South Korea&#39;s parliament introduced a bill on Thursday to impeach President Park Geun-hye, setting the stage for a historic vote to oust the embattled leader engulfed in an influence-peddling scandal.

Parliament is expected to vote on Friday in favour of impeachment, although the Constitutional Court must decide whether to uphold the motion, a process that could take up to 180 days.

Opposition parties have said they believe they will get the two-thirds majority needed to pass the bill, with support from about 30 members of Park&#39;s conservative Saenuri Party to secure the necessary 200 votes.

Park, 64, said this week she would await the court&#39;s ruling, signalling that the country&#39;s six-weeks-long political crisis is set to continue.

Park, the daughter of a former military ruler, is under intense pressure to resign immediately, with big crowds taking to the streets of the capital, Seoul, every Saturday calling for her ouster.

Her approval rating is at a record low of 4 per cent. A Realmeter poll released on Thursday said 78.2 per cent of respondents wanted Park to be impeached.

She would be the first democratically elected South Korean president not to serve a full five-year term. Former president Roh Moo-hyun was impeached by parliament in 2004, a motion that was overturned by the Constitutional Court which said grounds for impeachment were insufficient.

Park is accused of colluding with a friend and a former aide to pressure big businesses to donate to two foundations set up to back her policy initiatives.

She has denied wrongdoing but apologised for carelessness in her ties with the friend, Choi Soon-sil.

An impeachment vote must be held within 72 hours of the motion&#39;s introduction, and the speaker of parliament, Chung Sye-kyun, asked for a vote on Friday.

Dramatic Week

The stakes are high for both pro- and anti-Park factions.

The leaders of the two main opposition parties said their 159 members would all resign if the impeachment motion failed, taking responsibility for their inability to follow through on the demands of the public.

That would then mean by-elections to fill their seats, which could alter the make-up of the unicameral legislature. In April, Park&#39;s Saenuri Party unexpectedly lost its parliamentary majority during elections.

The Friday impeachment vote will cap a dramatic week.

On Tuesday, leaders of the country&#39;s largest conglomerates, including Samsung Group scion Jay Y&nbsp;Lee, were grilled during a 13-hour hearing in which they denied that donations to two charitable foundations supported by Park and at the centre of the scandal were made in exchange for favourable treatment.

On Wednesday, former associates of Choi, the president&#39;s friend, testified to the same parliamentary panel that Choi conducted herself in ways that made it clear she was exceptionally close to Park and was influential.

The finance ministry said it was concerned about further risks to the economy from &quot;domestic issues&quot; which could dent consumption and investment at a time when many global uncertainties persist.

Park&#39;s father, Park Chung-hee, led South Korea for 18 years after seizing power in a 1961 military coup. He was murdered by a disgruntled spy chief in 1979.

(Reuters)

Parliament is expected to vote on Friday in favour of impeachment

South Korea's parliament introduced a bill on Thursday to impeach President Park Geun-hye, setting the stage for a historic vote to oust the embattled leader engulfed in an influence-peddling scandal. Parliament is expected to vote on Friday in favour of impeachment, although the Constitutional Court must decide whether to uphold the motion, a process that could take up to 180 days. Opposition parties have said they believe they will get the two-thirds majority needed to pass the bill, with support from about 30 members of Park's conservative Saenuri Party to secure the necessary 200 votes. Park, 64, said this week she would await the court's ruling, signalling that the country's six-weeks-long political crisis is set to continue. Park, the daughter of a former military ruler, is under intense pressure to resign immediately, with big crowds taking to the streets of the capital, Seoul, every Saturday calling for her ouster. Her approval rating is at a record low of 4 per cent. A Realmeter poll released on Thursday said 78.2 per cent of respondents wanted Park to be impeached. She would be the first democratically elected South Korean president not to serve a full five-year term. Former president Roh Moo-hyun was impeached by parliament in 2004, a motion that was overturned by the Constitutional Court which said grounds for impeachment were insufficient. Park is accused of colluding with a friend and a former aide to pressure big businesses to donate to two foundations set up to back her policy initiatives. She has denied wrongdoing but apologised for carelessness in her ties with the friend, Choi Soon-sil. An impeachment vote must be held within 72 hours of the motion's introduction, and the speaker of parliament, Chung Sye-kyun, asked for a vote on Friday. Dramatic Week The stakes are high for both pro- and anti-Park factions. The leaders of the two main opposition parties said their 159 members would all resign if the impeachment motion failed, taking responsibility for their inability to follow through on the demands of the public. That would then mean by-elections to fill their seats, which could alter the make-up of the unicameral legislature. In April, Park's Saenuri Party unexpectedly lost its parliamentary majority during elections. The Friday impeachment vote will cap a dramatic week. On Tuesday, leaders of the country's largest conglomerates, including Samsung Group scion Jay Y Lee, were grilled during a 13-hour hearing in which they denied that donations to two charitable foundations supported by Park and at the centre of the scandal were made in exchange for favourable treatment. On Wednesday, former associates of Choi, the president's friend, testified to the same parliamentary panel that Choi conducted herself in ways that made it clear she was exceptionally close to Park and was influential. The finance ministry said it was concerned about further risks to the economy from "domestic issues" which could dent consumption and investment at a time when many global uncertainties persist. Park's father, Park Chung-hee, led South Korea for 18 years after seizing power in a 1961 military coup. He was murdered by a disgruntled spy chief in 1979. (Reuters)

South Korea: Parliament introduces bill to impeach President Park Geun-hye

South Korea&#39;s opposition parties filed an impeachment motion &nbsp;against scandal-hit President Park Geun-Hye on Saturday as a fresh weekly protest was expected to draw a million protesters, organisers said.

The motion, backed by 171 lawmakers in the 300-seat legislature, will be put to a vote in the National Assembly on Friday, lawmakers said.

The joint opposition commands the most seats in the legislature, but will need the support of nearly 30 members of Park&#39;s Saenuri Party to secure the two-thirds majority needed to impeach the president.

&quot;If the impeachment motion fails to get passed because of the lack of cooperation from the ruling party, it must take responsibility for all consequences&quot;, the main opposition Democratic Party&#39;s floor leader Woo Sang-Ho was quoted as saying by the Yonhap news agency.

Accused of colluding with a close friend who faces embezzlement charges, Park said last week she would be willing to step down in the face of weekly mass protests that have seen millions take to the streets of Seoul and other cities.

But the opposition says Park&#39;s offer, which put the manner and timing of her resignation in the hands of parliament, is an effort to buy time and avoid impeachment.

If passed, the motion would go to the Constitutional Court for approval -- a process that could take up to six months.

The ruling party has called on Park to stand down voluntarily in April, allowing a presidential election to be held in June -- six months ahead of schedule.

Party officials have given her a week to accept the timeline or face impeachment.

The scandal engulfing Park&#39;s administration is centred around a long-time friend of the president, Choi Soon-Sil, who has been dubbed &quot;Korea&#39;s female Rasputin&quot;.

Prosecutors say they have evidence that Park colluded in Choi&#39;s efforts to coerce firms to &quot;donate&quot; tens of millions of dollars to two dubious foundations.

Park has been named as a formal suspect in the investigation, making her the first sitting president to be subject to a criminal probe while in office.

While she retains the presidency, Park cannot be charged with a criminal offence except insurrection or treason, but she would lose that immunity once she steps down.

Massive weekly protests have been intensifying over the past month, with organisers claiming up to 1.5 million people braved freezing temperatures in Seoul last Saturday to demand Park&#39;s resignation.

Activists have called for a sixth protest Saturday in central Seoul, despite Park&#39;s announcement that she would be willing to cede power.

&quot;About a million will come to the rally, more or less&quot;, spokesman Ahn Jin-Geol of an umbrella group of activists organising the rally told AFP.&nbsp;

&quot;The people have already impeached Park in their mind. They simply don&#39;t want a criminal hanging around there as a president until April&quot;, he said.&nbsp;

Park on Wednesday approved a lawyer recommended by the opposition-controlled parliament as an independent prosecutor.

The special prosecutor will interview the president and be given 120 days to follow up on the findings of state investigators.&nbsp;

Park has backtracked on earlier promises to make herself available for questioning in a judicial probe.

(AFP)

The motion, backed by 171 lawmakers in the 300-seat legislature, will be put to vote in the National Assembly on Friday

South Korea's opposition parties filed an impeachment motion against scandal-hit President Park Geun-Hye on Saturday as a fresh weekly protest was expected to draw a million protesters, organisers said. The motion, backed by 171 lawmakers in the 300-seat legislature, will be put to a vote in the National Assembly on Friday, lawmakers said. The joint opposition commands the most seats in the legislature, but will need the support of nearly 30 members of Park's Saenuri Party to secure the two-thirds majority needed to impeach the president. "If the impeachment motion fails to get passed because of the lack of cooperation from the ruling party, it must take responsibility for all consequences", the main opposition Democratic Party's floor leader Woo Sang-Ho was quoted as saying by the Yonhap news agency. Accused of colluding with a close friend who faces embezzlement charges, Park said last week she would be willing to step down in the face of weekly mass protests that have seen millions take to the streets of Seoul and other cities. But the opposition says Park's offer, which put the manner and timing of her resignation in the hands of parliament, is an effort to buy time and avoid impeachment. If passed, the motion would go to the Constitutional Court for approval -- a process that could take up to six months. The ruling party has called on Park to stand down voluntarily in April, allowing a presidential election to be held in June -- six months ahead of schedule. Party officials have given her a week to accept the timeline or face impeachment. The scandal engulfing Park's administration is centred around a long-time friend of the president, Choi Soon-Sil, who has been dubbed "Korea's female Rasputin". Prosecutors say they have evidence that Park colluded in Choi's efforts to coerce firms to "donate" tens of millions of dollars to two dubious foundations. Park has been named as a formal suspect in the investigation, making her the first sitting president to be subject to a criminal probe while in office. While she retains the presidency, Park cannot be charged with a criminal offence except insurrection or treason, but she would lose that immunity once she steps down. Massive weekly protests have been intensifying over the past month, with organisers claiming up to 1.5 million people braved freezing temperatures in Seoul last Saturday to demand Park's resignation. Activists have called for a sixth protest Saturday in central Seoul, despite Park's announcement that she would be willing to cede power. "About a million will come to the rally, more or less", spokesman Ahn Jin-Geol of an umbrella group of activists organising the rally told AFP. "The people have already impeached Park in their mind. They simply don't want a criminal hanging around there as a president until April", he said. Park on Wednesday approved a lawyer recommended by the opposition-controlled parliament as an independent prosecutor. The special prosecutor will interview the president and be given 120 days to follow up on the findings of state investigators. Park has backtracked on earlier promises to make herself available for questioning in a judicial probe. (AFP)

South Korea Opposition files impeachment motion against President Park

Brad Pitt has been cleared after a probe into allegations he mistreated one of his children in a mid-air altercation, the FBI said on Tuesday.

The claims centered on an alleged incident with his 15-year-old son Maddox in September on a flight from France to Los Angeles. Pitt&#39;s wife Angelina Jolie claimed he had struck the boy.

&quot;In response to allegations made following a flight... carrying Mr&nbsp;Brad Pitt and his children, the FBI has conducted a review of the circumstances and will not pursue further investigation,&quot; the agency said in a statement.&nbsp;

&quot;No charges have been filed in this matter.&quot;

The announcement marks Pitt&#39;s second vindication over the incident, two weeks after Los Angeles social workers cleared the 52-year-old of wrongdoing following interviews with the couple, their children and witnesses.

Jolie, 41, filed for divorce in September, citing irreconcilable differences. She is seeking sole custody of their six children.

Pitt, who won a best film Oscar for producing &quot;12 Years a Slave&quot; (2013), has been in contact with all six of the couple&#39;s children and is seeking joint legal and physical custody.

The reunions were supervised by a therapist as part of the couple`s temporary custody agreement -- mediated by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services -- which was recently extended.

Under the agreement Jolie had physical custody of the children -- three of whom, including Maddox, are adopted -- at a rented LA house.

The A-listers -- given the celebrity moniker &quot;Brangelina&quot; -- wed in France in August two years ago, but had been a couple since 2004.

Pitt&#39;s representative, however, declined to comment.

(AFP)

Park is under enormous pressure to step down over a corruption scandal, with regular rallies demanding she be impeached

Brad Pitt has been cleared after a probe into allegations he mistreated one of his children in a mid-air altercation, the FBI said on Tuesday. The claims centered on an alleged incident with his 15-year-old son Maddox in September on a flight from France to Los Angeles. Pitt's wife Angelina Jolie claimed he had struck the boy. "In response to allegations made following a flight... carrying Mr Brad Pitt and his children, the FBI has conducted a review of the circumstances and will not pursue further investigation," the agency said in a statement. "No charges have been filed in this matter." The announcement marks Pitt's second vindication over the incident, two weeks after Los Angeles social workers cleared the 52-year-old of wrongdoing following interviews with the couple, their children and witnesses. Jolie, 41, filed for divorce in September, citing irreconcilable differences. She is seeking sole custody of their six children. Pitt, who won a best film Oscar for producing "12 Years a Slave" (2013), has been in contact with all six of the couple's children and is seeking joint legal and physical custody. The reunions were supervised by a therapist as part of the couple`s temporary custody agreement -- mediated by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services -- which was recently extended. Under the agreement Jolie had physical custody of the children -- three of whom, including Maddox, are adopted -- at a rented LA house. The A-listers -- given the celebrity moniker "Brangelina" -- wed in France in August two years ago, but had been a couple since 2004. Pitt's representative, however, declined to comment. (AFP)

South Korea President's approval rating at record low 4%

South Korea&rsquo;s main opposition party voted Monday to seek the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye after prosecutors named her a criminal suspect in a snowballing corruption case. But it remains unclear exactly when Park&rsquo;s opponents will formally try to start the process, a difficult and lengthy one with no guarantee about the outcome.

Members of the Democratic Party voted unanimously in favour of seeking Park&rsquo;s impeachment and setting up a working group to review related legal issues, its spokesman Ki Dong-min said. &ldquo;We have decided to join efforts with civic groups, other opposition parties and even members of the ruling party who want Park to be impeached,&rdquo; Ki said.

He said the party would formally begin the process when it sees the &ldquo;biggest possibility&rdquo; of parliament approving such a move.

Two smaller opposition parties have already said they will seek to remove Park. Even some members of the president&rsquo;s ruling conservative party have come out in favour of impeachment. But their commitment to the process is unclear for now, partly due to fear of a political backlash if the impeachment bid fails.

A failed attempt in 2004 to impeach then-President Roh Moo-hyun backfired badly, with two parties that led the bid suffering a devastating defeat in a general election the same year.

In some ways, the opposition has had its hand forced by the huge outpouring of anti-Park sentiment, which has seen hundreds of thousands take to the streets of Seoul in recent weeks demanding she step down. With Park showing no sign of going voluntarily, the opposition has come under pressure to take a more assertive stance, but is wary of the political dangers involved.

&ldquo;Even if there is great public anger over Park for now, many lawmakers may be reluctant to take such a big risk by walking into an impeachment minefield,&rdquo; said political commentator Kim Hong-guk.

Park has just over a year to run of her single, five-year presidential term, and impeachment could take months, as it requires a two-thirds approval by the national assembly and a similar majority in the Constitutional Court. There are concerns about a backlash from conservative voters who -- disappointed with Park -- would see her impeachment as unwarranted and overly punitive.

On Sunday, Seoul prosecutors said Park had colluded with her long-time friend Choi Soon-sil, who is accused of coercing local firms to donate more than $60 million and of meddling in state affairs. That made Park the first South Korean president to become a criminal suspect while in office.

Choi and a former Park aide were formally indicted on charges of abuse of power and coercion, while another aide was charged with leaking confidential state documents. Park had previously said she would submit to prosecutors for questioning, but her lawyer signalled a change Sunday, saying she would only answer to an independent team of investigators which will soon take over the case.

A sitting president cannot be charged with a criminal offence except insurrection or treason, but she can be investigated and potentially charged once her term is over.

The three opposition parties hold a combined 55 per cent of parliamentary seats -- short of the two-thirds majority, for which they would require the support of conservative MPs.

The scandal has sent Park&rsquo;s job approval ratings diving to five per cent, a record low for a South Korean president.

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

The impeachment requires a two-thirds approval by the national assembly and a similar majority in the Constitutional Court

South Korea’s main opposition party voted Monday to seek the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye after prosecutors named her a criminal suspect in a snowballing corruption case. But it remains unclear exactly when Park’s opponents will formally try to start the process, a difficult and lengthy one with no guarantee about the outcome. Members of the Democratic Party voted unanimously in favour of seeking Park’s impeachment and setting up a working group to review related legal issues, its spokesman Ki Dong-min said. “We have decided to join efforts with civic groups, other opposition parties and even members of the ruling party who want Park to be impeached,” Ki said. He said the party would formally begin the process when it sees the “biggest possibility” of parliament approving such a move. Two smaller opposition parties have already said they will seek to remove Park. Even some members of the president’s ruling conservative party have come out in favour of impeachment. But their commitment to the process is unclear for now, partly due to fear of a political backlash if the impeachment bid fails. A failed attempt in 2004 to impeach then-President Roh Moo-hyun backfired badly, with two parties that led the bid suffering a devastating defeat in a general election the same year. In some ways, the opposition has had its hand forced by the huge outpouring of anti-Park sentiment, which has seen hundreds of thousands take to the streets of Seoul in recent weeks demanding she step down. With Park showing no sign of going voluntarily, the opposition has come under pressure to take a more assertive stance, but is wary of the political dangers involved. “Even if there is great public anger over Park for now, many lawmakers may be reluctant to take such a big risk by walking into an impeachment minefield,” said political commentator Kim Hong-guk. Park has just over a year to run of her single, five-year presidential term, and impeachment could take months, as it requires a two-thirds approval by the national assembly and a similar majority in the Constitutional Court. There are concerns about a backlash from conservative voters who -- disappointed with Park -- would see her impeachment as unwarranted and overly punitive. On Sunday, Seoul prosecutors said Park had colluded with her long-time friend Choi Soon-sil, who is accused of coercing local firms to donate more than $60 million and of meddling in state affairs. That made Park the first South Korean president to become a criminal suspect while in office. Choi and a former Park aide were formally indicted on charges of abuse of power and coercion, while another aide was charged with leaking confidential state documents. Park had previously said she would submit to prosecutors for questioning, but her lawyer signalled a change Sunday, saying she would only answer to an independent team of investigators which will soon take over the case. A sitting president cannot be charged with a criminal offence except insurrection or treason, but she can be investigated and potentially charged once her term is over. The three opposition parties hold a combined 55 per cent of parliamentary seats -- short of the two-thirds majority, for which they would require the support of conservative MPs. The scandal has sent Park’s job approval ratings diving to five per cent, a record low for a South Korean president. (AFP)

South Korea's opposition party votes to seek President Park's impeachment

South Korean President Park Geun-hye faced mounting calls to step down as a record number of people came out on the streets in one of the largest anti-government protests seen in Seoul on Saturday.&nbsp;

The people are demanding her resignation over allegations that she allowed a friend to meddle in state affairs and wield influence.

&quot;Of course she must step down,&quot; Jung Sun-hee, a 42-year-old homemaker who attended the rally with her husband and two pre-teen daughters, said. &quot;I believe we need a new person to break through this situation, who will be better than this one.&quot;

A court in Seoul had allowed the crowd to hold a march in the evening to within a few blocks of the presidential Blue House compound. Unlike the previous protests that had turned violent, there was a largely peaceful atmosphere on Saturday&#39;s march.&nbsp;

It was third in a series of weekly mass protests that have left Park fighting for her political survival. On October 25, she had publicly apologised for seeking the advice of her friend, Choi Soon-sil, who is currently under arrest on charges of fraud and abuse of power.&nbsp;

Park&#39;s offer to work with the parliamentary opposition to form a new cabinet and relinquish some power failed to calm public anger. Prosecutors are investigating allegations that her friend had leveraged their personal relationship to coerce donations from large companies to non-profit foundations which she set up and used for personal gain. She is also accused of interfering in government affairs, despite holding no official position.

Opposition parties have also called for her resignation, indicating that there was a growing opinion in Parliament to take action to remove Park from power, but there has been no formal move yet to launch impeachment proceedings.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Tens of thousands in Seoul are demanding her resignation over a snowballing corruption scandal

South Korean President Park Geun-hye faced mounting calls to step down as a record number of people came out on the streets in one of the largest anti-government protests seen in Seoul on Saturday. The people are demanding her resignation over allegations that she allowed a friend to meddle in state affairs and wield influence. "Of course she must step down," Jung Sun-hee, a 42-year-old homemaker who attended the rally with her husband and two pre-teen daughters, said. "I believe we need a new person to break through this situation, who will be better than this one." A court in Seoul had allowed the crowd to hold a march in the evening to within a few blocks of the presidential Blue House compound. Unlike the previous protests that had turned violent, there was a largely peaceful atmosphere on Saturday's march. It was third in a series of weekly mass protests that have left Park fighting for her political survival. On October 25, she had publicly apologised for seeking the advice of her friend, Choi Soon-sil, who is currently under arrest on charges of fraud and abuse of power. Park's offer to work with the parliamentary opposition to form a new cabinet and relinquish some power failed to calm public anger. Prosecutors are investigating allegations that her friend had leveraged their personal relationship to coerce donations from large companies to non-profit foundations which she set up and used for personal gain. She is also accused of interfering in government affairs, despite holding no official position. Opposition parties have also called for her resignation, indicating that there was a growing opinion in Parliament to take action to remove Park from power, but there has been no formal move yet to launch impeachment proceedings. (WION with inputs from agencies)

South Korean President fights for political survival as massive crowd demands Park's resignation

South Korean prosecutors investigating a corruption scandal engulfing President Park Geun-Hye questioned the head of the country&#39;s largest steelmaker as well as a top Samsung executive today.

<meta charset="utf-8" />

Posco chief executive Kwon Oh-Joon was grilled overnight about allegations surrounding the 2014 sale of the company&#39;s in-house advertising unit.

Kwon was the first head of a major South Korean conglomerate to be questioned over the scandal centred on Park&#39;s close personal friend Choi Soon-Sil.

The allegations are that one of Choi&#39;s associates attempted to force the company that bought Posco&#39;s advertising subsidiary to hand over 80 per cent of its shares.

Kwon, 66, returned home early Saturday after undergoing 12 hours of intensive questioning at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors&#39; Office, Yonhap news agency said.

Prosecutors are investigating allegations that Choi, 60, leveraged her personal ties with Park to coerce donations from large companies like Samsung and Posco to non-profit foundations which she set up and used for personal gain.

She is also accused of interfering in government affairs, despite holding no official position.

Park Sang-Jin, a Samsung Electronics&#39; president for corporate relations, was also questioned Saturday about reports that Samsung Electronics may have funnelled as much as 2.8 million euros (USD 3.1 million) to Choi to bankroll her daughter&#39;s equestrian training in Germany.

Park was quizzed four days after prosecutors raided Samsung Electronics&#39; headquarters in Seoul.

The world&#39;s largest smartphone maker has said it will cooperate with any investigations.

(AFP)

Posco chief Kwon Oh-Joon was grilled overnight about allegations surrounding the 2014 sale of the company's in-house advertising unit

South Korean prosecutors investigating a corruption scandal engulfing President Park Geun-Hye questioned the head of the country's largest steelmaker as well as a top Samsung executive today. Posco chief executive Kwon Oh-Joon was grilled overnight about allegations surrounding the 2014 sale of the company's in-house advertising unit. Kwon was the first head of a major South Korean conglomerate to be questioned over the scandal centred on Park's close personal friend Choi Soon-Sil. The allegations are that one of Choi's associates attempted to force the company that bought Posco's advertising subsidiary to hand over 80 per cent of its shares. Kwon, 66, returned home early Saturday after undergoing 12 hours of intensive questioning at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Yonhap news agency said. Prosecutors are investigating allegations that Choi, 60, leveraged her personal ties with Park to coerce donations from large companies like Samsung and Posco to non-profit foundations which she set up and used for personal gain. She is also accused of interfering in government affairs, despite holding no official position. Park Sang-Jin, a Samsung Electronics' president for corporate relations, was also questioned Saturday about reports that Samsung Electronics may have funnelled as much as 2.8 million euros (USD 3.1 million) to Choi to bankroll her daughter's equestrian training in Germany. Park was quizzed four days after prosecutors raided Samsung Electronics' headquarters in Seoul. The world's largest smartphone maker has said it will cooperate with any investigations. (AFP)

Posco chief, Samsung executive questioned over South Korea scandal

South Korean opposition parties on Wednesday rejected President Park Geun-Hye&#39;s offer to share power to overcome a crippling crisis, calling in effect for a caretaker government.

In a major climbdown forced by a crippling corruption scandal, Park had agreed to dump her nominee for prime minister, and accept one chosen by the opposition-controlled parliament.

But opposition parties said Park&#39;s offer was too &quot;ambiguous&quot;, urging her to guarantee the new prime minister would be given a completely free hand in selecting cabinet ministers, handling state affairs and functioning without interference.

&quot;It&#39;s not even worth consideration&quot;, the country&#39;s three opposition parties said in a joint press statement.

Park has come under mounting pressure to step down over the scandal involving a close friend, Choi Soon-Sil, who has been arrested on charges of fraud and abuse of power.

The charges relate to allegations that Choi leveraged her personal relationship with Park to coerce donations from large companies like Samsung to non-profit foundations which she set up and used for personal gain.

She is also accused of interfering in government affairs, including in the nomination of senior officials.

Lurid reports of the unhealthy influence Choi wielded over Park have sent the president&#39;s approval ratings plunging to record lows and triggered mass street protests calling on her to resign.

In a bid to restore public trust, Park reshuffled her advisers and senior cabinet members, and nominated a liberal candidate for prime minister from outside her conservative Saenuri Party.

But opposition parties had vowed to block her nominee on the grounds they were not properly consulted.

Park Jie-Won, President of the country&#39;s second opposition party,the People&#39;s Party, said the president is resorting to a divide-and-rule tactic, sowing seeds of discord among her opponents and letting them fight among themselves over who should be the next prime minister.

&quot;We&#39;ve already fallen into the trap set by the president&quot;, the veteran politician told journalists.

&quot;This is also a delaying tactic intended to earn time&quot;.

The presidential Blue House said on Wednesday that the president is sincere in her offer to share power with opposition parties, calling for a meeting with heads of both ruling and opposition parties to discuss details.

(AFP)

They have in effect called for a caretaker government

South Korean opposition parties on Wednesday rejected President Park Geun-Hye's offer to share power to overcome a crippling crisis, calling in effect for a caretaker government. In a major climbdown forced by a crippling corruption scandal, Park had agreed to dump her nominee for prime minister, and accept one chosen by the opposition-controlled parliament. But opposition parties said Park's offer was too "ambiguous", urging her to guarantee the new prime minister would be given a completely free hand in selecting cabinet ministers, handling state affairs and functioning without interference. "It's not even worth consideration", the country's three opposition parties said in a joint press statement. Park has come under mounting pressure to step down over the scandal involving a close friend, Choi Soon-Sil, who has been arrested on charges of fraud and abuse of power. The charges relate to allegations that Choi leveraged her personal relationship with Park to coerce donations from large companies like Samsung to non-profit foundations which she set up and used for personal gain. She is also accused of interfering in government affairs, including in the nomination of senior officials. Lurid reports of the unhealthy influence Choi wielded over Park have sent the president's approval ratings plunging to record lows and triggered mass street protests calling on her to resign. In a bid to restore public trust, Park reshuffled her advisers and senior cabinet members, and nominated a liberal candidate for prime minister from outside her conservative Saenuri Party. But opposition parties had vowed to block her nominee on the grounds they were not properly consulted. Park Jie-Won, President of the country's second opposition party,the People's Party, said the president is resorting to a divide-and-rule tactic, sowing seeds of discord among her opponents and letting them fight among themselves over who should be the next prime minister. "We've already fallen into the trap set by the president", the veteran politician told journalists. "This is also a delaying tactic intended to earn time". The presidential Blue House said on Wednesday that the president is sincere in her offer to share power with opposition parties, calling for a meeting with heads of both ruling and opposition parties to discuss details. (AFP)

Opposition rejects South Korea President's crisis remedy

South Korea&#39;s embattled president Park Geun-Hye replaced her prime minister and two other top cabinet members on Wednesday, in her latest bid to contain a damaging political scandal.

The move was part of a planned reshuffle of senior civil servants and ministers aimed at setting up a cross-party &quot;neutral&quot; cabinet and assuaging public anger with the president and her administration.

Park has been engulfed in a political storm over allegations that she allowed a long-time friend, who holds no political position, to meddle in affairs of state, including cabinet appointments.

The friend, Choi Soon-Sil, is currently being questioned under emergency detention by prosecutors over her links to Park and other allegations of influence-peddling and fraud.

A presidential spokesman said Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-Ahn had been replaced &quot;in connection with the current situation&quot; and added that the finance and public safety ministers were also being changed.

The new premier was named as Kim Byong-Joon, a former top aide to the late liberal president Roh Moo-Hyun.

The prime minister is a largely symbolic post in South Korea, where power is firmly concentrated in the presidency.

Suggestions that Choi Soon-Sil vetted presidential speeches and was given access to classified documents have exposed Park to public anger and ridicule and, with just over a year left in office, seen her approval ratings plunge into the single digits.

According to official sources cited by the Yonhap news agency, prosecutors were set to seek a formal arrest warrant against Choi later Wednesday.

Damage control

In an effort to deflect some of the criticism, Park had been urged to create a neutral cabinet by bringing in members from outside her ruling conservative Saenuri Party.

But opposition parties have said they need to be consulted on any appointments and also insist that any reshuffle should be preceded by a full investigation of Park&#39;s relationship with Choi.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea said Wednesday&#39;s changes were purely cosmetic.

&quot;People demanded that the president get rid of the Choi Soon-Sil-controlled cabinet, but this is just a second Choi Soon-Sil cabinet,&quot; a spokesman for the Democratic Party said.

The media has portrayed the 60-year-old Choi as a Rasputin-like figure, who wielded an unhealthy influence over Park that continued after her presidential election victory in December 2012.

Choi is the daughter of late religious leader Choi Tae-Min, who was married six times, had multiple pseudonyms and set up his own cult-like group known as the Church of Eternal Life.

He befriended a traumatised Park after the 1974 assassination of her mother -- whom he said had appeared to him in a dream. Park treated him as a mentor and subsequently formed a close bond with his daughter.

Earlier Wednesday, Choi Soon-Sil was seen entering the Seoul prosecutors office for a third day of questioning.

The YTN news channel showed footage of Choi, her face covered with a surgical mask and a dark coat covering her prison outfit, disembarking from a bus that brought her from the prison where she had spent a second night in custody.

(AFP)

Park Geun-Hye also replaced two top cabinet ministers

South Korea's embattled president Park Geun-Hye replaced her prime minister and two other top cabinet members on Wednesday, in her latest bid to contain a damaging political scandal. The move was part of a planned reshuffle of senior civil servants and ministers aimed at setting up a cross-party "neutral" cabinet and assuaging public anger with the president and her administration. Park has been engulfed in a political storm over allegations that she allowed a long-time friend, who holds no political position, to meddle in affairs of state, including cabinet appointments. The friend, Choi Soon-Sil, is currently being questioned under emergency detention by prosecutors over her links to Park and other allegations of influence-peddling and fraud. A presidential spokesman said Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-Ahn had been replaced "in connection with the current situation" and added that the finance and public safety ministers were also being changed. The new premier was named as Kim Byong-Joon, a former top aide to the late liberal president Roh Moo-Hyun. The prime minister is a largely symbolic post in South Korea, where power is firmly concentrated in the presidency. Suggestions that Choi Soon-Sil vetted presidential speeches and was given access to classified documents have exposed Park to public anger and ridicule and, with just over a year left in office, seen her approval ratings plunge into the single digits. According to official sources cited by the Yonhap news agency, prosecutors were set to seek a formal arrest warrant against Choi later Wednesday. Damage control In an effort to deflect some of the criticism, Park had been urged to create a neutral cabinet by bringing in members from outside her ruling conservative Saenuri Party. But opposition parties have said they need to be consulted on any appointments and also insist that any reshuffle should be preceded by a full investigation of Park's relationship with Choi. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea said Wednesday's changes were purely cosmetic. "People demanded that the president get rid of the Choi Soon-Sil-controlled cabinet, but this is just a second Choi Soon-Sil cabinet," a spokesman for the Democratic Party said. The media has portrayed the 60-year-old Choi as a Rasputin-like figure, who wielded an unhealthy influence over Park that continued after her presidential election victory in December 2012. Choi is the daughter of late religious leader Choi Tae-Min, who was married six times, had multiple pseudonyms and set up his own cult-like group known as the Church of Eternal Life. He befriended a traumatised Park after the 1974 assassination of her mother -- whom he said had appeared to him in a dream. Park treated him as a mentor and subsequently formed a close bond with his daughter. Earlier Wednesday, Choi Soon-Sil was seen entering the Seoul prosecutors office for a third day of questioning. The YTN news channel showed footage of Choi, her face covered with a surgical mask and a dark coat covering her prison outfit, disembarking from a bus that brought her from the prison where she had spent a second night in custody. (AFP)

South Korea scandal: Embattled president replaces prime minister

Pyongyang today conducted what was believed to be another failed test of &quot;a powerful medium-range missile capable of hitting US bases as far away as Guam&quot;, the South Korean military was quoted as saying by international news agency AFP.&nbsp;

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The failed attempt by North Korea to launch the missile was detected at 5:00 pm CDT/2200 GMT on Wednesday from the northwestern city of Kusong, US Strategic Command also said, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

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The missile had exploded shortly after take-off at around 6:30 am Pyongyang time (2200 GMT) on Wednesday, analysis by South Korean and US military monitors suggested, the joint chiefs of Staff said in a statement.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the US Strategic Command pointed out&nbsp;in a statement that the North American Aerospace Defense Command determined that&nbsp;the missile launch did not pose a threat to North America, adding that it was presumed to be a Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from AFP, Reuters)&nbsp;

The failed attempt by North Korea to launch the missile was detected from the northwestern city of Kusong

Pyongyang today conducted what was believed to be another failed test of "a powerful medium-range missile capable of hitting US bases as far away as Guam", the South Korean military was quoted as saying by international news agency AFP. The failed attempt by North Korea to launch the missile was detected at 5:00 pm CDT/2200 GMT on Wednesday from the northwestern city of Kusong, US Strategic Command also said, Reuters reported. The missile had exploded shortly after take-off at around 6:30 am Pyongyang time (2200 GMT) on Wednesday, analysis by South Korean and US military monitors suggested, the joint chiefs of Staff said in a statement. Meanwhile, the US Strategic Command pointed out in a statement that the North American Aerospace Defense Command determined that the missile launch did not pose a threat to North America, adding that it was presumed to be a Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile, Reuters reported. (WION with inputs from AFP, Reuters)

Pyongyang ?conducted failed missile launch, say South Korean and US military monitors?

The South Korean defence minister Han Min-koo has revealed that the country is ready to assassinate Kim Jong Un if it feels threatened by North Korean nuclear weapons, CNN reported today. 
 
&ldquo;We do have such a plan&rdquo;, Han Min-koo was reported as saying in Parliament on Wednesday. 
 
The plan, he added, included the use of precision missiles to eliminate North Korea&#39;s leadership. 
 
South Korea has upped its ante against North Korea following Pyongyang&rsquo;s claim that it had successfully tested a nuclear warhead earlier this month. 
 
North Korea, on its part, has been critical of the US following the flyover of two US B-1B bombers close to the demilitarised zone between the two Koreas. 
 
(WION)

'We do have such a plan,' South Korea's defence minister said in Parliament

The South Korean defence minister Han Min-koo has revealed that the country is ready to assassinate Kim Jong Un if it feels threatened by North Korean nuclear weapons, CNN reported today. “We do have such a plan”, Han Min-koo was reported as saying in Parliament on Wednesday. The plan, he added, included the use of precision missiles to eliminate North Korea's leadership. South Korea has upped its ante against North Korea following Pyongyang’s claim that it had successfully tested a nuclear warhead earlier this month. North Korea, on its part, has been critical of the US following the flyover of two US B-1B bombers close to the demilitarised zone between the two Koreas. (WION)

South Korea ready to assassinate North's Kim Jong Un should it feel threatened: Report

Days after Pyongyang&#39;s fifth and largest-ever nuclear test, &nbsp;two huge US strategic bombers flew over South Korea today in a show of force and solidarity with its ally against North while a US envoy called for a &nbsp;strong response from the United Nations (UN). 
 
&quot;Today&#39;s demonstration provides just one example of the full range of military capabilities in the deep resources of this strong alliance to provide and strengthen extended deterrence,&quot; &nbsp;general Vincent Brooks, US-South Korea Combined Forces Command was quoted as saying by AFP.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;North Korea&#39;s nuclear test is a dangerous escalation and poses an unacceptable threat,&quot; said the general, adding the US has an &quot;unshakable commitment&quot; to defend allies in the region. 
 
The supersonic B-1B Lancers reached airspace over the US Osan Air Base at Pyeongtaek, 64 kilometres (40 miles) south of Seoul, at around 10:00 am (0100 GMT). 
 
&quot;Our intention is to secure the strongest possible (UN Security Council) resolution that includes new sanctions as quickly as possible,&quot; Sung Kim, the US envoy on North Korea, asserted while speaking in the South Korean capital.&nbsp; 
 
US remains open to authentic, meaningful dialogue with Pyongyang on ending its pursuit of nuclear weapons, Kim was quoted as saying by Reuters.&nbsp; 
 
Each aircraft, which had flown from the US Pacific Command`s Andersen Airforce base at Guam, was escorted by US and South Korean fighter jets.&nbsp; 
 
It&#39;s pertinent to mention that Seoul in July had announced its plans to deploy THAAD &nbsp;(Terminal High Altitude Area Defense), a sophisticated US missile defence system, to counter growing nuclear and missile threats from the North.&nbsp; 
 
However, North Korea&#39;s major diplomatic ally, China, which believes the system`s radar could also be used to track its own defences, had objected strongly. The plan has also met resistance from residents of the southern county of Seongju, the planned site. 
 
Kim today pointed out that the United States would work with China to close loopholes in existing resolutions, which were tightened with Beijing`s backing in March. 
 
&quot;China has been very clear that they understand the need for a new UN security council resolution in response to the latest North Korean nuclear test,&quot; Kim said. 
 
China and Russia, however, which strongly oppose a recent decision by the United States and South Korea to deploy an advanced anti-missile system in the South to counter the North`s missile threat, have shown reluctance to back further sanctions. 
 
Meanwhile, South Korea`s defence ministry spokesman Moon Sang-Gyun told journalists that Tuesday&#39;s overflight was &quot;aimed at sending a clear warning to North Korea about its nuclear test, and containing further provocations&quot;. &nbsp; 
 
Washington took similar actions after previous atomic tests. 
 
In January, the US flew a B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber over Osan Air Base after North Korea`s fourth nuclear blast. 
 
South Korea is home to around 28,500 US troops and numerous bases. 
 
(WION with inputs from Reuters, AFP)&nbsp;

The overflight was 'aimed at sending a clear warning to the North' after its fifth nuclear test: South Korea's defence ministry

Days after Pyongyang's fifth and largest-ever nuclear test, two huge US strategic bombers flew over South Korea today in a show of force and solidarity with its ally against North while a US envoy called for a strong response from the United Nations (UN). "Today's demonstration provides just one example of the full range of military capabilities in the deep resources of this strong alliance to provide and strengthen extended deterrence," general Vincent Brooks, US-South Korea Combined Forces Command was quoted as saying by AFP. "North Korea's nuclear test is a dangerous escalation and poses an unacceptable threat," said the general, adding the US has an "unshakable commitment" to defend allies in the region. The supersonic B-1B Lancers reached airspace over the US Osan Air Base at Pyeongtaek, 64 kilometres (40 miles) south of Seoul, at around 10:00 am (0100 GMT). "Our intention is to secure the strongest possible (UN Security Council) resolution that includes new sanctions as quickly as possible," Sung Kim, the US envoy on North Korea, asserted while speaking in the South Korean capital. US remains open to authentic, meaningful dialogue with Pyongyang on ending its pursuit of nuclear weapons, Kim was quoted as saying by Reuters. Each aircraft, which had flown from the US Pacific Command`s Andersen Airforce base at Guam, was escorted by US and South Korean fighter jets. It's pertinent to mention that Seoul in July had announced its plans to deploy THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense), a sophisticated US missile defence system, to counter growing nuclear and missile threats from the North. However, North Korea's major diplomatic ally, China, which believes the system`s radar could also be used to track its own defences, had objected strongly. The plan has also met resistance from residents of the southern county of Seongju, the planned site. Kim today pointed out that the United States would work with China to close loopholes in existing resolutions, which were tightened with Beijing`s backing in March. "China has been very clear that they understand the need for a new UN security council resolution in response to the latest North Korean nuclear test," Kim said. China and Russia, however, which strongly oppose a recent decision by the United States and South Korea to deploy an advanced anti-missile system in the South to counter the North`s missile threat, have shown reluctance to back further sanctions. Meanwhile, South Korea`s defence ministry spokesman Moon Sang-Gyun told journalists that Tuesday's overflight was "aimed at sending a clear warning to North Korea about its nuclear test, and containing further provocations". Washington took similar actions after previous atomic tests. In January, the US flew a B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber over Osan Air Base after North Korea`s fourth nuclear blast. South Korea is home to around 28,500 US troops and numerous bases. (WION with inputs from Reuters, AFP)

US bombers fly over South Korea in show of solidarity against Pyongyang

North Korea hailed its &quot;successful&quot; fifth nuclear test today, state-run TV said, after the explosion was described by South Korea as Pyongyang&#39;s largest-ever such blast. 
 
&quot;Scientists (from)... the Democratic People&#39;s Republic of Korea (DPRK)&nbsp;carried out a nuclear explosion test for the judgment of the power of a nuclear warhead newly studied and manufactured by them at the northern nuclear test ground,&quot; a TV announcer said, using the North&#39;s official name.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;The Central Committee of the (ruling) Workers&#39; Party of Korea sent warm congratulations to nuclear scientists... of the northern nuclear test ground on the successful nuclear warhead explosion test,&quot; she said.&nbsp; 
 
The test will also enable the North to produce &quot;as many as it wants (of) a variety of smaller, lighter and diversified nuclear warheads of higher strike power&quot;, she said.&nbsp; 
 
No leakage of nuclear material had occurred in the test and that there was no environmental impact, the state-run TV added.&nbsp; 
 
Obama warns of consequences&nbsp; 
 
The 5.3 magnitude earthquake, recorded around Punggye-ri nuclear test site near the border with China, triggered sharp reactions from US, China and Japan.&nbsp; 
 
US President Barack Obama, warning of &quot;serious consequences&quot;, called the leaders of South Korea and Japan to consult after the seismic activity was detected, a White House spokesman said today.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;The President indicated he would continue to consult our allies and partners in the days ahead to ensure provocative actions from North Korea are met with serious consequences,&quot; White House press secretary Josh Earnest said. 
 
Largest-ever explosion by the North: Seoul&nbsp; 
 
The latest test, with an estimated yield of 10 kilotons, is the largest-ever staged by Pyongyang, Seoul&#39;s military said.&nbsp; 
 
North Korea&#39;s man-made earthquake today emitted energy that was double that of its nuclear test in January, South Korea&#39;s meteorological agency added.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Energy of the magnitude 5.04 is double that of the fourth nuclear test (by North Korea),&quot; said director general for Earthquake and Volcano of Korea Meteorological Administration, Kim Nam-ouk, at a news briefing. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

North Korea's man-made earthquake today emitted energy that was double that of its nuclear test in January, claimed Seoul?

North Korea hailed its "successful" fifth nuclear test today, state-run TV said, after the explosion was described by South Korea as Pyongyang's largest-ever such blast. "Scientists (from)... the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) carried out a nuclear explosion test for the judgment of the power of a nuclear warhead newly studied and manufactured by them at the northern nuclear test ground," a TV announcer said, using the North's official name. "The Central Committee of the (ruling) Workers' Party of Korea sent warm congratulations to nuclear scientists... of the northern nuclear test ground on the successful nuclear warhead explosion test," she said. The test will also enable the North to produce "as many as it wants (of) a variety of smaller, lighter and diversified nuclear warheads of higher strike power", she said. No leakage of nuclear material had occurred in the test and that there was no environmental impact, the state-run TV added. Obama warns of consequences The 5.3 magnitude earthquake, recorded around Punggye-ri nuclear test site near the border with China, triggered sharp reactions from US, China and Japan. US President Barack Obama, warning of "serious consequences", called the leaders of South Korea and Japan to consult after the seismic activity was detected, a White House spokesman said today. "The President indicated he would continue to consult our allies and partners in the days ahead to ensure provocative actions from North Korea are met with serious consequences," White House press secretary Josh Earnest said. Largest-ever explosion by the North: Seoul The latest test, with an estimated yield of 10 kilotons, is the largest-ever staged by Pyongyang, Seoul's military said. North Korea's man-made earthquake today emitted energy that was double that of its nuclear test in January, South Korea's meteorological agency added. "Energy of the magnitude 5.04 is double that of the fourth nuclear test (by North Korea)," said director general for Earthquake and Volcano of Korea Meteorological Administration, Kim Nam-ouk, at a news briefing. (WION with inputs from agencies)

North Korea hails 'successful nuclear test' after widespread condemnation

<div style="text-align: justify;">South Korean unification ministry spokesperson Jeong Joon-Hee today announced at a regular briefing that North Korea&#39;s vice premier for education Kim Yong-Jin had been executed. 
 
His fault: a disrespectful sitting position during a session of North Korean parliament held by the country&#39;s dictator Kim Jong-Un. 
 
&quot;Kim Yong-Jin was denounced for his bad sitting posture when he was sitting below the rostrum,&quot; and then underwent an interrogation that revealed his other crimes, an anonymous source within the South Korean unification ministry told AFP. 
 
The vice premier was executed by a firing squad in July as &quot;an anti-party, anti-revolutionary agitator&quot;, added the anonymous source. 
 
According to the South Korean unification ministry, two other officials came under Kim Jon-Un&#39;s scanner and have been sent for &#39;re-education&#39; sessions. 
 
One of them is Kim Yong-Chol, a top official in charge of inter-Korean affairs and espionage activities who is believed to be the mastermind behind the North Korean cyber attacks against the South. 
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Kim Yong-Chol was banished to an agricultural farm in July for a month for his &quot;arrogance&quot; and &quot;abuse of power,&quot; informed the South Korean Unification Ministry official. 
 
What happened during this period is not clear.&nbsp; 
 
He has now been reinstated, but he might be forced to prove his loyalties&nbsp;towards North Korea through actions against South Korea. 
 
&quot;Therefore, we are keeping a close tab on the North&quot;, said the South Korean official. 
 
High-profile executions are not new to dictator Kim Jong-Un. Since the beginning of his regime, in 2011, he is believed to have ordered the elimination of many senior politicians. 
 
According to South Korea&#39;s Yonhap news agency, the number of party officials executed is close to a hundred. &nbsp; 
 
Analysts say that it is an attempt to keep full control over the country&#39;s institutions. 
 
All these news must be taken with a pinch of salt, or maybe two. North Korea is a silent country, it never replies officially to the many accusations regularly moved against it. There are no free journalists and the country&#39;s media is completely in the hands of the government, making it almost impossible to verify facts on the spot and gather first-hand news. 
 
Such is the difficulty in getting exact news that the mass-selling South Korean media &#39;JoongAng Ilbo&#39;, for instance, identified the education vice premier by a different name when first reporting the news.&nbsp; 
 
Information regarding North Korea mainly reaches public domain through South Korean intelligence reports, a country that has every political and strategic interest in portraying the neighbouring country as a sort of &ldquo;hell on earth&rdquo;. 
 
International media and agencies often grope in the dark, relying on anonymous sources, mainly South Korean. 
 
This makes North Korean news coverage prone to mistakes, like the recent case of Gen&nbsp;Ri Yong Gil. South Korean intelligence claimed that he had been executed earlier this year, but he appeared pretty much alive during a congress event held in North Korea&#39; s capital city of Pyongyang in May. 
 
What is probably more verifiable is the recent series of high-profile individuals who left North Korea. 
 
South Korea&#39;s Yonhap news agency claimed that &#39;informed sources&#39; told them that 10 North Korean diplomats fled their country in the first half of 2016 alone. 
 
North Korea&#39;s deputy ambassador Thae Yong-Ho to Britain has defected to the South with his family, said South Korean unification ministry, who did not miss the opportunity to state that he did so because of his &quot;disgust for the North Korean regime&quot;. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)</div>

Anonymous sources said that the vice premier was executed by a firing squad in July for being an 'anti-party, anti-revolutionary agitator'

South Korean unification ministry spokesperson Jeong Joon-Hee today announced at a regular briefing that North Korea's vice premier for education Kim Yong-Jin had been executed. His fault: a disrespectful sitting position during a session of North Korean parliament held by the country's dictator Kim Jong-Un. "Kim Yong-Jin was denounced for his bad sitting posture when he was sitting below the rostrum," and then underwent an interrogation that revealed his other crimes, an anonymous source within the South Korean unification ministry told AFP. The vice premier was executed by a firing squad in July as "an anti-party, anti-revolutionary agitator", added the anonymous source. According to the South Korean unification ministry, two other officials came under Kim Jon-Un's scanner and have been sent for 're-education' sessions. One of them is Kim Yong-Chol, a top official in charge of inter-Korean affairs and espionage activities who is believed to be the mastermind behind the North Korean cyber attacks against the South. High-profile executions are not new to dictator Kim Jong-Un. Since the beginning of his regime, in 2011, he is believed to have ordered the elimination of many senior politicians. Kim Yong-Chol was banished to an agricultural farm in July for a month for his "arrogance" and "abuse of power," informed the South Korean Unification Ministry official. What happened during this period is not clear. He has now been reinstated, but he might be forced to prove his loyalties towards North Korea through actions against South Korea. "Therefore, we are keeping a close tab on the North", said the South Korean official. High-profile executions are not new to dictator Kim Jong-Un. Since the beginning of his regime, in 2011, he is believed to have ordered the elimination of many senior politicians. According to South Korea's Yonhap news agency, the number of party officials executed is close to a hundred. Analysts say that it is an attempt to keep full control over the country's institutions. All these news must be taken with a pinch of salt, or maybe two. North Korea is a silent country, it never replies officially to the many accusations regularly moved against it. There are no free journalists and the country's media is completely in the hands of the government, making it almost impossible to verify facts on the spot and gather first-hand news. Such is the difficulty in getting exact news that the mass-selling South Korean media 'JoongAng Ilbo', for instance, identified the education vice premier by a different name when first reporting the news. Information regarding North Korea mainly reaches public domain through South Korean intelligence reports, a country that has every political and strategic interest in portraying the neighbouring country as a sort of “hell on earth”. International media and agencies often grope in the dark, relying on anonymous sources, mainly South Korean. This makes North Korean news coverage prone to mistakes, like the recent case of Gen Ri Yong Gil. South Korean intelligence claimed that he had been executed earlier this year, but he appeared pretty much alive during a congress event held in North Korea' s capital city of Pyongyang in May. What is probably more verifiable is the recent series of high-profile individuals who left North Korea. South Korea's Yonhap news agency claimed that 'informed sources' told them that 10 North Korean diplomats fled their country in the first half of 2016 alone. North Korea's deputy ambassador Thae Yong-Ho to Britain has defected to the South with his family, said South Korean unification ministry, who did not miss the opportunity to state that he did so because of his "disgust for the North Korean regime". (With inputs from agencies)

North Korean vice premier executed for 'disrespectful sitting position': Seoul

Following North Korea&#39;s missile firing, foreign ministers of Japan, China and South Korea met in Tokyo on Wednesday, August 24 to talk about closer multilateral cooperation. 
 
Hours before the meeting, North Korea fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile that flew 500 km (311 miles) towards Japan. The country has in the recent past conducted a series of such launches despite UN sanctions. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s unforgivable that North Korea launched a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). Japan immediately protested against the North Korean missile launch and would like to cooperate closely with China and South Korea to lead the international community&#39;s response to it,&quot; Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said at the meeting. 
 
&quot;North Korea&#39;s recent nuclear test and continual missile launches have been an urgent and grave threat to this region. In such situations, solidarity and cooperation among three countries is more important than ever,&quot; said South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se. 
 
Chinese Foreign minister Wang Yi said that it was China&#39;s responsibility to promote economic development, lead regional cooperation and maintain regional peace and stability. &quot;China insists that in the spirit of squarely facing history and advancing toward the future,&quot; he said. 
 
Two days ago, South Korea and the United States began annual military exercises in the South which North Korea condemns as a preparation for invasion, and has threatened retaliation. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

North Korea has in the past conducted a series of missile launches despite UN sanctions

Following North Korea's missile firing, foreign ministers of Japan, China and South Korea met in Tokyo on Wednesday, August 24 to talk about closer multilateral cooperation. Hours before the meeting, North Korea fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile that flew 500 km (311 miles) towards Japan. The country has in the recent past conducted a series of such launches despite UN sanctions. "It's unforgivable that North Korea launched a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). Japan immediately protested against the North Korean missile launch and would like to cooperate closely with China and South Korea to lead the international community's response to it," Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said at the meeting. "North Korea's recent nuclear test and continual missile launches have been an urgent and grave threat to this region. In such situations, solidarity and cooperation among three countries is more important than ever," said South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se. Chinese Foreign minister Wang Yi said that it was China's responsibility to promote economic development, lead regional cooperation and maintain regional peace and stability. "China insists that in the spirit of squarely facing history and advancing toward the future," he said. Two days ago, South Korea and the United States began annual military exercises in the South which North Korea condemns as a preparation for invasion, and has threatened retaliation. (With inputs from agencies)

China, Japan and South Korea meet following North Korea's missile launch

North Korea&#39;s deputy ambassador to Britain, who defected to South Korea this week, is a criminal who had been ordered to return home for questioning, Pyongyang state media said on Saturday. 
 
Thae Yong-Ho is one of the highest-ranking North Korean diplomats ever to defect to the South, gifting Seoul a major propaganda coup at a time of rising tension on the divided Korean peninsula. 
 
Pyongyang&#39;s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that Thae, who they described as &quot;human scum&quot;, had embezzled state funds, raped a minor and spied for South Korea in exchange for money. 
 
The report did not name the &quot;diplomat who fled his mission in London&quot; but was apparently referring to Thae. 
 
Any defection by a ranking member of an overseas North Korean mission would make waves, but London is considered a particularly prestigious posting that puts Thae&#39;s move on a whole different level. 
 
The news agency in Pyongyang criticised Britain for handing over Thae and his family to the South, saying that Pyongyang had previously told London of his crimes and requested his extradition. 
 
The comments mark Pyongyang&#39;s first public response to the high-level defection, which was a rare and damaging loss of diplomatic face for North Korea. 
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Seoul said earlier this week that Thae&#39;s defection reflected a loss of faith among North Korea&#39;s elite in Kim Jong-Un&#39;s leadership. 
 
Thae had become disillusioned with the Pyongyang regime, admired South Korea&#39;s free and democratic system, and was concerned about his family&#39;s future, the South&#39;s Unification Ministry said after the defection. 
 
&#39;Human scum&#39; 
 
KCNA said Thae had fled &quot;for fear of legal punishment for his crimes&quot;, adding that the South had brought the &quot;fugitive&quot; to Seoul to use him in its anti-Pyongyang smear campaign. 
 
Thae was told to return home in June &quot;for questioning as regards the embezzlement of huge amount of state funds, leakage of state secrets for money and rape of a minor&quot;, it said. 
 
The North&#39;s prosecution authorities issued a legal document on starting the investigation on July 12, KCNA said. 
 
&quot;He deserved a legal punishment for his crimes, but he took to flight, betraying his country and parents and other kith and kin&quot;, KCNA said. 
 
&quot;He thus revealed himself as human scum bereft of an elementary sense of moral obligation and conscience,&quot; it added. 
 
British journalists who met him described Thae as likeable, urbane and highly articulate - qualities that come across in a series of talks posted on YouTube in which, among other things, he compares life in Britain and North Korea. 
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<h5>&quot;He deserved a legal punishment for his crimes, but he took to flight, betraying his country and parents and other kith and kin&quot;, KCNA said.</h5>
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North Korean defectors have been making headlines recently, largely due to an unusual group defection in April by a dozen waitresses and their manager who were working at a North Korean-run restaurant in China. 
 
Referring to that case, KCNA on Saturday said Seoul was responsible for &quot;such hideous terrorism as kidnapping.&quot; 
 
Thae was believed to have worked at the embassy in London for 10 years where a large part of his duties involved countering criticism of North Korea&#39;s human rights record and other negative media coverage. 
 
Analysts said Thae had a privileged background and powerful connections with the ruling elite and that his defection represented the flight of some of the North&#39;s best and brightest. 
 
The North&#39;s diplomats, who have to meet strict quotas on earning hard currency for state coffers, face growing difficulties and distress in the face of international sanctions, Yonhap reported.

(AFP) 
 
&nbsp;

Thae Yong-Ho is one of the highest-ranking North Korean diplomats ever to defect to the South

North Korea's deputy ambassador to Britain, who defected to South Korea this week, is a criminal who had been ordered to return home for questioning, Pyongyang state media said on Saturday. Thae Yong-Ho is one of the highest-ranking North Korean diplomats ever to defect to the South, gifting Seoul a major propaganda coup at a time of rising tension on the divided Korean peninsula. Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that Thae, who they described as "human scum", had embezzled state funds, raped a minor and spied for South Korea in exchange for money. The report did not name the "diplomat who fled his mission in London" but was apparently referring to Thae. Any defection by a ranking member of an overseas North Korean mission would make waves, but London is considered a particularly prestigious posting that puts Thae's move on a whole different level. The news agency in Pyongyang criticised Britain for handing over Thae and his family to the South, saying that Pyongyang had previously told London of his crimes and requested his extradition. The comments mark Pyongyang's first public response to the high-level defection, which was a rare and damaging loss of diplomatic face for North Korea. Any defection by a ranking member of an overseas North Korean mission would make waves, but London is considered a particularly prestigious posting that puts Thae's move on a whole different level. Seoul said earlier this week that Thae's defection reflected a loss of faith among North Korea's elite in Kim Jong-Un's leadership. Thae had become disillusioned with the Pyongyang regime, admired South Korea's free and democratic system, and was concerned about his family's future, the South's Unification Ministry said after the defection. 'Human scum' KCNA said Thae had fled "for fear of legal punishment for his crimes", adding that the South had brought the "fugitive" to Seoul to use him in its anti-Pyongyang smear campaign. Thae was told to return home in June "for questioning as regards the embezzlement of huge amount of state funds, leakage of state secrets for money and rape of a minor", it said. The North's prosecution authorities issued a legal document on starting the investigation on July 12, KCNA said. "He deserved a legal punishment for his crimes, but he took to flight, betraying his country and parents and other kith and kin", KCNA said. "He thus revealed himself as human scum bereft of an elementary sense of moral obligation and conscience," it added. British journalists who met him described Thae as likeable, urbane and highly articulate - qualities that come across in a series of talks posted on YouTube in which, among other things, he compares life in Britain and North Korea. "He deserved a legal punishment for his crimes, but he took to flight, betraying his country and parents and other kith and kin", KCNA said. North Korean defectors have been making headlines recently, largely due to an unusual group defection in April by a dozen waitresses and their manager who were working at a North Korean-run restaurant in China. Referring to that case, KCNA on Saturday said Seoul was responsible for "such hideous terrorism as kidnapping." Thae was believed to have worked at the embassy in London for 10 years where a large part of his duties involved countering criticism of North Korea's human rights record and other negative media coverage. Analysts said Thae had a privileged background and powerful connections with the ruling elite and that his defection represented the flight of some of the North's best and brightest. The North's diplomats, who have to meet strict quotas on earning hard currency for state coffers, face growing difficulties and distress in the face of international sanctions, Yonhap reported. (AFP)

North Korea's state media labels diplomat defector as 'human scum'

South Korea warned on Sunday of possible North Korean assassinations and kidnappings in revenge for recent high-profile defections to the South. 
 
With tensions also high before a large-scale South Korea-US military exercise starting from Monday, the Unification Ministry in Seoul said Pyongyang was bent on provocation. 
 
A ministry official told reporters the defection to Seoul of North Korea&#39;s deputy ambassador to Britain and his family had put the North in &quot;a very difficult situation&quot;. 
 
&quot;Considering (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-Un&#39;s character, it is very dangerous,&quot; the official said on condition of anonymity. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s highly likely that North Korea will make various attempts to prevent further defections and unrest among its people.&quot; 
 
The official cited assassination attempts and terror attacks against defectors in the South as well as the abduction of South Koreans abroad as possible provocations. 
 
He noted attempts to assassinate Hwang Jang-Yop, the North&#39;s chief ideologue and former tutor to previous leader Kim Jong-Il, who defected to the South in 1997 and died of natural causes in 2010. 
 
The official also said Kim Jong-Un had dispatched squads to the Chinese border &quot;to harm South Koreans&quot; following the defection in April of a group of North Korean overseas restaurant workers. 
 
Deputy ambassador Thae Yong-Ho was believed to have worked at the embassy in London for 10 years before his defection announced last week. 
 
The South said he was driven by disgust for the Pyongyang regime, admiration for South Korea&#39;s free and democratic system and concerns for his family&#39;s future. 
 
North Korea, in a vitriolic response Saturday, claimed that the &quot;human scum&quot; had embezzled state funds, raped a minor and spied for the South and had fled &quot;for fear of legal punishment for his crimes&quot;. 
 
The 12 waitresses and their manager had been working at a North Korea-themed restaurant in China. They made headlines when they arrived in the South in April as the largest group defection for years. 
 
While Seoul said they fled voluntarily, Pyongyang claimed they were kidnapped by South Korea&rsquo;s National Intelligence Service and waged a vocal campaign through its state media -- including interviews with family members -- for their return. 
 
Mean Plot 
 
Seoul said last week the 13-strong group was now free to settle in South Korean society after the intelligence service completed investigations into their case and allowed them to leave custody. 
 
A spokesman for the North&#39;s emergency committee set up for &quot;rescuing&quot; abductees described that announcement as a &quot;mean plot&quot; aimed at &quot;covering up the truth behind the group abduction&quot;. 
 
&quot;Keeping them hidden from the public... citing &#39;safety reasons&#39; shows that the puppet government&#39;s announcement is a complete fabrication,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;We will continue fighting until we can rescue and bring back our female citizens.&quot; 
 
Nearly 30,000 North Koreans have fled poverty and repression at home to settle in the capitalist South. 
 
But group defections are rare, especially by staff who work in the North Korea-themed restaurants overseas and are handpicked from families considered &quot;loyal&quot; to the regime. 
 
On Monday Seoul and Washington begin their annual joint Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) exercise involving tens of thousands of troops. 
 
&quot;With the start of the UFG drills tomorrow, we ask all citizens to be on guard for North Korean terror threats and cooperate with the government&#39;s efforts,&quot; said the unification ministry official. 
 
The two-week drill is one of a number of annual joint exercises viewed as provocative rehearsals for invasion by Pyongyang. 
 
On Sunday a spokesman for North Korea&#39;s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea said Pyongyang&#39;s determination to retaliate &quot;will only grow stronger&quot; if such exercises continue. 
 
&quot;It is our firm position that we will mercilessly attack the threats of invasion and provocation from the enemies with our nuclear deterrence,&quot; the spokesman said in a statement on the North&#39;s official KCNA news agency. 
 
(AFP)

The attacks would be revenge for recent high-profile defections to the South

South Korea warned on Sunday of possible North Korean assassinations and kidnappings in revenge for recent high-profile defections to the South. With tensions also high before a large-scale South Korea-US military exercise starting from Monday, the Unification Ministry in Seoul said Pyongyang was bent on provocation. A ministry official told reporters the defection to Seoul of North Korea's deputy ambassador to Britain and his family had put the North in "a very difficult situation". "Considering (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-Un's character, it is very dangerous," the official said on condition of anonymity. "It's highly likely that North Korea will make various attempts to prevent further defections and unrest among its people." The official cited assassination attempts and terror attacks against defectors in the South as well as the abduction of South Koreans abroad as possible provocations. He noted attempts to assassinate Hwang Jang-Yop, the North's chief ideologue and former tutor to previous leader Kim Jong-Il, who defected to the South in 1997 and died of natural causes in 2010. The official also said Kim Jong-Un had dispatched squads to the Chinese border "to harm South Koreans" following the defection in April of a group of North Korean overseas restaurant workers. Deputy ambassador Thae Yong-Ho was believed to have worked at the embassy in London for 10 years before his defection announced last week. The South said he was driven by disgust for the Pyongyang regime, admiration for South Korea's free and democratic system and concerns for his family's future. North Korea, in a vitriolic response Saturday, claimed that the "human scum" had embezzled state funds, raped a minor and spied for the South and had fled "for fear of legal punishment for his crimes". The 12 waitresses and their manager had been working at a North Korea-themed restaurant in China. They made headlines when they arrived in the South in April as the largest group defection for years. While Seoul said they fled voluntarily, Pyongyang claimed they were kidnapped by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service and waged a vocal campaign through its state media -- including interviews with family members -- for their return. Mean Plot Seoul said last week the 13-strong group was now free to settle in South Korean society after the intelligence service completed investigations into their case and allowed them to leave custody. A spokesman for the North's emergency committee set up for "rescuing" abductees described that announcement as a "mean plot" aimed at "covering up the truth behind the group abduction". "Keeping them hidden from the public... citing 'safety reasons' shows that the puppet government's announcement is a complete fabrication," he said. "We will continue fighting until we can rescue and bring back our female citizens." Nearly 30,000 North Koreans have fled poverty and repression at home to settle in the capitalist South. But group defections are rare, especially by staff who work in the North Korea-themed restaurants overseas and are handpicked from families considered "loyal" to the regime. On Monday Seoul and Washington begin their annual joint Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) exercise involving tens of thousands of troops. "With the start of the UFG drills tomorrow, we ask all citizens to be on guard for North Korean terror threats and cooperate with the government's efforts," said the unification ministry official. The two-week drill is one of a number of annual joint exercises viewed as provocative rehearsals for invasion by Pyongyang. On Sunday a spokesman for North Korea's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea said Pyongyang's determination to retaliate "will only grow stronger" if such exercises continue. "It is our firm position that we will mercilessly attack the threats of invasion and provocation from the enemies with our nuclear deterrence," the spokesman said in a statement on the North's official KCNA news agency. (AFP)

South Korea warns of possible North Korean assassinations, kidnappings

South&nbsp;Korea&#39;s stranglehold on Olympic archery showed little sign of easing yesterday as men&#39;s number one Kim Woo-jin fired a 72-arrow&nbsp;world&nbsp;record&nbsp;and the nation&#39;s women dominated the ranking rounds at the Rio de Janeiro Games.

The tournament&#39;s first shoot-off on a glorious day at the Sambodromo began with a bang as world&nbsp;champion Kim racked up 700 points out of a maximum 720, beating the 699 his compatriot Im Dong-hyun compiled in the preliminary round in London four years ago.

The day ended with all three of&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&#39;s women at the top of the standings, led by 20-year-old Choi Mi-sun, who flirted with teammate Kim Bo-bae&#39;s&nbsp;world&nbsp;record&nbsp;before the wind picked up in the afternoon.

South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;took three of the four golds in London, with only the bronze medal-winning men&#39;s team missing out, but the Rio contingent appear determined to make a clean sweep this time round.

Such is the&nbsp;Koreans&#39; unwavering focus that 24-year-old Kim barely acknowledged his&nbsp;record, preferring to talk only about the men&#39;s team event on Saturday.

&quot;It&#39;s just the ranking round. I want to focus on tomorrow, so today&#39;s not really big happy,&quot; he said through a translator before being mobbed by&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korean reporters.

Kim sealed the&nbsp;record&nbsp;with riveting theatre, needing to find the innermost gold circle for a maximum 10 points with his final arrow and duly sending it flush into the middle.

His face broke into a smile as he turned back to his camp, having captured the top seeding and drawn a first-round match-up with 64th and last-ranked archer Gavin Ben Sutherland, a Zimbabwean who finished 134 points adrift of the&nbsp;Korean.

Kim will link up with Lee Seung-yun and Ku Bon-chan&nbsp;today to try to restore the nation&#39;s reign over the men&#39;s team event.

The United States ended their run of three successive Olympic titles from 2000-08 in a nail-biting semi-final in London.&nbsp;A powerful American team drew confidence from an outstanding 690 from former&nbsp;world champion Brady Ellison, who took second seeding behind Kim.

Ellison and his teammates Jake Kaminski and Zach Garrett scored 2,024 points in total to be second behind&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;(2,057). Italy, surprise winners in London, took the third seed.

The&nbsp;Korean women, unbeaten in the team event since its debut at the 1988 Seoul Games, finished top with 1,998 points, a gaping 60 ahead of Russia, with London silver medallists China ranked third.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Koreans appear in good shape to extend their winning streak when the women&#39;s team event is decided on Sunday. 
 
(Reuters)

Men's number one Kim Woo-Jin fired a 72-arrow world record and the nation's women lead the ranking rounds

South Korea's stranglehold on Olympic archery showed little sign of easing yesterday as men's number one Kim Woo-jin fired a 72-arrow world record and the nation's women dominated the ranking rounds at the Rio de Janeiro Games. The tournament's first shoot-off on a glorious day at the Sambodromo began with a bang as world champion Kim racked up 700 points out of a maximum 720, beating the 699 his compatriot Im Dong-hyun compiled in the preliminary round in London four years ago. The day ended with all three of South Korea's women at the top of the standings, led by 20-year-old Choi Mi-sun, who flirted with teammate Kim Bo-bae's world record before the wind picked up in the afternoon. South Korea took three of the four golds in London, with only the bronze medal-winning men's team missing out, but the Rio contingent appear determined to make a clean sweep this time round. Such is the Koreans' unwavering focus that 24-year-old Kim barely acknowledged his record, preferring to talk only about the men's team event on Saturday. "It's just the ranking round. I want to focus on tomorrow, so today's not really big happy," he said through a translator before being mobbed by South Korean reporters. Kim sealed the record with riveting theatre, needing to find the innermost gold circle for a maximum 10 points with his final arrow and duly sending it flush into the middle. His face broke into a smile as he turned back to his camp, having captured the top seeding and drawn a first-round match-up with 64th and last-ranked archer Gavin Ben Sutherland, a Zimbabwean who finished 134 points adrift of the Korean. Kim will link up with Lee Seung-yun and Ku Bon-chan today to try to restore the nation's reign over the men's team event. The United States ended their run of three successive Olympic titles from 2000-08 in a nail-biting semi-final in London. A powerful American team drew confidence from an outstanding 690 from former world champion Brady Ellison, who took second seeding behind Kim. Ellison and his teammates Jake Kaminski and Zach Garrett scored 2,024 points in total to be second behind South Korea (2,057). Italy, surprise winners in London, took the third seed. The Korean women, unbeaten in the team event since its debut at the 1988 Seoul Games, finished top with 1,998 points, a gaping 60 ahead of Russia, with London silver medallists China ranked third. The Koreans appear in good shape to extend their winning streak when the women's team event is decided on Sunday. (Reuters)

Rio Olympics: South Korea dominates archery

North Korea fired a ballistic missile directly into Japanese-controlled waters for the first time today, drawing an outraged response from Tokyo and ramping up tensions with the United States and South Korea. 
 
The US military said the North had actually launched two Rodong intermediate-range missiles simultaneously, but one appeared to have exploded on take-off. 
 
The launches followed a North Korean threat of &quot;physical action&quot; over the planned deployment of a sophisticated US anti-missile system in South Korea, and came just weeks before the start of large-scale, joint South Korea-US military exercises. 
 
Abe: Serious threat against national security 
 
Japan said the one missile had landed in the Sea of Japan, some 250 kilometre off its northern coast and within the country&#39;s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). 
 
&quot;It&#39;s a serious threat against our country&#39;s security,&quot; Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters. &quot;This is an outrageous act that cannot be tolerated.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
The United States condemned what it called a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea&#39;s use of ballistic missile technology. 
 
&quot;This provocation only serves to increase the international community&#39;s resolve to counter (North Korea&#39;s) prohibited activities,&quot; said Pentagon spokesman Gary Ross. 
 
US strategic command said the two missiles were launched from a site in western North Korea at around 7.50 am Seoul time (22:50 GMT Tuesday). 
 
&quot;Initial indications reveal one of the missiles exploded immediately after launch, while the second was tracked over North Korea and into the Sea of Japan,&quot; it said in a statement. 
 
It was the first time a North Korean missile has been fired direct into Japanese waters. The second stage of a medium-range missile fired over Japan had splashed down inside the EEZ off Japan&#39;s Pacific Ocean coast in 1998. 
 
 
Japan slams&nbsp;Pyongyang 
 
Japan&#39;s top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga slammed Pyongyang for providing no advance warning of today&#39;s test. 
 
&quot;From the perspective of the safety of aircraft and ships, it is an extremely problematic, dangerous act,&quot; Suga said. 
 
The Rodong is a scaled-up Scud variant with a maximum range of around 1,300 kilometres. 
 
Pyongyang has conducted a series of missile tests this year in defiance of UN sanctions imposed after its fourth nuclear test in January. 
 
On July 19, it launched three ballistic missiles - including one Rodong - in an exercise that the North said simulated a nuclear strike on the South. That came just days after Washington and Seoul announced an agreement to deploy the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defence, or THAAD, system in South Korea by the end of next year - a move condemned by Pyongyang and also vehemently opposed by China and Russia. 
 
South Korean foreign minister Yun Byung-Se said today&#39;s missile test only served to &quot;underline the need to deploy THAAD.&quot; 
 
Tensions building up on divided Korean peninsula&nbsp; 
 
Tensions on the divided Korean peninsula are also building up ahead of an annual South Korea-US military exercise later this month that involves tens of thousands of troops. 
 
North Korea says such drills are a provocative rehearsal for invasion, while Washington and Seoul insist they are purely defensive in nature. 
 
&quot;Our commitment to the defence of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan, in the face of these threats, is ironclad,&quot; Ross said today. 
 
&quot;We remain prepared to defend ourselves and our allies from any attack or provocation,&quot; he added. 
 
There are nearly 30,000 US troops permanently stationed in South Korea. 
 
Pyongyang has repeatedly warned of pre-emptive nuclear strikes against the South and US targets there and elsewhere, although the main focus of its nuclear weapons programme is to develop a credible strike threat against the US mainland. 
 
Since its fourth nuclear test, North Korea has claimed a series of technical breakthroughs for its weapons programme. 
 
It said it had miniaturised a nuclear warhead and successfully tested an engine designed for an inter-continental ballistic missile that could reach the US mainland.&nbsp; 
 
While some experts say the claims are exaggerated, most acknowledge that the North&#39;s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes have made significant strides. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

US says actually two missiles had been fired, but one appeared to have exploded on take-off

North Korea fired a ballistic missile directly into Japanese-controlled waters for the first time today, drawing an outraged response from Tokyo and ramping up tensions with the United States and South Korea. The US military said the North had actually launched two Rodong intermediate-range missiles simultaneously, but one appeared to have exploded on take-off. The launches followed a North Korean threat of "physical action" over the planned deployment of a sophisticated US anti-missile system in South Korea, and came just weeks before the start of large-scale, joint South Korea-US military exercises. Abe: Serious threat against national security Japan said the one missile had landed in the Sea of Japan, some 250 kilometre off its northern coast and within the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). "It's a serious threat against our country's security," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters. "This is an outrageous act that cannot be tolerated." The United States condemned what it called a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea's use of ballistic missile technology. "This provocation only serves to increase the international community's resolve to counter (North Korea's) prohibited activities," said Pentagon spokesman Gary Ross. US strategic command said the two missiles were launched from a site in western North Korea at around 7.50 am Seoul time (22:50 GMT Tuesday). "Initial indications reveal one of the missiles exploded immediately after launch, while the second was tracked over North Korea and into the Sea of Japan," it said in a statement. It was the first time a North Korean missile has been fired direct into Japanese waters. The second stage of a medium-range missile fired over Japan had splashed down inside the EEZ off Japan's Pacific Ocean coast in 1998. Japan slams Pyongyang Japan's top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga slammed Pyongyang for providing no advance warning of today's test. "From the perspective of the safety of aircraft and ships, it is an extremely problematic, dangerous act," Suga said. The Rodong is a scaled-up Scud variant with a maximum range of around 1,300 kilometres. Pyongyang has conducted a series of missile tests this year in defiance of UN sanctions imposed after its fourth nuclear test in January. On July 19, it launched three ballistic missiles - including one Rodong - in an exercise that the North said simulated a nuclear strike on the South. That came just days after Washington and Seoul announced an agreement to deploy the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defence, or THAAD, system in South Korea by the end of next year - a move condemned by Pyongyang and also vehemently opposed by China and Russia. South Korean foreign minister Yun Byung-Se said today's missile test only served to "underline the need to deploy THAAD." Tensions building up on divided Korean peninsula Tensions on the divided Korean peninsula are also building up ahead of an annual South Korea-US military exercise later this month that involves tens of thousands of troops. North Korea says such drills are a provocative rehearsal for invasion, while Washington and Seoul insist they are purely defensive in nature. "Our commitment to the defence of our allies, including the Republic of Korea and Japan, in the face of these threats, is ironclad," Ross said today. "We remain prepared to defend ourselves and our allies from any attack or provocation," he added. There are nearly 30,000 US troops permanently stationed in South Korea. Pyongyang has repeatedly warned of pre-emptive nuclear strikes against the South and US targets there and elsewhere, although the main focus of its nuclear weapons programme is to develop a credible strike threat against the US mainland. Since its fourth nuclear test, North Korea has claimed a series of technical breakthroughs for its weapons programme. It said it had miniaturised a nuclear warhead and successfully tested an engine designed for an inter-continental ballistic missile that could reach the US mainland. While some experts say the claims are exaggerated, most acknowledge that the North's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes have made significant strides. (AFP)

North Korea fires missile into Japan waters for first time, draws Tokyo ire

North Korean soldiers and citizens offered flowers at a war cemetery in Pyongyang today to mark the 63rd anniversary of the end of the Korean War. 
 
Video provided to Reuters by North Korea&#39;s official news agency KCNA, which Reuters cannot independently verify, showed people carrying flowers to the Patriotic Martyrs Cemetery and the Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery and observing a moment of silence. 
 
In the footage, North Koreans are also seen watching performances in front of the Taedongmun theatre in Pyongyang. 
 
The armistice, signed on July 27, 1953, halted fighting between US-led UN forces backing South Korea and Communist Chinese and North Korean troops. 
 
North Korea says the armistice marks the defeat of the United States and has protected the sovereignty of the communist country under founder Kim Il Sung. 
 
The truce has never been converted into a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreans technically in a state of war. 
 
(Reuters)

North Korea says the 1953 armistice marks the defeat of the United States and has protected the sovereignty of the communist country

North Korean soldiers and citizens offered flowers at a war cemetery in Pyongyang today to mark the 63rd anniversary of the end of the Korean War. Video provided to Reuters by North Korea's official news agency KCNA, which Reuters cannot independently verify, showed people carrying flowers to the Patriotic Martyrs Cemetery and the Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery and observing a moment of silence. In the footage, North Koreans are also seen watching performances in front of the Taedongmun theatre in Pyongyang. The armistice, signed on July 27, 1953, halted fighting between US-led UN forces backing South Korea and Communist Chinese and North Korean troops. North Korea says the armistice marks the defeat of the United States and has protected the sovereignty of the communist country under founder Kim Il Sung. The truce has never been converted into a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreans technically in a state of war. (Reuters)

North Korea marks 63rd anniversary of end of Korean war

The United States warned North Korea on Tuesday of &quot;real consequences&quot; if it continues nuclear and missile tests in defiance of UN sanctions, as the international community moves to rein it in. 
 
Pyongyang carried out its fourth nuclear test in January, followed by a series of ballistic missile launches that sent tensions soaring across East Asia and beyond. 
 
In response the UN Security Council slapped North Korea with its toughest sanctions to date in a unanimous decision even endorsed by China, its economic lifeline and diplomatic shield. 
 
But Pyongyang has continued to carry out missile launches, most recently last week, in a bid to prove that sanctions are ineffective in curbing its weapons development. 
 
&quot;Together we are determined... to make absolutely certain that DPRK (North Korea) understands that there are real consequences for these actions,&quot; US Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of Asian nations in Laos. 
 
Analysts say this year&#39;s tests have shown the North making progress towards its goal of developing a credible strike threat against the US mainland, adding urgency to Washington&#39;s warnings.&nbsp; 
 
The issue has dominated this week&#39;s talks in Vientiane, a rare opportunity for the six parties involved in stalled talks on ending North Korea&#39;s nuclear programme to be in the same room. 
 
The North&#39;s new foreign minister and former nuclear negotiator Ri Yong-Ho was making his diplomatic debut at the meeting, hosted by the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).&nbsp; 
 
Kerry, who has held a flurry of closed-door meetings with his regional counterparts over the last two days, said efforts to denuclearise the Korean peninsula had dominated discussions.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;(The) issue that came up in nearly every meeting I had so far this week is the provocative and deeply concerning behaviour of the DPRK,&quot; he told reporters. 
 
&quot;North Korea&#39;s actions present a very serious threat, not just to this region but to international peace and security.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
Later Tuesday afternoon six-party members, the US, China, Japan, Russia and both Koreas, were among those attending the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), a security meeting that groups most of Asia.The nuclear threat from the North was expected to feature strongly, with Beijing likely to press for a revival of the talks last held in 2008. 
 
But Washington, Seoul and Tokyo all insist Pyongyang must first make tangible steps towards denuclearisation. 
 
At a regional meeting preceding ARF which excluded the North&#39;s envoy, Japan&#39;s Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told ministers that Pyongyang&#39;s continuing missile and nuclear testing &quot;cannot be tolerated&quot;. 
 
In a briefing afterwards, foreign ministry spokesman Yasuhisa Kawamura said the grouping had &quot;made strong demands North Korea should refrain from any further provocative actions and comply with UN security resolutions&quot;. 
 
The North&#39;s relentless sabre-rattling has sent waves of uncertainty across Asia and beyond. 
 
Washington and Seoul agreed earlier this month to deploy a sophisticated anti-missile system in South Korea, a move which spooked China and Russia, who worry about having the advanced US-made system on their doorstep. 
 
North &nbsp;Korea says any further nuclear test depends on US 
 
North Korea&#39;s foreign minister said Tuesday that any decision to stage a further nuclear test would depend on the United States, as he held Washington responsible for scuppering denuclearisation efforts on the Korean peninsula. 
 
&quot;Whether we conduct additional nuclear tests is entirely up to the United States,&quot; Ri Yong-Ho told reporters on the sidelines of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Laos. 
 
The newly appointed Ri, who was making his overseas debut as the North&#39;s top diplomat, blamed the United States for the failure of the long-dormant six-party talks on Pyongyang&#39;s nuclear programme. 
 
&quot;The denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula went out of the window because of the United States,&quot; he said. 
 
Ri was previously the North&#39;s top negotiator to the six-party talks which brought together the two Koreas, the United States, Japan, Russia and China, and were last held in 2008. 
 
&quot;The key factor damaging the situation is the United States&#39; hostile policies... and the problem is getting worse,&quot; he said, citing significantly toughened UN and US economic sanctions imposed after the North&#39;s fourth nuclear test in January. 
 
&quot;And recently they committed the most grave hostility by insulting our Dear Leader,&quot; Ri said, referring to the US decision to personally blacklist Kim Jong-Un over human rights abuses. 
 
Despite the latest sanctions, North Korea has continued to carry out ballistic missile tests in violation of UN sanctions, and has made it clear that it intends to continue nuclear testing. 
 
Ri insisted that the North was a &quot;responsible nuclear state&quot; which would only strike if threatened, and he called on the United States to withdraw its troops from South Korea immediately. 
 
(AFP) 
 
&nbsp;

North Korea's relentless sabre-rattling has sent waves of uncertainty across Asia and beyond

The United States warned North Korea on Tuesday of "real consequences" if it continues nuclear and missile tests in defiance of UN sanctions, as the international community moves to rein it in. Pyongyang carried out its fourth nuclear test in January, followed by a series of ballistic missile launches that sent tensions soaring across East Asia and beyond. In response the UN Security Council slapped North Korea with its toughest sanctions to date in a unanimous decision even endorsed by China, its economic lifeline and diplomatic shield. But Pyongyang has continued to carry out missile launches, most recently last week, in a bid to prove that sanctions are ineffective in curbing its weapons development. "Together we are determined... to make absolutely certain that DPRK (North Korea) understands that there are real consequences for these actions," US Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of Asian nations in Laos. Analysts say this year's tests have shown the North making progress towards its goal of developing a credible strike threat against the US mainland, adding urgency to Washington's warnings. The issue has dominated this week's talks in Vientiane, a rare opportunity for the six parties involved in stalled talks on ending North Korea's nuclear programme to be in the same room. The North's new foreign minister and former nuclear negotiator Ri Yong-Ho was making his diplomatic debut at the meeting, hosted by the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Kerry, who has held a flurry of closed-door meetings with his regional counterparts over the last two days, said efforts to denuclearise the Korean peninsula had dominated discussions. "(The) issue that came up in nearly every meeting I had so far this week is the provocative and deeply concerning behaviour of the DPRK," he told reporters. "North Korea's actions present a very serious threat, not just to this region but to international peace and security." Later Tuesday afternoon six-party members, the US, China, Japan, Russia and both Koreas, were among those attending the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), a security meeting that groups most of Asia.The nuclear threat from the North was expected to feature strongly, with Beijing likely to press for a revival of the talks last held in 2008. But Washington, Seoul and Tokyo all insist Pyongyang must first make tangible steps towards denuclearisation. At a regional meeting preceding ARF which excluded the North's envoy, Japan's Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told ministers that Pyongyang's continuing missile and nuclear testing "cannot be tolerated". In a briefing afterwards, foreign ministry spokesman Yasuhisa Kawamura said the grouping had "made strong demands North Korea should refrain from any further provocative actions and comply with UN security resolutions". The North's relentless sabre-rattling has sent waves of uncertainty across Asia and beyond. Washington and Seoul agreed earlier this month to deploy a sophisticated anti-missile system in South Korea, a move which spooked China and Russia, who worry about having the advanced US-made system on their doorstep. North Korea says any further nuclear test depends on US North Korea's foreign minister said Tuesday that any decision to stage a further nuclear test would depend on the United States, as he held Washington responsible for scuppering denuclearisation efforts on the Korean peninsula. "Whether we conduct additional nuclear tests is entirely up to the United States," Ri Yong-Ho told reporters on the sidelines of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting in Laos. The newly appointed Ri, who was making his overseas debut as the North's top diplomat, blamed the United States for the failure of the long-dormant six-party talks on Pyongyang's nuclear programme. "The denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula went out of the window because of the United States," he said. Ri was previously the North's top negotiator to the six-party talks which brought together the two Koreas, the United States, Japan, Russia and China, and were last held in 2008. "The key factor damaging the situation is the United States' hostile policies... and the problem is getting worse," he said, citing significantly toughened UN and US economic sanctions imposed after the North's fourth nuclear test in January. "And recently they committed the most grave hostility by insulting our Dear Leader," Ri said, referring to the US decision to personally blacklist Kim Jong-Un over human rights abuses. Despite the latest sanctions, North Korea has continued to carry out ballistic missile tests in violation of UN sanctions, and has made it clear that it intends to continue nuclear testing. Ri insisted that the North was a "responsible nuclear state" which would only strike if threatened, and he called on the United States to withdraw its troops from South Korea immediately. (AFP)

US warns North Korea of consequences if it continues nuclear tests

North Korea&#39;s economy contracted in 2015 at the sharpest pace in eight years, an estimate from the Bank of Korea showed on Friday, as low global commodity prices landed a blow to exports, a key driver for the impoverished country&#39;s economy. 
 
The gross domestic product in North Korea last year fell a real 1.1 per cent, South Korea&#39;s central bank said, which was the first fall since 2010 and compares with a one per cent gain in 2014. It also marked the fastest decline since a 1.2 per cent drop in 2007. 
 
Isolated North Korea does not publish economic data. 
 
All sectors, except construction and services, declined a likely burden for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un already under pressure from international sanctions against multiple provocations including a nuclear test in January. 
 
&quot;The key reason for the GDP contraction looks to be trade as global commodity prices fell while China demand also declined,&quot; said a Bank of Korea official, who declined to be named as he was unauthorised to speak to media. 
 
&quot;North Korea&#39;s main commodity exports are coal and iron ore, which likely all declined last year.&quot; 
 
Neighbouring China is North Korea&#39;s chief trading partner. 
 
The Bank of Korea data showed exports in North Korea fell 14.8 per cent last year in annual terms as mineral product shipments slumped 14.7 per cent. This was far worse than a 1.7 per cent decline seen in 2014. 
 
Imports dropped a faster 20.0 per cent last year, compared with a 7.8 per cent increase in 2014. 
 
The central bank official said trade is expected to worsen this year as it becomes difficult for North Korea to boost shipments with other countries with international sanctions likely to grow heavier following Pyongyang&#39;s continued missile launches and nuclear threats. 
 
Construction rose 4.8 per cent last year, accelerating from a 1.4 per cent gain in 2014, the same data showed. 
 
Meanwhile, a 0.8 per cent gain in services last year reflects North Korea&#39;s economic shift towards capitalism as the black market there has become more pervasive. Financial services have also grown, which likely contributed to the gain, the BOK official added. 
 
The Bank of Korea has released GDP data on North Korea every year since 1991 based on information received from related sources, including the Ministry of Unification. 
 
(Reuters)

North Korea's economy contracted in 2015 at the sharpest pace in eight years, an estimate from the Bank of Korea showed on Friday

North Korea's economy contracted in 2015 at the sharpest pace in eight years, an estimate from the Bank of Korea showed on Friday, as low global commodity prices landed a blow to exports, a key driver for the impoverished country's economy. The gross domestic product in North Korea last year fell a real 1.1 per cent, South Korea's central bank said, which was the first fall since 2010 and compares with a one per cent gain in 2014. It also marked the fastest decline since a 1.2 per cent drop in 2007. Isolated North Korea does not publish economic data. All sectors, except construction and services, declined a likely burden for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un already under pressure from international sanctions against multiple provocations including a nuclear test in January. "The key reason for the GDP contraction looks to be trade as global commodity prices fell while China demand also declined," said a Bank of Korea official, who declined to be named as he was unauthorised to speak to media. "North Korea's main commodity exports are coal and iron ore, which likely all declined last year." Neighbouring China is North Korea's chief trading partner. The Bank of Korea data showed exports in North Korea fell 14.8 per cent last year in annual terms as mineral product shipments slumped 14.7 per cent. This was far worse than a 1.7 per cent decline seen in 2014. Imports dropped a faster 20.0 per cent last year, compared with a 7.8 per cent increase in 2014. The central bank official said trade is expected to worsen this year as it becomes difficult for North Korea to boost shipments with other countries with international sanctions likely to grow heavier following Pyongyang's continued missile launches and nuclear threats. Construction rose 4.8 per cent last year, accelerating from a 1.4 per cent gain in 2014, the same data showed. Meanwhile, a 0.8 per cent gain in services last year reflects North Korea's economic shift towards capitalism as the black market there has become more pervasive. Financial services have also grown, which likely contributed to the gain, the BOK official added. The Bank of Korea has released GDP data on North Korea every year since 1991 based on information received from related sources, including the Ministry of Unification. (Reuters)

South Korea: North Korea GDP falls steeply

German carmaker Volkswagen will suspend sales of most of its models in South Korea from July 25 as pressure builds on the company over its falsified emissions tests. 
 
South Korea is the latest country forcing Volkswagen to take drastic measures to repair its image since the carmaker admitted to cheating US diesel emissions tests and said that up to 11 million vehicles worldwide could be fitted with illegal software. 
 
&quot;We have decided to suspend sales of the affected models to reduce confusion among dealers and customers,&quot; a spokesman for Volkswagen&#39;s South Korean business said. 
 
The move comes ahead of an environment ministry review this month or in early August on whether to revoke certification of the 32 vehicle types offered for sale by Volkswagen and its Audi brand, which would lead to a sales ban. Volkwagen is due to present its case on July 25. 
 
South Korean prosecutors last month issued the first warrant for the arrest of a VW executive in connection with the emissions scandal. 
 
Globally, the company has already set aside about 16.2 billion euros ($17.85 billion) to cover the cost of the scandal and this week said that it had set aside a further 2.2 billion euros. 
 
&quot;The latest costs show that the dieselgate scandal is far from dealt with,&quot; NordLB analyst Frank Schwope said. 
 
Schwope raised his estimate for the cost of the scandal to between 25 billion euros and 35 billion euros, up from a range of 20 billion euros to 30 billion euros. 
 
Volkswagen has been struggling with a sales slump in South Korea, Asia&#39;s second-biggest diesel car market. Sales of VW-branded cars in South Korea slumped 33 per cent to 12,463 vehicles in the first half of this year, industry association data shows. 
 
The group&#39;s top-selling vehicles in Korea last year were the Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TDI BlueMotion, with 9,467 vehicles, and the Audi A6 TDI, with 7,049 vehicles, according to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association. 
 
German car sales in South Korea have soared since a 2011 free-trade deal eliminated duty on vehicles imported from Europe. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

The German carmaker has been struggling with a sales slump in South Korea, Asia's second-biggest diesel car market

German carmaker Volkswagen will suspend sales of most of its models in South Korea from July 25 as pressure builds on the company over its falsified emissions tests. South Korea is the latest country forcing Volkswagen to take drastic measures to repair its image since the carmaker admitted to cheating US diesel emissions tests and said that up to 11 million vehicles worldwide could be fitted with illegal software. "We have decided to suspend sales of the affected models to reduce confusion among dealers and customers," a spokesman for Volkswagen's South Korean business said. The move comes ahead of an environment ministry review this month or in early August on whether to revoke certification of the 32 vehicle types offered for sale by Volkswagen and its Audi brand, which would lead to a sales ban. Volkwagen is due to present its case on July 25. South Korean prosecutors last month issued the first warrant for the arrest of a VW executive in connection with the emissions scandal. Globally, the company has already set aside about 16.2 billion euros ($17.85 billion) to cover the cost of the scandal and this week said that it had set aside a further 2.2 billion euros. "The latest costs show that the dieselgate scandal is far from dealt with," NordLB analyst Frank Schwope said. Schwope raised his estimate for the cost of the scandal to between 25 billion euros and 35 billion euros, up from a range of 20 billion euros to 30 billion euros. Volkswagen has been struggling with a sales slump in South Korea, Asia's second-biggest diesel car market. Sales of VW-branded cars in South Korea slumped 33 per cent to 12,463 vehicles in the first half of this year, industry association data shows. The group's top-selling vehicles in Korea last year were the Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TDI BlueMotion, with 9,467 vehicles, and the Audi A6 TDI, with 7,049 vehicles, according to the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association. German car sales in South Korea have soared since a 2011 free-trade deal eliminated duty on vehicles imported from Europe. (Reuters)

Falsified emission tests: Volkswagen halts sales in South Korea ahead of ministry review

South Korea&#39;s anti-trust regulator conducted an inspection of Google&#39;s local headquarters to investigate whether the firm is engaged in anti-competitive behaviour over its Android operating system, Yonhap News Agency reported on Thursday. 
 
Yonhap, citing unnamed sources, said the Korea Fair Trade Commission conducted the inspection last week and was probing whether Google forced smartphone makers using Android on its devices to not sell products using other operating systems. 
 
Regulators began looking into the matter after the European Union brought charges against Google for anticompetitive behaviour earlier this year. 
 
Google and the Korea Fair Trade Commission declined to comment. 
 
(Reuters) 
 
&nbsp;

Authorities are investigating whether?Google forced smartphone makers using Android?to not sell products using other operating systems

South Korea's anti-trust regulator conducted an inspection of Google's local headquarters to investigate whether the firm is engaged in anti-competitive behaviour over its Android operating system, Yonhap News Agency reported on Thursday. Yonhap, citing unnamed sources, said the Korea Fair Trade Commission conducted the inspection last week and was probing whether Google forced smartphone makers using Android on its devices to not sell products using other operating systems. Regulators began looking into the matter after the European Union brought charges against Google for anticompetitive behaviour earlier this year. Google and the Korea Fair Trade Commission declined to comment. (Reuters)

South Korea probes Google for anti-competitive behaviour

North Korea test-fired three ballistic missiles on Tuesday, South Korea&#39;s military said, just over a week after issuing threats to respond to the planned deployment of a US anti-missile system in the South. 
 
The missile launched early Tuesday from the western city of Hwangju, flew between 500 and 600 kilometres (311-373 miles) toward the Sea of Japan, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JSC) said in a press statement. 
 
The range of what were believed to be SCUD missiles could reach anywhere in South Korea, the JCS said, adding the military was keeping close tabs on the North&#39;s movement. 
 
North Korea last week threatened to take &quot;physical action&quot; after Washington and Seoul announced plans deploy a sophisticated US anti-missile defence system to counter the growing menace from Pyongyang. 
 
The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, or THAAD, will be deployed in Seongju county by the end of next year. 
 
An unidentified military official said that Tuesday&#39;s launch was believed to be linked to the North&#39;s latest threats. 
 
&quot;SCUDs are a weapon that the North is most likely to use to hit places like Seongju&quot;, the official said, according to Yonhap news agency. 
 
The North previously launched relatively short-ranged SCUD&#39;s in March, as it flexed its muscles in response to joint US-South Korea military drills just south of the border. 
 
North Korea reportedly has some 600 SCUDs, developed in the former Soviet Union and modified by Pyongyang, whose ranges are estimated to be somewhere between 300 and 700 kilometres. 
 
Tensions have soared since Pyongyang carried out its fourth nuclear test in January, followed by a series of missile launches that analysts say shows that the North is making progress toward being able to strike the US mainland. 
 
Both South Korean and US troops stationed in the South have Patriot anti-air defence systems that can intercept enemy missiles at low altitudes. 
 
Alongside the Patriot systems, the THAAD system is necessary to form a multi-layered anti-air defence system, South Korean military authorities say. 
 
The announcement to deploy the THAAD system in Seongju sparked fierce protests by residents who are concerned it will ruin the town&#39;s economic main-stay, melon farming, and create health and environmental hazards. 
 
(AFP)

The missile launched early Tuesday from the western city of Hwangju, flew between 500 and 600 kilometres towards the Sea of Japan

North Korea test-fired three ballistic missiles on Tuesday, South Korea's military said, just over a week after issuing threats to respond to the planned deployment of a US anti-missile system in the South. The missile launched early Tuesday from the western city of Hwangju, flew between 500 and 600 kilometres (311-373 miles) toward the Sea of Japan, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JSC) said in a press statement. The range of what were believed to be SCUD missiles could reach anywhere in South Korea, the JCS said, adding the military was keeping close tabs on the North's movement. North Korea last week threatened to take "physical action" after Washington and Seoul announced plans deploy a sophisticated US anti-missile defence system to counter the growing menace from Pyongyang. The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, or THAAD, will be deployed in Seongju county by the end of next year. An unidentified military official said that Tuesday's launch was believed to be linked to the North's latest threats. "SCUDs are a weapon that the North is most likely to use to hit places like Seongju", the official said, according to Yonhap news agency. The North previously launched relatively short-ranged SCUD's in March, as it flexed its muscles in response to joint US-South Korea military drills just south of the border. North Korea reportedly has some 600 SCUDs, developed in the former Soviet Union and modified by Pyongyang, whose ranges are estimated to be somewhere between 300 and 700 kilometres. Tensions have soared since Pyongyang carried out its fourth nuclear test in January, followed by a series of missile launches that analysts say shows that the North is making progress toward being able to strike the US mainland. Both South Korean and US troops stationed in the South have Patriot anti-air defence systems that can intercept enemy missiles at low altitudes. Alongside the Patriot systems, the THAAD system is necessary to form a multi-layered anti-air defence system, South Korean military authorities say. The announcement to deploy the THAAD system in Seongju sparked fierce protests by residents who are concerned it will ruin the town's economic main-stay, melon farming, and create health and environmental hazards. (AFP)

North Korea test-fires three ballistic missiles into sea

Rohan Bopanna today steered India to an emphatic 4-1 victory over South Korea in the Asia/Oceania Davis Cup Group I tie after winning his reverse singles match in Chandigarh city, in northern state of Punjab. 
 
India, which had secured a world play-off berth on Saturday by taking a 3-0 lead, led 4-0 after Bopanna&#39;s triumph but South Korea managed a consolation win in the final match. 
 
Bopanna, who took court in place of Saketh Myneni, was given a hard time by Hong Chung but prevailed 3-6 6-4 6-4 on the grass court of the Chandigarh Club. 
 
South Korea&#39;s Yong-Kyu Lim then spoilt India&#39;s hopes of a clean sweep after serving past Ramkumar Ramanathan 6-3 5-7 7-6 in the fifth and final rubber. 
 
Earlier the doubles pair of Bopanna and Leander Paes had already sealed the tie on Saturday after the singles players had given India a 2-0 cushion on the opening day. 
 
It was a great tune-up for Bopanna and Paes who have been made to team up for the men&#39;s doubles draw in the upcoming Rio Olympics by the Indian tennis association. 
 
(AFP)

Rohan Bopanna who took court in place of Saketh Myneni was given a hard time by Hong Chung but prevailed 3-6, 6-4, 6-4

Rohan Bopanna today steered India to an emphatic 4-1 victory over South Korea in the Asia/Oceania Davis Cup Group I tie after winning his reverse singles match in Chandigarh city, in northern state of Punjab. India, which had secured a world play-off berth on Saturday by taking a 3-0 lead, led 4-0 after Bopanna's triumph but South Korea managed a consolation win in the final match. Bopanna, who took court in place of Saketh Myneni, was given a hard time by Hong Chung but prevailed 3-6 6-4 6-4 on the grass court of the Chandigarh Club. South Korea's Yong-Kyu Lim then spoilt India's hopes of a clean sweep after serving past Ramkumar Ramanathan 6-3 5-7 7-6 in the fifth and final rubber. Earlier the doubles pair of Bopanna and Leander Paes had already sealed the tie on Saturday after the singles players had given India a 2-0 cushion on the opening day. It was a great tune-up for Bopanna and Paes who have been made to team up for the men's doubles draw in the upcoming Rio Olympics by the Indian tennis association. (AFP)

Bopanna steers India to 4-1 win over South Korea

Kids and adults were seen enjoying getting dirty on the first day of annual mud festival in the South Korean coastal city of Boryeong today. 
 
According to the event organiser, about 580,000 locals and foreigners gathered to &#39;get messy&#39; at the city&#39;s 19th Mud Festival in Boryeong, located about 190km (120 miles) southwest of Seoul. 
 
&#39;I feel like a child&#39; 
 
The festival ritual is the same for all visitors as they arrive in clean clothes and soon get very dirty - so much so that they can hardly recognise themselves. 
 
&quot;I feel like a child again. I feel like when I was a little kid I used to run around at home and played in the mud and my mom always get mad at me. But now I can do whatever I want. So it&#39;s awesome to come back here enjoying myself with my friends having a great time. So it has been a lot of fun,&quot; 31-year-old US citizen, Anthony Lopeze, said. 
 
Some areas of the festival site allowed revellers to play in mud wrestling pits filled with grayish goo, as well as so-called mud prisons and also in mud baths. 
 
&quot;Actually it&#39;s pretty fun I grew up on the island, I&#39;m from island Guam. I&#39;m used be being outdoors, and I miss just like the outdoors. I enjoyed the mud I&#39;m used to being on the beach and I&#39;d just love the being outside,&quot; said Flores Rico, 23-year-old US citizen. 
 
Many South Korean families from various regions also enjoyed the muddy experience with their children. 
 
&quot;We&#39;re from a different region. It took about five hours by bus to be here. I&#39;m so happy to come Boryeong Mud Festival with my son and have a good time,&quot; 48-year-old South Korean father, Jeong Sang-yong said. 
 
The nine-day festival will continue until July 24. 
 
(Reuters)

Some areas of the festival site allowed revellers to play in mud wrestling pits filled with grayish goo

Kids and adults were seen enjoying getting dirty on the first day of annual mud festival in the South Korean coastal city of Boryeong today. According to the event organiser, about 580,000 locals and foreigners gathered to 'get messy' at the city's 19th Mud Festival in Boryeong, located about 190km (120 miles) southwest of Seoul. 'I feel like a child' The festival ritual is the same for all visitors as they arrive in clean clothes and soon get very dirty - so much so that they can hardly recognise themselves. "I feel like a child again. I feel like when I was a little kid I used to run around at home and played in the mud and my mom always get mad at me. But now I can do whatever I want. So it's awesome to come back here enjoying myself with my friends having a great time. So it has been a lot of fun," 31-year-old US citizen, Anthony Lopeze, said. Some areas of the festival site allowed revellers to play in mud wrestling pits filled with grayish goo, as well as so-called mud prisons and also in mud baths. "Actually it's pretty fun I grew up on the island, I'm from island Guam. I'm used be being outdoors, and I miss just like the outdoors. I enjoyed the mud I'm used to being on the beach and I'd just love the being outside," said Flores Rico, 23-year-old US citizen. Many South Korean families from various regions also enjoyed the muddy experience with their children. "We're from a different region. It took about five hours by bus to be here. I'm so happy to come Boryeong Mud Festival with my son and have a good time," 48-year-old South Korean father, Jeong Sang-yong said. The nine-day festival will continue until July 24. (Reuters)

580,000 locals, foreigners gather to 'get messy' on first day of South Korea's annual mud festival

The 15 male ballet students groaned as they strained to do the splits and laughed with relief after their teacher counted to five and let them relax. 
 
Once a week, a group of South Korean soldiers near the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) that divides the Korean peninsula trade army boots for ballet shoes in a class intended to ease the stress of guarding the world&#39;s most heavily fortified border. 
 
&quot;There&#39;s a lot of tension here since we live in the unit on the front line, which makes me feel insecure at times,&quot; said Kim Joo-hyeok, a 23-year-old sergeant doing his nearly two years of military service that is mandatory for South Korean men. 
 
&quot;But through ballet, I am able to stay calm and find balance as well as build friendships with my fellow soldiers,&quot; said Kim, who is learning ballet for a second year and plans to continue when he is discharged from the army. 
 
Wearing shorts and T-shirts along with their dancing slippers, members of the army&#39;s 25th Division are taught each week by a ballerina from the Korean National Ballet under a programme that began last year and has already included a performance of Tchaikovsky&#39;s Swan Lake. 
 
Most of the students at a recent session were first-timers. 
 
&quot;Being in the army itself can be difficult, so I wasn&#39;t sure what kind of help I can be here,&quot; said Lee Hyang-jo, a ballerina at the Korean National Ballet who visits the base once a week to train the soldiers. 
 
&quot;But as the soldiers learn ballet little by little, they laugh more and have a great time and seeing that makes me think that coming here is worthwhile,&quot; she said. 
 
As the suntanned, crew-cut dancers practiced movements including the splay-kneed plie to classical music, outside the studio, another group of soldiers played soccer. 
 
But ballet toughens you up too, said Lieutenant Colonel Heo Tae-sun. 
 
&quot;Ballet requires a great amount of physical strength and is very good for strengthening muscle, increasing flexibility, and correcting posture,&quot; Heo said. 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

A soldier said through ballet he is able to stay calm and find balance as well as build friendships with his fellow soldiers

The 15 male ballet students groaned as they strained to do the splits and laughed with relief after their teacher counted to five and let them relax. Once a week, a group of South Korean soldiers near the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) that divides the Korean peninsula trade army boots for ballet shoes in a class intended to ease the stress of guarding the world's most heavily fortified border. "There's a lot of tension here since we live in the unit on the front line, which makes me feel insecure at times," said Kim Joo-hyeok, a 23-year-old sergeant doing his nearly two years of military service that is mandatory for South Korean men. "But through ballet, I am able to stay calm and find balance as well as build friendships with my fellow soldiers," said Kim, who is learning ballet for a second year and plans to continue when he is discharged from the army. Wearing shorts and T-shirts along with their dancing slippers, members of the army's 25th Division are taught each week by a ballerina from the Korean National Ballet under a programme that began last year and has already included a performance of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. Most of the students at a recent session were first-timers. "Being in the army itself can be difficult, so I wasn't sure what kind of help I can be here," said Lee Hyang-jo, a ballerina at the Korean National Ballet who visits the base once a week to train the soldiers. "But as the soldiers learn ballet little by little, they laugh more and have a great time and seeing that makes me think that coming here is worthwhile," she said. As the suntanned, crew-cut dancers practiced movements including the splay-kneed plie to classical music, outside the studio, another group of soldiers played soccer. But ballet toughens you up too, said Lieutenant Colonel Heo Tae-sun. "Ballet requires a great amount of physical strength and is very good for strengthening muscle, increasing flexibility, and correcting posture," Heo said. (Reuters)

At world's most heavily fortified border, South Korean troops trade boots for ballet shoes

&nbsp;Nintendo&#39;s smash hit Pokemon GO is likely to face hurdles in South Korea, where Google mapping functions are restricted due to security issues with North Korea - though some fans are already trekking out to one remote area where it can be played. 
 
South Korea is the world&#39;s fourth-biggest gaming market after China, the United States and Japan, according to Amsterdam-based research firm Newzoo, potentially representing a big opportunity loss for Nintendo and game publisher Niantic if it can&#39;t be officially rolled out. 
 
The augmented reality game where players walk around neighbourhoods in real life, searching out Pokemon to catch and train, relies on Google Maps to work. But in most of South Korea those functions have been limited by the government, which is technically still at war with North Korea, for national security reasons. 
 
&quot;Due to government restrictions on maps data, it&#39;s impossible for Pokemon GO to work properly using Google Maps service in South Korea,&quot; a person familiar with the matter said, declining to be identified as the person was not authorised to speak on the issue. 
 
Representatives for Niantic were not immediately available to comment. Nintendo and Alphabet&#39;s Google declined to comment. 
 
Nintendo&#39;s first venture into mobile gaming has only been officially launched in the United States, Australia and New Zealand with other countries such as Japan slated to see a launch soon. 
 
The craze has sent Nintendo&#39;s shares skyrocketing and although they lost some ground on Wednesday as investors took profits. The stock has gained 46 per cent, adding nearly $10 billion to the company&#39;s market value since Thursday&#39;s close. 
 
Despite the limited rollout so far, users in other countries have sought to get in on the action either by downloading the game file in some way or masking their account so that it appears as if they have either an Australian or US account for example. 
 
Those tactics are believed to be exacerbating logging-in problems. By early Wednesday, about 1,300 Pokemon GO users had reported problems accessing the game in Australia over the last two days, according to website aussieoutages.com. 
 
In South Korea, some impatient fans have rushed to Sokcho, a city close to the border with North Korea - an area where the game can be played as it has not been classified as South Korean territory in Google map data. 
 
&quot;I didn&#39;t go to some big tourist attraction; all I did was walk around for tens of kilometres to play a game. But I&#39;m more satisfied with this than any other trip. I would still be in Sokcho had it not been for an urgent issue,&quot; one user posted on an internet message board. 
 
Indeed, the city of Sokcho has been quick to capitalise on its unusual status, sharing maps on of free wi-fi areas and advertising itself on social media as &quot;the only Pokemon GO holy land on the pennisula.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

The game requires google maps to work which is restricted by South Korea due to security issues with the North

Nintendo's smash hit Pokemon GO is likely to face hurdles in South Korea, where Google mapping functions are restricted due to security issues with North Korea - though some fans are already trekking out to one remote area where it can be played. South Korea is the world's fourth-biggest gaming market after China, the United States and Japan, according to Amsterdam-based research firm Newzoo, potentially representing a big opportunity loss for Nintendo and game publisher Niantic if it can't be officially rolled out. The augmented reality game where players walk around neighbourhoods in real life, searching out Pokemon to catch and train, relies on Google Maps to work. But in most of South Korea those functions have been limited by the government, which is technically still at war with North Korea, for national security reasons. "Due to government restrictions on maps data, it's impossible for Pokemon GO to work properly using Google Maps service in South Korea," a person familiar with the matter said, declining to be identified as the person was not authorised to speak on the issue. Representatives for Niantic were not immediately available to comment. Nintendo and Alphabet's Google declined to comment. Nintendo's first venture into mobile gaming has only been officially launched in the United States, Australia and New Zealand with other countries such as Japan slated to see a launch soon. The craze has sent Nintendo's shares skyrocketing and although they lost some ground on Wednesday as investors took profits. The stock has gained 46 per cent, adding nearly $10 billion to the company's market value since Thursday's close. Despite the limited rollout so far, users in other countries have sought to get in on the action either by downloading the game file in some way or masking their account so that it appears as if they have either an Australian or US account for example. Those tactics are believed to be exacerbating logging-in problems. By early Wednesday, about 1,300 Pokemon GO users had reported problems accessing the game in Australia over the last two days, according to website aussieoutages.com. In South Korea, some impatient fans have rushed to Sokcho, a city close to the border with North Korea - an area where the game can be played as it has not been classified as South Korean territory in Google map data. "I didn't go to some big tourist attraction; all I did was walk around for tens of kilometres to play a game. But I'm more satisfied with this than any other trip. I would still be in Sokcho had it not been for an urgent issue," one user posted on an internet message board. Indeed, the city of Sokcho has been quick to capitalise on its unusual status, sharing maps on of free wi-fi areas and advertising itself on social media as "the only Pokemon GO holy land on the pennisula." (Reuters)

New test for Nintendo? North Korea an obstacle for South Korean Pokemon hunters

North Korea&#39;s military said today it will take a &quot;physical response&quot; to a move by the United States and South Korea to deploy the advanced THAAD missile defence system on the Korean peninsula to counter the threat from the North. 
 
The United States and South Korea said on Friday that the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti-missile system will be used as a defence against North Korea&#39;s growing nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities. 
 
The announcement was the latest move by the allies against the North which conducted its fourth nuclear test this year and launched a long-range rocket, resulting in tough new UN sanctions and a series of bilateral sanctions against it. 
 
&quot;There will be physical response measures from us as soon as the location and time that the invasionary tool for US world supremacy, THAAD, will be brought into South Korea,&quot; the North&#39;s military said in a statement. 
 
&quot;It is the unwavering will of our army to deal a ruthless retaliatory strike and turn (the South) into a sea of fire and a pile of ashes the moment we have an order to carry it out,&quot; the statement carried by the official KCNA news agency said. 
 
The North frequently threatens to attack the South and US interests in Asia and the Pacific. 
 
The move to deploy the THAAD system, which drew a swift and sharp protest from China, came a day after the US treasury department blacklisted leader North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for human rights abuses. 
 
North Korea called this &quot;a declaration of war&quot; and vowed a tough response. 
 
A South Korean defence ministry official said selection of a site for THAAD could come &quot;within weeks,&quot; and the allies were working to have it operational by the end of 2017. 
 
It will be deployed to US Forces Korea &quot;to protect alliance military forces,&quot; the South and the United States said on Friday. The United States maintains 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean war. 
 
It will be focused solely on North Korean nuclear and missile threats and will not be directed towards any third-party nations, the two countries said last week. 
 
(Reuters)

Pyongyang calls missile defence system a 'declaration of war' and vows to '...turn (the South) into a sea of fire and a pile of ashes...'

North Korea's military said today it will take a "physical response" to a move by the United States and South Korea to deploy the advanced THAAD missile defence system on the Korean peninsula to counter the threat from the North. The United States and South Korea said on Friday that the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti-missile system will be used as a defence against North Korea's growing nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities. The announcement was the latest move by the allies against the North which conducted its fourth nuclear test this year and launched a long-range rocket, resulting in tough new UN sanctions and a series of bilateral sanctions against it. "There will be physical response measures from us as soon as the location and time that the invasionary tool for US world supremacy, THAAD, will be brought into South Korea," the North's military said in a statement. "It is the unwavering will of our army to deal a ruthless retaliatory strike and turn (the South) into a sea of fire and a pile of ashes the moment we have an order to carry it out," the statement carried by the official KCNA news agency said. The North frequently threatens to attack the South and US interests in Asia and the Pacific. The move to deploy the THAAD system, which drew a swift and sharp protest from China, came a day after the US treasury department blacklisted leader North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for human rights abuses. North Korea called this "a declaration of war" and vowed a tough response. A South Korean defence ministry official said selection of a site for THAAD could come "within weeks," and the allies were working to have it operational by the end of 2017. It will be deployed to US Forces Korea "to protect alliance military forces," the South and the United States said on Friday. The United States maintains 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean war. It will be focused solely on North Korean nuclear and missile threats and will not be directed towards any third-party nations, the two countries said last week. (Reuters)

North Korea threatens 'physical response' against US THAAD missile system deployment

South Korea aims to regulate the increasingly common ownership of pets in a bid to promote an unsupervised sector that the government sees as economic growth opportunity, and to crack down on animal abuse and neglect. 
 
Measures announced on Thursday will enable South Koreans to legally operate services for pets such as animal cafes, hotels and funeral parlours, while imposing stiffer punishment on breeders found using unsanitary or inhumane methods. 
 
Pets were once rare in South Korea, a country where the consumption of dog meat was widespread though it has declined sharply during the rapid modernization of recent decades. 
 
&quot;We know we are a bit late, but we are aiming to become a developed country in terms of the pet industry,&quot; Kang Chong-suk, director of the finance ministry&#39;s general policy coordination division, said in a telephone interview. 
 
&quot;There were absolutely no regulations and many illegal activities were being carried out.&quot; 
 
Nearly 22 per cent of South Korean households last year had at least one pet, up from 17.4 per cent five years earlier, a trend fuelled by the rise in single-person households. 
 
At the same time, there has been a jump in the number of abandoned pets. 
 
The government expects the measures will help the industry increase revenues from 1.8 trillion Won ($1.56 billion) now to 5.8 trillion Won in 2020. 
 
Under the plan, animal funeral facilities will be legalised, addressing complaints from pet owners over current law that says dead pets must be discarded, like household rubbish, in plastic garbage bags. 
 
New laws will also make it possible to start pet-related businesses like hotels, cafes and training centres. 
 
Pet cafes, where human customers can mingle with dogs and cats while having a cup of coffee, are increasingly popular in South Korea even though current law forbids the sale of food where animals can roam. 
 
The government will also introduce a veterinary nursing license and encourage insurers to develop more pet insurance policies. 
 
The measures are part of broader efforts to bolster various industries, including halal and kosher food production, the housing market and sports, as the government tries to find more sources of growth. 
 
&#39;TOO MANY PETS&#39; 
 
Fines for abandoning pets will be raised threefold from 1 million Won, while government support for animal shelters will be increased. 
 
Last year, 82,000 pets were abandoned or lost in South Korea, straining its 307 shelters, according to the government. 
 
&quot;They should have started this process a long time ago,&quot; said Kwon Beom-suk, a veterinarian in Seoul. 
 
&quot;We have too many pets in South Korea even though the pet culture has not matured yet.&quot; 
 
Fines will also be increased for unregistered or abusive animal-breeding facilities.&nbsp;About 1,000 commercial dog breeders are now operating, more than 80 per cent illegally, according to the government. 
 
Thursday&#39;s announcement comes amid public outrage over television reports showing abuse of dogs at some so-called puppy mills, including non-veterinarians performing crude caesarean sections on pregnant dogs.&nbsp;Kang said the government&#39;s planning preceded the broadcasts. 
 
($1 = 1,154.6700 Won) 
 
(Reuters)

New measures would enable South Koreans to legally operate services for pets such as animal cafes, hotels and funeral parlours

South Korea aims to regulate the increasingly common ownership of pets in a bid to promote an unsupervised sector that the government sees as economic growth opportunity, and to crack down on animal abuse and neglect. Measures announced on Thursday will enable South Koreans to legally operate services for pets such as animal cafes, hotels and funeral parlours, while imposing stiffer punishment on breeders found using unsanitary or inhumane methods. Pets were once rare in South Korea, a country where the consumption of dog meat was widespread though it has declined sharply during the rapid modernization of recent decades. "We know we are a bit late, but we are aiming to become a developed country in terms of the pet industry," Kang Chong-suk, director of the finance ministry's general policy coordination division, said in a telephone interview. "There were absolutely no regulations and many illegal activities were being carried out." Nearly 22 per cent of South Korean households last year had at least one pet, up from 17.4 per cent five years earlier, a trend fuelled by the rise in single-person households. At the same time, there has been a jump in the number of abandoned pets. The government expects the measures will help the industry increase revenues from 1.8 trillion Won ($1.56 billion) now to 5.8 trillion Won in 2020. Under the plan, animal funeral facilities will be legalised, addressing complaints from pet owners over current law that says dead pets must be discarded, like household rubbish, in plastic garbage bags. New laws will also make it possible to start pet-related businesses like hotels, cafes and training centres. Pet cafes, where human customers can mingle with dogs and cats while having a cup of coffee, are increasingly popular in South Korea even though current law forbids the sale of food where animals can roam. The government will also introduce a veterinary nursing license and encourage insurers to develop more pet insurance policies. The measures are part of broader efforts to bolster various industries, including halal and kosher food production, the housing market and sports, as the government tries to find more sources of growth. 'TOO MANY PETS' Fines for abandoning pets will be raised threefold from 1 million Won, while government support for animal shelters will be increased. Last year, 82,000 pets were abandoned or lost in South Korea, straining its 307 shelters, according to the government. "They should have started this process a long time ago," said Kwon Beom-suk, a veterinarian in Seoul. "We have too many pets in South Korea even though the pet culture has not matured yet." Fines will also be increased for unregistered or abusive animal-breeding facilities. About 1,000 commercial dog breeders are now operating, more than 80 per cent illegally, according to the government. Thursday's announcement comes amid public outrage over television reports showing abuse of dogs at some so-called puppy mills, including non-veterinarians performing crude caesarean sections on pregnant dogs. Kang said the government's planning preceded the broadcasts. ($1 = 1,154.6700 Won) (Reuters)

South Korea aims to overhaul its pet sector

South Korean and the US&nbsp;marine troops conducted air and ground joint combat training today&nbsp;near the port city Pohang, about 360 km (223 miles) south of Seoul. 
 
The drills mobilised about 1,300 Marine Corps from the two countries, as well as eight Korean Assault Amphibious Vehicles (KAAV), armoured combat Earthmover, mine-Clearing Line Charge (MICLIC) and several mortars. 
 
&quot;As the most powerful military forces spearheading the alliance between South Korea and the United States, South Korean and US&nbsp;Marine Corps are prepared in the most perfect manner to strongly punish any kind of threat from the enemies that threaten our national security,&quot; said a quick reaction forces commander of the South Korean Marine Corps, Kim Hoi-min, at the artillery range. 
 
North Korea launched two Musudan intermediate-range missiles on June 22 drawing strong condemnation from South Korea, Japan and the United States for infringing United Nations sanctions designed to stop Pyongyang&#39;s nuclear and missile development programmes. 
 
There are 28,500 US&nbsp;troops stationed in the South as part of combined defence with the South&#39;s military of more than 600,000. The North has an army of 1.2 million. 
 
The two Koreas are in a technical state of war under a truce after the 1950-53 Korean War. 
 
(Reuters)

The two Koreas are in a technical state of war under a truce after the 1950-53 Korean War

South Korean and the US marine troops conducted air and ground joint combat training today near the port city Pohang, about 360 km (223 miles) south of Seoul. The drills mobilised about 1,300 Marine Corps from the two countries, as well as eight Korean Assault Amphibious Vehicles (KAAV), armoured combat Earthmover, mine-Clearing Line Charge (MICLIC) and several mortars. "As the most powerful military forces spearheading the alliance between South Korea and the United States, South Korean and US Marine Corps are prepared in the most perfect manner to strongly punish any kind of threat from the enemies that threaten our national security," said a quick reaction forces commander of the South Korean Marine Corps, Kim Hoi-min, at the artillery range. North Korea launched two Musudan intermediate-range missiles on June 22 drawing strong condemnation from South Korea, Japan and the United States for infringing United Nations sanctions designed to stop Pyongyang's nuclear and missile development programmes. There are 28,500 US troops stationed in the South as part of combined defence with the South's military of more than 600,000. The North has an army of 1.2 million. The two Koreas are in a technical state of war under a truce after the 1950-53 Korean War. (Reuters)

US, South Korea conduct joint drills to strengthen military operations

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