US concerned about burgeoning defense cooperation between N. Korea, Russia: White House

The United States is concerned about growing defense cooperation between North Korea and Russia, a National Security Council official said Wednesday, adding the US will take appropriate steps if necessary to counter any potential arms deal between the two countries. John Kirby, NSC strategic communications coordinator, underscored that Russian support for North Korea's illicit nuclear and ballistic missile programs would be of "significant concern" to the US. "In a similar fa

Sept. 14, 2023

China says Kim-Putin talks are about their own ties

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that the talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin have to do with their own ties, adding that the Beijing-Pyongyang relationship remains friendly. “Kim’s visit to Russia is what the two countries have agreed and ... (it is about) their relations,” spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press briefing, referring to the talks held hours earlier at the Vostochny Сosmodrome in the far eastern Amur region

Sept. 13, 2023

[Korean History] From 'miracle to debacle': Painful 'IMF days' of 1997-1998

The act of purchasing Christmas gifts was viewed as a luxurious indulgence for Koreans in December 1997, as the nation was beset by deepening economic woes amid the Asian financial crisis. "Won plunges to record low," was the boldest headline on the Christmas Eve edition of The Korea Herald in 1997, which delivered a news story that was decidedly incongruous with the typical consumerist holiday spirit. The Korean currency, having significantly depreciated, had plummeted to an all-tim

Sept. 13, 2023

S. Korea to send emergency relief team, $2 mil in aid to quake-hit Morocco

South Korea will send a disaster relief team and humanitarian aid worth US$2 million to Morocco, which is struggling with the effects of last week's powerful earthquake, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. Last Friday, the 6.8 magnitude quake struck the North African country, and the death toll had risen to over 2,800 as of late Monday (local time), according to foreign media reports. To support relief and rescue efforts, South Korea conveyed to Morocco its intention to dispatch the Korea Di

Sept. 12, 2023

Ukrainian Nobel Peace Prize laureate expresses concern about Kim-Putin summit

The upcoming summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is poised to present a significant challenge to the universal values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, Oleksandra Matviichuk, a Ukrainian Nobel Peace Prize laureate, said Tuesday. Kim arrived in Russia on Tuesday for a rare summit with Putin, raising speculation they may discuss the North's supply of ammunition and weaponry to support Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The

Sept. 12, 2023

The Korea Herald, Pakistan's the Nation agree to boost media cooperation

The Korea Herald and the Nation, a Pakistani daily founded in 1984, agreed to boost media cooperation through a memorandum of understanding signed in Seoul on Monday. A signing ceremony was held at The Korea Herald headquarters in Seoul, with Pakistan Ambassador to Korea Nabeel Munir, The Korea Herald CEO Choi Jin-young, Nawaiwaqt Group Managing Director Rameeza Majid Nizami, and The Korea Herald Vice President Shin Yong-bae in attendance. The agreement is aimed at creating and exchanging journa

Sept. 12, 2023

Colombian delegates discuss energy partnership with S. Korea

Delegates discussed Colombia's ambitious goals and opportunities for Korean companies in the energy sector at the Colombia-Korea Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Strategic Partnership Seminar co-hosted by the Colombian Embassy in Seoul, ProColombia Korea and the Andi-Naturgas Hydrogen Chamber in Seoul on Tuesday. The event, aimed at fostering clean energy solutions and advancing hydrogen technologies between Colombia and Korea, was attended by delegates from Colombia's top 10 energy compa

Sept. 12, 2023

Uzbekistan highlights Korean diaspora, investors' role

The Uzbek Embassy in Seoul underscored the crucial contributions of Korean investors and the substantial Korean diaspora to the nation's development on its 32nd Independence Day, at Lotte Hotel in Seoul on Monday. Uzbekistan, which joined the Soviet Union in 1924, declared its independence on Aug. 31, 1991. The Korean diaspora in Uzbekistan, known as "Koryoin" or "Koryo-saram," predominantly comprises ethnic Koreans who were forcibly deported from Vladivostok, on the eastern

Sept. 11, 2023

Brazil hopes to realize undertakings with Korea

Brazil's Ambassador to Korea Marcia Donner Abreu hoped to realize common undertakings with Korea, as they celebrated the 201st anniversary of Brazilian independence on Sept. 6. Brazil gained independence from Portugal on Sept. 7, 1822. Expressing her hopes for deeper cooperation and the establishment of a Brazil-Korea Strategic Partnership next year, Abreu cited the establishment of Korean companies in Brazil drawn by the vast domestic market and abundant natural resources, making Brazil th

Sept. 11, 2023

[Photo News] NET ZERO 2050

Officials, industry leaders and stakeholders from the Korean-German energy sector pose for photos at a forum held on offshore wind energy in Seoul, Friday. Discussing offshore wind auction design, ramping up the supply chain to support offshore wind at scale and optimizing the grid for offshore wind deployment, experts underlined the common vision of Korea and Germany for technological innovation, sustainable energy transition and offshore wind energy’s role in ensuring a stable energy sup

Sept. 11, 2023

S. Korea plans to send quake aid for Morocco

South Korea is planning to send aid to help Morocco recover from its deadliest earthquake in more than six decades, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Monday, a day after President Yoon Suk Yeol spoke of supporting the North African kingdom. “We will provide aid matching our status on the international stage,” a senior Foreign Ministry official said in a statement, adding the government first needs to see what kind of support Morocco wants, including a team of relief workers. The 6

Sept. 11, 2023

S. Korean, Russian foreign ministers discuss bilateral ties, regional security

The top diplomats of South Korea and Russia held consultations to discuss regional security on the Korean Peninsula and other pending bilateral issues, Seoul's foreign ministry said Monday. Foreign Minister Park Jin and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, met on the sidelines of the Group of 20 meeting in India on Sunday amid speculation North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could visit Vladivostok to meet President Vladimir Putin this week for a potential arms deal. At their meeting, Park st

Sept. 11, 2023

Yoon meets with leaders of Italy, Germany, Mauritius

NEW DELHI -- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol held a series of bilateral meetings with the leaders of Italy, Germany and Mauritius on Sunday as he sought to expand cooperation and win support for South Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in Busan. During his meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which was held on the sidelines of a Group of 20 summit in New Delhi, Yoon asked for Italy's cooperation on their competition to bring the Expo to their respective countri

Sept. 10, 2023

Yoon, Modi agree to boost cooperation in defense, space

NEW DELHI -- President Yoon Suk Yeol and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed Sunday to boost cooperation in defense and space as the two countries look to strengthen strategic ties in the Indo-Pacific region. The two leaders reached the agreement during a bilateral meeting, which was held on the sidelines of a Group of 20 summit in New Delhi and coincided with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and India. Yoon and Modi agreed to continue

Sept. 10, 2023

Powerful quake in Morocco kills more than 2,000

A rare, powerful earthquake struck Morocco, sending people racing from their beds into the streets and toppling buildings in mountainous villages and ancient cities not built to withstand such force. More than 2,000 people were killed, and the toll was expected to rise as rescuers struggled Saturday to reach hard-hit remote areas. The magnitude 6.8 quake, the biggest to hit the North African country in 120 years, sent people fleeing their homes in terror and disbelief late Friday. One man said d

Sept. 10, 2023

Yoon arrives in India to attend G20 summit

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived in New Delhi on Friday to attend a summit of the Group of 20 major economies. During his three-day stay, Yoon will attend three sessions of the G20 summit, hold a bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visit the Raj Ghat memorial dedicated to the Indian anti-colonial nationalist Mahatma Gandhi with other world leaders. Yoon is expected to use the G20 gathering to call for a firm and united international response to North Korea&

Sept. 9, 2023

S. Korea, US to hold talks on extended deterrence next week

South Korea and the United States plan to hold high-level talks on extended deterrence next week to discuss ways to better deal with evolving North Korean threats, according to Seoul's foreign and defense ministries Friday. The fourth meeting of the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group, a gathering of the two countries' vice ministerial defense and diplomatic officials, is scheduled to take place in Seoul on Sept. 15, they said. Seoul's vice foreign and defense mini

Sept. 8, 2023

Leaders of S. Korea, Indonesia agree to deepen economic, defense cooperation

The leaders of South Korea and Indonesia on Friday agreed to enhance bilateral economic and defense cooperation across a broad spectrum of areas, which includes collaborative efforts in developing an electric vehicle ecosystem and a fighter jet. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Indonesian President Joko Widodo convened for an in-person summit at the presidential palace in Jakarta on the final day of President Yoon's four-day visit to Indonesia. "Both discussed forward-looking and su

Sept. 8, 2023

S. Korean leader tells Chinese PM that NK shouldn’t be ‘obstacle’ in bilateral ties

  During a pivotal meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit held in the Indonesian city of Jakarta, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol advocated for sustained diplomacy and collaboration between Korea and China, undeterred by escalating tensions surrounding the North Korean nuclear issue. "As the North Korea nuclear situation escalates, cooperation among Korea, the US and Japan is poised to intensify," Yoon informed Li during the

Sept. 7, 2023

Yoon calls for unified action against NK threats at summit with Chinese presence

At a summit attended by Association of Southeast Asian member nations, Japan and China, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol called on the international community to unite and decisively respond to North Korea's ongoing nuclear and missile development efforts. Speaking at the ASEAN+3 summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday afternoon, Yoon noted an “unprecedented frequency” in North Korean provocations. He urged leaders to firmly address these provocations by supporting sanctio

Sept. 6, 2023