S. Korean firefighting team dispatched to Canada begins operations in Quebec

A South Korean emergency firefighting team dispatched to Canada to help the North American nation deal with raging wildfires has started carrying out on-site activities, according to Seoul's foreign ministry Thursday. According to the ministry, the Korea Disaster Relief Team of 151 workers, including firefighters, emergency workers and medical personnel, started operations in Lebel-sur-Quevillon, Quebec province, on Wednesday. The team underwent training and preparations after arriving in t

July 6, 2023

[Photo News] COMMEMORATING SACRIFICE

[COMMEMORATING SACRIFICE] A group of foreign defense attaches in South Korea pose for photo at an event held to honor the sacrifices made by South Korean troops in a fatal inter-Korean naval skirmish in 2002. Brig. Gen. Shamim Islam of the Bangladesh Air Force, head of an association of foreign attaches in Korea, donated 629,000 won ($480) to a scholarship foundation established in 2014, said the South Korean Navy in a press release Wednesday. The donation, made on behalf of the attaches, aims t

July 5, 2023

Third court blocks forced labor payment

A third South Korean court on Wednesday refused to remit government money as compensation to the family members of Korean victims forced into labor during Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule, a process mandated by the March 6 settlement agreed by Korea and Japan. The March deal requires a state-run foundation to pay the 15 victims, not Japanese companies held liable by a 2018 Korean court ruling amid the firms’ opposition. Four victims -- two alive, two dead -- and their representatives ha

July 5, 2023

S. Korea, China deputy FMs agree on need to enhance bilateral ties

The deputy foreign ministers of South Korea and China met in Beijing on Tuesday amid mounting tensions between the two countries over the Chinese ambassador to Korea's open criticism of Seoul's foreign policy last month. South Korea's Deputy Foreign Minister Choi Young-sam and his Chinese counterpart Sun Weidong held an in-person meeting and the two agreed that meticulous efforts are necessary to enhance bilateral relations based on "mutual respect and reciprocity," Sout

July 5, 2023

[Photo News] Korean relief team to Canada

The South Korean Air Force on Wednesday shared photos of the Korean relief team heading for its overseas mission in the Canadian province of Quebec, which has been struck with massive wildfires since early June. The photos, all taken Sunday, show the Korea Disaster Relief Team members onboard a KC-330 aircraft headed to the country's capital city Ottawa. The photos also showed relief goods being unloaded at the Ottawa International Airport and members being welcomed by local figures. While

July 5, 2023

Court nixes forced labor payment

A South Korean court on Tuesday refused to remit government money as compensation to a Korean victim forced into during Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule. She contends that the compensation should come from the Japanese companies held liable for damages as per a 2018 Korean court ruling. Yang Geum-deok, 94, is one of the four victims that have refused such deposits mandated by the March 6 settlement, which relieves the Japanese firms from having to compensate the 15 victims and requires a Kore

July 4, 2023

[Contribution] Uzbekistan's legal and institutional framework: focus on humanization

The aim of ongoing reforms in our country is to ensure guarantees of a happy and prosperous life. During the short period of time, a large-scale work has been carried out in judicial and legal spheres. In particular, the Decree "on measures for further reforming the judicial and legal system, strengthening the guarantees of reliable protection of citizens' rights and freedoms" has been adopted. As priority directions of state policy, ensuring actual independence of a judicial po

July 4, 2023

Envoy recalls Koreans' contributions to Belarus liberation

Belarusian Ambassador Andrew Chernetsky recalled the contribution of Koreans to his country while celebrating Belarus National Day in Korea last week. The liberation of Belarus from Nazi Germany occurred on July 3, 1944. The date now commemorates the victims of the patriotic war and the genocide of the Belarusian people. Extending his appreciation to nations that helped liberate his country, Chernetsky brought up the story of Innokenty Pak, a pilot who fought for Belarus against the Nazis. "

July 4, 2023

Payment in process for remaining Japan labor victims

The government is preparing to finalize the remaining payment owed to four South Korean victims of Japan’s 1910-45 forced labor who have refused to accept it because it is coming from a state-run fund and not the Japanese companies held liable, the Foreign Ministry said. Under the March 6 settlement, signed by the two countries’ leaders, Japanese companies held liable for damages by a 2018 Korean court ruling would not pay the 15 victims. A government foundation would instead make th

July 4, 2023

House committee calls for trilateral defense cooperation between S. Korea, Japan and US

The House Committee on Armed Services is seeking to encourage trilateral defense cooperation between South Korea, Japan and the United States, a committee report showed Monday. In a report on the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, the committee also stressed the need for the US to develop and deploy more advanced missile defense systems against North Korea's evolving missile threat. "The committee recognizes the importance of defense cooperation involving Japan and the Republic o

July 4, 2023

S. Korean firefighting team arrives in Ottawa to help Canada battle wildfires

A South Korean emergency firefighting team dispatched to Canada to help the North American nation deal with raging wildfires has arrived in Ottawa, Seoul's foreign ministry said Monday. The Korea Disaster Relief Team of 151 workers, including firefighters, emergency workers and medical personnel, arrived in the Canadian capital Sunday and was received by Mona Fortier, president of Canada's Treasury Board, South Korean Ambassador Lim Woong-soon and others. Upon arrival, the team headed

July 3, 2023

Wildfire rescue team leaves for Canada

A 151-member South Korean disaster relief team has embarked on a 30-day mission Sunday to assist Canada in combating devastating wildfires that have ravaged the country. The team, which includes firefighters, first responders and personnel experienced in disaster response, will land in the province of Quebec to contain the country’s worst wildfire season since 1989. As of Sunday, wildfires had affected at least 8.8 million hectares of land. This marks the second time this year Korea has di

July 2, 2023

[Photo News] Korean wildfire team departs for Canada

South Korea dispatched an emergency firefighting team to Canada on Sunday to support extinguishing the wildfires raging across the North American nation. The 151 workers from the Korea Disaster Relief Team, consisting of firefighters as well as government agency and medical personnel, are headed to Quebec, where they will work for about one month. The dispatch of the KDRT marks the second mission of its kind this year following its activities in Turkey to provide disaster relief following the ma

July 2, 2023

Marine Corps commander to visit Thailand, Indonesia

Marine Corps Commandant Lt. Gen. Kim Gye-hwan will embark on a 10-day trip to Thailand and Indonesia on Sunday, his command said. During the trip through July 11, Kim plans to meet with senior military leaders of the two countries and discuss stability in the Indo-Pacific region and ways to strengthen cooperation, his office said. In particular, Kim will use the meetings to promote the excellence of South Korean weapons systems, as Thailand is working on a project to procure anti-tank weapons, a

July 2, 2023

PM to leave for Trinidad and Tobago for summit of Caribbean nations

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was to leave for the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday for an annual summit of Caribbean countries on a weeklong trip that will also take him to Panama. Han is scheduled to attend the annual conference of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) slated for Monday to Wednesday, where he plans to underscore Seoul's commitment to strengthening cooperation with the countries and ask for their support for South Korea's bid to bring the 2030 World Expo

July 2, 2023

S. Korean, Slovenian FMs discuss cooperation in nuclear energy, science technology

The top diplomats of South Korea and Slovenia held consultations Friday to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral ties in areas of nuclear power plants and science technology, Seoul’s foreign ministry said. During their talks held in Seoul, Foreign Minister Park Jin and his Slovenian counterpart, Tanja Fajon, agreed to broaden shipping and logistics cooperation, highlighting an agreement signed between South Korea’s port city of Busan and the Slovenian port of Koper earlier this month.

June 30, 2023

US remains committed to working with S. Korea to secure peace in Indo-Pacific: Pentagon

The United States has and will continue to work with South Korea to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, a Pentagon spokesperson said Thursday. The spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, also reaffirmed US commitment to engaging with North Korea. "From a DoD (Department of Defense) standpoint, certainly we remain committed to working with the Republic of Korea and our partners in the region to ensure peace, stability and security in the region," Ryder said when asked about the

June 30, 2023

S. Korea to send wildfire team to Canada

The South Korean government has decided to send a disaster relief team to Canada to help contain the wildfires there, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said Thursday. The 151-member team, which includes firefighters, first responders and personnel experienced in disaster response, will land in Canada on Wednesday for a 30-day mission, according to an announcement made during an interagency meeting chaired by Foreign Minister Park Jin. “I hope the team offers momentum for South Korea and Canada

June 29, 2023

Seoul, Washington moving to hold inaugural meeting of Nuclear Consultative Group: ambassador

South Korea and the United States are working to hold their inaugural meeting of the new Nuclear Consultative Group, South Korea's ambassador to the US Cho Hyun-dong said Wednesday. Cho also said the allies have made "progress" toward holding the first meeting of the consultative body created under the Washington Declaration, signed by their leaders in late April. "With North Korea's threat actually materializing, the discussion for the inaugural meeting of the NCG proposed by Sou

June 29, 2023

2 Koreans in Mexico in critical condition after shooting

Two South Koreans are in critical condition after being shot in Mexico, according to the Foreign Ministry in Seoul. The victims, all currently in a local hospital after the afternoon shooting, were shot near Mexico City, the ministry said Tuesday evening, noting it had asked authorities to immediately open an investigation while offering consular services. The ministry did not detail the identity of the victims and it was not immediately clear whether the Koreans were caught in the crossfire.

June 27, 2023