North Korea has accused US and South Korean agents of plotting to kill its Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un. A North Korean referred to only as “Kim” was paid to carry out an attack with biochemical substances, the ministry of state security said. The plot was foiled, it said, but gave no details on the fate … Read more
One of the main challengers to the frontrunner in South Korea’s presidential race is an IT multi-millionaire who has given away much of his fortune and is now looking to break the country’s political mould. Ahn Cheol-Soo was pursuing medical studies at the prestigious Seoul National University in 1988 when his computer became infected with … Read more
The near-certain winner of South Korea’s presidential election next week is a former special forces soldier, pro-democracy activist and human rights lawyer. Left-leaning Moon Jae-In of the Democratic Party has held what appears to be an unassailable lead in opinion polls for months. Victory will cap a political career that began with student activism in … Read more
With their last president detained and awaiting trial for corruption, South Koreans go to the polls Tuesday to choose her successor, but the economic and social frustrations that fuelled anger against Park Geun-Hye remain. The May 9 vote comes after months of political turmoil in Asia’s fourth-largest economy, which saw millions taking to the streets … Read more
The US House of Representatives on Thursday overwhelmingly voted in favor of broadening sanctions against North Korea, including efforts to cut the regime’s sources of international financing. Lawmakers voted 419 to 1 for the bill, which now heads to the Senate. Rhetoric between the West and the reclusive regime have spiked in recent weeks, and … Read more
The United States said on Wednesday that it hopes to work with China to halt North Korea’s nuclear program, but warned that if this fails it might resort to sanctions. In an address to State Department staff, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spoke of “third country sanctions,” warning that Chinese companies may be hit for … Read more
Satellite images show activity has resumed at North Korea’s nuclear site, a US-based analysts has claimed amid fears Kim Jong-un is plotting a sixth atomic test. Pictures of the Punggye-ri site captured on April 25 appear to show workers pumping out water at a tunnel believed to have been prepared for an upcoming nuclear test. … Read more
The Thailand Open has rejoined the Asian Tour after an eight-year hiatus, organisers announced on Wednesday, confirming that Australia’s Scott Hend and local favourite Thongchai Jaidee will headline the event later this month. The deal will be seen as a new blow to the struggling rival OneAsia Tour, who poached the tournament from the Asian … Read more
Satellite images indicate activity has resumed at North Korea’s nuclear test site, US-based analysts said Tuesday, as tensions remain high over fears of an sixth atomic test by the reclusive state. Images of the Punggye-ri site captured on April 25 appear to show workers pumping out water at a tunnel believed to have been prepared … Read more
When North Korea’s founder Kim Il-Sung visited Beijing to sign a mutual defence pact with China in 1961, he was comforted by the military protection promised by his fellow communist neighbours. But half a century and a few North Korean nuclear tests later, the agreement is beginning to look like a musty Cold War relic … Read more
The United States is exploring options at the UN Security Council to ramp up pressure on North Korea after it test-fired a ballistic missile, a US spokesperson said Tuesday. “The cumulative actions of the DPRK since their last nuclear test compel us to look at a range of measures that would apply pressure,” said the … Read more
Lawyers for ousted South Korean President Park Geun-Hye denied all the charges against her at a hearing Tuesday before she goes on trial. Park, 65, was sacked by the country’s top court in March over a wide-ranging corruption scandal and has been held in custody for more than a month. She faces 18 criminal counts … Read more
North Korea warned Monday that it will carry out a nuclear test “at any time and at any location” set by its leadership, in the latest rhetoric to fuel jitters in the region. Tensions on the Korean peninsula have been running high for weeks, with signs that the North might be preparing a long-range missile … Read more
South Korea and the United States wrapped up their annual large-scale military drills on Sunday but continued a separate joint naval exercise that has triggered the threat of nuclear war from North Korea. The USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group arrived in waters near the Korean peninsula and began exercises with the South Korean navy … Read more
South Korean media on Monday warned of a “Trump risk” threatening the alliance between Washington and Seoul amid high tensions over the North’s weapons ambitions. The two countries are bound by a defence pact and 28,500 US troops are stationed in the South. But the new US president has said in recent interviews that Seoul … Read more
South Korea and the United States wrapped up their annual large-scale military drills on Sunday, but continued a separate joint naval exercise that has triggered dire threats from nuclear-armed North Korea. Tensions on the Korean peninsula have been running sky-high for weeks, with signs that the North might be preparing a long-range missile launch or … Read more
Japan will dispatch its biggest warship since World War II to protect a US supply ship, as tensions mount in the region over North Korea, media reports said on Sunday. The helicopter carrier Izumo will leave the mother port of Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, on Monday and join the US supply ship to escort it … Read more
Pope Francis has called for international mediation to ease rising tensions between the US and North Korea over Pyongyang’s nuclear activity. The pontiff suggested that Norway, for example, was “always ready to help”. He warned the crisis risked sparking a devastating war in which “a good part of humanity” would be destroyed. His comments come … Read more
Reprising his theme of “world war in parts”, Pope Francis said that these were “concentrated at points that were already hot. In Korea, today, it seems that things are becoming too heated” Pope Francis on Saturday called for negotiations to resolve tensions surrounding North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. Speaking on board the papal plane on his … Read more
The US aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson on Saturday kicked off a joint drill with the South Korean navy, officials said, as tensions rose over North Korea’s latest test-fire of a ballistic missile. “Immediately after the aircraft carrier arrived in the Sea of Japan, South Korea and the US strike forces launched a drill from … Read more