Impasse over forced labor imperils Seoul’s efforts to mend Tokyo ties

Deepening discord was revealed Thursday over how to bring Japan to make amends to Koreans forced into labor by Japanese firms during World War II, further weakening the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s drive to seek a thaw in frayed Seoul-Tokyo ties. Thursday’s public debate, held at the National Assembly to gather public input that could help settle the dispute, reaffirmed concerns that Japan’s apology and compensation -- two conditions victims demand but that have been denied b

Jan. 12, 2023

China’s ‘retaliatory’ visa ban sign of stormy times ahead

China’s visa ban on South Koreans following Seoul’s tighter COVID-19 curbs on Chinese travelers is the kind of tit-for-tat spat the two Asian neighbors will have to deal with on multiple fronts for some time, experts said Thursday. China this week stopped issuing short-term visas in Korea for business visits, tourism, medical care, transit and other personal matters -- a response to what Beijing said were discriminatory restrictions Seoul had imposed on people arriving from China. Th

Jan. 12, 2023

US, Japan, S. Korea enhancing trilateral cooperation against N. Korean provocations: Blinken

WASHINGTON -- The United States is working with South Korea and Japan to strengthen their trilateral cooperation against North Korea's reckless provocations, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated Wednesday. The top US diplomat also reaffirmed US support for Japan's new National Security Strategy that will arm Tokyo with counter-strike capabilities. "In the face of the DPRK's unlawful and reckless missile launches, including the launch of a long range ballistic missi

Jan. 12, 2023

Yoon may visit US to mark alliance anniversary

A trip to the US by President Yoon Suk Yeol is high up on the priority list for the Foreign Ministry, part of efforts it hopes would help South Korea gain a larger share of the international diplomatic spotlight, Foreign Minister Park Jin said Wednesday. Seoul -- set to mark its 70 years of security ties with Washington in October, its biggest ally -- revealed a month ago its Indo-Pacific strategy, a commitment to help reshape the world order alongside the US, primarily, amid deglobalization p

Jan. 11, 2023

US monitoring N. Korea, others for potential chemical weapons proliferation: Pentagon

WASHINGTON-- The United States continues to keep a close watch on North Korea and others for possible use or proliferation of illegal chemical and biological weapons, a Pentagon spokesperson said Tuesday. Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder also said the US will take all necessary measures to hold any country accountable should they use or spread such weapons. "When it comes to chem-bio capabilities worldwide, it's something that the Department of Defense monitors very closely," the defense

Jan. 11, 2023

Hwaseong City, Korean American business group in Santa Clara Country sign MOU

Hwaseong City Mayor Jeong Myeong-geun has signed an agreement with Santa Clara County Korean American Chamber of Commerce on Monday to support global entry of local startups operating in the Korean city, officials said Tuesday. Under the agreement, the two sides will hold a technology seminar and expo in the US as well as develop a network of companies and an entrepreneur leadership program. The agreement took place during Mayor Jeong’s visit to the Californian city. With Santa Clara Count

Jan. 10, 2023

Yoon to visit UAE, Switzerland accompanied by Samsung, Hyundai leaders

President Yoon Suk Yeol will make a state visit to the United Arab Emirates as his first overseas trip this year and will attend the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, putting an emphasis on economic diplomacy and all-out efforts to attract the 2030 Expo. “President Yoon will make a state visit to the UAE at the invitation of President Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan during Jan. 14-17, and he will attend the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland during Jan. 18-19

Jan. 10, 2023

S. Korea, US reaffirm economic ties

South Korea and the United States are “indispensable partners” that share such universal values as freedom and human rights -- the commitment central to their economic solidarity, Second Vice Foreign Minister Lee Do-hoon said Tuesday ahead of marking the allies’ 70 years of security ties in October. Lee and his US counterpart, Undersecretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment Jose Fernandez, discussed bolstering support for economic security or plans to de

Jan. 10, 2023

China suspends issuing short-term visas for Koreans

China said Tuesday that it would stop issuing short-term visas for Koreans, including those traveling to the country for business purposes and tourism, in retaliation against the Korean government’s tightened COVID-19 restrictions against passengers from the neighboring country. The Chinese Embassy in Seoul said it was suspending the issuance of short-term visas to China for Korean nationals starting Tuesday under instruction from Beijing, via its official WeChat account. The embassy added

Jan. 10, 2023

US committed to working with S. Korea on concerns over EV tax credit: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- The United States is prepared to work with South Korea and other countries to address their concerns over the US Inflation Reduction Act, a state department spokesperson said Monday. Ned Price also highlighted the need to keep offshore investment between South Korea and the US robust. "Just as we have said with our European allies, this is a consequential piece of legislation. It's a complicated piece of legislation. It's a large piece of legislation," the depar

Jan. 10, 2023

US satellite may possibly fall around Korean Peninsula

The South Korean science ministry on Monday warned that a retired U.S. satellite could possible fall on the Korean Peninsula and its vicinities later this day. Launched in 1984, the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite is falling to Earth after completing its decadeslong mission to study how the Earth absorbed and radiated energy from the sun. The Ministry of Science and ICT said the ERBS is forecast to crash back down to Earth around 12:20-1:20 p.m. and the Korean Peninsula is included in the regio

Jan. 9, 2023

[S. Korea-Japan Reboot] Activist suggests using cultural reach to fight Japan’s ‘revisionism’

This is the second installment of the three-part interview series exploring what experts believe should take place for S. Korea to better advance its interests, while resetting ties with Japan amid disputes. -- Ed. AAAAA/ South Korea should use its growing cultural presence to rally an international audience against Japan’s “revisionist history,” a course of action that is more effectively put in check with international backing while the two Asian neighbors rush to reset ties,

Jan. 8, 2023

Trilateral cooperation with S. Korea, Japan most important to US: State Dept.

Close cooperation between South Korea, Japan and the United States is crucial in dealing with a range of challenges facing the allies in the Indo-Pacific, including the security threat posed by North Korea, a state department spokesperson said Friday. Ned Price said ways to enhance the trilateral cooperation will also be a major topic for US-Japan discussions next week. US President Joe Biden is set to hold a bilateral summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House, after

Jan. 7, 2023

Kissinger stresses cooperation between S.Korea and US for NK denuclearization

Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger stressed solid cooperation between South Korea and the US for the denuclearization of North Korea in a luncheon held with Chung Mong-joon, honorary chairman of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in New York on Thursday (local time), according to the organization on Friday. During the meeting, the two exchanged views on the recent international situation and issues on the Korean Peninsula. Kissinger said that South Korea and the US must deal with

Jan. 6, 2023

Senior US State Department official to visit Seoul to discuss supply chain, IRA issue: sources

Jose Fernandez, the US under secretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, plans to visit South Korea next week for consultations on a range of bilateral economic issues, according to diplomatic sources Friday. According to the sources, Seoul and Washington are in consultations on details related to Fernandez's trip, probably including a meeting with Lee Do-hoon, Seoul's second vice foreign minister. The two sides are likely to discuss economic security issues, su

Jan. 6, 2023

US will work closely with S. Korea to monitor threat posed by N. Korea: Pentagon

  WASHINGTON -- The United States continues to work closely with South Korea to monitor threats posed by North Korea, a Pentagon spokesperson said Thursday, after a group of North Korean drones infiltrated South Korea before returning home. Defense Department spokesperson Brig. Ge. Pat Ryder also highlighted that the US maintains "intelligence capabilities" in the region. "We certainly have been very clear from here about the threats posed by the DPRK, as well as our commitme

Jan. 6, 2023

[S. Korea-Japan Reboot] Rebalancing S. Korea-Japan relations requires steps, not leaps: Hosaka

This is the first installment of the three-part interview series exploring what experts believe should take place for S. Korea to better advance its interests, while resetting ties with Japan amid disputes. -- Ed. For too long, South Korea has misplaced hope in breakthroughs, while Japan has pursued small steps rather than giant leaps in ties. That is a lesson for Seoul to mirror Japan’s strategy to negotiate better as they seek to reset relations amid longtime historical disputes, accord

Jan. 5, 2023

Chinese Embassy strongly protests S. Korean delegation’s visit to Taiwan

The Chinese Embassy in Seoul lodged a diplomatic protest over the South Korean parliamentary delegation’s visit to Taiwan in December, calling it a “serious violation” of the two countries’ bilateral relations. “We urge Korea to adhere to the ‘One China’ policy and the spirit of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and China and refrain from engaging in any ‘official exchanges with the Taiwan region,’” an embassy spok

Jan. 5, 2023

Hwaseong mayor visits Torrance, promotes inter-city cooperation

Hwaseong city Mayor Jeong Myeong-geun visited Torrance, a city in southern California on Wednesday in an effort to promote cooperation and broaden administrative strides. First proposed by Torrance, the meeting between Mayor Jeong and Torrance mayor George Chen along with other city officials was held to discuss mutual cooperation between the two cities. They talked about bolstering efforts in various fields, including the establishment of communication channels, economic growth, and cultural sh

Jan. 5, 2023

US concerned about N. Korea's disregard of military agreement with S. Korea: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- The United States is concerned about North Korea's disregard of a tension-reduction agreement it signed with South Korea in 2018, a state department official said Wednesday. "We are concerned about the DPRK's apparent disregard of the 2018 comprehensive military agreement, and we call on it to end its irresponsible and escalatory behavior," department press secretary Ned Price said during a daily press briefing. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Repub

Jan. 5, 2023