News
- Unification Minister: Seoul Will Try to Realize US-N. Korea Talks
- Seoul’s Unification Minister says he will try to make it possible for delegations from the U.S. and North Korea to talk to each other when they visit South Korea for the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Cho Myoung-gyon made the remark before the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee on Thursday, when asked about a possible meeting in South Korea between Kim Yong-chol, vice chairman the Central Committee of the North's ruling Workers' Party, and President Trump’s daughter Ivanka. The minister said it's too early to make any judgment on the matter, but the government will try to initiate talks between the U.S. and the North. Cho said the South informed the previous North Korean delegation during the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Games that it's also necessary for Pyongyang to begin talking with the U.S. in order for the two Koreas to continue improving ties and that it will deliver a similar message to the new delegation. Regarding Seoul’s possible plan to send a special envoy to Pyongyang, the minister said that will be judged comprehensively by considering various factors, including improving inter-Korean ties and arranging U.S.-North Korea talks for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
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2018-02-22
News
- Seoul Consults over Planned Visit by N. Korean Official on Sanctions List
- South Korea’s Foreign Ministry is closely discussing with the U.S. and other concerned countries regarding a planned visit to the South by a senior North Korean official blacklisted under international sanctions. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Noh Kyu-duk relayed the government’s stance during a regular media briefing on Thursday, when asked about Kim Yong-chol, vice chairman the Central Committee of the North's ruling Workers' Party. Kim is scheduled to lead a high-level delegation to the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics for a three-day visit beginning on Sunday. Noh said Seoul’s basic stance is to abide by the international community’s North Korea sanctions as it seeks to successfully host the Winter Olympics. He said the government is closely consulting with the U.S. and other countries to receive the North Korean senior official without breaching the framework of the sanctions. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s sister Kim Yo-jong, who visited the South to attend the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Games, is also on the U.S. sanction list, but Seoul and Washington approved her visit after consultations. Meanwhile, the ministry spokesman declined to comment on suspicions Kim Yong-chol was the mastermind of various provocations against the South, including the deadly sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan in 2010.
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2018-02-22
News
- Seoul to Provide "Considerable Courtesy" for Ivanka Trump
- The South Korean government says it will provide “considerable courtesy” for U.S. President Donald Trump’s daughter during her upcoming visit to South Korea for the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. In a regular media briefing on Thursday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Noh Kyu-duk said Ivanka Trump will receive conveniences and security services in tandem with her role as the head of the U.S. delegation. Noh said the U.S. delegation, including Trump’s eldest daughter who also acts as a senior adviser, will attend a dinner to be hosted by the First Couple at the presidential office on Friday. In addition to attending Sunday’s closing ceremony, the delegation will also watch some sporting events at the PyeongChang Games and support the members of Team USA over the weekend. According to the spokesman, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha is in discussions with the U.S. regarding her schedule with Trump's daughter on the sidelines of the PyeongChang Games.
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2018-02-22
News
- Main Opposition Blasts Planned Visit by N. Korean Official
- The main opposition Liberty Korea Party(LKP) has protested a planned visit to the South by a senior North Korean official accused of orchestrating the North's sinking of the South Korean Cheonan vessel in 2010. Party spokeswoman Jun Hee-kyung said Thursday that the main culprit of the Cheonan sinking, Kim Yong-chol, can never dare set his foot in South Korea. She said that North Korea's "shameless" idea to send a delegation led by Kim to the PyeongChang Olympics closing ceremony is all because of the Moon Jae-in administration's attitude of "subservient submission" toward the North. She blasted the planned visit as a "rare humiliation" for the South. The spokeswoman said the only reason for Kim Yong-chol, the mastermind of various provocations against the South, to set foot on South Korean soil would be to confess his crimes and kneel before the victims, their families and the South Korean people. The Seoul government earlier announced that Kim, vice chairman of the North's ruling Workers' Party, will lead a high-level delegation to the closing ceremony of the Winter Games for a three-day visit.
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2018-02-22
News
- Sweden Wins Men’s Slalom Gold
- Andre Myhrer of Sweden won the men’s slalom skiing event at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Thursday as two of the favorites failed to finish. Myhrer finished with a total time of one minute-38-point-99 seconds from his two runs at Yongpyong Alpine Centre to claim the gold medal. The Swede finished point-34 seconds ahead of Switzerland's Ramon Zenhaeusern, who took an unexpected silver medal, while Michael Matt of Austria claimed the bronze. However, the race will be best remembered for how pre-race favorites Marcel Hirscher and Henrik Kristoffersen were both disqualified. Austria’s Hirscher, who was seeking his third gold medal at the PyeongChang Games, missed a gate in his first run to rule him out of contention for the race. Meanwhile, Kristoffersen skied out early in the second run and he failed to add to the silver medal he won in the giant slalom earlier at the games.
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2018-02-22
News
- Americans Win Gold and Silver in Men’s Freestyle Halfpipe Skiing
- Team USA dominated the men’s freestyle halfpipe skiing final at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Thursday with David Wise and Alex Ferreira winning gold and silver respectively. Wise, who claimed halfpipe skiing gold at the Sochi Games in 2014, recovered from a poor start at Phoenix Snow Park to earn a score of 97-point-20 in his final run and take first place ahead of his compatriot Ferreira. Ferreira was in the lead throughout much of the final but he had to settle for a silver medal with a best score of 96-point-40. New Zealand's Nico Porteous won his nation's second medal of the games as he claimed the bronze. The U.S. has enjoyed significant success in the skiing and snowboarding events at the PyeongChang Games, having won five gold medals so far.
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2018-02-22
News
- Austria Wins Inaugural Olympic Women's Big Air Snowboarding Event
- Anchor: Austria’s Anna Gasser won the inaugural Olympic women's big air snowboarding final at the PyeongChang Winter Games on Thursday. Gasser’s spectacular final run ensured she took the gold medal ahead of rival American Jamie Anderson. Our Laurence Taylor has more. Report: Austria’s Anna Gasser became the first Olympic big air snowboarding champion as she finished ahead of American Jamie Anderson in the ladies’ inaugural final on Thursday. Gasser put on a spectacular final run at the Alpensia Ski Jumping Centre to earn a total score of 185-point-00 and claim the gold medal. The Austrian, who was the favorite for the event, was trailing Anderson going into the final run but hit a switch double 1080 to overtake her rival in the standings. Anderson had to settle for a silver medal with a total score of 177-point-25, while New Zealand’s Zoi Sadowski Synnott claimed bronze with a score of 157-point-50. Although Anderson will be disappointed to finish in second place, she did make history with her performance. Having won the ladies’ slopestyle snowboarding final earlier at the PyeongChang Games, she became the first female snowboarder to win two medals at a single Winter Olympics. Gasser will also go down in the record books for winning the first ever big air event at the Winter Olympics. The event, which sees boarders ride down a long ramp before performing tricks off a jump, was previously only held at the X Games and the International Ski Federation World Championships. The men’s big air final is scheduled to take place on Saturday, with American Red Gerard among the favorites as he looks to win his second gold of the Games. Laurence Taylor, KBS World Radio News.
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2018-02-22
News
- Top Office Confirms Ivanka Trump to Arrive in S. Korea on Friday
- The presidential office announced on Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump's daughter, Ivanka, will arrive in South Korea on Friday and have dinner with President Moon Jae-in. An official of the top office told reporters that Ivanka Trump, who serves as an adviser to the president, will have dinner with Moon at the traditional wooden hanok house, Sangchungjae, within the top office. Sangchungjae is the venue that the top office usually uses to receive foreign dignitaries. This was where Moon and Trump had tea when the U.S. president visited South Korea last November. The official of the top office said that having Friday's dinner at Sangchunjae is significant and demonstrates the government’s intention to cordially receive Ivanka Trump. She will be leading the American delegation to the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics set for Sunday. The delegation is set to arrive in South Korea via Incheon International Airport at around 4:30 p.m. Friday.
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2018-02-22
News
- Ivanka Trump to Visit S. Korea Friday, Have Dinner with President Moon
- U.S. President Donald Trump's daughter, Ivanka, will visit South Korea on Friday, leading the American delegation to the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Sunday. A senior U.S. official said Wednesday that Ivanka Trump, who serves as an adviser to the president, will depart Thursday for a four-day trip to South Korea. Ivanka will arrive in Seoul on Friday and have dinner with South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the presidential office. The U.S. official said that she does not have plans to meet with North Korean government officials or defectors during the trip.
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2018-02-22
News
- S. Korean Skaters Win Silver in Men's Team Pursuit
- South Korean speed skaters have won the host country's ninth medal of the PyeongChang Winter Games, taking the silver in the men's team pursuit event. In the final race at the Gangneung Oval Wednesday night, the Norwegian squad came in at three-minutes 37-point-32 seconds to become the new Olympic champion. The European team set a new Olympic record at three-minutes 37-point-08 seconds in the semifinal race. The South Korean squad of Lee Seung-hoon, Chung Jae-won and Kim Min-seok clocked in at three-minutes 38-point-52 seconds for silver. The Netherlands won bronze, defeating New Zealand. The latest silver from the team pursuit event is 29-year old Lee's fourth Olympic medal and 18-year old Kim's second following a bronze in the one-thousand 500-meter event last week. The victory also made 16-year old Chung the youngest South Korean speed skater to win an Olympic medal.
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2018-02-21
News
