South Korea

North Korea rejects talks as US envoy arrives in Seoul

Senior North Korean foreign ministry official Kwon Jong Gun ridiculed “nonsensical” calls by South Korea for revived negotiations between the US and North Korea, saying it has lost its relevance as a mediator.

Koreas mark war anniversary without peace in sight

Seventy years after the Korean War began, prospects for a peace treaty to officially end the conflict appear as distant as ever, as the two Koreas held low-key commemorations amid heightened tension on the peninsula.

North Korea suspends military retaliation against South

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presided over a video conference meeting of the ruling party's Central Military Commission, where members decided to suspend the military plans. Kim's sister warned last week of military action against the south.

North Korea reinstalls propaganda speakers as defectors send leaflets

Tensions between the two Koreas has risen in recent weeks after the North blew up a joint liaison office on its side of the border, declared an end to dialogue and threatened military action.

Heir of Samsung empire avoids arrest over controversial merger

The request of an arrest warrant for the heir of South Korean Samsung empire was declined by the court due to lack of sufficient probable cause over the controversial merger, but his retrial on charges of bribery and embezzlement continues.

North Korea to sever hotlines with South Korea - KCNA

For several days, North Korea has lashed out at South Korea, threatening to close an inter-Korean liaison office and other projects if the South does not stop defectors from sending leaflets and other material into the North.

Samsung heir in court, awaits decision on whether he'll be jailed again

He served in jail for about one year until February 2018 for a bribery scandal to win support from the former government for a controversial 2015 merger of two Samsung affiliates.

South Korea's self-driving upstarts take on tech giants

The RideFlux start-up brings together engineers who have given up well-paid jobs with some of South Korea's most prestigious firms to try to build a ride-sharing company for the tech-savvy nation.

WHO says Americas close to three million Covid-19 cases – latest updates

Novel coronavirus has infected more than 6.4 million people around the world. Here are pandemic-related updates for June 2:

UK has second highest number of Covid-19 deaths globally – latest updates

The global coronavirus pandemic has affected almost 5 million people, with around 320,000 deaths. Here are more coronavirus-related updates for May 19:

South Korea investigators comb digital data to trace club virus cluster

More than 100 new cases linked to the nightclubs have brought fears of a second wave of infections in a country held up as a coronavirus mitigation success story.

As nations reopen, warning emerges about virus tracing voids

WHO’s emergencies chief, Dr. Michael Ryan, says some nations haven't effectively employed contact tracing investigators to contact people who test positive, track down their contacts and get them into quarantine before they can spread the virus.