Rocky Seoul-Tokyo ties expected to continue in Biden era

A dramatic shift in Korea-Japan relations is unlikely, despite anticipation for change with Joe Biden taking control of the White House in the US and expected pressure from Washington for its two key Northeast Asian allies to mend ties. 　 For Washington, forging strong trilateral cooperation with Seoul and Tokyo is critical, as it views a security coalition of like-minded allies as central to tackling mounting challenges in the region, such as containing China’s aggression and North Kore

Feb. 1, 2021

S. Korea's foreign minister urges fair supply of COVID-19 vaccines

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha has urged the world to ensure a fair and equitable supply of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, voicing concerns about vaccine nationalism. Kang made the remarks at an online session of the World Economic Forum on Friday, the foreign ministry said in a statement. During the session, Kang called for the world to take a multilateral approach for a fair use of vaccines and treatments, the ministry said. Kang also hailed the World Health Organization

Jan. 30, 2021

'Quad' a foundation for American policy in Indo-Pacific: Sullivan

The US-led regional forum in the Indo-Pacific, known as the Quad, may serve as the foundation of US foreign policy in the region, the top US security adviser said Friday. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan also said the Joe Biden administration will continue to build on the Quad. "I think we really want to carry forward and build on that format, that mechanism which we see as a foundation upon which to build substantial American policy in the Indo-Pacific region," Sullivan said

Jan. 30, 2021

Vice FM Choi meets new Costa Rican ambassador to discuss economic cooperation

Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun met with the new Costa Rican ambassador Friday to discuss cooperation on the Central American country's projects for infrastructure development and electronic governance, the foreign ministry said. In the talks with Alejandro Rodriguez Zamora, Choi asked for his cooperation in helping South Korean companies join the projects, expressing his hope that their participation will create new opportunities for bilateral economic exchanges in the post-coronavirus era

Jan. 29, 2021

Double taxation avoidance pact between S. Korea, Cambodia takes effect

A tax agreement signed between South Korea and Cambodia to prevent double taxation went into force Friday, the foreign ministry said. The pact allows countries to avoid taxing the same income twice and helps ease the tax burden on companies doing business in another country. South Korea and Cambodia signed the agreement in November 2019, and both countries gained parliamentary approval last month. South Korea has now signed the double taxation avoidance pacts with all 10 members of the Associ

Jan. 29, 2021

OPCON transition will be conditions, not time-based: Pentagon spokesman

WASHINGTON -- The planned transition of the wartime operational control (OPCON) of South Korean troops will take place when all necessary conditions are met, not because of a simple passage of time, a Pentagon spokesperson said Thursday. John Supple also said a "conditions-based" transition is not only what has been agreed on but also what is necessary to ensure peace and security. "Wartime Operational Control will transition when the mutually-agreed upon conditions are fully me

Jan. 29, 2021

US committed to keeping readiness of USFK through exercises: Pentagon official

WASHINGTON -- US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin remains committed to maintaining the readiness of American troops in South Korea through military exercises, a Pentagon official said Thursday. Pentagon press secretary John Kirby also highlighted the importance of troop readiness amid North Korea's continued pursuit of new advanced weapons, such as the submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). "We recognize the value of training and exercises to keep forces ready, and no place is that

Jan. 29, 2021

S. Korea launches task force to strengthen policy communication with Biden govt.

South Korea's foreign ministry on Thursday launched a task force aimed at strengthening policy-related communication with the new administration of US President Joe Biden and American experts. The launch came amid Seoul's efforts to beef up cooperation with the Biden government in resuming dialogue with Pyongyang and advancing its stalled agenda of fostering a lasting peace on the divided Korean Peninsula. The need for policy communication with the United States has also arisen amid criticism

Jan. 28, 2021

S. Korea voices 'deep concerns' over air attack on Saudi capital

South Korea voiced "deep concerns" Thursday over a recent aerial attack on Saudi Arabia, renewing its opposition to any destabilizing activity in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed a "hostile air target" going toward Riyadh on Saturday, according to media reports. The culprit behind the attack remains unknown, though Houthi rebels in Yemen had mounted a series of attacks against the kingdom. "Our government expresses deep concerns over the fact tha

Jan. 28, 2021

South Korea, Uzbekistan agree to begin free trade talks

President Moon Jae-in and his Uzbek counterpart, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, declared the kickoff of free trade talks between the two countries to further strengthen their strategic partnership during an online summit Thursday. Uzbekistan is one of the key partners in the South Korean government’s New Northern Policy, which aims to explore ways to step up economic cooperation with Central Asian countries under a vision of peace and prosperity in Eurasia. If the pact, called the Agreement for Su

Jan. 28, 2021

FM nominee: Boosting alliance with US 'primary task' for S. Korea diplomacy

Boosting the alliance with the United States is a primary task for South Korean diplomacy, the nominee for foreign minister said Thursday. Chung Eui-yong, who served as national security adviser to President Moon Jae-in before his nomination as foreign minister, made the remarks during a brief press availability, calling the alliance with the US "the foundation of our diplomacy." "I think one of the most important tasks for our diplomacy is to continue to develop our alliance wi

Jan. 28, 2021

Biden administration seeking foreign policies that will stand test of time: Blinken

The Biden administration will work to create foreign policies that will endure, even through a change of US administrations, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday. The top US diplomat said that is why the new administration seeks to work closely with Congress. "The members of Congress are the representatives of the American people. They provide advice and consent to our policies, and I think one of the things you are going to see from our administration is working as closely

Jan. 28, 2021

S. Korea extends suspension of flights from Britain till Feb. 11

South Korea on Wednesday extended its suspension of direct flights from Britain for two more weeks, amid its stepped-up efforts to block the inflow of a more transmissible variant of the new coronavirus. The suspension, which was set to end on Thursday, will remain in place until Feb. 11, according to the South Korean Embassy in Britain. Seoul introduced the ban on flights from Britain in December. As of Monday, South Korea reported 27 cases of mutated virus strains, including 19 from Britai

Jan. 27, 2021

Moon briefs global leaders on S. Korea's inclusive policy amid pandemic

President Moon Jae-in introduced global political and business leaders Wednesday to South Korea's policy measures designed to promote inclusive growth in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. He was delivering a special speech at an online meeting of the World Economic Forum as part of its Davos Agenda Week event. He enumerated Seoul's policy measures to help households and businesses that have suffered a heavy blow from the virus spread, including three batches of emergency cash handouts and f

Jan. 27, 2021

Washington could revive four-party, six-party talks with NK under Blinken

Washington could seek the now-defunct four-party or six-party talks with Pyongyang to resolve the nuclear issue with Antony Blinken, a strong advocate of multilateral diplomacy, at the reins of the US State Department, experts said on Wednesday. Blinken, a long time foreign policy aide to President Joe Biden, was sworn in as the new Secretary of State Tuesday (US time), after being approved by the Senate with a vote of 78-22.  With the top diplomat in place, Washington will kick off a re

Jan. 27, 2021

Moon’s tough job of striking balance between US, China

A phone call between President Moon Jae-in and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping underscored again South Korea’s tough job of striking a delicate balance between the US and China, whose relations enter a new phase under the Joe Biden administration. The South Korean and Chinese presidents held the phone conversation Tuesday night to discuss a slew of topics ranging from Xi’s delayed visit to Seoul to Moon’s role in the frosty US-North Korea diplomacy and coronavirus respons

Jan. 27, 2021

Xi expresses support for Korean denuclearization in phone talks with Moon: Cheong Wa Dae

Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed his active support for Seoul's initiative to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, calling the efforts in line with the common interests of both countries, according to Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday. It said Xi delivered the comments during his phone talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday. During the talks, Moon said he hopes Seoul and Beijing can work together to open a trilateral summit between the two countries along with Japan. Xi repl

Jan. 27, 2021

S. Korea to host intl. conference on veterans affairs with 22 UN 'Sending States'

South Korea plans to host an international conference this year involving veterans affairs ministers from countries that participated in the 1950-53 Korean War, officials said Wednesday. The peace conference, to be held either in Seoul or the southern city of Busan in December, will bring together the ministers from 22 countries, including the United States, Britain, Canada and Turkey, to discuss ways to develop their friendly relationships and promote peace, according to the Ministry of Patrio

Jan. 27, 2021

S. Korea welcomes Blinken's inauguration as top US diplomat

South Korea welcomes the inauguration of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and expects that the alliance with the United States will develop further, the foreign ministry said Wednesday. "Our government welcomes the official inauguration of US Secretary of State Blinken following the Senate approval," ministry spokesperson, Choi Young-sam, said in a commentary. "We expect the South Korea-US alliance to develop further with the inauguration of the new secretary, who has ample

Jan. 27, 2021

Trump's push for KORUS FTA revision added uncertainty to alliance: CRS

WASHINGTON -- Former US President Donald Trump's push to revise the Korea-US FTA may have hurt the countries' alliance, a congressional report said Tuesday, noting the issue may need to be addressed by the Biden administration. "The modification agreement allayed some of these concerns, but the Trump Administration's statements linking trade and security issues and persistent threats of additional US unilateral import restrictions, particularly on US auto imports, added a degree of uncerta

Jan. 27, 2021