South Korea said Wednesday it has completed the development of an upgraded 105 mm howitzer featuring increased agility and automated firing control.The self-propelled artillery system combines the existing 105 mm towed howitzer with a five-ton truck as its bed. The new self-propelled 105 mm howitzer (DAPA)The 105 mm howitzer with a range of around 11 kilometers is known for reliability, speed and accuracy.The Defense Acquisition Program Administration, the country's arms procurement agency, laun

Defense June 28, 2017

One in 3 low-income people in South Korea don't benefit from the country's income security systems, a study said Wednesday, calling for their reform or new plans.Nearly 36 percent of South Koreans in the poor class didn't bask in any of the country's five social security systems as of 2015, including the state pension program and unemployment benefits, according to the study by Kang Shin-wook, a researcher at the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs.(Yonhap)The study is based on a surve

Social Affairs June 28, 2017

About 100 South Korean drug companies will begin producing generic versions of Tamiflu in August to ease the shortage in supply of the world's only anti-viral drug as its 20-year patient protection has expired, industry sources said Wednesday.Among the companies are Yuhan Corp., Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co. and Green Cross Corp., an official of the Korea Food and Drug Administration said.Tamiflu dominates South Korea's market for the anti-viral medication against flu, with sales hitting 59 billio

Technology June 28, 2017

South Korea's Navy said Wednesday it plans to appoint the fathers of six sailors killed in the 2002 inter-Korean naval skirmish as "honorary captains" of the six warships named after the fallen soldiers.It's a symbolic measure to honor and commemorate the sacrifice of the sailors during the incident, called the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, which occurred just south of the Northern Limit Line, in the Yellow Sea. South Korean Army soldiers pay their respects to the six sailors killed in the 2002 i

Defense June 28, 2017

The Petya ransomware, which struck Russia and Europe earlier this week, was also observed in South Korea, industry sources said Wednesday, casting concern over local cybersecurity.While the Korea Internet & Security Agency said no official reports have been made to the organization so far, several Internet users claimed their computer was struck by the latest ransomware.(Yonhap)Ransomware refers to malware that locks up files on a computer with encryption until the victims pay a certain amount o

Social Affairs June 28, 2017

WASHINGTON -- A series of US congressmen have spoken on the floor to welcome South Korean President Moon Jae-in's first official trip to the United States and to call for further strengthening the alliance between the two countries.Moon is scheduled to visit Washington from Wednesday to Saturday for his first summit talks with US President Donald Trump as well as meetings with other top government officials and leaders of the House and the Senate."President Moon's trip comes at a critical time -

Foreign Affairs June 28, 2017

DAEJEON -- South Korea's forest authorities said Wednesday they plan to release three additional Siberian tigers into a "tiger forest" inside an arboretum in southeastern South Korea starting from this week as part of efforts to preserve the species in the wild.The Korea Forest Service, in the initial stage, will relocate a 12-year-old female named Hancheong and a six-year-old male named Uri from Seoul Grand Park to the 4.8 hectare forest at the National Baekdu-daegan Arboretum on a mountain ran

Social Affairs June 28, 2017

WASHINGTON -- US Vice President Mike Pence praised India on Tuesday for its commitment to use its growing economic clout to increase pressure on North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs.Pence made the remark at a meeting of the US-India Business Council, a day after President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi pledged to work together to hold accountable "all parties that support" the North's nuclear and missile programs. US Vice President Mike Pence (Yonhap)"The greate

North Korea June 28, 2017

WASHINGTON -- Recent satellite imagery shows indications supporting media reports that North Korea carried out a rocket engine test last week, a website monitoring the communist nation said Tuesday.Reuters reported, citing an unidentified US official, that the North conducted the engine test on Thursday that could be for the smallest stage of an intercontinental ballistic missile rocket engine.On Tuesday, 38 North, a website specializing in North Korea analysis, said that commercial satellite im

North Korea June 28, 2017

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- President Donald Trump’s administration hit China on Tuesday over its rights record, listing the country alongside Sudan and North Korea on a list of the world’s worst human trafficking offenders.The State Department downgraded China in its annual “Trafficking in Persons Report,” saying Beijing is doing little to combat the phenomenon or protect its victims. It pointed to ethnic Uighurs, a Muslim minority in China’s west, being coerced into forced labor, and to Beijing’s whol

World News June 28, 2017

MUJU -- Two South Koreans secured at least bronze medals at the ongoing taekwondo world championships on Tuesday.An Sae-bom in the women's over-73kg and Jeong Yun-jo in the men's under-58kg each made it to the semifinals at the World Taekwondo Federation World Taekwondo Championships at Taekwondowon's T1 Arena in Muju, some 240 kilometers south of Seoul.Their semifinals and final, if they get there, will take place Wednesday. An Sae-bom of South Korea (left) lands a kick on Lorena Brandl of Germ

More Sports June 27, 2017

More than 2.6 million, or one in 10, Korean women live alone, and an increasing number believe marriage isn't mandatory, recent data from the country's national statistics agency showed Tuesday. According to the report "2017 Statistics on Women" released by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and Statistics Korea, one-woman households accounted for 50.2 percent of the total 5.2 million households last year, up by 17.7 percent from five years ago. By age, 43.2 percent of women living alone

Social Affairs June 27, 2017

South Korea Tuesday denounced the Japanese consul general based in Atlanta, the United States, for his recent remarks disparaging Korean women who were forced into sexual service for front-line Japanese soldiers during World War II.In a recent media interview, Takashi Shinozuka, the consul general of Japan in Atlanta, urged the Brookhaven city council of Atlanta to cancel its decision to allow a memorial symbolizing the Korean victims, euphemistically called comfort women, to be built. South Kor

Foreign Affairs June 27, 2017

South Korean President Moon Jae-in will head for Germany next week on an official visit that will also include his trip to the upcoming G20 summit in the European country, his office Cheong Wa Dae announced Tuesday.The new South Korean leader will depart for Germany next Wednesday, two days after his return from a trip to the United States where he is set to hold a bilateral summit with US President Donald Trump.Moon will first head to Berlin for an official two-day visit that will include bilat

Foreign Affairs June 27, 2017

The sliding sports venue for next year's Winter Games in South Korea has been renamed to include the word "Olympic," the event's organizers said Tuesday.The organizing committee for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics said the Alpensia Sliding Centre in PyeongChang, some 180 kilometers east of Seoul, will now be called the Olympic Sliding Centre. This undated file photo, provided by the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics organizing committee, shows the newly-named Olympic Sliding Centre in PyeongChang

More Sports June 27, 2017