FM Kang to visit Vietnam next week for bilateral talks: sources

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha plans to travel to Vietnam next week for talks with her counterpart on various bilateral issues, including joint efforts for cooperation amid the coronavirus pandemic, diplomatic sources said Friday. Kang will depart for the Southeast Asian country on Thursday for talks with her Vietnamese counterpart, Pham Binh Minh, according to sources familiar with the matter. The two-day visit to Hanoi will be Kang's second trip abroad since the global spread of COVID-19

Sept. 11, 2020

Rights panel finds ministry lacked fairness in handling New Zealand sexual abuse case

The foreign ministry failed to fairly handle allegations that a senior diplomat sexually abused a local embassy employee in New Zealand, and even included officials directly under him in an internal probe team, the state human rights watchdog said Friday. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) released a 25-page report outlining its findings into the allegations that the senior Korean diplomat groped a New Zealand employee at the embassy in Wellington multiple times when he was stationed

Sept. 11, 2020

Trump wanted troop reduction in S. Korea from beginning: book

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump wanted to reduce the number of US troops stationed in South Korea from the early stage of his administration, a news report showed Thursday. Quoting excerpts from an upcoming book by Washington Post associate editor Bob Woodward, USA Today reported that Trump had actually called for a withdrawal of troops from South Korea. "The president, in the book, complains about military obligations around the world, saying the United States has become 'sucker

Sept. 11, 2020

S. Korea, US to launch working-level 'alliance' dialogue: vice FM

WASHINGTON -- South Korea and the United States agreed Thursday to set up a new working-level dialogue channel to allow quick and constant consultation on various issues between the two countries, Seoul's First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun said. Choi reached the agreement during talks with US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun in Washington. The two sides also agreed to commit themselves to moving forward the countries' long-stalled discussions on defense cost-sharing, Choi said.

Sept. 11, 2020

FM Kang calls for early resumption of talks with NK

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha called for an early resumption of denuclearization talks between the two Koreas and the US, while asking for international support for the peace process to take root on the Korean Peninsula at a regional forum, her office said Thursday. 　 Kang made the call Wednesday during the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations Plus Three meeting, which involves the 10-nation bloc along with South Korea, China and Japan, held virtually due to the COVID-1

Sept. 10, 2020

FM calls for international support for S. Korea's peace efforts at regional forum

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha has called for international support for an early resumption of dialogue with North Korea and renewed South Korea's "firm" will to push for inter-Korean cooperation at a regional forum, her office said Thursday. On Wednesday, Kang made the call during a video-linked foreign ministerial session of the East Asia Summit (EAS) that involves the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, South Korea, China, Japan, the United States, Russia, Australia,

Sept. 10, 2020

S. Korean trade minister heads to Paris to win support to become next WTO head

  GENEVA -- South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee departed Geneva for Paris Wednesday as she drums up support for her bid to become the next head of the World Trade Organization (WTO). "In the French capital, she is scheduled to meet with key figures to secure their support in the selection process," an insider said without providing details. The minister is expected to remain in Paris till Friday. Yoo traveled to Switzerland late last month and has been engaged in talks

Sept. 9, 2020

US Amb. Harris unveils books on his desk, many about N. Korea, for Month of Reading

US Ambassador to Seoul Harry Harris on Wednesday shared a list of books on his desk, some related to North Korea, for South Korea's Month of Reading in a tweet that hinted at his interest in the reclusive country. The ambassador's list of seven books included four North Korea-related ones, including "Bridging the Divide," a book about South Korean President Moon Jae-in's efforts to engage with North Korea and foster lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. "For ROK's Month of Re

Sept. 9, 2020

FM Kang to attend ASEAN meetings this week

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha was set to attend a series of annual meetings led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations beginning Wednesday to discuss responses to the novel coronavirus and other regional issues.  This year’s sessions, held virtually due to the pandemic, arrive at a time when Washington and Beijing are competing for influence in the region, intensifying their rivalry.  The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to top the agenda at this year’

Sept. 9, 2020

FM Kang voices concerns over US-China tension, impact on S. Korea's diplomacy

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Tuesday that a growing Sino-US rivalry makes South Korea's diplomatic endeavor to firm up relations with the major powers a "very tough task." Kang delivered a speech on Seoul's response to the "challenging global context," its handling of the new coronavirus and the erosion of multilateralism, as a special speaker for a gathering of Romanian diplomats via video links. "We are firmly committed to safeguarding and strengthening our s

Sept. 8, 2020

Vice FM Choi to meet Biegun in Washington Thursday

First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun will meet with US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun in Washington on Thursday to discuss bilateral relations, the regional situation and other issues, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.  “During the talks, the two sides are planning to have comprehensive consultations on the overall South Korea-US relations, regional situation and issues of mutual interest,” Kim In-chul, the ministry’s spokesperson, said in a regular brief

Sept. 8, 2020

Vice FM Choi meets Chinese, Japanese ambassadors amid Sino-US rivalry, looming leadership change in Japan

First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun met with the Chinese and Japanese ambassadors on Monday, amid the intensifying Sino-US rivalry and a looming leadership change in Japan. Since taking office last month, Choi has held and planned online and offline meetings with his foreign counterparts and ambassadors from major countries as part of efforts to ensure their support for Seoul's policy agenda, including its push for lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. He first met with US Ambassador Ha

Sept. 7, 2020

WTO kicks off selection process for new chief

The World Trade Organization is kicking off the selection process for its new director general this week, with South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee vying with seven other candidates for the job.   　 The selection process starts on Monday by Geneva time, where representatives from 164 members states are to voice their preference among the eight candidates to the selection committee, made up of David Walker, WTO General Council chair, Dacio Castillo, chair of the Dispute Settlement Bo

Sept. 7, 2020

S. Korea, US in talks to arrange vice FM Choi's visit to Washington

South Korea and the United States are in talks to arrange a visit to Washington by Seoul's new First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun for talks with his US counterpart, a foreign ministry official said Sunday. The visit, which could reportedly take place this week, would come as Seoul and Washington seek to address an array of pending issues, such as deadlocked defense cost-sharing negotiations and coordination on North Korea-related issues. Should Choi meet Deputy Secretary of State Steph

Sept. 6, 2020

FM stresses need for allowing ‘essential’ business travels amid COVID-19

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha called for the need to allow essential trips by businesspeople, while countries maintain quarantine measures on COVID-19 outbreak, during a Group of 20 nations’ ministerial forum, her office said Friday.  Kang attended the special video session of G-20 on Thursday evening, which came ahead of the regular G-20 ministers’ meeting slated for November, where the members discussed global cooperation in the battle against the novel corona

Sept. 4, 2020

Trump says KORUS FTA led to US losses before but now is great

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump again blasted his Democratic presidential rival Joe Biden for supporting the Korea-US free trade agreement (FTA) in its original form, arguing the initial pact only caused losses for the United States. "Joe Biden supported NAFTA, China's entry into the world trade. He supported the Korean deal. The Korean deal was so bad. It was so bad. This was a deal ... done by crooked Hillary Clinton. This was a deal that was going to produce 250,000 jobs,"

Sept. 4, 2020

FM Kang to attend annual ASEAN-related meetings via video links next week

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will attend a series of annual meetings with her counterparts from Southeast Asian and other countries next week via video links to discuss responses to the new coronavirus and regional issues, her office said Thursday. From Wednesday through Saturday, Kang will join the virtual meetings involving the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit session. Vietnam planned to host the gat

Sept. 3, 2020

Singaporean ambassador makes courtesy visit

SINGAPOREAN ENVOY’S VISIT -- Herald Corp. CEO and Publisher Kwon Chung-won (left) greets Eric Teo, ambassador of Singapore to South Korea, during a courtesy visit to the Herald Corp. headquarters in central Seoul on Thursday. 

Sept. 3, 2020

S. Korea, Singapore agree on 'fast-track' entry program for biz people amid COVID-19

South Korea and Singapore agreed Wednesday to introduce a "fast-track" entry program this week for essential trips by businesspeople and others in exception to coronavirus entry restrictions, the foreign ministry said. During telephone talks, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and her Singaporean counterpart, Vivian Balakrishnan, reached the agreement on the streamlined entry procedures set to take effect on Friday. "The agreement with Singapore, the logistical and financial hub, i

Sept. 2, 2020

Pompeo says S. Korea and other allies will unite against China

WASHINGTON -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that South Korea and other US allies will join US efforts to tackle what he called economic and political aggression from China. "I think you are seeing the entire world begin to unite around the central understanding that the Chinese Communist Party simply is going to refuse to compete in a fair, reciprocal, transparent way," the top US diplomat said in an interview with US cable network Fox Business News. "So whethe

Sept. 2, 2020