[Hwang’s China and the World] Korean and Japanese leaders can only cease the vicious cycle

From the stance of Korean diplomacy, relations with Japan are the primary dilemma. Although there may be some differences in degree compared to the US according to political orientation, an alliance has immutable value. It has an absolute influence on daily life in Korea. At the same time, though we may have a different perspective from China, we cannot neglect China’s influence on Korea’s economy and policies toward North Korea. The US and China are like two strong wings flanking K

Oct. 25, 2022

NK, wartime forced labor on agenda in Japan

South Korea’s First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong traveled to Tokyo to discuss cooperative measures to handle rising North Korean threats with his US and Japanese counterparts on Tuesday. During his three-day trip, Cho is expected to hold bilateral talks with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Mori Takeo, separately, on Tuesday. A trilateral meeting of the three officials is slated for Wednesday. Speaking to reporters at airports in South

Oct. 25, 2022

Han Seung-soo elected as head of former UN General Assembly presidents' council

NEW YORK -- Former South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-soo has been elected as the chairperson of a council of past UN General Assembly presidents, according to Seoul's permanent mission to the UN on Monday. Han was elected to lead the Council of Presidents of General Assembly for a three-year term at the group's annual meeting held in New York last Thursday, along with Jan Kavan, former Czech foreign minister, as vice chairperson. Han served as the president of the 56th UN General A

Oct. 25, 2022

N. Korea likely to conduct nuclear test, but US prepared for all contingencies: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- North Korea is believed to be continuing preparations for a nuclear test while the US is set to face any threat posed by the recalcitrant country, a state department spokesperson said Monday. Department Press Secretary Ned Price said the US also remains open to engaging in dialogue with Pyongyang. "Our concern regarding the potential for another North Korean nuclear test, which would be its seventh, has been consistent for some time now. We assess that the DPRK is preparing it

Oct. 25, 2022

Golden opportunity to strengthen ties with Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria is visiting Korea to attend the "World Bio Summit," which is co-organized by the Korean government and WHO (World Health Organization). Due to geographical distance, Nigeria is not well-known to the Korean public. However, Nigeria has the biggest economy in Africa; with the world’s 6th largest population of 220 million; and abundant natural resources. Nigeria plays the leading role in West Africa and the African Union. It is also an active

Oct. 24, 2022

More options than 'foundation-led' compensation considered for Japan's wartime forced labor, Seoul says

Nothing has been decided on how to handle the dispute concerning Japan's wartime forced labor, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Monday, refuting Japanese news reports that the two countries are considering a foundation-led compensation plan as the sole option. Seoul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is “not discussing that one specific solution only,” and that “nothing has been decided yet.” The ministry said it has delivered the opinions o

Oct. 24, 2022

Trade chief to visit Hungary, 2 other European nations this week to discuss economic cooperation

South Korean Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun will visit Hungary, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic this week to discuss ways to enhance economic cooperation and to drum up support for the country's bid to host the 2030 World Expo, his office said Monday. During a six-day trip from Monday, Ahn will meet with the Hungarian foreign minister to discuss bilateral economic issues and ask for the European nation's support for Korean firms operating there amid high energy prices, according the Min

Oct. 24, 2022

S. Korea, Arab nations to hold new round of FTA talks next week

South Korea and a group of Arab countries will hold another round of negotiations for their free trade deal next week, Seoul's trade ministry here said Sunday. South Korea and the Gulf Cooperation Council will begin the sixth round of official talks for a bilateral free trade agreement in Seoul on Monday for a five-day run, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The GCC involves six countries -- the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. Vario

Oct. 23, 2022

S. Korean envoy raises issue of female NK defectors' human rights at UN meeting

NEW YORK -- South Korea's top envoy at the United Nations appealed Thursday to the international community to pay more attention to the dire human rights conditions that female North Korean defectors endure in the North before escape. Addressing a UN Security Council (UNSC) session, Ambassador Hwang Joon-kook said it is "heartbreaking" to see that many North Korean women arrive in South Korea only after suffering from years of human rights violations in the North. "I would li

Oct. 21, 2022

US remains committed to denuclearization of 'entire' Korean Peninsula: Pentagon spokesman

WASHINGTON -- The United States remains committed to the denuclearization of the "entire" Korean Peninsula, a defense department spokesperson said Thursday, indicating that the US is not considering deploying nuclear weapons to South Korea. Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder also reiterated that the US extended deterrence provided to South Korea would be sufficient to defend the Asian ally and deter any potential aggression from North Korea. "We are still committed to denuclearization of the en

Oct. 21, 2022

Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari to visit S. Korea next week

Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari will visit South Korea to attend the World Bio Summit 2022, being held in Seoul next Tuesday and Wednesday, the Embassy of Nigeria in Seoul said Thursday evening. According to a statement released by the embassy, Nigerian president Buhari will deliver a congratulatory message at the event’s opening ceremony. During his visit, Buhari will meet with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol. The Nigerian president is also scheduled to meet with former UN Sec

Oct. 20, 2022

South Korea joins discussion for drafting UN resolution on NK human rights

South Korea has begun consultation with the European Union on this year's EU-made draft resolution on North Korea's human rights abuses, breaking its hiatus to speak out against Pyongyang's violations. According to local sources, the European Union has drawn up a draft resolution addressing the human rights situation in North Korea, and is consulting with major countries for its review. The EU-drafted resolution will be submitted to the United Nations’ Third Committee before

Oct. 20, 2022

S. Korea, US agree to continue consultations over Inflation Reduction Act

South Korea and the United States have agreed to continue close consultations to seek solutions regarding a new US law that excludes electric vehicles assembled outside of North America from tax incentives, Seoul's trade ministry said Thursday. The consensus was reached during telephone talks between Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun and US Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai the previous day, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The IRA, signed by US President Joe Biden

Oct. 20, 2022

S. Korea has backing of full US capabilities, including nuclear weapons: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- South Korea is backed by the "full range" of US defense capabilities, including nuclear capabilities, a state department spokesperson said Wednesday, apparently dismissing the need for the deployment of US nuclear weapons to South Korea. Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the department, made the remarks as North Korea is widely anticipated to conduct a nuclear test in the near future. "I think you saw President (Joe) Biden over the course of this admini

Oct. 20, 2022

Diplomats demonstrate interest in humanity in tech

Diplomats and representatives of foreign business groups in Seoul demonstrated interest in the discourse surrounding humanity in tech, at The Korea Herald Biz Forum 2022 on Wednesday. The forum was attended by a number of diplomats, including the ambassadors of Singapore, Malaysia, Estonia, El Salvador, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Italy, Mexico and Latvia, and representatives from embassies such as India, Kenya, Poland, New Zealand, Qatar, Vietnam, Canada, the US and Germany. According to

Oct. 19, 2022

[Herald Interview] 'Leaders should address NK human rights violations on equal footing as nuclear arms'

  In the decades of efforts South Korea and the United States have made with other nations to persuade the North to become a "normal state" and give up on its nuclear ambition, they were often passive in addressing the reclusive regime's brutal record of human rights violations in the fear that it would only add more friction. But their overly diffident approach has "emboldened" and "empowered" the young North Korean leader to ultimately declare his country a n

Oct. 19, 2022

N. Korea fires artillery shells into inter-Korean buffer zone: JCS

WASHINGTON-- North Korea fired artillery rounds into a buffer zone with South Korea that is designed to reduce tension on the Korean Peninsula, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Wednesday. The North fired some 100 artillery rounds into the Yellow Sea from around 10 p.m. Tuesday and another 150 rounds into the East Sea from 11 p.m., according to the JCS. The artillery shells fell into eastern and western buffer zones north of the Northern Limit Line, which were established under a 2018 inter-K

Oct. 19, 2022

Seoul kicks off ANOC General Assembly, expresses hope for hosting 2036 Summer Olympics

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is to ramp up its drive for hosting international sports events in the future, including the 2036 Summer Olympics. Seoul is currently hosting the 26th General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees, which runs until Friday, and the city government aims to use the event as a springboard for its 2036 bid. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon will also meet with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on Thursday and deliver Seoul’s int

Oct. 18, 2022

Talk of tactical nuke redeployment 'irresponsible': US ambassador

US Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg said Tuesday all talk related to tactical weapons is "irresponsible" and "dangerous," as the idea of redeploying tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea resurfaces following a string of provocations from North Korea. Speaking at a forum organized by a journalist group to mark his 100th day in office, Goldberg also said the US' extended deterrence, which includes the country's nuclear capabilities, is the measure to hand

Oct. 18, 2022

S. Korea seeks more investment from Netherlands in chips, new energy fields

South Korea asked the Netherlands on Tuesday to make greater investments and enhance bilateral cooperation in semiconductors and such advanced industry fields as hydrogen and nuclear power generation, Seoul's industry ministry said. Deputy Trade Minister Jeong Dae-jin made the request during a meeting with Hanneke Schuiling, the Dutch vice minister for foreign economic relations, in Seoul, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. "Chung noted that the South Korean gover

Oct. 18, 2022