S. Korean FM calls for 'future-oriented' cooperation with Japan, China

South Korea's top diplomat on Tuesday emphasized the importance of trilateral cooperation among his country, China and Japan, citing the regional powers' stature and potential. "Given the stature and economic and cultural potential of the three countries, should we continue our future-oriented cooperation, it would be an important driving force for peace and prosperity in the world beyond the East Asia level," Foreign Minister Park Jin said in a written message to the Interna

June 14, 2022

US, Korea willing to adjust military posture in case of NK nuclear test

The United States and South Korea are prepared to make adjustments to their military posture to counter North Korea, the foreign affairs chiefs of the two allies said. In their first face-to-face bilateral talks on Monday in the US, South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed their joint commitment for extended nuclear deterrence, while urging North Korea to come to dialogue. “I can say simply for today that we’re preparing for all c

June 14, 2022

S. Korea, US, Japan to hold missile defense exercise in August: sources

South Korea, the United States and Japan plan to conduct a combined missile search and tracking exercise in waters off Hawaii in August to bolster their readiness to counter North Korea's evolving missile threats, informed sources said Tuesday. The biennial Pacific Dragon exercise is scheduled to take place from Aug. 1-14 as the three countries are seeking to step up security cooperation amid tensions caused by the North's recent missile launches and speculation that it could conduct a

June 14, 2022

N. Korean nuclear test will be met by united, firm response from US, S. Korea: ministers

WASHINGTON -- South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin and his US counterpart Antony Blinken on Monday urged North Korea to refrain from staging additional provocations including a nuclear test, saying that they will only further isolate the impoverished country. The top diplomats also said North Korean provocations will be met with a strong response. "We affirm that any North Korean provocations, including a nuclear test, will be met with a united and firm response from our alliance and the

June 14, 2022

Foreign minister vows ‘stern’ action against potential NK nuclear test

Amid growing speculation that Pyongyang may carry out a nuclear test soon, Seoul’s foreign minister reiterated during a four-day trip to Washington that the government would take “stern measures” in the event of a detonation. After laying a wreath at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington Foreign Minister Park Jin said Sunday that North Korea has finished preparations for a nuclear test according to assessments. “(The North) had launched an intercontinental ba

June 13, 2022

Yoon gives credentials to new ambassador to US

President Yoon Suk-yeol gave credentials to new Ambassador to the United States Cho Tae-yong on Friday. Cho received the credentials during a ceremony at the presidential office before heading to Washington this weekend. A former vice foreign minister, Cho recently served as a lawmaker of the ruling People Power Party. Cho said he will focus on expanding the scope of the bilateral alliance to entail broad elements for economic security by facilitating strategic communication efforts. "I

June 10, 2022

South Korean foreign minister to visit Washington next week

South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin will depart for the United States on Sunday to make his first trip there since taking office, his office said Friday. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Park will meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington on Monday, which would be the first face-to-face meeting for the two since South Korea launched a new government in May. “Minister Park is visiting Washington D.C. upon the invitation of the US Secretary of State An

June 10, 2022

Yoon faces diplomatic test at NATO summit

President Yoon Suk-yeol faces his first test in multilateral diplomacy if his visit to an upcoming NATO summit is confirmed. It would also provide an opportunity for him to deepen South Korea’s relationship with the US and its allies amid diplomatic pressures with China and Russia. If Yoon participates in the NATO summit held in Madrid in late June, he would be the first Korean president to attend the meeting. NATO has invited leaders from four Asia-Pacific countries -- nonmembers So

June 9, 2022

[Newsmaker] Two Koreas clash over North’s nuclear development at UN

The two Koreas once again clashed at the UN over North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, with Seoul calling for an end to provocation and Pyongyang repeating its right to self-defense. In the same General Assembly meeting held in New York on Wednesday, China and Russia defended their vetoes of the resolution to impose additional sanctions on North Korea, accusing the US of stoking tension on the Korean Peninsula. “We urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to stop suc

June 9, 2022

Seoul's top trade official leaves for Paris for OECD council meeting

South Korea's Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun departed for Paris on Thursday to attend a ministerial council meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, trade, sustainable growth and other global challenges, his office said. Under the theme of "The Future We Want: Better Policies for the Next Generation and a Sustainable Transition," the OECD's Ministerial Council Meeting was to take place at its headquarte

June 9, 2022

S. Korea calls on Pyongyang to stop provocations in UN meeting

WASHINGTON -- South Korea's top representative to the UN on Wednesday called on North Korea to stop its provocative activities and engage in dialogue. Amb. Cho Hyun made the remarks in a UN General Assembly meeting in New York to discuss the recent failure of the UN Security Council to pass a resolution regarding North Korea. "We are here today to debate the outcome of the Security Council meeting held on May 26. It is with deep regret that the Security Council, for the first time in h

June 9, 2022

US will react with 'robust response' to N. Korean nuclear test: Sullivan

WASHINGTON -- The United States is closely monitoring the possibility of North Korea conducting its seventh nuclear test, which if conducted, will prompt a robust response from the US, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Wednesday. He, however, said the US remains open to dialogue and will continue to do so. "We are also watching very closely the continuing possibility of a nuclear test, to which we would also have a robust response," Sullivan told reporters aboard Air Force O

June 9, 2022

Korean, Vietnamese leaders agree to upgrade bilateral relations

Korea and Vietnam will seek to elevate bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, the two sides’ leaders agreed in a videoconference, Seoul officials said Wednesday. According to a press release from the presidential office, President Yoon Suk-yeol and Vietnam’s Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong held a video call in the morning to exchange views on ways to develop Korea-Vietnam relations, Korea-ASEAN cooperation and international issues. The two leaders ev

June 8, 2022

Seoul, Tokyo, Washington announce joint commitment to curb threats from Pyongyang

South Korea, Japan and the US will make joint efforts to advance trilateral cooperation for extended deterrence, and strongly condemn North Korea’s ballistic missiles, the three sides said in a joint statement Wednesday. The statement, released after a trilateral meeting among South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori in Seoul, expressed joint commitment on a wide range of issues, including

June 8, 2022

[Herald Interview] Korea-US-Japan military operation necessary for NK issues: Edwin Feulner

Seoul should mend ties with Tokyo to resolve North Korean challenges and the first step is to have Korea-US-Japan military operations, the Heritage Foundation think tank founder Edwin Feulner says. North Korea fired eight short-range ballistic missiles on Sunday. It was Pyongyang’s 18th armed provocation this year and the most missiles fired in a day. The founder of the US conservative think tank believes strengthening ties among South Korea, the US and Japan is crucial to solving the u

June 8, 2022

Senior US official warns NK of ‘swift and forceful response’ to nuclear test

The United States and South Korea would take “swift and forceful responses” when North Korea carries out a nuclear test, including additional sanctions, a senior US official said Tuesday. US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman issued the warning after a meeting with South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong in Seoul. In addition to warning against the potential nuclear test, which would be North Korea’s seventh, the two officials strongly condemned Pyongyang&rsquo

June 7, 2022

[Photo News] UN-Habitat partners with Oceanix

UN-HABITAT PARTNERS WITH OCEANIX -- The UN-Habitat Korean National Committee signed a memorandum of understanding with Oceanix, a New York-based “blue tech” company, at its Yeouido office in Seoul on Tuesday. This agreement was designed to realize the world‘s first sustainable sea city pilot model, “Oceanix Busan,” unveiled at the UN headquarters in New York on April 26 as a successful business at the international level. From left are UN-Habitat Korean National Co

June 7, 2022

Korea, Ukraine discuss post-war reconstruction in closed-door meeting

Senior foreign affairs officials of South Korea and Ukraine met privately to discuss the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine, officials said Tuesday. It is the first time that a high-level Ukrainian official made a public visit to Korea since the Russian invasion in February. Vice Foreign Minister Lee Do-hoon met with Ukraine’s Vice Foreign Minister Dmytro Senik on Tuesday and exchanged views on the recent situation in Ukraine, support for the country, economic cooperation between the tw

June 7, 2022

S. Korea, US hold high-level diplomatic talks on N. Korea, alliance

Senior government officials of South Korea and the United States had talks here Tuesday on North Korea and pending alliance issues, two weeks after their presidents agreed during a Seoul summit to upgrade Seoul-Washington ties to a "Global Comprehensive Strategic Alliance." The meeting between Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong and US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman came a couple of days after the North fired eight short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) into the East Sea. It m

June 7, 2022

US remains concerned about NK nuclear test, but also ready for contingency: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- The United States continues to remain concerned that North Korea may conduct a nuclear test in the near future, a state department spokesperson said Monday. Ned Price, however, said the US also remains prepared for such a contingency. "So we remain concerned that the DPRK could seek a seventh nuclear test in the coming days," the department press secretary said when asked about US measures to deal with recent North Korean provocations. "It's a concern we have wa

June 7, 2022