US says it is 'not blind' to Iran's 'destabilizing' behavior

The United States warned Iran Monday that it is not "blind" to the Islamic republic's continued support for the Hamas militant group that launched a deadly surprise attack on Israel this month. John Kirby, the National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, made the remarks amid lingering concerns that renewed friction between Washington and Tehran could reduce room for Seoul, a key ally of the US, to engage with Iran for economic cooperation. Washington has be

Oct. 24, 2023

Touting historic ties with Saudi Arabia, Yoon calls for new partnership for growth

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- President Yoon Suk Yeol said South Korea and Saudi Arabia could contribute to sustainable global growth by forging a future-oriented partnership that encompasses the fields of energy, digital technology, biology and space, underscoring a history of cooperation between the two countries. On his third day of a state visit to Saudi Arabia, Yoon stressed the importance of the special partnership between the two countries that began in the 1970s, serving as the foundation fo

Oct. 24, 2023

Yoon’s trip offers momentum for economic growth: experts

President Yoon Suk Yeol’s six-day trip to the Middle East, largely meant to expand economic ties, offers fresh momentum for South Korean companies to ride out global headwinds in the long-run, experts said Monday. The state visit to Saudi Arabia has already led to a signing of deals including memorandums of understanding worth $15.6 billion in total, over areas ranging from food to oil to energy, according to Yoon’s office. He returns home Thursday after a one-day tour to Qatar the p

Oct. 23, 2023

S. Korea, Saudi Arabia ‘in final stages’ of agreeing large-scale defense cooperation

  RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- South Korea and Saudi Arabia are "in the final stages” for large-scale defense collaboration across various fields, such as air defense, firepower and weapons, the presidential office said Monday. Following the summit between President Yoon Suk Yeol and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday, Kim Tae-hyo, first deputy director of South Korea's National Security Office, told reporters that the government was discussing "a long-term, systema

Oct. 23, 2023

S. Korea pledges support for Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, peace in Middle East

  RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- Leaders of South Korea and Saudi Arabia discussed strengthening economic ties by expanding Seoul's involvement in Riyadh's "Vision 2030" plan and to contribute to peace in the region amid the Israel-Palestine conflict. During the summit, President Yoon Suk Yeol and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman followed up on the investment promise of the $29 billion worth of contracts and memorandums of understanding signed during the prince's visit to Seoul in

Oct. 22, 2023

S. Korea expresses gratitude to Japan for assisting return of Koreans from war-torn Israel

The South Korean government has expressed gratitude to Japan for helping bring back a group of Koreans from war-stricken Israel, a foreign ministry official said Saturday. Earlier in the morning, a Japanese air tanker arrived in Tokyo from Israel, carrying dozens of its nationals, along with 18 South Koreans and a foreign family member of one of the Korean passengers. The move was seen as reciprocation after a South Korean military aircraft brought back 51 Japanese people, along with 163 South K

Oct. 21, 2023

Yoon embarks on state visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar

President Yoon Suk Yeol embarked on a series of state visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Saturday with economic cooperation high on the agenda despite ongoing turmoil over the war between Israel and Hamas. On the first leg of his trip, Yoon will visit Riyadh from Saturday to Tuesday, and hold a summit with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman before attending various economic events. The summit will come nearly a year after the crown prince visited Seoul last November and t

Oct. 21, 2023

Japan returns favor, flies S. Koreans out of Israel

Japan is evacuating 18 South Koreans from Israel using its military aircraft, a gesture of goodwill that appears to reciprocate Seoul’s rescue flight last week to bring back Japanese alongside its citizens. According to Kyodo News and the Japanese Defense Ministry, 18 Koreans and one family member of foreign nationality -- along with 60 Japanese and four family members of foreign nationality -- will land at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on early Saturday. The Foreign Ministry in Seoul said it ha

Oct. 20, 2023

US to take 'whatever steps' it can to address arms transfers between N. Korea, Russia: State Department

The United States will take "whatever steps" it can to hold to account those involved in arms transfers between North Korean and Russia, the State Department said Thursday, stressing it will "closely" monitor related developments. Matthew Miller, the department's spokesperson, made the remarks after the US government revealed last Friday that the North shipped 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Russia in recent weeks for use in Ukraine. "We have

Oct. 20, 2023

China may have more than 1,000 operational nuclear warheads by 2030: Pentagon

China is estimated to have more than 500 operational nuclear warheads as of May, and the figure may swell to over 1,000 by 2030, according to an annual Pentagon report released Thursday. The US Department of Defense released the 2023 Report on the Military and Security Developments involving the People's Republic of China, a document that has annually been submitted to Congress in line with the National Defense Authorization Act. The report predicts that over the next decade, China will continue

Oct. 20, 2023

S. Korea proposes foreign ministerial talks with Japan, China in late November

South Korea has proposed holding top-level diplomatic talks with Japan and China late next month, which Tokyo is positively considering, a Japanese media report said Thursday, in what could open the way for the first trilateral summit among their leaders in four years. "South Korea, as the rotating chair of the trilateral framework, has sounded them out about the three-way talks on around Nov. 26 in Busan, and Japan is positive about the plan," Japan's Kyodo News said in its Engli

Oct. 19, 2023

Yoon set for state visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will embark on state visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar this weekend to bolster economic and future-oriented tech collaborations with the Middle East countries, amid mounting regional security concerns over the Israel-Hamas conflict. Kim Tae-hyo, first deputy director of South Korea's National Security Office, told reporters Thursday that Yoon is scheduled to visit Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital, from Saturday to Tuesday, followed by Doha, Qatar, fo

Oct. 19, 2023

Japan preparing to bring back some 20 S. Koreans from Israel, along with its own nationals: reports

Japan is preparing to take home about 20 South Koreans, along with its own nationals, on a special flight from Israel, local media have reported, apparently returning the favor after Seoul brought back dozens of Japanese people from the war-torn region last week. Japan has offered to provide South Korea with a limited number of available seats for South Koreans as it is working to determine the demand for the emergency transport among its own people, Kyodo News has reported, citing government of

Oct. 19, 2023

Pentagon official touts robust extended deterrence to S. Korea

A US defense official on Wednesday voiced confidence over the strength of America's "extended deterrence" commitment to South Korea, saying, "We've never been in a better place." Richard Johnson, deputy assistant secretary of defense for nuclear and countering weapons of mass destruction policy, made the remarks, highlighting the allies' efforts to reinforce the credibility of the United States' deterrence commitment to using the full range of its military

Oct. 19, 2023

Biden reaffirms support for Israel, says 'terrorist group' apparently behind Gaza hospital blast

US President Joe Biden reiterated his backing for Israel and apparently accused a "terrorist group" of causing a recent deadly explosion at a hospital in Gaza as he visited Tel Aviv on Wednesday to stress America's solidarity with Israel following the Hamas militant group's attack this month. Biden arrived in Tel Aviv Wednesday morning amid a spike in tensions over Tuesday's blast at the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in the Hamas-controlled enclave, which left hundreds of innocent civilians de

Oct. 19, 2023

S. Korean, Botswanan FMs hold talks on bilateral ties, cooperation

Foreign Minister Park Jin held talks with his Botswanan counterpart Wednesday on ways to boost bilateral relations and cooperation, including areas of trade and investment, the foreign ministry said. In his meeting with Lemogang Kwape, foreign minister of the southern African nation, in Seoul, Park noted Botswana is increasingly gaining attention among South Korean industries as a new market since the African Continental Free Trade Area came into effect. Park called for efforts to expand trade a

Oct. 18, 2023

Russian FM arrives in N. Korea for talks with counterpart: reports

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in North Korea on Wednesday for a two-day visit, according to Russian media reports, as the two countries move to strengthen military ties after a recent bilateral summit. According to Sputnik and other Russian media outlets, Lavros arrived in Pyongyang for a two-day visit. He is expected to hold talks with his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son-hui, during the trip. The two sides are expected to discuss issues including bilateral military and econo

Oct. 18, 2023

Seoul urges Japan to 'face history' on Japanese leaders' Yasukuni visit

South Korea's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday expressed regret over Japanese leaders' visit to the Yasukuni shrine, which Seoul sees as a symbol of Japan's military aggression during its 1910-45 colonial rule on the Korean Peninsula. The government urged Japanese leaders to "squarely face history" to break with militarism, which would mark a crucial step to pursuing the advancement of Seoul-Tokyo ties in the face of growing geopolitical uncertainties surrounding North Korea. "The go

Oct. 18, 2023

[Photo News] Moroccan team in Seoul

Moroccan Ambassador to Korea Chafik Rachadi exchanges greetings with the Moroccan national U-18 football team before a match against South Korea at Mokdong Stadium in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul on Thursday. The Moroccan team was in Seoul to take part in the 2023 U-18 Seoul EOU Cup, an international football championship in Korea. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. Rachadi highlighted Morocco's success in sports, and mentioned Morocco's hosting of the 2030 World Cup, alongside Spain and Portugal,

Oct. 18, 2023

[Herald Interview] Chile, Korea need to boost global lithium value chain: minister

Bilateral cooperation between Chile and South Korea is crucial, as they have a shared goal of boosting the global lithium value chain, Nicolas Grau, Chilean minister of economy, development and tourism, told The Korea Herald on Thursday. “Korea needs lithium, hydrogen and clean energy fuel, and Chile needs certainty of demand, knowledge and technology to develop new industry,” said Grau, noting the situation as a “win-win” for Chile and Korea. Grau was in Seoul from Oct.

Oct. 18, 2023