Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is all set to be the new director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO). This is after she received the support of the United States, which had initially thrown it’s support behind the South Korean candidate who however finally officially withdrew her candidature on Friday.
Tag: South Korea

South Korean Diplomats in Iran to Negotiate Ship Seizure, Frozen Funds
A South Korean diplomatic delegation has arrived in Iran to discuss the release of a tanker seized by Iranian authorities in the Persian Gulf. According to the formal communique released by Iran, the vessel violated environmental pollution regulations. The crew has, however, denied the claim.

North Korea Nuclear Weapons Announcement
The North Korean leader Kim Jong-un announced the completion of the national nuclear forces. The disclosure occurred during the VIII Congress of the Workers Party Of Korea. The 8th Congress also elected Kim Jong-un as the General Secretary of the Workers Party of Korea. The Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) is the top organ of the party.

South Korea Bans Balloons to the North
South Korea has announced a new law prohibiting its citizens from sending anti-regime material to North Korea. According to the advisory, ignoring the ban will lead to a $27,000 fine or 3 years in jail. The latest announcement comes amid tensions between Pyongyang and Seoul sparked by human rights activists.

Wang to Visit Japan, South Korea Next Week
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday that, at the invitation of Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyungwa, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will pay an official visit to Japan and South Korea from November 24 to 27.

North Korea asks South Korea to Halt “Intrusions”
North Korea has warned the South Korean government against inflaming tensions by sending a flotilla of navy vessels on a search mission for a man who was reportedly spotted by North Korean naval forces. According to a statement issued by North Korea’s state news agency, KCNA, Seoul should stop the activities immediately.

Hyundai Unveiled the Future Electric Vehicle
The Korean automaker has unveiled what the interior of the futuristic Ioniq electric cars will look like. Hyundai in partnership with LG has developed the interior design of the future. LG Electronics Inc. is a South Korean multinational electronics company headquartered in Yeouido-dong, Seoul, South Korea.

Kim Jong Un Apologizes for Killing of South Korean Man
A “disgraceful affair” that should not have happened is how North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, has described the killing of a 47-year-old South Korean man in North Korean waters. In a letter to South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Kim Jong-un said that he is “very sorry” to have “disappointed” Moon and the South Korean people in general.

Coronavirus — Korean Cases Climb in Clusters
According to a report from the South Korean Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters on the 15th, 166 new confirmed cases of the new coronavirus have been added to South Korea from midnight Friday to midnight Saturday, local time. It is the biggest daily increase since March.

Flooded South Korea Braces for Typhoon Jangmi
According to South Korea’s Central Disaster and Safety and Countermeasure Headquarters and the Ministry of Public Administration and Security on the 9th, the number of deaths due to torrential downpours from the rainy season, from June 24th to Sunday has been counted as 38.

Heavy Rains Cause Flooding, Damage in South Korea
Between 80-100mm of rain per hour fell from the night of the 29th to the dawn of the 30th in Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungnam regions of South Korea. The rain caused damage such as flooding of houses and roads. Heavy rain warnings have been issued to Daejeon and Gyeryong, Geumsan, and Nonsan on the morning of the 30th.

South Korea Summons Iranian Ambassador to Seoul
According to The Korea Times, the South Korean Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador to the country today to express his country’s dissatisfaction with the statements of the officials of the Islamic Republic regarding the blocked Iranian oil revenues in the country.

Pompeo Denies US-DPRK Meeting, Again
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has downplayed the possibility of a new summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un before the forthcoming U.S. presidential election. Trump and Kim first met on June 12, 2018, in Singapore.

South Korean Civic Groups Call for Park Investigation
A civic group representing the former secretary of the late mayor of Seoul, South Korea, Park Won-Soon, has called for an investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against him. Park was found dead a day after the case was filed. However the case was closed on Friday, his death.

Online Funeral Held for Park Won-Soon
A funeral service has taken place for Seoul’s Mayor, Park Won-soon, held online due to the coronavirus pandemic. There were 100 people in attendance, including the bereaved family. The service began by silent tributes, then a video of Park’s life was played. Mourners who wore masks gave speeches and laid flowers.

Park Won-Soon, Missing Seoul Mayor, Found Dead
The missing Mayor of Seoul, South Korea, has been found dead seven hours after he was reported missing. The body of Park Won-soon was found near a traditional restaurant and wooded hills in a northern part of Seoul. The area is said to be closer to his official residence in Jongno-gu.

Missing Mayor Park Won-soon Found Dead
The mayor of Seoul, South Korea was found dead today in unclear circumstances in the nation’s capital. His daughter had earlier reported his disappearance and alerted that his father left a message “like a will” before leaving the house some four or five hours earlier.

U.S., North Korea Rule Out New Meeting
US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, who is on an official visit to Seoul and Tokyo, said today that Washington is not keen on meeting with North Korean officials, at a time when there is a negotiation stalemate between the two countries. Biegun is on an official visit to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

South Korea Testing Robot to Fight Coronavirus
South Korean Engineers from the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials have created a robot that can help fight the coronavirus. The robot allows a doctor to take an analysis from a patient without coming into contact with them. This technology can protect medical professionals against infection from dangerous diseases.

Kim Jong-Un Halts Military Proceedings Against South Korea
North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un has called off his announced military action against South Korea. The nation’s state media has announced that the leader has halted the plans to better assess the situation. South Korea says that its neighbor has also removed its propaganda speakers at the border.

DPRK Suspends Military Plan Against South Korea
In recent months, relations between North and South Korea have deteriorated sharply. On June 16, Pyongyang blew up the building of the joint communications headquarters for engagement with South Korea, which was located in the vicinity of the border city of Kaesong.

Coronavirus — South Korea Fears Second Wave
South Korea has been called a success story against COVID-19, but is now afraid that the pandemic will continue for months to come. The head of the Korean Centers for Disease Control (KCDC), Jung Eun-kyeong, said that the first wave of the epidemic lasted until April. Since May, new outbreaks have increased.

North Korea Threatens to Destroy the U.S. (Again)
North Korea has threatened to destroy the United States in the event of renewed war on the Korean Peninsula. This statement came via North Korean Embassy in Moscow. “A new round of the Korean War will add a particularly sensational event to the history of mankind, which will put an end to another empire, whose name is the United States,” said representatives of Pyongyang.

North Korea Cuts Off Communication Line with South
North Korea has announced it will cut off all inter-Korean communication lines with the South, including hotlines between leaders of the two countries. Pyongyang said it was the first in a series of actions, describing South Korea as an “enemy.” On Tuesday, the first regular call from South Korea to the North Korean liaison office was unanswered.

Coronavirus — Second Wave Hits as Countries Open Up
The number of people infected with COVID-19 worldwide has exceeded four million. The easing of quarantine restrictions in some countries has contributed to the spread of the virus. Authorities in South Korea have closed restaurants again as the number of people infected with the virus continues to rise.

Coronavirus — South Korea Fears Second Wave as Cases Increase
Authorities in South Korea are now concerned about a second wave of coronavirus in the country. Six cases of the coronavirus were reported in South Korea on Sunday, the highest number of daily positive cases in the past month. However, the total number of positive cases in the country has reached close to 5,000.

South Korea Successfully Tested Hyunmoo-4 Missile – Why Does It Resemble Russian Iskander-M?
South Korea successfully tested the Hyunmoo-4 missile. The information became available via the Yonhap News Agency. According to a South Korean government official, the testing took place at the Anheung test site, which is located in Taeang County on the west coast of the country. The name of the site if translated means ironically “the guardian angel of the Northern Sky.”

Coronavirus— South Korean FM Speaks with Czech FM
South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha made a phone call with her Czech counterpart, Tomas Petricek, and exchanged opinions on the cooperation measures related to the response to the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19). This is also the 30th anniversary of bilateral relations between Seoul and Prague.

North, South Korea Exchange Fire after Kim Jong-Un Reappears
North and South Korea exchanged fire along the border on Sunday morning, bringing about tension between the two countries. The last time the two sides exchanged fire on the border was in 2014, with North Korean soldiers also shooting at a defector in 2017. However, the South did not fire back.

South Korea Denies Claims Kim Jong Un is Dead
South Korean officials have poured cold water on swirling rumors suggesting that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is dead. Speaking to CNN, Moon Chung-in, a top adviser to South Korean President Moon Jae-in has said that the North Korean leader is in good health, and that there’s nothing out of the ordinary.

China, South Korea Insist Kim “Alive and Well”
Following yet another weekend of rumors about the possible death of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, South Korea, as well as China, asserted on Monday that Kim was very much alive. Moon Chung-in, a special adviser on national security to the South Korean president, Moon Jae-in, put it plainly: “Our government position is firm, Kim Jong-Un is alive and well.”

South Korea’s Ruling Democrats Win Overwhelming Majority
South Korean President Moon Jae-In’s ruling Democratic Party of Korea, and its allies, have won 180 of the 300 parliamentary seats contested on Wednesday. The opposition United Future Party won 103 seats. The National Election Commission released the interim results on Thursday.

South Korea Votes Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
Despite the global coronavirus outbreak, millions of people turned up at polling stations across South Korea, wearing masks and protective gloves, to vote in Wednesday’s elections. South Korea’s efforts to cope with the Coronavirus epidemic have been hailed, where authorities conducted extensive tests and citizens followed government guidelines on social distancing.

Coronavirus: South Korea Employs Technology to Enforce Quarantines
Christians in South Korea have been instructed by the government to remain in their homes on Easter and refrain from any gathering. It should be noted that Easter is celebrated at a time when more than 100,000 people have been killed by the global outbreak of Coronavirus, while the number of people infected with the virus has exceeded one million.

Coronavirus: Vaccine Trials Begin, Cases Increase in China
Scientists in the United States tested an experimental coronavirus vaccine on Monday, with four volunteers receiving the first dose of the vaccine. A total of 45 volunteers between the ages of 18 and 55 will participate in the study in the coming months. They are given a dose twice, and there is a month of rest in between.

Coronavirus: Infections Slow in South Korea, Australia Tightens Controls
In South Korea, the number of new coronaviruses infected is gradually declining. On Sunday, March 15, authorities reported 76 new cases. Such a low rate of new infections was last observed in South Korea more than three weeks ago. Thus, the number of cases in this country reached 8,162, and 75 people have died from the effects of the infection.

Coronavirus Infection Jumps Rapidly in South Korea
Coronavirus infection has spread to South Korea at a high speed. In the country, there have been a few dozen cases in a single week that have grown to reach several thousand. South Korea has been preparing enough to deal with the coronavirus, yet it has begun to question why the infection has suddenly spread. At the same time, the question is whether there may be sudden outbreaks in other countries.

Coronavirus Fears Present Phenomenal Opportunities for Savvy Income Investors
As fears of the continued global spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to drive financial markets to new lows, savvy investors should take note of the excellent opportunities that this massive global sell-off is creating.
The World Health Organization on Coronaviruses:
“Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).
Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans.”

Coronavirus: Austria Stops Trains, Israel Blocks Arrivals
Earlier this week, European Economic Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni asked international leaders not to panic over the coronavirus development in Italy. Speaking after a conference with E.U. financial leaders in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, he expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved in due time.

Coronavirus: 97 Dead in 24 Hours, Raising Chinese Butcher’s Bill to 2,442
Another 97 people across China have died as a result of the infectious coronavirus in the last twenty four hours. Ninety-six of them are from Hubei Province. The information was relayed by the national health authorities on Sunday. That brings the total number of deaths from coronavirus in China to 2,442.

Israel Roundup: Coronavirus Spreads, Election Looming
Israel has closed its borders to tourists from Asian countries to include Japan and South Korea. Last week, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand were included on this list with China. Closing the borders to these countries is almost impossible considering that there are always people from these countries visiting on business or on their everyday jobs in embassies.

Coronavirus: Infections Spike in South Korea, “Cult” Blamed
South Korea’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) on Friday confirmed 100 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of people infected in the country to 204. The increase in the number of people infected is mainly due to a Shincheonji Church of Jesus, Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, located in Daegu.

Coronavirus Death Toll Rises to 106 in China
The number of deaths in China due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus has increased from 80 to 106. The number of those infected has increased by nearly 1300 new cases. The Chinese authorities made this announcement on Tuesday. This brings the number of people worldwide who have been infected by the deadly virus to atleast 4,515 as of 27 January, which is a sharp increase from atleast 2,835 a day earlier.

China’s New Virus Surges, At Least 200 More Infected
The outbreak of a new strain of coronavirus is spreading to more Chinese cities, with 139 new cases confirmed this weekend. The virus, which causes pneumonia, has infected more than 200, health officials said on Monday. Authorities in Wuhan, China’s central metropolis where the disease was first identified in December, confirmed the new cases, including a third death.

Yemen: Houthis Release South Korean and Saudi Ships
Hоuthіѕ іn Yеmеn hаvе rеlеаѕеd Sоuth Kоrеаn аnd Sаudі vеѕѕеlѕ ѕеіzеd оvеr thе wееkеnd, the South Korean government ѕаіd Wеdnеѕdау іn a ѕtаtеmеnt. Thе Yemeni Hоuthіѕ hаd соnfіrmеd оn Tuеѕdау thе dеtеntіоn оf a Sаudі tugboat аnd ѕhір аnd a Sоuth Korean drіllіng rіg nоrth оf thе сіtу оf Hоdеіdаh, оn thе Rеd Sеа coast, ѕіnсе Sundау. “The three ships were released after the necessary legal measures,” the Houthi military source said.

Lee, Abe Prepare to Meet to Mend Ties
The Prime Ministers of South Korea and Japan will meet in Tokyo next Thursday in what is expected to be their first talks since relations soured in 2018. In order to improve the bad diplomatic relations that South Korea and Japan have maintained since the end of 2018, South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-Yon will meet next Thursday in Tokyo with his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe

Oil Prices Soar Monday After Saudi Attacks
Oil prices rose at the beginning of this week, on the back of the attack on Saudi Aramco facilities. Brent crude futures reached $71.95 a barrel, the largest percentage gain since the start of the Gulf War in 1991. Saturday’s attacks stopped production equivalent to 5% of global oil supplies.

North Korea Fires New Missiles After Pledging to Resume Dialogue
Just a few hours after announcing Pyongyang’s willingness to resume dialogue with the United States, the North Korean government made a new missile launch on Tuesday. According to sources from the General Staff of the South Korean Armed Forces, two shots were fired towards the direction of the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea.

Pyongyang Angered Over South Korea Unification Statement – Once Again Fires Missiles
North Korea on Friday fired two “unidentified projectiles” into the sea, South Korea joint chiefs revealed. Today’s projectiles are the sixth, in less than a month. According to South Korea, the projectiles were fired from near Tongchon, a town in southwestern Kangwon Province, and fell into the sea of Japan.

North Korea Rejects Dialogue with South Korea
North Korea has rejected any peace talks with South Korea. They seems to be angered by the leader of the South. The North Korean Alliance Committee has issued a statement that appears to be a rebuke to South Korean President Moon Jae-In. In a statement, North Korea said it had nothing to say.