The office of President Yoon Suk Yeol will create the position of political affairs minister in an effort to strengthen communication with the National Assembly, Yoon's chief of staff said Monday. Presidential Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk made the remark during a parliamentary steering committee meeting amid calls for Yoon to make greater efforts to reach out to the opposition-controlled parliament to better take care of state affairs and move his agenda forward. "We will create the position of political affairs minister so as to strengthen effective and practical communication between the government and the National Assembly," Chung said. "We will heed sufficiently to the opinions of lawmakers, offer sufficient explanations and conduct consultations continuously." The latest move comes as rival parties are expected to engage in debates in the coming weeks, with opposition parties considering reintroducing contentious bills that Yoon had vetoed. The main opposition Democratic Party is preparing to propos e a bill calling for a special counsel probe into alleged state interference in a Marine Corps investigation into the cause of a young Marine's death during a rescue operation last year. Additionally, bills concerning media boardrooms and the impeachment of the chief of the broadcasting watchdog, Korea Communications Commission, are likely to be put to a vote. Source: Yonhap News Agency
Satellite Imagery Reveals Progress on Laos’ Pak Beng Mekong River Da
Vientiane: Construction is underway on Laos’ latest large-scale Mekong River dam, satellite imagery analyzed by Radio Free Asia shows. Experts told RFA that the Pak Beng hydropower project will be