The US ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris’ has shaved his mildly controversial mustache, saying it was too uncomfortable to keep while wearing a coronavirus mask during South Korea’s notoriously hot summer. Watch report.

Most controversial mustache of US Envoy Harry Harris’ in South Korea

Japan on Tuesday warned South Korea against a statue erected in the country showing&nbsp;Japan's&nbsp;Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bowing to a "comfort woman"&nbsp;on display.

Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, said on Tuesday&nbsp;if reports of the statue on display were true, it would be an "unforgivable" breach of international protocol.

South Korea's private botanic garden in the rural Pyeongchang county displayed statues that appears to depict&nbsp;Japan's PM&nbsp;Abe, kneeling and bowing to a seated "comfort woman," a euphemism for women forced to work in&nbsp;Japan's wartime brothels.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kim-jong-un-denies-possibility-of-another-war-in-north-korea-thanks-reliable-effective-nuclear-arms-316451" hreflang="en">Kim Jong Un denies possibility of another war; thanks country's nuclear arms</a>

The head of a privately run botanic garden, Kim Chang-ryul, who commissioned the statue called "Eternal Atonement" said the kneeling figure was meant to depict anyone who could be in the position to apologise formally for the historic wrong, and not Abe in particular.

South Korea's foreign ministry said there may be international protocol to consider, but declined further comment, saying it was an act by a private citizen.

The issue of comfort women, mostly Koreans forced to work in&nbsp;Japan's brothels before and during World War Two, and the question of whether victims were adequately compensated have long been a thorn in ties between the two countries.

Japan&nbsp;regards the matter as "finally and irreversibly resolved" by a 2015 agreement reached by Abe and then South Korean President Park Geun-hye under which Abe apologised and pledged a fund to support the survivors.

But South Korean President Moon Jae-in's government has declared the deal flawed, in effect voiding it.

Similar statues of girls alone have been set up in front of the&nbsp;Japanese Embassy in Seoul and elsewhere to honour the women.

Ties were strained last year when&nbsp;Japan&nbsp;imposed export curbs on high-tech materials to South Korea following a South Korean court ruling ordering&nbsp;Japanese firms to pay compensation to Koreans forced to work for them during the war.

Japan on Tuesday warned South Korea against a statue erected in the country showing Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bowing to a "comfort woman" on display. Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, said on Tuesday if reports of the statue on display were true, it would be an "unforgivable" breach of international protocol.

Japan on Tuesday warned South Korea against a statue erected in the country showing Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bowing to a "comfort woman" on display. Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, said on Tuesday if reports of the statue on display were true, it would be an "unforgivable" breach of international protocol. South Korea's private botanic garden in the rural Pyeongchang county displayed statues that appears to depict Japan's PM Abe, kneeling and bowing to a seated "comfort woman," a euphemism for women forced to work in Japan's wartime brothels. Also read: Kim Jong Un denies possibility of another war; thanks country's nuclear arms The head of a privately run botanic garden, Kim Chang-ryul, who commissioned the statue called "Eternal Atonement" said the kneeling figure was meant to depict anyone who could be in the position to apologise formally for the historic wrong, and not Abe in particular. South Korea's foreign ministry said there may be international protocol to consider, but declined further comment, saying it was an act by a private citizen. The issue of comfort women, mostly Koreans forced to work in Japan's brothels before and during World War Two, and the question of whether victims were adequately compensated have long been a thorn in ties between the two countries. Japan regards the matter as "finally and irreversibly resolved" by a 2015 agreement reached by Abe and then South Korean President Park Geun-hye under which Abe apologised and pledged a fund to support the survivors. But South Korean President Moon Jae-in's government has declared the deal flawed, in effect voiding it. Similar statues of girls alone have been set up in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul and elsewhere to honour the women. Ties were strained last year when Japan imposed export curbs on high-tech materials to South Korea following a South Korean court ruling ordering Japanese firms to pay compensation to Koreans forced to work for them during the war.

'Comfort woman' row: Japan warns South Korea against Abe's statue

North Korea reported new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, according to state media. This is the first time that the country has acknowledged that the virus may have crossed into the country.

North Korea reported new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, according to state media. This is the first time that the country has acknowledged that the virus may have crossed into the country. Also read: Bolsonaro says he tested negative for COVID-19, two weeks after diagnosis North Korea's official news agency KCNA described the case as "a person who is suspected to have been infected with the vicious virus returned on July 19 after illegally crossing the demarcation line." The country previously denied reporting even a single case of coronavirus. The virus caused a pandemic across the globe and the country's borders remain closed. According to the KCNA, the suspected virus victim was "a runaway who went to the south three years ago," and was found in Kaesong City, on the border with South Korea. The unnamed person "was put under strict quarantine as a primary step and all the persons ... who contacted that person and those who have been to the city in the last five days are being thoroughly investigated" and quarantined, KCNA said. North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un called an emergency politburo meeting on Saturday to address the "dangerous situation ... that may lead to a deadly and destructive disaster." The meet was to adopt a "maximum emergency system and issue a top-class alert" to contain the epidemic, KCNA said. Despite country's strict measures "the vicious virus could be said to have entered the country," Kim said, according to KCNA. Kim said the government took the "preemptive measure of totally blocking Kaesong City" on July 24. (Inputs from AFP)

North Korea reports 'suspected' case of COVID-19 in defector

South Korean epidemiologists have found that people were more likely to contract the Wuhan virus infection from members of their hosehold.

A study published in the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) focuses on 5,706 “index patients” who had tested positive for the virus. Index patients are the first persons in a group known to be suffering from a disease or medical condition.

The study also involved more than 59,000 people who came in contact with them. The data was collected between January 20 and March 27 when the deadly virus was spreading fast and daily infections in South Korea reached its&nbsp;peak.

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The findings&nbsp;show that just two out of 100 infected people had caught the virus from non-household contacts and one in ten caught the infection from their own families.

The infection rate within the household was higher when the first confirmed cases were teenagers or people in their 60s and 70s.

According to one of the authors of the study, some age groups are more likely to be in close contact with family members as the group is in more need of protection or support.

Children with COVID-19 were more likely to be asymptomatic as compared to adults&nbsp;which also made it harder to identify index cases within that group.

The study makes the home seem like it is not a safe place after all. Simply put staying home is important&nbsp;but it might not be enough.

South Korean epidemiologists have found that people were more likely to contract the Wuhan virus infection from members of their hosehold. A study published in the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) focuses on 5,706 “index patients” who had tested positive for the virus.

South Korean epidemiologists have found that people were more likely to contract the Wuhan virus infection from members of their hosehold. A study published in the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) focuses on 5,706 “index patients” who had tested positive for the virus. Index patients are the first persons in a group known to be suffering from a disease or medical condition. The study also involved more than 59,000 people who came in contact with them. The data was collected between January 20 and March 27 when the deadly virus was spreading fast and daily infections in South Korea reached its peak. × The findings show that just two out of 100 infected people had caught the virus from non-household contacts and one in ten caught the infection from their own families. The infection rate within the household was higher when the first confirmed cases were teenagers or people in their 60s and 70s. According to one of the authors of the study, some age groups are more likely to be in close contact with family members as the group is in more need of protection or support. Children with COVID-19 were more likely to be asymptomatic as compared to adults which also made it harder to identify index cases within that group. The study makes the home seem like it is not a safe place after all. Simply put staying home is important but it might not be enough.

COVID-19 more likely to infect people at home: Study

A Chinese giant panda at&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea’s Everland amusement park has given birth to a cub, the zoo said on Wednesday, the first baby panda born in the country and a rare event for an endangered species.

The seven-year-old female panda named Ai Bao mated with eight-year-old male panda Le Bao, in late March and gave birth to a healthy cub at 21:49 local time on Monday night in Yongin, the zoo said.

The panda couple’s first cub was confirmed to be a female measuring 16.5 cm (6.5 inches) and weighing 197 grams (7 oz), the zoo said, adding that both baby and mother pandas appear healthy.

In footage released by Everland, Ai Bao was seen crawling along the ground before giving birth and licking the wriggling cub.

The zoo made a special shelter for the baby panda, who will make her public debut in about five or six months' time, once she can walk and eat bamboo. Before that both she and her mother will stay behind the scenes for health reasons.

Giant pandas are one of the world’s most endangered species. Female pandas are able to conceive only once a year for one to three days in March to April, which makes reproduction difficult, the zoo said in a statement.

The pair arrived in&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;from Sichuan Province of China on a 15-year loan in 2016, as agreed by the two countries during a summit in 2014.

China has been sending its black and white ambassadors abroad in a sign of goodwill since the 1950s as part of what is known as 'panda diplomacy'.

The pandas are the first to arrive in&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;from China since 1994. The cub is expected to return to China in three or four years' time, the zoo said.

A Chinese giant panda at South Korea’s Everland amusement park has given birth to a cub, the zoo said on Wednesday, the first baby panda born in the country and a rare event for an endangered species.

A Chinese giant panda at South Korea’s Everland amusement park has given birth to a cub, the zoo said on Wednesday, the first baby panda born in the country and a rare event for an endangered species. The seven-year-old female panda named Ai Bao mated with eight-year-old male panda Le Bao, in late March and gave birth to a healthy cub at 21:49 local time on Monday night in Yongin, the zoo said. The panda couple’s first cub was confirmed to be a female measuring 16.5 cm (6.5 inches) and weighing 197 grams (7 oz), the zoo said, adding that both baby and mother pandas appear healthy. In footage released by Everland, Ai Bao was seen crawling along the ground before giving birth and licking the wriggling cub. The zoo made a special shelter for the baby panda, who will make her public debut in about five or six months' time, once she can walk and eat bamboo. Before that both she and her mother will stay behind the scenes for health reasons. Giant pandas are one of the world’s most endangered species. Female pandas are able to conceive only once a year for one to three days in March to April, which makes reproduction difficult, the zoo said in a statement. The pair arrived in South Korea from Sichuan Province of China on a 15-year loan in 2016, as agreed by the two countries during a summit in 2014. China has been sending its black and white ambassadors abroad in a sign of goodwill since the 1950s as part of what is known as 'panda diplomacy'. The pandas are the first to arrive in South Korea from China since 1994. The cub is expected to return to China in three or four years' time, the zoo said.

First-ever giant panda cub born in South Korean zoo

Hit by the COVID-19 economic slowdown of another developed economy South Korea has joined Japan, Thailand, and Singapore in a technical recession. Watch report.

Recession in South Korea: Exports plunge the most since 1963

The South Korean economy plunged into recession in the second quarter in its worst decline in more than two decades as the coronavirus pandemic battered exports and social distancing curbs paralyzed factory output.

Asia's fourth-largest economy shrank by a seasonally adjusted 3.3% in the June quarter from three months earlier, the Bank of Korea said on Thursday. That is the sharpest contraction since the first quarter of 1998 and steeper than a 2.3% contraction seen in a Reuters poll.

That took the year-on-year contraction in gross domestic product to 2.9%, the worst since the fourth quarter of 1998 and also underperforming a 2.0% decline seen in the poll.

Exports, which account for nearly 40% of the economy, were the biggest drag on growth, dropping by 16.6% on-quarter to mark the worst reading since 1963.

Construction investment fell 1.3% quarter-on-quarter, while capital investment declined 2.9%.

Output from manufacturing and service sector fell by 9.0%, and 1.1%, respectively.

One saving grace has been a 1.4% gain in private consumption from three months earlier, thanks to government cash handouts that boosted spending on restaurants, clothes and leisure activities.

Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said the economy is likely to rebound from the third quarter.

"It's possible for us to see China-style rebound in the third quarter as the pandemic slows and activity in overseas production, schools and hospitals resume," Hong said at a policy meeting on Thursday.

The government has rolled out about 277 trillion won ($231 billion) worth of stimulus to fight the economic fallout from the pandemic so far. However, policymakers have little control over the global demand for the country's exports, which includes everything from memory chips to cars to petrochemical products.

"The worst seems to be over. The base effect and (fiscal injection) from supplementary budget will improve investment," said Park Sang-hyun, an analyst at HI Investment &amp; Securities.

For the whole of 2020, analysts see the economy declining by a median 0.4%, which would be the first and largest contraction since 1998. But the International Monetary Fund estimates an even bigger 2.1% contraction.

Last week, the BOK's governor said a downward revision from its previous projection of a 0.2% decline for 2020 was inevitable.

The South Korean economy plunged into recession in the second quarter in its worst decline in more than two decades as the coronavirus pandemic battered exports and social distancing curbs paralyzed factory output.

The South Korean economy plunged into recession in the second quarter in its worst decline in more than two decades as the coronavirus pandemic battered exports and social distancing curbs paralyzed factory output. Asia's fourth-largest economy shrank by a seasonally adjusted 3.3% in the June quarter from three months earlier, the Bank of Korea said on Thursday. That is the sharpest contraction since the first quarter of 1998 and steeper than a 2.3% contraction seen in a Reuters poll. That took the year-on-year contraction in gross domestic product to 2.9%, the worst since the fourth quarter of 1998 and also underperforming a 2.0% decline seen in the poll. Exports, which account for nearly 40% of the economy, were the biggest drag on growth, dropping by 16.6% on-quarter to mark the worst reading since 1963. Construction investment fell 1.3% quarter-on-quarter, while capital investment declined 2.9%. Output from manufacturing and service sector fell by 9.0%, and 1.1%, respectively. One saving grace has been a 1.4% gain in private consumption from three months earlier, thanks to government cash handouts that boosted spending on restaurants, clothes and leisure activities. Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said the economy is likely to rebound from the third quarter. "It's possible for us to see China-style rebound in the third quarter as the pandemic slows and activity in overseas production, schools and hospitals resume," Hong said at a policy meeting on Thursday. The government has rolled out about 277 trillion won ($231 billion) worth of stimulus to fight the economic fallout from the pandemic so far. However, policymakers have little control over the global demand for the country's exports, which includes everything from memory chips to cars to petrochemical products. "The worst seems to be over. The base effect and (fiscal injection) from supplementary budget will improve investment," said Park Sang-hyun, an analyst at HI Investment & Securities. For the whole of 2020, analysts see the economy declining by a median 0.4%, which would be the first and largest contraction since 1998. But the International Monetary Fund estimates an even bigger 2.1% contraction. Last week, the BOK's governor said a downward revision from its previous projection of a 0.2% decline for 2020 was inevitable.

South Korea enters recession as exports plunge by most since 1963

A small South Korean survey of people with no history of COVID-19, but living in a city with the most cases, showed that one in nine had antibodies to the novel coronavirus, indicating the virus may have spread more widely than thought.

The study said based on the survey, roughly 185,290 people could have contracted the virus in Daegu city, which is the country's fourth-largest city with a population of 2.5 million.

"It was estimated that the number of undiagnosed missing cases may be 27-fold higher than the number of confirmed cases based on PCR testing in Daegu," the study said.

Daegu city recorded 6,886 coronavirus cases alone as of June 6, said the study published in the Journal of Korean Medical Science (JKMS) on July 16, but announced by the journal on Tuesday night according to local media.

The study done between May 25 and June 5 followed 198 people in Daegu city who had never been tested for COVID-19, and found 15 of them, or 7.6%, had antibodies.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/this-can-happen-again-and-south-korea-will-need-more-hospital-beds-top-health-official-313700" hreflang="en">This can happen again, and South Korea will need more hospital beds: top health official</a>

That is a much higher infection rate than that found in a survey of more than 3,000 people in South Korea that excluded Daegu, in which only one person showed neutralising antibodies to the novel coronavirus earlier this month.

Antibody, or serology, tests show whether a person has been exposed to the virus. Similar studies have shown infection rates ranging from 0.1% in Tokyo to 17% in London and 5.2% in Spain nationwide.

South Korea, an early success story in containing the virus among its 51 million population after a severe outbreak in Daegu in March, has reported 13,879 cases and 297 deaths. The country is now battling small but persistent clusters of infections with 63 new cases reported on Tuesday.

A small South Korean survey of people with no history of COVID-19, but living in a city with the most cases, showed that one in nine had antibodies to the novel coronavirus, indicating the virus may have spread more widely than thought.

A small South Korean survey of people with no history of COVID-19, but living in a city with the most cases, showed that one in nine had antibodies to the novel coronavirus, indicating the virus may have spread more widely than thought. The study said based on the survey, roughly 185,290 people could have contracted the virus in Daegu city, which is the country's fourth-largest city with a population of 2.5 million. "It was estimated that the number of undiagnosed missing cases may be 27-fold higher than the number of confirmed cases based on PCR testing in Daegu," the study said. Daegu city recorded 6,886 coronavirus cases alone as of June 6, said the study published in the Journal of Korean Medical Science (JKMS) on July 16, but announced by the journal on Tuesday night according to local media. The study done between May 25 and June 5 followed 198 people in Daegu city who had never been tested for COVID-19, and found 15 of them, or 7.6%, had antibodies. Also read: This can happen again, and South Korea will need more hospital beds: top health official That is a much higher infection rate than that found in a survey of more than 3,000 people in South Korea that excluded Daegu, in which only one person showed neutralising antibodies to the novel coronavirus earlier this month. Antibody, or serology, tests show whether a person has been exposed to the virus. Similar studies have shown infection rates ranging from 0.1% in Tokyo to 17% in London and 5.2% in Spain nationwide. South Korea, an early success story in containing the virus among its 51 million population after a severe outbreak in Daegu in March, has reported 13,879 cases and 297 deaths. The country is now battling small but persistent clusters of infections with 63 new cases reported on Tuesday.

Undiagnosed virus infections could be 27 times higher in South Korea's Daegu city

People are more likely to contract the new coronavirus from members of their households than from contacts outside the home, according to South Korean epidemiologists' new study.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-asks-air-travellers-to-upload-covid-19-test-in-app-before-arrival-314952">China asks air travellers to upload COVID-19 test in app before arrival</a>

According to a study in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 5,706 "index patients" who had tested positive for the coronavirus and more than 59,000 people who came into contact with them.

Out of 100 infected people, just two of them had caught the virus from non-household contacts, whereas, one in 10 were infected from their own families.

"This is probably because these age groups are more likely to be in close contact with family members as the group is in more need of protection or support," Jeong Eun-kyeong, director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) and one of the authors of the study, told a briefing.

According to Dr Choe Young-june, a Hallym University College of Medicine assistant professor who co-led the work, children under the age of nine were least likely to be the index patient. But he also noted that the sample size of 29 was small compared to the 1,695 20-to-29-year-olds studied.

Children infected with coronavirus are also more likely to be asymptomatic than adults, which made it harder to identify index cases within that group.

"The difference in age group has no huge significance when it comes to contracting COVID-19. Children could be less likely to transmit the virus, but our data is not enough to confirm this hypothesis," said Choe.

The data for this study were collected between January 20 and March 27. During this time, South Korea witnessed a peak in coronavirus cases.&nbsp;

South Korea's KCDC has reported 45 new infections as of Monday, bringing the country's total cases to 13,816 with 296 deaths.

(Inputs from Reuters)

People are more likely to contract the new coronavirus from members of their households than from contacts outside the home, according to South Korean epidemiologists' new study.

People are more likely to contract the new coronavirus from members of their households than from contacts outside the home, according to South Korean epidemiologists' new study. Also read: China asks air travellers to upload COVID-19 test in app before arrival According to a study in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 5,706 "index patients" who had tested positive for the coronavirus and more than 59,000 people who came into contact with them. Out of 100 infected people, just two of them had caught the virus from non-household contacts, whereas, one in 10 were infected from their own families. "This is probably because these age groups are more likely to be in close contact with family members as the group is in more need of protection or support," Jeong Eun-kyeong, director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) and one of the authors of the study, told a briefing. According to Dr Choe Young-june, a Hallym University College of Medicine assistant professor who co-led the work, children under the age of nine were least likely to be the index patient. But he also noted that the sample size of 29 was small compared to the 1,695 20-to-29-year-olds studied. Children infected with coronavirus are also more likely to be asymptomatic than adults, which made it harder to identify index cases within that group. "The difference in age group has no huge significance when it comes to contracting COVID-19. Children could be less likely to transmit the virus, but our data is not enough to confirm this hypothesis," said Choe. The data for this study were collected between January 20 and March 27. During this time, South Korea witnessed a peak in coronavirus cases. South Korea's KCDC has reported 45 new infections as of Monday, bringing the country's total cases to 13,816 with 296 deaths. (Inputs from Reuters)

People are more likely to be infected with coronavirus at home: Study

South Korean prosecutors have opened rare probe into North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister over Pyongyang's blowing up of a liaison office last month, officials said.

North Korea has repeatedly condemned South Korea in recent months, including directing personal insults at President Moon Jae-in. This move is likely to infuriate the nuclear-armed North.

As per reports, the investigation into Kim Yo Jong was initiated after a Seoul based lawyer decided to file a criminal complaint against Kim Jong Un's sister with the prosecutors at the Seoul Central District.

Last month, Pyongyang blew up an inter-Korean liaison office on its side of the border, days after Kim Yo Jong -- one of her brother's closest advisers -- had said the "useless" property would soon be seen "completely collapsed".

Before the demolition, it had issued a series of vitriolic condemnations of South Korea over anti-North leaflets that defectors send back across the heavily-militarised border -- usually attached to balloons or floated in bottles.

It raised pressure further by threatening military measures against Seoul, but later said it had suspended those plans in an apparent sudden dialling-down of tensions.

In his complaint, lawyer Lee Kyung-jae claimed the now-demolished liaison office was South Korean property as it was renovated using South Korean government funds, despite its being located in the North.

Kim "used explosives to destroy" the South's "quasi-diplomatic mission building that served the public interest", he said in the complaint.

Lee also filed a complaint against Pak Jong Chon, chief of the general staff of the North Korean military.

Under South Korea's criminal code, he stressed, damaging property or disturbing the peace using explosives was punishable by death, or a prison sentence of at least seven years.

Capital punishment remains on the statute books in South Korea, although it has not executed anyone since 1997.

In practice, it would be virtually impossible for Seoul officials to punish Kim Yo Jong or Pak, but Lee told the South's Yonhap News Agency that he wanted to "inform the North Korean people of their leader's hypocrisy".

(With inputs from AFP)

South Korean prosecutors have opened rare probe into North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister over Pyongyang's blowing up of a liaison office last month, officials said.

South Korean prosecutors have opened rare probe into North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister over Pyongyang's blowing up of a liaison office last month, officials said. North Korea has repeatedly condemned South Korea in recent months, including directing personal insults at President Moon Jae-in. This move is likely to infuriate the nuclear-armed North. As per reports, the investigation into Kim Yo Jong was initiated after a Seoul based lawyer decided to file a criminal complaint against Kim Jong Un's sister with the prosecutors at the Seoul Central District. Last month, Pyongyang blew up an inter-Korean liaison office on its side of the border, days after Kim Yo Jong -- one of her brother's closest advisers -- had said the "useless" property would soon be seen "completely collapsed". Before the demolition, it had issued a series of vitriolic condemnations of South Korea over anti-North leaflets that defectors send back across the heavily-militarised border -- usually attached to balloons or floated in bottles. It raised pressure further by threatening military measures against Seoul, but later said it had suspended those plans in an apparent sudden dialling-down of tensions. In his complaint, lawyer Lee Kyung-jae claimed the now-demolished liaison office was South Korean property as it was renovated using South Korean government funds, despite its being located in the North. Kim "used explosives to destroy" the South's "quasi-diplomatic mission building that served the public interest", he said in the complaint. Lee also filed a complaint against Pak Jong Chon, chief of the general staff of the North Korean military. Under South Korea's criminal code, he stressed, damaging property or disturbing the peace using explosives was punishable by death, or a prison sentence of at least seven years. Capital punishment remains on the statute books in South Korea, although it has not executed anyone since 1997. In practice, it would be virtually impossible for Seoul officials to punish Kim Yo Jong or Pak, but Lee told the South's Yonhap News Agency that he wanted to "inform the North Korean people of their leader's hypocrisy". (With inputs from AFP)

South Korean prosecutors open rare probe into North Korea's Kim Jong-un’s sister

South Korea has repealed the permission given to two defector groups for sending anti-North leaflets across the border in the aftermath of Pyongyang furiously denouncing their activities and blowing up a liaison office. Revoking the groups' operational permits does not render them illegal, but will make it harder for them to raise money and deny them access to benefits for registered organisations.

The leaflets -- usually attached to hot air balloons or floated in bottles -- criticise North Korean leader Kim Jong-un over human rights abuses and his nuclear ambitions.

But by sending them, the two groups "severely hindered" the government's "efforts for unification", Seoul's unification ministry said in a statement.

The ministry also raised tensions on the Korean peninsula.

Inter-Korean relations have been in deep freeze following the collapse of a summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump early last year over what the nuclear-armed North would be willing to give up in exchange for a loosening of sanctions.

Both Koreas used to regularly send leaflets to the other side, but agreed to stop such propaganda activities -- including loudspeaker broadcasts along the frontier -- in the Panmunjom Declaration signed by Kim and the South's President Moon Jae-in at their first summit in 2018.

Last month Pyongyang issued a series of vitriolic condemnations of South Korea over the leaflets. It also upped the pressure by blowing up an inter-Korean liaison office on its side of the border and threatening military measures.

Seoul officials previously banned leaflet activities in border areas and filed a police complaint against the groups.

South Korea has repealed the permission given to two defector groups for sending anti-North leaflets across the border in the aftermath of Pyongyang furiously denouncing their activities and blowing up a liaison office.

South Korea has repealed the permission given to two defector groups for sending anti-North leaflets across the border in the aftermath of Pyongyang furiously denouncing their activities and blowing up a liaison office. Revoking the groups' operational permits does not render them illegal, but will make it harder for them to raise money and deny them access to benefits for registered organisations. The leaflets -- usually attached to hot air balloons or floated in bottles -- criticise North Korean leader Kim Jong-un over human rights abuses and his nuclear ambitions. But by sending them, the two groups "severely hindered" the government's "efforts for unification", Seoul's unification ministry said in a statement. The ministry also raised tensions on the Korean peninsula. Inter-Korean relations have been in deep freeze following the collapse of a summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump early last year over what the nuclear-armed North would be willing to give up in exchange for a loosening of sanctions. Both Koreas used to regularly send leaflets to the other side, but agreed to stop such propaganda activities -- including loudspeaker broadcasts along the frontier -- in the Panmunjom Declaration signed by Kim and the South's President Moon Jae-in at their first summit in 2018. Last month Pyongyang issued a series of vitriolic condemnations of South Korea over the leaflets. It also upped the pressure by blowing up an inter-Korean liaison office on its side of the border and threatening military measures. Seoul officials previously banned leaflet activities in border areas and filed a police complaint against the groups.

Seoul revokes permits of North Korean defector groups

A telecommunication regulator in South Korea has fined video-sharing app TikTok for 186 million Won or roughly $1,55,000 for mishandling children's data, amid growing concerns about users' privacy.

The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) began the investigation into this matter back in October 2019 and found that TikTok collected that data of children under the age of 14 without consent from their legal guardians, reports Gizmochina.

The fine is equivalent to 3 per cent of the company's annual sales in South Korea, an amount designated for such violations under local privacy laws.

TikTok currently uses four cloud companies to store its data -- Alibaba Cloud, Fastly, Edgecast, and Firebase. South Korean user data is stored on servers run by Alibaba Cloud, which are based in the US and Singapore.

Last month, India banned 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, citing national security concerns, similar to the US Army back in January. Earlier this month, TikTok announced that it was exiting the Hong Kong market after the enforcement of new security laws by China. 
&nbsp;

A telecommunication regulator in South Korea has fined video-sharing app TikTok for 186 million Won or roughly $1,55,000 for mishandling children's data, amid growing concerns about users' privacy.

A telecommunication regulator in South Korea has fined video-sharing app TikTok for 186 million Won or roughly $1,55,000 for mishandling children's data, amid growing concerns about users' privacy. The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) began the investigation into this matter back in October 2019 and found that TikTok collected that data of children under the age of 14 without consent from their legal guardians, reports Gizmochina. The fine is equivalent to 3 per cent of the company's annual sales in South Korea, an amount designated for such violations under local privacy laws. TikTok currently uses four cloud companies to store its data -- Alibaba Cloud, Fastly, Edgecast, and Firebase. South Korean user data is stored on servers run by Alibaba Cloud, which are based in the US and Singapore. Last month, India banned 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, citing national security concerns, similar to the US Army back in January. Earlier this month, TikTok announced that it was exiting the Hong Kong market after the enforcement of new security laws by China.

South Korean regulator fines TikTok over mishandling child data

In 1948, two separate governments were formed in North and South Korea. North Korea became a dictatorship. South Korea is a democracy. More than 70 years later, both countries are worlds apart.

Gravitas: The Story of the Two Koreas

North and South Korea have been a study in stark contrast ever since they got divided after World War II.

With the declaration of the Soviet-Japanese War , North Korea was&nbsp;occupied by&nbsp;the Soviet Union and South Korea by the United States,&nbsp;with the boundary between their zones being the 38th parallel.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kim-jong-un-alive-and-well-top-security-adviser-to-south-koreas-president-says-294919" hreflang="en">Kim Jong Un 'alive and well,' top adviser to South Korea's president says</a>

Two seperate governments were formed in the two nations in 1948.

While North Korea became a dictatorship under Kim Il-sung, South Korea became a democracy under&nbsp;Syngman Rhee. 
&nbsp; 
When the north saw economic hardship and famine, its leader promoted what he called the ''Juche'' thought.

The word ''Juche'' means ''self-reliance''.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korean-dictator-kim-jong-un-is-all-about-pomp-glory-and-excess-295166" hreflang="en">North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is all about pomp, glory and excess</a> 
&nbsp; 
However, it failed because it was forced upon the entire nation. 
&nbsp; 
For decades, the country relied on the Soviet Union and China to send it&nbsp;emergency food. The nation's population remained poor, as the dictator amassed more power. 
&nbsp; 
South Korea, on the other hand, transformed from one of the poorest societies in the world, into&nbsp;a developed high-income country.

Many hailed the country's economic growth as a ''miracle''.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mystery-shrouds-over-north-korean-dictator-kim-jong-uns-no-show-295158" hreflang="en">Mystery shrouds over North korean dictator Kim Jong-un's no show</a> 
&nbsp; 
The country's rigorous education system and democratic practices ushered a high-tech boom. It is partly why, today, it is home to some of the world's leading brands.

South Korean capital Seoul is making it big in the fields of cinema, cuisine, beauty and entertainment and boasts of a Gross Domestic Product (GDP)&nbsp;of $1690 billion. 
&nbsp; 
Whereas, North Korea's per capita income (PCI) and GDP are among the lowest in the world. That is why the country shies away from releasing any economic data.

The contrast between both the nations is currently at its peak. 
&nbsp; 
While South Korea has succeeded in flattening the curve of the deadly coronavirus and is exporting testing kits across the globe.

Ironically, North Korea, on the other hand, which dreamt of ''self-reliance''&nbsp; had to call doctors from abroad to treat its ailing dictator in hiding. 
&nbsp; 
The story of the two countries show how the people of the same land, took different paths and now stand worlds apart.

North and South Korea have been a study in stark contrast ever since they got divided after World War II. With the declaration of the Soviet-Japanese War , North Korea was occupied by the Soviet Union and South Korea by the United States, with the boundary between their zones being the 38th parallel.

North and South Korea have been a study in stark contrast ever since they got divided after World War II. With the declaration of the Soviet-Japanese War , North Korea was occupied by the Soviet Union and South Korea by the United States, with the boundary between their zones being the 38th parallel. Also read: Kim Jong Un 'alive and well,' top adviser to South Korea's president says Two seperate governments were formed in the two nations in 1948. While North Korea became a dictatorship under Kim Il-sung, South Korea became a democracy under Syngman Rhee. When the north saw economic hardship and famine, its leader promoted what he called the ''Juche'' thought. The word ''Juche'' means ''self-reliance''. Also read: North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is all about pomp, glory and excess However, it failed because it was forced upon the entire nation. For decades, the country relied on the Soviet Union and China to send it emergency food. The nation's population remained poor, as the dictator amassed more power. South Korea, on the other hand, transformed from one of the poorest societies in the world, into a developed high-income country. Many hailed the country's economic growth as a ''miracle''. Also read: Mystery shrouds over North korean dictator Kim Jong-un's no show The country's rigorous education system and democratic practices ushered a high-tech boom. It is partly why, today, it is home to some of the world's leading brands. South Korean capital Seoul is making it big in the fields of cinema, cuisine, beauty and entertainment and boasts of a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $1690 billion. Whereas, North Korea's per capita income (PCI) and GDP are among the lowest in the world. That is why the country shies away from releasing any economic data. The contrast between both the nations is currently at its peak. While South Korea has succeeded in flattening the curve of the deadly coronavirus and is exporting testing kits across the globe. Ironically, North Korea, on the other hand, which dreamt of ''self-reliance'' had to call doctors from abroad to treat its ailing dictator in hiding. The story of the two countries show how the people of the same land, took different paths and now stand worlds apart.

Story behind North and South Korea's contrasting disposition

The war between North and South Korea broke out exactly&nbsp;70 years ago&nbsp;and ended with a ceasefire rather than a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas still technically at war.

As well as pitting North against South, the Korean War embroiled each side's communist and Western allies with the Soviet Union and China backing Pyongyang, and a US-led coalition under a United Nations banner supporting Seoul.

While leaders have come and gone, calendars have changed, the war between the two nations is still on.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/70-years-of-korean-war-how-power-games-kept-the-peninsula-divided-308464">70 years of Korean War: How power games kept the peninsula divided</a>

The Korean Demilitarized Zone has become one of the most tensed borders on&nbsp;the Earth.

And the fight between the two sides have evolved from war of bombs to one of balloons and leaflets.

The&nbsp;modern world's longest war&nbsp;that began in 1950 and&nbsp;it never really ended. In the wake of world war 2, the Korean peninsula&nbsp;was divided into two parts.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-and-us-ask-north-korea-to-implement-pre-planned-denuclearisation-plans-308433">South Korea and US ask North Korea to implement pre-planned denuclearisation plans</a>

While the north had the Soviet Union's backing and the south leaned towards the west.

In 1948 the two Koreas were re-named. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the north and the Republic of Korea in the South. The war broke out two years later.

North Korean Leader Kim il Sung wanted to reunite the Korean peninsula. So, the communist north invaded the south and Seoul was captured within days.

The North Korean army was advancing further south when a U.N. Coalition intervened.

The coalition was led by the US and it pushed North Korean troops as far as the Sino-Korean border.

China launched a counter-offensive and U.N. Forces relatiated. By 1953, 4 million people had either died or disappeared and lost 520,000&nbsp;South Koreans, 137,000 North Koreans died while America lost 37,000 troops.

Cities were ravaged on both sides of the divided peninsuala.

In july 1953, North Korea signed an armistice with the US due to which the fighting ended, but the war did not. There have been numerous flare-ups over the years.

In 1968, the North sent 31 commandos to kill then-South Korean president Park Chung Hee. However, the assassination plot failed.

In 1987, North Korea allegedly planted a bomb onboard a South Korean airliner. The flight from Baghdad to Seoul exploded over the Bay of Bengal and 115 people were killed.

In 1996, North Korea deployed thousands of troops into the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

In 1999, the two sides clashed on the Yellow Sea. The turn of the millenium saw a landmark summit.&nbsp;

In 2000, North Korea's Kim Jong-il met South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung in Pyongyang.

Soon, border liaison offices were reopened and family reunions were given a nod.

It was followed by some historic meets including those between Kim Jong and Trump during a summit, Kim's sister in South Korea for winter olympics and diplomatic overtures.

Although it is 2020 but&nbsp;North Korea has decided to walk backwards.

Earlier this month, Pyongyang blew up its inter-korean liaison office on June 16 which&nbsp;severed all hotlines with the south.

Today, the 38th parallel continues to divide the two koreas in more ways than one.

An authoritarian North versis a democratic South,&nbsp;restricted and isolated North versis a liberal South.

One side is poverty striken, the other is uber-development.

While the South is winning the world with its talent and culture, the North is sliding back into its cocoon.

And amidst all of this, the korean war is very much on. It has progressed from a war of bombs to one of balloons and leaflets... 
&nbsp;

The war between North and South Korea broke out exactly 70 years ago and ended with a ceasefire rather than a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas still technically at war.

The war between North and South Korea broke out exactly 70 years ago and ended with a ceasefire rather than a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas still technically at war. As well as pitting North against South, the Korean War embroiled each side's communist and Western allies with the Soviet Union and China backing Pyongyang, and a US-led coalition under a United Nations banner supporting Seoul. While leaders have come and gone, calendars have changed, the war between the two nations is still on. Also see: 70 years of Korean War: How power games kept the peninsula divided The Korean Demilitarized Zone has become one of the most tensed borders on the Earth. And the fight between the two sides have evolved from war of bombs to one of balloons and leaflets. The modern world's longest war that began in 1950 and it never really ended. In the wake of world war 2, the Korean peninsula was divided into two parts. Also read: South Korea and US ask North Korea to implement pre-planned denuclearisation plans While the north had the Soviet Union's backing and the south leaned towards the west. In 1948 the two Koreas were re-named. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the north and the Republic of Korea in the South. The war broke out two years later. North Korean Leader Kim il Sung wanted to reunite the Korean peninsula. So, the communist north invaded the south and Seoul was captured within days. The North Korean army was advancing further south when a U.N. Coalition intervened. The coalition was led by the US and it pushed North Korean troops as far as the Sino-Korean border. China launched a counter-offensive and U.N. Forces relatiated. By 1953, 4 million people had either died or disappeared and lost 520,000 South Koreans, 137,000 North Koreans died while America lost 37,000 troops. Cities were ravaged on both sides of the divided peninsuala. In july 1953, North Korea signed an armistice with the US due to which the fighting ended, but the war did not. There have been numerous flare-ups over the years. In 1968, the North sent 31 commandos to kill then-South Korean president Park Chung Hee. However, the assassination plot failed. In 1987, North Korea allegedly planted a bomb onboard a South Korean airliner. The flight from Baghdad to Seoul exploded over the Bay of Bengal and 115 people were killed. In 1996, North Korea deployed thousands of troops into the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) In 1999, the two sides clashed on the Yellow Sea. The turn of the millenium saw a landmark summit. In 2000, North Korea's Kim Jong-il met South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung in Pyongyang. Soon, border liaison offices were reopened and family reunions were given a nod. It was followed by some historic meets including those between Kim Jong and Trump during a summit, Kim's sister in South Korea for winter olympics and diplomatic overtures. Although it is 2020 but North Korea has decided to walk backwards. Earlier this month, Pyongyang blew up its inter-korean liaison office on June 16 which severed all hotlines with the south. Today, the 38th parallel continues to divide the two koreas in more ways than one. An authoritarian North versis a democratic South, restricted and isolated North versis a liberal South. One side is poverty striken, the other is uber-development. While the South is winning the world with its talent and culture, the North is sliding back into its cocoon. And amidst all of this, the korean war is very much on. It has progressed from a war of bombs to one of balloons and leaflets...

Time line of Korean war: History reveals stark contrast between North and South

The mayor of Seoul, a contender to be South Korea's next president and a former human rights lawyer, died by suicide a day after he was accused of sexual harassment.

Park Won-soon, whose body was recovered on a mountain in the capital, is by far the most high-profile politician to be implicated in a harassment case in South Korea. He offered a general apology in a suicide note -- handwritten with ink and brush -- found at his official residence and released by city authorities.

"I'm sorry to everyone. I thank everyone who has been with me in my life," he wrote, asking to be cremated and his ashes scattered at his parents' graves. "I'm sorry to my family, to whom I only caused pain."

"Bye everyone," he signed off, without referring to the allegations against him.

A heavyweight figure in the ruling centre-left Democratic party, Park ran South Korea's sprawling capital for nearly a decade. He did not shy away from expressing his ambitions to replace incumbent President Moon Jae-in in 2022.

His death came a day after his former secretary filed a police complaint -- said to involve sexual harassment -- against him.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-missing-seoul-mayor-found-dead-311987">Also read |&nbsp;South Korea: Missing Seoul mayor found dead</a>

According to a document purporting to be the statement of Park's victim, who worked as his personal secretary from 2015, he committed "sexual harassment and inappropriate gestures during work hours", including insisting she hug him in the bedroom adjoining his office.

After work, she said, he sent her "selfies of himself in his underwear and lewd comments" on a messenger app.

The police confirmed a complaint had been filed but declined to confirm the details.

Park's death means the investigation will automatically be closed.

South Korea has seen a widespread #MeToo movement in the last two years, sparked by a prosecutor who publically accused a superior of groping her at a funeral.

Park is the country's highest-profile politician to die by suicide since former president Roh Moo-hyun, who jumped off a cliff in 2009 after being questioned over corruption allegations involving family members.

A memorial altar was to be set up in front of the Seoul city hall for citizens to pay respects.

The mayor of Seoul, a contender to be South Korea's next president and a former human rights lawyer, died by suicide a day after he was accused of sexual harassment.

The mayor of Seoul, a contender to be South Korea's next president and a former human rights lawyer, died by suicide a day after he was accused of sexual harassment. Park Won-soon, whose body was recovered on a mountain in the capital, is by far the most high-profile politician to be implicated in a harassment case in South Korea. He offered a general apology in a suicide note -- handwritten with ink and brush -- found at his official residence and released by city authorities. "I'm sorry to everyone. I thank everyone who has been with me in my life," he wrote, asking to be cremated and his ashes scattered at his parents' graves. "I'm sorry to my family, to whom I only caused pain." "Bye everyone," he signed off, without referring to the allegations against him. A heavyweight figure in the ruling centre-left Democratic party, Park ran South Korea's sprawling capital for nearly a decade. He did not shy away from expressing his ambitions to replace incumbent President Moon Jae-in in 2022. His death came a day after his former secretary filed a police complaint -- said to involve sexual harassment -- against him. Also read | South Korea: Missing Seoul mayor found dead According to a document purporting to be the statement of Park's victim, who worked as his personal secretary from 2015, he committed "sexual harassment and inappropriate gestures during work hours", including insisting she hug him in the bedroom adjoining his office. After work, she said, he sent her "selfies of himself in his underwear and lewd comments" on a messenger app. The police confirmed a complaint had been filed but declined to confirm the details. Park's death means the investigation will automatically be closed. South Korea has seen a widespread #MeToo movement in the last two years, sparked by a prosecutor who publically accused a superior of groping her at a funeral. Park is the country's highest-profile politician to die by suicide since former president Roh Moo-hyun, who jumped off a cliff in 2009 after being questioned over corruption allegations involving family members. A memorial altar was to be set up in front of the Seoul city hall for citizens to pay respects.

Seoul mayor died by suicide a day after he was accused of sexual harassment

Park Won-soon, mayor of South Korea's capital Seoul, was found dead around midnight, hours after his daughter filed a missing report to police Thursday evening.

South Korea: Missing Seoul mayor found dead at MT Bugak

South Korean President Moon Jae-in&nbsp;was criticised on Thursday for sending condolence flowers to the funeral of a convicted sex offender's mother.

Former provincial governor Ahn Hee-jung was once a rising star and came second to Moon in the race for the 2017 Democratic presidential nomination, but was convicted last year of sexual intercourse by abuse of authority after his female assistant accused him of repeatedly raping her. He is serving three and a half years in prison.

Sexual harassment victims often face pressure to stay silent for fear of public shaming, but signs of change emerged after the country's own #MeToo movement -- sparked in 2018 by a prosecutor who publically accused a superior of groping her at a funeral, prompting many to share their stories.

Ahn was by far the highest-profile individual named as a result.

But after he was temporarily released from jail to attend the funeral ceremonies, he received visits from scores of political heavyweights offering their condolences -- among them Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, his predecessor Lee Nak-yon, and ruling party leader Lee Hae-chan.

CRITICISM

Women's groups and progressive politicians reacted furiously, saying the moves demonstrated the political establishment's traditionalist mindset and sent a signal that sexual crimes could be disregarded.

"Every message from a president is an act of governance, including condolences," wrote commentator Choi Moon-sun in the Hankook Ilbo newspaper.

When Moon sent the flowers, she said, "there was no president for South Korean women".

Jo Hye-min, a spokeswoman for the opposition Justice Party, said Ahn's victim was "still struggling in life in the face of non-stop shaming".

The presidential office said Thursday it sent the flowers following a "comprehensive review of the situation".

Ahn was due to return to prison Thursday.

(with inputs from AFP)

South Korean President Moon Jae-in was criticised on Thursday for sending condolence flowers to the funeral of a convicted sex offender's mother. Former provincial governor Ahn Hee-jung was once a rising star and came second to Moon in the race for the 2017 Democratic presidential nomination, but was convicted last year of sexual intercourse by abuse of authority after his female assistant accused him of repeatedly raping her.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in was criticised on Thursday for sending condolence flowers to the funeral of a convicted sex offender's mother. Former provincial governor Ahn Hee-jung was once a rising star and came second to Moon in the race for the 2017 Democratic presidential nomination, but was convicted last year of sexual intercourse by abuse of authority after his female assistant accused him of repeatedly raping her. He is serving three and a half years in prison. Sexual harassment victims often face pressure to stay silent for fear of public shaming, but signs of change emerged after the country's own #MeToo movement -- sparked in 2018 by a prosecutor who publically accused a superior of groping her at a funeral, prompting many to share their stories. Ahn was by far the highest-profile individual named as a result. But after he was temporarily released from jail to attend the funeral ceremonies, he received visits from scores of political heavyweights offering their condolences -- among them Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, his predecessor Lee Nak-yon, and ruling party leader Lee Hae-chan. CRITICISM Women's groups and progressive politicians reacted furiously, saying the moves demonstrated the political establishment's traditionalist mindset and sent a signal that sexual crimes could be disregarded. "Every message from a president is an act of governance, including condolences," wrote commentator Choi Moon-sun in the Hankook Ilbo newspaper. When Moon sent the flowers, she said, "there was no president for South Korean women". Jo Hye-min, a spokeswoman for the opposition Justice Party, said Ahn's victim was "still struggling in life in the face of non-stop shaming". The presidential office said Thursday it sent the flowers following a "comprehensive review of the situation". Ahn was due to return to prison Thursday. (with inputs from AFP)

S Korea's Moon under fire for sending flowers to sex offender's family funeral

Seoul mayor Park Won-soon, who suddenly went missing, has been found dead, police said, early on Friday.

On Thursday, a&nbsp;massive search operation began in South Korea after the mayor of Seoul, Park Won-soon was reported missing.&nbsp;

The incident came to light when the mayor's daughter called the police and said her father left "a will-like" message before leaving their house 4-5 hours earlier.&nbsp;

Reportedly, the mayor was facing sexual misconduct allegations.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-court-rejects-child-porn-site-operators-us-extradition-311061">South Korea court rejects child porn site operator's US extradition</a>

The daughter did not inform the police about the content of the message, a police official at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-and-us-ask-north-korea-to-implement-pre-planned-denuclearisation-plans-308433">South Korea and US ask North Korea to implement pre-planned denuclearisation plans</a>

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said they were searching around Sungbuk-dong, a district in northern Seoul, where Park's phone signal was last detected, adding that the phone is currently switched off.&nbsp;

The police said nearly 150 officers were deployed along with a drone and a dog to search the mayor.&nbsp;

Kim Ji-hyeong, an official from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, confirmed Park did not come to the office on Thursday due to unspecified reasons and cancelled all his schedules.&nbsp;

Park has been the mayor of Seoul since 2011 and is seen as a potential liberal contender for the presidential elections in 2022.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Seoul mayor Park Won-soon, who suddenly went missing, has been found dead, police said, early on Friday. On Thursday, a massive search operation began in South Korea after the mayor of Seoul, Park Won-soon was reported missing.

Seoul mayor Park Won-soon, who suddenly went missing, has been found dead, police said, early on Friday. On Thursday, a massive search operation began in South Korea after the mayor of Seoul, Park Won-soon was reported missing. The incident came to light when the mayor's daughter called the police and said her father left "a will-like" message before leaving their house 4-5 hours earlier. Reportedly, the mayor was facing sexual misconduct allegations. Also read | South Korea court rejects child porn site operator's US extradition The daughter did not inform the police about the content of the message, a police official at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said. Also read | South Korea and US ask North Korea to implement pre-planned denuclearisation plans The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said they were searching around Sungbuk-dong, a district in northern Seoul, where Park's phone signal was last detected, adding that the phone is currently switched off. The police said nearly 150 officers were deployed along with a drone and a dog to search the mayor. Kim Ji-hyeong, an official from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, confirmed Park did not come to the office on Thursday due to unspecified reasons and cancelled all his schedules. Park has been the mayor of Seoul since 2011 and is seen as a potential liberal contender for the presidential elections in 2022.

South Korea: Missing Seoul mayor found dead

The United States has stressed the importance of resuming talks with North Korea, South Korea said on Thursday, even though North Korea has said it has no intention of returning to the negotiating table.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, who wound up three days of talks in Seoul, earlier rejected speculation he was seeking to meet North Korean officials during his visit, but said the United States was open to talks.

“Biegun emphasised the importance of reopening dialogue with North Korea,” the office of South Korean President Moon Jae-in said in a statement.

Biegun, the top U.S. envoy on efforts to press North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons, met South Korea’s national security adviser, Suh Hoon.

Biegun is due to arrive in Japan later on Thursday.

South Korea has been trying to promote peace efforts and Suh was instrumental in arranging summits between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump and Kim met for the first time in 2018 in Singapore, raising hopes for a negotiated end to North Korea’s nuclear programme. But their second summit, in 2019 in Vietnam, and later working-level talks, fell apart.

Trump said on Tuesday he was open to another meeting with Kim and thought it might be helpful, Voice of America said, citing a transcript of Trump interview with Gray Television, due to be aired on Sunday.

But North Korea, apparently frustrated that there’s been no sign of any easing of punishing sanctions against it, has said in recent weeks it had no intention of sitting down again with the United States.

Tension flared last month when North Korea blew up a joint North-South liaison office on its side of the border, before just as suddenly dropping a threat of military action against the South.

Biegun has led working-level talks with North Korea but the negotiations have been stalled since the two sides last met in Sweden in October.

The United States has stressed the importance of resuming talks with North Korea, South Korea said on Thursday, even though North Korea has said it has no intention of returning to the negotiating table.

The United States has stressed the importance of resuming talks with North Korea, South Korea said on Thursday, even though North Korea has said it has no intention of returning to the negotiating table. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, who wound up three days of talks in Seoul, earlier rejected speculation he was seeking to meet North Korean officials during his visit, but said the United States was open to talks. “Biegun emphasised the importance of reopening dialogue with North Korea,” the office of South Korean President Moon Jae-in said in a statement. Biegun, the top U.S. envoy on efforts to press North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons, met South Korea’s national security adviser, Suh Hoon. Biegun is due to arrive in Japan later on Thursday. South Korea has been trying to promote peace efforts and Suh was instrumental in arranging summits between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump and Kim met for the first time in 2018 in Singapore, raising hopes for a negotiated end to North Korea’s nuclear programme. But their second summit, in 2019 in Vietnam, and later working-level talks, fell apart. Trump said on Tuesday he was open to another meeting with Kim and thought it might be helpful, Voice of America said, citing a transcript of Trump interview with Gray Television, due to be aired on Sunday. But North Korea, apparently frustrated that there’s been no sign of any easing of punishing sanctions against it, has said in recent weeks it had no intention of sitting down again with the United States. Tension flared last month when North Korea blew up a joint North-South liaison office on its side of the border, before just as suddenly dropping a threat of military action against the South. Biegun has led working-level talks with North Korea but the negotiations have been stalled since the two sides last met in Sweden in October.

US sees importance of North Korea talks despite tension, South says

Indian police have arrested 12 LG Polymers officials, including its South Korean chief executive, an officer said on Wednesday, two months after a gas leak at the company's south India chemical plant killed 12.

The arrests were made under a case of culpable homicide filed against the company's South Korean parent, LG Chem Ltd, when the leak occurred in May, police commissioner Rajiv Kumar Meena said.

"A total of twelve members including the CEO and two directors were arrested on Tuesday evening," Meena, the top officer in the port city of Visakhapatnam where the plant is located, said.

Among those arrested were two directors, one of whom was a South Korean, Meena said. 
Toxic styrene gas leaked from the chemical plant in the early hours of May 7, choking many people who were sleeping.

This week, a government-appointed committee recommended that the plant be shifted away from human habitation and called for action against the top employees. It said LG Chem had been negligent and warning systems were not working.

The company did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.

Meena said three government officials had also been suspended for negligence.

Indian police have arrested 12 LG Polymers officials, including its South Korean chief executive, an officer said on Wednesday, two months after a gas leak at the company's south India chemical plant killed 12.

Indian police have arrested 12 LG Polymers officials, including its South Korean chief executive, an officer said on Wednesday, two months after a gas leak at the company's south India chemical plant killed 12. The arrests were made under a case of culpable homicide filed against the company's South Korean parent, LG Chem Ltd, when the leak occurred in May, police commissioner Rajiv Kumar Meena said. "A total of twelve members including the CEO and two directors were arrested on Tuesday evening," Meena, the top officer in the port city of Visakhapatnam where the plant is located, said. Among those arrested were two directors, one of whom was a South Korean, Meena said. Toxic styrene gas leaked from the chemical plant in the early hours of May 7, choking many people who were sleeping. This week, a government-appointed committee recommended that the plant be shifted away from human habitation and called for action against the top employees. It said LG Chem had been negligent and warning systems were not working. The company did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. Meena said three government officials had also been suspended for negligence.

India arrests South Korean CEO, 11 others for gas leak at LG Polymers

Former team mates of a&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korean triathlete found dead last month after alleging she had been abused by her coaching staff said on Monday athletes endured a living "hell" and were habitually beaten and verbally abused.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/seven-womens-nba-players-positive-fever-delays-trip-311167" hreflang="en">Seven Women's NBA players positive, Fever delays trip</a>

Choi Suk-hyeon, a member of the national triathlon team, died at her team dorm after leaving a message to her mother asking her to "reveal the sins" of her abusers. She was 22.

Choi did not reveal names in the message, which was released by a lawmaker last week, but her family and team mates said she had suffered years of physical and verbal abuse from her coach, physiotherapist and captain of her Gyeongju City team.

Her coach and captain denied any wrongdoing at a parliamentary hearing on Monday.

A sports ministry official told the hearing that the physiotherapist was a friend of the coach and was working with the team despite not having a license.

He is no longer with the team and Reuters was unable to contact him.

One of Choi's former team mates, who did not give her name and wore a mask to conceal her identity, told a news conference before the hearing that the team was "a kingdom built only for the coach and certain members".

"The coach and the captain habitually beat and verbally abused Suk-hyeon and us," she added.

In one instance, the coach forced them to eat 200,000 won ($167.00) worth of bread and then throw it all back up as a penalty for drinking a cup of cola and gaining weight, she said.

Another team mate described life in the athletes dorm as the "abyss of hell" but said she believed this was the world athletes had to live in.

The lawmaker who arranged the news conference said it took courage from the athletes to come forward as they were afraid of reprisals.

Choi's death sparked a nationwide uproar, especially after she was found to have filed complaints with the police, national sports bodies and a human rights watchdog.

The head of the national triathlon association apologised at the parliamentary hearing for "only believing the coach".

South&nbsp;Korea's elite sports community is notorious for its "win-at-all-costs" culture, with its brutal training regimes and a strong hierarchical relationship between coaches and older and younger athletes.

Last year, several female athletes accused their male coaches of sexual and verbal abuse amid the #MeToo movement, including two-time Olympic champion short track speed skater Shim Suk-hee, who said she was repeatedly raped by her coach.

The sports ministry and&nbsp;Korean Sport and Olympic Committee pledged a thorough investigation on Monday.

Former team mates of a South Korean triathlete found dead last month after alleging she had been abused by her coaching staff said on Monday athletes endured a living "hell" and were habitually beaten and verbally abused.

Former team mates of a South Korean triathlete found dead last month after alleging she had been abused by her coaching staff said on Monday athletes endured a living "hell" and were habitually beaten and verbally abused. Also read: Seven Women's NBA players positive, Fever delays trip Choi Suk-hyeon, a member of the national triathlon team, died at her team dorm after leaving a message to her mother asking her to "reveal the sins" of her abusers. She was 22. Choi did not reveal names in the message, which was released by a lawmaker last week, but her family and team mates said she had suffered years of physical and verbal abuse from her coach, physiotherapist and captain of her Gyeongju City team. Her coach and captain denied any wrongdoing at a parliamentary hearing on Monday. A sports ministry official told the hearing that the physiotherapist was a friend of the coach and was working with the team despite not having a license. He is no longer with the team and Reuters was unable to contact him. One of Choi's former team mates, who did not give her name and wore a mask to conceal her identity, told a news conference before the hearing that the team was "a kingdom built only for the coach and certain members". "The coach and the captain habitually beat and verbally abused Suk-hyeon and us," she added. In one instance, the coach forced them to eat 200,000 won ($167.00) worth of bread and then throw it all back up as a penalty for drinking a cup of cola and gaining weight, she said. Another team mate described life in the athletes dorm as the "abyss of hell" but said she believed this was the world athletes had to live in. The lawmaker who arranged the news conference said it took courage from the athletes to come forward as they were afraid of reprisals. Choi's death sparked a nationwide uproar, especially after she was found to have filed complaints with the police, national sports bodies and a human rights watchdog. The head of the national triathlon association apologised at the parliamentary hearing for "only believing the coach". South Korea's elite sports community is notorious for its "win-at-all-costs" culture, with its brutal training regimes and a strong hierarchical relationship between coaches and older and younger athletes. Last year, several female athletes accused their male coaches of sexual and verbal abuse amid the #MeToo movement, including two-time Olympic champion short track speed skater Shim Suk-hee, who said she was repeatedly raped by her coach. The sports ministry and Korean Sport and Olympic Committee pledged a thorough investigation on Monday.

Late South Korea triathlete's team mates detail abuse allegations

A South Korean court on Monday rejected an extradition request by the United States for a man convicted of running one of the world's biggest child pornography websites. 
 
Son Jong-woo, the operator of the South Korea-based dark web child porn site "Welcome to Video", sold the content for digital cash around the world. 
 
He was convicted of violating South Korean child protection laws and completed an 18-month sentence in April but remained in custody after he was also indicted on US federal charges in Washington, DC -- where he could face a much longer punishment.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/italian-police-bust-child-pornography-ring-50-people-under-investigation-310696" hreflang="en">Italian police bust child pornography ring; 50 people under investigation</a> 
 
Son's sentence was in marked contrast to several 15-year terms handed out to users convicted in the US, prompting calls to bolster South Korea's laws against child pornography. 
 
The Seoul High Court denied the US extradition request, saying that sending Son overseas could "hamper South Korea's own investigation into sexually exploitive content", Yonhap news agency reported. 
 
"The decision should not be interpreted as exonerating him," the court added, according to Yonhap. 
 
But South Koreans reacted with disgust to the ruling.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/pornhub-under-fire-for-rape-and-abuse-videos-285295" hreflang="en">Pornhub under fire for rape and abuse videos</a> 
 
"I think I can hear the cheering from various sex criminals over today's news," said one Twitter user. 
 
Another wrote: "South Korea must be the only country that lets child sex abusers go free." 
 
The US Justice Department said last year that 338 people linked to the site had been arrested around the world, including in South Korea, the US, Canada, Spain and Brazil. 
 
Son's site was "the largest child sexual exploitation market by volume of content", it said, and relied on bitcoin cryptocurrency to sell access to 250,000 child porn videos. 
 
It was among the first darknet websites to monetise child exploitation videos using bitcoin, with the site claiming its contents exceeded more than one million downloads, according to the US Justice Department.

A South Korean court on Monday rejected an extradition request by the United States for a man convicted of running one of the world's biggest child pornography websites.

A South Korean court on Monday rejected an extradition request by the United States for a man convicted of running one of the world's biggest child pornography websites. Son Jong-woo, the operator of the South Korea-based dark web child porn site "Welcome to Video", sold the content for digital cash around the world. He was convicted of violating South Korean child protection laws and completed an 18-month sentence in April but remained in custody after he was also indicted on US federal charges in Washington, DC -- where he could face a much longer punishment. Also read: Italian police bust child pornography ring; 50 people under investigation Son's sentence was in marked contrast to several 15-year terms handed out to users convicted in the US, prompting calls to bolster South Korea's laws against child pornography. The Seoul High Court denied the US extradition request, saying that sending Son overseas could "hamper South Korea's own investigation into sexually exploitive content", Yonhap news agency reported. "The decision should not be interpreted as exonerating him," the court added, according to Yonhap. But South Koreans reacted with disgust to the ruling. Also read: Pornhub under fire for rape and abuse videos "I think I can hear the cheering from various sex criminals over today's news," said one Twitter user. Another wrote: "South Korea must be the only country that lets child sex abusers go free." The US Justice Department said last year that 338 people linked to the site had been arrested around the world, including in South Korea, the US, Canada, Spain and Brazil. Son's site was "the largest child sexual exploitation market by volume of content", it said, and relied on bitcoin cryptocurrency to sell access to 250,000 child porn videos. It was among the first darknet websites to monetise child exploitation videos using bitcoin, with the site claiming its contents exceeded more than one million downloads, according to the US Justice Department.

South Korea court rejects child porn site operator's US extradition

Fast and furious: Countries that rushed to unlock economy now fear second wave of COVID-19

North Korea holding talks with the United States would be nothing more than "a political tool" for Washington, a senior North Korean diplomat said on Saturday, ahead of a US envoy's visit to South Korea.

North Korea holding talks with the United States would be nothing more than "a political tool" for Washington, a senior North Korean diplomat said on Saturday, ahead of a US envoy's visit to South Korea. Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui said talks would not work out between the two countries and there will be no change in North Korea's policy. "We do not feel any need to sit face to face with the US, as it does not consider the DPRK-US dialogue as nothing more than a tool for grappling its political crisis," Choe said in a statement carried by state-run KCNA news agency. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's formal name. US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun is due to visit South Korea next week to discuss stalled talks with North Korea. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un should meet again before the US elections in November, which would help resume the stalled nuclear negotiations. Trump and Kim Jong Un met for the first time in 2018 in Singapore. They met again in Vietnam in 2019, but the talks fell apart when Trump said Kim had failed to offer enough nuclear weapons or ballistic missiles in exchange for lifting international sanctions. At their third meeting, in June 2019 at the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, the two agreed to restart negotiations. Working-level talks between the two sides in Sweden in October were broken off. (With inputs from Reuters)

Talks with US would be nothing more than 'a political tool' for Washington: North Korea

An augmented reality (AR) mirror at the new Seoul flagship boutique of cosmetics powerhouse Amorepacific makes easy work of seeing if that scarlet shade of lipstick or long-lash mascara suits you - without touching your face.

Through the looking glass: South Korean 'augmented reality' mirror allows touchless cosmetics shopping

North Korea has upped its anti-South Korea rhetoric, and recently took it a step further by bombing a joint liaison office symbolic of Korean unity and peace.

The country claimed that South Korea had been smuggling anti-Kim leaflets across the border, in a bid to increase rates of defectors emerging from the country.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/north-koreas-kim-jong-un-calls-for-developing-a-self-sufficient-economy-304143" hreflang="en">North Korea's Kim Jong Un calls for developing a 'self-sufficient economy'</a>

According to a Russian envoy, the leaflets have caused such a huge stir owing to the “dirty, disgusting” depictions of Kim Jong-un’s wife - Ri Sol Ju.

These leaflets are usually transported via air balloons, or in bottles. North Korea has threatened its neighbour with military action, while also reinstalling propaganda loudspeakers across the border, a kind of warfare historically employed by both countries in the “demilitarised zone”.

"Last straw"

Russian ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora recently told a Russian news agency that the leaflets have become such a sensitive issue owing to its “insulting propaganda”, which has sparked “serious outrage”.

Russia is one the key allies of North Korea, and Matsegora one of the longest serving Russian ambassadors.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/kim-jong-un-wants-to-increase-north-koreas-nuclear-war-deterrence-says-report-300739" hreflang="en">Kim Jong Un wants to increase North Korea's nuclear war deterrence, says report</a>

"The leaflets bore a special kind of dirty, insulting propaganda, aimed at the leader's spouse," Matsegora said in conversation with Russia's TASS news agency on Monday, June 29.&nbsp;He further claimed that the photos were edited “in such a low-grade way”, serving as the “last straw” for Kim.

The first meeting between the two leaders was set-up by South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Currently, North Korea faces multiple sanctions by the United Nations over its banned weapons programmes.

Sister-in-chief? No!

Matsegora additionally said that Kim’s younger sister was not being trained to take over Kim Jong-un. Recently, reports suggested that the Korean leader faked his death to test the allegiance of his close aides. International media reported that he was actually dead until he abruptly resurfaced.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/kim-jong-un-makes-first-public-appearance-after-nearly-three-weeks-296212" hreflang="en">Kim Jong Un makes first public appearance after nearly three weeks</a>

Kim Yo Jong, the leader’s sister has been one of his recent key advisers. In fact, it was she who warned about “completely” destroying the liaison office and referred to South Korean president as “disgusting”.

US President Donald Trump has been for long attempting to denuclearise the peninsula, but efforts fell apart last year, even though Trump had referred to Kim as a “good friend”. As part of the deal, Trump wanted Jong-un to stop making nuclear weapons in exchange for loosening sanctions.

North Korea has upped its anti-South Korea rhetoric, and recently took it a step further by bombing a joint liaison office symbolic of Korean unity and peace. The country claimed that South Korea had been smuggling anti-Kim leaflets across the border, in a bid to increase rates of defectors emerging from the country.

North Korea has upped its anti-South Korea rhetoric, and recently took it a step further by bombing a joint liaison office symbolic of Korean unity and peace. The country claimed that South Korea had been smuggling anti-Kim leaflets across the border, in a bid to increase rates of defectors emerging from the country. Also read: North Korea's Kim Jong Un calls for developing a 'self-sufficient economy' According to a Russian envoy, the leaflets have caused such a huge stir owing to the “dirty, disgusting” depictions of Kim Jong-un’s wife - Ri Sol Ju. These leaflets are usually transported via air balloons, or in bottles. North Korea has threatened its neighbour with military action, while also reinstalling propaganda loudspeakers across the border, a kind of warfare historically employed by both countries in the “demilitarised zone”. "Last straw" Russian ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora recently told a Russian news agency that the leaflets have become such a sensitive issue owing to its “insulting propaganda”, which has sparked “serious outrage”. Russia is one the key allies of North Korea, and Matsegora one of the longest serving Russian ambassadors. Also read: Kim Jong Un wants to increase North Korea's nuclear war deterrence, says report "The leaflets bore a special kind of dirty, insulting propaganda, aimed at the leader's spouse," Matsegora said in conversation with Russia's TASS news agency on Monday, June 29. He further claimed that the photos were edited “in such a low-grade way”, serving as the “last straw” for Kim. The first meeting between the two leaders was set-up by South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Currently, North Korea faces multiple sanctions by the United Nations over its banned weapons programmes. Sister-in-chief? No! Matsegora additionally said that Kim’s younger sister was not being trained to take over Kim Jong-un. Recently, reports suggested that the Korean leader faked his death to test the allegiance of his close aides. International media reported that he was actually dead until he abruptly resurfaced. Also read: Kim Jong Un makes first public appearance after nearly three weeks Kim Yo Jong, the leader’s sister has been one of his recent key advisers. In fact, it was she who warned about “completely” destroying the liaison office and referred to South Korean president as “disgusting”. US President Donald Trump has been for long attempting to denuclearise the peninsula, but efforts fell apart last year, even though Trump had referred to Kim as a “good friend”. As part of the deal, Trump wanted Jong-un to stop making nuclear weapons in exchange for loosening sanctions.

'Dirty, disgusting' depictions of Kim Jong-un's wife in leaflets may have set off a stronger anti-South rhetoric

South Korea and the US have come together to urge North Korea to implement the&nbsp;disarmament pledges it made in past talks. The two countries are aiming at a complete denuclearisation from North Korea's side.

A joint statement was issued by South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and US Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper in which they stated that the two countries will continue diplomatic talks till North Korea denuclearises.

The statement came a day after North Korea blindsided everyone and announced a suspension of the plan that would have nullified 2018 tension-reduction deals and further raised animosities on the Korean Peninsula.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/kim-jong-un-suspends-planned-military-moves-against-south-korea-308255">Also watch:&nbsp;Kim Jong Un suspends planned military moves against South Korea</a>

The defense chiefs, in the statement,&nbsp;said they "remain firmly committed to defending the hard-fought peace on the Korean Peninsula, to include supporting ongoing diplomatic efforts for the complete denuclearisation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."

The chiefs have also asked North Korea to keep in mind the&nbsp;US-North Korea summit talks in Singapore in June 2018 and inter-Korean talks in September 2018, while making any further decisions, in which Kim Jong Un had stated that his country&nbsp;"commits to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

The concerns regarding this started to rise after North Korea, last week, cut all its communication with South Korea after blowing up the South Korea-North Korea liaison office, and resumed its military drills near the border, and propaganda fliers were spotted towards South.

In recent weeks, North Korea has also threatened to take steps to nullity the 2018 deals meant to ease tensions at the border. Experts say North Korea is trying to pressure Seoul and Washington over the stalled nuclear diplomacy.&nbsp;

Kim Jong Un is yet to respond.

(With inputs from agencies)

South Korea and the US have come together to urge North Korea to implement the disarmament pledges it made in past talks. The two countries are aiming at a complete denuclearisation from North Korea's side.

South Korea and the US have come together to urge North Korea to implement the disarmament pledges it made in past talks. The two countries are aiming at a complete denuclearisation from North Korea's side. A joint statement was issued by South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and US Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper in which they stated that the two countries will continue diplomatic talks till North Korea denuclearises. The statement came a day after North Korea blindsided everyone and announced a suspension of the plan that would have nullified 2018 tension-reduction deals and further raised animosities on the Korean Peninsula. Also watch: Kim Jong Un suspends planned military moves against South Korea The defense chiefs, in the statement, said they "remain firmly committed to defending the hard-fought peace on the Korean Peninsula, to include supporting ongoing diplomatic efforts for the complete denuclearisation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea." The chiefs have also asked North Korea to keep in mind the US-North Korea summit talks in Singapore in June 2018 and inter-Korean talks in September 2018, while making any further decisions, in which Kim Jong Un had stated that his country "commits to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." The concerns regarding this started to rise after North Korea, last week, cut all its communication with South Korea after blowing up the South Korea-North Korea liaison office, and resumed its military drills near the border, and propaganda fliers were spotted towards South. In recent weeks, North Korea has also threatened to take steps to nullity the 2018 deals meant to ease tensions at the border. Experts say North Korea is trying to pressure Seoul and Washington over the stalled nuclear diplomacy. Kim Jong Un is yet to respond. (With inputs from agencies)

South Korea and US ask North Korea to implement pre-planned denuclearisation plans

70 years of Korean War: How power games kept the peninsula divided

North Korea has suspended military action plans against South Korea, Reuters reported quoting the official KCNA news agency on Wednesday. The latest development comes amid report suggested North Korean troops were taking down loudspeakers recently reinstalled at the fortified border.

North Korea has suspended military action plans against South Korea, Reuters reported quoting the official KCNA news agency on Wednesday. The latest development comes amid report suggested North Korean troops were taking down loudspeakers recently reinstalled at the fortified border. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presided over a video conference meeting of the ruling party's Central Military Commission on Tuesday, where members "took stock of the prevailing situation" before deciding to suspend the military plans, the report said, without elaborating. The committee also discussed documents outlining measures for "further bolstering the war deterrent of the country," KCNA report added. Tensions between the Korean rival have been rising over Pyongyang's objections to plans by defector-led groups in the South to send propaganda leaflets into the North. North Korea claims the moves violate an agreement between the two aimed at preventing military confrontation and accused the defectors of insulting the dignity of North Korea's supreme leadership. Also read: North Korea seen reinstalling border loudspeakers; satellite pictures show liaison office standing but damaged North Korea's military was seen removing about 10 loudspeakers near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) on Wednesday, just days after they were seen reinstalling around 20 of the devices, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, citing unnamed military sources. About 40 such systems were taken down after the two Koreas signed an accord in 2018 to cease "all hostile acts". A spokesman for South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles relations with the North, said it is monitoring the situation and had no change in its stance that inter-Korean agreements should be kept. Kim Jong-un's decision to suspend the unspecified military actions may represent a reprieve from weeks of increasingly provocative moves by North Korea. × In recent weeks, the North blew up a joint liaison office on its side of the border and declared an end to dialogue with the South. Reuters report quoted Jenny Town, with the US-based North Korea-monitoring website 38 North, as saying that anti-South Korea rhetoric from the North over the past week had left room for flexibility, but it was still unclear where the latest moves will lead. "Overall, it doesn’t appear that the North has necessarily wanted to be overly provocative," she said. "While it seems set on reversing the measures taken in the inter-Korean agreements -in a dramatic fashion - so far, the rhetoric has already been milder since the demolition of the liaison office."

North Korea suspends military action plans against South Korea: Report

Kim Jong Un ordered the suspension of military actions against South Korea, a move that could ease tensions after North Korea blew up a liaison office built by Seoul and warned of further provocations.

Kim Jong Un suspends planned military moves against South Korea

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