‘Moon-Xi summit showed willingness to mend strained ties’

The outcome of the latest summit between the leaders of South Korea and China embodies the two nations’ willingness to work on their differences over the deployment of the THAAD anti-missile system here and reaffirm their cooperation on North Korean issues, an expert said. From left: South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. (Yonhap)“President Xi avoided directly referring to THAAD and was cautious in addressing the issue in meetings, which could indicate th

Dec. 15, 2017

S. Korean leader urges joint efforts to denuclearize N. Korea, ensure global peace

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday called for joint efforts between his country and China to rid North Korea of its nuclear weapons, calling it a threat not only to South Korea but to China and its future development."North Korean nuclear and missile issues are not only limited to South Korea. North Korea is also a neighbor of China, and a rise in tension in the region due to North Korea's nuclear development is threatening the peace and development of not only South Korea but also Chi

Dec. 15, 2017

Moon-Xi summit a 'good signal' about S. Korea-China ties: Cheong Wa Dae

The summit between President Moon Jae-in and Chinese President Xi Jinping was a "good signal" that relations between the two countries are getting off to a new start following a row over the deployment of a US missile defense system, a presidential official said Friday.The official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, gave the assessment, saying Xi spoke less about the THAAD missile defense system during Thursday's meetings with Moon than during their previous summit on the sidelin

Dec. 15, 2017

Abe hopes for joint Seoul, Washington, Tokyo air drills: S.Korea's opposition leader

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed hope on Thursday that Seoul, Washington and Tokyo would jointly conduct air drills, the leader of South Korea's main opposition Liberty Korea Party said."Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said it is regrettable that the Seoul government is not doing it despite his hope that the three countries conduct joint air drills in Japanese skies," Hong Joon-pyo told reporters following his talks with Abe.Hong is on a three-day trip in Tokyo for talks with key Tokyo pol

Dec. 14, 2017

Moon, Xi vow no war on Korean Peninsula

President Moon Jae-in on Thursday called for stronger ties with China, stressing the need to move on from the recent difficulties in the two nations’ diplomatic relations in the summit talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to Cheong Wa Dae, the two leaders agreed to four principles in handling North Korea’s nuclear issue. The first is that Seoul and Beijing will not allow war on the peninsula, the second is that the two sides will pursue denuclearization of the peninsula. Moon and X

Dec. 14, 2017

[Newsmaker] Tillerson: Top US diplomat seeking balancing role in Trump administration

　　Surrounded by former generals, hawkish politicians and a hard-mouthed command-in-chief, US State Secretary Rex Tillerson has been trying to find a balance in the Trump administration’s approach to resolve a nuclear standoff with North Korea. 　While President Donald Trump and his security aides have warned about the North’s relentless nuclear ambition and floated the idea of a preventive strike against it, the US top diplomat has offered a softer line and called for a diplomatic solution. 　Desp

Dec. 14, 2017

[Video] Two of Moon’s traveling press corps assaulted by Chinese security

Two South Korean journalists, part of the traveling press corps accompanying President Moon Jae-in on his state visit to China, were beaten by Chinese security personnel while covering an event attended by Moon in Beijing on Thursday.  (Yonhap)The Foreign Ministry in Seoul confirmed the incident and said it had expressed regret to the Chinese government. According to accounts from another member of the Blue House press corps who witnessed the assault, some 15 Chinese security personnel surrounde

Dec. 14, 2017

Moon calls for stronger economic, political ties with China

President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday kicked off his four-day state visit to China, focusing on economic issues as well as the need to shield Seoul-Beijing relations from “outside elements.”Speaking at a business event involving Korean and Chinese industry and government officials in Beijing, Moon highlighted the two countries’ economic cooperation and called for further developments. “Over the past 25 years, China has undergone brilliant economic growth, and Korea and China have become sturdy part

Dec. 13, 2017

S. Korean lawmaker raises expectations that Moon, Abe will resume 'shuttle diplomacy'

A senior South Korean lawmaker on Tuesday raised the expectation that South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will resume "shuttle diplomacy" between the two leaders.Kang Chang-il, leader of the South Korea-Japan Parliamentarians' Union and a lawmaker of South Korea's ruling Democratic Party, made the remarks during a press conference with a group of South Korean correspondents stationed in Tokyo."President Moon has spoken by phone with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

Dec. 12, 2017

Korea-China relations tender as Moon heads for third summit with Xi

President Moon Jae-in will arrive in Beijing Wednesday on a four-day state visit that will include his third summit meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Despite Seoul’s repeated statements about improving bilateral relations, a full thaw in relations before Seoul’s decision to deploy a US anti-missile system appears some way off.  (Yonhap)On Tuesday, Seoul’s presidential office revealed the results of Thursday’s summit meeting will be announced in separate statements to the press, recantin

Dec. 12, 2017

Opposition leader to visit Japan for talks on NK nukes, bilateral ties

The leader of South Korea's main opposition Liberty Korea Party will embark on a three-day trip to Japan this week for talks with key Tokyo politicians on North Korea threats and bilateral relations, his aide said Tuesday.Hong Joon-pyo will depart for Japan on Wednesday amid growing security concerns in both countries sparked by North Korea's persistent provocations, including the Nov. 29 test of an intercontinental ballistic missile.Hong is expected to use the trip to advance his party's securi

Dec. 12, 2017

Personnel Ministry supports Uzbekistan’s personnel reform initiatives

South Korea’s Personnel Ministry expressed support for personnel reform initiatives pursued by Uzbekistan on Tuesday. Seoul’s Ministry of Personnel Management and Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations signed a memorandum of cooperation on Nov. 23 to promote exchanges and cooperation in the field of personnel administration and mutual development, according to the ministry.  (Yonhap)“Following the recent signing of the memorandum, Korea will assist Uzbekistan with its successful

Dec. 12, 2017

Foreign minister pushes to visit Japan this year: spokesman

South Korea's foreign ministry confirmed Tuesday that top diplomat Kang Kyung-wha is pushing to visit Japan by the end of year, adding that relevant discussions are under way between the two countries."Detailed schedules are being arranged with Japan," Noh Kyu-duk, foreign ministry spokesman, told a regular briefing. "It would take place within this year."It would mark the first visit by a Korean foreign minister to Japan since July 2015.  Foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha (Yonhap)South Korea and

Dec. 12, 2017

FM's trip to Japan likely to come before task force unveils review outcome on controversial deal

South Korea's top diplomat is expected to visit Japan next week before a task force announces the results of its monthslong review of a controversial deal on Japan's wartime sexual slavery of Korean women, multiple sources said Monday.Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will likely visit Japan from Dec. 19-20 to hold a bilateral meeting with her Japanese counterpart Taro Kono, according to the government sources close to the matter.Her trip to Tokyo would be made before the task force is set to come

Dec. 11, 2017

Economy, security to take center stage in Thursday’s Moon-Xi summit

President Moon Jae-in and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will hold a bilateral summit meeting in Beijing on Thursday, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday. Moon, who will begin the four-day state visit to China on Wednesday, will be meeting with Xi for the third time, and discussions will focus on security issues and ways to improve bilateral ties, Cheong Wa Dae said. Seoul and Beijing, however, will not issue a joint statement in light of differences in the two sides’ positions on issues surrounding t

Dec. 11, 2017

[Newsmaker] Trump nominates Victor Cha as ambassador to Seoul

The Donald Trump administration has nominated former White House official and Washington-based academic Victor Cha as the next US ambassador to South Korea and asked for Seoul’s approval, US sources said Sunday. According to sources in Washington, the request was recently delivered to the South Korean government in the form of an “agrement,” a formal request sent to the receiving state from the sending state before dispatching a diplomatic representative. The decision was made after an extensive

Dec. 11, 2017

Ruling party chief leaves for Russia for talks on security, trade

The leader of South Korea's ruling Democratic Party embarked on an eight-day trip to Russia on Monday for talks with top Moscow officials over North Korea's nuclear standoff, economic cooperation and other bilateral issues.Choo Mi-ae's visit as the chairwoman of the South Korea-Russia Interparliamentary Council is part of her initiative to support the government's efforts to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties with major countries, including the United States, China and Japan.  "Russia has r

Dec. 11, 2017

Trump nominates Cha as US ambassador to Korea: sources

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump has nominated former White House official Victor Cha as Washington's ambassador to South Korea and requested the approval of the Asian country's government, sources said Sunday.The request, known as an agrement, was recently sent to the South Korean government following an extensive vetting process, the sources said on the condition of anonymity.They said they expect Seoul to swiftly approve the nomination as the post has been vacant since the Trump admini

Dec. 11, 2017

[Eye Plus] Bridging Korea, Laos

Laos, a landlocked Southeast Asian nation known for its mountainous terrain and spectacular waterfalls, is only a five-hour flight from South Korea. However, the distance felt much further not too long ago. Diplomatic ties were severed with Laos’ communization in 1975, a year after being established, only to be restored in 1995. Although the country still remains one of the very few allies of North Korea, South Korea-Laos ties have been blossoming recently on trade, investment, tourism and vario

Dec. 8, 2017

South Korea’s Moon to visit China for talks on N. Korea

South Korean President Moon Jae-In will visit China next week for talks on North Korea and other issues, his office said Wednesday, amid tentative signs of diplomatic movement after months of high tensions over Pyongyang‘s nuclear and missile threats.The announcement came as a high-level United Nations representative held talks with a senior North Korean official during a rare trip to Pyongyang.Jeffrey Feltman, UN undersecretary general for political affairs, arrived Tuesday to discuss what the

Dec. 6, 2017