Tokyo objects to expanded G-7 summit including Seoul: report

The Japanese government has raised objections to the US proposal to invite South Korea to an expanded Group of 7 summit in September, Japan’s Kyodo News reported Sunday, citing diplomatic sources from Washington and Tokyo. In a message relayed to Washington upon its announcement to have Seoul at the table for the first time, along with three other countries, Japan said South Korea prioritizes inter-Korean reconciliation and leans on China, so the engagement would be inconsistent with

June 28, 2020

Remains of 6 fallen UN service members from Korean War repatriated to Hawaii

The remains of six service members who died during the 1950-53 Korean War while fighting under the UN flag were sent to Hawaii, the United Nations Command (UNC) said Saturday. The remains, believed to be of Americans, were excavated at multiple locations in South Korea across various periods of time and had been kept by Seoul's defense ministry, according to the US-led UNC and the ministry. On Thursday, which marked the 70th anniversary of the onset of the conflict, the remains of the six ser

June 27, 2020

S. Korea voices 'deep regrets' over Yemen's Houthi rebel attacks on Saudi Arabia

South Korea on Friday voiced "deep regrets" over recent attacks on Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Houthi rebels, reiterating any assault on civilians should not be tolerated. On Monday and Tuesday, Houthi rebels launched drone and ballistic missile attacks on several densely populated areas in Saudi Arabia, ratcheting up tensions in the conflict-laden Middle East. "The government expresses deep concerns about the drone and missile attacks targeting civilian areas, and reaffirms that a

June 26, 2020

Five South Korean sailors abducted in waters off Benin

Five South Korean sailors and a Ghanaian have been kidnapped by unidentified armed groups in waters off Benin in West Africa, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.  Unknown gunmen, believed to be pirates, attacked the fishing vessel at about 3:40 p.m. Wednesday, Benin time, in waters 111 kilometers south of the country’s Contonou Port.  A total of 30 crew members were onboard the Ghanaian-flagged Panofi Frontier ship, but the kidnappers took off with only six people. The remaini

June 25, 2020

Diplomats of S. Korea, US hold video talks to prep for senior economic meeting

Diplomats of South Korea and the United States held a videoconference Thursday to prepare for annual vice-ministerial economic talks where America's push to shift global supply chains away from China could be high on the agenda. The foreign ministry said that Yang Dong-han, director-general for bilateral economic affairs, and two deputy US assistant secretaries of state -- David Meale and Marc Knapper -- discussed plans for the Senior Economic Dialogue (SED) slated for later this year. The ta

June 25, 2020

Amb. Harris says S. Korea-US alliance will thrive as linchpin of regional security

US Ambassador to Seoul Harry Harris said Thursday that the South Korea-US alliance will continue to thrive for generations to come, calling it a linchpin of regional security amid "serious threats and challenges reshaping the world." In a message marking the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, Harris also stressed that the alliance has developed into a multidimensional partnership reinforced by "shared values, shared concerns and economic interests." "

June 25, 2020

Defense chief expresses gratitude to countries that took part in Korean War

Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo has sent letters of thanks to UN member countries that fought alongside South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the conflict, his office said Wednesday. In letters sent to the defense ministers of the countries, Jeong expressed gratitude for the sacrifice the foreign warriors made to safeguard the democracy and peace of a country they did not even know. Jeong said thanks to the friendship and supp

June 24, 2020

Bolton defends S. Korea-related anecdotes contained in memoir

WASHINGTON -- Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton on Tuesday defended his remarks on South Korea in his newly published memoir, saying it would be a "disservice" to the South Korean people if he didn't write the truth. In an interview with Fox News, Bolton was asked to comment on Cheong Wa Dae's criticism of the book, "The Room Where It Happened," as being "distorted" and based on "bias and prejudice." "Look, if you don't write the trut

June 24, 2020

In summit call, S. Korea, Turkey agree on closer economic ties, coronavirus cooperation

The leaders of South Korea and Turkey agreed to bolster the two countries' economic partnership and cooperation on the coronavirus during their phone talks Tuesday. President Moon Jae-in and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, had the 35-minute conversation ahead of the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of Korean War, on June 25, in which Turkey fought for the South, leading to a "blood brother" relationship. During the talks, Erdogan stressed the need for close economic c

June 23, 2020

In retweet of Yonhap report, Trump accuses Bolton of breaking law

US President Donald Trump has accused former National Security Advisor John Bolton of breaking the law with his soon-to-be published memoir while retweeting a Yonhap News Agency report that the office of President Moon Jae-in criticized Bolton for distorting facts. "See, Bolton broke the law. Classified Information!" Trump said in his retweet of a Yonhap story titled, "Cheong Wa Dae says much of Bolton's memoir on Korea 'distorted.'" On Monday, the South Korean presidentia

June 23, 2020

S. Korea calls on UNESCO to mull canceling Japanese industrial sites' World Heritage designation

South Korea has called on the UN cultural agency to consider removing Japanese industrial revolution sites from the World Heritage list, the foreign ministry said Tuesday, in a bid to pressure Japan to keep its pledge to honor wartime forced labor victims. On Monday, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha sent a letter to UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay to make the request, as Japan failed to deliver on its promise to ensure that a newly opened information center on 23 Meiji-era sites offer ex

June 23, 2020

Colombian war veteran to share rare photos from Korean War for anniversary exhibit

A surviving Colombian veteran of the 1950-53 Korean War will share a collection of photos he took during his time of service here, as South Korea marks the 70th anniversary of the conflict this week. The 152 photos, which retired Sgt. Maj. Gilberto Diaz Velasco took, will be exhibited online on the War Memorial of Korea website for the next six months starting Friday, the Colombian Embassy in Seoul organizing the event said Tuesday. Fifty other photos, provided by several other Colombian wa

June 23, 2020

UN council adopts NK human rights resolution for 18th consecutive year

GENEVA -- The UN Human Rights Council on Monday adopted a resolution condemning North Korea‘s human rights violations for the 18th straight year. During the 43rd session held in Geneva, Switzerland, the council, consisting of 47 member countries, passed the resolution by consensus. “(The council is) deeply concerned at the systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea that, in many instances, constitute crimes against

June 22, 2020

Trump threatened to pull troops if S. Korea didn't give $5b: Bolton memoir

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump threatened to pull American troops from South Korea if Seoul did not pay $5 billion under a defense cost-sharing deal, his former National Security Adviser John Bolton said in his memoir. In "The Room Where It Happened," set to be published Tuesday, Bolton recalled an Afghanistan-related meeting that took place last August ahead of the start of Special Measures Agreement negotiations between South Korea and the United States. "Get out of

June 22, 2020

Cheong Wa Dae says much of Bolton's memoir on Korea 'distorted,' urges US govt. to address such 'dangerous' case

The office of President Moon Jae-in on Monday strongly criticized former White House National Security Adviser John Bolton for his "distorted" account of what happened in brisk summit diplomacy last year involving the leaders of the United States and the two Koreas. Chung Eui-yong, director of national security at Cheong Wa Dae, said in a statement that "A considerable portion of it is distorted." He played it down as based on what Bolton had seen from his "own viewpo

June 22, 2020

S. Korea to restrict visas, flights from Pakistan, Bangladesh

The South Korean government said Sunday that it will strengthen visa and entry restrictions for those from Pakistan and Bangladesh from this week, as the country has recently reported a surge in novel coronavirus cases imported from the two nations. Under the precautionary measures, set to take effect from Tuesday, the authorities will restrict issuing visas to people from Pakistan and Bangladesh, except for diplomatic and urgent business purposes. At the same time, they will temporarily not p

June 21, 2020

[Herald Interview] ‘Protest louder about Japan’s breaking of UNESCO promise’

Another diplomatic spat broke out between South Korea and Japan this month after the public opening of the Industrial Heritage Information Center in Tokyo. Contrary to what Japan said it would do, the center mostly focused on highlighting achievements of Japan’s industrial revolution while giving hardly any retribution to the sufferings of Koreans during the time period as forced wartime laborers. Seoul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accuses Japan of breaking its own promise. When

June 21, 2020

Pompeo pays tribute to Warmbier on 3rd death anniversary

     WASHINGTON -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo paid tribute to Otto Warmbier on Friday, marking the third anniversary of the death of the American college student who was detained in North Korea. "Today marks 3 years since Otto Warmbier passed away," Pompeo wrote on his personal Twitter account. "Susan, Nick and I have gotten to know the Warmbiers these past few years -- we are continually amazed by their resolve, patriotism and dedication to justice in

June 20, 2020

Govt. extends special travel watch until mid-July over coronavirus fears

The foreign ministry said Friday it has extended for another month the special travel warning advising citizens against overseas trips amid continuing coronavirus fears. The re-issuance of the special travel watch will be valid until July 19, unless a further extension is made, the ministry said in a release. The government has extended the travel watch twice since it was first announced in March. The special travel warning applies to all countries except those that are already under higher

June 19, 2020

Defector group cancels plan to send bottles containing rice to NK amid heightened tensions

A North Korean defector group said Friday that it has temporarily suspended a plan to float plastic bottles containing rice into North Korea amid heightened cross-border tensions. Keunsaem had pushed to send plastic bottles containing rice from the western border island of Gangwha on Sunday, but the plan was put on hold temporarily in the face of the North's repeated retaliatory threats over such activity, according to a notice posted on its website. North Korea has ratcheted up tensions over

June 19, 2020