North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to bolster the country's nuclear capabilities to deter any threats by enemies, saying it is steadily carrying out a policy to increase the number of nuclear weapons exponentially, state media said Tuesday. Kim made the vow during a speech in a meeting with senior party and government officials on the occasion of the 76th founding anniversary of the regime, according to the Korean Central News Agency. The North's leader delivered a speech for th

North Korea Sept. 10, 2024

South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo said Monday he is bracing for a tough World Cup qualifying match against Oman away from home but he is not about to settle for anything less than a victory. South Korea and Oman will clash Tuesday for their second Group B match in the third round of the Asian qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat kicks off at 6 p.m. local time, or 11 p.m. in South Korea. South Korea, world No. 23, got their third round

Soccer Sept. 9, 2024

South Korean center back Kim Min-jae on Monday apologized for his action following a recent World Cup qualifying match against Palestine in Seoul, where he clashed with some fans over their booing. South Korea settled for a goalless draw against Palestine to begin the third round last Thursday in Seoul, despite being 73 spots higher than their opponent in the FIFA rankings at No. 23. Nearly 60,000 fans that flocked to Seoul World Cup Stadium booed South Korea's head coach, Hong Myung-bo, du

Soccer Sept. 9, 2024

New Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun visited a western frontline unit Monday in his first on-site inspection after taking office last week, the defense ministry said. Kim checked troop readiness at the 2nd Marine Division's observation post at an undisclosed location after assuming his new role Friday, according to the ministry. "If the enemy undertakes a provocation ... punish them fully and sternly until they are unable to carry out more provocations," Kim was quoted as saying. No

Social Affairs Sept. 9, 2024

Yogiyo, a South Korean food delivery app, officially launched the country's first robot delivery service, the company said Monday. The service was introduced in the Songdo district of Incheon, about 40 kilometers west of Seoul, with plans for nationwide expansion in the future, according to Yogiyo. It is the first robot delivery service by a South Korean food delivery app. The self-driving delivery robots will operate within a 1.2-kilometer radius from participating restaurants, delivering

Industry Sept. 9, 2024

Seoul shares ended lower Monday to extend their losing streak to a fifth day amid concerns that the US Federal Reserve may not cut its rate by a large margin. The Korean won traded sharply lower against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 8.35 points, or 0.33 percent, to close at 2,535.93. Trading volume was moderate at 262.46 million shares worth 7.3 trillion won ($5.4 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 502 to 371. Foreigners sold a net 540 billion won wo

Market Sept. 9, 2024

The transport ministry said Monday it plans to issue a legislative notice for new government regulations regarding electric vehicle safety announced last week in response to public concerns over EV fires. The ministry said the legislative notice for amendments to the enforcement regulations of the Automobile Management Act will be issued for 40 days, from Tuesday to Oct. 21. Last week, the government said its EV battery certification system that was scheduled to go into effect next February will

Mobility Sept. 9, 2024

The chief of the financial regulator urged mutual savings banks Monday to recommit themselves to their basic duty of serving their communities, also calling on them to quickly address risks on loans extended to real estate projects. Kim Byoung-hwan, chair of the Financial Services Commission, made the call in a meeting with top officials from five major mutual savings banks and credit cooperatives, including Nonghyup. "The mutual banking sector has long contributed to the balanced developme

Economy Sept. 9, 2024

North Korea has held celebrative events to mark the 76th anniversary of the regime's founding, with senior officials visiting a mausoleum to pay tribute to the country's late former leaders, state media reported Monday. Premier Kim Tok-hun and other key officials on Sunday visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the embalmed bodies of the current leader's father, Kim Jong-il, and grandfather, Kim Il-sung, lie in state, according to the Korean Central News Agency. The North&#

North Korea Sept. 9, 2024

Seoul shares opened lower Monday after weaker US employment data, amid concerns that the Federal Reserve has waited too long to cut rates as recession risks grow. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 1.3 percent, or 33.89 points, to 2,510.39 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Weaker-than-expected employment data in August weighed on investor sentiment ahead of the Fed's rate decision later this month, analysts said. They noted that investors will focus on next week's i

Market Sept. 9, 2024

The Paris Paralympics have drawn to a conclusion, with South Korea having surpassed its gold medal target. South Korea finished the 12-day competition that ended Sunday in 22nd place with six gold medals, 10 silver medals and 14 bronze medals. The Korea Paralympic Committee, which sent 177 athletes and coaches to Paris, had set out to win five gold medals. At the previous Paralympics in Tokyo in 2021, South Korea had managed only two gold medals, its fewest total in over four decades. Half of th

More Sports Sept. 9, 2024

A collaboration song between RM, the leader of K-pop supergroup BTS, and American rapper Megan Thee Stallion has performed well on major global music charts. "Neva Play" reached No. 10 on Spotify's daily top songs global chart after being streamed more than 4.5 million times, the streaming giant said Saturday (U.S. time). It marks RM's highest solo entry on this chart. The track also topped the iTunes Top Songs charts in 87 countries, including the United States, Canada and G

K-pop Sept. 8, 2024

Intranet photos of soldiers, military and defense ministry officials have been made unavailable over concerns they could be abused to make sexually abusive deepfake images, officials said Sunday. Such photos were made invisible from the military's Onnara System intranet and the websites of military units as of Thursday last week, military officials said. Only those with due authority can access such photos. "There was the possibility of the photos being abused for sex crimes because in

Social Affairs Sept. 8, 2024

A major doctors' lobby group demanded Sunday the government cancel its plan to raise the medical school admissions quota for 2025 and 2026 and discuss the possible quota adjustment for 2027 or afterward. Officials of the Korean Medical Association made the call after the government last week said it is willing to revise the plan for 2026 if the medical community presents a "reasonable" option. The Yoon Suk Yeol administration has vowed to increase the medical school admissions quo

Social Affairs Sept. 8, 2024

Military and public health doctors deployed to emergency rooms to help ease medical staff shortages will be granted immunity from liability for damages resulting from medical malpractice, health authorities said Sunday. Since last Wednesday, 250 military physicians have been assigned to emergency rooms and other understaffed departments after a significant number of junior doctors resigned in February to protest the government's decision to significantly increase medical school admissions

Social Affairs Sept. 8, 2024