S. Korea open to anything but three-way summit with US, Japan not planned: diplomat

South Korea is open to a three-way dialogue with the United States and Japan, but no official meeting has been scheduled for their leaders taking part in the Group of Seven (G7) summit this week, a senior South Korean diplomat said Tuesday. South Korea's vice foreign minister, Choi Jong-kun, also said his country will actively seek dialogue opportunities with the leaders of the United States and Japan at the upcoming G7 summit in Britain. "We are open, and plan to actively push for a Sout

June 9, 2021

[Newsmaker] US lowers travel advisory for S. Korea to lowest Level 1

The United States on Tuesday lowered its travel advisory for South Korea to the lowest level, which advises people visiting the Asian country to exercise normal precaution. The State Department said the latest update reflected a low level of COVID-19 infections in South Korea. "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 1 Travel Health Notice for South Korea due to COVID-19, indicating a low level of COVID-19 in the country," it said. The US had maintain

June 9, 2021

Slovenia to open embassy in Seoul

Slovenia is set to establish an embassy in Seoul this year, and Tuesday its visiting top diplomat asked for South Korea’s cooperation ahead of its opening. 　 Slovenian Foreign Minister Anze Logar, at the start of bilateral talks with Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, stressed that one of the reasons he visited was to prepare to open the embassy. 　 “In order to organize everything that is corresponding to the opening of this embassy, I look forward to your help in that sense,

June 8, 2021

US will work for family reunion of Korean Americans with DPRK relatives: Blinken

WASHINGTON/SEOUL -- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged Monday to work with both South Korea and North Korea to help realize long-awaited reunions of Korean Americans with their loved ones in the North, calling it a "heart wrenching" issue. The top US diplomat also said he is "deeply sensitive" to the issue. "This is just heart wrenching, knowing that people have been not only separated but don't even know the fate of their loved ones," Blinken said in a

June 8, 2021

No plans for Biden meeting with S. Korea, Japan but anything possible: Sullivan

WASHINGTON -- US President Joe Biden currently does not have a trilateral summit planned with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts, but such a meeting could be possible as he will join a small group of global leaders in Britain, Biden's top security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said Monday. The remarks came as Biden is set to head for Britain on Wednesday for the Group of 7 (G7) summit in Cornwall. South Korea is not a G7 member but is invited to this year's meeting as a guest, along with Aus

June 8, 2021

Vice FM Choi to visit US this week for talks with counterpart Sherman

First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun will visit Washington later this week for talks with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues between the two countries, the foreign ministry said Monday. Choi and Sherman are set to meet on Wednesday (US time) for their first in-person talks since the latter assumed office in April. The two sides plan to discuss follow-up measures to last month's summit between Presidents Moon Jae-in and Joe Biden, w

June 7, 2021

FM meets US senators, discusses alliance issues

Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong on Friday met with three visiting US senators and discussed bilateral and alliance issues, the foreign ministry said. During the meeting at Chung's official residence, the senators -- Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Dan Sullivan (R-AL) -- said that last month's summit between President Moon Jae-in and US President Joe Biden demonstrated the alliance and global cooperation partnership between the two countries, according to the ministry. They als

June 4, 2021

Indian Chamber of Commerce, Korea Nonferrous Metal Association to explore new markets

The Indian Chamber of Commerce in Korea and the Korea Nonferrous Metal Association on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding to support its member companies on exploring new business opportunities. The signing ceremony was attended by some 60 industry people, including Park Jin-kyu, vice minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Sachin Satpute, head of the chamber, and Lee Je-joong, chairman of the association. “The Make in India Initiative is a great opportunity f

June 4, 2021

Biden says US will share vaccines with vulnerable countries, including to S. Korea

WASHINGTON -- The United States plans to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to countries in need, including South Korea, President Joe Biden said Thursday. The United States earlier pledged to provide up to 80 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, including 20 million doses that have already been approved for use in the United States. The other 60 million doses are from AstraZeneca, yet to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. "As the United States continues our efforts to get every el

June 4, 2021

British PM expects S. Korea to play a role in G7 summit next week: Cheong Wa Dae

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday welcomed South Korea's commitment to playing a role in an upcoming summit of global leaders on COVID-19, climate change and other pending issues, Cheong Wa Dae said.    He delivered the message to President Moon Jae-in during their half-hour phone conversation, according to Moon's spokesperson Park Kyung-mee.    Johnson is scheduled to host the Group of Seven summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, on June 11-13. Taking part will be

June 3, 2021

Chungcheong cities team up in bid to host 2027 Summer World University Games

Local governments in the Chungcheong provinces are banding together in hopes of hosting an international sporting event and to promote Korea’s soft power, the North Chungcheong Province governor said Thursday. The local governments of Sejong, Daejeon, South Chungcheong and North Chungcheong Province have teamed up for a joint bid to host the 34th Summer World University Games in 2027. More than 15,000 university students from 174 countries participate in the event. Organized by the Int

June 3, 2021

French technologies can solve nuclear waste problem, says French Ambassador

S. Korea and France have opportunities for cooperation on nuclear power, French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Lefort said during an online press conference on Wednesday. 　 At the event, Lefort highlighted France’s strategies to address eco-friendly use of nuclear energy and said that it was a suitable time to discuss related issues in light of nuclear energy and climate change challenges the world faces. Referring to a recent report by the European Commission’s Joint Research Cent

June 3, 2021

JCS chief, US Indo-Pacific commander vow to back diplomacy for denuclearization

Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Won In-choul and US Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm. John C. Aquilino held talks in Seoul on Thursday and agreed to work together to back diplomatic efforts for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the military said. Aquilino flew here from Japan on Wednesday for a two-day visit as part of his first overseas trip to strengthen ties with allies since taking office in late April. "Gen. Won and Adm. Aquilino agreed to provide military support to

June 3, 2021

[Herald Interview] Vaccination only way out of COVID crisis: Israeli envoy

Vaccines are the only way of the coronavirus pandemic and an aggressive inoculation campaign is essential, the Israeli ambassador to South Korea says. Israel -- where 59 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated as of this week, far outstripping the rest of the world -- has lifted most of its COVID-19 restrictions. “Early on a decision was made that Israel would pursue several tracks vis-a-vis several pharma companies and would be willing to pay above market cost,” Ambas

June 2, 2021

Student activists again burn Japanese flag in Seoul over Dokdo

South Korean university students burned a Japanese flag in Seoul for the second consecutive day on Wednesday in protest of the Tokyo government's claim to South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo. Members of the Korean Progressive University Student Union set the Rising Sun Flag, formerly used by the Japanese imperial army, on fire in front of Dongnimmun (independence) Gate in central Seoul in the afternoon after condemning the Japanese government and Tokyo Olympics organizers for claiming Dok

June 2, 2021

Declassified US document reveals US saw Choi Kyu-ha as ‘helpless president’

A host of newly declassified US documents was released to the South Korean government on Wednesday, revealing Washington’s assessment of Choi Kyu-ha as a “helpless president” against military general Chun Doo-hwan. Chun took power after a military coup in 1979, leading to the nationwide democracy movement the following year. 　 The State Department released 14 documents related to the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising, including the full text report sent from the US Embassy i

June 2, 2021

Indonesian ambassador to S. Korea awarded honorary Seoul citizenship

Indonesia's Ambassador to South Korea Umar Hadi was awarded honorary citizenship of Seoul Wednesday in recognition of his contributions to facilitating friendly exchanges between the two countries, the city government said. Since taking office as Indonesia's top envoy to South Korea in 2017, the ambassador has worked tirelessly to promote bilateral ties and enhance Seoul citizens' understanding of multiculturalism, according to the city government. Hadi, in particular, played a leading role i

June 2, 2021

S. Korea to provide marine equipment to Indonesia

South Korea said Wednesday it will offer a set of marine equipment to Indonesia in the form of official development assistance (ODA). The equipment, valued at 1.1 billion won ($990,000), includes a 12-ton research boat, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Other supplies include a multibeam echosounder, which is used to map the seafloor. The two countries have been making different efforts to cooperate in the marine sector. In 2019, South Korea launched a four-year project worth

June 2, 2021

Ex-USFK chief Brooks hasn't been offered ambassador post in S. Korea: aide

Former US Forces Korea Commander (USFK) Vincent Brooks has not been given any offer from the administration of US President Joe Biden to serve as the new ambassador to South Korea, an aide said Wednesday. A local TV station reported earlier this week that Brooks is likely to be nominated for ambassador to South Korea. The post has been vacant since former Ambassador Harry Harris left it in January following Biden's inauguration. "General Brooks has not been contacted by anyone from the U

June 2, 2021

Blinken calls on NATO members to deepen cooperation with S. Korea: State Dept.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on NATO members to deepen their cooperation with South Korea, the State Department said Tuesday, amid US efforts to enhance cooperation between US allies. "Secretary Blinken underscored the importance of Alliance partnerships, including NATO-EU cooperation, and encouraged NATO to deepen its cooperation with Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea," the department said, referring to South Korea by its official name. Blin

June 2, 2021