The Seoul government said Wednesday it would not tolerate North Korea's hydrogen bomb test, warning it would pay for the consequences, indicating an immediate implementation of sanctions against Pyongyang.The government also said that the test violated the U.N. Security Council resolution and that it was a serious threat to international peace.The South entered into an emergency mode upon detection of an artificial earthquake by the world’s seismic analysis centers at around 10:30 a.m.The North

South Korea reiterated its call on Japan Monday to refrain from making comments or taking actions that could damage the spirit of their rare deal over Tokyo's sexual enslavement of Korean women during World War II.Seoul's reaction came as Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said earlier in the day that there is no change in Japan's understanding that a statue symbolizing South Korean victims of Tokyo's sex slavery in front of Japan's Embassy in Seoul will be relocated at a proper manner.The

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su-yong may attend this year's annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, the first move in 18 years by a North Korean top diplomat, sources said Monday.A North Korean delegation to be headed by Ri may attend the so-called Davos forum to be held in Switzerland from Jan. 20-23, according to sources. The North is discussing the details over with the host, they said.If confirmed, it would be the first time in 18 years that a North Korean foreign minister was to joi

The National Assembly held its last general assembly Thursday morning to pass some 210 pending bills, but only without disputed labor and economic bills. The revised election bill to redraw electoral districts, also remained up in the air.Parliamentary Speaker Chung Ui-hwa, who had refused to push ahead with the bill on his own authority, said that he would submit his version for review to the National Election Commission at midnight.“There will be a legislative emergency situation starting from

Non-emergency patients will face much higher medical costs if they use emergency rooms starting this month, as part of the government’s measures to limit the unnecessary use of emergency rooms, officials said Thursday. The Welfare Ministry said patients visiting the top 140 emergency rooms in the country will be classified into five categories depending on the urgency and severity of their condition, and charged different fees accordingly.  Non-emergency patients who show mild symptoms such as f

As volunteers of all ages, occupations and causes lined up wearing Korean Red Cross uniforms and chef hats at the headquarters in Jongno, central Seoul, one instructor took them through how to split the dough to make cream cakes.Hours later, sponge cakes and sweet bread came out from the oven. Looking at their warm, puffy creations, the cooks’ beamed as they imagined them being doled out to those in need, a daily routine for the volunteers.Standing among them was Yoon Kyung-ae, an 83-year-old vo

Once again, election season is high. The forthcoming April general election to constitute the 20th National Assembly will be a race for parliamentary seats as well as a prelude to the 2017 presidential election.The rival parties are mired in a power struggle of their own as their eyes are singularly set on individually and collectively winning the next Assembly seats, the configuration of which is likely to decide the fate of the incumbent administration’s initiatives to cope with the approachin

A major factional feud looms at the ruling Saenuri Party upon the imminent return of Rep. Choi Kyung-hwan, the president’s top aide with a mission to sway parliamentary election nominations in favor of pro-Park figures.Choi is coming back to his third-term seat after his successor as finance minister was named in a Cabinet reshuffle Monday. He is expected to spearhead the faction loyal to President Park Geun-hye, and bracing for his return is the party’s chairman Rep. Kim Moo-sung, who represent

Investigators said Sunday they have indicted without arrest retired Adm. Choi Yoon-hee, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for receiving bribes from an arms dealer in connection with the Navy’s purchase of multi-mission maritime helicopters.The joint investigation team for corruption involving arms procurement projects said that Choi is suspected of ordering officers to forge an assessment report to show that the AW159 Wildcat supplied by Agusta Westland meets the Navy’s requirements

Rep. Kim Dong-cheol announced Sunday he was leaving the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, bringing the number of defectors from the embattled opposition party to four in just a week.“The only way to accomplish new politics and administrative change at this point is through the new party to be created by Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo,” Kim, whose defection was widely predicted, said at a press conference.Rep. Kim Dong-cheol YonhapKim’s defection marked the first time for a lawmaker representing the oppos

With the South Korean government pushing to issue two new licenses for integrated complexes of foreigner-only casinos, voices of concern are rising over a potential surplus in the industry already hit by a global economic slowdown, China’s anticorruption drive and unstable demand.“As there are already two integrated resorts being constructed in the metropolitan region, an additional establishment would have a great chance of resulting in excess supply,” said Pyo Hak K., an honorary professor of

The fragile solidarity in the main opposition party is fast crumbling again as dissenters joined former cochairman Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo’s calls for the chairman to step down Monday. Dissenting floor leader Rep. Lee Jong-kul and Supreme Council member Rep. Joo Seung-yong refused to attend the party’s regular Supreme Council meeting in the morning. They demanded chairman Rep. Moon Jae-in accept Ahn’s proposal to hold a national caucus early next year to overhaul the embattled party leadership.Their

Although it has been 25 years since South Korea and the Czech Republic forged diplomatic ties, it was only in 2005 that Koreans were introduced to the central European state’s culture, history and food, through the popular Korean drama “Lovers in Prague.”A decade after the hit drama bridged mutual interests in both countries, South Korea and the Czech Republic are now ready to expand their ties in major fields including politics, economy and technology. President Park Geun-hye’s visit to the Cze

One out of 5 teenagers in South Korea do not think there is a need to have children in life, a report showed Sunday.The Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs surveyed 1,179 students in middle and high schools to look into teen perceptions of marriage and childbirth. (123rf)While 21.1 percent said they did not think they “must have children” when they became adults, 55.1 percent said they should. Some 23.6 percent said they were not sure yet. The response also varied between genders, with

College students who defected from North Korea feel the need for unification more than South Korea-born students, a survey showed Thursday.The survey was compiled by Story K, a youth forum, by interviewing 257 native South Koreans and 180 North Korean defectors currently attending universities here over a seven-day period this month.According to the report, 44 percent of South Korean students said they “mostly disagreed” with the statement that “unification should be realized as soon as possible

 [Reporter's Column]President Park Geun-hye, according to a number of her staff at Cheong Wa Dae, is a very meticulous, strict boss. Though it is a staff member’s job to write the first draft of her speeches, Park has, many times, taken a few hours to complete the final version -- replacing some words to add stress or defend against the opposition, and perhaps to express her emotions.After three years in office, her choice of words has become a window to understanding the president, who veils he

The rival parties on Monday traded accusations over the violence at a rally in central Seoul on Saturday that left dozens of protesters and police officers injured with one in critical condition.The ruling Saenuri Party defined it as an “illegal political rally” that was attended by a police-estimated 64,000 people against the government’s state-authored history textbooks, labor sector reform and free trade agreements. The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy accused the authoriti

Antibiotics are prescribed for children suffering from acute ear infection too rampantly in South Korea with the rate reaching 84.2 percent, a report showed Monday.Of 7,610 medical facilities nationwide, more than eight out of 10 prescribed antibiotics for children suffering from the infection, the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service said. The rate, however, marked a slight annual decrease since 88.7 percent in 2012, although still high compared to other countries like the Netherlands

 President Park Geun-hye on Friday once again urged Japan to resolve the issue of its sexual enslavement of Korean women during World War II through a sincere apology and compensation, emphasizing the “universal” nature of human rights of women. In a written interview with eight news wire services from around the world, she also said she is open to holding one-on-one talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as long as he abandons his nuclear ambitions and makes progress in cross-border ties. 

President Park Geun-hye will leave for Turkey on Saturday, the first stop of her trip that will also include the Philippines and Malaysia to participate in multinational summits including the G20 and other regional dialogues.Park’s first stop will be Antalya, Turkey on Nov. 15-16 to attend the G20 summit aimed at promoting inclusive growth that will also bring together U.S. President Barack Obama, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, German Chancellor Angela Markel, Indian Prime Minister Narendra