One each from the Chosun Ilbo, Don-a Ilbo, and Joongang Ilbo, and all one topic; you guessed it, Roh’s abysmal performance as president. This quote from the Joongang is to the point: “President Roh Moo-hyun held a press conference . . . After seeing it, people have had to lower their expectations for an improvement [...]

According to Bruce Cumings in his interview with the Dong-a Ilbo: Scholar Assesses Korea-U.S. Alliance:
Twenty years on, what is the opinion of Cumings on Korea-U.S. relations? Dong-A Ilbo had an e-mail and telephone interview with him.
-How do you assess the relationship between Korea and the U.S.?
“The Korea-U.S. alliance is in its worst era since the [...]

Chosun Ilbo: USFK ‘Shelves Headquarters Move to Pyeongtaek’
Yonhap: China agrees to give custody of SK POWs from NK
Korea Times: Roh Reaffirms Alliance With US
Dong-a Ilbo: U.S. Commanders Divided On N. Korea
Bloomberg: Japan Military Asks for Bigger Budget to Boost Missile Defense
Bloomberg: Japan Faces Rise of `Dangerous’ Nationalism, LDP’s Kato Says
Kyodo: U.S. urges Asian [...]

The debate over the transfer of wartime operational command of the Combined Forces Command (CFC) from the U.S. to South Korea has delved into the upkeep costs for USFK. The cost issue is actually about what is fair, and whether or not Roh is a hypocrite on that issue.
Earlier this year President Roh Moo-hyun suggested [...]

Oh, no, WaPo has caught on to the so-called Korean Wave (which is one year later than The New York Times, in turn at least a year late to the actual phenomenon). Some choice bits:
Thin and gorgeous in a slinky black dress, Mikimoto pearls and a low-slung diamond Tiffany pendant, 26-year-old Kazumi Yoshimura already has [...]

And while I am on the subject of rising Chinese politico-economic influence, the new “in” language at American schools is apparently Chinese:
“China is being mentioned everywhere in relation to everything from business, international affairs — even the war on terror,” said Kenneth Lieberthal, a professor of political science at the University of Michigan. “You buy [...]

Critics of American foreign policy often attribute economic motives to why the U.S. take a specific position or action on a global issue. The most obvious example is Iraq, on which the Bush administration, in particular, has been portrayed as a cabal of oil-hungry mercantilists who invaded Iraq for its oil wealth.
In reality, American political [...]

South Koreans are often obsessed with statistics and “who’s on top” lists.
Daily Chosun bemoans Brazil’s economy overtaking that of South Korea, pushing the latter down to 12th largest economy in the world. Apparently, Mexico (13th) and Russia (14th) are fast on South Korea’s heels.
There are many problems with this sort of ranking in what amounts [...]

We at The Korea Liberator often discuss visits to Yasukuni by Japanese officials in terms of Japan’s relationship with Korea (and occasionally with China).
Nonetheless, Yasukuni is primarily a domestic issue for Japanese politicians, as the latest alleged political violence from Japan demonstrates:
On Aug. 15, the day the arson took place, Koizumi had visited Yasukuni Shrine, [...]

In ladies softball. From the AP via USA Today, ‘U.S. softballers bash North Korea 7-0 at worlds:’
Jennie Finch pitched a two-hitter Monday to lead the defending champion United States past North Korea 7-0 at the softball world championships.