-wha said Sunday she is ready to help resolve North Korea’s nuclear issues by capitalizing on her yearslong experience at the UN, calling it a top priority. In her first press availability following President Moon Jae-in’s nomination earlier in the day, Kang said she felt a “heavy weight on her shoulders” due to various foreign policy challenges faced by Seoul.Foreign Minister nominee Kang Kyung-wha (Yonhap)“Though I’ve never dealt with it directly, the North K

Foreign Affairs May 22, 2017

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday expressed his hopes for a prompt return to the “normal orbit” of relations with South Korea which have been strained by disputes over a US missile shield, Seoul’s special envoy said.Xi delivered the message during his 40-minute meeting with Lee Hae-chan, a former prime minister and incumbent lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party who is visiting Beijing as President Moon Jae-in’s special envoy.  Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) shakes hands with South

Foreign Affairs May 19, 2017

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Thursday Washington has no intention for a regime change or invasion of North Korea, urging it to abandon its nuclear program in return for regime security and an end to hostility, according to Seoul’s special envoys.Tillerson made the remarks during his meeting with Hong Seok-hyun, a former chairman of JoongAng Media Network who is visiting Washington as President Moon Jae-in’s special envoy. During the 40-minute talks, Tillerson expressed the country’s

Foreign Affairs May 19, 2017

With a growing number of former diplomats making their foray into politics, an incumbent senior ambassador has stoked internal debate after openly criticizing retirees’ comeback to the diplomatic service as political appointees, sources said Thursday. Kim Yong-ho, the ambassador to Belarus who has been serving at the Foreign Ministry since 1986, posted his view about the civil servants’ political neutrality on the agency’s intranet last Saturday. In it, he criticized the trend over the past deca

Foreign Affairs May 18, 2017