Jan. 1, 1883: Jemulpo Port, located 40 kilometers west of Seoul, is officially renamed Incheon Port. Along with this change, the port's functions are expanded to facilitate commercial trade with foreign countries.
According to Yonhap News Agency, On this day in 1896, the Joseon Dynasty transitioned from using the lunar calendar to the Gregorian calendar. This significant change marked a shift in the nation's timekeeping practices. By 1905, the Gyeongbu railway, connecting Seoul and Busan, was fully operational, enhancing transportation and communication between two major cities in Korea.
In 1981, the Korean Central Intelligence Agency underwent a rebranding and was renamed the Agency for National Security Planning. Following this, in 1983, an ethics law for government officials was ratified, requiring high-level officials and lawmakers to annually report their assets to the government.
A significant political proposal came in 1989 when North Korean President Kim Il-sung suggested political negotiations between leading figures from North and South Korea. This was a notable gesture towards potential reconciliation and dialogue between the two Koreas.
The South Korean government expressed regret over Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's 2004 visit to a controversial shrine honoring Japanese war dead, including World War II criminals, reflecting ongoing tensions related to historical grievances.
In a 2019 New Year's Day address, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared his commitment to denuclearization and willingness to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, but also warned of seeking a new path if the U.S. continued to rely on sanctions. This statement indicated a complex balance of diplomacy and assertiveness in North Korea's international stance.
The following year, in 2020, North Korean state media reported that Kim Jong-un had announced during a key ruling party meeting his intention to end the suspension of nuclear and long-range missile tests and to soon unveil a "new strategic weapon." He accused the United States of stalling for time and not acting in good faith in negotiations.
By 2023, North Korea's state media reported that Kim Jong-un called for a significant increase in the country's nuclear arsenal and the development of a new intercontinental ballistic missile during another key ruling party meeting. Labeling South Korea as the North's "undoubted enemy," he emphasized the need to mass-produce tactical nuclear weapons, marking a notable escalation in the North's military and nuclear ambitions.