Swiss Ambassador retires before National Day

Swiss Ambassador Jorg Alois Reding finished his diplomatic career in late July after 35 years of Foreign Service at various departments and overseas missions of the Swiss Confederation. At the embassy reception Tuesday in Seoul, which marked the 725th anniversary of Switzerland’s nationhood on Aug. 1, the envoy reflected on his posting in Korea as well as deepening bilateral relations. “My family and I have spent unforgettable years in Seoul,” he said in a speech in Korean. “I had the opportunit

July 31, 2016

‘Turkey’s democracy forestalls anarchy’s tyranny’

On the night of July 15, Turkish Ambassador Arslan Hakan Okcal was dining at his friend’s house in Bodrum, Turkey, a popular vacation spot off the coast of the Aegean Sea. At around 10 p.m., his wife, seeing ominous developments on social media, alerted Okcal, “Something’s happening.” The couple quickly switched on the television and, to their shock, watched fighter jets skidding dangerously low over the city sky, tanks shelling state buildings and people protesting on the streets. “The media wa

July 31, 2016

‘Free trade still backbone of global prosperity’

Following Britain’s anticipated exit from the European Union, the U.K. economy will suffer from its self-inflicted withdrawal, while the impact on Europe will be minor, an influential economist has said.Klaus Regling, managing director of the European Stability Mechanism -- an intergovernmental organization based in Luxembourg City that provides financial assistance to eurozone member states in an emergency -- came to Korea to participate in the Global Financial Stability Conference 2016 in Seou

July 31, 2016

[NEWSMAKER] Protests mar 'comfort women' fund launch

Korea launched a 1 billion yen ($9.55 million) fund on Thursday for the victims of Japan’s sexual slavery during World War II despite unabated protests from some survivors and civic groups.  The Foundation for Reconciliation and Healing held its inauguration ceremony and first meeting of the board of directors at its secretariat in downtown Seoul. Kim Tae-hyeon, professor emeritus in social welfare studies at Sungshin Women’s University, exits the event as one of the protesters threw a capsaicin

July 28, 2016

‘Comfort women’ fund set for shaky start

Seoul will launch a 1 billion yen ($9.5 million) fund on Thursday for the victims of Japan’s sexual servitude during World War II, following months-long debate with Japan and ongoing protests at home. The organization, called the Foundation for Reconciliation and Healing, has several tasks to carry out, including persuading reluctant victims. Korea and Japan have also yet to agree on the timing of the funds’ transfer. An 11-member public-private preparation committee has been gearing up for the

July 27, 2016

Diplomatic crunch time at ARF

With the regional security forum in Vientiane, Laos, drawing to a close, South Korea, the U.S., China and other countries on Tuesday stepped up diplomatic efforts to carry through their claims on pressing issues. The 27 foreign ministers took part in the ASEAN Regional Forum’s plenary and retreat sessions, delivering speeches and conversing with one another in between. South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se (center) and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry attend a dinner during the ASEAN Regi

July 26, 2016

Top U.S., Chinese officials reaffirm goal of Korean Peninsula denuclearization: White House

U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice and Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi held talks in Beijing and agreed on the "shared goal of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," the White House said Monday.Rice's visit to China drew attention as it came amid heightened tensions between the two countries after an international tribunal rejected China's territorial claims to most of the South China Sea in a victory for the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations locked in maritime dispute

July 26, 2016

Foreign ministers of N.K., China meet at ARF

Breaking a drawn-out cooling-off period after Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile tests, the top diplomats of North Korea and China held talks Monday at a regional security conference in Vientiane, Laos. The session between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong-ho took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum for the first time since Ri took office last May. His predecessor Ri Su-yong and Wang did not meet face-to-face during last year’s event.“The meeti

July 25, 2016

Japan's top diplomat expresses pleasure at improved ties with Korea

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida expressed pleasure at improved ties with South Korea since a landmark deal reached between Seoul and Tokyo late last year to resolve the sex slave issue.Kishida also said that communication has been smooth between the neighboring countries following North Korea's nuclear and missile tests earlier this year, saying that it indicates how much progress has been made.He made the remarks before starting bilateral talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byu

July 25, 2016

Korea, Iran to discuss launching joint fish farming venture

South Korea and Iran are set to begin discussions on boosting their bilateral cooperation in the fisheries sector that will include a joint fish farming venture, the Seoul government said Monday.The talks will be held in Iran from Thursday involving officials from South Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and their Iranian counterparts.The talks will discuss follow-up measures for a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the fisheries area signed in May during South Korean President

July 25, 2016

Wang Yi says South Korea's recent behavior hurt bilateral trust

China blamed South Korea on Sunday for hurting their trust by pushing to deploy an advanced missile system on the Korean Peninsula despite its strong opposition. The remarks were made by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi before starting talks with his South Korean counterpart, Yun Byung-se, on the sidelines of a regional security forum."The recent behavior from South Korea has undermined the foundation for our bilateral trust," Wang said through an interpreter, voicing his displeasure apparently

July 25, 2016

Colombia celebrates peace and prosperity at independence anniversary

In late June, moving on from five decades of fratricidal warfare, the Colombian government and armed guerilla group FARC agreed to a cease-fire as part of a peace process that had dragged on for nearly four years. In Havana, Cuba, under the watchful eyes of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and five Latin American heads of state, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and FARC leader Rodrigo Londono inked the fourth point of the six-part pact, which would disarm and disband the crime syndicate

July 25, 2016