Young South Koreans indifferent, skeptical toward North Korea

Despite North Korea’s promise to denuclearize and public image makeover, Jo Sun-keun, 23, who has grown up under threat from North Korea’s occasional nuclear and missile tests, does not think the North will dismantle its nuclear arsenal completely. A unification flag (Yonhap)In his memory, North Korea has never stopped pursuing nuclear ambition, and used threats and fiery rhetoric toward its southern neighbor. It made conciliatory gestures only when it needed help from the South, and broke its o

Aug. 15, 2018

Moon says 'comfort women' issue cannot be resolved diplomatically

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday sought to urge Japan to sincerely apologize to Korean women forced into sexual slavery for the Japanese military decades ago, saying the issue cannot be resolved diplomatically."The issue of comfort women for the Japanese military can truly be resolved when the victims' dignity and honor are restored and their broken hearts are healed," Moon said in a ceremony marking the designation of a new national day for comfort women.The issue has long been a s

Aug. 14, 2018

Kang briefs Pompeo on results of inter-Korean talks

South Korea's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha on Tuesday explained to her US counterpart, Mike Pompeo, the results of this week's cross-border talks on arranging an inter-Korean summit, her ministry said.The allies' top diplomats held a telephone conversation to exchange views on the situation on the peninsula, including the recent developments in inter-Korean relations. The two Koreas agreed to hold a summit in Pyongyang sometime in September during their high-level talks at the truce village o

Aug. 14, 2018

Pompeo congratulates S. Korea on Liberation Day

WASHINGTON -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo congratulated South Korea on Monday ahead of a key national holiday marking its liberation from Japanese colonial rule.In a statement, Pompeo said he is extending his congratulations on behalf of President Donald Trump and the American people on the occasion of Liberation Day on Aug. 15. (Yonhap)"As you celebrate your national day on August 15, we recognize your commitment to democracy, freedom, human rights, and the rule of law have been the under

Aug. 14, 2018

Female diplomat picked as ambassador to UK

A female diplomat was tapped as Korea’s ambassador to the United Kingdom last week, becoming the country’s first female career diplomat to lead one of the major diplomatic missions abroad. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Friday that Park Enna, ambassador for public diplomacy, will take up the post as the government moves to fill more key positions with women.  Park Enna (Yonhap)Park, who has specialized in multilateral and public diplomacy, will become Korea’s first female ambassador t

Aug. 13, 2018

‘Too early for declaring end to the Korean War’: US ambassador

US Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris said Monday that it is still too early to consider declaring an end to the Korean War.The retired admiral stressed that the US and North Korea have only begun “the process” to achieve the goal of the “final, fully verified denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula” and it would take diplomacy and negotiations to declare an end to the 1950-53 Korean War. “With regard to the end of war declaration, I think it’s in early days yet, it’s too early for that eve

Aug. 13, 2018

Remains of 35 Korean victims of Japan's forced labor to be repatriated

TOKYO -- A Japanese Buddhist temple has conducted a memorial for 35 sets of remains belonging to Korean people brought to Japan to work for its factories and military during World War II before they are sent home this week, a South Korean civic group said Monday.Representatives of the civic group, organized in 2008 for the return of the remains of Korean forced labor victims, took part in the ritual at Kokuhei Temple in western Tokyo on Sunday, along with South Korean activists, officials of the

Aug. 13, 2018

ASEAN students strive to become drivers of global digitalization

MANILA, Philippines -- Digitalization and information communications technology have become indispensable in everyday life. From serious traffic congestions to establishing a city administration program, digitalization plays a key part, drawing out more convenient ways to get things done.To gain insight to the different implications of digitalization, some 70 youths from South Korea, Japan, China and 10 ASEAN countries participated in the 2018 ASEAN-Korea Youth Network Workshop organized by ASEA

Aug. 12, 2018

Three S. Korean firms brought in N. Korean coal disguised as Russian products: probe

Three South Korean companies brought in North Korean coal and pig iron disguised as Russian products in possible violation of international sanctions, the South Korean customs agency said Friday. 　Seoul has been examining nine cases of shipments of suspected North Korean coal, which would breach UN Security Council resolutions banning exports of coal and other minerals from the North. 　Wrapping up the 10-month investigation, the Korea Customs Service  said that the three local companies brought

Aug. 10, 2018

Korea to offer $500,000 in aid for quake-hit Indonesia

South Korea said Friday it will provide Indonesian with $500,000 in humanitarian assistance after the Southeast Asian nation suffered damage from a recent earthquake.The cash aid will be delivered through local Red Cross authorities, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Indonesian island of Lombok was hit by a 7 magnitude quake on Sunday. (Yonhap)A total of 259 people were killed and 1,033 were injured, with more than 270,000 others displaced as of Thursday, according to the Indonesian gove

Aug. 10, 2018

Controversy persists over suspected N. Korean coal shipments to S. Korea

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday that it is closely communicating with the US on the issue of suspected North Korean coal shipped to South Korea, amid concerns that the North may be exploiting gaps in the international sanctions regime. The US Department of State also reiterated that it is closely coordinating with South Korea on North Korean issues and implementing international sanctions against the country. (Yonhap)“The Republic of Korea is a faithful and reliable partner in the m

Aug. 9, 2018

Top NK diplomat’s Iran visit sends message to US

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho’s visit to Iran within hours of the US sanctions against the Islamic Republic taking effect raises questions over North Korea’s intentions amid a deadlock in negotiations with Washington over its nuclear weapons program. (Yonhap)By strengthening relations with Iran, which is at odds with the US, Pyongyang is sending a message to Washington that it will not give in to the US pressure campaign, experts noted. Ri and his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif met T

Aug. 8, 2018

S. Korea to dispatch envoy to Libya for hostage release efforts

The government will dispatch a special envoy to Libya as part of efforts to rescue a South Korean man held captive by an unidentified armed group there, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will send Baik Joo-hyeon, a former ambassador to Kazakhstan with experience in resolving kidnapping cases involving South Korean nationals, to the North African country as soon as preparations are completed. He plans to stay there for two or three days. One South Korean nationa

Aug. 8, 2018

EU’s foreign policy chief stresses importance of patience in dealing with N.K. issues

The European Union’s foreign affairs chief, Federica Mogherini, stressed the importance of patience in resolving difficult issues, like the North Korea nuclear standoff, when she met with Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon on Monday, Lee‘s office said.　Mogherini made the remark after Lee expressed gratitude for the EU’s continued support for Seoul‘s efforts to bring permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula and asked for the bloc to continue to play roles supportive of peace and denuclearization, the offi

Aug. 6, 2018

Korea to send second group of disaster relief workers to Laos

Korea will send a second group of disaster relief workers to flood-stricken villages in southern Laos this week, with the first batch set to return home in the coming days, Seoul's foreign ministry said Monday. (Yonhap)On Tuesday, the Korea Disaster Relief Team will depart for the Southeast Asian country hit by floods, which were triggered by a dam collapse on July 23. The team consists of 15 medical personnel and seven other support staff and will help treat displaced residents and prevent the

Aug. 6, 2018

ARF ministers call on NK to fulfill commitment to complete denuclearization

The foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and 17 other countries urged North Korea to fulfill its commitment to complete denuclearization during their Singapore talks last week, their chair statement showed Monday.Singapore, this year's chair of the annual ASEAN Regional Forum, published its statement summarizing the foreign ministers' meeting, which took place Saturday. The annual ARF is the sole regional forum in which the North's top diplomat participates."The mini

Aug. 6, 2018

N. Korean minister says US is backtracking on Sentosa deal

A top North Korean official on Saturday accused the United States of dragging its feet in building mutual confidence despite their landmark Sentosa summit accord.(Yonhap)Speaking at the ASEAN Regional Forum in Singapore, Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho stressed that it's important for both sides to take "simultaneous actions and phased steps."He cited a set of measures Pyongyang has recently taken including a moratorium on nuclear and missile testing and the removal of a major nuclear site."However,

Aug. 4, 2018

US official delivers Trump’s reply to Kim Jong-un in Singapore

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the US delegation attending a regional security forum in Singapore delivered a letter from US President Donald Trump for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Saturday. 　“Our US delegation also had the opportunity to deliver @Potus reply to Chairman Kim’s letter,” Pompeo said in a tweet after attending the foreign ministerial meeting at the ASEAN Regional Forum. The reply to Kim’s letter was delivered after the White House had announced Thursday that Trum

Aug. 4, 2018

N. Korean, US top diplomats meet at regional forum in Singapore

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho encountered his American counterpart Mike Pompeo in Singapore on Friday at the opening of the ASEAN Regional Forum.They shook hands with each other and exchanged words, as Pompeo approached Ri first with a smile. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho (R) meets with his American counterpart Mike Pompeo at the opening of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Singapore on Aug. 4, 2018. (Yonhap)The annual ARF is the sole regional forum in which the North's top diplo

Aug. 4, 2018

Pompeo warns against North Korea sanctions violations

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday called on Russia, China and other countries to strictly enforce international sanctions on North Korea, saying Washington would take any violations “very seriously.” 　Speaking on the sidelines of an annual ASEAN Regional Forum in Singapore, Pompeo told reporters that the US had credible reports that Russia was violating UN sanctions by allowing joint ventures with North Korean companies and issuing new permits for North Korean guest workers. 　“We exp

Aug. 4, 2018