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

Education New Zealand holds international education workshop

 Education New Zealand, the lead government agency promoting New Zealand education internationally, organized a five-day virtual workshop held from June 14 to 18 to maintain the country’s engagement with key in-market stakeholders. The event showcased the qualities of a New Zealand education, highlighting ENZ’s initiatives and brought together industry stakeholders and partners from 10 countries in Asia, including South Korea. Last July, the government said it would spend 51.

June 22, 2021

Foreign ministry to work for stable management of relations with China after G-7 summit

South Korea will continue efforts to "stably manage" relations with China while taking into account the outcome of a Group of Seven (G-7) summit earlier this month, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. The ministry made the statement in a report submitted to the National Assembly amid speculation that South Korea's participation in the G-7 summit as a guest makes the country look like it has chimed in with the G-7 countries on their unified front against an assertive China. Seoul offic

June 22, 2021

Biden extends sanctions on N. Korea amid US outreach

WASHINGTON -- US President Joe Biden said Monday he decided to extend US sanctions on North Korea for another year, a move that follows the latest US outreach to the reclusive nation for dialogue at any time and place. In a letter to the speaker of the US House of Representatives, Biden said the North's fissile material as well as its pursuit of nuclear and missile programs "continue to constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of

June 22, 2021

S. Korea, US agree to consider ending 'working group' forum on N. Korea policy

South Korea and the United States have agreed to consider terminating their "working group" forum on North Korea policy, the foreign ministry said Tuesday, in what appears to be a conciliatory gesture to Pyongyang that has decried the forum as a hurdle to inter-Korean ties. Seoul's top nuclear envoy, Noh Kyu-duk, and his US counterpart, Sung Kim, reached the agreement during their talks in Seoul on Monday, as they sought a coordinated strategy to resume nuclear diplomacy with Pyongyan

June 22, 2021

Joint military exercise must be properly scaled to meet threats: Pentagon spokesman

WASHINGTON -- The United States constantly reviews its joint military exercises with South Korea to make sure their forces are properly trained and prepared to meet threats, a Pentagon spokesman said Monday. "We always say that we know we have to, our forces have got to be ready to fight tonight and we are constantly looking at the training events to make sure that they are appropriate and they are properly scaled to the threats and the challenges," the spokesman, John Kirby, said at

June 22, 2021

US hopes N. Korea will respond to US outreach for dialogue: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- The United States is willing to hold dialogue with North Korea at any time and any place, a State Department spokesman said Monday, also reiterating the latest US overture to meet without any preconditions, State Department spokesman Ned Price said Monday. The remarks from the department spokesman come after the special US envoy for North Korea, Sung Kim, expressed hope that the North will respond positively to US outreach. "We certainly hope the DPRK will respond positively

June 22, 2021

14 embassies in S. Korea co-host KF’s 30th anniversary, hold World Cinema Week together

World Cinema Week is being held in Seoul through July 1, hosted by the Korea Foundation and the embassies of Bulgaria, Argentina, Brazil, France, Greece, Guatemala, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Paraguay, Peru, Sweden,Thailand and Turkey . World Cinema Week is held annually in cooperation with the Korea Foundation and diplomatic missions in South Korea to introduce films from countries not easily accessible to Koreans. This year’s World Cinema Week presents recent films f

June 21, 2021

S. Korea and Israel launch logo design contest to mark 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties

The Embassy of Israel in Korea and the Embassy of Korea in Israel have launched a joint logo design contest to create a graphic emblem capturing the dynamic spirit of the deepening engagement between the two countries and peoples.  The year 2021 is significant because Israel and South Korea signed a free trade agreement -- Israel’s first with an Asian country and South Korea’s first in the Middle East -- showing the two countries‘ deepening ties.  The contest was l

June 21, 2021

S. Korea, Japan to hold working-level talks on wartime history, other issues

South Korea and Japan will hold working-level talks in Seoul later Monday to discuss a prolonged row over wartime sexual slavery, forced labor and other pending issues, the foreign ministry said. The planned meeting between Lee Sang-ryeol, director general for Asia and Pacific affairs at Seoul's foreign ministry, and his Japanese counterpart, Takehiro Funakoshi, comes amid little headway in Seoul's efforts to mend strained ties with Tokyo. Funakoshi, who doubles as Japan's top nuclear envoy, w

June 21, 2021