North - South Korea

Club floor collapses in South Korea as athletes dance; two people dead
South Korean firefighters and officials examine the collapsed structure of a nightclub where several athletes competing at the World Aquatics Championships were dancing, in Gwangju, South Korea, July 27, 2019.  Yonhap via REUTERS

South Korean firefighters and officials examine the collapsed structure of a nightclub where several athletes competing at the World Aquatics Championships were dancing, in Gwangju, South Korea, July 27, 2019. Yonhap via REUTERS

The upper deck of a nightclub collapsed on top of revelers in South Korea on Saturday, killing two people and injuring several foreign athletes competing at the World Aquatics Championships, rescue officials and witnesses said.

The floor gave way in the Coyote Ugly nightclub in the city of Gwangju at about 2:30 a.m. (1730 GMT Friday), pinning people underneath and injuring at least 10, rescue officials said.

The two people killed were South Korean.

New Zealand men’s water polo team captain Matt Small said he was on the second-floor deck when it collapsed.

“We were just dancing and then the next minute we dropped,” he told New Zealand’s Radio Sport. “We ... fell on top of the heads of other people that were beneath us ... Some of them were pretty dire cases,” he said of the injured.

Kim Young-don, chief of the Gwangju Seobu Fire Station, told a briefing there were about 370 people in the club at the time.

“We deem that the second level ... seems to have collapsed because there were too many people on it,” he said. “The second level is a small space, it’s not a space where a lot of people can be.”

Gwangju, about 330 km (205 miles) south of the capital Seoul, has been hosting the championships, which feature swimming, water polo and diving, over the past fortnight. The meet finishes on Sunday.

Organizers said eight foreign athletes were injured, with seven sustaining minor injuries and one remaining in hospital for treatment of a leg laceration.

Three of the injured athletes were from the United States, two from New Zealand and one each from Italy, the Netherlands and Brazil, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported. All but the Brazilian were water polo players, it said.

A Gwangju police officer told Reuters two co-owners and two workers at the nightclub were being questioned about possible illegal expansion and renovation at the nightclub, and the legality of its licensing.

Slideshow (9 Images)
Club floor collapses in South Korea as athletes dance; two people dead
 
Russian vessel Xiang Hai Lin 8 detained in North Korea released
1227005.jpg

© Yury Smituik/TASS

July 28, 2019 - The Russian fishing boat Xiang Hai Lin 8 detained by North Korean border patrol officers has been released on Saturday, the Russian embassy in Pyongyang reported on it official Facebook page on Sunday.

"On July 27, the coordinated work of the Russian diplomatic agency led to a release of the fishing boat Xiang Hai Lin 8. At 16:00 local time, captain Verevka was informed by the North Korean side about the release. At 19:30, the vessel left the Wonsan port’s pier and headed to Sokcho (South Korea), where two South Korean crewmembers will come ashore," the diplomatic mission’s statement reads.

A crewmember told TASS that "the vessel was released without any fines, the incident is over." "The full crew is aboard the ship, everyone is feeling well," he said. "[The ship] is expected to arrive on Sokcho shortly."

The Russian vessel Xiang Hai Lin 8 was detained in North Korea on July 17, when it was heading to the Sea of Japan from South Korea’s town of Sokcho to catch crab. Seventeen crewmembers were aboard the ship, 15 Russian and 2 South Korean citizens. According to the North Korean Foreign Ministry representatives, the ship was detained for "violating the rules of entry and stay in North Korea."

The ship-owner company said that the vessel entered a certain 50-mile zone the Russian was unaware about, which was cited as the reason behind the detention. Until July 27, the ship was stationed in the Wonsan port.

The fishing boat Xiang Hai Lin 8 was built in 2015 and flies the Russian flag. The Northeastern Fishing Company owns the boat and is registered in the Island of Sakhalin.

North Korea releases detained Russian fishing boat: Russian embassy
Russian fishing boat Xianghailin-8, which was detained on July 17 by border guards, is docked in the port of Wonsan, North Korea, July 26, 2019. Russian Embassy in the DPRK/Handout via REUTERS

North Korea has released a Russian fishing boat held after being accused of violating entry regulations, the Russian embassy in North Korea said on Sunday, in an incident that prompted a Russian warning of a freezing of talks on fisheries cooperation.

Hungarian swimmer banned from leaving South Korea for sexual harassment probe: police
FILE PHOTO: Swimming - 18th FINA World Swimming Championships - Men's 200m Butterfly Heats - Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center, Gwangju, South Korea - July 23, 2019. Tamas Kenderesi of Hungary competes. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

South Korean police have banned Hungarian swimmer Tamas Kenderesi from leaving the country as they investigate allegations of sexual harassment against the Olympic bronze medallist, authorities said on Sunday.
 
U.S.' Pompeo hopes for North Korea talks soon, no leaders' summit planned
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo adjusts his earphone during a joint news conference with Argentina's Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie at the end of the hemispheric anti-terrorism summit, in Buenos Aires, Argentina July 19, 2019. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday he hoped working-level talks to revive denuclearization talks with North Korea could occur "very soon" but emphasized that a follow up leaders' summit was not planned.


Little chance for Lavrov-Pompeo meeting at ASEAN forum in Thailand - Russian diplomat
VIENNA, July 28, 2019 - It is highly improbable that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will meet with US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on the sidelines of an ASEAN ministerial meeting in Bangkok, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Sunday.

"Chances are slim, since the two top diplomats’ schedules are not coordinated and there is too little time ahead of the event," he said.

During his visit to Bangkok on July 30-31, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to have talks with his Thai counterpart, Don Pramudwinai, and other top diplomats from ASEAN nations.


Japan's Abe unlikely to meet South Korea's Moon at U.N. in September: Sankei
FILE PHOTO:  South Korean President Moon Jae-In is welcomed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe upon his arrival for a welcome and family photo session at G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 28, 2019. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is unlikely to meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in during the United Nations General Assembly in September, the Sankei newspaper said on Monday, the latest sign of strained ties between the U.S. allies.


South Korea says North Korean fishing boat, three crew to be returned
South Korea returned three North Koreans who crossed the maritime border aboard a fishing vessel at the weekend, an official at Seoul's defence ministry said on Monday.
 
North Korea's Kim Jong Un has tested a new short range ballistic missile, considered "standard" and US backers - UK, France and Germany have complained to the UN, to the delight of the Neo-con's (Bolton-Pompeo), trying to make the situation a bigger deal, then it really is. Trump, on the other hand, is playing down the testing. Yet, in recent days, the US Military have tested a new missile and shield in the Artic, to Israel's satisfaction and no one's complaining to the UN? Israel says Arrow-3 missile shield passes U.S. trials, warns Iran

Japan, a US ally, is in a trade dispute with South Korea ... and it's getting ugly.

North Korean projectiles believed to be short-range ballistic missiles: Kyodo
The North Korean projectiles launched early Friday are believed to be short-range ballistic missiles, Kyodo News reported, citing unnamed Japanese government officials.

Trump says he is not worried about short-range missiles fired by North Korea
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he was not worried about missiles being tested by North Korea, calling them very standard, short-range devices.

At U.N., Britain, France, Germany urge North Korea to hold 'meaningful' talks with U.S
A man stands near a TV showing a file picture of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for a news report on North Korea firing short-range ballistic missiles, in Seoul, South Korea, July 31, 2019.    REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

Britain, France and Germany called on North Korea to engage in "meaningful" talks with the United States and said international sanctions need to be fully enforced until Pyongyang has dismantled its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Trump: North Korean missile tests may defy UN, but not his agreement with Kim
FILE PHOTO - U.S. President Donald Trump pauses during an address at a campaign rally in Cincinnati, Ohio. U.S., August 1, 2019.   REUTERS/Bryan Woolston

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that North Korea's missile tests may have violated United Nations resolutions but did not break his agreement North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

North Korea's Kim Jong Un inspected new rocket system again: KCNA
FILE PHOTO: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin (not pictured) at Far East Federal University on Russky Island in Vladivostok, Russia, April 25, 2019.  Sergei Ilnitsky/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un again on Friday inspected the test firing of a "newly-developed large-caliber multiple launch guided rocket system", North Korean state media reported early on Saturday.

North Korea want to host World Cup qualifier with South in Pyongyang
North Korea have nominated Pyongyang as the host venue for their World Cup qualifying match against South Korea in October, clearing the way for the two countries to play on North Korean soil for the first time in almost 30 years.

Trump plays down new apparent North Korea test, still open to talks
People watch a TV showing a file picture of a North Korean missile for a news report on North Korea firing short-range ballistic missiles, in Seoul, South Korea, August 2, 2019.    REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday played down what appeared to be North Korea's third missile launch in just over week, saying they were short-range and "very standard" and would not affect his willingness to negotiate with Pyongyang.

~~~
South Korea-Japan talks falter ahead of decision on favored-trade list
South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha (L) meets her Japanese counterpart Taro Kono during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, August 1, 2019.   Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

South Korea called on Thursday for Japan to allow more time for diplomacy as talks on their most serious dispute in years failed to make progress, a day before Japan could remove South Korea from its list of favored trade partners.

Japan export move on South Korea not designed to hurt relationship, minister says
Japan's decision to remove South Korea from a list of countries that enjoy minimum export controls was not intended to hurt Tokyo's relationship with Seoul, Japan's industry minister said, adding that exporters can still use a special bulk license.

South Korea's Moon pledges action against Japan's 'unfair' trade step
FILE PHOTO:President of South Korea Moon Jae-in speaks at the the University of Oslo during his official State visit to Norway, in Oslo, Norway June 12, 2019. NTB Scanpix/Ryan Kelly via REUTERS/File Photo

President Moon Jae-in vowed on Friday to take stern action against Japan's decision to strip South Korea of its fast track export status, calling it a reckless and unfair retaliatory action by Tokyo.

South Korea launches 'Let's Learn Japan's Restrictions' website for puzzled businesses
The South Korean government has launched a new learning website for companies puzzled by Japan's recent trade restrictions against the country amid growing confusion over changes of rules about buying Japanese goods.

South Korea says it will respond firmly Japan's decision to drop it from easy trade list
South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks during an irregular cabinet meeting at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, August 2, 2019. Yonhap via REUTERS

South Korea said on Friday it will respond firmly to Japan's decision to remove it from Tokyo's list of easy trade countries.

South Korea says U.S. concerned about Japan's new trade move against Seoul
South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha attends the 26th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Bangkok, Thailand August 2, 2019. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

South Korea's foreign minister said on Friday the United States had "great concerns" about Japan's removal of South Korea from its list of favored trade partners.

South Korea warns Japan of security pact risk, calls for 'cooling-off' in trade row
FILE PHOTO: A police officer stands guard near Japan and South Korea national flags at a hotel, where the South Korean embassy in Japan is holding the reception to mark the 50th anniversary of the normalisation of ties between Seoul and Tokyo, in Tokyo  June 22, 2015.   REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo

South Korea is exploring all options in a bitter trade row with Japan, including scrapping an intelligence sharing pact, but wants a cooling off period with Tokyo, a senior South Korean official said on Saturday.

Japan calls Russian PM's visit to disputed island regrettable
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev shakes hands with Air Force officer at the Yasny airport during visits the Southern Kuril Island of Iturup, Russia August 2, 2019.  Sputnik/Alexander Astafyev/Pool via REUTERS

A visit on Friday by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to an island claimed by both Japan and Russia was extremely regrettable, Japan's foreign ministry said, urging Moscow to take constructive steps to advance ties.
 
North Korea's Kim says missile launches are warning to U.S., South Korea over drill: KCNA
A man watches a TV showing a file picture for a news report on North Korea firing two unidentified projectiles, in Seoul, South Korea, August 6, 2019.    REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country's latest launch of tactical guided missiles was a warning to the United States and South Korea over their joint military drills that began this week, state media KCNA reported on Wednesday.

North Korea says joint military drills violate agreements with U.S., South Korea: KCNA
North Korea said on Tuesday that the joint military drill being conducted by the United States and South Korea violates agreements North Korea made with them, state media KCNA said.

Bolton reminds Kim of missile pledge after North Korea warns of 'new road'
U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton attends a summit to discuss the political crisis in Venezuela, in Lima, Peru, August 6, 2019. REUTERS/Guadalupe Pardo

U.S. national security adviser John Bolton reminded North Korea on Tuesday of its leader's pledge to President Donald Trump not to resume launches of intercontinental-range missiles after Pyongyang conducted its fourth short-range missile test in less than two weeks and warned it might pursue "a new road."

Pentagon chief says U.S. will not 'overreact' to North Korea missile launches
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said on Tuesday that the United States will not overreact to a series of missiles launches by North Korea in recent weeks and would keep the door open to talks with Pyongyang.

U.S. watching North Korea missile launches very carefully: Trump adviser Bolton
U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton walks to give an interview to Fox News outside of the White House in Washington, U.S. July 31, 2019. REUTERS/Leah Millis

U.S. President Donald Trump has an understanding with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that Pyongyang will not launch intercontinental-range ballistic missiles, and the United States is watching North Korean missile tests very carefully, Trump's national security adviser John Bolton told Fox News Channel on Tuesday.

North Korea says U.S. is inciting military tension
North Korea accused the United States on Tuesday of "inciting military tension" by holding joint exercises with South Korea and said Pyongyang would take measures to defend itself.

'We will make them pay': North Korea launches missiles, condemns U.S.-South Korea drills
People watch a TV broadcasting a news report on North Korea firing two unidentified projectiles, in Seoul, South Korea, August 6, 2019.    REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

North Korea fired missiles into the sea off its east coast for the fourth time in less than two weeks, South Korea said on Tuesday, as Pyongyang warned that hostile moves against it "have reached the danger line."

Japan's Suga: PM Abe and U.S. defense secretary didn't discuss U.S.-proposed maritime force
U.S. Secretary of Defence Mark Esper meets with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya at Abe's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, August 7, 2019. REUTERS/Issei Kato

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper did not have any particular exchange on the U.S.-proposed maritime coalition in the Middle East, Japan's top government spokesman said on Wednesday.

Russia summons Japanese ambassador over disputed islands comments
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev visits the Southern Kuril Island of Iturup, Russia August 2, 2019. Sputnik/Alexander Astafyev/Pool via REUTERS

Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday it had summoned the Japanese ambassador in Moscow to complain about what it said was criticism from Tokyo that bordered on "an attempt to interfere in Russia's domestic affairs."

Japan wants to arrange a visit by PM Abe to Russia in September
FILE PHOTO: Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is also ruling Liberal Democratic Party leader, speaks at a debate session ahead of July 21 upper house election at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, Japan July 3, 2019.  REUTERS/Issei Kato

Japan would like to arrange a visit by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Russia in September, its chief government spokesman said on Monday.
 
Trump says North Korea's Kim sent 'very beautiful letter'; new meeting possible
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as they meet at the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, in Panmunjom, South Korea, June 30, 2019. KCNA via REUTERS
President Donald Trump said on Friday he had just received a "very beautiful letter" from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and added that he could have another meeting with him.

U.S. defense secretary visits South Korea as region faces myriad challenges
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper clasps hands with South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo during their meeting in Seoul, South Korea, August 9, 2019. Chung Sung-Jun/Pool via REUTERS

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper met with senior South Korean leaders on Friday amid a series of regional challenges ranging from a bitter trade row between Seoul and Tokyo to the cost of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea.

U.S. asks South Korea to send troops to Strait of Hormuz - Yonhap
U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper walks with South Korean Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo as his arrives at the Defense Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, August 9, 2019. Jeon Heon-Kyun/Pool via REUTERS

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper asked South Korea to send troops to join a U.S.-led maritime force in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Iran, Yonhap news agency said on Friday.

South Korea taps new envoy to U.S. as allies face North Korea, defense costs
FILE PHOTO: South Korean President Moon Jae-in arrives ahead of the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan June 27, 2019. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo

South Korean President Moon Jae-in tapped a seasoned former diplomat as his new ambassador to Washington on Friday as Seoul steps up efforts to connect with the Trump administration on issues such as North Korea, defense costs and trade.
 
North Korea's Kim oversaw the test-firing of new weapon again: KCNA
FILE PHOTO: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watches the test-fire of two short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday, in this undated picture released by North Korea's Central News Agency (KCNA) on July 26, 2019.  KCNA/via REUTERS

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test-firing of a new weapon again on Friday morning, state media KCNA said on Saturday.

Aug 16 2019 - Seoul: Pyongyang Fires 2 Missiles Towards Sea of Japan
North Korea has reportedly launched two projectiles into sea off its Eastern cost, Yonhap news agency reported, citing South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.

U.S.'s North Korea envoy to visit Japan, South Korea next week
FILE PHOTO: .S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun sits during a meeting with South Korea's Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon, unseen, at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, June 28, 2019. Lee Jin-man/Pool via REUTERS

The U.S. special envoy for North Korea will travel to Japan and South Korea next week to coordinate efforts to secure the denuclearization of North Korea, the State Department said on Friday.

Aug 16 2019 - North Korea Rejects Further Peace Talks with South in Protest over Joint War Drills with US
North Korea Rejects Further Peace Talks with South in Protest over Joint War Drills with US

Pyongyang signaled its unwillingness to continue negotiations with its Southern neighbor, blaming the diplomatic deadlock on South Korea’s decision to participate in joint military exercises with the United States. In a statement, North Korea announced that Seoul’s military posturing made dialogue impossible, RT reported. “Even at this moment, South Korea continues its joint military exercise and to speak of a peaceful economy or a peaceful regime, it has no right to do so,” the statement read.

Aug 15 2019 - South Korea Signals Talks with Japan as Trade War Simmers
South Korean President Moon Jae-in has struck a conciliatory tone towards Japan, offering to "join hands" if Tokyo chooses dialogue as relations between the two countries dip to fresh lows following a recent trade dispute.

Aug 14 2019 - North Korea: US Missile Deployment to South Korea ‘Reckless Act'
North Korea warned against a potential move by the United States to deploy ground-launched, intermediate-range missiles in South Korea, saying such a move would spark “a new Cold War” between the regional powers.

North Korea fires missiles, derides South Korea's Moon as 'impudent'
People visit the statues of former North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il to commemorate the 74th anniversary of the end of the Japanese occupation of Korea, in this undated photo supplied by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on August 16, 2019. KCNA/ via REUTERS

North Korea launched at least two short-range ballistic missiles on Friday, South Korea's military said, shortly after Pyongyang described South Korea's president as "impudent" and vowed that inter-Korean talks are over.
 
Japanese, South Korean foreign ministers to meet in Beijing on Wednesday
FILE PHOTO - South Korea's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-Wha (L) and Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono attend the Asia's Geopolitical Outlook during the World Economic Forum on ASEAN at the National Convention Center in Hanoi, Vietnam September 13, 2018. REUTERS/Kham

Japan's foreign minister Taro Kono will meet his South Korean counterpart, Kang Kyung-wha, in Beijing on Wednesday, a Japanese foreign ministry official said on Monday, amid deteriorating relations between the two East Asian countries.

The talks will come during a trip to Beijing from Tuesday until Thursday for a meeting with their Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, the first such trilateral gathering in three years.
 
North Korea calls Pompeo 'diehard toxin,' says ready for dialogue or standoff with U.S.
FILE PHOTO: North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho attends a meeting with China's President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China December 7, 2018. Fred Dufour/Pool via REUTERS

North Korea's top diplomat said on Friday that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was a "diehard toxin" who only complicates denuclearisation talks and North Korea was ready for both dialogue and standoff.

North Korean leader Kim oversaw test of 'super-large multiple rocket launcher': KCNA
FILE PHOTO: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watches the test-fire of two short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday, in this undated picture released by North Korea's Central News Agency (KCNA) on July 26, 2019.  KCNA/via REUTERS

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test of a "super-large multiple rocket launcher" on Saturday, state news agency KCNA reported on Sunday.

Japan coastguard says it detected North Korean ballistic missile launch
Japan's coastguard said it had detected ballistic missile launches from North Korea on Saturday and warned shipping to stay to stay clear of any debris.

Just for the record ... *

* Kremlin: Putin held Security Council meeting to discuss U.S. missile test
The Kremlin said on Friday that President Vladimir Putin had held a meeting of Russia's Security Council to discuss a recent U.S. cruise missile test.

* Putin orders reciprocal Russian response to U.S. missile test
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday ordered a like-for-like response to a recent U.S. missile test, which he said showed that Washington aimed to deploy previously banned missiles around the world.

* Russia test fires missiles from submarines in the Barents Sea
Russia test-fired Sineva and Bulava ballistic missiles from two submarines from the polar region of the Arctic Ocean and from the Barents Sea on Saturday as part of combat training, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

* Iran test fires new missile: Iran Revolutionary Guards commander
Iran has test fired a new missile, the commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Major General Hossein Salami, said on Saturday, according to the Tasnim news agency.

Trump says U.S. has really good relationship with North Korea
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with reporters on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, U.S., before his departure to France to attend the G7 summit in Biarritz, August 23, 2019. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday the United States has a really good relationship with North Korea and that the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, has been "pretty straight" with him.

South Korea begins military drills around disputed island amid feud with Japan
FILE PHOTO: An aerial view shows a part of the group of islets known in South Korea as Dokdo and in Japan as Takeshima in the Sea of Japan, October 20, 2007.  REUTERS/Yuri Maltsev/File Photo
South Korea's military will conduct two days of drills around a tiny island also claimed by Japan, Yonhap news agency reported on Sunday, just days after Seoul decided to scrap an intelligence-sharing pact with Tokyo amid worsening relations.

'Blind men': End of South Korea-Japan pact undermines bid to understand North Korea threats
FILE PHOTO: A police officer stands guard near Japan and South Korea national flags at hotel, where South Korean embassy in Japan is holding the reception to mark the 50th anniversary of normalisation of ties between Seoul and Tokyo, in Tokyo  June 22, 2015. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo

South Korea's decision to scrap an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan could harm efforts to understand threats from North Korea, and potentially weaken the ability to monitor its missile launches, officials and analysts say.

Japan says South Korea fails to grasp North Korea threat with scrapping of pact
FILE PHOTO: Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya speaks to the media at the State Department in Washington, U.S., April 19, 2019.      REUTERS/Joshua Roberts
Japanese Minister of Defence Takeshi Iwaya said on Friday South Korea's decision to end an intelligence-sharing pact was regrettable and showed it failed to appreciate the growing security threat posed by North Korea.

South Korea to scrap intelligence-sharing pact with Japan amid dispute over history
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (C) meets South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha (2-L) and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono (L) with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (2-R) at the Great Hall of the People (GHOP) in Beijing, China, 22 August 2019. How Hwee Young/Pool via REUTERS

South Korea said on Thursday it will scrap an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan, drawing a swift protest from Tokyo and deepening a decades-old dispute over history that has hit trade and undercut security cooperation over North Korea.

Japan PM reiterates that Tokyo wants South Korea to keep its promises, rebuild trust
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks to media at his official residence in Tokyo, Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo August 23, 2019. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Friday Japan still expects South Korea to keep its promises on the contentious issue of wartime forced labor and to work to rebuild trust.
 
North Korea changes constitution to solidify Kim Jong Un’s rule
FILE PHOTO: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un smiles as he guides missile testing at an unidentified location in North Korea, in this undated image provided by KCNA on August 7, 2019.  KCNA via REUTERS

North Korea's parliament has approved changes to the country's constitution to solidify leader Kim Jong Un's role as head of state, official state media said on Thursday.

U.S. imposes sanctions on people, firms it says helped North Korea evade sanctions
The United States has imposed sanctions on two people and three firms and has identified a blocked ship that it says helped North Korea evade sanctions, the Treasury Department said on Friday.

Aug 31 2019 - North Korea Says Pompeo's Remarks Make Talks with US More Difficult
North Korea Says Pompeo's Remarks Make Talks with US More Difficult

A recent remark by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about “North Korea’s rogue behaviour” will make talks with the United States more difficult, the KCNA news agency on Saturday quoted its vice foreign minister, Choe Son Hui, as saying.

“We recognised that North Korea’s rogue behaviour could not be ignored,” Pompeo said on Tuesday, while speaking at the American Legion National Convention in the state of Indiana.

Pompeo’s comment was unreasonable and provocative, Choe stated. "Pompeo has gone so far in his language and it made the opening of the expected DPRK-US working level negotiations more difficult", Choe added.

Choe also warned that North Korea’s expectations of talks with the United States are gradually disappearing and the country is being pushed to reexamine all measures.

“The US had better not put our patience to the test any longer with such remarks irritating us if it doesn’t want to have bitter regrets afterwards,” Choe noted.

North Korea has stepped up its criticism of Pompeo lately, calling him a “diehard toxin”, and casting doubt on attempts to restart talks.

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho has called his American counterpart, a "poisonous plant of American diplomacy", vowing to "shutter the absurd dream" that US sanctions will force a change in Pyongyang.

North Korea is furious by joint military exercises by the US and its ally South Korea, saying that the annual 10-day drills violate agreements reached with President Donald Trump and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in.

Since late July, North Korea has carried out a number of weapons tests, described by the South as short-range ballistic missiles.

South Korean lawmakers visit disputed islets as Japan tensions mount
FILE PHOTO: Members of South Korean Marine Corps take part in a military exercise in remote islands called Dokdo in Korean and Takeshima in Japanese, South Korea, August 25, 2019.   South Korean Navy/Yonhap via REUTERS

A group of South Korean lawmakers visited islands disputed with Japan, sparking a protest from the Japanese foreign ministry as the countries' already tense relationship deteriorates further.

South Korea court ruling raises chance of Samsung heir's return to jail
FILE PHOTO: Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jay Y. Lee speaks at the company's headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, June 23, 2015.   REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo

South Korea's Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that a bribery case against the heir of the Samsung Group should be reviewed by a lower court, raising the possibility of a tougher sentence and potential return to jail.
 
Hyundai Glovis car carrier listing off coast of U.S. state of Georgia (Video)
Rescue and recovery efforts are continuing in St. Simon's Sound, Georgia after a cargo ship carrying vehicles overturned early Sunday morning.

September 8, 2019 - A South Korean cargo vessel carrying about 4,000 cars bound for the Middle East was listing heavily on Sunday off the coast of the southern U.S. State of Georgia, an official of operator Hyundai Glovis said.

The U.S. Coast Guard said a pilot and 23 crew were aboard the Golden Ray when it overturned in St. Simons Sound and 20 people had been rescued.

Rescue teams were searching for four crew members believed to be inside the engine room of the vessel, the company and South Korea’s foreign ministry said.

The rescued included six South Koreans, 13 Philippines nationals and the American pilot, the foreign ministry said.

The cars on the ship represented marques such as Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors, the company official, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter, said on Monday. “We are making rescue of crew members as our top priority. After that we will investigate any damage on cargo,” the official said.

The Vessel Finder website said the ship had recently called at the Port of Brunswick and was headed to Baltimore. The carrier was built in 2017 and was sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands, according to the website.

The Golden Ray has a capacity to carry 6,933 vehicles according to the Glovis website.

The Golden Ray cargo ship carrying over 4000 cars capsizes.

The Golden Ray cargo ship carrying over 4000 cars capsizes. Image: GA DNR Coastal via Twitter


https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/n...cle_7e6e49ef-296f-504f-bb5a-347004860212.html
Rescuers make contact with crew members aboard capsized boat off Georgia coast

Monday September 9, 2019 -
[Breaking news update at 11:11 a.m. ET]
A salvage team made contact Monday morning with the missing crew members of the Golden Ray cargo ship that capsized off he Georgia coast, the US Coast Guard said in a tweet. Their conditions aren't unknown, but an extraction is being planned, the Coast Guard said.

[Original story published at 10:05 a.m. ET]
The US Coast Guard was working Monday to rescue four South Korean crew members aboard a cargo ship that tipped onto its side after it began listing heavily off the Georgia coast, the South Korean Foreign Ministry said.

Rescuers are not sure where on the vessel the crew members are located, and complicating the search are the size of the ship and the fact it has watertight doors, numerous compartments and no power, Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Luke Clayton said.
Video from the scene showed a red Coast Guard helicopter landing on the ship's side mid-morning Monday.

A call for help
The first dispatches from the boat came at around 2 a.m. Sunday morning, according to US Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Phillip VanderWeit.
South Korea's Foreign Ministry said the boat began "listing heavily," about 80 degrees, to the port side before overturning.

VanderWeit told CNN help arrived nearly two hours after the first calls came through.

Twenty members of the crew were rescued by the US Coast Guard around 4 and 5 a.m.,
VanderWeit said.

Those rescued were exiting via various parts of the vessel, which posed a challenge in getting them off the ship. Some crew members were hoisted onto helicopters while others were lowered, in some cases by fire hoses, onto boats, according to VanderWeit.

Four crew members weren't able to be rescued as fires broke out on the ship that prevented rescuers from continuing their response, Capt. John Reed, commander of the Coast Guard Sector Charleston, said at a news conference.

"As smoke and flames began to appear our crews, along with the Glynn County heavy rescue team, assessed that the situation was too risky to further go inside the vessel to attempt to locate the four individuals who remain missing at this time," Reed said.

Officials are waiting for the ship to stabilize before attempting any more rescues, Reed said, but aren't sure if the fire is out.
"We are unable to determine specifically without going inside whether the fire has been completely extinguished," he said.

Although rescue efforts have stalled, the Coast Guard remains on scene next to the boat as they try to stabilize the vessel.
VanderWeit said the Coast Guard continues to search around the vessel. But the "suspended" search means that they had to get off the vessel because of fires and instability.

Rescued crew members given food and clothing
Those who were rescued were offered assistance by the International Seafarers' Center in Brunswick, Georgia, according to the center's director Vicki West.

West told CNN via email that her organization provided food and clothing to between 18 and 20 crew members from the overturned cargo ship who were Filipino and South Korean. She said the rescued crew members were in good condition.

Volunteers from her organization served them lunch donated by Grandy's, a local restaurant in Brunswick, and facilitated those that wanted to attend Mass at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.

The investigation
Officials are still trying to determine what caused the boat to overturn.

Two investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are expected to arrive on the scene Monday, according to NTSB spokesman Keith Holloway. His agency is supporting the Coast Guard's investigation of the incident.

The Coast Guard's damage assessment team was on scene Sunday night and other agencies assisting in the incident include Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Glynn County Fire Department, according to a news release from the Coast Guard.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry sent a consul from the Consulate General in Atlanta to the scene of the accident to determine the status of the crew rescue and provide consular assistance to South Korean crew members who were already rescued.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries has formed a protection of overseas Koreans task force and is responding, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The cargo ship, owned by Hyundai Glovis, carries vehicles and had just been unloaded and reloaded by longshoremen at the Port of Brunswick in the hours before it began leaning, according to a longshoreman who spoke to CNN.

The longshoreman said the loading process went smoothly and nothing seemed out of the ordinary during the loading process.

As investigators work to locate the missing crew members and determine the cause, pollution mitigation efforts are underway, according to Cmdr. Norm Witt of the Coast Guard's Marine Safety Unit Savannah. No "active release" of pollution was reported as of Sunday afternoon but a unified command has been established to respond, Witt said.
 
Rescue planned for four missing crew found alive on stricken vessel: U.S. Coast Guard (Video)
The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed in a tweet Monday, that they are using a slow but safe process to rescue the four remaining crew members from the cargo ship Golden Ray, capsized off Georgia. Priscilla Huff reporting.
September 9, 2019

Rescue workers on Monday were planning to extract four missing crew members from a South Korean cargo vessel carrying about 4,000 cars to the Middle East that turned on its side off the coast of Georgia, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

Salvage crews gradually drilled an opening in the ship's massive hull on Monday, first to deliver food and water to the survivors, then to extract them, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The last missing crew member emerged from the hole at around 6 PM. ET (2200 GMT) and was able to stand on the hull of the ship as rescue workers helped him, a USCG Twitter video showed.

The final crew member had been trapped behind a glass panel in the ship’s engineering control room and was the only one of the four who did not get any food and water when rescuers broke through the hull around 35 hours into their ordeal.

Temperatures for rescue workers on the outside of the ship rose to 120 fahrenheit (49 Celsius) and USCG Captain John Reed told reporters he believed it was even hotter inside the vessel.

Asked about the condition of the three crew members rescued earlier, Reed said two of them had been able to walk off the hull of the ship and get on a tugboat. All three were taken to hospital.

He declined to comment on what might have caused the vessel to tip over as it transported cars.

“Operations will now shift fully to environmental protection, removing the vessel and resuming commerce,” USCG tweeted.

Helicopters rescued 20 crew members from the 656-foot (200-meter) Golden Ray on Sunday after it became disabled, began listing and eventually fell helplessly on its side in St. Simons Sound, near Brunswick, Georgia, the Coast Guard said in a statement.

The ship had previously called at the Port of Brunswick and was headed to Baltimore, according to the Vessel Finder website. The carrier was built in 2017 and was sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands, it said.
 
North Korea says it will resume talks but adds pressure with new launches
FILE PHOTO - Residents hold US and North Korean flags while they wait for motorcade of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un en route to the Metropole Hotel for the second US- North Korea summit in Hanoi, Vietnam February 28, 2019. REUTERS/Kham

North Korea fired a new round of short-range projectiles on Tuesday, South Korean officials said, only hours after it signaled a new willingness to resume stalled denuclearization talks with the United States.

Japan's foreign minister Kono may move to defense in cabinet shuffle: Sankei
FILE PHOTO: Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono speaks beside South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha (not pictured) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (not pictured) during a press conference after the ninth trilateral foreign ministers’ meeting among China, South Korea and Japan at Gubei Town in Beijing, China, 21 August 2019. Wu Hong/Pool via REUTERS

Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono is being considered for the role of defense minister when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reshuffles his cabinet next week, the country's Sankei Shimbun reported on Sunday.

Son of former Japan PM Koizumi to be named environment minister: NHK
FILE PHOTO - Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) talks with his party's lawmaker Shinjiro Koizumi, son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, at the party lawmakers' meeting after the dissolution of the lower house was announced at the Parliament in Tokyo, Japan September 28, 2017.  REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

The popular son of former Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi will be named environment minister when incumbent Shinzo Abe reshuffles his cabinet on Wednesday, public broadcaster NHK reported.

Japan's Abe to pick former vice minister Sugawara as trade minister: NHK
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will hand former vice trade minister Isshu Sugawara the trade and industry portfolio and select Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasutoshi Nishimura for the post of economy minister in a cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday, NHK public broadcaster reported on Tuesday.

Japan's Empress Emeritus Michiko undergoes breast cancer surgery: NHK
FILE PHOTO: Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attend the awarding ceremony of the Midori Academic Prize Friday, April 26, 2019, in Tokyo. Eugene Hoshiko/Pool via REUTERS

Japan's Empress Emerita Michiko underwent surgery for early-stage breast cancer at a Tokyo hospital on Sunday, national broadcaster NHK said.
 
Russia detains two North Korean vessels after attack: TASS
Russian border guards detained two North Korean racketeering vessels in Russian territorial waters in the Sea of Japan after one of them attacked a Russian patrol ship, the TASS news agency cited the FSB security service as saying on Tuesday.

Russia's foreign ministry to summon acting North Korean ambassador: RIA
Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday it will summon North Korea's top diplomatic representative in Moscow following the detention of North Korean vessels by Russia in the Sea of Japan, the RIA news agency reported.

South Korea removes Japan from fast-track trade 'white list'
FILE PHOTO: A police officer stands guard near Japan and South Korea national flags at hotel, where South Korean embassy in Japan is holding the reception to mark the 50th anniversary of normalisation of ties between Seoul and Tokyo, in Tokyo June 22, 2015.  REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo

South Korea said on Wednesday it had approved plans to drop Japan from its "white list" of countries with fast track trade status, responding with a tit-for-tat move that intensifies a growing diplomatic and trade spat between the two countries.
 
Back
Top Bottom