Incheon, a city located 40 kilometers west of Seoul which boasts one of the most tech-savvy airports in the world, is recovering from massive debt to craft its status as an all-around player. Led by Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, who made sound city finance as his top priority, Incheon metropolitan government has carried out a 3-year debt resolution plan and is now seeing their efforts pay off. An official poster that promotes Incheon’s city slogan, “All Ways Incheon.” Incheon Metropolitan GovernmentThe c

Social Affairs July 17, 2017

New Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon on Thursday vowed to resolve inter-Korean relations with a long-term perspective amid a deepening dilemma over nuclear issues in the wake of North Korea’s test of an intercontinental ballistic missile. He took office on July 3, vowing to restart activity at the Kaesong industrial park, reunions of separated families, humanitarian aid and other inter-Korean initiatives. His commitment, however, faces headwinds, as Pyongyang has been developing its nuclear

North Korea July 13, 2017

With North Korea being defiant in its nuclear ambitions, US Vice President Mike Pence on Monday ruled out the possibility for any negotiations, vowing further economic sanctions instead of a “failed policy” of past administrations.  Mike Pence (Yonhap-AP)“(The US president) ought to be willing to sit down and explore common interests to advance peace, security and prosperity in the world in virtually every case, with North Korea being an exception, unless and until it permanently abandons its nu

North Korea July 11, 2017

The 2017 South Korean presidential election was filled with excitement and concern, with five unique candidates vying to fill the vacuum left by former President Park Geun-hye. Among the five was Sim Sang-jeung of the progressive Justice Party, the only female candidate in the race who fought hard to the end.  Sim Sang-jeung (Yonhap)On Monday, Sim announced she would step down from her role as chief of the minor opposition party, which holds just six parliamentary seats and is not recognized as

Politics July 10, 2017

Leaders of the US, China and Japan on Saturday put their heads together to “tackle the menace of North Korea,” following North Korea’s claim of a successful test-launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. US President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in separate meetings on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Hamburg, stressing the need to reach consensus over North Korea’s ongoing provocations.  US President Donald Trump and

North Korea July 9, 2017

North Korea will celebrate its launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile with fireworks, the North’s state media said. Lauding Tuesday’s test-firing of the Hwasong-14 as “a very great success,” the official Korean Central News Agency said a celebratory firework show will be held along the Taedong River in Pyongyang on Thursday evening.  A group of North Korean spectators watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks display in Pyongyang. YonhapOn Wednesday, North Korea’s state media claimed to have s

North Korea July 6, 2017

North Korea claimed Tuesday to have successfully tested its first intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying a large-sized nuclear warhead. This may mean the addition of the reclusive regime to a list of nations that possess ICBMs and nuclear warhead miniaturization technology, including the US, Russia, China, India and Israel.

North Korea July 5, 2017

South Korea and the United States conducted a massive joint missile exercise here Wednesday in a show of force after North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missile test a day earlier. The allies fired a barrage of missiles in the East Sea, including the US Army Tactical Missile System and South Korea’s Hyunmoo-2A, a ballistic missile with a range of 300 kilometers, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  South Korean and US troops hold a joint missile drill along the east coast of the Korean

Defense July 5, 2017

With President Moon Jae-in having reaffirmed the deployment of a US missile shield here, China is likely to step up pressure at an upcoming summit with South Korea, including through additional retaliation, an expert said Monday. During his four-day visit to Washington, Moon reassured US congressional leaders on the Terminal Altitude Area Defense system installation by saying that he believes the system is “necessary for the defense of the people of both countries.” (Yonhap)Moon is expected to f

Foreign Affairs July 3, 2017

Cheong Wa Dae is providing live updates of President Moon Jae-in’s visit to Washington via official social media accounts. As of Friday, the uploaded posts on Facebook and Twitter included “from-the-scene” details on his official schedule ranging from Moon’s visit to a Korean War memorial and a warm arrival at the Blair House, the VIP guesthouse near the White House. The accounts also shared US responses to the visit by sharing US Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell’s video showing Moon enter

Politics June 30, 2017

WASHINGTON/SEOUL -- US President Donald Trump said on Twitter he talked about a new trade deal with his visiting South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in, calling their first dialogue a “very good” one. “Just finished a very good meeting with the President of South Korea. Many subjects discussed including North Korea and new trade deal!” read his tweet posted shortly after he hosted a dinner for President Moon at the White House in Washington. (Yonhap)The two are scheduled to hold a summit meeting o

Politics June 30, 2017

Unification Minister nominee Cho Myoung-gyon said Thursday that he sees only a slim chance of North Korea giving up on its nuclear weapons program, but South Korea should still take bold and practical measures to induce it to take that course. Speaking at his parliamentary confirmation hearing, the nominee also stressed that denuclearization is a prerequisite to the reinstatement of any inter-Korean business projects. “North Korea’s nuclear issue is closely related to a matter of survival for ou

North Korea June 29, 2017

Seoul’s Unification Ministry has allowed an international aid group to ship tuberculosis treatments and construction materials for hospital wards to North Korea, it said Tuesday, marking the first shipment to the North under the new administration. According to the ministry, the Eugene Bell Foundation Korea’s shipment is valued at 1.9 billion won ($1.7 million), with medication worth 1.5 billion won and construction materials estimated at 350 million won. The wards will be built with materials p

North Korea June 27, 2017

Unification Minister nominee Cho Myoung-gyon will pursue an inter-Korean summit if it is needed to resolve North Korea’s nuclear issues and thaw inter-Korean tensions. He will also consider the development of South Korea’s own “freikauf” model for the reunion of families separated by the Korean War, said Cho on Monday. “Various solutions, including a South-North Korea summit, should be reviewed for the sake of resolving the North Korean nuclear issue, bringing peace on the Korean Peninsula and d

North Korea June 27, 2017

The outlook of Seoul’s suggestion to form an inter-Korean team for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics appears bleak, with the North’s International Olympic Committee member displaying skepticism toward the plan.Chang Ung, the only North Korean member of the IOC and former International Taekwondo Federation chief, expressed his doubts toward Seoul’s Culture Minister Do Jong-hwan’s proposal of a joint women’s hockey team and holding skiing games on North Korean slopes. President Moon Jae-in make

North Korea June 26, 2017