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East Asia
Trump deflects criticism after supporting N.K. insult of Biden
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday deflected criticism that he insulted a fellow American over a dictator when he agreed with North Korea’s harsh assessment of Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden. Trump has come under fire since he made remarks on Twitter and during a press conference in Tokyo over…
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East Asia
International lawyers’ groups to look into N.K. restaurant workers’ defection
A team of international lawyers is pushing to visit Pyongyang in September to investigate a high-profile 2016 defection of a dozen North Korean restaurant workers, its representative said Tuesday. Two organizations — the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) and the Confederation of Lawyers of Asia and the Pacific —…
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Business
Regulator rejects 2 applications for online banks
In an unexpected turn of events, South Korea’s financial regulator on Sunday rejected applications by two consortia to set up the nation’s third and fourth Internet-only banks. One consortium is backed by financial technology firm Viva Republica and the other is led by brokerage Kiwoom Securities. The Financial Services Commission…
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East Asia
Pence vows continued efforts to recover remains from N. Korea
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said Monday that the United States will not stop working to recover the remains of American soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War. In a speech marking Memorial Day, Pence recounted the return of 55 cases of remains from North Korea last year following an…
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East Asia
Foreign ministry to seek criminal probe on diplomat accused of leaking Moon-Trump talks
The foreign ministry said Tuesday it will file criminal complaints against a diplomat and an opposition lawmaker for leaking the content of a phone conversation between President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump. The diplomat, who worked at the South Korean Embassy in Washington, D.C., was accused of telling…
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Society
Culture ministry steps up opposition to new definition of gaming addiction by WHO
South Korea’s culture ministry on Monday clarified its objection to the World Health Organization’s move to classify gaming addiction as a disease. A ranking official at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that his ministry will lodge an additional objection with the WHO about its move to include…
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East Asia
Trump urges Kim to seize chance to transform N.K. through denuclearization
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday urged North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to transform his impoverished country thorough denuclearization, saying “only bad” can happen with his nuclear arms. Trump also said that though some of his advisors think the North’s recent missile launches could have violated U.N. sanctions, he views…
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East Asia
Bong Joon-ho’s ‘Parasite’ wins Palme d’Or at Cannes
South Korean director Bong Joon-ho grabbed the highest honor at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival on Saturday for his black comedy movie “Parasite.” Bong became the first South Korean director to win the Palme d’Or at Cannes. Before him, Park Chan-wook was awarded the Grand Prix, the second-highest prize at…
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East Asia
Trump says he’s still confident of N. Korean leader’s promise to denuke
U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that he is not disturbed by the latest missile launches by North Korea and still has confidence that the country’s leader Kim Jong-un will keep his denuclearization promise. “North Korea fired off some small weapons, which disturbed some of my people, and others, but…
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East Asia
Bush in S. Korea for former President Roh’s death anniversary
Former U.S. President George W. Bush arrived in South Korea on Wednesday to attend a ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of former President Roh Moo-hyun’s death. He arrived at Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul on a special Korean Air flight, wearing a jacket and sneakers. He waved to…
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