Sister, adviser, and now top official: the latest promotion of Kim Yo Jong, sibling to North Korea’s leader, solidifies her position in Pyongyang’s circles of power, analysts say.
Sunghee Hwang
@AFP Seoul correspondent. Expert Dog Walker. Fueled by coffee.
Two Koreas Restore Severed Communications in Surprise Thaw
North and South Korea signaled a surprise thaw in relations on Tuesday, announcing the restoration of cross-border communications that were severed more than a year ago and an agreement between their two leaders to improve ties.
Last Resort: The Seeds Kept Safe in a South Korean Mountain
Hidden in a South Korean mountain tunnel designed to withstand a nuclear blast, the seeds of nearly 5,000 wild plant species are stored for safekeeping against climate change, natural disaster and war.
‘World’s Leading Bank Robbers’: North Korea’s Hacker Army
Nuclear-armed North Korea is advancing on the front lines of cyberwarfare, analysts say, stealing billions of dollars and presenting a clearer and more present danger than its banned weapons programs.
Samsung Heirs to Pay Billions in Tax, Donate Monet, Picasso Works
The heirs to South Korea’s Samsung group announced their plans to pay more than $10 billion in death duties Wednesday — one of the world’s biggest-ever inheritance tax settlements — and donate an art trove including works by Monet and Picasso.
Gym and Nutritionists: Inside South Korea’s T1 eSports Empire
A Nike-sponsored gym, support staff including nutritionists and English language classes are all part of the set-up at T1, one of the world’s top eSports organizations, where around 70 gamers are looking to emulate its highest-profile member, League of Legends giant Faker.
Lee Kun-hee: The Man Who Transformed Samsung into a Global Power
South Korea’s richest and most powerful industrialist, Lee Kun-hee, turned Samsung Electronics into one of the world’s biggest tech companies but lived a reclusive existence.
Crash Landing on You: K-Drama Hit Smashes TV Ratings
South Korea’s biggest current television hit is a surreal tale of a billionaire heiress who accidentally paraglides into the North and falls in love with a chivalrous army officer serving Kim Jong Un.
North Korea’s Overseas Workers to Return Home Under UN Deadline
The waitress at the North Korean restaurant in Beijing has no concerns about a deadline this weekend for Pyongyang’s overseas workers to be returned. “I’ll go home for the holidays,” she says. “But I’ll come back.”
50-Year Search: Son Demands Return of Father After N. Korean Hijack
Half a century ago a North Korean agent hijacked the flight carrying Hwang In-cheol’s father. Pyongyang never returned him, and the search has defined his son’s life.
K-Pop BTS World Tour Rakes in Millions From Devoted Fans
Tearful and screaming by turn, tens of thousands of BTS fans gathered in Seoul for the finale of the boyband’s lucrative world tour, some flying thousands of kilometers to pay homage to their idols and swell their backers’ bulging coffers.