Yoon, Biden, Kishida to commit to consult in event of common threat: S. Korean officials

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will adopt a document committing each side to consult with one another in the event of a common security or other threat, officials said. The document titled "Commitment to Consult" will be adopted at a trilateral summit involving the three leaders at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland on Friday, according to the officials. It will be the first such commitment that has be

Aug. 18, 2023

US prepared to deter N. Korean aggression, ensure regional stability: Pentagon

The United States will continue to work with its allies to deter any potential aggression by North Korea, a Pentagon spokesperson said Thursday, following reports that Pyongyang may be preparing to make various provocations, including a long-range missile test. South Korea's spy agency, the National Intelligence Service, earlier noted that the North may test launch an intercontinental ballistic missile to protest against a trilateral summit between the leaders of South Korea, Japan and the

Aug. 18, 2023

Court dismisses complaint seeking to block Fukushima water release

The Busan District Court on Thursday dismissed a complaint seeking to block Japan from releasing its wastewater from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant, saying the court has no jurisdiction to review the case. In April 2021, a coalition of 166 local environmental groups asked the trial court to stop the discharge by plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co., citing the London Convention -- a global pact on ocean pollution by preventing the dumping of waste. The release, which could start

Aug. 17, 2023

[Photo News] India marks 77th Independence Day

INDEPENDENCE DAY – Members of the Indian community in South Korea and Indian Ambassador to South Korea Amit Kumar hoist up the Indian flag and sing the national anthem marking India’s 77th Independence Day in Seoul on Tuesday. India was a British colony from 1757 to 1947 and gained independence on Aug. 15, 1947. (Sanjay Kumar/The Korea Herald)

Aug. 17, 2023

S. Korea delivers relief supplies to Hawaii over wildfire damage

South Korea has provided Hawaii with food and other emergency supplies to help cope with a series of devastating wildfires that recently ravaged the island of Maui, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday. Lee Seo-young, South Korean consul general in Honolulu, expressed hopes for Hawaii's speedy recovery as he delivered water, food, blankets, electric generators, and other aid items to Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke on Wednesday (Hawaii time), it added. The relief items are part of th

Aug. 17, 2023

US continues to seek safe return of American soldier in N. Korea: Kirby

The United States is seeking and will continue to seek the safe return of a US service member who crossed into North Korea last month, a White House official said Wednesday, dismissing the North's claim that the American soldier is seeking asylum in the reclusive country. John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, insisted that North Korean claims cannot be trusted. "I think anything that comes out of Pyongyang, you got to look at skeptically,"

Aug. 17, 2023

S. Korea, Japan, US summit to move trilateral cooperation to 'new level': Kirby

The upcoming trilateral summit between the leaders of South Korea, Japan and the United States will take their countries' three-way cooperation to a new level, a White House official said Wednesday. John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, said the leaders will also focus on ways to institutionalize such cooperation among their countries. "This trilateral summit is all about taking affirmative steps towards improving our cooperation with each othe

Aug. 17, 2023

Joint defense initiatives to be unveiled at Camp David: report

The US, South Korea and Japan will roll out joint initiatives on defense and technology at a Camp David summit in Maryland on Friday, according to a report. Citing senior US officials, Reuters said Wednesday that the gathering US President Joe Biden is hosting at the presidential retreat will lead to a three-way hotline and mutual understanding about regional responsibilities amid North Korea’s aggression and China’s influence. “It’s too much to ask -- it’s a bridge

Aug. 16, 2023

US commitment to defense of S. Korea remains firm, supports inter-Korean dialogue: Pentagon

The United States remains committed to the defense of South Korea and will work with its allies to address threats posed by North Korea, a US Department of Defense spokesperson said Friday. The spokesperson also reiterated that the US holds no "hostile" intention toward Pyongyang. "We have been very clear about the threat posed by North Korea, and we have been very clear in our defense to South Korea and Japan and our commitment to the region in order to ensure stability," de

Aug. 16, 2023

Trilateral summit of S. Korea, US, Japan to strengthen global peace, stability: Blinken

The upcoming trilateral summit between South Korea, Japan and the United States will help strengthen their joint efforts to promote peace and stability not only in the region but around the world, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday. The top US diplomat also noted that the countries will likely hold regular meetings down the road. "This summit comes at a moment when our region and the world are being tested by geopolitical competition, by climate crisis, by Russia's war o

Aug. 16, 2023

S. Korea expresses regret as Japan honors war criminals

South Korea on Tuesday expressed regret over visits by Japanese lawmakers to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan’s war dead from 1868 to 1954, including 14 convicted Class A World War II war criminals. Marking its liberation from Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule, the Korean government issued a statement, urging Japanese leaders to “face up to the country’s past.” “We express deep disappointment and regret that the Japanese leaders in the governm

Aug. 15, 2023

Summit to set protocol for trilateral ties

The US, South Korea and Japan are expected to set up protocols to bolster three-way ties at a Camp David summit in Maryland on Friday, according to a media report. News website Axios said Monday that Biden, South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will unveil the “Camp David Principles,” which will institutionalize progress in relations and make it harder for the two Asian leaders to reverse course amid their recent thaw over historical disputes.

Aug. 15, 2023

Iranian funds held in S. Korea will only be used for humanitarian purposes: state dept.

WASHINGTON -- The Iranian funds currently held in South Korea can only be used for humanitarian purposes while the United States will continue to hold Iran accountable for any destabilizing actions, a state department spokesperson said Monday. Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the state department, also emphasized that the money had always been available to Iran for humanitarian use. "Allowing Iran to use such funds for humanitarian purposes is consistent with long standing US

Aug. 15, 2023

Park to meet US, Japan top diplomats virtually

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Monday that it was in talks with the US and Japan to hold a virtual meeting of foreign ministers ahead of their first three-way summit at the US presidential retreat Camp David in Maryland on Friday. A day earlier, the US State Department said the three top diplomats would hold talks on Tuesday, Korean time, which was a misunderstanding according to a source with knowledge of the matter. “The date had been floated as one possibility but it was neve

Aug. 14, 2023

Top diplomats of S. Korea, US, Japan to hold virtual meeting ahead of trilateral summit

The top diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan will hold discussions virtually ahead of a trilateral summit among their leaders slated for later this week, the US State Department has said. The virtual meeting among South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi will be held Monday at 7:30 p.m., the department said Sunday. US President Joe Biden is set to host South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Jap

Aug. 14, 2023

FM urges S. Korean envoys in Arab countries to promote World Expo bid

Foreign Minister Park Jin met with a group of South Korean envoys stationed in the Middle East to discuss ways to strengthen diplomacy in the region and urged efforts to promote Seoul's bid to host the 2030 World Expo, his office said Monday. Park also stressed that an "unprecedented change in the recent political situation of the Middle East has presented new challenges and opportunities" at the meeting held in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday. The meeting was attended by 16 he

Aug. 14, 2023

FM visits Rwanda, seeks future-oriented cooperation

Foreign Minister Park Jin visited Rwanda and held talks with senior officials on ways to strengthen cooperation in technology and other future-oriented areas, his office said Sunday. Park held talks with his Rwandan counterpart, Vincent Biruta, in Rwanda's capital of Kigali on Saturday, and the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening strategic dialogue between the two countries foreign ministries, according to Seoul's ministry. Park is the first South Kore

Aug. 13, 2023

No impact from release of Iranian assets from S. Korea: White House

WASHINGTON -- There will not be a significant impact from the release of frozen Iranian assets in South Korea, a White House official said Friday, amid reports that the transfer of up to $7 billion from South Korea may weaken the local currency. John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, said the US has worked "extensively" with South Korea to that end. "All I can tell you without getting into too much of the details is that we have worked ex

Aug. 12, 2023

S. Korean FM meets Zambian president over key minerals, bilateral ties

South Korea's top diplomat has held talks with Zambia's president over supply chain cooperation for key minerals and other issues, the foreign ministry in Seoul said Saturday. Foreign Minister Park Jin met with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema on Friday (local time) in the capital of Lusaka and stressed that cooperation between the two countries over the supply chains of cobalt, copper and other key minerals used for electric vehicle batteries will bring about mutual benefits, acco

Aug. 12, 2023

No impact from release of Iranian assets from S. Korea: White House

There will not be a significant impact from the release of frozen Iranian assets in South Korea, a White House official said Friday, amid reports that the transfer of up to US$7 billion from South Korea may weaken the local currency. John Kirby, National Security Council (NSC) coordinator for strategic communications, said the U.S. has worked "extensively" with South Korea to that end. "All I can tell you without getting into too much of the details is that we have worked exte

Aug. 12, 2023