Democratic summit to raise Korea’s global profile: ministry

President Yoon Suk Yeol’s decision to lead one of the plenary sessions at the Summit for Democracy, a US-led meeting of democratic countries united against authoritarian rule, will raise South Korea’s international profile as a leading democracy committed to peace, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said Tuesday. US President Joe Biden has invited Yoon to chair a session held on March 29 -- the first day of the two-day gathering where world leaders will virtually discuss advancing human r

March 14, 2023

Yoon congratulates China's Xi on reelection

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday sent a congratulatory message to Chinese President Xi Jinping for his election for a third term, an informed official said. In the message, Yoon said they had a productive discussion on the development of the relations between the two countries during their first summit at a Group of 20 meeting last year, according to the state-run China Central Television. Yoon also expressed his hope to maintain close communication with Xi, and further deepen exchanges and coo

March 13, 2023

'Buck stops here': Yoon reaffirms push to mend ties with Japan amid backlash

South Korea's presidential office on Sunday reaffirmed its push to ease strains over the wartime forced labor dispute with Japan amid further backlash following the Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister's refusal to acknowledge the victims as forced laborers. President Yoon Suk Yeol's office released Sunday clips of Yoon saying during the closed-door meetings with the Cabinet on Tuesday that his effort to mend ties with Japan "will deliver on his presidential election campaign promise" as

March 12, 2023

Biden invites Yoon to lead session at Democracy Summit

US President Joe Biden has invited Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to lead one of the plenary sessions at the upcoming second Summit for Democracy, the presidential office said Sunday. The invitation was sent to Yoon on Feb. 23, asking him to lead one of the five plenary sessions scheduled for March 29. The sessions will serve as the launch of the summit and provide a platform for "candid conversations about democracy's power and potential around the world.” Biden expressed gratit

March 12, 2023

S. Korea awaits Xi visit from China: official

South Korea is anticipating a potential visit this year by Chinese President Xi Jinping or at least big senior-level exchanges between the two countries, a senior Foreign Ministry official in Seoul said Friday. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to sensitivity of the topic, said outside factors like pandemic travel curbs had prevented senior Seoul-Beijing exchanges, dismissing speculation that the two countries are at odds over policy. In late February, China said it does not a

March 10, 2023

S. Korea looks to revive military pact with Japan upon thaw

The Yoon Suk Yeol administration will resume regular military intelligence sharing with Japan depending on how a recent thaw in ties unfolds, a senior official at Yoon’s office said Thursday, ahead of a two-day summit starting Thursday next week between Yoon and his Japanese counterpart. The South Korean leader is seeking to use the opportunity to make stronger three-way ties with Japan and the US to fend off North Korea’s nuclear threats. But the General Security of Military Informa

March 9, 2023

Yoon to visit Japan for summit next week

President Yoon Suk Yeol will hold a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida next week, as he is set to visit the neighboring country with first lady Kim Keon Hee, the presidential office said Thursday. This is the first visit by a Korean president to Japan in about four years since former President Moon Jae-in visited Osaka in June 2019 to attend the Group of 20 summit. It is also the first time in 11 years and 3 months that a Korean president participates in a bilateral summit in Ja

March 9, 2023

Jordan, The Korea Herald to bridge gap

Jordan's new ambassador to Korea, Asal Al-Tal, and The Korea Herald CEO Choi Jin-young agreed to seek ways to expand bilateral exchanges between South Korea and Jordan during her visit to the company in Seoul on Wednesday. Al-Tal expressed optimism on fostering a positive image of Jordan among Koreans and of Korea among Jordanians. She pointed to increasing economic cooperation and interpersonal exchanges between the two countries as reasons for hope. The operations of Korean companies such

March 9, 2023

S. Korea, US to discuss 'concerns' over US Chips Act: trade minister

WASHINGTON -- There exist concerns over the United States' Chips and Science Act that it may require too much information in exchange for US government subsidies, South Korea's Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun said Wednesday. Ahn said he plans to discuss such concerns with his US counterparts after arriving in Washington on a three-day visit. "The two governments of South Korea, the US and their industrial sectors have been working together to build a semiconductor supply chain, but th

March 9, 2023

S. Korea, IAEA discuss Japan’s disposal of contaminated water

Second Vice Foreign Minister Lee Do-hoon highlighted the need to ensure the safety of contaminated water to be released from Japan’s destroyed Fukushima nuclear plant, at a meeting with Rafael Grossi, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, according to Lee’s ministry. In a ministry statement released Wednesday, Lee asked the director-general of the UN nuclear watchdog to continue communicating closely with South Korea and other countries affected by the discharge into the P

March 8, 2023

Yoon, Biden to hold state dinner on April 26

  President Yoon Suk Yeol is scheduled to pay a state visit to the US at the end of April at the invitation of US President Joe Biden, officials said on Tuesday night. President Yoon's state visit to the US will be made this year to mark the historic year of the 70th anniversary of the alliance of the two nations and it will be the first state visit to the US by a South Korea leader in 12 years since 2011 and the second since the launch of the Biden administration, according to a written st

March 8, 2023

Yoon's visit to Japan this month under strong consideration

President Yoon Suk Yeol could visit Japan this month for talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida following Seoul's decision to compensate wartime forced labor victims without Japanese firms' involvement, the presidential office said Tuesday. The visit is under strong consideration, the office said, making it the first time in four years detailed discussions are taking place over a South Korean president's visit to Japan. Kyodo News and other Japanese media outlets have re

March 7, 2023

US will continue to strengthen cooperation with S. Korea, Japan: State Dept.

  WASHINGTON-- The United States will continue to strengthen its trilateral cooperation with South Korea and Japan, a state department spokesperson said Monday, shortly after Seoul and Tokyo announced steps aimed at improving their bilateral ties. Department Press Secretary Ned Price said the US welcomes the "historic" steps taken by the two US allies. "The United States welcomes the historic announcement that bilateral discussions between the Republic of Korea and Japan to r

March 7, 2023

S. Korean foundation to compensate victims of Japan’s forced labor

South Korea said Monday it will compensate Korean victims forced to work for Japanese companies during World War II while awaiting Japanese participation in a potential fund meant to bolster ties, a decision that comes as Seoul looks to project global power by moving beyond a regional rivalry. The settlement, revealed by Foreign Minister Park Jin, is a “practical compromise” in the face of Japan’s refusal to recognize Korea’s 2018 Supreme Court ruling holding Japanese com

March 6, 2023

Yoon may visit Japan this month to mark landmark deal: sources

President Yoon Suk Yeol may visit Japan later this month to mark a historic deal between South Korea and Japan to resolve a long-standing dispute over compensation to forced laborers during Japan's colonial rule of Korea from 1910 to 1945, according to sources on Monday. The details of the visit are still being discussed and have not been confirmed by either side. Yoon’s visit is likely to be scheduled for the end of this month after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's visit

March 6, 2023

Deal reached on forced labor: sources

South Korea and Japan have reached a compromise settling a decadesold dispute over apologizing to and compensating Korean laborers forced to work for Japanese companies during World War II, sources said Sunday. Under the arrangement Seoul will cover the cost of compensating workers while Tokyo pays into a proposed fund aimed at expanding bilateral exchanges. The settlement, which comes 4 1/2 years after Japan refused to recognize Korea’s 2018 Supreme Court decision holding the Japanese lia

March 5, 2023

Nat'l security adviser says will discuss timing of Yoon's visit to US

National Security Adviser Kim Sung-han said Sunday he plans to finalize the timing and level of President Yoon Suk Yeol's upcoming visit to Washington when he meets with officials in the US capital this week. Kim made the remark to reporters at Incheon International Airport before departing for Washington on a five-day trip that will include meetings with US government officials and academics on issues related to North Korea and global and economic security. "I plan to meet with my cou

March 5, 2023

Bulgaria marks National Day

The Bulgarian Embassy celebrated its National Day on March 3, marking the nation's liberation from the Ottoman Dominion. Bulgarian Embassy commemorated Bulgarian volunteers who fought and liberated Bulgaria during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, leading to the re-establishment of Bulgarian statehood. Delivering welcome remarks at the ceremony, Bulgarian Ambassador Petko Draganov recalled his country’s diplomatic relationship with Korea forged 33 years ago in acknowledgment o

March 3, 2023

US supports Yoon's vision for S. Korea-Japan relations: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- The United States supports South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's vision for cooperative relations between Seoul and Tokyo, a state department spokesperson said Wednesday. Department Press Secretary Ned Price said the US also applauds both South Korea and Japan for their recent efforts to improve their bilateral relations. "Let me say generally that bilateral cooperation between the United States and our treaty allies is important, but so too is trilateral cooperation,&qu

March 2, 2023

US, S. Korea agree on need to strengthen extended deterrence: Pentagon

WASHINGTON -- The United States and South Korea agree on the need to further strengthen US extended deterrence, a US defense department spokesperson said Tuesday, also reaffirming US commitment to deploying strategic assets to South Korea on a rotational basis. The remarks from Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder come after the countries held a Deterrence Strategy Committee Table-Top Exercise aimed at enhancing their joint deterrence against North Korean nuclear threats. "We did conduct a successful discu

March 1, 2023