S. Korea, US hold 2nd day of talks on defense cost sharing

South Korea and the United States held a second day of talks on sharing the cost of stationing American troops here on Wednesday as US President Donald Trump renewed calls for allies to pay their "fair share."The two sides launched the negotiations on Tuesday to renew the Special Measures Agreement on determining how much Seoul should pay for stationing some 28,500 US soldiers in the country.The current deal is set to expire on Dec. 31. During the first day of talks, the two sides exch

Sept. 25, 2019

S. Korea, Russia to form joint investment fund, accelerate FTA talks

South Korea and Russia agreed Tuesday (Moscow time) to launch a fund for the industrial materials and parts sectors, and to speed up free trade negotiations, Seoul's finance ministry said.During the annual meeting on economic cooperation between South Korea and Russia, held in Moscow, South Korean Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki proposed a $1-billion joint fund to beef up the supply chain of industrial materials and parts by investing in core technologies, according to the ministry. Russia's delega

Sept. 25, 2019

Moon’s Blue Sky proposal also supports Paris Accord efforts: Environment Minister

NEW YORK – The idea of designating an International Day for Blue Sky is aimed at facilitating international cooperation on air pollution, and bringing forward a low-carbon era, Seoul’s Environment Minister Cho Myung-rae said Tuesday. The proposal for the International Day for Blue Sky was made by President Moon Jae-in at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York on Monday. Saying international cooperation was critical to fighting climate change and air pollution, Cho said that Moon&rs

Sept. 25, 2019

NSCs of Seoul, Washington to maintain close cooperation

NEW YORK – South Korea’s national security office chief Chung Eui-yong met Robert O’Brien, the recently appointed US national security adviser, on Tuesday, Seoul’s presidential office said. According to Cheong Wa Dae, the two met in New York and agreed to continue working closely together on various issues. “(Chung and O’Brien) said that the close communication and cooperation between the two sides’ national security councils will be continued, and that

Sept. 25, 2019

Korea, Australia seek closer ties

NEW YORK -- President Moon Jae-in and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison held a summit meeting in New York on Tuesday (US time), expressing hopes for stronger bilateral ties and cooperation in wider range of fields. “The friendship between the two nations has led to active economic exchange, and advanced into a relationship of cooperation in energy resources and infrastructure,” Moon was quoted as saying by Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Ko Min-jung. “I hope for cooperation t

Sept. 25, 2019

Moon proposes turning DMZ into ‘peace zone’

NEW YORK -- President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday (US time) proposed transforming the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas into an “international peace zone.”The idea was put forward in Moon’s keynote speech at the UN General Assembly in New York.  “Today I propose making the DMZ that cuts the Korean Peninsula across the middle into an ‘international peace zone’ based on these three principles,” Moon said, highlighting that the idea is based on

Sept. 25, 2019

South Korea, US begin defense cost-sharing talks

South Korea and the US have initiated talks to decide how much Seoul will pay for the upkeep of the US troops stationed here for 2020 and possibly beyond, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday. As the current deal expires at the end of this year, the two countries are required to negotiate the 11th Special Measures Agreement, the defense cost-sharing pact that sets forth how much is required from each side to maintain the 28,500 US troops. James DeHart, a former charge d’affaires of

Sept. 24, 2019

Moon seeks wider cooperation for peace, environment

NEW YORK -- President Moon Jae-in on Monday held a string of meetings with world leaders, seeking closer cooperation with international society on issues ranging from climate change to his administration’s peace drive. Moon kicked off his day with a summit meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda. At the meeting, Moon expressed hopes for wider economic ties between the two nations. “Trade between the two countries has passed $5 billion, setting a record, and bilateral relation

Sept. 24, 2019

Top diplomats of S. Korea, Japan to hold talks in New York this week

The top diplomats of South Korea and Japan will hold talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York this week, an informed source said Tuesday, amid tensions over Tokyo's export curbs and wartime forced labor.Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and her new Japanese counterpart, Toshimitsu Motegi, will meet on Thursday afternoon (local time) for the first time since the latter was appointed in Tokyo's Cabinet reshuffle earlier this month.The two sides are expected to exchange their vie

Sept. 24, 2019

Korea, Denmark seek sustainability cooperation

NEW YORK -- President Moon Jae-in and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Monday pledged stronger bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas, including climate change.“It is clear that cooperation is needed in the area of climate change,” Frederiksen was quoted as saying by Cheong Wa Dae.   “If the two countries cooperate closely, it will be a very good thing not only for the two countries but for the world.” Moon praised Denmark’s sus

Sept. 24, 2019

Trump hints at new trade issue with S. Korea, military equipment sale

NEW YORK -- US President Donald Trump on Monday hinted that Washington is seeking further changes to trade-related issues with South Korea. Speaking at his meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in New York, Trump said that that the two countries are working on “tremendous trade deals,” while touting revisions to the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement. “We are working on tremendous trade deals. We -- as you know, we‘ve completed a trade deal, and that’

Sept. 24, 2019

Moon highlights Korea’s environment actions, calls for cooperation on air pollution

NEW YORK -- President Moon Jae-in on Monday announced Korea’s hosting of the P4G Summit next year, and the country’s plans to speed up efforts to fight climate change. Addressing the UN Climate Action Summit in New York, Moon put forward three related pledges, and proposed designation of “International Day for Blue Sky” calling for international cooperation to address air pollution.  “First, we will explore a variety of measures for transition to a sustainable,

Sept. 24, 2019

Moon urges UN’s support for peace process

President Moon Jae-in on Monday requested the UN to continue to play a role in the Korean Peninsula Peace Process in a meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in New York. Moon is visiting New York to attend the UN General Assembly, on the sidelines of which he is holding a series of summit talks with world leaders including US President Donald Trump.  At the meeting with Guterres, Moon highlighted the role the UN has played in engaging North Korea, and requested his presence at

Sept. 24, 2019

Korea and Poland seek stronger cooperation

NEW YORK – President Moon Jae-in on Monday (US time) asked for increased economic cooperation with Poland in a summit with Polish President Andrzej Duda. At the meeting, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Moon also expressed hopes for expanding economic cooperation with Poland.  “Trade between the two countries has passed $5 billion setting a record, and bilateral relations are expanding beyond the manufacturing sector to cutting edge industries,&rdquo

Sept. 24, 2019

Moon in New York for summit with Trump, UN session

President Moon Jae-in arrived in New York on Sunday to attend the UN General Assembly and hold a summit with US President Donald Trump ahead of an expected resumption of nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang.Moon plans to use the talks with Trump, set for Monday (local time), and his attendance at the UN session to help revitalize the peace and denuclearization process with North Korea and broaden international support for it, officials said. In his ninth summit with Trump, Moon will &q

Sept. 23, 2019

Korea to stress multilateralism, its role in international society at UN

South Korea will highlight the importance of multilateralism and Korea’s role in international issues such as climate change and poverty at the UN General Assembly, South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha said Sunday.  “Our government will clearly emphasize the country’s status as one that practices the values of UN – peace, human rights, development – in an exemplary manner,” Kang said. “Our contributions and resolve to expand our r

Sept. 23, 2019

Foreign Minister stresses South Korea-US alliance in meeting with USFK commander at Camp Humphreys

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha met United States Forces Korea Commander Gen. Robert Abrams on Friday during her visit to Osan Air Base and Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.During the meeting with Abrams at Camp Humphreys, Kang acknowledged his efforts to provide military support for diplomatic efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and establish lasting peace. According to the Foreign Ministry, the US commander said Kang’s visit was evidence of close cooperation betwe

Sept. 20, 2019

S. Korea’s top nuclear envoy calls for flexibility in upcoming US-NK negotiations

South Korea’s top nuclear negotiator on Thursday called on the US and North Korea to take a flexible approach to achieve substantial progress ahead of their upcoming denuclearization talks. “To keep the dialogue momentum (between the US and North Korea) alive and make substantial progress, they have to take a flexible approach,” Lee Do-hoon, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters at Incheon Airpo

Sept. 19, 2019

S. Korea, Japan to hold working-level talks

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry announced Thursday that an official handling Asia-Pacific affairs will visit Japan to meet his counterpart amid mounting tensions between the two countries. Kim Jung-han, director general for Asian and Pacific Affairs at Seoul’s Foreign Ministry, will meet Shigeki Takizaki to discuss matters of mutual interest, the ministry said in a press release.  This is Kim’s first one-on-one meeting with Takizaki, who replaced Kenji Kanasugi as head of J

Sept. 19, 2019

SNU professor to head Korea Foundation

Lee Geun, a professor at Seoul National University, was named president of the Korea Foundation, a nonprofit public diplomacy organization under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thursday. He replaces Lee Si-hyung, and his three-year term is renewable once. The new president served as a professor of International Relations at the Graduate School of International Studies. He was also vice president and dean of the SNU Office of International Affairs, in addition to being a policy adviser

Sept. 19, 2019