Korean diplomat runs for chief of anti-chemical arms body

Kim Won-soo, a South Korean career diplomat and former under-secretary general at the United Nations, is running for the top position of a global body against chemical weapons, officials said Thursday.Kim has joined the race to become the next director-general of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons with a four-year term, according to the officials. Kim Won-soo, a South Korean career diplomat and former under-secretary general at the United Nations (Yonhap)Voting among the 41

May 4, 2017

China warns of stern measures against THAAD operation

BEIJING -- China on Tuesday warned of stern measures against the ongoing deployment of an advanced US missile defense system in South Korea. "China calls for an immediate stop to the THAAD deployment on the Korean Peninsula," China's foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said during a regular press briefing. "China will pursue protecting its interests going forward by taking the necessary measures in a stern manner." (Yonhap)He was speaking in response to the US' announcement that the Terminal

May 2, 2017

Korea says 'forced labor' statues near Japan missions 'not desirable'

South Korea's foreign ministry on Tuesday expressed its reservations about civic activists' move to erect statues symbolizing Korean victims of forced labor under Japan's colonial rule near its diplomatic missions.A civic group is pushing to install such statues near the Japanese Embassy in Seoul and its consulate located in the southeastern port city of Busan. Japan raised strong objections and recently asked the Seoul government to take appropriate action. South Korean foreign ministry spokesm

May 2, 2017

Korea's foreign minister to meet US and Japanese ambassadors

South Korea's top diplomat will meet with ambassadors of the United States and Japan on Tuesday to discuss cooperation in dealing with North Korea and its growing nuclear threat.Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se will meet with Marc Knapper, acting US Ambassador to South Korea, and Japanese Ambassador Yasumasa Nagamine in his office in the afternoon, according to the ministry.South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se (Yonhap)The unusual three-way meeting, arranged at the request of the ministry, fol

May 2, 2017

Rights organ urges UNSC to bring N. Korean rights violators to justice

An international human rights organization has called for the UN Security Council to refer those responsible for infringing on human rights in North Korea to an international court, a US broadcaster reported Tuesday.  The UN Security Council adopts Resolution 2321 against North Korea for its fifth nuclear test at a meeting in New York on Nov. 30, 2016. (Yonhap)The UN council should handle an issue to punish the North's human rights violations as well as its nuclear issue in order to realize just

May 2, 2017

Norwegian poems vivify long lost senses

The Norwegian Embassy held a book launch event last week that featured the celebrated works of Olav H. Hauge (1908-94), a distinguished poet famous for his realistic portrayal of natural and sentient beings. A collection of his poems has been recently translated into Korean by professor and poet Lim Sun-ki, who teaches at Yonsei University’s Department of French Language and Literature. The translation was financially supported by the embassy and published by Bomnal Books. Professors, poets, jou

May 1, 2017

Commonwealth veterans remember unsung heroes of wars

The embassies of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand paid tribute to the sacrifices of their fallen comrades and war veterans across memorial services held in Korea last week.At the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at the Korean War Memorial on Apr. 25, some 200 veterans, their families, servicepersons and diplomats honored the heroism of Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), which fought together in the Gallipoli Campaign in Turkey during World War I, as well as those who serve

May 1, 2017

South Africa celebrates Freedom Day

The South African Embassy last week celebrated Freedom Day, a national holiday commemorating the freedom and democracy ushered in by the first post-apartheid elections in 1994.This year’s celebration was deemed by many to be additionally special, as it marked the centenary of the birth of Oliver Reginald Tambo (1917-93), a South African anti-apartheid politician who served as president of the African National Congress from 1967 to 1991.“We have a vision of South Africa in which black and white s

May 1, 2017

Trump’s crude, unilateral approach threatens to undercut alliance

Rekindled by his demand for Seoul to pay for the THAAD anti-missile system, US President Donald Trump’s foreign policy approach centered on unrefined, unilateral remarks and Twitter posts is fanning concerns it may undermine the two countries’ 60-year alliance. On the campaign trail, he repeatedly argued that allies should shoulder a greater share of defense costs and the “job-killing” South Korea-US free trade agreement needs to be negotiated.Just over 100 days into the Trump presidency, signs

May 1, 2017

Foreign minister says US will respect agreement on missile defense cost

South Korea's top diplomat Monday expressed confidence that the United States will respect a bilateral agreement on the cost for the missile defense deployment amid controversy sparked by US President Donald Trump's recent suggestion that Seoul should pay for the $1 billion system. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se dismissed concerns that Washington would seek a renegotiation on the issue as he commented on Trump's security adviser Gen. H.R. McMaster's remark that his government respects the current

May 1, 2017

CIA director in S. Korea for consultations on N. Korea: report

Mike Pompeo, director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), is on an unannounced visit to South Korea for discussions on North Korea, news reports here said Monday.He arrived at the Osan Air Base south of Seoul on Saturday, about 12 hours after the North fired a ballistic missile that apparently broke up in mid-air, according to the Kookmin Ilbo. CIA Director Mike Pompeo (AP-Yonhap)He is scheduled to stay in Seoul until Tuesday, the publication added, citing "key officials in the political c

May 1, 2017

US Democratic leaders criticize Trump over THAAD, FTA with Korea

WASHINGTON -- US Democratic leaders have criticized President Donald Trump for damaging the alliance with South Korea after Trump demanded Seoul should pay for the THAAD missile defense system and he would renegotiate or terminate a free trade pact with the country."President Trump proved once again that he's out of his depth in the White House. The unpredictable bluster and bravado that was a defining characteristic of Trump in the private sector becomes embarrassing and dangerous for the count

May 1, 2017

McMaster says US will renegotiate THAAD deal with Korea

WASHINGTON -- The United States will renegotiate the terms of the THAAD missile defense system's deployment to South Korea, and until then, will stick to the existing deal that commits the US to pay for the system, National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster said Sunday.McMaster made the remark during an interview with "Fox News Sunday," rejecting reports that he contradicted President Donald Trump and promised the US will pay for THAAD when he spoke by phone with his South Korean counterpart Kim Kw

May 1, 2017

S. Korea should pay $1b for THAAD: Trump

US President Donald Trump on Friday called for South Korea to pay $1 billion for a missile shield’s deployment here, and vowed to renegotiate a bilateral free trade pact, stirring heated reactions in South Korea. Amid intense debate at home and diplomatic friction with China, key components of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system including a radar, launchers and interceptors were brought Wednesday to the planned deployment site in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province. Seoul secured use o

April 29, 2017

S. Korea open to dialogue if N. Korea sincere about denuclearization: official

South Korea is open to disarmament dialogue with North Korea if the North comes with a sincere willingness to discard its nuclear program, the foreign ministry's spokesman said Thursday.The position came in response to the Trump administration's North Korea policy line announced to the public in Washington. (Yonhap)On Wednesday (US time), Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said the Trump administration aims to press

April 27, 2017

Korea urges China to listen to int'l call to stop THAAD retaliation

South Korea urged China Thursday to listen to international calls to stop retaliations over Seoul's installation of the high-tech US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system after the neighbor pledged to take action over the ongoing deployment. The installation of THAAD went into full swing with the high-profile X-band radar of the THAAD system, mobile launchers and other elements being delivered to the host site of Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, on Wednesday.China reacted angrily to the

April 27, 2017

China urges Korea, US to pull back THAAD equipment

BEIJING -- Hours after the deployment of a US advanced defense shield went into full swing in South Korea, China strongly urged Seoul and Washington on Wednesday to pull back the equipment, warning that the installation would further up tensions in the region. Six trailers reportedly carrying the high-profile X-band radar of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, mobile launchers and other elements were seen entering the deployment site in the southeastern county of Seongju, North Gyeon

April 26, 2017

New Korea-US alliance association set for launch

Former and current US Forces Korea service members will establish a brand-new association next week to promote friendly ties between the two countries, according to a group of figures here advocating the further development of the alliance on Wednesday.The organization, named the "Korea Defense Veterans Association," is scheduled to be created in Washington DC on May 3. An image of South Korea-US alliance in a photo provided by Yonhap News TV. (Yonhap)Headed by former USFK commander Walter "Skip

April 26, 2017

Korea pledges $4m humanitarian assistance to Yemen

South Korea plans to provide $4 million in humanitarian assistance to war-torn Yemen this year and join international efforts to end the civil war there, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.South Korea made the commitment during a fundraising event for Yemen in the United Nations Office at Geneva, Switzerland on Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was jointly hosted by Switzerland, Sweden and the United Nations. (AP-Yonhap)About two thirds of the entire Yemeni population ar

April 26, 2017

Concert held in memory of Czech-American chaplain in Korean War

BERLIN -- A music concert was held in a Czech city in memory of Emil Kapaun, a Czech-American priest and war hero who died in captivity during the 1950-53 Korean War, the South Korean Embassy in Prague said Tuesday.South Korean Ambassador to the Czech Republic Moon Seung-hyun took part in the concert organized by the municipal government and archdiocese in the eastern city of Olomouc. Emil Kapaun, a Czech-American war hero who died in captivity during the 1950-53 Korean War (South Korean Embassy

April 26, 2017