North Korea has test-fired a short-range ballistic missile ahead of US Vice President Kamala Harris’ trip to the region, Seoul says. The projectile, launched from around Taechon in North Korea’s northwest, traveled around 600km (373 miles) before landing in the Sea of Japan, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff …
Read More »North Korea furiously rejects Seoul’s ‘absurd’ offer
Kim Yo Jong, the sibling of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and a senior official in the country’s ruling party, has dismissed a proposal of economic aid from Seoul in exchange for abandoning its nuclear arsenal, calling the idea an “absurd dream.” Kim gave a fiery denunciation of South Korean …
Read More »North Korea fires ‘projectile’ into Sea of Japan – Seoul
North Korea has fired an unidentified projectile into the Sea of Japan, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said on Saturday. Yonhap news agency quoted a military source as saying the weapons test likely involved a ballistic missile. The reported missile test is the second conducted by the …
Read More »Seoul now knows why its pioneering rocket failed
The investigation into the failure of the October test launch of South Korea’s Nuri rocket zeroed in on an anchoring device on its third stage as the culprit. It may lead to delays of the next scheduled launch. The rocket, also known as KSLV-II, was the first space launch vehicle …
Read More »Seoul indicates it may snub US request over oil
Following reports that the Biden administration reached out to several of the largest oil consumers pleading for a coordinated release of petroleum stockpiles, the South Korean government confirmed that Seoul received the request, but said that rising prices are not a good enough reason to tap into its reserves. “We …
Read More »Pyongyang restores hotline with Seoul, calls for ‘positive efforts’ to ease Korean Peninsula tensions
“The South Korean authorities should make positive efforts to put the North-South ties on a right track and settle the important tasks which must be prioritized to open up the bright prospect in the future,” North Korean state media KCNA said on Monday. South Korean authorities confirmed that the North …
Read More »Seoul to conduct joint military drill with US this month despite strong warnings from Pyongyang, South Korean media say
The computer-simulated command-post exercise will be held on August 16-26, with “a minimum level of troops” and no outdoor activities, Yonhap news agency reported, citing a government source. The planned drill is set to involve an even smaller number of participants than a similar event last March, which was scaled …
Read More »As South Korea’s Covid-19 infections break records, Seoul re-imposes maximum social distancing rules
The ‘Level 4’ social distancing rules – the most restrictive under South Korean public health guidelines – were announced on Friday for Seoul and the neighboring densely populated Gyeonggi Province and Incheon. The decision was taken following a meeting of officials from several governmental agencies chaired by Prime Minister Kim …
Read More »US bid to lure Seoul into anti-China bloc will push Beijing and Pyongyang closer, making Korea a real Cold War flashpoint
South Korean President Moon Jae-in recently visited the United States for his first summit with President Joe Biden. It proved to be a significant meeting, with Washington lifting its restrictions on the capabilities of Seoul’s ballistic missiles, allowing them to have an unlimited payload and range. Unsurprisingly, North Korea has …
Read More »Wife of Belgian envoy who slapped Seoul shop worker claims diplomatic immunity to avoid charges
Xiang Xueqiu, the spouse of Ambassador Peter Lescouhier, made headlines last month after assaulting an employee at a clothing shop. The altercation reportedly occurred after the worker followed Xiang as she left the store to ensure that she hadn’t stolen the jacket that she was wearing. After realizing that the …
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