President Moon Jae-in on Sunday named his special envoy to North Korea as speculations rise over his plans for facilitating US-North Korea talks. On Sunday, Moon named National Security Council chief Chung Eui-yong as his special envoy to North Korea. Chung is to lead a five-member delegation that leaves for Pyongyang on a two-day schedule Monday. Along with Chung, Suh Hoon, chief of the National Intelligence Service, Vice Minister of Unification Chun Hae-sung, senior National Intelligence Servi

Former Minister of National Defense Kim Kwan-jin is embroiled in fresh controversy as it has emerged that he received a large sum of money from a businessman in a transaction involving a US lobbyist firm. Kim is also suspected of meddling in the investigation into the alleged election-interference by the military in 2012.  Former Minister of National Defense Kim Kwan-jin is surrounded by reporters as he appears for questioning at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors` Office on Tuesday. YonhapA

President Moon Jae-in on Thursday berated Japan for its handling of the sex slavery issue and its claims to Korea’s Dokdo islets, calling on Tokyo to “face the truth of history and justice.”In his speech at a ceremony marking the 99th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement, Moon focused on history and outstanding issues between Seoul and Tokyo. (Yonhap)“Dokdo was the first Korean territory to be seized in the process of Japan’s occupation of the Korean Peninsula. It is our territory. J

President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday attended a ceremony commemorating a students’ democracy movement in Daegu. President Moon Jae-in pays his respect at a memorial commemorating a 1960 pro-democracy movement in the southeastern city of Daegu on Wednesday. (Yonhap)This is the first time a South Korean president has attended the ceremony held as an event organized by the government. The event marks the students’ demonstration that took place on Feb. 28, 1960 in Daegu in protest against the Syngman

The North Korean delegation led by Kim Yong-chol returned to the North on Tuesday, after repeatedly stating Pyongyang’s willingness to talk with the US.Ahead of the departure, the North Koreans met with South Korean officials including Minister of Unification Cho Myoung-gyon and National Intelligence Service chief Suh Hoon. According to the Unification Ministry, the two sides agreed to cooperate in improving inter-Korean relations and to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula. Once back in the

North Korea’s Kim Yong-chol on Monday reiterated his country’s willingness to directly engage the US, as South Korean President Moon Jae-in rallied support from China. According to South Korea’s presidential office, Kim “stated numerous times” that Pyongyang has intentions to hold talks with the US during his meeting with Seoul’s National Security Council chief Chung Eui-yong. Kim Yong-chol, vice chairman of the North's ruling Workers' Party, attends the closing ceremony for the 2018 PyeongChang

The White House responded cagily Sunday to a North Korean delegate’s mention of his country’s willingness to talk with the US.“We will see if Pyongyang’s message today, that it is willing to hold talks, represents the first steps along the path to denuclearization,” the White House said in a statement. White House senior advisor Ivanka Trump and North Korea`s Kim Yong-chol attend the closing ceremony of PyeongChang Olympics on Sunday. Yonhap“In the meantime, the United States and the world must

Opposition parties continued Friday to vehemently protest the planned visit by a North Korean hard-liner suspected of orchestrating the 2010 torpedo attack on a South Korean corvette that killed 46 sailors. Kim Yong-chol, a vice chairman of the Central Committee of the North’s ruling Workers’ Party, is scheduled to lead an eight-member delegation to the South from Sunday through Tuesday to attend the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Lawmakers of the main opposition Liberty Ko

A scheduled meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence and North Korean officials on the sidelines of the PyeongChang Olympics was called off by the North, US officials revealed Wednesday. According to State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert, Pence agreed to meet Kim Yo-jong and other North Korean officials, but the planned “brief meeting” scheduled for Feb. 10 was called off at the last minute by the North. Kim Yo-jong is the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and met with So

The future of the security situation on the Korean Peninsula appears uncertain, despite an Olympic detente that has been feeding hopes for improved relations, and even an inter-Korean summit. On Monday, 38 North -- the North Korea analysis website operated by US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University -- reported that North Korea’s latest experimental light water reactor appears to be nearing completion.  Satellite image of the Yongbyon nuclear facility cited by 38 North. yonhapCiting satell

President Moon Jae-in on Monday called on the government to respond to US trade protectionism and unfair demands with confidence, and to highlight such elements in dealings with the US. President Moon Jae-in speaks at the meeting with senior aides in Seoul on Monday. Yonhap“Recently, (US) protectionism is being strengthened on top of unstable exchange rates and oil prices,” Moon said at a weekly conference with senior aides on Monday. Citing US regulations on South Korea steel, electronics and s

South Korea is taking measured steps in engaging North Korea while its allies hint at more openness to possible dialogue with the regime. On Monday, Seoul’s Ministry of Unification revealed that the government has yet to draw up concrete plans regarding North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s summit invitation to President Moon Jae-in. While speculations rose that Moon would send a special envoy to Pyongyang after the invitation was delivered by the North leader’s sister Kim Yo-jong on Feb. 10, Unific

Lee Hak-soo, former vice chairman of Samsung Group, confessed to acting under pressure from the Lee Myung-bak administration in allegations linking the group to the auto parts maker DAS. DAS is a local auto parts manufacturer controlled by former President Lee Myung-bak’s eldest brother Lee Sang-eun. However, it has been alleged that the elder Lee is the company’s controlling shareholder in name only, and that the former president and his immediate family are the real owners. It has also been al

The new minor opposition Bareun Mirae Party was launched Tuesday, adding a 30-seat negotiation group to the already divided National Assembly. The party was formed through the merger of conservative Bareun Party, and the People’s Party rooted in the traditionally progressive Jeolla provinces. Bareun Future Party members pose at the launch ceremony in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province on Tuesday. From left: Former People`s Party chairman Ahn Cheol-soo, Bareun Future Party co-chairmen Reps. Yoo Seong-min

South Korean President Moon Jae-in accepted North Korea’s invitation Saturday to visit Pyongyang, on condition that the circumstances that would allow for such a visit are established. According to Seoul’s presidential office, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s invitation to Moon was conveyed by his younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, during Moon’s meeting with the North Korean delegation at Cheong Wa Dae on Saturday. President Moon Jae-in poses with North Korea's Kim Yo-jong (left) and Kim Yong-nam (ri

South Korean President Moon Jae-in accepted North Korea’s invitation Saturday to visit Pyongyang, on condition that the circumstances that would allow for such a visit are established. According to Seoul’s presidential office, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s invitation to Moon was conveyed by his younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, during Moon’s meeting with the North Korean delegation at Cheong Wa Dae on Saturday. Kim Yo-jong came to the South on Friday as a special envoy of the North Korean leader.

President Moon Jae-in on Saturday met with the North Korean delegation at the presidential office, as speculation rose about the historic talks. Led by Kim Yong-nam, the North’s nominal head of state, the delegation that arrived at Cheong Wa Dae at 11 a.m. is the highest level group to be hosted by Seoul’s presidential office.The delegation also includes Kim Yo-jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s sister, who has rapidly expanding influence within the North’s power structure. Kim Yo-jong is t

President Moon Jae-in on Friday stressed that the PyeongChang Olympics represent an opportunity for peace at a presidential reception that brought together top officials from China, Japan and the US. South Korean President Moon Jae-in (left, front row), first lady Kim Jung-sook, North Korean ceremonial head of state Kim Yong-nam (second from right, back row) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un`s sister Kim Yo-jong (right, back row) attend the opening ceremony of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics in

President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a summit Friday, but their third meeting served little more than to confirm differences between the two sides over thorny issues. From left: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in (Yonhap)According to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom, the two leaders began with the issue of the 2015 “comfort women” agreement. “The comfort women agreement is an agreement between countries, and the internation

Prosecutors on Friday requested an arrest warrant for the former chief of the National Tax Service who is suspected of supporting the state spy agency’s secret operation against the late President Kim Dae-jung under the Lee Myung-bak administration.Lee Hyun-dong was allegedly paid tens of millions of won by the National Intelligence Service around 2010 while serving as a deputy commissioner at the NTS to help track down Kim’s slush fund rumored to be stashed abroad.  Former National Tax Service