<p>More than half a million South Korean students on Thursday (Nov 16) sat for the annual nationwide college entrance exam while&nbsp;officials took extraordinary measures, including halting flights and keeping police on standby, with even the stock market opening later than usual. This was also the first time since the Covid pandemic that the students were allowed to take the exam without masks.</p>

<p>The restrictions only give a sense of how important the&nbsp;test is, as it is often considered life-defining in the highly competitive South Korean society.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is this ‘life-defining’ exam?</strong></h2>

<p>This year, nearly 505,000 high school students, graduates and others signed up to take the nine-hour, single-day, and five-session College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) held at 1,279 test sites across the country, according to the education ministry.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The test is considered crucial for securing spots in top universities and also key for elevated social status, lucrative careers, and in some cases even marriage prospects.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Therefore, enormous pressure is placed on students in South Korea. The country&nbsp;is already known for being highly competitive, which&nbsp;has been blamed for contributing to teenage depression and suicide rates which are among the highest in the world.</p>

<h2><strong>‘I’m nervous’</strong></h2>

<p>“I’m nervous and trembling because what I’ve been studying for three years ends with this exam today,” Lee Min-yup told AFP before going to take the test at Kyungbock High School in central Seoul.</p>

<p>Outside schools in South Korea, parents cheered for their children, hugging them and wiping away tears. While others were seen chanting phrases including “Success in Suneung,” which is the local name for the exam.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I feel so nervous. Maybe I’m more nervous (than my daughter),” said Kim Mi-jae, mother of an 18-year-old student in Seoul, as quoted by Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>‘Extraordinary measures’</strong></h2>

<p>Every year, South Korean officials take extraordinary measures to prevent any disturbances during the test.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This time around, the country’s transportation ministry imposed a nationwide 35-minute ban on all aircraft takeoffs and landings, aside from emergency situations, so that students are not disturbed during the listening comprehension portion of the English test.</p>

<p>More than 90 flights had to be rescheduled because of the exam, on Thursday, as per AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Public offices and major businesses were requested to adjust their opening hours to 10:00 am (local time) or later to avoid traffic congestion and ensure students arrived at their venues for the exam on time which began at 8:40 am (local time).</p>

<p>The stock market also opened an hour later than usual to help ease the traffic. This year was also different as the test-takers were not required to wear face masks, unlike the previous three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The police and regional government officials were on standby to help students running late for the exam reach their test sites on&nbsp;time.</p>

<p>The difficulty of this year’s exam has yet to be confirmed, but South Korean officials have said it would not include the so-called “killer questions” which are said to typically be drawn from material not covered in public school curriculum.</p>

<p>The so-called “killer questions” are so controversial that even President Yoon Suk Yeol has criticised them, saying&nbsp;they are causing people to spend billions on private education, one of the factors behind the country’s declining fertility rate.</p>

<p>According to government data, South Koreans spent nearly $20 billion on private education last year.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


More than half a million South Korean students on Thursday (Nov 16) sat for the annual nationwide college entrance exam while officials took extraordinary measures, including halting flights and keeping police on standby, with even the stock market opening later than usual.

More than half a million South Korean students on Thursday (Nov 16) sat for the annual nationwide college entrance exam while officials took extraordinary measures, including halting flights and keeping police on standby, with even the stock market opening later than usual. This was also the first time since the Covid pandemic that the students were allowed to take the exam without masks. The restrictions only give a sense of how important the test is, as it is often considered life-defining in the highly competitive South Korean society. What is this ‘life-defining’ exam? This year, nearly 505,000 high school students, graduates and others signed up to take the nine-hour, single-day, and five-session College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) held at 1,279 test sites across the country, according to the education ministry. The test is considered crucial for securing spots in top universities and also key for elevated social status, lucrative careers, and in some cases even marriage prospects. Therefore, enormous pressure is placed on students in South Korea. The country is already known for being highly competitive, which has been blamed for contributing to teenage depression and suicide rates which are among the highest in the world. ‘I’m nervous’ “I’m nervous and trembling because what I’ve been studying for three years ends with this exam today,” Lee Min-yup told AFP before going to take the test at Kyungbock High School in central Seoul. Outside schools in South Korea, parents cheered for their children, hugging them and wiping away tears. While others were seen chanting phrases including “Success in Suneung,” which is the local name for the exam. “I feel so nervous. Maybe I’m more nervous (than my daughter),” said Kim Mi-jae, mother of an 18-year-old student in Seoul, as quoted by Reuters. ‘Extraordinary measures’ Every year, South Korean officials take extraordinary measures to prevent any disturbances during the test. This time around, the country’s transportation ministry imposed a nationwide 35-minute ban on all aircraft takeoffs and landings, aside from emergency situations, so that students are not disturbed during the listening comprehension portion of the English test. More than 90 flights had to be rescheduled because of the exam, on Thursday, as per AFP. Public offices and major businesses were requested to adjust their opening hours to 10:00 am (local time) or later to avoid traffic congestion and ensure students arrived at their venues for the exam on time which began at 8:40 am (local time). The stock market also opened an hour later than usual to help ease the traffic. This year was also different as the test-takers were not required to wear face masks, unlike the previous three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The police and regional government officials were on standby to help students running late for the exam reach their test sites on time. The difficulty of this year’s exam has yet to be confirmed, but South Korean officials have said it would not include the so-called “killer questions” which are said to typically be drawn from material not covered in public school curriculum. The so-called “killer questions” are so controversial that even President Yoon Suk Yeol has criticised them, saying they are causing people to spend billions on private education, one of the factors behind the country’s declining fertility rate. According to government data, South Koreans spent nearly $20 billion on private education last year. (With inputs from agencies)

Flights halted, offices and stock market open late, police on standby as South Koreans sit for key exam

<p>A year after a massive stampede and crowd crush killed 159 Halloween revellers in the South Korean capital Seoul, the night-life district of Itaewon wore a quiet look on Saturday (October 28). The usual festivities of the area was replaced by mourning for the dead. Each year around Halloween, the alleys are decorated in the district that has city's hottest nightclubs and bars. But this time, posters and flowers remembering the dead were seen. The youngsters celebrated elsewhere.</p>

<p>AFP quoted Lee Sung-min, who lives and works in the district, saying that he didn't even realise that it was the Halloween weekend till Saturday.</p>

<p>"It used to be filled with visitors dressed in costumes and blood makeup by this time. But if you look at the age range of the people walking around, it's mostly just relatively old local residents," Lee said.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | South Korea: G-Dragon booked under alleged drug charges</strong></p>

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<p>A crush in a narrow alley after crowd surge led to last year's tragedy. Many in Seoul blame the horrific incident on lack of preparation and poor crowd control measures. Early calls for help went unanswered. Most of the dead were people in their 20s and 30s.</p>

<p>"I've left a note telling (the victims) not to lose courage and rest in peace," said Lee Jung-hyeop, who visited Itaewon to mark the anniversary.</p>

<p>Police and authorities have been conducting crowd-control drills this year and gatherings haven't been banned in Itaewon. The police are taking help of an AI-backed network of nearly 1000 CCTV cameras.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/south-korean-man-dies-from-heart-attack-after-choking-on-live-octopus-dish-651622">South Korean man dies from heart attack after choking on 'live octopus' dish</a></strong></p>

<p>Many revellers are looking at other places to celebrate the festival, such Hongdae, which is another popular spot among the youth.</p>

<p>"I thought Hongdae would be better than Itaewon to celebrate Halloween with my boyfriend," said Cheon Ye-ji, a 19-year-old student as quoted by AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It looks like the crowd is better controlled after last year's incident."</p>

<p>The tragedy last year led to a police investigation which eventually acknowledged of negligence and poor response from the authorities. The probe referred 23 official for prosecution. However, it has not resulted in resignation or sacking of any senior government official.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A year after a massive stampede and crowd crush killed 159 Halloween revellers in the South Korean capital Seoul, the night-life district of Itaewon wore a quiet look on Saturday (October 28).

A year after a massive stampede and crowd crush killed 159 Halloween revellers in the South Korean capital Seoul, the night-life district of Itaewon wore a quiet look on Saturday (October 28). The usual festivities of the area was replaced by mourning for the dead. Each year around Halloween, the alleys are decorated in the district that has city's hottest nightclubs and bars. But this time, posters and flowers remembering the dead were seen. The youngsters celebrated elsewhere. AFP quoted Lee Sung-min, who lives and works in the district, saying that he didn't even realise that it was the Halloween weekend till Saturday. "It used to be filled with visitors dressed in costumes and blood makeup by this time. But if you look at the age range of the people walking around, it's mostly just relatively old local residents," Lee said. Watch | South Korea: G-Dragon booked under alleged drug charges × A crush in a narrow alley after crowd surge led to last year's tragedy. Many in Seoul blame the horrific incident on lack of preparation and poor crowd control measures. Early calls for help went unanswered. Most of the dead were people in their 20s and 30s. "I've left a note telling (the victims) not to lose courage and rest in peace," said Lee Jung-hyeop, who visited Itaewon to mark the anniversary. Police and authorities have been conducting crowd-control drills this year and gatherings haven't been banned in Itaewon. The police are taking help of an AI-backed network of nearly 1000 CCTV cameras. Also Read | South Korean man dies from heart attack after choking on 'live octopus' dish Many revellers are looking at other places to celebrate the festival, such Hongdae, which is another popular spot among the youth. "I thought Hongdae would be better than Itaewon to celebrate Halloween with my boyfriend," said Cheon Ye-ji, a 19-year-old student as quoted by AFP. "It looks like the crowd is better controlled after last year's incident." The tragedy last year led to a police investigation which eventually acknowledged of negligence and poor response from the authorities. The probe referred 23 official for prosecution. However, it has not resulted in resignation or sacking of any senior government official. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

South Korea: Seoul night-life hotspot marks one year of deadly Halloween crush

In pics | South Korea holds rare, first large-scale military parade warns Pyongyang over nuclear threat

<p>South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asian Games, on Saturday (September 23), in the city of Hangzhou, as per Yonhap news agency reports.</p>

<p>The meeting between the two leaders lasted for about 22 minutes and was held before the opening ceremony of the event, said the South Korean PM's office.</p>

<p>Xi after his meeting with Han said that he will seriously consider visiting South Korea, as a part of efforts to back peace and security on the Korean Peninsula.</p>

<p>"This means that President Xi knows it is his turn to visit South Korea," the official said on condition of anonymity, adding that Xi's visit has "long been delayed," according to Yonhap news agency.</p>

<p>Xi, also told South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo that China is willing to work in order to promote a strategic partnership between the two countries.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2023-opening-ceremony-gets-underway-in-hangzhou-as-harmanpreet-lovlina-lead-as-flagbearers-638949">Asian Games 2023: Glittering show marks inauguration of continental spectacle</a></p>

<p>The commitment to cooperation between the two countries came ahead of trilateral talks scheduled in Seoul on Tuesday (September 26) involving senior officials from China, Japan and South Korea. The talks are aimed at paving the way for the first summit between the three countries in four years.</p>

<p>The meeting will bring South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Chung Byung-won; Takehiro Funakoshi, Japan's senior deputy foreign minister; and Nong Rong, China's assistant minister of foreign affairs all together.</p>

<p>"We will make efforts to ensure that the summit can be held promptly, starting with the high-level meeting next week and proceeding through the foreign ministerial conference," Han was quoted by First Vice Foreign Minister Chang Ho-jin as saying.</p>

<p>The South Korean prime minister asked the Chinese president for his country's backing in hosting the 2030 World Expo in the city of Busan, and reportedly Xi said that Beijing would "seriously consider" Seoul's request.</p>

<p>This meeting by both countries also took place against the backdrop of a recent summit between North Korean leader Kim Jon Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin.</p>

<p>"Han explained our side's bold ideas and recent developments related to the Korean Peninsula situation, and urged China to continue playing a constructive role," Chang said.</p>

<p>This also marks the very first visit by a South Korean Prime Minister to China in over 4 years.</p>

<p>"I hope to cultivate a healthy and mature relationship between South Korea and China, grounded in mutual respect, mutual benefit and common interests," Han was quoted by the Prime Minister's Office as saying.</p>

<p>He further said that the talks between Seoul and Beijing indicated towards their commitment to advancing their relations to the next level amidst the threats by North Korea.</p>

<p>"Both countries are not only grappling with heightened regional tensions due to North Korea's persistent provocations but also facing global challenges, such as economic uncertainty and disruptions in supply chains," Han said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

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South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asian Games, on Saturday (September 23), in the city of Hangzhou, as per Yonhap news agency reports.

South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asian Games, on Saturday (September 23), in the city of Hangzhou, as per Yonhap news agency reports. The meeting between the two leaders lasted for about 22 minutes and was held before the opening ceremony of the event, said the South Korean PM's office. Xi after his meeting with Han said that he will seriously consider visiting South Korea, as a part of efforts to back peace and security on the Korean Peninsula. "This means that President Xi knows it is his turn to visit South Korea," the official said on condition of anonymity, adding that Xi's visit has "long been delayed," according to Yonhap news agency. Xi, also told South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo that China is willing to work in order to promote a strategic partnership between the two countries. Also read: Asian Games 2023: Glittering show marks inauguration of continental spectacle The commitment to cooperation between the two countries came ahead of trilateral talks scheduled in Seoul on Tuesday (September 26) involving senior officials from China, Japan and South Korea. The talks are aimed at paving the way for the first summit between the three countries in four years. The meeting will bring South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Chung Byung-won; Takehiro Funakoshi, Japan's senior deputy foreign minister; and Nong Rong, China's assistant minister of foreign affairs all together. "We will make efforts to ensure that the summit can be held promptly, starting with the high-level meeting next week and proceeding through the foreign ministerial conference," Han was quoted by First Vice Foreign Minister Chang Ho-jin as saying. The South Korean prime minister asked the Chinese president for his country's backing in hosting the 2030 World Expo in the city of Busan, and reportedly Xi said that Beijing would "seriously consider" Seoul's request. This meeting by both countries also took place against the backdrop of a recent summit between North Korean leader Kim Jon Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Han explained our side's bold ideas and recent developments related to the Korean Peninsula situation, and urged China to continue playing a constructive role," Chang said. This also marks the very first visit by a South Korean Prime Minister to China in over 4 years. "I hope to cultivate a healthy and mature relationship between South Korea and China, grounded in mutual respect, mutual benefit and common interests," Han was quoted by the Prime Minister's Office as saying. He further said that the talks between Seoul and Beijing indicated towards their commitment to advancing their relations to the next level amidst the threats by North Korea. "Both countries are not only grappling with heightened regional tensions due to North Korea's persistent provocations but also facing global challenges, such as economic uncertainty and disruptions in supply chains," Han said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Xi says he will 'seriously consider' visiting South Korea as he meets PM Han on sidelines of Asian Games

About 50,000 South Korean teachers gathered in Seoul to protest against the worsening work conditions for the teachers in South Korea. The protests came after weeks of mourning the death of the elementary teacher who died by suicide in the month of July.

South Korea | Seoul: 50,000 teachers gather in protest demanding protection of teachers' rights

<p>Iran on Saturday announced that over $6 billion of its frozen funds in South Korea had been unlocked after the&nbsp;release of five Americans from prison to house arrest in Tehran. The country's central bank chief&nbsp;Mohammad Reza Farzin said the funds will be used to buy&nbsp;“non-sanctioned goods”.</p>

<p>“Congratulations to the foreign exchange diplomacy team for successfully releasing seized foreign currency resources,” Farzin wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.</p>

<p>Farzin said the funds would be transferred to six Iranian banks in Qatar. He added that&nbsp;the costs of converting the funds from South Korea’s won currency to euros would be accepted by the “third country” where the money would be deposited to buy the goods.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Farzin's post seemingly confirmed the statement made by Washington a day earlier that there will be restrictions on what Tehran could do with the unfrozen funds.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-iran-talk-with-mutual-understanding-to-cool-tensions-605322"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;US, Iran talk with mutual 'understanding' to cool tensions</strong></a></p>

<p>US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the money already belonged to Iran but "it&nbsp;will not be receiving any sanctions relief."</p>

<p>"Iran's own funds would be used and transferred to restricted accounts such that the monies can only be used for humanitarian purposes," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Iran had earned the money by selling oil to South Korea but Seoul blocked the funds to comply with the sanctions imposed by former US president Donald Trump to squeeze out Tehran's economy.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Iran, Cuba vow to confront US 'aggressive imperial policy'</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>Iran releases&nbsp;prisoners&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>On Friday (August 11), Iran moved the five American prisoners to house arrest, in an effort to have some of the assets unfrozen.&nbsp;If all goes as planned, the American prisoners could leave&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;sometime in September.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Four of the prisoners - Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharqi, Morad Tahbaz and another who preferred to remain anonymous -- were taken&nbsp;out of Tehran's notorious Evin prison as the Biden administration informed their families about the deal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"While this is a positive change, we will not rest until Siamak and others are back home; we continue to count the days until this can happen," Babak Namazi, Siamak's brother told news agency AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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Iran on Saturday announced that over $6 billion of its frozen funds in South Korea had been unlocked after the release of five Americans from prison to house arrest in Tehran.

Iran on Saturday announced that over $6 billion of its frozen funds in South Korea had been unlocked after the release of five Americans from prison to house arrest in Tehran. The country's central bank chief Mohammad Reza Farzin said the funds will be used to buy “non-sanctioned goods”. “Congratulations to the foreign exchange diplomacy team for successfully releasing seized foreign currency resources,” Farzin wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Farzin said the funds would be transferred to six Iranian banks in Qatar. He added that the costs of converting the funds from South Korea’s won currency to euros would be accepted by the “third country” where the money would be deposited to buy the goods. Farzin's post seemingly confirmed the statement made by Washington a day earlier that there will be restrictions on what Tehran could do with the unfrozen funds. Also read | US, Iran talk with mutual 'understanding' to cool tensions US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the money already belonged to Iran but "it will not be receiving any sanctions relief." "Iran's own funds would be used and transferred to restricted accounts such that the monies can only be used for humanitarian purposes," he said. Iran had earned the money by selling oil to South Korea but Seoul blocked the funds to comply with the sanctions imposed by former US president Donald Trump to squeeze out Tehran's economy. Watch | Iran, Cuba vow to confront US 'aggressive imperial policy' Iran releases prisoners On Friday (August 11), Iran moved the five American prisoners to house arrest, in an effort to have some of the assets unfrozen. If all goes as planned, the American prisoners could leave Iran sometime in September. Four of the prisoners - Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharqi, Morad Tahbaz and another who preferred to remain anonymous -- were taken out of Tehran's notorious Evin prison as the Biden administration informed their families about the deal. "While this is a positive change, we will not rest until Siamak and others are back home; we continue to count the days until this can happen," Babak Namazi, Siamak's brother told news agency AFP. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Iran to buy 'non-sanctioned' goods after having S Korean funds 'unblocked'

<p>One person was killed and three were injured in a "stabbing rampage" near a subway station in the South Korean capital Seoul on Friday (July 21), news agencies reported citing local police.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Police said that the attack took place near the Sillim subway station in southwest Seoul. The authorities added that the suspect had been detained by officers at the scene.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The suspect is a man in his 30s and he did not look intoxicated. We are questioning him as to the motive of his crime," they said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Local broadcaster YTN reported that the man was arrested at the scene. So far, the motive behind the attack was not immediately clear.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-to-spread-poland-to-move-soldiers-to-east-due-to-wagner-risks-618116">Will this expand Ukraine war to other regions? Poland moving troops over Wagner risk from Belarus</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>A witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told YTN, "When the police came, he said something along the lines of he didn't want to live, that things weren't going as he wished."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Yonhap news agency said that one of the injured victims in hospital was in critical condition.&nbsp;</p>

<p>YTN reported that the "man shouted he didn't want to live any more as he was being apprehended by the police".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The video shown on the YTN appeared to show police apprehending the suspect, who had sat down on steps and seemed to sit passively as armed police approached him and placed him under arrest.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-says-russian-missiles-strike-odesa-grain-warehouses-618072">Ukraine says Russian missiles strike Odesa grain warehouses</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>According to a store owner in the area, "People ran into my store, telling me a man with a big knife was stabbing people. We locked the door."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported eyewitnesses as saying&nbsp;that the suspect stabbed a man who was talking on the phone in the back multiple times before running off and attacking more people.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"All four victims are reportedly men," it added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
<br />
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One person was killed and three were injured in a "stabbing rampage" near a subway station in the South Korean capital Seoul on Friday (July 21), news agencies reported citing local police.

One person was killed and three were injured in a "stabbing rampage" near a subway station in the South Korean capital Seoul on Friday (July 21), news agencies reported citing local police. Police said that the attack took place near the Sillim subway station in southwest Seoul. The authorities added that the suspect had been detained by officers at the scene. "The suspect is a man in his 30s and he did not look intoxicated. We are questioning him as to the motive of his crime," they said. Local broadcaster YTN reported that the man was arrested at the scene. So far, the motive behind the attack was not immediately clear. Also read: Will this expand Ukraine war to other regions? Poland moving troops over Wagner risk from Belarus A witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told YTN, "When the police came, he said something along the lines of he didn't want to live, that things weren't going as he wished." Yonhap news agency said that one of the injured victims in hospital was in critical condition. YTN reported that the "man shouted he didn't want to live any more as he was being apprehended by the police". The video shown on the YTN appeared to show police apprehending the suspect, who had sat down on steps and seemed to sit passively as armed police approached him and placed him under arrest. Also read: Ukraine says Russian missiles strike Odesa grain warehouses According to a store owner in the area, "People ran into my store, telling me a man with a big knife was stabbing people. We locked the door." The Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported eyewitnesses as saying that the suspect stabbed a man who was talking on the phone in the back multiple times before running off and attacking more people. "All four victims are reportedly men," it added. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Seoul: At least one dead, three injured as man goes on stabbing rampage, arrested

<p>South Korea has stated that it believes that the plan of Japan to release water treated from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant will be able to meet international standards, a few days after a United Nations atomic agency, in its review of the controversial proposal, found it to be safe as China imposed a ban on import of food products from 10 Japanese prefectures, citing safety reasons.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Seoul stated that its own assessments, which are based on the plant's inspection in late May, the data collected, review of the UN nuclear watchdog IAEA’s suggested that there is no danger in releasing more than 1.3 million tonnes of radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean if it is carried out according to the proposal.</p>

<p>“We have confirmed the concentration of radioactive material meets standards for ocean discharge … and therefore, the plan meets international standards including those of the IAEA,” said Bang Moon-kyu, Minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, in a briefing on Friday.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fukushima-nuclear-plant-water-release-is-safe-says-iaea-chief-612362">Fukushima nuclear plant water release is safe, says IAEA chief</a></p>

<h2><strong>IAEA chief says ‘completely safe' to release treated wastewater</strong></h2>

<p>Assuring the safety of the water to be released, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said even though fears over the proposed plan reflect a “very logical sense of uncertainty” that should be considered seriously, he is “completely convinced of the sound basis of our conclusions.”</p>

<p>“We have been looking at this basic policy for more than two years. We have been assessing it against … the most stringent standards that exist,” Grossi said while speaking to CNN on Friday.</p>

<p>“And we are quite certain of what we are saying, and the scheme we have proposed," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>China imposes ban on Japanese food&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>China’s customs department on Friday announced a ban on the import of food products, coming from 10 Japanese prefectures, citing safety reasons and said that it would increase testing for radioactive substances.</p>

<p>In a statement, the department said that it will enhance monitoring of products which include seafood and continue to place curbs on produce coming from one-fifth of Japan's prefectures due to safety reasons.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Japan set to release water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/japan-set-to-release-water-from-the-fukushima-nuclear-plant-into-the-pacific-611349/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>China will "strengthen supervision" and "rigorously examine" certificates for food imports, which will especially include aquatic products coming from the other non-banned prefectures, said the administration, emphasising restrictions on the 10 prefectures that are in place.</p>

<p>"The Japanese side still has many problems in the legitimacy of sea discharge, the reliability of purification equipment and the perfection of monitoring programmes," said Chinese customs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It stated that the report prepared by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) fails to fully reflect the views of all experts who are involved in the assessment process, and they did not endorse the conclusions unanimously.</p>

<p>The UN nuclear watchdog approved Japan's plan on Tuesday, as it faced opposition at home and abroad. Japan insists that the water released will be safe and will meet global standards.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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South Korea has stated that it believes that the plan of Japan to release water treated from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant will be able to meet international standards, a few days after a United Nations atomic agency, in its review of the controversial proposal, found it to be safe as China imposed a ban on import of food products from 10 Japanese prefectures, citing safety reasons.

South Korea has stated that it believes that the plan of Japan to release water treated from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant will be able to meet international standards, a few days after a United Nations atomic agency, in its review of the controversial proposal, found it to be safe as China imposed a ban on import of food products from 10 Japanese prefectures, citing safety reasons. Seoul stated that its own assessments, which are based on the plant's inspection in late May, the data collected, review of the UN nuclear watchdog IAEA’s suggested that there is no danger in releasing more than 1.3 million tonnes of radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean if it is carried out according to the proposal. “We have confirmed the concentration of radioactive material meets standards for ocean discharge … and therefore, the plan meets international standards including those of the IAEA,” said Bang Moon-kyu, Minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, in a briefing on Friday. ALSO READ | Fukushima nuclear plant water release is safe, says IAEA chief IAEA chief says ‘completely safe' to release treated wastewater Assuring the safety of the water to be released, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said even though fears over the proposed plan reflect a “very logical sense of uncertainty” that should be considered seriously, he is “completely convinced of the sound basis of our conclusions.” “We have been looking at this basic policy for more than two years. We have been assessing it against … the most stringent standards that exist,” Grossi said while speaking to CNN on Friday. “And we are quite certain of what we are saying, and the scheme we have proposed," he added. China imposes ban on Japanese food China’s customs department on Friday announced a ban on the import of food products, coming from 10 Japanese prefectures, citing safety reasons and said that it would increase testing for radioactive substances. In a statement, the department said that it will enhance monitoring of products which include seafood and continue to place curbs on produce coming from one-fifth of Japan's prefectures due to safety reasons. WATCH | Japan set to release water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific China will "strengthen supervision" and "rigorously examine" certificates for food imports, which will especially include aquatic products coming from the other non-banned prefectures, said the administration, emphasising restrictions on the 10 prefectures that are in place. "The Japanese side still has many problems in the legitimacy of sea discharge, the reliability of purification equipment and the perfection of monitoring programmes," said Chinese customs. It stated that the report prepared by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) fails to fully reflect the views of all experts who are involved in the assessment process, and they did not endorse the conclusions unanimously. The UN nuclear watchdog approved Japan's plan on Tuesday, as it faced opposition at home and abroad. Japan insists that the water released will be safe and will meet global standards. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Seoul supports Fukushima water plan as China imposes ban on Japanese food

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<p>South Korea is undergoing a unique crisis. There is a huge shortage of paediatricians, with the majority leaving their practice thinking the field has no future. The hospitals are unable to fill the positions, sparking a major health concern for the children of the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the capital city of Seoul, the number of paediatric clinics and hospitals has fallen to just 456, down 12.5 per cent over the last five years. In the first half of 2022, the hospitals were able to secure the services of only 16.3 per cent of the paediatricians they sought, compared to 97.4 per cent in 2013.</p>

<h2><strong>Why are doctors giving up paediatrics?</strong></h2>

<p>The root cause of the problem, according to paediatricians, is the decline in the birth rate which fell to 0.78 in 2022. Combined with the failure of the insurance system to adapt, it has left the doctors with no way but to shun the field they believe has hit a dead-end.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, when the birth rate was healthy in the Asian country, paediatricians could manage with the low-price, high-volume model. However, since the dip in birth rates, the low fee has become a severe problem and insurance services have not revised their prices to keep up with the changing times.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/this-country-has-the-worlds-lowest-fertility-rate-breaks-its-own-record-564845" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | This country has the world's lowest fertility rate, breaks its own record</strong></a></p>

<p>"In foreign countries, the government pays enough to maintain the hospital even if you see 20 patients a day. But it's about $10 per treatment in Korea, so clinics have to see about 80 patients a day," said Dr Lim Hyun-taek, president of the Korean Pediatric Association.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Paediatricians are South Korea’s lowest-paid doctors, making 57 per cent less than the average doctor's salary, according to data accessed from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/population-collapse-number-of-japanese-households-with-kids-falls-to-historic-low-612123" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | Population collapse? Number of Japanese households with kids falls to historic low</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Long waiting queues&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The shortage of doctors for children means that parents are having to endure long waiting periods for the treatment of sick children.</p>

<p>"Patients dying while bouncing around multiple emergency rooms, dying when it's not a serious disease, it's a travesty," Dr Choi Yong-jae, vice president of the Korea Children's Hospital Association, was quoted as saying by The Guardian.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Ministry of Health and Welfare has acknowledged the problem and said measures were being put in place to address them. Experts, however, warn that there is no quick fix to the problem.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-fineprint-japans-pm-kishida-vows-to-raise-birth-rate-555652" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH | WION Fineprint: Japan's PM Kishida vows to raise birth rate</strong></a></p>

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<p>While the doctors giving up on child healthcare is a massive problem on its own, the elephant in the room is the dwindling birth rate. According to reports, S Korea needs a fertility rate of 2.1 to maintain a stable population.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Seoul's population reportedly shrank for the first time in 2021. The&nbsp;decline could have direct repercussions on its economy which is one of the biggest in the world.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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South Korea is undergoing a unique crisis. There is a huge shortage of paediatricians, with the majority leaving their practice thinking the field has no future.

South Korea is undergoing a unique crisis. There is a huge shortage of paediatricians, with the majority leaving their practice thinking the field has no future. The hospitals are unable to fill the positions, sparking a major health concern for the children of the country. In the capital city of Seoul, the number of paediatric clinics and hospitals has fallen to just 456, down 12.5 per cent over the last five years. In the first half of 2022, the hospitals were able to secure the services of only 16.3 per cent of the paediatricians they sought, compared to 97.4 per cent in 2013. Why are doctors giving up paediatrics? The root cause of the problem, according to paediatricians, is the decline in the birth rate which fell to 0.78 in 2022. Combined with the failure of the insurance system to adapt, it has left the doctors with no way but to shun the field they believe has hit a dead-end. Notably, when the birth rate was healthy in the Asian country, paediatricians could manage with the low-price, high-volume model. However, since the dip in birth rates, the low fee has become a severe problem and insurance services have not revised their prices to keep up with the changing times. Also read | This country has the world's lowest fertility rate, breaks its own record "In foreign countries, the government pays enough to maintain the hospital even if you see 20 patients a day. But it's about $10 per treatment in Korea, so clinics have to see about 80 patients a day," said Dr Lim Hyun-taek, president of the Korean Pediatric Association. Paediatricians are South Korea’s lowest-paid doctors, making 57 per cent less than the average doctor's salary, according to data accessed from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Also read | Population collapse? Number of Japanese households with kids falls to historic low Long waiting queues The shortage of doctors for children means that parents are having to endure long waiting periods for the treatment of sick children. "Patients dying while bouncing around multiple emergency rooms, dying when it's not a serious disease, it's a travesty," Dr Choi Yong-jae, vice president of the Korea Children's Hospital Association, was quoted as saying by The Guardian. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has acknowledged the problem and said measures were being put in place to address them. Experts, however, warn that there is no quick fix to the problem. WATCH | WION Fineprint: Japan's PM Kishida vows to raise birth rate While the doctors giving up on child healthcare is a massive problem on its own, the elephant in the room is the dwindling birth rate. According to reports, S Korea needs a fertility rate of 2.1 to maintain a stable population. Seoul's population reportedly shrank for the first time in 2021. The decline could have direct repercussions on its economy which is one of the biggest in the world. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Doctors in South Korea are giving up on paediatrics, sparking major health concern. Know why

Tens of thousands of South Koreans brought rainbow pride to the streets of Seoul on Saturday for an annual celebration of LGBTQ rights, while demonstrators against them snagged a prime site marchers had used since 2015.

Seoul celebrates pride despite LGBTQ backlash

South Korea went into a panic of evacuation after North Korea launched its first spy satellite. This satellite is called "CHOLLIMA-1" and it malfunctioned in its second stage of launch. USA, Japan & South Korea have strongly condemned this launch. Why? What's the story here?

Gravitas: Evacuation warnings in Seoul

<p>Seoul is lighting up for its Bangtan&nbsp;boys. As BTS celebrates its 10th anniversary on June 13, several landmarks in Seoul will turn purple to mark the special occasion. According to reports, Hype, the K-pop powerhouse behind the group, and the Seoul metropolitan government are currently having a joint discussion on holding various events to commemorate the anniversary.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
What more! The celebration will also give a hat-tip to the ARMY, the loyal fans of the band. The special event place will be called ARMY road, as a tribute to the band's fandom.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
City officials expect the events will help boost Seoul's tourism industry, which the COVID-19&nbsp;pandemic has battered.<br />
<br />
BTS will also be organising commemorative events and festivals ahead of its debut day anniversary.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
In the past two years, the band had organized online events due to the pandemic. The events were primarily large-scale online meet-and-greet events for fans.&nbsp;Similar online events are also expected this year even though some band members are on their mandatory military duties.<br />
<br />
"We're going to announce when our plans for the events are decided," a Hype official said.<br />
<br />
The seven-member band will also release a memoir titled,&nbsp;<em>Beyond&nbsp;the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS,</em> &nbsp;to mark the special day. A commemorative stamp will also be released in South Korea.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, BTS member V, also known as Kim Taehyung, was seen in Paris recently with BLACKPINK vocalist Jennie. Rumours about Jennie and Taehyung dating have been swirling for a while, and a video of them walking together in Paris went viral on the internet recently.&nbsp;</p>


Seoul is lighting up for its Bangtan boys. As BTS celebrates its 10th anniversary on June 13, several landmarks in Seoul will turn purple to mark the special occasion.

Seoul is lighting up for its Bangtan boys. As BTS celebrates its 10th anniversary on June 13, several landmarks in Seoul will turn purple to mark the special occasion. According to reports, Hype, the K-pop powerhouse behind the group, and the Seoul metropolitan government are currently having a joint discussion on holding various events to commemorate the anniversary. What more! The celebration will also give a hat-tip to the ARMY, the loyal fans of the band. The special event place will be called ARMY road, as a tribute to the band's fandom. City officials expect the events will help boost Seoul's tourism industry, which the COVID-19 pandemic has battered. BTS will also be organising commemorative events and festivals ahead of its debut day anniversary. In the past two years, the band had organized online events due to the pandemic. The events were primarily large-scale online meet-and-greet events for fans. Similar online events are also expected this year even though some band members are on their mandatory military duties. "We're going to announce when our plans for the events are decided," a Hype official said. The seven-member band will also release a memoir titled, Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS, to mark the special day. A commemorative stamp will also be released in South Korea. Meanwhile, BTS member V, also known as Kim Taehyung, was seen in Paris recently with BLACKPINK vocalist Jennie. Rumours about Jennie and Taehyung dating have been swirling for a while, and a video of them walking together in Paris went viral on the internet recently.

Seoul to light up as BTS celebrates 10th anniversary in June 

The South Korean President and Canadian Prime Minister agreed to step up cooperation on critical minerals and other economic security issues. Hem Kaur Saroya brings you the report.

Ottawa, Seoul focus on critical minerals | WION Climate Tracker

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is in Seoul. He will be meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk You now the visit comes just a few weeks after both countries signed the Washington declaration pact the aim of the latest summit is to counter China's growing assertiveness and also to strengthen security cooperation amid nuclear threats from North Korea.

Kishida in Seoul to forge closer ties

<p>Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly recap of some of the biggest stories from capitals around the world.</p>

<p>In New Delhi and rest of India, Olympic athletes are often associated with one defining moment. When the country's flag goes up, the national anthem is heard and the world stands up in the honour of two. All this happens amid spontaneous welling up of eyes of the patriots, including the one standing on the podium.</p>

<p><img alt="Sakshi Malik" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8efcfffc-e7e8-4363-8537-bf49ef2ff2df" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2866%29.png" /></p>

<p><em>Indian wrestler Sakshi Malik got emotional after winning Gold medal in Women's 62kg freestyle wrestling in Commonwealth Games, Birmingham in August 2022 | Twitter</em></p>

<p>This week, the capital of the world's most populous nation saw some of its top athletes welling up, for the second time in the last four months as they relaunched their protest against alleged sexual abuse within India's wrestling federation.</p>

<p><img alt="Indian wrestlers" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="93494279-d08c-417c-bbb0-e9542e8f3b70" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2867%29_2.png" /></p>

<p><em>Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat (L) and Sakshi Malik (R) break down while speaking to the reporters in New Delhi earlier this week | PTI</em></p>

<p>Read this, and more, in The Capitals this week.</p>

<h2><strong>Khartoum, Sudan</strong></h2>

<p><img alt="Sudan conflict" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aae3f924-6521-4c96-800c-6211a05503d6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2859%29_0.png" /></p>

<p><em>An aerial view of black smoke rising over Khartoum | AFP</em></p>

<p>The fighting between Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) entered third week, as the two warring sides failed to honour the 72-hour truce that was agreed upon earlier this week. Reports of prison break amid the conflict have gripped the country, stoking speculations related to the revival of Sudan's political Islamic movement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So far, neither side has gained the control of capital Khartoum.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, thousands of foreign nationals, including nearly 3000 Indians, have been evacuated from conflict-ridden Sudan so far.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Washington D.C., United States of America</strong></h2>

<p><img alt="Joe Biden and Yoon Suk-Yeol" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8ee30318-7408-46aa-bbe2-33d4157851e1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2860%29_0.png" /></p>

<p><em>US President Joe Biden hosted South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol in the White House this week | Twitter/@JoeBiden</em></p>

<p>US President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. aka Joe Biden, 80, announced his presidential bid for 2024.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But Biden's ageing profile and a prospective presidential contest against former US President Donald Trump was not the biggest story from the US capital this week.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Instead, the state visit of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol became the geopolitical event with most consequential optics in the power corridors of the United States.</p>

<p>Yoon and Biden signed a landmark deal to deter nuclear belligerence in the Korean peninsula.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With that the two leaders, for now, have managed to limit the nuclear proliferation as South Korea reiterated its commitment to the Nuclear non-proliferation treaty.</p>

<p>Dubbed 'Washington declaration', the deal assured Seoul that the United States will regularly deploy its strategic assets in the region. The declaration also called for the advancement of achieving the 'complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.'</p>

<p>South Korean president's visit's high was a state dinner hosted by Biden. President Yoon Suk Yeol belted out his own <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-i-had-no-damn-idea-you-could-biden-stunned-as-s-korean-prez-sings-american-pie-at-white-house-586628">rendition</a> of Don McClean’s classic song, 'American Pie'. The impromptu performance went viral, and became a diplomatic highlight of Seoul-Washington ties on social media.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Asunción, Paraguay</strong></h2>

<p><img alt="Paraguay Elections" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6b7df2c0-3bcb-4931-bcc5-a8d8b1971c38" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2861%29_1.png" /></p>

<p><em>A municipal worker removes a political advertising in Asunción on April 29, 2023 | AFP</em></p>

<p>Paraguay went to polls this Sunday as 4.8 million eligible voters in the South American nation geographically triangulated between Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina began stamping their ballets.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But a new president in Asunción may mean geopolitical consequences two oceans away in the Taiwanese capital of Taipei, the self-ruled island which China claims as its own.</p>

<p>Paraguay is one of the only 13 countries that recognises Taipei over Beijing.</p>

<p>Lawyer Efrain Alegre, 60, of the Concertacion center-left coalition is leading narrowly in opinion polls against the ruling Colorado Party's Santiago Pena.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Alegre has vowed to reconsider country's diplomatic positioning of choosing Taipei over Beijing. &nbsp;</p>

<p>"Relations with Taiwan mean the loss of one of the largest markets, which is China," Alegre told news agency AFP.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Paraguay makes a very big effort, a very big sacrifice to have relations with Taiwan, but we are not seeing from Taiwan the same effort."</p>

<h2><strong>Baku, Azerbaijan-Yerevan, Armenia</strong></h2>

<p><img alt="Armenia-Azerbaijan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c42eb3f0-ff45-4b11-98bb-f0ffbdbadffa" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2862%29_0.png" /></p>

<p><em>French foreign minister Catherine Colonna and Armenian foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan hold a press conference following their talks in Yerevan on April 28, 2023 | AFP</em></p>

<p>French foreign minister Catherine Colonna visited the capitals of Azerbaijan and Armenia this week in an effort to cool down the reignited tensions between two West Asian rivals. Colonna's visit ensured that the two nations sit across each other in Washington on Sunday, when the Azeri and Armenian foreign ministers are scheduled to discuss the "agreement on normalisation of relations."</p>

<p>Both the countries went to war over disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region in 2020 in which Baku emerged overwhelmingly victorious. The mountain region is now internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but populated mainly by ethnic Armenians.</p>

<p>The tensions reignited after Azerbaijan set up a new checkpoint last Sunday on the road to Karabakh, the Lachin corridor, in a move that Armenia that called a gross violation of a 2020 ceasefire.</p>

<h2><strong>Tokyo, Japan</strong></h2>

<p><img alt="ispace mission" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6b126a95-73b1-4d88-addd-5697eabf30b2" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2863%29_1.png" /></p>

<p><em>Employees of 'ispace'&nbsp;bow their heads after the company announced they lost signal from the lander in HAKUTO-R lunar exploration program | Reuters</em></p>

<p>World's first private moon landing failed this week. Japan's commercial space startup ispace lost contact with its Hakuto-R Mission 1 (M1), and said that it probably crashed on the lunar surface. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The M1 lander was launched on December 11, 2023 from Cape Canaveral, Florida on a SpaceX rocket.</p>

<p>Soon after ispace lost contact with its L1 lander, its employees at a venue in Tokyo bowed their heads in respect of the lost lander.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Japanese government expressed disappointment at the failure of ispace mission. But said that the country wants ispace to "keep trying" as its efforts were significant to the development of a domestic space industry.</p>

<h2><strong>New Delhi, India</strong></h2>

<p><img alt="Indian wrestlers" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="697c0b6c-dd32-4c4b-88f9-c81d69bf595d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2865%29.png" /></p>

<p><em>Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, left, Bajrang Punia, centre, and Sakshi Malik take part in a sit-in New Delhi demanding the arrest of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief | Reuters</em></p>

<p>In New Delhi, thirty Indian wrestlers, including country's Olympic medalists, relaunched their sit-in protest against Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, also a lawmaker of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Led by Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Anshu Malik and Bajrang Punia, the protesting athletes have accused Singh of sexual abuse of vulnerable female wrestlers for years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the grapplers approached India's Supreme Court this week, the police in New Delhi filed two First Information Reports (FIRs) against the wrestling federation boss. One of the incidence reports have been filed under the charges related to India's Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, meaning the supposed victim was less than 18 when the sexual abuse allegedly took place.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The wrestlers had first launched their protest earlier this year on January 18. Back then, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government quickly sprung into action, formed an investigation body led by some of India's most decorated athletes, and sought a report in four weeks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the findings of the investigation into sexual assault accusations have not been made public, soon after wrestlers relaunched their protest this week, the government released its "major findings". One of them point to the absence of a duly constituted Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) in the federation mandated within India's sexual harassment prevention law.</p>

<p>Amid the second round of protest in over three months, Singh continues to be the chief of India's Wrestling federation.</p>

<p>The wrestlers have vowed they will continue to protest until Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is arrested and a host of reforms are brought within the wrestling federation.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly recap of some of the biggest stories from capitals around the world. In New Delhi and rest of India, Olympic athletes are often associated with one defining moment.

Hello and Welcome. This is The Capitals. Your weekly recap of some of the biggest stories from capitals around the world. In New Delhi and rest of India, Olympic athletes are often associated with one defining moment. When the country's flag goes up, the national anthem is heard and the world stands up in the honour of two. All this happens amid spontaneous welling up of eyes of the patriots, including the one standing on the podium. Indian wrestler Sakshi Malik got emotional after winning Gold medal in Women's 62kg freestyle wrestling in Commonwealth Games, Birmingham in August 2022 | Twitter This week, the capital of the world's most populous nation saw some of its top athletes welling up, for the second time in the last four months as they relaunched their protest against alleged sexual abuse within India's wrestling federation. Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat (L) and Sakshi Malik (R) break down while speaking to the reporters in New Delhi earlier this week | PTI Read this, and more, in The Capitals this week. Khartoum, Sudan An aerial view of black smoke rising over Khartoum | AFP The fighting between Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) entered third week, as the two warring sides failed to honour the 72-hour truce that was agreed upon earlier this week. Reports of prison break amid the conflict have gripped the country, stoking speculations related to the revival of Sudan's political Islamic movement. So far, neither side has gained the control of capital Khartoum. Meanwhile, thousands of foreign nationals, including nearly 3000 Indians, have been evacuated from conflict-ridden Sudan so far. Washington D.C., United States of America US President Joe Biden hosted South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol in the White House this week | Twitter/@JoeBiden US President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. aka Joe Biden, 80, announced his presidential bid for 2024. But Biden's ageing profile and a prospective presidential contest against former US President Donald Trump was not the biggest story from the US capital this week. Instead, the state visit of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol became the geopolitical event with most consequential optics in the power corridors of the United States. Yoon and Biden signed a landmark deal to deter nuclear belligerence in the Korean peninsula. With that the two leaders, for now, have managed to limit the nuclear proliferation as South Korea reiterated its commitment to the Nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Dubbed 'Washington declaration', the deal assured Seoul that the United States will regularly deploy its strategic assets in the region. The declaration also called for the advancement of achieving the 'complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.' South Korean president's visit's high was a state dinner hosted by Biden. President Yoon Suk Yeol belted out his own rendition of Don McClean’s classic song, 'American Pie'. The impromptu performance went viral, and became a diplomatic highlight of Seoul-Washington ties on social media. Asunción, Paraguay A municipal worker removes a political advertising in Asunción on April 29, 2023 | AFP Paraguay went to polls this Sunday as 4.8 million eligible voters in the South American nation geographically triangulated between Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina began stamping their ballets. But a new president in Asunción may mean geopolitical consequences two oceans away in the Taiwanese capital of Taipei, the self-ruled island which China claims as its own. Paraguay is one of the only 13 countries that recognises Taipei over Beijing. Lawyer Efrain Alegre, 60, of the Concertacion center-left coalition is leading narrowly in opinion polls against the ruling Colorado Party's Santiago Pena. Alegre has vowed to reconsider country's diplomatic positioning of choosing Taipei over Beijing. "Relations with Taiwan mean the loss of one of the largest markets, which is China," Alegre told news agency AFP. "Paraguay makes a very big effort, a very big sacrifice to have relations with Taiwan, but we are not seeing from Taiwan the same effort." Baku, Azerbaijan-Yerevan, Armenia French foreign minister Catherine Colonna and Armenian foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan hold a press conference following their talks in Yerevan on April 28, 2023 | AFP French foreign minister Catherine Colonna visited the capitals of Azerbaijan and Armenia this week in an effort to cool down the reignited tensions between two West Asian rivals. Colonna's visit ensured that the two nations sit across each other in Washington on Sunday, when the Azeri and Armenian foreign ministers are scheduled to discuss the "agreement on normalisation of relations." Both the countries went to war over disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region in 2020 in which Baku emerged overwhelmingly victorious. The mountain region is now internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but populated mainly by ethnic Armenians. The tensions reignited after Azerbaijan set up a new checkpoint last Sunday on the road to Karabakh, the Lachin corridor, in a move that Armenia that called a gross violation of a 2020 ceasefire. Tokyo, Japan Employees of 'ispace' bow their heads after the company announced they lost signal from the lander in HAKUTO-R lunar exploration program | Reuters World's first private moon landing failed this week. Japan's commercial space startup ispace lost contact with its Hakuto-R Mission 1 (M1), and said that it probably crashed on the lunar surface. The M1 lander was launched on December 11, 2023 from Cape Canaveral, Florida on a SpaceX rocket. Soon after ispace lost contact with its L1 lander, its employees at a venue in Tokyo bowed their heads in respect of the lost lander. The Japanese government expressed disappointment at the failure of ispace mission. But said that the country wants ispace to "keep trying" as its efforts were significant to the development of a domestic space industry. New Delhi, India Indian wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, left, Bajrang Punia, centre, and Sakshi Malik take part in a sit-in New Delhi demanding the arrest of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief | Reuters In New Delhi, thirty Indian wrestlers, including country's Olympic medalists, relaunched their sit-in protest against Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, also a lawmaker of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Led by Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Anshu Malik and Bajrang Punia, the protesting athletes have accused Singh of sexual abuse of vulnerable female wrestlers for years. After the grapplers approached India's Supreme Court this week, the police in New Delhi filed two First Information Reports (FIRs) against the wrestling federation boss. One of the incidence reports have been filed under the charges related to India's Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, meaning the supposed victim was less than 18 when the sexual abuse allegedly took place. The wrestlers had first launched their protest earlier this year on January 18. Back then, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government quickly sprung into action, formed an investigation body led by some of India's most decorated athletes, and sought a report in four weeks. While the findings of the investigation into sexual assault accusations have not been made public, soon after wrestlers relaunched their protest this week, the government released its "major findings". One of them point to the absence of a duly constituted Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) in the federation mandated within India's sexual harassment prevention law. Amid the second round of protest in over three months, Singh continues to be the chief of India's Wrestling federation. The wrestlers have vowed they will continue to protest until Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is arrested and a host of reforms are brought within the wrestling federation. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

The Capitals: Sudan's capital on boil, Washington's 'American Pie' for Seoul, and more

<p>The government of South Korea is urging reclusive kids to step out of their homes and experience the world outside.</p>

<p>The country's Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said that the cabinet approved a resolution on Tuesday to potentially spend thousands of dollars year on education, career counselling, and health support for those who are living as recluses and are between the ages of nine&nbsp;and 24, reported Bloomberg.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The programme, which expands on a November statement, is aimed at people who have significant social withdrawal, or "hikikomori," a term coined in Japan to describe the condition, which likely became worse by the pandemic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Youth in South Korea who meet certain criteria can get funding in a number of categories, including a monthly living expense allowance of 650,000 won (US$490).&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ministry issued a statement stating that the government is "strengthening its support to enable reclusive youth to recover their daily lives and reintegrate into society."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO&nbsp;READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-hikikomori-the-trend-keeping-almost-15-mn-japanese-living-in-isolation-579782">What is hikikomori? The trend keeping almost 1.5mn Japanese in isolation</a></p>

<p>The primary objective of the policy is to assist underprivileged kids, but it is also a means by which the nation might address its declining working-age population in the face of frighteningly low birthrates and stringent immigration regulations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>By 2044, South Korea is expected to have an ageing population that will only be surpassed by Hong Kong in terms of the proportion of the population that is over 65.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Government officials have responded by making a number of emergency actions, such as providing childcare subsidies to raise the lowest fertility rate in the world. Attempts to raise the country’s population through births have cost more than $200 billion so far, but with limited success. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO&nbsp;WATCH |&nbsp;Pentagon leak shows South Korea divided on sending Ukraine weapons | Trending on WION</strong></p>

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<p>This action was taken right after President Yoon Suk Yeol urged officials to approach the matter with a "emergency mindset" and dubbed the birthrate and subsequent drop in productivity a "crucial national agenda".</p>

<p>“This policy is fundamentally a welfare measure,” said&nbsp;Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University in Seoul, who spoke to Bloomberg.&nbsp;“While it’s good to try various approaches to boost working age population, it cannot be seen as a long-term solution to fix the population problem here.”</p>

<p>Despite the country's booming economy in recent years, South Korea continues to struggle with high youth unemployment, which is the highest among all age groups at 7.2 per cent.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

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The government of South Korea is urging reclusive kids to step out of their homes and experience the world outside. The country's Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said that the cabinet approved a resolution on Tuesday to potentially spend thousands of dollars year on education, career counselling, and health support for those who are living as recluses and are between the ages of nine and 24, reported Bloomberg.

The government of South Korea is urging reclusive kids to step out of their homes and experience the world outside. The country's Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said that the cabinet approved a resolution on Tuesday to potentially spend thousands of dollars year on education, career counselling, and health support for those who are living as recluses and are between the ages of nine and 24, reported Bloomberg. The programme, which expands on a November statement, is aimed at people who have significant social withdrawal, or "hikikomori," a term coined in Japan to describe the condition, which likely became worse by the pandemic. Youth in South Korea who meet certain criteria can get funding in a number of categories, including a monthly living expense allowance of 650,000 won (US$490). The ministry issued a statement stating that the government is "strengthening its support to enable reclusive youth to recover their daily lives and reintegrate into society." ALSO READ | What is hikikomori? The trend keeping almost 1.5mn Japanese in isolation The primary objective of the policy is to assist underprivileged kids, but it is also a means by which the nation might address its declining working-age population in the face of frighteningly low birthrates and stringent immigration regulations. By 2044, South Korea is expected to have an ageing population that will only be surpassed by Hong Kong in terms of the proportion of the population that is over 65. Government officials have responded by making a number of emergency actions, such as providing childcare subsidies to raise the lowest fertility rate in the world. Attempts to raise the country’s population through births have cost more than $200 billion so far, but with limited success. ALSO WATCH | Pentagon leak shows South Korea divided on sending Ukraine weapons | Trending on WION This action was taken right after President Yoon Suk Yeol urged officials to approach the matter with a "emergency mindset" and dubbed the birthrate and subsequent drop in productivity a "crucial national agenda". “This policy is fundamentally a welfare measure,” said Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University in Seoul, who spoke to Bloomberg. “While it’s good to try various approaches to boost working age population, it cannot be seen as a long-term solution to fix the population problem here.” Despite the country's booming economy in recent years, South Korea continues to struggle with high youth unemployment, which is the highest among all age groups at 7.2 per cent. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

South Korea tries $500 incentive to encourage reclusive kids to venture out

<p>Over 500 residents of South Korea’s eastern coastal city of Gangneung had to be evacuated, on Tuesday (April 11) after a wildfire fueled by strong winds and dry weather began on a mountain, said the officials. Dozens of homes have been destroyed, as per media reports, while the Korea Forest Service said firefighters have extinguished around 88 per cent of the fire, as of 3:30 pm (local time).&nbsp;</p>

<p>More than 1,410 firefighters, 200 vehicles and six helicopters were dispatched in a bid to put out the blaze, said&nbsp;officials, as per local media reports. There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. Meanwhile, around 70 homes and other buildings have reportedly been destroyed while nearly 300 residents were evacuated to facilities that included an ice-skating arena and a middle school gym.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ClimateTracker?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ClimateTracker</a> | Hundreds of South Koreans were forced to flee a wildfire fuelled by strong winds that burned parts of an eastern coastal city, destroying dozens of homes. <a href="https://twitter.com/eriknjoka?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ErikNjoka</a> tells you more<br />
<br />
Watch more: <a href="https://t.co/AXC5qRugeb">https://t.co/AXC5qRugeb</a> <a href="https://t.co/wY5uvHNYLg">pic.twitter.com/wY5uvHNYLg</a></p>
— WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1645710962245226500?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The fire began early Monday, around 8:30 am (local time), the officials have also speculated that the wildfire may have been caused by a wind-damaged pine tree touching an electric wire before spreading to the nearby forest, reported the South Korean news agency, Yonhap. According to the Gangwon Provincial Governor&nbsp;Kim Jin-tae the fire has also seemingly slowed by rain that began in the afternoon.</p>

<p>So far, the fire has engulfed 103 hectares of woodland which is&nbsp;the equivalent of 144 football fields including at least 28 homes, 12 pension houses and four hotel buildings, as per Yonhap. Additionally, the officials have also evacuated some 700 tourists staying in nearby accommodations as a precautionary measure.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Early Tuesday, the coastal city experienced typhoon-class strong winds which reportedly worsened the situation and also hampered efforts to bring the wildfire under control with water-bombing aircraft unable to take off due to the winds. As of Tuesday afternoon, The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said winds in the Gangneung area were blowing as strong&nbsp;as 103 kilometres per hour.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>ALSO WATCH | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-south-korea-over-100-homes-evacuated-after-forest-fire-in-central-seoul-578316">South Korea: Over 100 homes evacuated after forest fire in central Seoul</a></strong><br />
<br />
The city which is home to over 200,000 people is around 170 kilometres away from the capital Seoul. The KMA has also issued a strong wind advisory in other regions across the country attributing the unusual weather conditions to the Korean Peninsula being located between high pressure to the south and low pressure to the north.&nbsp;</p>

<p>South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has asked officials to mobilise all available resources “equipment and personnel” to control and extinguish the wildfire as soon as possible and quickly evacuate nearby residents to minimise casualties, said the presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Over 500 residents of South Korea’s eastern coastal city of Gangneung had to be evacuated, on Tuesday (April 11) after a wildfire fueled by strong winds and dry weather began on a mountain, said the officials.

Over 500 residents of South Korea’s eastern coastal city of Gangneung had to be evacuated, on Tuesday (April 11) after a wildfire fueled by strong winds and dry weather began on a mountain, said the officials. Dozens of homes have been destroyed, as per media reports, while the Korea Forest Service said firefighters have extinguished around 88 per cent of the fire, as of 3:30 pm (local time). More than 1,410 firefighters, 200 vehicles and six helicopters were dispatched in a bid to put out the blaze, said officials, as per local media reports. There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. Meanwhile, around 70 homes and other buildings have reportedly been destroyed while nearly 300 residents were evacuated to facilities that included an ice-skating arena and a middle school gym. #ClimateTracker | Hundreds of South Koreans were forced to flee a wildfire fuelled by strong winds that burned parts of an eastern coastal city, destroying dozens of homes. @ErikNjoka tells you more Watch more: https://t.co/AXC5qRugeb pic.twitter.com/wY5uvHNYLg — WION (@WIONews) April 11, 2023 × The fire began early Monday, around 8:30 am (local time), the officials have also speculated that the wildfire may have been caused by a wind-damaged pine tree touching an electric wire before spreading to the nearby forest, reported the South Korean news agency, Yonhap. According to the Gangwon Provincial Governor Kim Jin-tae the fire has also seemingly slowed by rain that began in the afternoon. So far, the fire has engulfed 103 hectares of woodland which is the equivalent of 144 football fields including at least 28 homes, 12 pension houses and four hotel buildings, as per Yonhap. Additionally, the officials have also evacuated some 700 tourists staying in nearby accommodations as a precautionary measure. Early Tuesday, the coastal city experienced typhoon-class strong winds which reportedly worsened the situation and also hampered efforts to bring the wildfire under control with water-bombing aircraft unable to take off due to the winds. As of Tuesday afternoon, The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said winds in the Gangneung area were blowing as strong as 103 kilometres per hour. ALSO WATCH | South Korea: Over 100 homes evacuated after forest fire in central Seoul The city which is home to over 200,000 people is around 170 kilometres away from the capital Seoul. The KMA has also issued a strong wind advisory in other regions across the country attributing the unusual weather conditions to the Korean Peninsula being located between high pressure to the south and low pressure to the north. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has asked officials to mobilise all available resources “equipment and personnel” to control and extinguish the wildfire as soon as possible and quickly evacuate nearby residents to minimise casualties, said the presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

South Korea: Hundreds forced to evacuate after wildfire in a seaside city

<p>A forest fire raged in the central region of the South Korean capital Seoul, on Sunday (April 2), prompting the evacuation of at least 120 homes in the densely populated city, said officials, as per Reuters. Meanwhile, President Yoon Suk Yeol has asked relevant authorities to make all-out efforts to put out and prevent spring wildfires, said his office, as per local media reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The statement was issued following the wildfire on Sunday on Mount Inwang, near the previous location of Korea’s presidential office, and a mountain in Hongseong which is some 114 km south of the South Korean capital. The fire began on the mountain in the middle of Seoul at around 11:53 am (local time) and burned forests the size of some 30 soccer fields, said officials.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<p>The wildfire was nearly extinguished around 5:00 pm (local time). No casualties or injuries were reported due to the fire. Images and visuals of the incident show smoke billowing from forests on the mountain, which was reportedly seen across the city as firefighters battled to put out the fire with water-bombing aircraft.</p>

<p>According to local media reports, as of 2:30 pm (local time), some 580 officials and nine helicopters were deployed in Mount Inwang in a bid to extinguish the blaze. After the fire broke out shortly before noon, officials had also banned entry to the mountain while residents living nearby were evacuated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A Reuters eyewitness also saw multiple helicopters flying over Han River in an apparent effort to supply water to extinguish the fire. President spokesperson Lee Do-woon, in a statement, also said that Yoon ordered the National Fire Agency and the National Forest Service to use all possible resources to extinguish the fires and called on interior and defence ministries to support the efforts, as per local media reports.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
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A forest fire raged in the central region of the South Korean capital Seoul, on Sunday (April 2), prompting the evacuation of at least 120 homes in the densely populated city, said officials, as per Reuters.

A forest fire raged in the central region of the South Korean capital Seoul, on Sunday (April 2), prompting the evacuation of at least 120 homes in the densely populated city, said officials, as per Reuters. Meanwhile, President Yoon Suk Yeol has asked relevant authorities to make all-out efforts to put out and prevent spring wildfires, said his office, as per local media reports. The statement was issued following the wildfire on Sunday on Mount Inwang, near the previous location of Korea’s presidential office, and a mountain in Hongseong which is some 114 km south of the South Korean capital. The fire began on the mountain in the middle of Seoul at around 11:53 am (local time) and burned forests the size of some 30 soccer fields, said officials. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shane Park (@lucky_shane_park) × The wildfire was nearly extinguished around 5:00 pm (local time). No casualties or injuries were reported due to the fire. Images and visuals of the incident show smoke billowing from forests on the mountain, which was reportedly seen across the city as firefighters battled to put out the fire with water-bombing aircraft. According to local media reports, as of 2:30 pm (local time), some 580 officials and nine helicopters were deployed in Mount Inwang in a bid to extinguish the blaze. After the fire broke out shortly before noon, officials had also banned entry to the mountain while residents living nearby were evacuated. A Reuters eyewitness also saw multiple helicopters flying over Han River in an apparent effort to supply water to extinguish the fire. President spokesperson Lee Do-woon, in a statement, also said that Yoon ordered the National Fire Agency and the National Forest Service to use all possible resources to extinguish the fires and called on interior and defence ministries to support the efforts, as per local media reports. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WATCH | South Korea: Over 100 homes evacuated after forest fire in central Seoul

<p>Seoul said in a report on Thursday (March 30) that North Korea executes people for drugs, sharing South Korean media, and religious activities as it stifles its citizens' human rights and freedom.&nbsp;</p>

<p>South Korea's Unification Ministry has collated the report, basing the 450-page report on testimony and information gathered from 2017 to 2022 of over 500 North Koreans who fled from their homeland.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ministry, which is responsible for handling inter-Korean affairs, said in the report: "North Korean citizens' right to life appears to be greatly threatened."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-jihadist-trades-his-weapons-to-open-sushi-restaurant-in-war-torn-syria-577244">Russian jihadist trades his weapons to open sushi restaurant in war-torn Syria</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>"Executions are widely carried out for acts that do not justify the death penalty, including drug crimes, distribution of South Korean videos, and religious and superstitious activities," it added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>News agency Reuters reported that the findings aligned with the United Nations investigations and reports from non-governmental organisations.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Kim Jong-Un: Aim to defend North Korea against US and South Korea&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>The report sheds light upon the rights abuses in communities, prison camps, etc., including public executions, torture and arbitrary arrests. Meanwhile, North Korea rejects the criticism of its rights conditions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ministry also claimed that deaths and torture regularly occur in detention facilities and some people were summarily executed after being caught trying to cross the border.&nbsp;</p>

<p>South Korea aims to highlight the North's efforts of boosting nuclear and missile arsenals, instead of improving the living conditions of common people. &nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
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Seoul said in a report on Thursday (March 30) that North Korea executes people for drugs, sharing South Korean media, and religious activities as it stifles its citizens' human rights and freedom.

Seoul said in a report on Thursday (March 30) that North Korea executes people for drugs, sharing South Korean media, and religious activities as it stifles its citizens' human rights and freedom. South Korea's Unification Ministry has collated the report, basing the 450-page report on testimony and information gathered from 2017 to 2022 of over 500 North Koreans who fled from their homeland. The ministry, which is responsible for handling inter-Korean affairs, said in the report: "North Korean citizens' right to life appears to be greatly threatened." ALSO READ | Russian jihadist trades his weapons to open sushi restaurant in war-torn Syria "Executions are widely carried out for acts that do not justify the death penalty, including drug crimes, distribution of South Korean videos, and religious and superstitious activities," it added. News agency Reuters reported that the findings aligned with the United Nations investigations and reports from non-governmental organisations. WATCH | Kim Jong-Un: Aim to defend North Korea against US and South Korea × The report sheds light upon the rights abuses in communities, prison camps, etc., including public executions, torture and arbitrary arrests. Meanwhile, North Korea rejects the criticism of its rights conditions. The ministry also claimed that deaths and torture regularly occur in detention facilities and some people were summarily executed after being caught trying to cross the border. South Korea aims to highlight the North's efforts of boosting nuclear and missile arsenals, instead of improving the living conditions of common people. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Seoul claims North Korea executes people for sharing South Korean videos: Report

Here, we bring you the news that is trending across WION's social media platforms - John Wick 4 movie review, Zebra escapes zoo, runs wild through streets of Seoul, Mahatma Gandhi's statue defaced with pro-Khalistan graffiti in Canada, Rahul Gandhi disqualified from Parliament.

John Wick 4 movie review; Zebra escapes zoo, runs wild through streets of Seoul | Trending On WION

<p>A male zebra ran&nbsp;wild in the capital of South Korea. It&nbsp;spent hours trotting down busy streets and back alleys before being tranquillised and taken back to a zoo.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Social media&nbsp;videos showed the 3-year-old Zebra&nbsp;scuttling through Seoul's Gwangjin neighbourhood in the midst of heavy traffic, wandering down residential streets.</p>

<p>Later, the animal&nbsp;was herded to an alley by firefighters called to the scene, where it was tranquillised and taken back to its natural habitat in the Children's Grand Park in the eastern part of Seoul.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Videos and pictures emerging of a zebra on the loose in the streets of Seoul today <a href="https://t.co/UntZ4uRbvu">pic.twitter.com/UntZ4uRbvu</a></p>
— Hyunsu Yim (@hyunsuinseoul) <a href="https://twitter.com/hyunsuinseoul/status/1638820623752527872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The initial report of a zebra wandering free around the neighborhood came to authorities at 3:43 p.m., according to the Gwangjin-gu fire station.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/asteroid-so-big-enough-to-wipe-out-a-city-will-pass-through-earth-on-this-day-575252">Asteroid big enough to wipe out a city will pass through Earth on this day</a></p>

<p>An official from the station told CNN that as a group of fire officers arrived at the supposed location, they observed the zebra sprinting away and decided to pursue it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To keep it contained&nbsp;until zoo staff arrived, the policemen blocked its escape route&nbsp;from a back alley with safety barriers, fire vehicles, and police cars.</p>

<p>He claimed that at the zoo's request, fire officers avoided using anaesthesia on the Zebra.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/meet-the-helmet-man-of-india-road-safety-crusader-who-distributes-helmets-for-free-575245">Meet the ‘Helmet man of India’: Road safety crusader who distributes helmets for free</a></p>

<p>The animal&nbsp;was eventually brought under control&nbsp;by a team sent by the zoo, who arrived around 30 minutes later and gave it seven doses of a muscle relaxant, reported CNN.</p>

<p>At about 6:00 p.m., officers put an end to Sero's unusual outing by loading him aboard a vehicle&nbsp;that took him to the zoo.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2005, six elephants also broke free from the same park and charged into a school and a restaurant, injuring one person in the chaos.&nbsp;</p>

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A male zebra ran wild in the capital of South Korea. It spent hours trotting down busy streets and back alleys before being tranquillised and taken back to a zoo.

A male zebra ran wild in the capital of South Korea. It spent hours trotting down busy streets and back alleys before being tranquillised and taken back to a zoo. Social media videos showed the 3-year-old Zebra scuttling through Seoul's Gwangjin neighbourhood in the midst of heavy traffic, wandering down residential streets. Later, the animal was herded to an alley by firefighters called to the scene, where it was tranquillised and taken back to its natural habitat in the Children's Grand Park in the eastern part of Seoul. Videos and pictures emerging of a zebra on the loose in the streets of Seoul today pic.twitter.com/UntZ4uRbvu — Hyunsu Yim (@hyunsuinseoul) March 23, 2023 × The initial report of a zebra wandering free around the neighborhood came to authorities at 3:43 p.m., according to the Gwangjin-gu fire station. ALSO READ | Asteroid big enough to wipe out a city will pass through Earth on this day An official from the station told CNN that as a group of fire officers arrived at the supposed location, they observed the zebra sprinting away and decided to pursue it. To keep it contained until zoo staff arrived, the policemen blocked its escape route from a back alley with safety barriers, fire vehicles, and police cars. He claimed that at the zoo's request, fire officers avoided using anaesthesia on the Zebra. ALSO READ | Meet the ‘Helmet man of India’: Road safety crusader who distributes helmets for free The animal was eventually brought under control by a team sent by the zoo, who arrived around 30 minutes later and gave it seven doses of a muscle relaxant, reported CNN. At about 6:00 p.m., officers put an end to Sero's unusual outing by loading him aboard a vehicle that took him to the zoo. In 2005, six elephants also broke free from the same park and charged into a school and a restaurant, injuring one person in the chaos. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH: Zebra escapes zoo, runs wild through Seoul streets

According to North Korea's state media, Kim Jong-un has decided to take important practical war deterrence measures and this comes just a day before Seoul and Washington are said to begin their largest joint military drills in five years.

North Korea adopts war deterrent measures; U.S., South Korea to kick off freedom shield

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin met his South Korean counterpart in Seoul, pledging to beef up joint drills and security cooperation as South Korea seeks nuclear reassurances in the face of growing North Korean threats.

South Korea's defence minister welcomes US counterpart in Seoul

South Korea and the United States are discussing planning and implementation of U.S. nuclear operations to counter North Korea, Seoul's presidential office said on Tuesday.

Seoul: Nuclear exercises can be held between nuclear weapon states

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