Yoon hopes to strengthen ties with US, expand cooperation

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday vowed to strengthen ties with the United States during his term, highlighting the need to expand cooperation between the two countries based on their alliance. In a meeting with Christopher Del Corso, charge d’affaires ad interim at the US Embassy in Seoul, Yoon said South Korea and the US will have to adjust its relationship to reflect that the countries are “sworn by blood” to help each other. He emphasized that the US is South Korea&

March 11, 2022

Yoon tells Japan, China’s leaders to further develop relations

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol has told leaders of neighboring Japan and China to develop relations further. The leaders agreed to strengthen ties with South Korea. On Friday morning, Yoon met with the Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming in Seoul, saying he is confident that Korea-China relations will develop further. “China is Korea‘s largest trading partner, and we are China’s third-largest trading partner,” Yoon told Xing. “This year is the 30th ann

March 11, 2022

US opposes reducing sanctions as Pyongyang advances nuclear capabilities: Jung Pak

WASHINGTON -- The United States opposes reducing or lifting sanctions on North Korea while the reclusive state continues to advance its nuclear and missile capabilities, US deputy special envoy for North Korea Jung Pak said Thursday. Pak also said the US remains committed to dialogue with the North but that would not stop it from calling out Pyongyang's bad behavior. "I know that there's been some calls for reducing sanctions or lifting sanctions or putting a lot on the table to get the DPR

March 11, 2022

N. Korean missile tests pose serious threat to peace, security: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- North Korea's nuclear and missile programs pose a serious threat to the peace and security of the Indo-Pacific region and beyond, US state department spokesperson Ned Price said Thursday. The remarks came after a senior US administration official said the North's missile launches, staged Feb. 27 and March 5 (Seoul time), were aimed at testing a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system. "These are ballistic missile launches," Price said when asked if the recent

March 11, 2022

USFK commander says he looks forward to working with Yoon administration

WASHINGTON -- US Forces Korea (USFK) commander Gen. Paul LaCamera congratulated South Korean President-elect Yoon Seok-yul Thursday, saying he looks forward to working with the incoming administration to further strengthen the US-South Korea alliance. Yoon was elected president Wednesday (Seoul time). "It has been an honor to work with the Moon administration," said LaCamera, referring to South Korea's outgoing administration of Moon Jae-in. "Congratulations to President-elect Yoo

March 11, 2022

Yoon, Biden reaffirm alliance in phone call

South Korea’s President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol held a phone conversation with US President Joe Biden just hours after his win Thursday, during which they reaffirmed the US-South Korea alliance to deal with North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. 　 During the 20-minute phone conversation, Biden congratulated Yoon on winning the presidential election, and invited the president-elect to the White House, according to a statement from Yoon’s People Power Party. In return, Yoon sa

March 10, 2022

[Hwang’s China and the World] Today’s Ukraine, tomorrow’s Taiwan?

While Ukraine fell into dire straits due to Russia’s attack, on the other side of the world, the US and China are scrambling to make an elaborate effort in dealing with Taiwan. On March 1, the Joe Biden administration has sent US delegations including the retired Navy Adm. Michael Mullen and former Under Secretary of Defense Michele Flournoy to Taiwan. On the following day, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also visited Taiwan. Given that a number of high-level US delegations are visit

March 10, 2022

Biden congratulates Yoon, reaffirms commitment to jointly address N. Korean threat

WASHINGTON -- US President Joe Biden congratulated South Korea's President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol on Wednesday, the White House said. Biden and Yoon talked on the phone hours after the incoming South Korean leader was declared the winner in the South Korean presidential election. "President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol of the Republic of Korea (ROK) to congratulate him on his election," the White House said in a press release, referring to South Kore

March 10, 2022

US intensifies intelligence reconnaissance, missile defense around Korean Peninsula

WASHINGTON -- The United States has intensified its intelligence collection activities around the Korean Peninsula, while its missile defense forces in the region have also been ordered to increase alert amid an increase in North Korean missile activities, the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) said Wednesday. The move follows nine rounds of North Korean missile tests, including seven in January that marked the largest number of missile tests conducted by North Korea in a single month. "Th

March 10, 2022

N. Korea poses serious regional threat, but US remains ready to deter aggression: USFK chief

WASHINGTON -- North Korea poses a serious threat to Northeast Asia but the combined forces of South Korea and the United States stand ready and capable to deter any aggression, the commander of US Forces Korea (USFK) said Wednesday. Gen. Paul LaCamera made the remarks in a hearing before the House Armed Services Committee on national security challenges and US military activities in the Indo-Pacific region. "While the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) continues to pose multiple t

March 10, 2022

South Korea’s new president faces myriad diplomatic challenges

South Korea went to the polls on Wednesday to elect its new president,  whose term will begin at the most challenging time for Korea in recent history.  On the domestic front, the new administration will need to wrestle with runaway housing prices, the coronavirus pandemic, gender and economic inequality among many other pressing issues. As pressing as these issues may be, the diplomatic situation facing the new president could have a long lasting impact on both South Korea and its

March 9, 2022

N. Korea may resume nuclear, ICBM testing this year: US report

WASHINGTON -- North Korea may resume nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) testing before the year's end, a US government report said Tuesday. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) also said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un believes his nuclear weapons are the "ultimate guarantor" of his regime and that North Korea will eventually be accepted as a nuclear power over time. "In January, North Korea began laying the groundwork for an increase in

March 9, 2022

Biden sends letter of appreciation for Korea’s support on Ukraine

US President Joe Biden sent a letter of appreciation to President Moon Jae-in for the South Korean government’s measures against Russia, including export controls and financial sanctions, over the Ukraine crisis, Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday. Biden said in a letter that “Korea’s determined measures will be a strong message that it supports Ukraine’s sovereignty,” Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Park Kyung-mi said in a written briefing on the same day. Biden stated in t

March 8, 2022

[Newsmaker] A modern Churchill? Zelenskyy praised as war communicator

To a watching world, his message is this, in both his words and his resolute, sometimes haggard appearance: He stands as a mirror to the suffering and spirit of his people. It appears to be getting through. Just days into the war engulfing his nation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is drawing historical comparisons as an effective and stirring wartime communicator _ yet with a distinctly modern touch inflected by the sensibilities of live television and the personal feel of social media

March 8, 2022

'Peace for Ukraine' message put up on Seoul city library building

The Seoul city government has put up a message wishing for "peace for Ukraine" against an image symbolizing Ukraine's flag on a large signboard plastered on the front wall of the Seoul city library building. The message on the Seoul Metropolitan Library building was put up in the hope of peace in Ukraine and is in line with the city's ongoing "peace light" campaign to light up key city landmarks in blue and yellow symbolizing Ukraine. The signboard shows in the background a b

March 8, 2022

US confirms exclusion of S. Korea from its export controls against Russia

The US government has formally announced the exclusion of South Korea from its expanded export restrictions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, which enhances partner nations' joint efforts to implement strong sanctions against Moscow, Seoul's trade ministry said Tuesday. Last month, the US government announced the Foreign Direct Product Rule (FDPR) for all of Russia, calling on companies to receive a license from the United States for tech-related items using US technology before they can b

March 8, 2022

Over $3 million raised in S. Korean donations to Ukraine: Kyiv envoy

Ukraine's top envoy to Seoul said Monday his office has raised over $3 million in donations from South Korea to support Ukrainian efforts in the war against Russia. "We will send some of the donated money directly to the National Bank of Ukraine and use some to buy and send food and medicine for our people," Ukrainian Ambassador Dmytro Ponomarenko said as he revealed the amount of donations his embassy received from South Koreans at a forum held at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

March 7, 2022

Chinese FM says N. Korea's security concern not resolved yet, U.S. holds key

The top Chinese diplomat said Monday North Korea's "reasonable" security concern remains unresolved and a resolution to its nuclear issue is up to the United States. "North Korea's reasonable security concerns have not been fundamentally resolved," Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a press conference held on the sidelines of the National People's Congress in Beijing. He said Beijing is taking note of Washington's statement that it has no "hostility" toward Pyong

March 7, 2022

S. Korea reviews aid to Ukraine, but sending weapons ‘not an option’

The South Korean government has been reviewing how to provide humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine, but it does not consider sending lethal weapons as a feasible option, according to South Korea’s Defense Ministry. Ukraine recently made an official request to the South Korean government asking for humanitarian assistance and military supplies to combat Russia’s invasion. “We are currently reviewing possible ways to provide assistance at the government level,” minis

March 7, 2022

[Newsmaker] Russian war in world's 'breadbasket' threatens food supply

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) -- The Russian tanks and missiles besieging Ukraine also are threatening the food supply and livelihoods of people in Europe, Africa and Asia who rely on the vast, fertile farmlands of the Black Sea region -- known as the "breadbasket of the world." Ukrainian farmers have been forced to neglect their fields as millions flee, fight or try to stay alive. Ports are shut down that send wheat and other food staples worldwide to be made into bread, noodles and animal fe

March 7, 2022