Journalist

by Jun Sung-min
  • Russia’s Lower House Speaker Visits North Korea for Kursk Operation Anniversary Event
    Russia’s Lower House Speaker Visits North Korea for Kursk Operation Anniversary Event Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of Russia’s lower house of parliament (the State Duma), has visited North Korea to attend events marking the first anniversary of the end of what North Korea calls the “Kursk liberation operation,” in which North Korean troops took part. North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun reported April 26 that an official Russian delegation led by Volodin arrived in Pyongyang the previous day at the invitation of the Supreme People’s Assembly and the Ministry of National Defense. The paper said the delegation would attend the inauguration ceremony for the Overseas Military Operation Battle Merits Memorial Hall, described as a facility honoring troops deployed to the Russia-Ukraine war. Jo Yong Won, chairman of the Supreme People’s Assembly Standing Committee, and Kim Jong Gyu, a vice foreign minister, greeted the delegation at the airport, the report said. Kim Jong Un, chairman of the State Affairs Commission, has visited the construction site several times and set the completion date to coincide with the “first anniversary of the liberation of Kursk,” making it likely the ceremony will be held April 26. Russia, which lost control of Kursk at one point during the war with Ukraine, officially declared on April 26 last year that it had regained the territory. Jo said the Russian leadership’s decision to send a high-level delegation to the ceremony was “a sign of the sincere support and respect of the entire Russian people” for North Koreans who “reverently recall the shining lives” of those who fought in overseas operations and “wish for their eternal life.” Volodin said he expressed “sincere gratitude” to Kim and the North Korean people for helping drive out what he called “Ukrainian neo-Nazi occupiers” from Russia’s Kursk region. He added that Russia would “never forget” the feats of “heroic” North Korean officers and soldiers who, he said, gave their lives in the Kursk operation.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-26 12:48:16
  • Prime Minister Kim Min-seok Visits Yeosu Petrochemical Complex to Review Naphtha Supply
    Prime Minister Kim Min-seok Visits Yeosu Petrochemical Complex to Review Naphtha Supply Prime Minister Kim Min-seok visited LG Chem’s plant at the Yeosu National Industrial Complex in South Jeolla Province on the 23rd, toured its naphtha cracking center (NCC) and urged steady production and supply of petrochemical products to help stabilize domestic supply chains. After receiving a briefing from LG Chem officials on global naphtha supply and demand, Kim shared concerns about the crisis facing the petrochemical industry, including instability in naphtha supplies linked to the Middle East, and discussed steps to stabilize supply. An LG Chem official said petrochemical products make up about 70% of everyday items people use, adding that the number of products totals about 50,000. The petrochemical industry said it will actively cooperate with government policy by working to expand naphtha imports and by doing its best to ensure smooth supplies of basic feedstocks such as ethylene and propylene, as well as key products including polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). Kim also instructed the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to make every effort to stabilize naphtha supply by maintaining a close coordination system with petrochemical companies. The government said it will keep its emergency economic response system in place and respond with full force to minimize industrial damage stemming from developments in the Middle East. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 17:24:16
  • South Korean envoy meets Iranian foreign minister in Tehran
    South Korean envoy meets Iranian foreign minister in Tehran SEOUL, April 23 (AJP) - South Korea's special envoy to Iran Chung Byung-ha has met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran, Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday. According to the ministry, Chung, who was dispatched to the Middle Eastern country earlier this month, met Araghchi the previous day. During the meeting, which came about two weeks into his stay there, Chung reportedly sought Iran's cooperation, as he continues efforts to ensure the safety of South Korean vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz amid the prolonged conflict in the Middle East. Stressing the importance of strengthening bilateral ties, Chung expressed hope that diplomatic efforts would bring a complete end to the conflict and restore peace and stability to the region. Agreeing with that, Araghchi said Iran is also ready to actively cooperate with South Korea. But he defended Iran's blockade of the strait as a response to what he called "brutal crimes" by the "aggressors," referring to the U.S. and Israel, saying that "their aggression is the root of insecurity in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz." Chung has reportedly been in talks with energy and other officials in Tehran to address supply disruptions caused by the closure of the strait, a critical chokepoint for roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply. According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, about 26 South Korean vessels carrying 173 crew members remain stranded in or near the strategically vital waterway. 2026-04-23 16:22:15
  • Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-back touts military reading program tied to national campaign
    Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-back touts military reading program tied to national campaign The Ministry of National Defense said on the 23rd it will launch a barracks reading initiative called the “One Gun, One Book (a gun in one hand, a book in the other)” project, linked to the nationwide “2026 Reading Korea Campaign.” The phrase combines “gun,” symbolizing the military’s core mission, with “book,” representing knowledge, culture and preparation for the future. The ministry said the goal is to help about 205,000 young people who enlist each year use their service not only to fulfill national defense duties but also to grow through reading. Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-back said service members will be supported so they can “explore their dreams and career paths through intense and steady reading” and turn their time in uniform into “a period of intellectual growth to plan for the future,” rather than a pause in life. Starting in the second half of this year, the ministry will encourage new recruits to bring one book when they enter basic training — either a personal “life book” or a “tomorrow book” they want to read — to help spark motivation. It also plans to offer reading coaching by professional instructors and provide rewards, including one day of leave, for writing book reports to create a sense of achievement. The ministry has also been running a tailored e-book support program since February, providing 128,000 won for book purchases over a service member’s full term of service. Ahn also plans to lead reading lectures for commanders and add reading-coaching instruction to command and management courses for midlevel and senior officers, the ministry said, aiming to have commanders drive a reading culture in units. “Because even what is not in books can come through people in a deeply felt way, reading is the best way to awaken a commander’s spirit and gain major insight,” Ahn said. He added that classics “wake up a sleeping brain,” while bestsellers can leave a deep impression, and said the two should be read in balance for their meaning to be fully absorbed. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 15:45:15
  • Unification Minister Jeong Dong-young calls leak allegations ‘political’ and harmful to national interest
    Unification Minister Jeong Dong-young calls leak allegations ‘political’ and harmful to national interest Unification Minister Jeong Dong-young on Wednesday criticized the controversy over his mention of a uranium enrichment facility in North Korea’s Guseong as “political maneuvering” that “harms the national interest.” Jeong made the remarks after visiting Park In-jun, head of the Korea Conference of Religions for Peace (KCRP) and leader of Cheondoism, at Cheondoism’s Suun Hall in Seoul’s Jongno district. Speaking to reporters, Jeong said those who stirred the issue “must have an intention.” On U.S. steps to limit intelligence sharing with South Korea, Jeong said similar moves had occurred “intermittently” in the past without becoming public. “That’s the national interest — so why create turmoil?” he said. Jeong said the people behind the controversy “could be the United States or could be within our own country,” adding that what had happened before was now being treated as an unprecedented incident. “It may be entertaining to keep inflating the controversy, but it harms the national interest,” he said. He again argued that mentioning Guseong — which South Korean and U.S. authorities have not confirmed as the location of a uranium enrichment facility — did not amount to a leak of classified information. “That place name has been mentioned for 10 years by numerous research institutes and experts, and even in U.S. congressional reports,” Jeong said. “It’s been in the news — is that classified?” Jeong said the core issue is “how serious the North Korean nuclear problem is,” and stressed the need to shift quickly to dialogue and negotiations because “sanctions, pressure and blockade” have not worked. He added that the Ministry of Unification — and he personally — believes South Korea should try to create an opening for U.S.-North Korea talks on the occasion of President Donald Trump’s visit to China. Meanwhile, the People Power Party on Wednesday adopted, as a party line, a motion recommending Jeong’s dismissal. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 14:44:21
  • South Korean envoy meets Iran foreign minister, stresses importance of ties
    South Korean envoy meets Iran foreign minister, stresses importance of ties Jeong Byeong-ha, a special envoy of South Korea’s foreign minister, met with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi in Tehran, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said. According to the ministry, the meeting took place on the afternoon of April 22 local time. Jeong conveyed greetings from South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and said it was very important to strengthen South Korea-Iran relations. He also welcomed the ceasefire and said he hoped diplomatic efforts would bring a complete end to the war and help establish peace and stability in the region. Iran’s INSA news agency quoted Araghchi as saying Iran, as a coastal state of the Strait of Hormuz, had taken steps under international and domestic law to protect its national security and interests against what he called aggression and threats by the United States and Israel. He said responsibility for any consequences lay with the aggressors. Araghchi also stressed the importance of strengthening ties with South Korea and said Iran was ready to actively pursue cooperation, INSA reported. Jeong left for Iran on April 10 to discuss safety for South Korean ships and citizens stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as energy cooperation. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 14:05:28
  • South Korea Defense Ministry: Wartime Command Transfer Timing to Be Set at SCM
    South Korea Defense Ministry: Wartime Command Transfer Timing to Be Set at SCM South Korea’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday that the timing of the transfer of wartime operational control will be decided by the South Korean and U.S. defense chiefs at the Security Consultative Meeting, based on recommendations from the two militaries, and then submitted to the presidents of both countries. Defense Ministry spokesperson Jeong Bit-na made the remarks at a regular briefing in response to a question about comments by U.S. Forces Korea Commander Xavier Brunson at a U.S. House Armed Services Committee hearing. Brunson said a roadmap had been submitted to the Pentagon to meet the required conditions before the second quarter of fiscal 2029 (the first quarter of 2029 by South Korean standards). Jeong said the allies are pursuing the transfer “systematically, stably and consistently” under the “conditions-based OPCON transition plan” agreed in 2015, with the principle that the transfer will take place once mutually agreed conditions are met. She said the ministry has designated this year as “the first year of the OPCON transfer” and is working to complete the transition as soon as possible. She added that Seoul is strengthening cooperation with Washington to complete verification of full operational capability, or FOC, this year and decide the transfer timing. Assessment and verification for the transfer proceed in three stages: initial operational capability (IOC), full operational capability (FOC) and full mission capability (FMC). The FOC assessment has been completed and verification is underway. The ministry said it held the first 2026 meeting to assess progress on the OPCON transfer on Jan. 28, chaired by Defense Minister Ahn. At the time, it said completing FOC verification this year was the key goal as it moves ahead with the transfer within the administration’s term.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-23 11:16:12
  • South Korea says Coupang probe follows domestic law, separate from security talks with U.S.
    South Korea says Coupang probe follows domestic law, separate from security talks with U.S. Cheong Wa Dae said the government will continue consulting with the United States so issues involving Coupang do not negatively affect South Korea-U.S. security discussions. A Cheong Wa Dae official said on the 22nd that the two countries are communicating closely through various channels to implement security agreements outlined in a joint factsheet. The official said Seoul’s position in talks with Washington is that security discussions should move forward separately from the Coupang matter. The official also stressed that any investigation into Coupang will be handled under South Korean domestic law and due process. Park Yoon-joo, first vice foreign minister, told the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee that the government is explaining that fair law enforcement will be carried out in areas related to domestic legal procedures. He said the government will manage and communicate closely so the issue does not become an obstacle to matters agreed between the two governments. The Foreign Ministry also said in a media notice on the 22nd that the two countries are in close communication through various channels to implement the joint factsheet’s security agreements, and that Seoul has conveyed its view that security discussions should advance separately from the Coupang issue. Earlier, a media report said the U.S. administration had asked the South Korean government to ensure the legal safety of Kim Beom-seok, chairman of the board of Coupang Inc., and indicated that without such steps it would be difficult to hold high-level South Korea-U.S. diplomatic and security talks. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 18:30:18
  • PM Kim Min-seok urges tight party-government coordination, fast rollout of extra budget
    PM Kim Min-seok urges tight party-government coordination, fast rollout of extra budget Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said on the 22nd that the ruling party and the government must work in “perfect coordination” to improve people’s livelihoods. Speaking at the opening of the eighth senior party-government meeting at the prime minister’s official residence in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, Kim said that if the party examines issues one by one and raises concerns, the government and the presidential office will do their best to review them and resolve them. Kim thanked the National Assembly for what he called swift action, noting that floor leaders from both parties held an emergency review meeting on the 17th and that the National Assembly passed the first supplementary budget for 2026 on the 10th after an “unprecedentedly fast” review. “Now is the time — in a crisis like this — to show that the party and the government are taking responsibility together and looking after people’s livelihoods,” he said. On the supplementary budget, Kim said the government will quickly execute more than 85% of 10.5 trillion won in major project funding in the first half of the year to ease the burden of high oil prices, stabilize livelihoods and minimize industrial damage. Kim also said many key bills that must be handled in the first half have yet to clear the National Assembly, and he asked lawmakers for active cooperation to pass measures including the materials, parts and equipment law, the strategic export finance support law, the national protocol academy law, the Telecommunications Business Act and a bill to support victims of rental fraud. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 18:21:17
  • Defense Minister Ahn Denies Claim U.S. Forces Commander Protested Unification Minister’s Remarks
    Defense Minister Ahn Denies Claim U.S. Forces Commander Protested Unification Minister’s Remarks Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said a lawmaker’s claim that the commander of U.S. Forces Korea protested remarks by Unification Minister Jeong Dong-young was not true. Ahn made the comment at a National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting, responding to a question from People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun. Ahn said it would be inappropriate in terms of South Korea-U.S. military diplomacy for the U.S. commander to lodge a protest with the South Korean defense minister. Ahn said he communicated several times with USFK Commander Xavier Brunson after Jeong’s March 6 remarks, but added they did not discuss Jeong’s comments specifically. He said they spoke only about broader matters. Asked how he viewed Jeong’s remarks, Ahn said the unification and defense ministers should speak with a unified voice even when their positions differ. He added that, from an outside perspective, he did not see it as a major issue. Ahn also agreed with Democratic Party lawmaker Park Jie-won’s view that Jeong’s National Assembly remarks could not be considered a leak because information that North Korea has nuclear facilities in Kusong has already been reported and discussed in academic papers and other writings. On concerns that the United States protested Jeong’s remarks and restricted some intelligence on North Korea, Ahn said there had been no such limits so far. Asked whether restrictions could be imposed later, he said he was limited in what he could say about plans. Ahn said that since March 11, North Korea has launched ballistic missiles four times and cruise missiles once, and that South Korea and the United States shared combined intelligence assets in real time and issued announcements after discussions each time. He said there had not been many significant restrictions. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 18:16:03