Latest news with #LeeJaeMyung
Barnama
3 hours ago
- Climate
- Barnama
South Korea: President Lee Orders Swift Declaration Of Special Disaster Zones
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a press conference at the Presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Ahn Young-joon/Pool via REUTERS SEOUL, July 20 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung instructed the government Sunday to find ways to swiftly designate areas hit hard by recent heavy rains as special disaster zones, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing his spokesperson. Lee also called for a swift survey of the scale of damage from the rain and landslides that began across the nation last Wednesday, Kang Yu-jung said in a message to the press. Special disaster zones are entitled to government support for damage recovery and relief to victims. bootstrap slideshow As of 11 am, 14 people were killed and 12 others were missing due to the heavy rains, according to the government and the National Fire Agency. The government launched an interagency recovery support team earlier in the day. "The interior ministry, other relevant ministries and the affected local governments will fully mobilise all available resources and carry out swift emergency restoration work," Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung said during a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters in the central city of Sejong, saying the government will shift its focus from responding to the rains to recovering from the damage. Separately, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok gave instructions to Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung to visit the southern county of Sancheong and draw up support measures, his office said. Sancheong has accounted for a large portion of the casualties. The prime minister further instructed the interior minister to visit the affected regions on Monday and console the residents while coming up with detailed support plans.
Korea Herald
6 hours ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Why Korea is suddenly talking about Arctic shipping route
Northern shortcut promises speed, savings — but can it deliver? Amid intensifying climate shifts, geopolitical tensions and a scramble for new trade corridors, the Arctic shipping route is quickly emerging as a key term in South Korea's maritime strategy — touted as both a visionary opportunity and a logistical gamble. President Lee Jae Myung and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea have championed the once-remote Arctic passage as a pillar of Korea's long-term logistics agenda, positioning Busan at the forefront of this northbound shift in global shipping. Most recently, Oceans Minister nominee Chun Jae-soo cited the Arctic route as a key reason for relocating the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan, part of a broader plan to decentralize Seoul-centric functions and build a new growth engine in the southern port city. The Arctic route strategy involves positioning Busan as a key logistics hub for a northern shipping passage connecting East Asia to Europe via the Arctic Ocean, offering Korea's largest port city a potential breakthrough from industrial decline and population loss. Once blocked by thick sea ice and harsh conditions, the route is drawing attention as climate change and technology advances are expected to make commercial navigation viable within five to 10 years. Among several Arctic Ocean passages, Korea is primarily focusing on the Northern Sea Route. It runs along the Russian coastline from the Bering Strait in the North Pacific to the Barents Sea behind the Scandinavian Peninsula, bypassing traditional maritime choke points in Southeast Asia and the Suez Canal. According to the vision, the Arctic route could reduce the distance between Busan and Rotterdam in the Netherlands by about 7,000 kilometers, bringing it down to approximately 15,000 kilometers. In addition to bypassing geopolitical risks, piracy and congestion in major straits that have disrupted global logistics along traditional routes, it is expected to provide access to resource-rich development projects in Russia's Arctic region. Busan: From port city to polar hub? 'Busan is located at the optimal starting point of the Arctic route to Europe,' said Yang Chang-ho, executive vice president of the Korea Shipowners' Association, during a press conference in June. 'Consolidating cargo from China, Japan and Southeast Asia in Busan and forwarding it through the Arctic route is one of the most economically viable scenarios.' The idea is based on Busan's established status as the world's second-largest transshipment port, after Singapore, bolstered by its location at the crossroads of East Asia's industrial belt — South Korea, China and Japan. In 2024, about 13.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units, representing 55 percent of Busan's total freight volume, were transshipped through the port, making it a gateway connecting East Asian ports with distant destinations in Europe and North America. The port is also told to benefit from strong hinterland infrastructure, lying close to Korea's largest shipbuilding yards and petrochemical complexes. 'Despite concerns about Busan's limited bunker fuel storage capacity for long-haul routes, the city functions effectively due to its proximity to Ulsan's petrochemical complex,' said Choi Su-beom, secretary-general of the Korea Arctic Shipping Association. 'Ships already take on bunker fuel while unloading in Busan, so future eco-friendly fuel bases, such as those for ammonia, do not necessarily need to be located within the port itself.' Route still stuck in ice Currently, the route accounts for less than 1 percent of global maritime traffic, due in part to international sanctions imposed on Russia following the outbreak of its war in Ukraine in 2022. Even before sanctions, however, major European shippers such as Mediterranean Shipping Co., CMA CGM, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd publicly ruled out using the route, citing environmental concerns related to icebreaking and extreme weather. Korean shippers also have shown limited interest. Hyundai Glovis and Pan Ocean tested the route in the 2010s, but activity stalled due to the high costs of ice-class vessels and the limited navigable seasons on the route. Limited transshipment hubs and harsh climatic conditions, which require enhanced cargo protection, are also seen as factors undermining the route's profitability. Han Jong-gil, a logistics professor at Sungkyul University, said, 'We must factor in costs for mandatory requirements under local regulations, such as icebreaker escorts and polar-certified pilots.' He estimated that the new route could increase costs by 5 to 30 percent compared to the traditional route. 'Additionally, since Russia controls the entire route, what can we do if the country blocks the passage there?' Han added. Polar race heating up Despite the uncertainty, international competition for the Arctic shipping route is gaining momentum, largely driven by China, which promotes it as the 'Polar Silk Road.' China's NewNew Shipping operates a container carrier service between Shanghai and Russia's northwestern city of Arkhangelsk, raising speculation that Shanghai aims to become a key hub for the northern route. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a joint statement pledging to 'enhance mutually profitable cooperation on the Arctic shipping route," during Xi's visit to Moscow in May. Japan has scaled back its involvement in the route since the start of Russia's war in Ukraine in 2022, but continues to hold stakes in Arctic resource development, aligning with Russia's interest in partnering with foreign companies to tap into its Arctic resources. Earlier this month, a senior official from the Japanese government-backed Organization for Metals and Energy Security reaffirmed its intention to maintain a 10 percent stake in the Arctic LNG 2 project on Russia's Arctic coast, according to Russia's Tass news agency. The stake is jointly held with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Japan's second-largest shipping company, despite years of sanctions on the project. Experts stress that coordination with the Russian government, now stalled due to sanctions, is essential for accessing the route, as navigability depends heavily on Russian policies. With such coordination difficult under current conditions, they also point to the need for Korea to nurture competitive shipping companies based in Busan that can secure sufficient cargo volume to sustain operations along the Northern Sea Route. "In terms of total volume — including imports, exports and transshipment — Shanghai far surpasses Busan, handling more than twice the amount," Choi added. forestjs@
The Star
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Editorial: Seoul's mixed messages on Pyongyang will only sow confusion
South Korean and North Korean guard posts are seen on either side of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Paju between the two counntries. — AFP THE notion of a country's main enemy – or ' jujeok ' in Korean – is not just symbolic rhetoric. It is the fulcrum around which national defence policy, military readiness and diplomatic posture revolve. Yet the Lee Jae Myung administration's incoming ministers are offering strikingly divergent views on North Korea's status. In a region where miscalculation can lead to catastrophe, the lack of clarity is not a luxury South Korea can afford. During confirmation hearings this week, the country's Unification Minister nominee Chung Dong-young described North Korea not as an enemy but as a 'threat.' Labour Minister nominee Kim Young-hoon echoed that assessment, distancing himself from the 'main enemy' label. By contrast, Defence Minister nominee Ahn Gyu-back offered a resolute view, stating that the North Korean regime and military are indeed South Korea's principal adversary. This inconsistency is not merely semantic. The designation of North Korea as South Korea's main enemy first appeared in the 1995 Defence White Paper under President Kim Young-sam, following the North's threats to turn Seoul into a 'sea of fire.' While subsequent governments shifted between hard-line and conciliatory stances, most notably under Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in, the Yoon Suk Yeol administration reinstated the enemy designation in 2022. Now, Seoul risks retreating from this stance just as Pyongyang has explicitly emphasised its own hostility. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un last year formally declared the South a 'primary foe,' rejecting unification and dismantling the inter-Korean reconciliation framework. Since then, the North has accelerated weapons development, severed communication channels and deepened military ties with Russia. To overlook these developments or downplay their implications is to misread the strategic environment. Chung's statements suggest the new administration may be preparing a significant policy pivot. He proposed suspending joint military drills with the United States as a confidence-building measure, citing the 2018 model. He also raised the idea of renaming the Unification Ministry to the Ministry of the Korean Peninsula, a move he claims would signal flexibility. Yet such proposals, absent careful coordination or broad consensus, could project confusion rather than pragmatism. Strategic ambiguity has long characterised inter-Korean policy, but frequent shifts weaken credibility. South Korea's defence posture cannot oscillate with each political transition. Doing so emboldens adversaries and complicates coordination with allies, particularly Washington. North Korea has repeatedly exploited policy vacillations, alternating between provocation and dialogue to gain time for weapons advancement. Calls to revive the 2018 military accord – annulled by the North and later suspended by Seoul – underscore this risk. South Korea honoured the agreement despite repeated violations by the North, including missile launches, GPS jamming and trash balloon campaigns. Restoring such an accord without preconditions could repeat a pattern of unreciprocated concessions. What is missing from the current debate is a sober reflection on the record of past engagement. Chung attributes the sinking of the ROKS Cheonan in 2010 and Yeonpyeongdo shelling to the Lee Myung-bak administration's hawkish posture, yet similar provocations occurred under liberal governments. North Korea has pursued escalation to secure leverage regardless of the South's tone. This is not to dismiss the value of diplomacy. Efforts to reduce tensions must continue, but only with a clear-eyed understanding of the other side's intentions. Engagement should be mutual, measured and anchored in deterrence. One-sided overtures, whether symbolic or substantive, can be as risky as belligerence. If the Lee government intends to revise its stance toward Pyongyang, it must do so with unity, transparency and strategic rationale. Fragmented messaging – especially on foundational concepts like the main enemy – undermines trust both at home and among allies. In a geopolitical landscape marked by intensifying tensions, Seoul cannot afford ambiguity in its security doctrine. — The Korea Herald/Asia News Network
Hans India
2 days ago
- Climate
- Hans India
South Korea: Torrential rains kill four; two missing, over 5,600 evacuated
Seoul: Torrential rains that slammed South Korea for three days have left four people dead, two missing and more than 5,600 people evacuated, officials said Friday, as weather authorities warned of more downpours across the nation. Record hourly rains had fallen in some parts of the nation, including South Chungcheong Province and the southwestern city of Gwangju, triggering flash floods and landslides. So far, most rain-related fatalities have been reported in South Chungcheong Province, according to the government's disaster response agency. One person was found in cardiac arrest inside a flooded vehicle on a road in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province. The man was taken to a nearby hospital but died, officials said. An elderly man in his 80s was found dead in the basement of his home, and a retaining wall collapsed onto a moving vehicle, killing the driver, officials said. Another person was found dead in a stream. A search was under way to find a missing person in Gwangju after authorities received a report around 10:18 p.m. Thursday that the person had been swept away by river currents near a bridge. Another person went missing in Gwangju, where over 400 millimeters of torrential rain pounded the region. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung presided over a disaster response meeting and instructed all relevant ministries and authorities to mobilize "every resource available" to prevent damage. "The state's foremost duty is to protect the lives and safety of its citizens," Lee said. "We will take measures to prevent damage and accidents to the point where it may even seem excessive." As of 11 a.m. Friday, 5,661 people from 13 cities and provinces have evacuated their homes due to safety concerns, authorities said. A total of 499 public and 425 private property damage cases have been reported, including 328 cases of flooded roads and 30 cases of collapsed river embankments. Two passenger ferry routes were suspended, and train services on seven major lines were partially halted, while a flight in Gwangju was canceled. A total of 45 blackouts were reported, 36 of which had been restored as of early Friday, while operations were ongoing for the remaining nine. Meanwhile, 247 schools across the country suspended or curtailed classes, or shifted to online classes. On Thursday, the government raised the weather-related disaster alert to its highest level, "serious," in response to the escalating damage caused by the ongoing heavy rainfall. The headquarters also activated the highest stage of its emergency response system, mobilizing all relevant government ministries and agencies for full-scale disaster response, Yonhap news agency reported. The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast an additional 100 to 200 mm of rain from Thursday to Friday for the southern cities of Gwangju, Busan and Ulsan, with some areas expected to receive more than 300 mm. Around 50 to 150 mm of rain were forecast for the central Chungcheong area and North Jeolla Province, as well as Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province.
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Climate
- Japan Times
Torrential rain pounds South Korea for third day as thousands take shelter
Heavy rains pounded South Korea for a third day on Friday in a deluge that has killed at least four people, forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes and destroyed property and infrastructure. Warnings of torrential rain remained in effect for most of the country's western and southern regions and the weather service advised extreme caution, with landslides and flooding possible through Saturday. More than 5,000 people were evacuated at one time, but the number of people in shelters had fallen to 3,297 as of 11 a.m., the Interior and Safety Ministry said. Rainfall of more than 400 millimeters hit some southern regions, including in the city of Gwangju, in the 24 hours to early Friday, the ministry said. Thursday's downpour in Gwangju was the highest daily total in 86 years. Four people have died in the rains and two were missing, the ministry said. Two were trapped in cars on flooded roads and another died in a basement under floodwater in the central South Chungcheong province, it said. A driver was killed after a 10-meter-high roadside wall collapsed on top of a moving vehicle on Wednesday in Osan, some 44 kilometers south of Seoul, fire agency officials said. President Lee Jae Myung has called for a stronger government role in disaster prevention and response, saying that while natural disasters are hard to prevent, more can be done to anticipate damage and warn the public. "I see there were cases where casualties occurred because of a poor response when the situation was reasonably predictable," he said at an emergency meeting on Friday, calling for all available resources to be deployed.
