Kazakhstan, S. Korea to increase direct flights

Kazakhstan and South Korea have agreed to introduce new air routes and increase the number of flights between the two countries, the Kazakh Embassy in Seoul said in a press statement. According to the embassy, Kazakh Vice Minister of Transport Talgat Lastayev met with South Korean Deputy Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Lee Yoon-sang in Sejong and discussed increasing the frequency of flights between Kazakhstan and Korea and adding new destinations. Lastayev and Lee agreed to eleva

March 6, 2024

Korea, India agree to deepen defense ties, upgrade trade pact

South Korea and India, in a joint commission convened for the first time since 2018, concurred on further bolstering defense ties, defense industrial cooperation and working toward upgrading their bilateral free trade agreement, according to South Korea's Foreign Ministry. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar held the 10th South Korea-India Joint Commission Meeting on Wednesday at the premises of the Foreign Ministry in Seoul

March 6, 2024

[Bridge to Africa] Envoy urges Korea to join Lobito Corridor, other projects in Angola

Angola’s top envoy to South Korea, Edgar Gaspar Martins, urged South Korea to join infrastructure and investment projects in the African nation. Pointing to the shift in US investment from oil to diverse sectors like solar energy and agriculture, particularly on projects in Angola, Martins cited the Lobito Corridor, worth $1 billion, aimed at bolstering the rail infrastructure connecting Angola to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Tanzania. The Lobito Corridor is a strategic rou

March 6, 2024

Allies aim to wrap up talks on defense costs before US election

South Korea and the United States on Tuesday appointed veteran diplomats as their chief delegates for upcoming negotiations on the next defense-cost sharing agreement, clearly signaling an early initiation of the talks. The move stands out as it precedes the expiration of the current agreement by almost two years, scheduled to end in 2025, and gains significance in light of the looming US presidential election. Lee Tae-woo, a seasoned diplomat with a career at the Foreign Ministry since 1996, br

March 5, 2024

[Hello India] Indian FM visits Seoul to boost ties with S. Korea

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar visited Seoul to boost bilateral ties on Tuesday. The visit comes as part of 10th India-Korea Joint Commission Meeting (JCM), to be co-chaired alongside his Korean counterpart Cho Tae-yul on Wednesday. According to the Indian Embassy in Seoul, the India-Korea Special Strategic Partnership spans various sectors such as trade, investments, defense, education, science and technology, and culture. India and South Korea established their diplomatic rela

March 5, 2024

UK Embassy launches first-ever 'Green Week' in Seoul

The UK Embassy in Seoul launched its first-ever "Green Week" event Monday, covering a range of environmental topics to enhance Korean-UK cooperation in combating the climate crisis, according to the embassy. The inaugural event, which ends Friday, comes on the heels of the Downing Street Accord signed by the leaders of South Korea and the UK last November. The agreement underscores the commitment of both countries to collaborate in accelerating the green transition and combating climat

March 5, 2024

UN chief appoints new resident coordinator for N. Korea

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has appointed a new UN resident coordinator for North Korea in a personnel decision confirmed by the reclusive regime, his spokesperson said Monday. Joe Colombano of Italy assumed his role on Friday, Stephane Dujarric said, in a development that raised hopes for Pyongyang to allow the entry of other personnel from key UN agencies, such as the World Health Organization and the UN Development Program. There has been no presence of international UN staff in the

March 5, 2024

US-led minerals partnership to set up forum to include non-members

Members of the US-led Minerals Security Partnership agreed to establish a forum to promote effective cooperation on critical mineral supplies with non-member countries that are significant producers of minerals, South Korea's Foreign Ministry announced Monday. Second Vice Foreign Minister Kang In-sun participated in the Representatives Meeting of the MSP chaired by US Undersecretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment Jose Fernandez in Toronto on Sunday. During the meet

March 4, 2024

Ex-defense minister named ambassador to Australia

Former South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup has been named as the country's new ambassador to Australia amid growing defense and arms industrial cooperation between the two countries. Lee, who served as defense minister from May 2022 to October 2023, played a crucial role in the exportation of Redback infantry fighting vehicles manufactured by South Korea’s Hanwha Defense. Lee also held the position of vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2017 to 2018. Lee's acad

March 4, 2024

Cooperation among N. Korea, Russia, China, Iran raises possibility of 'simultaneous conflicts': US general

WASHINGTON, -- Growing military cooperation among North Korea, Russia, China and Iran raises the possibility of "simultaneous conflicts with multiple nuclear-armed adversaries," a top US general warned Thursday. Gen. Anthony Cotton, commander of US Strategic Command, made the remarks during a session of the Senate Armed Services Committee, stressing that his command will "always" be "ready to fight tonight." "We are confronting not one, but two nuclear peers

March 1, 2024

S. Korea, US voice 'deep concern' over NK's definition of S. Korea as 'hostile' country

  WASHINGTON -- South Korea and the United States expressed "deep concerns" Thursday over North Korea's definition of the inter-Korean relationship as one between two hostile states and its potential attempt at changing the status quo in the Yellow Sea, Seoul's foreign ministry said. Their position was announced in a statement after Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell had a breakfast meeting in Washington. The previous day, Cho held his firs

March 1, 2024

Cho, Blinken pledge 'watertight' response to any NK provocations

The top diplomats of South Korea and the United States on Wednesday concurred on "watertight responses" to any North Korean provocations amid escalating hostilities from the Kim Jong-un regime directed toward South Korea, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met for their first foreign ministerial meeting in Washington since Cho assumed office in January. The bilateral discussion covered a wide array of t

Feb. 29, 2024

White House refuses to comment on whether S. Korea should send artillery shells to Ukraine

The White House declined Wednesday to comment on whether South Korea should provide 155-mm artillery shells to help Ukraine defend against Russian attacks, saying it is a military decision for Seoul to speak to. During a press briefing, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre made the remarks, expressing America's gratitude for the Asian ally's continued support for the war-torn country. "I am going to let South Korea speak to their own military decisions and their bilateral relations,

Feb. 29, 2024

S. Korea, US to launch annual joint military drills next week

South Korea and the United States plan to kick off major combined military drills next week, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Wednesday, as the allies seek to bolster joint readiness against evolving military threats from North Korea. The annual Freedom Shield exercise is set to take place from Monday to March 14 to carry out the computer simulation-based command post exercise, field training and other maneuvers, the JCS said. The exercise is aimed at strengthening the combined defe

Feb. 28, 2024

White House official says S. Korean firms help form supply chain ecosystem, create decent jobs

A senior White House official on Tuesday portrayed South Korean enterprises operating in the United States as helping foster a robust supply chain ecosystem and create decent jobs, Seoul's foreign ministry said. Lael Brainard, the director of the National Economic Council, made the point during a meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul at the White House. Cho is in Washington for a meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken set for Wednesday. "Director Brainard said

Feb. 28, 2024

US diplomat voices hope for S. Korea to offer more defense material support to Ukraine

A US diplomat expressed hopes Monday for South Korea to provide more defense material support to Ukraine, stressing the importance of air defense assistance for Ukrainian forces striving to fend off Russian attacks. Speaking at a forum, Yuri Kim, principal deputy assistant secretary of state for Europe and Eurasian affairs, underscored the need for continued aid to Ukraine, as US military support to the war-ravaged country has stalled with a funding bill held up in the House due to Republican op

Feb. 27, 2024

Vice FM urges N. Korea to cease provocations at UN disarmament conference

Second Vice Foreign Minister Kang In-sun urged North Korea to return to denuclearization talks and to cease its nuclear and missile programs, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. Kang made the remark during her speech at the high-level segment of the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Monday, saying the North's illegal nuclear and missile programs are the "most urgent tasks" to address for international peace and security. "North Korea's nuclear and missile obsessio

Feb. 27, 2024

S. Korea to tighten export controls on Russia, Belarus

South Korea plans to tighten export controls on Russia and Belarus for items that can potentially be used for military purposes, the trade ministry said Monday. The announcement came after South Korea added 682 items with actual or potential military use to the list of items to be banned from shipping to Russia and Belarus last week. "The ministry will bolster the implementation of export controls under ties with related organizations, as there will be more attempts to dodge export controls

Feb. 26, 2024

Trump could see trade deficit with S. Korea with 'concern' if reelected: US expert

Former President Donald Trump could view America's growing trade deficit with South Korea with "concern" if reelected, a prominent US expert has said, as his campaign proposal for new tariffs has raised worries among nations. Wendy Cutler, a vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute and former negotiator of a South Korea-US free trade agreement, made the remarks during a press meeting, noting that Trump continues to place "such a big emphasis on trade deficits."

Feb. 26, 2024

FM Cho meets with UNESCO chief in Brazil

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul has met with UNESCO's chief in Brazil to discuss ways to bolster cooperation in the ethics of artificial intelligence, as well as other issues, the foreign ministry said Saturday. The meeting with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay took place Thursday (local time) on the sidelines of the Group of 20 foreign ministers' meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the ministry said. During the meeting, Cho said the two sides can expand cooperation as UNESCO has r

Feb. 24, 2024