The Korea Herald

Greenland enchants Korea with ice, fur and seafood

A delegation of Greenlandic government officials and businesspeople, led by Vittus Qujaukitsoq, minister for industry, labor, trade and foreign affairs, visited Korea last week to promote interest in tourism, fashion and food. “Greenland as a beautiful tourist destination with its proud tradition of craftsmanship in fashion and design will be attractive to Koreans,” Danish Ambassador Thomas Lehmann said in a speech at a seminar at the Shilla Seoul on Wednesday.Representatives from Visit Greenlan

March 20, 2016

Greenland enchants Korea with ice, fur and seafood

Japanese textbooks intensify Dokdo claim

The Japanese government on Friday approved a set of updated high school textbooks containing strengthened claims to Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo, casting a fresh cloud over Seoul’s efforts to put bilateral ties back on track. Seoul lodged a protest, calling the long-festering assertion “unjust” and urging Tokyo to correct its erroneous historical view and provide fact-based education. Hideo Suzuki, a minister at the Japanese Embassy, was called in by Chung Byung-won, director general for

March 18, 2016

Japanese textbooks intensify Dokdo claim

The Japanese government on Friday approved a set of updated high school textbooks containing strengthened claims to Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo, casting a fresh cloud over Seoul’s efforts to put bilateral ties back on track. Seoul lodged a protest, calling the long-festering assertion “unjust” and urging Tokyo to correct its erroneous historical view and provide fact-based education. Hideo Suzuki, a minister at the Japanese Embassy, was called in by Chung Byung-won, director general for

March 18, 2016

Korea, China can pursue 'win-win' relations: ambassador

South Korea and China can maintain a future-oriented, "win-win" relationship despite tensions arising from the potential deployment here of an advanced U.S. missile defense system, Seoul's ambassador in Beijing said Thursday. "The South Korea-China strategic partnership has already entered a mature phase in various areas, including politics, business, culture and humanities exchanges," Amb. Kim Jang-soo said during a luncheon meeting with Korean diplomats and local businessmen.Kim was here to

March 17, 2016

Japan submarine to visit Philippines, other ships to Vietnam

TOKYO (AFP) -- A Japanese submarine will make a port call in the Philippines for the first time in 15 years while accompanying naval ships will visit Vietnam's Cam Ranh Bay for the first time ever, Japan's navy said.The announcement came days after China accused its Asian rival of interfering in the South China Sea.Japan, which occupied the Philippines and Vietnam during World War II, is now strengthening relations. All three countries share growing concerns about China's increasing military mus

March 16, 2016

Korea, Indonesia to ink cooperation agreement between constitutional courts

South Korea's Constitutional Court said Wednesday it will sign an agreement with its Indonesian counterpart for cooperation and exchanges of information and research manpower.Under the agreement to be inked on Thursday, the judicial organizations of the two countries will also hold joint meetings, symposiums and seminars on common issues of interest, according to the court. Specifically, the two judicial organizations plan to exchange information, insights and experience in the areas of the cons

March 16, 2016

China's premier: Up to Japan to hold trilateral summit this year

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Wednesday that it is essentially up to Japan to make a decision on holding this year's trilateral summit among the leaders of Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing, citing "still fragile" ties between Japan and China. The leaders of South Korea, Japan and China resumed a trilateral summit in South Korea last year, marking the first such meeting in about three years, with the aim of repairing relations strained from historical and territorial issues."As to whether the format en

March 16, 2016

China's premier says diplomacy can maintain regional stability

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Wednesday that "diplomatic means" can maintain regional stability, with tensions in Northeast Asia spiking over North Korea's nuclear test and rocket launch."It is up to regional countries to maintain stability and harmony," Li said in response to a question about North Korea's provocations and regional security issues. Li, speaking at a press conference at the end of the country's rubber-stamp parliament session, did not mention North Korea by name, but stressed

March 16, 2016

Ambassador says Korea revs up efforts to restore ties with Iran

South Korea is revving up efforts to "restore" economic ties with Iran as the resource-abundant Middle East state is generating fresh business opportunities after the lifting of international sanctions earlier this year, its top envoy to Tehran said Wednesday.During a meeting with reporters here, Kim Seung-ho said that South Korean government officials and businesses are striving to regain some of the lost ground in the increasingly competitive Iranian market with a population of 80 million. "In

March 16, 2016

Korean minister calls for Japan to faithfully carry out deal on wartime sexual slavery

South Korea's Cabinet minister in charge of women's affairs said Monday she hopes Japan will faithfully carry out a landmark agreement with South Korea on resolving the issue of Japan's wartime sexual slavery.Gender Equality and Family Minister Kang Eun-hee made the remark to South Korean correspondents in New York, saying that the December agreement with Japan is a done deal and should be respected, though critics raised objections.Kang was in New York as head of Seoul's delegation to a meeting

March 15, 2016

Yun warns of worsened Chinese ties

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se on Monday warned of deteriorated relations with China this year as the two nations face tensions over the planned stationing of advanced U.S. missile defense assets and Beijing’s support of peace treaty discussions with North Korea.In his opening speech at an annual meeting of chiefs of overseas diplomatic missions, however, he offered an upbeat outlook for an unprecedented gathering with the U.S. and China “in the near future.” Despite concerns over a raft of poten

March 14, 2016

[HERALD INTERVIEW] Sri Lanka touts South Korea as ideal investment partner

Moving past three decades of civil war, Sri Lanka is transforming itself into a vibrant commercial hub in South Asia, and reengaging the international community and furthering bilateral ties are key, the nation’s top envoy said.“As Korea has made miraculous progress in democracy and economy in such a short period of time, it is an exemplary model for Sri Lanka, which is starting its journey toward economic prosperity,” said Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera in an interview with The Korea Hera

March 14, 2016

[HERALD INTERVIEW] Sri Lanka touts South Korea as ideal investment partner

Malaysia welcomes investment in medical devices

Malaysia is aiming to become a regional leader in health care as it pushes its industrial economy toward a knowledge-based one. Under the 11th Malaysia Plan for national development (2016-20), the medical device industry was identified as key to rapid growth alongside the aerospace, chemical, electronics and machinery sectors. Due to its strong links to manufacturing and capacities to deliver high-value-added goods, the industry is poised to lead Malaysia’s economy, which has grown at around 5 p

March 14, 2016

Malaysia welcomes investment in medical devices

Indonesia streamlines investment process

The Indonesian Embassy held a seminar in early March to woo Korean investments into the country’s burgeoning economy, which has seen sweeping reforms in recent months.Under the administration of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, Indonesia has undertaken a series of stimulus measures, aimed at boosting industrial competitiveness through deregulation, facilitating infrastructure projects and strengthening law enforcement.The government recently overhauled its “negative investment list” -- a catalog

March 14, 2016

Indonesia streamlines investment process

Ethiopia, Korea cooperate on forestry

A delegation of Ethiopian environment officials came to Korea in early March to share knowledge and experience in forest management and sustainable development. Shiferaw Teklemariam, Ethiopian minister of environment, forest and climate change, told The Korea Herald that his team was interested in Korea’s policies, institutions and governance, and how they were practically implemented.Amid Ethiopia’s push to become an industrializing nation, forestry is one of the four pillars of development und

March 13, 2016

[Graphic News] Not forgetting sex slavery victims

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday in New York met with an elderly South Korean victim of Japan’s wartime sexual slavery. It was the first such meeting since Ban took the post in 2006.Ban met with 89-year-old Kil Won-ok at the U.N. headquarters, saying he respects her efforts to raise awareness of the wartime crime to make sure there will be no recurrence.The meeting came amid persistent protest over the landmark agreement in December between South Korea and Japan on resolving the sexu

March 13, 2016

[Graphic News] Not forgetting sex slavery victims

Kerry: U.S., Russia to meet Saturday on Syria ceasefire

KING KHALID MILITARY CITY, Saudi Arabia (AFP) -- Secretary of State John Kerry said US and Russian officials would meet later Saturday on Syrian opposition complaints of truce violations but that peace talks should go ahead as planned.Asked at the end of a visit to Saudi Arabia whether indirect dialogue in Geneva between the Syrian regime and opposition could go ahead as planned on Monday, Kerry said: "Yes, it can.""Our teams are meeting today with Russia in both Geneva and Amman, where very det

March 12, 2016

U.N. chief meets with comfort woman

UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- The United Nations Secretary-General met Friday with one of the less than 50 surviving victims of Japan‘s wartime military-run brothel system known as "comfort women."Ban Ki-moon met with Gil Won-ok and Yoon Mee-Hyang, co-chair of the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan. 　An agreement in December between South Korea and Japan included an indirect apology from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and a Japanese pledge to provide 1 billion

March 12, 2016

Russia, China oppose U.S. missile-defense in South Korea

MOSCOW (AP) -- The foreign ministers of China and Russia are opposing the possible deployment of an advanced American missile-defense system in South Korea.Amid escalating tensions over North Korea's nuclear arsenal, Washington and Seoul last week began formal talks on deploying the sophisticated THAAD system.Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a news conference Friday after meeting with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov that putting the system in South Korea would ``inflict direct harm to the

March 12, 2016

Russia, China oppose US missile-defense in South Korea

MOSCOW (AP) _ The foreign ministers of China and Russia are opposing the possible deployment of an advanced American missile-defense system in South Korea.Amid escalating tensions over North Korea's nuclear arsenal, Washington and Seoul last week began formal talks on deploying the sophisticated THAAD system.Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a news conference Friday after meeting with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov that putting the system in South Korea would "inflict direct harm to the s

March 11, 2016