South Korea’s National Security Office chief Chung Eui-yong met Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi in Seoul on Thursday. Yang arrived Thursday and was scheduled to meet President Moon Jae-in on Friday. Chung and Yang, accompanied by high-ranking diplomatic and trade officials from the two sides, met at a hotel in central Seoul to discuss a range of bilateral issues and those concerning North Korea. National Security Office chief Chung Eui-yong (left) and Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi pose

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has called for Seoul and its allies to take measures corresponding to steps taken by Pyongyang. In his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday, Kim reiterated that denuclearization of the peninsula is the “will of the ancestors,” but called on Seoul and Washington to take progressive steps. The surprise meeting between Kim and Xi was held in Beijing, marking Kim’s first trip outside North Korea since taking power in 2011. His visit was confirmed by Chi

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met Chinese President Xi Jinping during an official trip to Beijing, North Korean and Chinese media revealed Wednesday. According to Chinese media, Kim was invited to Beijing and met Xi during a trip lasting from Sunday to Wednesday. North Korea had earlier revealed that Kim made the trip accompanied by his wife Ri Sol-ju. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, left, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping on March 28. (Yonhap)Kim was also accompanied by Choe Ryo

President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday met with Korean soldiers stationed in the United Arab Emirates, and met with the ruler of Dubai, wrapping up his trip to the Middle Eastern state. Moon began his final day in the UAE with a visit to the Korean military unit, Akh. The unit has been stationed in the UAE since January 2011, tasked with aiding the training of UAE soldiers and protecting Koreans in the country in case of a military conflict. “The Akh unit is the pride of Korea’s armed forces, and the

The government on Monday submitted its Constitution amendment bill to the National Assembly, The bill was approved at a Cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon, and approved by President Moon Jae-in from Abu Dhabi. Moon is in the United Arab Emirates on an official visit.  President Moon Jae-in approves the submission of the government`s Constitution revision bill during his visit to the United Arab Emirates on Monday. YonhapThe National Assembly now has up to 60 days to rev

President Moon Jae-in on Monday attended a ceremony marking the completion of the United Arab Emirates’ first nuclear reactor, as he continues efforts to improve ties with the Middle Eastern state. The reactor, located in Barakah, was built by Korean engineers in a multibillion-dollar project won in 2009. Moon was accompanied by Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan. According to Cheong Wa Dae, the trip and the crown prince’s presence highlight the importance the Barakah plant h

Former President Lee Myung-bak’s arrest is being met with mixed reactions from the country’s political arena.The ruling Democratic Party of Korea welcomed Lee’s arrest in the early hours of Friday, hailing it as the end of an era of corruption, while the conservative opposition repeated its accusation of political revenge.  Former President Lee Myung-bak seen inside a vehicle as he was taken into custody on Friday. YonhapThe ruling party’s chief Rep. Choo Mi-ae responded to the arrest by saying

With former President Lee Myung-bak now in custody, speculation is rising about the timing of this possible indictment. Lee is now the fourth former president to be arrested on suspicion of corruption. In addition, it is the second time two former presidents have been in custody since 1995, when Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo were arrested. Former President Lee Myung-bak boards a vehicle as he was taken into custody on Friday. YonhapThe arrest warrant, executed in the early hours of Friday, enabl

South Korea and Vietnam on Friday agreed to raise bilateral relations to that of strategic partners, and to increase trade to $100 billion by 2020. The agreement was included in the Korea-Vietnam joint declaration announced following President Moon Jae-in’s summit with Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang in Hanoi. President Moon Jae-in and Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang pose for a photograph before their summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, Friday. YonhapIn a joint declaration released shortly after t

President Moon Jae-in on Thursday began his state visit to Vietnam, seeking to strengthen bilateral ties and economic cooperation. As his first stop in Vietnam, Moon was to meet with Park Hang-seo, the head coach of Vietnam’s national under-23 soccer team. Moon’s second stop was to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology. The institute is modeled after the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, and the $70 million cost will be divided equa

Local governments’ autonomy will be increased and economic polarization addressed through stronger economic democratization clauses, Cheong Wa Dae announced Wednesday, in revealing the second part of its constitutional amendment bill.The second part of the government’s proposal focuses on elements of the Constitution concerning the economy and decentralization of government. Senior Civil Affairs Secretary Cho Kuk announces the second part of the government`s proposal on Constitution amendment on

Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday revealed the first part of the government’s Constitution amendment bill that would strengthen the basic rights and power of the people. President Moon Jae-in (Yonhap)“The amendment must be centered on the people,” Cho Kuk, senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, said in introducing the proposed changes, adding that the candlelight protests had shown the people’s desire for “direct democracy,” and the desire to exercise their sovereignty.“Therefore, the amendment

President Moon Jae-in will head to Vietnam Thursday, beginning his seven-day trip to the Southeast Asian nation and the United Arab Emirates.  South Korean President Moon Jae-in (Yonhap)Moon will kick off his trip to Vietnam with a meeting with Park Hang-seo, the head coach of Vietnam’s national under-23 soccer team. Moon will then attend the groundbreaking ceremony for a higher-education institution modeled after the Korea Institute of Science and Technology. On the following day, Moon will hol

President Moon Jae-in’s constitutional amendment bill will be submitted to the National Assembly on Monday, according to the Blue House.“The president gave orders to fully prepare to submit the Constitution amendment bill on March 26,” said Jin Sung-joon, a presidential political affairs secretary, on Monday. The presidential office also revealed plans for government reform.  President Moon Jae-in speaks at the conference on government reform in Seoul on Monday. YonhapJin added that the date was

Seoul’s National Security Office chief Chung Eui-yong met with his US and Japanese counterparts and agreed on close collaboration on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Cheong Wa Dae revealed Monday. According to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom, Chung met with US National Security Advisor H. R. McMaster and Japan’s Shotaro Yachi in San Francisco in a trilateral meeting held in San Francisco on Saturday and Sunday. The three nations’ top national security officers discussed the upcomi

Speculations are rising over possible summit meetings between President Moon Jae-in, and the leaders of China, the US and Japan in the run-up to the inter-Korean summit, and Pyongyang-Washington summit. Moon’s meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is scheduled for some time at the end of April, which is set to be followed by a historic meeting between Kim and US President Donald Trump. President Moon Jae-in speaks to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday. YonhapWhile Seoul has no d

President Moon Jae-in held a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump, hours after his conversation with the Japanese leader, as Seoul scrambles to prepare for the upcoming inter-Korean summit. According to Seoul’s presidential office, Moon and Trump spoke over the telephone for about 35 minutes from around 10 p.m., discussing issues surrounding North Korea, and Seoul-Washington relations.President Moon Jae-in (left) and US President Donald Trump. Yonhap“Denuclearization of the Kore

The preparation committee for the inter-Korean summit officially took form on Thursday, with President Moon Jae-in’s Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok taking the chair. Under Im, Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon will serve as the administrator. Committee members include National Security Office chief Chung Eui-yong, chief of staff for policy Chang Ha-sung, Minister of National Defense Song Young-moo, National Intelligence Service Director Suh Hoon, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha and Mi

The Moon Jae-in administration’s draft Constitution revision bill was met with mixed reactions from nongovernmental organizations, which called for greater distribution of power Thursday.The special committee on constitutional reform revealed its draft bill on Tuesday.The call came at a rally staged by an association of some 150 NGOs, including the People‘s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy and Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice. Nongovermental organizations state their assessment of

Former President Lee Myung-bak returned home in the early hours of Thursday after a marathon grilling session by the prosecution that began on the previous day.Lee, who appeared at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office at 9:22 a.m. Wednesday, remerged at about 6:25 a.m., leaving immediately without any comments. Former President Lee Myung-bak emerges from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors` Office on Thursday. YonhapThe prosecution had begun questioning Lee at about 9:45 a.m. over a