Yoon embarks on state visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar

President Yoon Suk Yeol embarked on a series of state visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Saturday with economic cooperation high on the agenda despite ongoing turmoil over the war between Israel and Hamas. On the first leg of his trip, Yoon will visit Riyadh from Saturday to Tuesday, and hold a summit with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman before attending various economic events. The summit will come nearly a year after the crown prince visited Seoul last November and t

Oct. 21, 2023

Japan returns favor, flies S. Koreans out of Israel

Japan is evacuating 18 South Koreans from Israel using its military aircraft, a gesture of goodwill that appears to reciprocate Seoul’s rescue flight last week to bring back Japanese alongside its citizens. According to Kyodo News and the Japanese Defense Ministry, 18 Koreans and one family member of foreign nationality -- along with 60 Japanese and four family members of foreign nationality -- will land at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on early Saturday. The Foreign Ministry in Seoul said it ha

Oct. 20, 2023

US to take 'whatever steps' it can to address arms transfers between N. Korea, Russia: State Department

The United States will take "whatever steps" it can to hold to account those involved in arms transfers between North Korean and Russia, the State Department said Thursday, stressing it will "closely" monitor related developments. Matthew Miller, the department's spokesperson, made the remarks after the US government revealed last Friday that the North shipped 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Russia in recent weeks for use in Ukraine. "We have

Oct. 20, 2023

China may have more than 1,000 operational nuclear warheads by 2030: Pentagon

China is estimated to have more than 500 operational nuclear warheads as of May, and the figure may swell to over 1,000 by 2030, according to an annual Pentagon report released Thursday. The US Department of Defense released the 2023 Report on the Military and Security Developments involving the People's Republic of China, a document that has annually been submitted to Congress in line with the National Defense Authorization Act. The report predicts that over the next decade, China will continue

Oct. 20, 2023

S. Korea proposes foreign ministerial talks with Japan, China in late November

South Korea has proposed holding top-level diplomatic talks with Japan and China late next month, which Tokyo is positively considering, a Japanese media report said Thursday, in what could open the way for the first trilateral summit among their leaders in four years. "South Korea, as the rotating chair of the trilateral framework, has sounded them out about the three-way talks on around Nov. 26 in Busan, and Japan is positive about the plan," Japan's Kyodo News said in its Engli

Oct. 19, 2023

Yoon set for state visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will embark on state visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar this weekend to bolster economic and future-oriented tech collaborations with the Middle East countries, amid mounting regional security concerns over the Israel-Hamas conflict. Kim Tae-hyo, first deputy director of South Korea's National Security Office, told reporters Thursday that Yoon is scheduled to visit Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital, from Saturday to Tuesday, followed by Doha, Qatar, fo

Oct. 19, 2023

Japan preparing to bring back some 20 S. Koreans from Israel, along with its own nationals: reports

Japan is preparing to take home about 20 South Koreans, along with its own nationals, on a special flight from Israel, local media have reported, apparently returning the favor after Seoul brought back dozens of Japanese people from the war-torn region last week. Japan has offered to provide South Korea with a limited number of available seats for South Koreans as it is working to determine the demand for the emergency transport among its own people, Kyodo News has reported, citing government of

Oct. 19, 2023

Pentagon official touts robust extended deterrence to S. Korea

A US defense official on Wednesday voiced confidence over the strength of America's "extended deterrence" commitment to South Korea, saying, "We've never been in a better place." Richard Johnson, deputy assistant secretary of defense for nuclear and countering weapons of mass destruction policy, made the remarks, highlighting the allies' efforts to reinforce the credibility of the United States' deterrence commitment to using the full range of its military

Oct. 19, 2023

Biden reaffirms support for Israel, says 'terrorist group' apparently behind Gaza hospital blast

US President Joe Biden reiterated his backing for Israel and apparently accused a "terrorist group" of causing a recent deadly explosion at a hospital in Gaza as he visited Tel Aviv on Wednesday to stress America's solidarity with Israel following the Hamas militant group's attack this month. Biden arrived in Tel Aviv Wednesday morning amid a spike in tensions over Tuesday's blast at the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in the Hamas-controlled enclave, which left hundreds of innocent civilians de

Oct. 19, 2023

S. Korean, Botswanan FMs hold talks on bilateral ties, cooperation

Foreign Minister Park Jin held talks with his Botswanan counterpart Wednesday on ways to boost bilateral relations and cooperation, including areas of trade and investment, the foreign ministry said. In his meeting with Lemogang Kwape, foreign minister of the southern African nation, in Seoul, Park noted Botswana is increasingly gaining attention among South Korean industries as a new market since the African Continental Free Trade Area came into effect. Park called for efforts to expand trade a

Oct. 18, 2023

Russian FM arrives in N. Korea for talks with counterpart: reports

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in North Korea on Wednesday for a two-day visit, according to Russian media reports, as the two countries move to strengthen military ties after a recent bilateral summit. According to Sputnik and other Russian media outlets, Lavros arrived in Pyongyang for a two-day visit. He is expected to hold talks with his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son-hui, during the trip. The two sides are expected to discuss issues including bilateral military and econo

Oct. 18, 2023

Seoul urges Japan to 'face history' on Japanese leaders' Yasukuni visit

South Korea's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday expressed regret over Japanese leaders' visit to the Yasukuni shrine, which Seoul sees as a symbol of Japan's military aggression during its 1910-45 colonial rule on the Korean Peninsula. The government urged Japanese leaders to "squarely face history" to break with militarism, which would mark a crucial step to pursuing the advancement of Seoul-Tokyo ties in the face of growing geopolitical uncertainties surrounding North Korea. "The go

Oct. 18, 2023

[Photo News] Moroccan team in Seoul

Moroccan Ambassador to Korea Chafik Rachadi exchanges greetings with the Moroccan national U-18 football team before a match against South Korea at Mokdong Stadium in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul on Thursday. The Moroccan team was in Seoul to take part in the 2023 U-18 Seoul EOU Cup, an international football championship in Korea. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. Rachadi highlighted Morocco's success in sports, and mentioned Morocco's hosting of the 2030 World Cup, alongside Spain and Portugal,

Oct. 18, 2023

[Herald Interview] Chile, Korea need to boost global lithium value chain: minister

Bilateral cooperation between Chile and South Korea is crucial, as they have a shared goal of boosting the global lithium value chain, Nicolas Grau, Chilean minister of economy, development and tourism, told The Korea Herald on Thursday. “Korea needs lithium, hydrogen and clean energy fuel, and Chile needs certainty of demand, knowledge and technology to develop new industry,” said Grau, noting the situation as a “win-win” for Chile and Korea. Grau was in Seoul from Oct.

Oct. 18, 2023

High-level S. Korea-Australia talks canceled amid Israel-Hamas war: Seoul official

High-level talks between South Korea and Australia planned for this week have been canceled due to the Australian foreign minister's need to respond to the Israel-Hamas war, a Seoul official said Tuesday. The two countries had scheduled to hold their so-called two-plus-two talks involving their foreign and defense ministers in Seoul on Thursday, but they have been canceled "due to circumstances on Australia's side," the government official said. Australian Foreign Minister Pe

Oct. 17, 2023

S. Korean kidnapped in Philippines freed

A South Korean national kidnapped in the Philippines three weeks ago has been freed, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said Tuesday. The ministry did not disclose the individual’s identity or why he had been abducted, only saying he is in good health. Local police said one of several suspects is in custody, without elaborating. “We had worked closely with authorities here and there for a safe return of our citizen,” the ministry added.

Oct. 17, 2023

Response to Yasukuni visits underway: official

South Korea will soon reveal its response to expected visits by Japanese lawmakers to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan’s war dead from 1868 to 1954, including 14 convicted Class A World War II war criminals. A senior official in Seoul with knowledge of the matter told reporters Tuesday that the government needs to monitor the situation closely, referring to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s decision the same day to send an offering to the shrine. The previo

Oct. 17, 2023

2 Russian ships made 5 trips between N. Korea, Russia since mid-Aug. in suspected arms transfers: WP

Two Russian ships made at least five round trips between North Korea and Russia, beginning mid-August, in what could be arms transfers, the Washington Post reported Monday, citing satellite imagery. Based on analysis by the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think tank, the ships have been travelling between the northeastern North Korean port of Najin and a port facility in Dunay in Russia's Far East between mid-August and Saturday. The analysis came after the US government rev

Oct. 17, 2023

Japan thanks S. Korea for Israel rescue effort

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa thanked South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin for evacuating Japanese from Israel using South Korea’s military transport plane in a phone call Sunday, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said in a statement. On board the plane, which landed at Seoul Air Base late Saturday from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport, were 163 South Koreans, 51 Japanese and six Singaporeans. Medical staff along with a team handling emergency responses were also a

Oct. 15, 2023

S. Korea mulls response to NK arms deals

South Korea is closely monitoring developments in the latest military exchanges between North Korea and Russia and will consider measures in response, a senior official at the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said Saturday. “Any weapons exchanges between the two are a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and a threat to peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula,” the ministry official said, referring to sanctions the North has been facing. “We’re al

Oct. 15, 2023