US respects S. Korea's decision to bow out of multinational military drill: Pentagon

WASHINGTON -- The United States fully respects South Korea's decision to skip a multinational naval exercise, a Pentagon spokesman said Tuesday, also adding Seoul's decision does not affect the South Korea-US alliance in any way. "It's a sovereign decision by a nation state. And they're certainly entitled to make that decision and to speak to that decision and we absolutely respect it," the spokesman, John Kirby, said in a press briefing. South Korea earlier said it had been invited

June 30, 2021

French ambassador to address Generation Equality Forum in Paris

French Ambassador to South Korea Philippe Lefort will address the Generation Equality Forum, which runs June 30 to July 2 in Paris. Organized by UN Women and co-hosted by the governments of France and Mexico, the forum is said to be the largest women’s rights conference since the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995. On June 28, Lefort invited experts and diplomats to his official residence to celebrate the upcoming forum. Among those in attendance were Gender Equality A

June 29, 2021

[Herald Interview] Cultural, people-to-people ties will boost Korea-Kazakhstan ties

Strengthening people-to-people exchanges between South Korea and Kazakhstan is vital to furthering bilateral ties, according to Bakyt Dyussenbayev, Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Korea. “Trade and political cooperation are vibrant between Kazakhstan and South Korea, but strengthening people-to-people contact and public diplomacy had been yearslong vision of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Seoul,” Dyussenbayev said. He added that the Kazakh-Korean society of culture, art and educat

June 29, 2021

FM Chung under COVID-19 isolation after coming in contact with infected person

Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong has entered self-isolation after one of the passengers of a flight he took to return home from a Southeast Asian trip tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said Tuesday. Chung arrived home Saturday from Indonesia, the last leg of his weeklong visit to three Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam and Singapore. On Monday, he was informed by the health authorities that one of the flight's passengers tested positive and that he was required to self-

June 29, 2021

US will send delegation to Tokyo Olympics but Biden will stay home: White House

WASHINGTON -- The United States will send a delegation to the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo but President Joe Biden will stay home as the US continues to warn its people to reconsider visiting the Asian country, a White House spokeswoman said Monday. "The president is not planning to attend the games. He will certainly be rooting for the athletes, as well as I," said Jen Psaki when asked if Biden planned to personally visit Tokyo. "We will have a delegation from the United State

June 29, 2021

Deputy FM Kim Gunn appointed as new ambassador to Britain

Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Gunn was appointed as the new South Korean ambassador to Britain in a regular reshuffle on Monday, the foreign ministry said. Kim, a veteran diplomat, has served in posts handling North Korean nuclear issues, North America and China affairs, and his long experience is expected to help him play a role in promoting relations with London, the ministry said.  He was appointed as deputy minister in late 2019. Yeo Seung-bae, former ambassador to New Zealand who pr

June 28, 2021

S. Korea to take part in major US-Australia combined exercise next month

South Korea plans to take part in a large-scale naval exercise that the United States and Australia plan to hold next month, the defense ministry said Monday. The Navy will send a 4,400 ton-class destroyer to the Talisman Sabre exercise set to take place in mid-July in Australian waters. The biennial exercise is the largest bilateral training activity between the U.S. and Australia. "We've decided to join the exercise for the first time this year with a goal to improve our capabilities of

June 28, 2021

Top diplomats of S. Korea, Indonesia agree on close cooperation for joint fighter project

The top diplomats of South Korea and Indonesia agreed Friday to closely cooperate to smoothly proceed with joint fighter jet development and other mutually beneficial projects, the foreign ministry said. Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and his Indonesian counterpart, Retno L.P. Marsudi, held talks to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional and global issues. Indonesia was the last leg of his five-day trip to Southeast Asia that also included visits to Vietnam and Singapore. "The minis

June 25, 2021

S. Korea expresses 'deep regret' over IOC's response to Dokdo issue

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism expressed "deep regret" Friday over the International Olympic Committee's response to its letter protesting Japan's inclusion of South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo on a Tokyo Olympics map. According to the ministry, the IOC sent a reply to its June 10 letter on Tuesday, saying it had inquired with the Tokyo Olympics organizing committee regarding the appearance of Dokdo on a map of the Olympic torch relay route and was told that it w

June 25, 2021

S. Korea, Central American nations agree in summit to deepen comprehensive cooperation

The leaders of South Korea and eight Central American countries adopted a joint vision Friday for the development of comprehensive partnerships especially in the digital and environment-friendly sectors. The accord came at the first South Korea-Central American Integration System summit in 11 years. The regional group, widely known as SICA, consists of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and the Dominican Republic. During the virtual session, President Moon

June 25, 2021

O’ Canada! Culture Week opens in Pyeongtaek

　Canadian Culture Week will open in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, as part of Pyeongtaek World Culture Week on Saturday. The program will run until July 1. The Canadian Embassy in Seoul said this year’s events start with a Korean War memorial photo exhibition showcasing the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Gapyeong. The exhibition will also have a commemorative photo zone, at which visitors can try on ice hockey gear, and check out popular Canadian tourist destinations and books recom

June 25, 2021

Korea-US alliance remains linchpin of peace 71 years after start of Korean War: Pentagon

WASHINGTON -- The United States remains committed to the South Korea-US alliance, 71 years after the start of the Korean War, a Pentagon spokesman said Thursday, calling the alliance the "linchpin of peace" for the region and the world. Department of Defense spokesman John Kirby made the remarks as the allies mark the 71st anniversary of the start of the 1950-53 Korean War on Friday. "Tomorrow marks 71 years since the start of the Korean War. For the past 71 years our commitment

June 25, 2021

Seoul city OKs relocation plan of US embassy in Gwanghwamun to former USFK site

A key administrative process to relocate the US embassy building in Seoul was approved by city officials Thursday, opening the door for the beginning of the construction project that will close the embassy's half-century-old presence in the heart of the South Korean capital. The Seoul metropolitan government's city planning and construction committee approved the district units plan of the US embassy's new site in Yongsan-dong of Seoul's central Yongsan Ward. The current embassy building is lo

June 24, 2021

US ITC Okays anti-dumping tariffs on Korean tire imports

WASHINGTON -- The US International Trade Commission (ITC) on Wednesday decided to approve anti-dumping tariffs on car tires imported from South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. The final decision comes about a month after the US Department of Commerce said it will impose anti-dumping tariffs of between 14.72 percent and 27.05 percent on passenger vehicle and light truck tires from the four countries. The ITC said it has determined "that a US industry is materially injured by reason of

June 24, 2021

US remains open to diplomacy with N. Korea: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- The United States continues to remain open to diplomacy with North Korea, a State Department spokesperson said Wednesday, hours after the North said it is not considering any dialogue with the US The spokesperson also reiterated US hopes that the North will respond positively to US overtures. "We are aware of these reports," the spokesperson said of a statement from North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Son-gwon that Pyongyang is not considering even the possibility of any c

June 24, 2021

US will lead with diplomacy to mitigate threats from N. Korea: Austin

WASHINGTON -- The United States will continue to maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula by reducing threats from North Korea through diplomacy, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday, amid a US overture to the North for dialogue. The defense secretary also said his country will continue to remain focused on North Korea despite more pacing threats from others such as China. "Leading with diplomacy, the United States will continue to work to mitigate North Korea's destabilizing an

June 24, 2021

Jeju peace forum opens to discuss climate change, pandemic, sustainable peace

JEJU/SEOUL -- An annual international peace forum kicked off on the southernmost island of Jeju on Thursday to discuss climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and paths to sustainable peace. The three-day Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity brings together more than 2,000 participants from about 50 organizations and institutions in 30 countries in an online-offline hybrid format due to the pandemic situation, the Jeju Peace Institute think tank hosting the forum said. Most of the key sessions wil

June 24, 2021

US nuke envoy wraps up Seoul trip marked by renewed appeal for NK dialogue

The new US special representative for North Korea, Sung Kim, wrapped up his five-day trip to Seoul on Wednesday after redoubling Washington's calls for dialogue with a recalcitrant Pyongyang. Before departing for Jakarta, Kim said that he had "terrific" discussions with top Seoul officials, including President Moon Jae-in. Kim concurrently serves as ambassador to Indonesia. His first trip here since his appointment last month centered on reiterating the US' offer to meet with the Nor

June 23, 2021

Chinese diplomat caught drunk driving in Gwangju

GWANGJU -- A Chinese diplomat stationed in Gwangju, southwestern South Korea, was caught driving under the influence of alcohol this week but has claimed diplomatic immunity, police said Wednesday. The diplomat, known as a consul at the Chinese Consulate General in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, was caught operating his car while drunk in an underground parking lot of an apartment in the city's western district of Poongam-dong on Sunday night. According to the Gwangju Seobu Police Stati

June 23, 2021

Seoul nuke envoy stresses need to resolve N.K. issue through dialogue

South Korea's top nuclear negotiator stressed Tuesday the importance of resolving the North Korean nuclear issue through dialogue and diplomacy, casting it a great challenge to international security beyond the Korean Peninsula. Noh Kyu-duk, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, made the remark in a videoconference co-hosted by the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs and the South Korean Embassy in France, as he explained Seoul's efforts to

June 22, 2021