WEATHER ALERT
Hamas' attack on Israel prompts South Korea to consider pausing military agreement with North Korea
Read full article: Hamas' attack on Israel prompts South Korea to consider pausing military agreement with North KoreaSouth Korea’s new defense minister says he would push to suspend a 2018 military agreement with North Korea on reducing tensions between the rivals, insisting that it hampers the South’s surveillance activities along their heavily armed border when the North’s nuclear threats are increasing.
The surreal Korean border village where a US soldier crossed into the North
Read full article: The surreal Korean border village where a US soldier crossed into the NorthBlue-roofed huts, a raised slab of concrete and some raked gravel are all that separate the rival Koreas at Panmunjom, a rare point of close contact along the most heavily armed border in the world.
The AP Interview: Korean leader cites North's serious threat
Read full article: The AP Interview: Korean leader cites North's serious threatSouth Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol says the spike in North Korean missile tests, growing nuclear ambitions and other provocative acts pose a “serious threat” that could spark a wider conflict.
Dogs gifted by Kim Jong Un at center of South Korean row
Read full article: Dogs gifted by Kim Jong Un at center of South Korean rowA pair of dogs gifted by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in 2018 are now mired in a South Korean political row, with the country’s former president blaming his conservative successor for a lack of support as he gave the animals up.
South Korea arrests former top officials over 2020 killing
Read full article: South Korea arrests former top officials over 2020 killingSouth Korea’s former defense minister and coast guard chief have been arrested over their alleged involvement in covering up facts and distorting the circumstances surrounding North Korea’s killing of a South Korean fisheries official in 2020 near the rivals’ tense sea border.
South Korean celebration of 'Squid Game' Emmy wins subdued
Read full article: South Korean celebration of 'Squid Game' Emmy wins subduedSouth Koreans shared congratulations on social media for the multiple wins by “Squid Game” at the Emmy Awards, but the overall reaction was subdued as the country grows accustomed to its increasingly prominent role in global entertainment.
South Korea to pardon Samsung's Lee, other corporate giants
Read full article: South Korea to pardon Samsung's Lee, other corporate giantsSamsung’s de-facto leader has secured a pardon of his conviction for bribing a former president in a corruption scandal that toppled a previous South Korean government.
N Korea warns of security instability over US-S Korea drills
Read full article: N Korea warns of security instability over US-S Korea drillsNorth Korea has warned that the United States and South Korea will face “unprecedented” security challenges if they don’t drop their hostile military pressure campaign against the North, including joint military drills.
BTS to address anti-Asian hate crimes at White House next week
Read full article: BTS to address anti-Asian hate crimes at White House next weekAs Asian American Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month comes to an end, Grammy-nominated group BTS will return to the U.S. and meet with President Joe Biden next week to address anti-Asian hate crimes and discuss Asian inclusion.
US, S Korean leaders meet in face of N Korea nuclear threat
Read full article: US, S Korean leaders meet in face of N Korea nuclear threatU.S. President Joe Biden will meet South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol this week as the allies face a growing threat from North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile program.
Leaders of 2 Koreas exchange letters of hope amid tensions
Read full article: Leaders of 2 Koreas exchange letters of hope amid tensionsThe leaders of the rival Koreas have exchanged letters expressing hope for improved bilateral relations, which have plummeted amid a freeze in nuclear negotiations and North Korea’s accelerating weapons development.
Kim's sister enraged by Seoul's preemptive strike comments
Read full article: Kim's sister enraged by Seoul's preemptive strike commentsThe influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called the South Korean defense minister a “scum-like guy” for talking about preemptive strikes on the North and warned the South may face “a serious threat.”.
S. Korea's next leader to abandon Blue House for new office
Read full article: S. Korea's next leader to abandon Blue House for new officeSouth Korea’s president-elect says he will abandon the current mountainside presidential palace of Blue House and establish his office in central Seoul as part of efforts to better communicate with the public.
Seoul's next leader faces limited choices over North Korea
Read full article: Seoul's next leader faces limited choices over North KoreaAfter winning last week's presidential election, South Korean conservative Yoon Suk Yeol will enter office facing a quickly growing North Korean nuclear threat — and with few easy choices to deal with it.
S. Korea's president-elect wants tougher stance on N. Korea
Read full article: S. Korea's president-elect wants tougher stance on N. KoreaSouth Korea’s president-elect Yoon Suk Yeol says he would solidify an alliance with the United States, build up a powerful military and sternly cope with North Korean provocations.
Ex-prosecutor, foreign policy neophyte wins S Korea election
Read full article: Ex-prosecutor, foreign policy neophyte wins S Korea electionA conservative former prosecutor declared victory in South Korea’s presidential election after his liberal ruling party rival conceded defeat amid a bitter battle in the politically divided nation.
'Squid Game Election': South Korean campaign gets ugly
Read full article: 'Squid Game Election': South Korean campaign gets uglyThe rivalry, mudslinging and negative campaigning between the two leading presidential candidates in South Korea are so bad that the loser faces a prospect of going to jail.
In S. Korea election, future of foreign policy up for debate
Read full article: In S. Korea election, future of foreign policy up for debateAhead of the March 9 presidential election in South Korea, major candidates are embroiled in a heated debate over how to address a foreign policy challenges that include the U.S.-China rivalry, North Korea's nuclear threats and badly strained ties with Japan.
US, Europe step up Russia sanctions to target Putin directly
Read full article: US, Europe step up Russia sanctions to target Putin directlyThe United States and European allies are stepping up sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by adding measures directly targeting President Vladimir Putin and his top diplomat.
S. Korea keeps crowd limits as omicron causes 25-fold spike
Read full article: S. Korea keeps crowd limits as omicron causes 25-fold spikeSouth Korea will extend restaurant dining hours but maintain a six-person limit on private social gatherings as it wrestles with a massive coronavirus wave driven by the highly infectious omicron variant.
S. Korea to give out rapid tests as omicron shatters record
Read full article: S. Korea to give out rapid tests as omicron shatters recordSouth Korea will distribute free coronavirus rapid test kits at schools and senior care facilities starting next week as it weathers an unprecedented wave of infections driven by the fast-moving omicron variant.
South Korean presidential hopefuls begin official campaigns
Read full article: South Korean presidential hopefuls begin official campaignsCandidates for South Korea’s presidential election began their formal, 22-day campaigns Tuesday in a race tainted by intense political strife over allegations involving the main candidates and their families.
South Korea to allow special voting for COVID-19 patients
Read full article: South Korea to allow special voting for COVID-19 patientsSouth Korea’s parliament has approved plans to provide a special time for COVID-19 patients to vote during the March 9 presidential election as the country grapples with a record-breaking omicron surge.
US, Japan, South Korea meet in Hawaii to discuss North Korea
Read full article: US, Japan, South Korea meet in Hawaii to discuss North KoreaU.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met his Japanese and South Korean counterparts in Hawaii to discuss the threat posed by nuclear-armed North Korea after Pyongyang began the year with a series of missile tests.
N. Korea confirms test of missile capable of striking Guam
Read full article: N. Korea confirms test of missile capable of striking GuamNorth Korea has confirmed it test-launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. territory of Guam in its most significant launch in almost five years.
South Korean president visits UAE, showcasing deep ties
Read full article: South Korean president visits UAE, showcasing deep tiesThe president of South Korea has reached a preliminary multibillion-dollar deal to sell Seoul’s surface-to-air missiles to Abu Dhabi and pledged deeper cooperation with the United Arab Emirates during a visit to the Gulf Arab state.
SKorea bans gatherings of 5 or more people amid virus surge
Read full article: SKorea bans gatherings of 5 or more people amid virus surgeSouth Korea will prohibit private social gatherings of five or more people nationwide and force restaurants to close at 9 p.m. as the country grapples with the deadliest month of the pandemic.
South Korea sets new virus record as officials plan restrictions
Read full article: South Korea sets new virus record as officials plan restrictionsHalting its steps toward normalcy, South Korea will clamp down on social gatherings and cut the hours of some businesses to fight a record-breaking surge of the coronavirus that has led to a spike hospitalizations and deaths.
S. Korea marks deadliest day of pandemic as hospitals buckle
Read full article: S. Korea marks deadliest day of pandemic as hospitals buckleSouth Korea has marked its deadliest day of the pandemic as an unrelenting, delta-driven spread stretched thin hospitals and left people dying while waiting for beds.
Australia and South Korea sign defense deal as leaders meet
Read full article: Australia and South Korea sign defense deal as leaders meetAustralia and South Korea have signed a $720 million defense deal as South Korean President Moon Jae-in became the first foreign leader to visit Australia since the pandemic began.
South Korea reports its worst virus surge since pandemic
Read full article: South Korea reports its worst virus surge since pandemicNew coronavirus infections in South Korea have exceeded 7,000 for the third consecutive day as the worst surge since the start of the pandemic overwhelms hospitals and depletes health care workforce.
South Korea's daily virus jump exceeds 7,000 for 1st time
Read full article: South Korea's daily virus jump exceeds 7,000 for 1st timeNew coronavirus infections in South Korea exceeded 7,000 for the first time since the start of the pandemic as hours-long lines snaked around testing stations in the capital Seoul amid a worsening virus crisis.
South Korea pushes booster shots as COVID-19 spread worsens
Read full article: South Korea pushes booster shots as COVID-19 spread worsensSouth Korea has reported 3,187 new cases of the coronavirus, nearly matching a one-day record set in September, a worrisome development in a country that eased social distancing rules in recent weeks to lessen the pandemic’s economic impact.
Ex-prosecutor in SKorea wins opposition presidential ticket
Read full article: Ex-prosecutor in SKorea wins opposition presidential ticketSouth Korea’s conservative former top prosecutor, who has called for a stronger U.S. security guarantee to neutralize North Korean nuclear threats, has won the main opposition party’s hotly contested nomination for next March’s presidential election.
Central European nations seek South Korea train partnership
Read full article: Central European nations seek South Korea train partnershipThe leaders of four Central European nations have met in Hungary’s capital where they urged visiting South Korean President Moon Jae-in to consider investing in a rapid train line connecting Budapest and Polish capital Warsaw.
The Latest: France, India agree to boost Indo-Pacific ties
Read full article: The Latest: France, India agree to boost Indo-Pacific tiesFrench President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have agreed to boost ties in the Indo-Pacific region during a meeting on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit.
South Korea's leader vows final push for talks with North
Read full article: South Korea's leader vows final push for talks with NorthSouth Korea’s president says he’ll keep striving to promote peace with North Korea through dialogue until the end of his term next May, after Pyongyang raised animosities with a resumption of provocative weapons tests.
S Korea test launches 1st domestically made space rocket
Read full article: S Korea test launches 1st domestically made space rocketSouth Korea’s first domestically produced space rocket reached its desired altitude but failed to deliver a dummy payload into orbit in its first test launch on Thursday.
EXPLAINER: Kim's sister leads N. Korea's pressure campaign
Read full article: EXPLAINER: Kim's sister leads N. Korea's pressure campaignAs North Korea goes back to its pattern of pressuring South Korea to get what it wants from the United States, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un has emerged as the face of its campaign of mixing weapons demonstrations and peace offers.
Kim's sister: NKorea willing to talk if Seoul shows respect
Read full article: Kim's sister: NKorea willing to talk if Seoul shows respectThe powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un says her country will take steps to repair ties with South Korea, and may even discuss another summit between their leaders, if the South drops what she described as hostility and double standards.
EXPLAINER: Why North Korea wants sanctions lifted first
Read full article: EXPLAINER: Why North Korea wants sanctions lifted firstDays after outgoing South Korean President Moon Jae-in made possibly his last ambitious push to diplomatically resolve the standoff over North Korea’s nuclear program, the North has rejected his call for a declaration ending the Korean War, making it clear it has no interest in political statements unless they bring badly needed relief from crippling economic sanctions.
N. Korea offers talks, likely trying to get sanctions relief
Read full article: N. Korea offers talks, likely trying to get sanctions reliefThe influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un says her country is willing to resume talks with South Korea if conditions are met, indicating it wants Seoul to persuade Washington to relax crippling economic sanctions.
Thinner, energetic Kim stands out at North Korean parade
Read full article: Thinner, energetic Kim stands out at North Korean paradeIn an unusual North Korean parade that showcased military animals and virus workers in hazmat suits instead of ballistic missiles, leader Kim Jong Un still managed to seize the spotlight by looking thinner and more energetic than he has in years.
Lee freed on parole, showing Samsung's might in South Korea
Read full article: Lee freed on parole, showing Samsung's might in South KoreaSamsung leader Lee Jae-yong walked out of prison a year early in a parole decision demonstrating the conglomerate’s outsized influence in South Korea as well as the country's continuing leniency for bosses who commit corporate corruption.
South Korea to release Samsung scion on parole
Read full article: South Korea to release Samsung scion on paroleSouth Korea says it will release billionaire Samsung scion Lee Jae-yong on parole this week after he spent 18 months in prison for his role in a massive corruption scandal that triggered nationwide protests and led to the ouster of the country’s previous president.
Kim's sister warns S. Korea-US drills will rekindle tensions
Read full article: Kim's sister warns S. Korea-US drills will rekindle tensionsThe powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has warned that next month’s annual military drills between South Korean and U.S. troops will undermine prospects for better ties between the Koreas, just days after the rivals reopened their long-dormant communication channels.
EXPLAINER: Why Japan 'rising sun' flag provokes Olympic ire
Read full article: EXPLAINER: Why Japan 'rising sun' flag provokes Olympic ireJapan’s “rising sun” flag is a focus of anger at the Olympics, with some in the Koreas, China and other Asian nations calling for it to be banned during the Tokyo Games.
South Korea's cases jump to 1,200 amid slow vaccination
Read full article: South Korea's cases jump to 1,200 amid slow vaccinationSouth Korea has reported 1,212 new cases, a steep rise in coronavirus infections unseen since the winter outbreak as it slips into another surge while most of its people are still unvaccinated.
Seoul court rejects slave labor claim against Japanese firms
Read full article: Seoul court rejects slave labor claim against Japanese firmsA South Korean court has rejected a claim by dozens of wartime Korean factory workers and their relatives who sought compensation from Japanese companies for their slave labor before the end of World War II.
North accuses US of hostility for S. Korean missile decision
Read full article: North accuses US of hostility for S. Korean missile decisionNorth Korea says the U.S. allowing South Korea to build more powerful missiles was an example of the U.S.’s hostile policy against the North and could lead to instability.
Kim vows to build N. Korea socialism amid US nuclear impasse
Read full article: Kim vows to build N. Korea socialism amid US nuclear impasseNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed an “uncompromising struggle” against anti-socialist elements at home as he tries to fortify his power amid pandemic-related difficulties and U.S.-led economic sanctions.
Samsung thrives as Seoul mulls pardon of corporate heir
Read full article: Samsung thrives as Seoul mulls pardon of corporate heirPressure is mounting on South Korean President Moon Jae-in to pardon Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong now that he has spent nearly four months in prison after his conviction in a massive corruption scandal.
Samsung reports profit jump on smartphone, TV sales
Read full article: Samsung reports profit jump on smartphone, TV salesSamsung Electronics says its operating profit for the last quarter jumped 46% from a year earlier driven by increased sales of smartphones and televisions as its business continues to flourish amid the pandemic.
The Latest: Mayors ask Biden for consult on climate migrants
Read full article: The Latest: Mayors ask Biden for consult on climate migrantsThe mayors of a dozen major U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, New York City and San Diego, are asking President Joe Biden to consult them as the administration studies how to identify and resettle people displaced by drought, rising seas and other effects of climate change.
Biden's virtual climate summit: Diplomacy sans human touch
Read full article: Biden's virtual climate summit: Diplomacy sans human touchPresident Joe Biden is being forced to go virtual for many of his leader-to-leader talks during the coronavirus pandemic, and the resulting Zoom meetings just aren't a natural fit for the back-slapping politician.
EXPLAINER: What N Korean missile tests mean for US relations
Read full article: EXPLAINER: What N Korean missile tests mean for US relationsTwo months after President Joe Biden took office, North Korea is again turning to weapons tests to wrest outside concessions. That indicates Washington has a window of engagement before North Korea pursues bigger provocations. Later in 2017, four days after current South Korean President Moon Jae-in was inaugurated, North Korea fired what it called a newly developed, nuclear-capable intermediate-range missile. North Korea could turn to long-range missile and even nuclear tests, which Kim Jong Un suspended when he began engaging diplomatically with Washington. Given its current tensions with Washington, China may not easily agree to more sanctions even if North Korea engages in long-range missile or nuclear tests, analyst Cha said.
The Latest: California prisons to resume in-person visits
Read full article: The Latest: California prisons to resume in-person visitsThe state health department said nearly 17,000 people had filled up four days of appointments for the speedway clinic being held Friday through Monday. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California state prisons will soon resume limited in-person visits with inmates more than a year after they were halted because of the coronavirus pandemic. Museums, aquariums, retail businesses and shops, hair salons and personal care businesses can operate at 100% capacity indoors and outdoors. The three joined neighboring Santa Mateo County on Tuesday as the latest Bay Area counties to move into California’s “moderate” tier for coronavirus restrictions. Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady says the biggest driver behind the increase is young adults.
N Korea warns US not to 'cause a stink' before Seoul meeting
Read full article: N Korea warns US not to 'cause a stink' before Seoul meetingFILE - In this March 2, 2019, file photo, Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, attends a wreath-laying ceremony at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi, Vietnam. Her statement was issued on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Asia to talk to U.S. allies Japan and South Korea about North Korea and other regional issues. Kim Yo Jong’s statement was issued as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Asia to talk with U.S. allies Japan and South Korea about North Korea and other regional issues. AdShe said the North would also consider scrapping an office that handled South Korean tours to the North’s scenic Diamond Mountain, which Seoul suspended in 2008 after a North Korean guard fatally shot a South Korean tourist. In the past, the North has often responded with U.S.-South Korea drills with missile tests.
S Korea, US scale back drills over virus, N Korea diplomacy
Read full article: S Korea, US scale back drills over virus, N Korea diplomacySouth Korean army K-9 self-propelled howitzers take positions during the annual exercise in Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea, Tuesday, June 23, 2020. A South Korean activist said Tuesday hundreds of thousands of leaflets had been launched by balloon across the border with North Korea overnight, after the North repeatedly warned it would retaliate against such actions. AdU.S.-South Korea drills have been a major source of animosities on the peninsula, with North Korea viewing them as invasion rehearsals and responding with its own weapons tests. In January, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un urged the U.S. to withdraw its hostile policy and South Korea to end drills with the U.S., warning the fate of their relations with North Korea depends on how they behave. The government of South Korean President Moon Jae-in, which facilitated the early part of the U.S.-North Korea talks, has been calling for the diplomacy’s restart and greater inter-Korean ties.
Moon: South Korea, Japan must look to future to improve ties
Read full article: Moon: South Korea, Japan must look to future to improve tiesSouth Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks during a ceremony to mark the March First Independence Movement Day, the anniversary of the 1919 uprising against Japanese colonial rule in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, March 1, 2021. “There have been times where issues of the past weren’t separated from those of the future and became intermingled with each other. Those rulings led to further tensions over trade when Japan put export controls on chemicals vital to South Korea’s semiconductor industry. Japan has insisted that all wartime compensation issues were settled under a 1965 treaty normalizing relations with South Korea and it has reacted angrily to South Korean court rulings saying otherwise. There is a risk for further deterioration of the relationship if South Korean courts eventually order the liquidation of local assets of Japanese companies that have refused to compensate forced laborers.
S. Korea spy agency: N. Korea hackers targeted vaccine tech
Read full article: S. Korea spy agency: N. Korea hackers targeted vaccine techFILE - In this June 16, 2017, file photo, North Korean men and women use computer terminals at the Sci-Tech Complex in Pyongyang, North Korea. Kwon Bo-young, a public relations manager at Pfizer’s South Korean office, said in text message that it was checking Ha’s claim with its global headquarters. AdAcquiring coronavirus vaccines is crucial for North Korea, whose public health care system is in shambles. The current South Korean government of President Moon Jae-in espouses rapprochement with North Korea and a negotiated settlement of the global standoff over North Korea’s nuclear program. Moon was a driving force behind now-dormant nuclear diplomacy between North Korea and the United States.
S. Korean sexual slavery survivor wants UN court judgment
Read full article: S. Korean sexual slavery survivor wants UN court judgmentLee Yong-soo, a South Korean woman who was sexually enslaved by Japan's World War II military, weeps during a press conference at the Press Center in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. Lee called for the leaders of both countries to settle an impasse over the issue by seeking judgment from the International Court of Justice. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)SEOUL – A South Korean woman who was sexually enslaved by Japan’s World War II military called for the leaders of both countries to settle an impasse over the issue by seeking judgment from the International Court of Justice. Bilateral tensions over sexual slavery flared again last month when a South Korean court ruled that the Japanese government must give 100 million won ($90,000) to each of 12 victims who filed lawsuits in 2013 over their wartime sufferings. While a lawsuit at the U.N. court could only happen if both countries agree to take their dispute there, it would be illogical for Japan to object when it has already accused South Korean court rulings of violating international law, he said.
Moon, Biden agree to work on joint North Korea strategy
Read full article: Moon, Biden agree to work on joint North Korea strategyIn this photo provided by South Korea Presidential Blue House, South Korean President Moon Jae-in talks on the phone with U.S. President Joe Biden at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, in South Korea, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021. During their first phone talks since President Joe Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration, South Korean President Moon Jae-in proposed the allies make joint efforts for lasting peace and denuclearization. The two leaders agreed on the need to soon map out a “comprehensive strategy on North Korea if possible,” Moon’s spokesman, Kang Min-seok, said. AdThe U.S., which has about 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea, regularly stages military drills with South Korea. North Korea views such military training and U.S.-led sanctions as proof of American hostility.
Japan urges South Korea to drop wartime compensation demands
Read full article: Japan urges South Korea to drop wartime compensation demands(AP Photo/Ahn Young-Joon, File)TOKYO – Japan's foreign minister accused South Korea on Monday of worsening already strained ties by making “illegal” demands for compensation for the sexual abuse of Korean women and use of forced laborers during World War II. Japan, under a 1995 semi-governmental Asian Women’s Fund, offered payments and apology letters to certified victims of its wartime sexual abuse from five countries, settling disputes with all but South Korea. Japan is still calling for appropriate steps by South Korea, while considering all possible options, he said. “We will be watching what actions will be taken by the South Korean side,” Sakai said. ___Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, contributed to this report.
SKorean court gives Samsung scion prison term over bribery
Read full article: SKorean court gives Samsung scion prison term over briberySamsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong arrives at the Seoul High Court in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. South Korean court sentences Lee to 2 and a half years in prison over corruption case. Samsung didn’t issue a statement over the ruling. Lee Jae-yong helms the Samsung group in his capacity as vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, one of the world’s largest makers of computer chips and smartphones. It isn’t immediately clear what his prison term would mean for Samsung.
Moon urges Biden to learn from Trump's N. Korea diplomacy
Read full article: Moon urges Biden to learn from Trump's N. Korea diplomacySouth Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks during an on-line New Year press conference with local and foreign journalists at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. (Jeon Heon-kyun/Pool Photo via AP)SEOUL – South Korea’s president on Monday urged the incoming Biden administration to build upon the achievements and learn from the failures of President Donald Trump’s diplomatic engagement with North Korea. Biden has accused Trump of chasing the spectacle of summits rather than meaningful curbs on the North’s nuclear capabilities. And while Moon acknowledged that Biden is likely to try a different approach than Trump, he stressed that Biden could still learn from Trump’s successes and failures in dealing with North Korea. “The start of the Biden administration provides a new opportunity to start over talks between North Korea and the United States and also between South and North Korea,” which have stalled amid the stalemate in nuclear negotiations, Moon said.
S. Korean court upholds prison term for ex-president Park
Read full article: S. Korean court upholds prison term for ex-president ParkFILE - In this Oct. 10, 2017, file photo, former South Korean President Park Geun-hye, left, arrives to attend a hearing on the extension of her detention at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea. South Koreas top court upheld 20-year prison term for Park over corruption on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. But the finalizing of her prison term also makes her eligible for a special presidential pardon, a looming possibility as the country’s deeply split electorate approaches the next presidential election in March 2022. Park originally faced a prison term of more than 30 years before the Supreme Court sent her cases back to a lower court in 2019. Prosecutors appealed after the Seoul High Court handed Park a 20-year term in July last year after merging the two cases.
The Latest: Nevada revises vaccination plan to step up shots
Read full article: The Latest: Nevada revises vaccination plan to step up shots(AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)CARSON CITY, Nev. — Nevada is making changes to its distribution plan for coronavirus vaccines in an effort to get shots into residents’ arms more quickly. Public health officials announced plans Monday to replace the state’s distribution plan and direct providers to concurrently vaccinate high-risk groups. State health officials report more than 13,000 coronavirus patients currently in hospitals statewide, and nearly 30,000 deaths since the pandemic started. ___ATLANTA — Georgia’s plan to expand access to the coronavirus vaccine for people over 65 is off to a rocky start. ___AMMAN, Jordan — Jordan has received its first shipment of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine before its vaccination drive kicks off this week.