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US Navy secretary visits HD Hyundai Heavy, Hanwha Ocean to explore shipbuilding cooperation
US Secretary of the Navy John Phelan visited South Korea's leading shipbuilders, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. and Hanwha Ocean Co., Wednesday, as Washington seeks to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the sector under President Donald Trump. Phelan, on a two-nation Asia trip also involving Japan, visited HD Hyundai Heavy's headquarters in Ulsan, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, and toured a yard where next-generation Aegis destroyers are being built. He then held talks with HD Hyundai
April 30, 2025 -
Emergency response order issued again as wildfire reignites in Daegu
A wildfire reignited on a mountain in the southeastern city of Daegu on Wednesday, prompting authorities to issue evacuation alerts to nearby residents and a national mobilization order. The fire, which began Monday afternoon on Mount Hamji in northern Daegu, about 230 kilometers southeast of Seoul, was extinguished nearly 23 hours later on Tuesday afternoon after scorching 260 hectares of land and forcing more than 2,000 people to evacuate. On Tuesday evening, however, the fire reignited on par
April 30, 2025 -
At least 600 North Korean soldiers killed in Russia's war on Ukraine: NIS
At least 600 North Korean soldiers had died in Russia's war on Ukraine, and more than 4,100 wounded, according to the latest update from the National Intelligence Service. Rep. Lee Seong-kweun, the People Power Party deputy chair of the parliamentary Intelligence Committee, told reporters on Wednesday that out of the some 15,000 soldiers North Korea sent to the war to date, about 600 had been killed and 4,100 injured. Lee was speaking after being briefed by NIS officials in a closed-door meeting
April 30, 2025 -
Fast-tracked Lee Jae-myung verdict stirs talk of political timing
As the Supreme Court of Korea decided to deliver its verdict on Lee Jae-myung’s election law violation case on Thursday, just nine days after it first reviewed the case on April 22, speculation grows over the reason behind the top court’s earlier-than-expected ruling date. While many election law violation cases that are appealed to the Supreme Court take more than three months to process, Lee’s case has garnered both public and legal analysts’ attention because the court conducted two hearings
April 30, 2025 -
Han Duck-soo expected to resign Thursday
Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is speculated to be resigning from his post as early as Thursday, to declare a bid for the presidency in the upcoming election. This comes amid news reports that Han was considering stepping down from his post as the legal deadline approaches on Sunday for civil servants to quit if they want to run for office. According to local reports, Han will likely be presiding over a ministerial-level meeting on national security issues Thursday morning and
April 30, 2025 -
Intermittent heavy rain to fall nationwide from Labor Day
Following a few days of sunny, warm weather, the Korea Meteorological Administration announced during its press briefing Wednesday that South Korea will see heavy rain nationwide on Labor Day morning. According to the KMA, as warm air from the south and cold air from the north collide above the Korean Peninsula, heavy rain will fall nationwide from Thursday. The Greater Seoul region of Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, as well as the inland parts of Gangwon Province, the North and South Chun
April 30, 2025 -
N. Korea tests new 5,000-ton destroyer amid suspicions of Russian tech support
North Korea has conducted weapons tests of its new 5,000 metric ton multipurpose destroyer, the Choe Hyon-class vessel, state media reported Wednesday, marking a major step in its naval modernization and fueling speculation of technological support from Russia. According to The Rodong Sinmun, the tests were carried out over two days, Monday and Tuesday, following the ship’s launch ceremony Friday. The trials were intended to evaluate the vessel’s weapon systems and overall combat performance. On
April 30, 2025 -
Over 40% of child sex exploitation victims targeted via chat apps: report
Four out of 10 child and teenage victims of sex exploitation in South Korea last year were targeted through online chat applications, according to a new government report set to be released Thursday. The 2024 annual report by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the Korea Women’s Human Rights Institute found that the most common method of exploitation was through so-called “compensated dating,” often initiated on anonymous online platforms. The findings are based on support data collec
April 30, 2025 -
2 suspects in massive Gyeongsang wildfires to be handed over to prosecution early May
Two men suspected of starting deadly wildfires that spread across southeastern South Korea and claimed 33 lives in late March could be referred to prosecutors in early May at the earliest, North Gyeongsang Province police said Wednesday. The suspects are currently not in physical detention, as a local court rejected the police’s request for arrest warrants last week. The court stated that investigators had already acquired enough evidence to prove the suspects’ involvement, and that the suspects
April 30, 2025 -
DP launches election campaign team
The center-left Democratic Party of Korea officially went into election mode by announcing major hires for its new election campaign committee Wednesday, with a focus on "social unity." Among the high-profile hires for Lee's campaign are conservative figures, including Yoon Yeo-joon, former environment minister during the Kim Young-sam administration in the late 1990s, and Lee Seok-yeon, former minister of government legislation under the Lee Myung-bak administration in the late 2000s. Yoon, 85,
April 30, 2025 -
Seoul bus 'slowdown' causes minor commuting disruptions
Seoul’s public bus drivers launched a “work-to-rule” protest Wednesday morning, marking the first time that the city’s bus union has taken such action instead of a full strike. A "work-to-rule" action, also known as an "Italian strike" or "slowdown," is a form of industrial action in which employees strictly adhere to the rules of their job contract, doing only the minimum required. This can reduce productivity and disrupt operations, serving as a form of protest without a complete work stoppage
April 30, 2025 -
Korea rolls out air safety measures after Jeju Air tragedy
The South Korean government on Wednesday announced a series of air safety measures, including strict penalties for fatal accidents and new rules targeting potentially hazardous conditions at airports — factors believed to have attributed to the deadly Jeju Air crash landing in December that killed 179 of the 181 onboard. Strict punitive actions for airlines responsible for deadly aviation accidents are part of the plans announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Such airlin
April 30, 2025 -
Korea’s intelligence agency urges SKT USIM card replacements across all ministries
South Korea’s top intelligence agency has ordered all government ministries and public agencies to replace SK Telecom USIM cards used in official devices, following a cyberattack that compromised the core systems the company uses to verify mobile users on its network. The National Intelligence Service confirmed to The Korea Herald that it issued the directive on Tuesday, requiring USIM replacements in all SKT-connected work phones, tablets, and even mobile routers that support essential services
April 30, 2025 -
Yoon Suk Yeol's apartment raided over wife's alleged gifts
Prosecutors carried out a search and seizure of the private residence of former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee on Thursday, as part of an investigation into alleged corruption via ties between the former presidential couple and a shaman, Jeon Seong-bae, also known as Geon Jin. Wednesday’s raid by the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office is seen as an effort to secure evidence related to Jeon’s alleged violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, and his alleged
April 30, 2025 -
S. Korea, US to launch working-level talks on tariffs this week
South Korea and the United States will hold working-level talks this week to set details of their recent agreement concerning the Donald Trump administration's tariff scheme, Seoul's industry ministry said Wednesday. The two-day "technical discussions" will begin on Wednesday in Washington as a follow-up to last week's agreement to craft a package deal on the new US tariffs and ways of bilateral economic and industrial cooperation before the 90-day pause on the tariff measures expires on July 8,
April 30, 2025