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Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin to Meet in Bishkek on August 31 Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet on August 31 in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. They are expected to discuss the 'Power of Siberia 2' gas pipeline project.According to Yonhap News on August 29, the Singapore-based Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao reported that Yuri Ushakov, a foreign policy advisor to the Kremlin, stated the two leaders would meet during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek.The SCO summit is a multilateral forum led by China and Russia, involving four Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, along with additional members including India, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus. The number of member states has reached ten. This year's summit will take place from August 31 to September 1.Ushakov emphasized the significance of the upcoming meeting, saying, "It is a very important discussion for us. We will address urgent issues to further develop bilateral cooperation, as well as the most pressing international matters."In this context, Russian news agency Interfax reported that Ushakov mentioned the possibility of finalizing agreements related to the 'Power of Siberia 2' project during the bilateral talks. The 'Power of Siberia 2' pipeline aims to transport natural gas from Russia's Yamal Peninsula through Mongolia to China, with an expected capacity to export 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually upon completion.However, the Chinese government has not yet provided specific comments on the matter. Previously, during Putin's visit to China in May, both leaders held a summit but failed to narrow differences on key issues, including supply pricing. The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated on August 28 that Xi plans to engage in in-depth discussions with leaders attending the SCO summit on deepening cooperation across various fields and addressing major international and regional issues. 2026-08-29 16:48:00 -
Ruling Party Calls for Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae to Resign Amid Controversy The Democratic Party has urged Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae to stop actions that undermine the foundation of South Korea and to resign amid controversy over his sudden written request for Supreme Court justice candidates.Spokesperson Lee Yong-woo stated in a briefing that Cho announced he would not attend the National Assembly's Legislative Judiciary Committee meeting scheduled for the 31st.Lee added, "The claim that being summoned by the National Assembly for the exercise of the appointment authority of Supreme Court justices contradicts the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary reflects a dismal understanding of the Constitution and the National Assembly."He emphasized, "The National Assembly Act explicitly includes the Chief Justice as a subject of attendance requests. It is also possible to summon the Chief Justice as a witness under the National Assembly Witness and Appraisal Act, and non-attendance by a witness is subject to penalties, with the Chief Justice not being an exception."Furthermore, he stated, "Chief Justice Cho is disregarding the authority of the National Assembly based on a complete misinterpretation of the separation of powers," adding that Cho's notion of judicial independence is merely a guarantee of 'sanctuary' and nothing more.Lee criticized Cho for infringing on the President's authority through unilateral exercise of appointment power and now attempting to undermine the National Assembly's authority with his refusal to attend, stating, "Chief Justice Cho's reckless actions are shaking the foundations of the judiciary and South Korea. He no longer qualifies to lead the judiciary. He must resign immediately."Meanwhile, the Blue House has requested a re-nomination for Supreme Court Justice candidate Son Bong-ki, escalating tensions between the ruling and opposition parties.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-29 16:16:00
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Hong Jun-pyo: The Nation's System is Collapsing Amid Political Turmoil Hong Jun-pyo, the former mayor of Daegu, criticized the political landscape on August 29, stating, "The nation's system is collapsing."In a Facebook post, Hong asserted that the ruling party is dismantling the prosecution, creating loyal investigative agencies, and expanding the number of Supreme Court justices to seize control of the judiciary, likening it to the actions of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez.He added, "They are even undermining the Chief Justice's constitutional authority to recommend justices. The Constitutional Court has been taken over, and the National Assembly is already under their control." He also mentioned that soldiers following orders are being imprisoned.Hong pointed out that the opposition party is more focused on preserving the interests of the entrenched elite rather than engaging in meaningful political struggle against the ruling party.He emphasized, "The ignorant conservative factions are scattered and at odds with each other, spending their time in a period where destruction and dismantling are disguised as reform." He questioned, "Is this really the time for such division, especially given the challenging international environment?"Meanwhile, recent political debates have erupted over allegations regarding Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae's sudden recommendation of Supreme Court candidates. The Democratic Party is pressuring Cho to appear before the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, while Jang Dong-hyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, warned the Blue House that he would fight bare-chested for the impeachment of President Lee Jae-myung and the resumption of trials for him. 2026-08-29 16:04:00
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Death Toll from Nepal-China Floods Rises to 633, Nearly 3,000 Missing The number of victims from the massive flooding in the Himalayan region along the Nepal-China border continues to rise. As of August 29, four days after the floods began, the confirmed death toll in both countries has reached 633. The number of missing persons is approximately 3,000.According to Yonhap News, reports from AP and AFP indicate that Nepal's disaster authorities have confirmed 626 fatalities due to the flooding. In China's Tibet Autonomous Region, the death toll from mudslides related to the floods has increased from 5 to 7. The death toll had been 579 until the previous day, but it surged as more bodies were recovered in and around Bagmati Province.Additionally, the number of missing persons in Nepal has risen significantly from 1,924 to 2,426. Including the 554 missing persons reported in Tibet, the total number of missing individuals is now 2,980, nearing 3,000.Meanwhile, nine South Koreans are reported missing, including six employees from Doosan Enerbility and three from Korea Southeast Power. They were dispatched to Nepal for the construction of the Upper Trishuli (UT)-1 hydropower plant.In response, the South Korean government has decided to send an additional rapid response team to Nepal, consisting of one official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and eight from the National Fire Agency. This follows the deployment of an 11-member rapid response team led by Im Sang-woo, the government representative for overseas citizens protection and consular affairs, on August 27. Additionally, Park Jung-won, chairman of Doosan Group, is scheduled to depart for Nepal on the same day.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-29 15:48:20
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Death Toll from Nepal-China Floods Rises to 633, Nearly 3,000 Missing The number of victims from the massive flooding in the Himalayan region along the Nepal-China border continues to rise. As of August 29, four days after the floods began, the death toll in both countries has reached 633. The number of missing persons is approximately 3,000.According to Yonhap News, as of today, the Nepalese disaster authorities have reported 626 confirmed deaths due to the flooding. In China's Tibet Autonomous Region, the death toll from landslides related to the floods has increased from 5 to 7. The number of fatalities had been 579 until the previous day, but it surged significantly as bodies were recovered in and around Bagmati Province.Additionally, the number of missing persons in Nepal has risen sharply from 1,924 to 2,426. Including the 554 missing persons reported in Tibet, the total number of missing individuals is now 2,980, nearing 3,000.Meanwhile, nine South Koreans are reported missing, including six employees from Doosan Enerbility and three from Korea Southeast Power. They were dispatched to Nepal to work on the Upper Trishuli (UT)-1 hydropower project.In response, the South Korean government has decided to send an additional rapid response team to Nepal, consisting of one official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and eight from the National Fire Agency. This follows the deployment of an 11-member rapid response team led by Im Sang-woo, a government representative for overseas citizens protection and consular affairs, which was sent to Nepal on August 27. Additionally, Park Jung-won, chairman of Doosan Group, is scheduled to depart for Nepal today.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-29 15:48:00
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South Korean Prime Minister Promises Swift Progress on Jangwi 14 Redevelopment South Korean Prime Minister Han Seong-sook stated on August 29 that the government will provide comprehensive support, including relocation costs and financing, to expedite the redevelopment project in the Jangwi 14 District.According to Yonhap News, during her visit to the redevelopment site in Seongbuk District, Seoul, Han remarked, "It has been too long—18 years—since this redevelopment project has been delayed. I extend my condolences to the residents. We will do our utmost to realize their desire for a better living environment." She was accompanied by Kim I-tak, First Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Kim Nam-kun, a member of the Democratic Party, and Lee Seung-ro, the mayor of Seongbuk District.Han also emphasized the importance of quickly providing homes to residents, stating, "It is more important to focus on swiftly supplying housing to residents than to point fingers at issues between the Seoul city government and the Ministry of Land. Coordinate closely with the city of Seoul."Additionally, she mentioned that the government will actively consider transferring the authority to designate redevelopment areas with fewer than 500 units to district mayors. She pledged to listen to and promptly address any delays and challenges faced by the project.Meanwhile, political tensions have arisen over plans to expand housing supply in Seoul, with the ruling and opposition parties clashing. Notably, Oh Se-hoon, the mayor of Seoul from the People Power Party, has expressed opposition to the proposal to transfer redevelopment authority to district mayors. Some analysts suggest this may be an attempt to undermine Oh's influence in opposing the government's housing supply measures. 2026-08-29 15:32:00
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Jang Dong-hyuk Warns of Fight for Impeachment and Trial Resumption Amid Controversy Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, issued a warning to President Lee Jae-myung regarding the reappointment of Supreme Court Justice nominee Son Bong-ki, stating, "I will fight bare-chested for impeachment and the resumption of trials."On Facebook, Jang expressed his concerns after Democratic Party lawmaker Park Ji-won threatened during a radio interview that Son's reappointment could lead to the impeachment of Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae.Jang also referenced Park's past comments, noting that in June 2023, Park stated on the program "Yeouido Chodaseok" that requesting a reappointment infringes on the Chief Justice's authority and undermines the separation of powers, calling it an act that destroys democracy.He emphasized that Park had claimed, "As a former chief of staff to President Kim Dae-jung, I have never thought that a president would not appoint a Supreme Court Justice. I have never entertained the thought of anything unconstitutional. Lee Jae-myung must dismantle this unconstitutional and anti-separation of powers behavior."Jang concluded, "The People Power Party must not remain silent in the face of this anti-democratic and anti-separation of powers stance. It has become clear what we must do: we will fight bare-chested for the impeachment of Lee Jae-myung and the resumption of trials."Meanwhile, political tensions are rising as both ruling and opposition parties clash over allegations of a surprise written reappointment of Supreme Court Justice candidates. 2026-08-29 15:12:00
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Doosan Group Chairman Park Jung-won Heads to Nepal for Missing Employees In the wake of severe flooding in Nepal, six employees of Doosan Enerbility are missing, prompting Doosan Group Chairman Park Jung-won to travel to the region to oversee recovery efforts and the search for the missing individuals.According to Yonhap News Agency, Park is expected to arrive in Nepal on a direct Korean Air flight to Kathmandu on the afternoon of August 29. He plans to closely monitor the search and rescue operations at the site of the hydropower plant accident, located about 70 kilometers from Kathmandu, and provide necessary support.Earlier, on August 27, Park communicated through an internal bulletin that ensuring the safety and safe return of employees is the top priority. He stated, "We are closely cooperating with local authorities and relevant organizations to verify the situation on the ground through all available channels. We are concentrating our company-wide resources to ensure that search, rescue, and recovery measures are carried out swiftly and systematically."Following the incident, Doosan Group activated a company-wide emergency response system. Doosan Enerbility established a 40-member emergency response team at its headquarters in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, led by Vice President Lee Dong-soo of the EHS division. A local response team, including Vice Chairman Jeong Yeon-in, is continuing search support efforts in Nepal.Additionally, Doosan Group has provided $5 million (approximately 6.9 billion won) in emergency aid to assist with rapid search and rescue operations in the flood-affected areas of Nepal.Meanwhile, of the 16 Korean employees present at the hydropower plant construction site during the incident, 10 have safely evacuated to Kathmandu, while the search continues for the six missing individuals. The company is working closely with the government and local authorities to locate and rescue the missing employees.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-29 14:32:00
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Nepal Accepts Aid from South Korea and Three Other Countries Amid Flood Crisis A massive flood in the Himalayan region along the Nepal-China border has resulted in nearly 600 fatalities. In a significant policy shift, the Nepalese government, which had previously denied entry to foreign search and rescue teams, has now accepted assistance from South Korea and three other countries.According to Yonhap News on August 29, the Nepalese government has approved limited support from experts in South Korea, India, China, and Australia in three specific areas: structural work inside hydropower plant tunnels, DNA testing, and forensic investigations.Just a day earlier, Nepal had stated it would not accept foreign rescue teams, except for financial aid. However, under intense diplomatic pressure from countries with missing nationals, it partially reversed its decision. Requests for assistance from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan were not accepted.In response to the Nepalese government's change of stance, the South Korean government is ramping up its rescue efforts. On the same day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dispatched a joint rapid response team of nine members, consisting of one official from the ministry and eight from the National Fire Agency, to Nepal. The team is expected to arrive in Kathmandu after departing from Incheon International Airport.This follows the initial deployment of an 11-member advance team led by Im Sang-woo, a representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on August 27. With the addition of the nine new members, the total size of the response team has reached 20, fully engaged in the search and rescue operations for the missing individuals. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Park Jin met with the families of the missing persons currently in South Korea, promising comprehensive government support.Currently, Nepalese military authorities are attempting to rescue over 100 individuals trapped inside the tunnel of the Upper Trishuli (UT)-1 hydropower plant, which was inundated by the flood. This facility, the largest power plant under construction in Nepal, is being built by Doosan Enerbility and Korea South-East Power. Nine South Koreans, including six employees of Doosan Enerbility and three from Korea South-East Power, are unaccounted for.However, rescue operations are facing significant challenges due to thick layers of mud covering the site. Additionally, ground access is impossible, making aerial searches essential. However, the Nepalese authorities have strictly controlled foreign helicopter operations due to concerns about a second flood. Of the six helicopters secured by the government and companies, only one from Korea South-East Power was deployed for search efforts the previous day, and only one from Doosan Enerbility has received flight clearance today.As of now, the death toll from the catastrophic flood and landslide that occurred on August 26 has reached 586, with 2,478 individuals reported missing, marking one of the worst disasters in the region's history.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-29 14:08:00
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Did Four Phone Calls Occur in the 848m Jangbok Tunnel? After observing the appeal trial of Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon for alleged violations of the Political Fund Law, I received a tip via KakaoTalk. The informant, who is familiar with the urban planning work in Jinhae, raised questions about the testimony of Myung Tae-kyun presented in court.Myung claimed that on January 22, 2021, while passing through the Jangbok Tunnel in Jinhae, he received multiple calls from Mayor Oh and was tasked with conducting a public opinion survey. According to Myung's recollection, he received about four calls from the mayor, during which the issue of conducting the survey was discussed.However, the informant questioned, "The Jangbok Tunnel is so short that you can see the exit from the entrance. Is it really possible to receive and converse on four calls during such a brief passage?" In fact, the Jangbok Tunnel is approximately 848 meters long, which takes about 50 seconds to traverse at a speed of 60 km/h. If there was no traffic, it would be quite challenging to complete four calls in that short time frame.It is also necessary to clarify whether Myung's reference to 'passing through the Jangbok Tunnel' strictly pertains to the tunnel itself or includes the road sections before and after entering the tunnel. It cannot be ruled out that the four calls included missed calls or those that did not connect. Therefore, one cannot definitively conclude that Myung's testimony is false based solely on the tunnel's length.However, this issue extends beyond mere memory discrepancies regarding location. Myung's assertion that Mayor Oh requested the survey is pivotal, as the timing and location of the calls, as well as the subsequent instructions given, are crucial to determining whether the request was made.On the 28th, a debate over this timeline unfolded in court. The special prosecution team presented evidence suggesting that around 2:20 to 2:30 PM, prior to the time Myung claimed he spoke with Mayor Oh, Kang Hye-kyung had already begun drafting messages related to the public opinion survey.If Mayor Oh's call triggered the survey preparation, it would need to have occurred before the survey was being prepared. However, if Myung's recollection of the call times is after 3:30 PM, it would indicate that the preparation had already begun, creating a mismatch in the timeline.Seemingly aware of this issue, the special prosecution team asked Myung during cross-examination whether it was possible he received the request from Mayor Oh before 2 PM. Myung responded that while the area around the Jangbok Tunnel is congested during rush hours, he recalls it was not congested at that time, but he also noted that it was over five years ago, making it difficult to remember the exact timing.This response can be interpreted in two ways. It could suggest that there was some confusion regarding the timing due to the passage of time. Conversely, it could imply that since the objective message timing presented by the prosecutor did not align, Myung was leaving open the possibility of adjusting his original statement.Notably, Myung's testimony shows inconsistencies in both time and location. The claim of having four calls while passing through the tunnel does not easily align with the actual length of 848 meters. Additionally, his recollection of the time around 3:30 PM conflicts with the evidence indicating that survey preparation began in the 2 PM hour.Moreover, while Myung has stated that the calls occurred around 3:30 PM or between 4 and 5 PM, the special prosecution team raised the possibility that they could have happened before 2 PM. If the timing of this key call fluctuates significantly, the court will have to scrutinize the reliability of Myung's memory more rigorously.However, the fact that survey preparation began earlier does not automatically imply that it was unrelated to Mayor Oh. It must be determined whether there were prior discussions through other channels, whether Myung simply misremembered the call times, or whether Myung's team was independently preparing the survey. This can be clarified through call records and original message timestamps.The most straightforward method of verification is not complicated. By aligning the timestamps of calls between Mayor Oh and Myung on January 22, 2021, along with the duration of each call, Myung's movements, and the time Kang Hye-kyung first drafted and sent the survey, one can ascertain whether the four calls were indeed connected and how long each lasted.There is no reason to rely solely on the witness's distant memory for issues that can be confirmed with objective data. The informant's questions, while seemingly minor, provide concrete leads to verify the credibility of Myung's testimony. The short 848-meter tunnel may not speak, but call records and travel times do not lie.The appellate court must assess not Myung's demeanor or confidence but whether Mayor Oh's request for the survey actually occurred and whether the timeline supporting that claim aligns with objective records. If the existence of the four calls from the tunnel is confirmed, Myung's testimony will gain credibility. Conversely, if the time and location do not match, it could further undermine the key testimony that supported the initial guilty verdict.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-29 14:04:00