Category: General

The government on Thursday unveiled a National Cybersecurity Strategy calling for strengthening the country’s offensive cyber defense operations and building cooperation mechanisms with the international community while keeping a focus on North Korea’s cyberthreats.

The 35-page strategy was drawn up jointly by the presidential Office of National Security, the National Intelligence Service, the ministries of foreign affairs, national defense, and science and ICT, and the National Police Agency to serve as the authoritative guideline on cybersecurity issues.

“North Korea is continuing to conduct illegal cyber activities to fund its nuclear weapons and missile development, including through cryptocurrency theft,” President Yoon Suk Yeol wrote in the preface, before listing the threat posed by hacking organizations around the world using sophisticated cyber means to steal state secrets and advanced technologies.

“Based on this strategy, our government will respond preemptively to cybersecurity threats and str
engthen our cyber capabilities and resilience to safely protect the Republic of Korea,” he wrote.

“Moreover, we will contribute to peace and prosperity in the international community while strengthening cybersecurity cooperation with friendly nations that share with us the rules and values of freedom, human rights, and the rule of law,” he added.

The vision presented by the strategy is to become “a global pivotal state that fulfills its international role and responsibility while defending the values of freedom, human rights and the rule of law in cyber space.”

To fulfill that vision, the strategy calls for implementing five key tasks — strengthening offensive cyber defense operations, building global cooperation mechanisms, strengthening the cyber resilience of key state infrastructure, securing a lead in the competition for emerging technologies, and strengthening the nation’s integrated response capability.

“In order to effectively respond to the malicious cyber activities of threat agents, including
North Korea, such as the theft of secrets, dissemination of fake news and other false information, and cryptocurrency theft, simply reinforcing our defense capabilities has its limits,” the paper said.

“Therefore, we must change our paradigm to respond offensively to North Korea and other threats and thus upgrade the level of our cybersecurity.”

The authors noted the first National Cybersecurity Strategy was released in 2019 but lacked the policy to “look squarely” at North Korea’s cyberthreats, “the biggest actual threat” to South Korea, among other things.

The 2019 edition was authored during the previous administration of President Moon Jae-in, who promoted reconciliation with North Korea as a means to achieve denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

An ordinary university student accidentally kills a man, who later turns out to be a malicious serial killer. Believing he has uncanny talent to recognize evildoers, he embarks on a killing spree of his own, convinced it is the right thing to do.

Netflix’s upcoming Korean original, “A Killer Paradox,” follows the student Lee Tang, played by “Parasite” star Choi Woo-shik, and the relentless detective Jang Nan-gam, played by Son Suk-ku of “My Liberation Notes,” who pursues Lee.

The premise of the new series might sound like a usual gritty crime-thriller-mystery, but director Lee Chang-hee, who made popular thriller series like “Strangers From Hell,” and the actors in the show present a different picture.

“The series is full of irony, harmonizing things that are seemingly at odds with one another,” Lee said at a press event in Seoul on Thursday, adding, “While the show is fun, it also asks a heavy question at the end.”

The show combines fantastical elements of the main protagonist Lee, the detective Jang’s
crime thriller, as well as noir aspects revolving around the former detective-turned-criminal Song Chon (Lee Hee-joon) on the trail of Lee, the director added.

Adding to the appeal of the show are, the director said, the paradox the characters confront, the main protagonist Lee’s psychological evolution through a series of killings and the conflict between guilt and liberation and anxiety and peace.

“Who on Earth has the right to destroy evil, and how far should one be allowed to go in doing so?” actor Son said about the dilemma his character faces in the series.

“(The show’s) like a bowl of tasty bibimbap,” actor Choi said, referring to Korean mixed rice with assorted vegetables and meat. “It harmoniously mixed many different genres and charming characters together.”

Like many other Korean original shows being produced these days, the series is based on the popular Naver webtoon of the same name, which has a huge fan base.

The director said he tried to maintain the tone and manner of the original work a
nd to ensure the core message remained intact. While he found the job quite challenging to turn the fantasy web comics into a live-action series, the challenge itself spurred him on and made him work harder for a good show, he said.

“I focused on visualizing Lee’s mental status, like by using beautiful but incongruous classical music as the soundtrack in killing scenes and crosscuts of scenes that don’t seem to fit together,” he said.

Son said he couldn’t wait to see the series’ release, particularly for fans of the original webtoon.

“I can’t pinpoint one genre for the series. I would just say it is made by a unique producer with very young and trendy tastes,” he said. “I think the webtoon fans will really love it.”

The eight-part series is set to premiere Feb. 9.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

South Korea will join a large-scale U.S.-led multinational air exercise in Guam this month in an effort to strengthen operational capabilities with other nations, the Air Force said Thursday.

The annual Cope North exercise will take place at the Andersen Air Force Base in Guam from Feb. 5-23, involving more than 80 military aircraft and some 3,000 troops from six countries, including Japan, Australia, France and Canada.

South Korea plans to send some 60 Air Force personnel and two CN-235 transport aircraft for the exercise, which will focus on various large-scale air maneuver and attack training to enhance cooperation among the participating countries.

The Air Force said its troops will take part in aerial medical evacuation, and personnel and cargo drop drills, as well as stage joint formation flights with French troops using the same CN-235 aircraft as it does to share operational knowledge on the plane.

“As seen in recent conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, the importance of wartime operations
support capabilities through well-ordered personnel and cargo drops is growing,” Gen. Lee Young-su, Air Force chief of staff, was quoted as saying.

“I call on you to further enhance our military’s airborne ability and operational capabilities through the combined exercise with various countries in an unfamiliar environment,” he said.

The Air Force said this year’s Cope North is part of the multiyear exercise plan among South Korea, the United States and Japan approved last December amid efforts to bolster trilateral security cooperation.

South Korea first joined the exercise in 2014 but has participated in it every other year since 2018.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

Two firefighters were found dead early Thursday after they were trapped at a burning meat processing factory in the central city of Mungyeong while on a mission to search for fire victims, authorities said.

Rescuers retrieved the bodies of the firefighters, Kim, 27, and Park, 35, from the third floor of the fire-damaged factory building in Mungyeong, 140 kilometers southeast of Seoul, at 1:01 a.m and 4:14 a.m., respectively, the fire agency of the North Gyeongsang Province said.

Together with two other coworkers, the two firefighters were searching for any remaining victims inside the building and locating the origin of the fire on the third floor when they were engulfed by the flames and trapped, the authorities said.

As the flames rapidly spread, the firefighters attempted to evacuate the building through the stairs but appear to have failed, according to the authorities.

The fire started in the four-story meat processing factory at 7:47 p.m. the previous day, and the main body of the blaze was brought
under control shortly after midnight.

Five factory workers were reported to have evacuated the building, with one of them sent to a hospital after inhaling smoke.

Some 331 firefighters and 47 fire engines and other equipment were mobilized to combat the blaze.

Police and fire authorities plan to look into the exact cause of the fire and the circumstances of the firefighters’ deaths.

Fire authorities also plan to conduct DNA tests to precisely identify the retrieved bodies of the firefighters, as the bodies were found in a condition where it’s difficult to identify them with the naked eye.

“The identities of the trapped rescuers, who were wearing the same outfit, have not been confirmed as of now,” Bae Jong-hyuk, the chief of the Mungyeong fire agency, said.

“What is clear, however, is that the firefighters did their best to extinguish the fire, and a truly sad thing has happened.”

Source: Yonhap News Agency

Yasothon, Found a check-in photo spot. Wide stone terraces on mountain peaks and high cliffs Som Pho Subdistrict Administrative Organization Thai Charoen District Prepare to develop it into a tourist attraction. There is a tent area to experience nature and take photos from a high angle overlooking the reservoir.

Executive team of Som Pho Subdistrict Administrative Organization Thai Charoen District, Yasothon Province, took reporters on foot to explore the area at the top of Phu Phra Non. In the area of ??Ban Mai Chompoo, Village No. 7, it was found that Phu Phra Non is a sandstone mountain with 3 wide stone terraces sloping from the top of the mountain to the bottom. During the rainy season, water flows through the rock terrace area. Beautiful like a water curtain

As for the second floor stone courtyard, there is a reclining Buddha statue and a Buddha image enshrined. In the stone courtyard in front of the reclining Buddha, there is a footprint of the Lord Buddha, approximately 2.50 meters long, sitting o
n the stone courtyard. A little further away, there was also a turtle-shaped rock that the locals called Turtle Ngoi.

In addition, the 3rd floor, which is the highest floor, is found to be a wide rocky area and has a steep cliff as a viewpoint and can take 180-degree high-angle photos, overlooking the reservoir below. Near the cliff area, there is also a large rock that protrudes from the edge of the cliff, making it an ideal spot for taking beautiful and thrilling check-in photos.

Som Pho Subdistrict Administrative Organization Prepare to adjust the surrounding landscape and develop this Phu Phra Non as an important natural tourist attraction in Som Pho Subdistrict. Both are tent camping grounds, experiencing nature up close and taking check-in photos on high cliffs. For anyone interested in going sightseeing or taking check-in photos, you can travel every day. There is a paved road for convenient access. Or you can contact for additional directions at the Som Pho Subdistrict Administrative Organization.

S
ource: Thai News Agency

Bangkok, A young rider almost got unlucky. Was hired to deliver a package to a luxury hotel in the RCA area. The employer claimed it was a wristwatch. But in the end it became a drug.

In the middle of last night (January 31), police from the Patrol and Special Operations Division or S.P.O. along with the Prawet Police Station went to pick up the young rider. along with drug paraphernalia both ice and some ecstasy pills After the young rider met the police and reported that drugs were found in a package that was hired to deliver to the recipient. During the transportation

Rider Laowa received an order from a man at Soi Krungthep Kreetha 20, Thap Chang Subdistrict, Saphan Sung District, Bangkok. He was hired to bring a package which stated that it was a wristwatch inside. to drop off the recipient at a luxury hotel in the RCA area, but while riding a motorcycle he felt something unusual. This is because the hired box is unusually light. It’s not like the weight of a watch. So he stopped and parked his car on
the side of the road to open the box and look at it. He was shocked to find that it wasn’t a clock inside. But it’s a drug. Both ice drugs are packed in ziplock bags. Weighing approximately 15 grams and 5 ecstasy pills, he quickly took all the drugs to report to the police at Hua Mak Police Station, where he opened the package.

The officer said that he had to report the matter to the parcel receiving point. or in the area of ??Prawet Police Station, so he drove out. But on the way to report feelings of worry Afraid of encountering a checkpoint and causing misunderstandings So he stopped to ask for help from the police at the Pattanakarn intersection. Srinakarin Road to show sincerity The officers helped coordinate patrols from Prawet Police Station to investigate. and was admitted to register for drug seizure. By keeping the young rider as a witness. In order to investigate and expand the results to include the employer and the recipient of the destination parcel to prosecute.

Source: Thai News Agency

Renault Korea Motors, the South Korean unit of Renault S.A., said Thursday its January sales plunged over 80 percent on-year due to overseas shipping difficulties following tensions in the Red Sea.

Renault Korea sold 1,871 vehicles in January, down 81.4 percent from a year earlier due to logistical uncertainties arising from the Red Sea in the Middle East following the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The company said its monthly exports plunged 97.1 percent to 226 units, while domestic sales also dropped 22.3 percent to 2,116 units.

Lee Seon-hee, head of Renault Korea’s logistics operation, said the company was “concerned with the long-term decline in export competitiveness of the company and its partners” due to rising logistics burdens and added costs from tensions in the Red Sea.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

The unification ministry said Thursday it has created a symbol of South Koreans abducted and detained in North Korea with an image of three forget-me-nots in a bid to raise public awareness of the issue.

The move is part of South Korea’s efforts to draw people’s attention to the long-pending issue in hope of their safe repatriations, according to the ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs.

The ministry said three forget-me-nots each represent South Korean abductees, detainees and prisoners of the 1950-53 Korean War.

ULKIN, a fashion company, plans to showcase clothes using the symbol for the first time Saturday during Seoul Fashion Week, South Korea’s biggest biannual fashion show.

The ministry also said it will register the symbol with copyrighted public records so that more people can easily use the image for various purposes.

Currently, six South Koreans, including missionary Kim Jong-wook, are under yearslong detention in North Korea on charges of committing what Pyongyang claims are anti-North
Korea crimes.

Separately, the estimated number of South Koreans abducted to North Korea following the Korean War had reached 516 as of the end of 2022, but many of them are believed to have died.

South Korea says 80 South Korean prisoners of war (POWs) in North Korea have fled to their home country since the war ended in a cease-fire, not a peace treaty.

South Korea estimates that more than 500 POWs had still been alive in the North as of the end of January. Still, North Korea denies holding any POWs.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

Cuba’s new ambassador to North Korea has begun his duties, according to the North’s state media Thursday, as countries having friendly ties with North Korea have ramped up diplomatic activities in the secretive regime since the opening of its border.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was presented with the credentials of Cuban Ambassador Eduardo Luis Correa Garcia from Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The letter of credence was received by Choe Ryong-hae, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People’s Assembly, on Wednesday upon the authorization of the North’s leader, it said.

North Korea and Cuba have long maintained a close relationship since they established their diplomatic relationship in 1960.

Most diplomatic missions in Pyongyang were closed and foreign diplomats stationed in the North were asked to leave Pyongyang as North Korea shut down its border over COVID-19 in early 2020.

Cuba has become the third country known to have presen
ted credentials for a new envoy to North Korea after China and Mongolia since last year, when Pyongyang partially opened its border.

In April 2023, China’s new ambassador to North Korea, Wang Yajun, began his official duty after his arrival was delayed for years due to the North’s border closure. Earlier this week, Mongolia’s new top envoy to Pyongyang submitted a letter of credentials to the North.

In September last year, the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang was believed to have raised the number of its staff members. Nicaragua, a country considered to be standing against the United States, is believed to have a plan to open an embassy in North Korea soon.

“North Korea appears to be resuming its diplomacy with countries deemed to have an anti-U.S. stance or nations with which the North has kept friendly ties based on socialism,” an official at Seoul’s unification ministry told reporters.

Meanwhile, North Korea has shut down nine of its diplomatic missions since the second half of last year amid economic diff
iculties, according to Seoul’s foreign ministry. The total number of North Korean diplomatic missions had stood at 44 as of Tuesday.

The North has pulled out of Hong Kong and Libya in recent months in the latest of a series of the shutdown of its diplomatic missions, including Angola, Nepal, Bangladesh, Spain and Uganda.

Source: Yonhap News Agency

An American industry group has called on the U.S. government to craft new multilateral chip equipment export controls, claiming the current strict unilateral ones put U.S. firms at a disadvantage over their rivals from South Korea and other countries.

The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) made the call in their written comments sent to the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) under the Commerce Department on Jan. 17, as it stressed the need for the new controls to ensure what it called a “level playing field.”

“SIA maintains that multilateral controls are more effective than unilateral controls and that they ensure that U.S. companies are not placed at a disadvantage in the global marketplace,” it said.

The association pointed out that U.S. standalone rules impose end-use controls and prohibitions on U.S. support for advanced fabrication facilities in China, which they argue undermine the competitiveness of U.S. semiconductor manufacturing equipment companies.

“This means that U.S. companies are
unable to export any semiconductor manufacturing equipment … to advanced fabrication facilities in China,” it said. “By contrast, foreign competitors from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Israel and the Netherlands may export equipment not subject to list-based controls to advanced fabs in China, as well as to support such equipment.”

SIA requested that BIS do “all that is possible” to make the new controls.

“Every dollar earned by our non-U.S. competitors because of the existence of U.S. unilateral controls, regardless of licensing policies, is invested in their research and development efforts that could ultimately lead to the erosion of U.S. semiconductor leadership,” it said.

Meanwhile, Alan Estevez, under secretary of commerce for industry and security, said last month that the United States, South Korea and other allies are in “preliminary” talks over the idea of creating a new export control regime to prevent cutting-edge technologies, including semiconductors and quantum computing, from being transferred to
potential adversaries.

He said that a new regime on those technologies is needed as existing multilateral regimes do not operate at the current pace of rapid technological change.

Source: Yonhap News Agency