The number of foreign residents in Korea continues to grow and now accounts for some 3.6 percent of the country’s population. This story is part of a series that examines how Korea is grappling with the issue of multiculturalism, as well as the challenges facing new arrivals. -- Ed.In a country where the phrase “homogenous nation” was once chanted with pride not long ago, there was nothing strange about a provision within the military law that exempted men of mixed heritage from military service

Defense Feb. 19, 2019

North Korea possesses the capabilities to track and target satellites, posing a challenge to other militaries, the US Department of Defense said in a recent report.According to the report published Monday by the US Defense Intelligence Agency, “Challenges to Security in Space,” North Korea is among countries that pose a challenge to militaries using space-enabled services.  (Yonhap)“Iran and North Korea maintain independent space launch capabilities, which can serve as avenues for testing ballis

North Korea Feb. 15, 2019

PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province -- Tensions are easing on the Korean Peninsula, a region where the wounds of war still remain. With the second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un set to take place within a couple of weeks, hopes are high that their meeting will be a meaningful step toward peace on the peninsula.One of the most crucial tasks the two leaders should focus on at the upcoming summit is drawing up a peace treaty to bring a formal end to the 1950-

Foreign Affairs Feb. 14, 2019

With the US-North Korea summit scheduled to take place Feb. 27-28 in Hanoi, the Vietnamese government has ordered hotels near JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi to cancel reservations that have already been made, a local daily here reported Wednesday.Hotels near the JW Marriott Hotel notified tour companies here that they would not be taking any reservations until after the forthcoming summit, per a Vietnamese government order, according to Maeil Business News.  Flags of United States and North Korea in a

North Korea Feb. 13, 2019

Korean companies have been selected for the maintenance of F-35 stealth fighters, the acquisition administration here said Tuesday. According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, Ellen Lord, US undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, has announced that a consortium of Korean defense companies, Team ROK, has been officially selected for the maintenance of F-35 stealth fighter parts.Team ROK consists of Hanwha Systems, Hanwha Corp./Machinery, and Hanwha Techwin -- 

Defense Feb. 12, 2019

One of the most rigid and conservative groups in South Korea is slowly changing: the military. Upon announcing a comprehensive military reform plan last year, the Defense Ministry has been implementing unprecedented policies out of respect for the rights of rank-and-file soldiers. A recent policy the ministry is moving to implement is allowing its conscripted soldiers to use their mobile phones inside the barracks, albeit for a limited number of hours a day. While it is unimaginable for c

Defense Feb. 12, 2019

The chief manager of the North Korean guesthouse where South Korean President Moon Jae-in stayed with his wife during his visit to Pyongyang was executed in public for embezzling some $3 million, a local daily here reported Tuesday.The chief manager of the Paekhwawon State Guest House, whose name was not revealed, was executed in public in December after being convicted of multiple offenses, including embezzlement, according to the Chosun Ilbo newspaper. According to sources, his wrongdoings wer

North Korea Feb. 12, 2019

Over 60 percent of South Koreans expect a positive outcome of denuclearization in the planned summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, a poll showed Monday. In a Realmeter poll conducted Friday, 62.5 percent of 501 respondents answered they expected some results in resolving North Korea’s denuclearization issue in the upcoming summit.  (Reuters)On the other hand, 35.1 percent of the respondents said the summit will only weaken US-South Korea ties without brin

North Korea Feb. 11, 2019

South Korea and the United States signed a provisional agreement Sunday on the sharing of costs to maintain US troops here, with South Korea raising its share by 8.2 percent. Seoul’s negotiator, Chang Won-sam, and his US counterpart, Timothy Betts, met in Seoul to ink the contract. Under the new deal, South Korea will pay about 1.03 trillion won ($890 million) to cover the costs of stationing the 28,500 members of US Forces Korea here throughout 2019. The figure reflects the rate of increase of

Defense Feb. 10, 2019

While Seoul’s plan to deliver Tamiflu to Pyongyang continues to be delayed for unclear reasons for now over a month, the Unification Ministry said Thursday it is awaiting response from North Korea.The Unification Ministry had announced in early January that it would send 200,000 doses of the antiviral drug to North Korea via a land route as humanitarian aid, initially setting the delivery date for Jan. 11. The plan was delayed, however, with speculations that international sanctions against the

North Korea Feb. 7, 2019

The Lunar New Year’s holiday is here, and South Korea’s roads and expressways are clogged with traffic as hundreds of thousands crisscross the nation to gather with family. But for people with family on the other side of the border -- in North Korea -- the national holiday is just another reminder of that separation.Korea’s turbulent history has taken its toll on the people, and particularly on families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War. At one time, government statistics show, 132,124 South K

Social Affairs Feb. 2, 2019

South Korea’s Defense Ministry on Friday implemented a new policy allowing conscripted soldiers to leave their barracks for personal affairs up to twice a month.All able-bodied Koreans between 18 and 38 years old are required to serve military service for 21 to 24 months. Conscripts are prohibited from leaving their barracks unless they are granted vacation authorized by the military. (Yonhap)The ministry eased the restriction from Friday, allowing soldiers to leave their barracks after work fro

Defense Feb. 1, 2019

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Park Han-ki and his US counterparts vowed to maintain a strong defense posture Friday. According to South Korea's military, Park held separate phone conversations with US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joe Dunford and Philip Davidson, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, to reaffirm their alliance and cooperation. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Park Han-ki (Ministry of National Defense)“Korean and US military authorit

Defense Feb. 1, 2019

As the Seoul-Tokyo spat over Japanese warplanes’ flights over South Korean Navy ships continues, eyes have turned to the possible intervention of the US in the escalating dispute between its two core allies in Asia. While the US has been maintaining its silence on the issue, Harry Harris, the US ambassador to Korea, made an unannounced visit to the Ministry of National Defense to speak with Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo on Monday.  (Yonhap)The Defense Ministry said the ambassador’s visit was

Defense Jan. 30, 2019

With a series of talks between the United States and North Korea being held in apparent preparation for their second summit, the appearance of a new figure in the North’s envoy team has triggered speculations on his role and the North’s direction in negotiations. Kim Hyok-chol, a former North Korean Ambassador to Spain had accompanied the North’s ruling Workers’ Party’s Central Committee Vice Chairman Kim Yong-chol on his visit to Washington, appearing with the vice chairman in a meeting with US

North Korea Jan. 27, 2019