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  North Korea

  Summit puts NK denuclearization back on track

  South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Thursday wrapped up his three-day visit to North Korea, marked by two meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and signs that Pyongyang and Washington would soon return to the table for denuclearization talks.In response to the summit in Pyongyang, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo invited his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong-ho for a meeting at next week’s UN General Assembly, a move that would restart the denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and W

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  Industry

  US exempts Korean steel from import tariff, in positive signal for local steel industry

  Steel products made by South Korea’s SL Tech has been excluded from the US’ steel tariffs, marking the first case of exemption since the US imposed a quota on Korean steel shipments this May, industry sources said Thursday.The US Commerce Department earlier this week accepted US medical device manufacturer Micro Stamping’s request for a tariff exemption on ultrafine steel tubes imported from Korean steel company SL Tech.Micro Stamping uses ultrafine steel tubes made by SL Tech to produce medical

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  North Korea

  [KH Explains] What is the story behind Mansudae Art Studio in Pyongyang?

  South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s visit to Pyongyang’s Mansudae Art Studio has been creating a buzz at home and overseas -- even after a UN official said the visit did not violate UN sanctions that ban international transactions with the North Korean art establishment.　So what do we know about the studio and why has it been banned by the UN?　The Mansudae Art Studio was founded in 1959. It is believed be one of the largest art production studios in the world, with some 4,000 workers. Among its

• 

  Finance

  Banks ready for inter-Korean economic cooperation

  Fired up by the thawing peninsular mood built on the latest inter-Korean summit, banks here have buckled down on establishing business in the North in the near future, their initial focus fixed on the resumption of the Kaesong industrial park and Kumgangsan tours.Steering the move are the state-run banks that strive to win an upper hand in infrastructure financing, as well as Woori Bank and NH NongHyup Bank, which had operated businesses in the joint operations zones in the past.On Wednesday and

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  Automode

  Hyundai Motor enters green commercial vehicle market with hydrogen trucks

  Hyundai Motor will supply 1,000 hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks to Europe over the next five years, making its debut on the continent’s green commercial vehicle market, the company said Thursday.The South Korean carmaker signed a memorandum of understanding with Swiss hydrogen company H2 Energy at the trade show IAA Commercial Vehicles 2018 held in Hanover. H2 Energy Chairman Rolf Huber (second from left) speaks at a press conference held on the sidelines of IAA Commercial Vehicles 2018 in Han

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  Culture

  [Weekender] Central Asians celebrate Chuseok at ‘home away from home’

  During the Chuseok holiday, many Koreans gather to honor ancestors, reconnect with family members and eat festive meals together. But for non-Koreans, the holiday is different: Many family members live abroad, and more plainly, it lacks cultural significance. This year, the Korean traditional holiday begins Sunday and runs through Sept. 25. Many Korean restaurants and businesses will be closed, with some resting one or two days in addition to the designated days. Even the most bustling streets a

NEWSMAKER

• North Korea

  

  Kim Jong-un’s visit to Seoul: What it means for two Koreas and beyond

  Experts says North Korea’s leader engaged in charm offensive

LATEST NEWS

• Today

  

  North Korea

  Standing on Paektusan, Moon expresses hope for tourism to iconic mountain

  As the leaders of the two Koreas stood together atop Paektusan for the first time, South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Thursday expressed hopes for expanded tourism to the Korean Peninsula’s highest mountain.As of now, the mountain is only accessible to South Koreans from the Chinese side -- leaving parts of it inaccessible to them. “Now that we’ve taken the first step, if we repeat these steps and more people come (to Paektusan), I believe there will be a time when citizens of South Korea can

• Today

  

  North Korea

  What to expect after third inter-Korean summit

  The third inter-Korean summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has prompted a flurry of speculation over how things will unfold between the two Koreas and with the US. To what extent the summit will revive stalled denuclearization talks between the US and North Korea is the question on the minds of many. Moon will travel to the US on Sunday to brief President Donald Trump on his discussions with Kim. Kim pledged to dismantle missile facilities in the presence of

• Today

  

  North Korea

  Strong inter-Korean bond boosts Seoul’s role in denuclearization talks

  The third summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un broke new ground in inter-Korean ties, experts said, giving South Korea an opportunity to move beyond its role as a “mediator” in the US-North Korea nuclear talks. The South’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday said the Seoul government would now be able to take on a more “active role” based on the “meaningful” results of the inter-Korean summit. “(The summit agreement) has provided a foundation for both Ko

• Today

  

  Foreign Policy

  Inter-Korean summit kick-starts stalled nuclear talks

  The US said it is prepared to resume talks with North Korea after the North agreed to dismantle its key missile facility and potentially its main nuclear complex at this week’s inter-Korean summit, kick-starting stalled denuclearization negotiations. (Yonhap)At his third meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Kim agreed to permanently dismantle the Dongchang-ri missile testing site in the presence of international experts, and suggested the North would permanently destroy a major Yongb

• Today

  

  Travel

  Trekking on sacred Paektusan highlands

  During a trekking tour of North Korea’s Paektusan highlands in August, Roger Shepherd and his team of international travelers hobnobbed with North Korean guides -- hiking, pitching tents, making campfires, cooking and eating together. Two Australian women and two Norwegian men traveled with Shepherd, a Kiwi professional hiker and travel writer, on their maiden trip to the Korean Peninsula’s tallest mountain, 2,750 meters above sea level, considered the sacred cradle of the Korean people since ti

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SPOTLIGHT

• Social affairs

  

  Death of puma triggers public protest against zoos in South Korea

  The recent death of a puma, killed by police after it escaped from its enclosure in a Daejeon zoo, has triggered a wave of criticism concerning animal rights abuses in South Korea, with some saying all zoos in the country must shut down.　　The puma, named Bbo-rong, was shot to death Tuesday, about four hours after it escaped its enclosure at Daejeon O-World through a door left unlocked by staff at 4:50 p.m. While the search was ongoing, all Daejeon residents were advised to stay indoors.　　Authori

• 

  Industry

  Lee Jae-yong’s lip balm ‘closed’ before camera

  Is it the massive media attention he received for his copious use of lip moisturizer that’s making him shy? Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong was seen reaching for a dab of his lip balm, but upon noticing a camera filming him, Lee withdrew his outstretched pinky, stony-faced.Lee was spotted with his ever-famous lip balm at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang, where he was attending the Mass Games next to SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won as part of a group of South Korean chaebol leaders

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  Social affairs

  Mangwon, a peek into Seoulites’ daily lives

  Once considered an underdeveloped area on the outskirts of the crowded, boisterous main area of Hongdae, Mangwon is enjoying its day in the sun as a fashionable area of northwestern Seoul, with trendy eateries and also a grasp of local life.At the core of the Mangwon vogue was the neighborhood’s traditional market, long appreciated by residents.Having started off as a cluster of small stores in the 1970s in the backstreets of the neighborhood, the Mangwon Traditional Market gained its current st

• 

  Travel

  Planning your Chuseok escape

  Don’t get stuck at home during fall break

GRAPHIC NEWS

• 

EDITORIAL

• There is work ahead

  Moon’s trip to Pyongyang should reinvigorate denuclearization talks

• Key to denuclearization

  If sanctions lose teeth, effort to resolve NK nuke issue will end up as an exercise in futility

VIEWPOINTS

THE INVESTOR

• 

  Samsung

  Samsung unveils triple-lens smartphone Galaxy A7

  Samsung Electronics on Sept.20 unveiled the Galaxy A7, its first smartphone with a triple-lens camera system. The rear-facing camera and the high-resolution 24-megapixel selfie shooter will be some of the killer features of the phone, according to the Korean tech giant.The Galaxy A model sports a 24M standard lens, a bokeh lens that alters depth of field, and a 120-degree super wide-angle lens. A fingerprint scanner of the phone is what sets the device apart from other Samsung pho

• 

  Retail & Consumer

  SKINFOOD CEO to sell stake amid suffering biz

  SKINFOOD CEO Cho Yoon-ho is seeking to sell his majority stake in the Korean budget cosmetics brand to a strategic investor before its valuation falls further, according to industry sources on Sept. 20.Currently, Cho is the largest stakeholder with 77.28 percent stake, while the remaining stocks are owned by his family.The company has been denying speculations, but many industry watchers are projecting that SKINFOOD may shut shop due to its poor financial condition. Although, it s

K-POP HERALD

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  BTS to deliver speech at UN for youth

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  Sunmi eats ‘Inkigayo’ sandwich

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  U-Kiss Dong-ho files for divorce: report

HERALD INTERVIEW

• Travel

  

  Trekking on sacred Paektusan highlands

  During a trekking tour of North Korea’s Paektusan highlands in August, Roger Shepherd and his team of international travelers hobnobbed with North Korean guides -- hiking, pitching tents, making campfires, cooking and eating together. Two Australian women and two Norwegian men traveled with Shepherd, a Kiwi professional hiker and travel writer, on their maiden trip to the Korean Peninsula’s tallest mountain, 2,750 meters above sea level, considered the sacred cradle of the Korean people since ti

• 

  Music

  Nature shares hopes of going global as a multifaceted band

  It’s been less than two months since the band Nature made its debut on the K-pop scene, but already it’s making a splash. Having launched in August under N.CH Entertainment, this promising rookie band consists of leader Lu, Saebom, Chinese members Aurora and Gaga, Chaebin, Japanese member Haru, Uchae and Sunshine. While Nature has only two songs under its belt -- its debut single “Allegro Cantabile” and pre-debut track “Girls and Flowers” -- it’s already an award winner. In an unprecedented star

• 

  Arts&Design

  Decorating a home, suggesting a lifestyle

  Apartment-focused interior design firm sets out to create new standard for the industry

PHOTO NEWS

• North Korea

  

  Kim grants Moon’s wish to climb Paektusan

  On the final day of President Moon Jae-in’s visit to Pyongyang, he and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made a surprise trip to Paektusan on Thursday. Moon had originally planned to return to the South following a farewell breakfast at the Paekhwawon State Guesthouse around 9 a.m. Accompanied by first ladies Kim Jung-sook and Ri Sol-ju, the leaders of the two Koreas took the hourlong car ride up to the sacred mountain’s peak, Changgun-bong, in separate vehicles. The four then took a cable car dow

VIDEO

• North Korea

  

  Kim vows to visit Seoul, dismantle nuke, missile sites

  Kim Jong-un to visit Seoul before year-end

MOST POPULAR

• Kim vows to visit Seoul, dismantle nuke, missile sites
• K-pop stars leave for Pyongyang to attend inter-Korean summit
• Leaders of two Koreas stand atop ‘sacred’ Paektusan
• President Moon continues his ‘local restaurant diplomacy’ in Pyongyang
• Parents of children 5 and under get 100,000 won monthly allowance starting Friday

FEATURES

• 

  Fashion

  Korean heritage graces modern runways

  Rookie designers embrace hanbok elements in unexpected ways

• 

  Technology

  Samsung in talks with Japan’s Nipro for medical device division sale

  (Yonhap)Samsung Electronics is in talks with Japan’s Nipro to sell off its in-vitro diagnostic unit, as part of efforts to streamline its medical equipment business, according to the industry on Thursday. Jeon Dong-soo, president of the medical device division at Samsung, reportedly held a briefing about the sell-off plan for employees recently, the company said.An IVD refers to a medical device that diagnoses diseases by examining patients’ tissue, blood and urine. The IVD unit belongs to Samsu

• 

  Foreign Policy

  Looking back on its communist legacy, Romania supports inter-Korean peace

  Unshackling the chains of the corruption that has plagued Romania since its communist years has proved difficult, a grim harbinger of what’s to come in international efforts to democratize North Korea.

• 

  Industry

  Celltrion partners with Emory Univ. for new atherosclerosis drug R&D

  Celltrion said Thursday that it had signed an “incubation” agreement with US-based Emory University to jointly research and develop new drug candidates for atherosclerosis.　An incubation agreement is an open innovation arrangement in which a firm provides its resources and business capabilities, such as research facilities, workforce and operations consulting, to an external research institute.The arrangement aims to ensure the autonomy of the research while obtaining preferential rights to disc

WEEKENDER

• Expat Living

  

  The Chuseok experience: It all depends on the family

  Foreign spouses share their experiences on spending Chuseok with their in-laws