WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump's expression of his "honored" willingness to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could be a way, albeit clumsy, of laying the groundwork for eventual resumption of negotiations, US experts said Tuesday.Trump said in an interview with Bloomberg News Monday that he would "absolutely" be willing and "honored" to meet with Kim if such a meeting takes place "under the right circumstances." The use of the word "honored" toward the autocratic leader raised

North Korea slammed China on Wednesday for criticizing its nuclear weapons program, saying it will never "beg" for the ally's friendship.In a commentary released by the North's Korean Central News Agency, Pyongyang took issue with recent reports in China's official media that the North's nuclear tests pose a threat to its neighbor's national interests. (Yonhap)"Those commentaries claimed that the DPRK poses a threat to 'the security in the northeastern region of China' by conducting nuclear test

The state election watchdog said Wednesday it has launched an investigation into possible election law violations surrounding a news report that appeared to slander presidential front-runner Moon Jae-in.On Tuesday, private broadcaster SBS reported that Moon of the liberal Democratic Party was behind the delay in the salvaging of the ferry Sewol, which sank off the southwestern coast in April 2014, killing more than 300 people aboard. This image shows Moon Jae-in (left), presidential candidate of

BEIJING -- China on Tuesday warned of stern measures against the ongoing deployment of an advanced US missile defense system in South Korea. "China calls for an immediate stop to the THAAD deployment on the Korean Peninsula," China's foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said during a regular press briefing. "China will pursue protecting its interests going forward by taking the necessary measures in a stern manner." (Yonhap)He was speaking in response to the US' announcement that the Terminal

North Korea on Tuesday reprimanded Japan for intentionally encouraging a Korean Peninsula crisis, bluffing that Japan would suffer the biggest damages if any war breaks out on the peninsula."First of all, Japan, which is the US forces' logistics, launch and sorties bases, would be blanketed with radioactive clouds if a nuclear war occur on the Korean Peninsula," the Rodong Sinmun, an official daily of the North's ruling Workers' Party, said in a commentary titled "Japan's Reckless Act Which Driv

Prosecutors on Tuesday indicted a man who broke the news on a corruption scandal involving former President Park Geun-hye on charges of influence-peddling.Ko Young-tae, a former associate of Park's close friend Choi Soon-sil, is accused of receiving some 22 million won ($19,500) from an official at the Incheon-based customs office in exchange for exerting influence on personnel issues. This image shows Ko Young-tae (center), a former associate of ousted President Park Geun-hye's friend Choi Soon

South Korea's foreign ministry on Tuesday expressed its reservations about civic activists' move to erect statues symbolizing Korean victims of forced labor under Japan's colonial rule near its diplomatic missions.A civic group is pushing to install such statues near the Japanese Embassy in Seoul and its consulate located in the southeastern port city of Busan. Japan raised strong objections and recently asked the Seoul government to take appropriate action. South Korean foreign ministry spokesm

St. Louis Cardinals closer Oh Seung-hwan has suffered his first loss of the season, with his scoreless appearance streak coming to a halt at six.The South Korean right-hander gave up three runs -- all of them unearned -- on two hits, including a home run, in 1 2/3 innings of work against the Milwaukee Brewers at Busch Stadium on Monday (local time) in St. Louis. The Brewers won the game 7-5 in 10 innings, and Oh dropped to 1-1, to go along with six saves in 12 appearances. Oh Seung-hwan of the S

The Cabinet on Tuesday passed an ordinance detailing the makeup and operational duties of a committee that will investigate the cause of the deadly ferry sinking that killed more than 300 people.The ordinance establishes a 53-member committee led by a minister-level chairman, a vice chairman and standing committee member. Officials from the maritime, interior, education and personnel management ministries, the Office of Government Policy Coordination, the National Police Agency and the Korea Com

WANDO -- The number of visitors to an international seaweed expo under way on this southwestern island exceeded its target of 600,000 on Tuesday, organizers said.The second Wando Seaweeds Expo received its 600,000th visitor Tuesday morning, 19 days after the exposition kicked off for a 24-day run. The 600,000th visitor to the second Wando Seaweeds Expo (center) poses with officials at the venue on the southwest coast on May 2, 2017. (Yonhap)The organizing committee expected at least 200,000 more

Escalating tension between North Korea and the United States over the North's defiant pursuit of nuclear weapons is "credit negative" for South Korea, although the possibility of conflict is very low, international ratings agency Moody's said Tuesday. North Korea has conducted repeated ballistic missile tests in recent months and threatened to carry out its sixth nuclear test.  (Yonhap)The US sent its warships to the Korean Peninsula in a show of strength as Washington officials have not taken t

The hack into South Korea's military internet server several months ago was the work of North Korean agents working in China, investigators announced Tuesday.Wrapping up a drawn-out probe led by military prosecutors, the Ministry of National Defense added more than two dozen officials here will be disciplined for bungling the response. They include a two-star general leading the South's Cyber Command.An image of hacking attacks on South Korea's military. (Yonhap)"The Cyber Command triggered the

The South Korean government will hold counter-terror drills later this month as part of its preparations for the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup, Seoul officials said Tuesday. (Yonhap)The drills will be held in Suwon, some 46 kilometers south of Seoul, on May 16 to practice procedures to respond to a number of terrorism scenarios. The international competition is slated to take place in six cities -- Suwon, Jeonju, Incheon, Daejeon, Cheonan and Jeju -- from May 20 through June 11.The scenarios for

North Korea on Tuesday poured out raw criticism on South Korea's security chief over his latest conversation with his US counterpart on the installation of an advanced US missile defense system, condemning him as "an ugly pro-American running dog." During a 25-minute phone call on Wednesday, National Security Adviser Kim Kwan-jin and his US counterpart H.R. McMaster agreed to maintain close cooperation over the North's saber-rattling and prompt the smooth installation of the Terminal High Altitu

A South Korean presidential committee on Tuesday released a white paper on its preparations for inter-Korean unification to help people better understand South Korea's unification policy, officials said.The white paper was published to document the Presidential Committee for Unification Preparation's activities for the past three years and present tasks needed for a united Korea, according to the committee.In July 2014, South Korea set up the 50-member committee, chaired by former President Park

South Korea's top diplomat will meet with ambassadors of the United States and Japan on Tuesday to discuss cooperation in dealing with North Korea and its growing nuclear threat.Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se will meet with Marc Knapper, acting US Ambassador to South Korea, and Japanese Ambassador Yasumasa Nagamine in his office in the afternoon, according to the ministry.South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se (Yonhap)The unusual three-way meeting, arranged at the request of the ministry, fol

South Korea's Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn renewed his call for a "fair and clean" presidential vote Tuesday, warning against any election crimes, such as bribery, smear campaigns and opinion manipulation.During a Cabinet meeting likely to be the last one under his interim leadership, Hwang also stressed the importance of the May 9 election to pick a new leader tasked with overcoming a string of security and economic challenges. Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-

A historic bridge in Gyeongbok Palace, which was reconstructed in 1953 after being destroyed during the 1950-1953 Korean War, will be returned to its original site after 60 years, the Cultural Heritage Administration said Tuesday.The administration said the Chwihyang Bridge, constructed over the artificial Hyangwon Lake, will be dismantled and moved to north of Hyangwon Pavilion -- where it used to stand.  Hyangwon Pavilion and Chwihyang Bridge inside Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul. (Yonhap)The name

An international human rights organization has called for the UN Security Council to refer those responsible for infringing on human rights in North Korea to an international court, a US broadcaster reported Tuesday.  The UN Security Council adopts Resolution 2321 against North Korea for its fifth nuclear test at a meeting in New York on Nov. 30, 2016. (Yonhap)The UN council should handle an issue to punish the North's human rights violations as well as its nuclear issue in order to realize just

American troops in South Korea confirmed Tuesday that their advanced missile defense system, called THAAD, has been put into operation despite controversies over its deployment here and cost."US Forces Korea confirms the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system is operational and has the ability to intercept North Korean missiles and defend the Republic of Korea," the USFK's spokesman Col. Rob Manning said in an emailed statement.He was calling South Korea by its official name.(Yonhap)The anno