Seoul reasserts fruitful Korea-Japan summit as prerequisite for Moon's visit to Tokyo

The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae reiterated Sunday that the decision on President Moon Jae-in's potential attendance at the opening ceremony of the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games depends on whether the visit would guarantee a fruitful summit meeting between the two countries' leaders. Cheong Wa Dae has left the door open for Moon's possible attendance at the opening ceremony set for July 23 and a summit meeting between Moon and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on that occasion. The possibil

July 11, 2021

S. Korea ranks 3rd in global passport index

The South Korean passport was found to be the third most effective one for travelers around the world, allowing its bearers to travel to 191 countries visa-free, data showed Sunday. Asia's fourth-largest economy and Germany tied for third, only after Japan and Singapore, in the latest edition of the Henley Passport Index. The Japanese passport provides visa-free travel to 193 countries and Singapore to 192 countries. The index released by immigration consulting firm Henley & Partners Co

July 11, 2021

Senior diplomat meets senior Congo officials to discuss bilateral cooperation

Ham Sang-wook, deputy foreign minister for multilateral affairs, met senior officials of the Republic of the Congo to discuss bilateral ties and economic cooperation during his trip there this week, the foreign ministry said Friday. On Wednesday, Ham paid courtesy calls on Foreign Minister Jean-Claude Gakosso and Denis Christel Sassou Nguesso, the minister of international cooperation and promotion of public-private partnership. Ham's trip to the capital city of Brazzaville was designed to dee

July 9, 2021

Korean researcher joins IAEA team to monitor Japan's planned release of Fukushima water

The UN nuclear watchdog has formed a team of experts, including a South Korean researcher, to monitor Japan's planned discharge of treated water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, the government said Friday. Kim Hong-suk, a nuclear expert from the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS), joined the team that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) formed Thursday, it said, noting his participation will help ensure the safety of the planned water release. The team is known

July 9, 2021

US still reviewing possibility of first lady's trip to Tokyo Olympics: White House

WASHINGTON -- The United States is still considering the possibility of its first lady, Jill Biden, traveling to Japan for the summer Olympics there, a White House spokeswoman said Thursday. "We are still assessing the feasibility of the first lady attending and our advance team arrives in Tokyo later this week," Jen Psaki told a daily press briefing. Her remarks come shortly after Tokyo said the Olympics will take place without any spectators, amid a resurgence in COVID-19 infection

July 9, 2021

South Korea expresses condolences over death of Haiti's president

The foreign ministry expressed "deep condolences" Thursday over the death of Haiti's President Jovenel Moise, pledging to support efforts to restore political and social stability in the country. Moise was killed during an attack at his private residence on Wednesday morning, creating political turmoil when the country struggles with poverty. First lady Martine Moise was also attacked and is under treatment, according to reports. "We express deep condolences to the bereaved fam

July 8, 2021

Cheong Wa Dae piles pressure on Japan over summit talks

Cheong Wa Dae is upping pressure on Japan over summit talks as it has started discussions about President Moon Jae-in’s possible attendance at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics later this month. Until last week, the presidential office had remained mum about the president’s Tokyo visit amid a flurry of news reports from Japan. But this week there has been a shift in tone as Moon’s key aides are starting to speak out that the ball is in Japan’s court. “We

July 8, 2021

Top nuclear envoys of S. Korea, US hold phone talks

South Korea's chief nuclear negotiator, Noh Kyu-duk, spoke by phone with his US counterpart, Sung Kim, on Thursday and discussed efforts to advance the peace process on the Korean Peninsula, the foreign ministry said. During the phone call, Noh and Kim discussed how to work together to swiftly implement agreements reached between President Moon Jae-in and US President Joe Biden at their May 21 summit and to make substantive progress in efforts to realize complete denuclearization on the penins

July 8, 2021

Senior diplomat meets top DR Congo officials to discuss bilateral cooperation

Ham Sang-wook, deputy foreign minister for multilateral affairs, has met top officials of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to discuss bilateral ties and exchanges during his trip to the country, the foreign ministry said Thursday. Ham paid courtesy calls on President Felix Tshisekedi and Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula Apala Pen'Apala during his trip to Kinshasa from Monday through Thursday -- the first such visit by a senior Seoul official since the peaceful transfer of power in DR C

July 8, 2021

Competition with China already requires Cold War era measures: US intelligence officer

WASHINGTON -- Growing US competition with China may lead to a second Cold War, a US military intelligence officer said Wednesday. Rear Adm. Mike Studeman, director for intelligence at the US Indo-Pacific Command, also argued other US adversaries such as North Korea consider every day a war with the US for the upper hand. "You can avoid the word 'Cold War' and that's fine, but the degree of action that we need to take is of the magnitude of what we applied in the previous century," St

July 8, 2021

Moon, Dutch PM vow to bolster partnership on chips

President Moon Jae-in and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Wednesday pledged to further bolster cooperation on semiconductor production, a crucial partnership in the global supply chain for the most cutting-edge chips. Their virtual summit came as the two nations celebrate the 60th anniversary of bilateral ties this year. It is the third summit between the two leaders, following their two in-person talks held on the occasions of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and a G-20 summit, both in 2018

July 7, 2021

US wants partnership with S. Korea based on 'shared values' amid China challenge: congressman

The United States wants to work with like-minded countries, including South Korea, based on the shared values of democracy and freedom that are being challenged by an assertive China, a US congressman said Wednesday. Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) made the remark during a media event in Seoul, noting that standing by those values could be a path for South Korea to take, rather than the frame of having to "choose" either the US or China amid their intensifying rivalry. "We never expect thi

July 7, 2021

[Herald Interview] Uncovering ‘true picture’ of Japan’s colonial rule of Korea

The four decades between 1905 and 1945, starting when Korea was forced to sign the Eulsa Treaty, which made it a protectorate of Japan, is largely considered a lost period in the history of the country’s foreign policy. 　 As a result of the 1905 treaty -- which laid the foundation for the country’s subsequent annexation in 1910 -- Korea was stripped of its diplomatic sovereignty, losing its voice and representation on the international stage until its liberation in 1945. 　 With Ja

July 7, 2021

Romania and the Republic of Korea: A strategic partnership that will grow stronger in the post-pandemic era

  Romania and the Republic of Korea: A strategic partnership that will grow stronger in the post-pandemic era The relationship between Romania and South Korea is strong and dynamic, beginning with the first contacts between the two peoples, which started to discover each other even before the formal establishment of diplomatic relations. Since culture and sport are usually the best ambassadors, the foundation of the Romanian language department by Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in

July 7, 2021

US, Chinese envoys for N. Korea hold phone talks: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- Sung Kim, Special US representative for North Korea, held phone talks with his Chinese counterpart on Tuesday, the State Department said. The call between Kim and China's Liu Xiaoming apparently marks the first of its kind since Kim was named the special envoy in May. "I can confirm that a call took place," a department spokesperson told Yonhap News Agency without elaborating. Department spokesman Ned Price later highlighted an important role China can play in addressi

July 7, 2021

Finland-Korea cooperation has great potential in post-COVID era: Finnish ambassador

Finland and South Korea have great potential for collaboration in a wide range of fields, including the environment, ICT and pioneering the world after COVID-19, says Finnish Ambassador Pekka Metso. “Finland-Korea cooperation will benefit ITCs, ocean and fisheries, and startups because Finland is looking for new avenues of research, innovation, circular economy, smart harbors and ports, autonomous vessels and maritime industry,” Metso said. “Finland and South Korea can provi

July 6, 2021

Vice FM calls for continued intl. support for peninsula peace efforts

Second Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-moon called for continued international support for South Korea's efforts for lasting peace on the divided Korean Peninsula during a global forum on nuclear disarmament, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. Choi made the call at the virtual Ministerial Meeting of the Stockholm Initiative for Nuclear Disarmament, a multilateral forum on nuclear arms control issues, Monday amid Seoul's efforts to revive nuclear diplomacy with Pyongyang. "Choi explained t

July 6, 2021

S. Koreans remaining in Afghanistan urged to leave by July: official

All South Koreans remaining in Afghanistan must leave the country by no later than July or face criminal punishment, a foreign ministry official said Monday, as unrest grew in Afghanistan amid the ongoing withdrawal of US and its allies' forces. Afghanistan is currently banned for travel, along with five other foreign countries, including Iraq, Syria and Somalia. A violation of the travel ban is punishable by up to one-year in prison or a 10 million-won fine ($8,837) under Korean law. A "

July 5, 2021

S. Korea excluded from Italy’s quarantine-free travel scheme

It may take more time for South Korean people to travel to Italy without a 10-day quarantine requirement as the nation has been excluded from an initial list of countries that are subject to the Italian government’s new quarantine-free travel scheme, called certificazione verde, or green pass. Starting this month, quarantine-free travel is allowed in Italy for people from the US, Canada, Israel and Japan as well as those from EU countries if they present a digital health certificate that

July 5, 2021

Hydrogen key collaboration opportunity for S. Korea, Australia: Ambassador

  Hydrogen is at the forefront of collaboration opportunities between S. Korea and Australia, Australian Ambassador Catherine Raper said during an event co-hosted by the Global Green Growth Institute and the Australian Embassy in Seoul on Tuesday. “There is very much global momentum to develop the hydrogen economy- momentum that’s been created by global agreement on the need to address climate change,” Raper said. “So, as advanced and industrialized nations, Austr

July 5, 2021