Outreach key in reminding Japan of pacifism: experts

South Korea should engage more proactively with Japan and through their common ally, the US, as Japan’s pursuit of its largest military buildup since its post-World War II pacifism days heralds a new phase of military competition, according to experts. The outreach would help prevent the kind of arms buildup reminiscent of Japan’s wartime aggression, they said Tuesday. Tokyo’s five-year $322 billion defense strategy, unveiled two weeks ago, is twice the amount spent in the last

Dec. 27, 2022

S. Korea, Japan hold working-level consultations on wartime forced labor, bilateral issues

TOKYO-- South Korea and Japan held working-level diplomatic consultations Monday on their protracted row over wartime forced labor and other bilateral issues. Seo Min-jung, director general for Asia and Pacific affairs at South Korea's foreign ministry, met with her Japanese counterpart, Takehiro Funakoshi, for discussions at the Japanese foreign ministry in Tokyo. The two previously met on Nov. 24 in Japan. Discussions were expected to focus on the issue of resolving compensation for force

Dec. 26, 2022

S. Korea, Vietnam agree to boost trade, energy cooperation

South Korea and Vietnam agreed to facilitate bilateral trade and deepen cooperation on nuclear power and other renewable energy sources as they marked the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, Seoul's industry ministry has said. The consensus was reached when Industry Minister Lee Chang-yang met his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyn Hng Diên and held meetings of the bilateral joint industry and free trade agreement committees last week, according to the industry ministr

Dec. 26, 2022

Foreign Minister Park highlights 30 years of ties with Vietnam

This year marks a watershed moment for South Korea and Vietnam in their 30 years of relations, as they are about to embark on a new path of greater mutual prosperity, Foreign Minister Park Jin said Thursday at a dinner reception. The gathering -- attended by Park and Vietnam’s Ambassador to South Korea Nguyen Vu Tung -- is the latest effort by Seoul to cement ties with the Southeast Asian country for a bigger foothold in the region. In a video statement, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Tha

Dec. 25, 2022

PM reaffirms S. Korea's support for Ukraine in phone talks

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo reaffirmed South Korea's support for Ukraine to help its fight against Russia during phone talks with his Ukrainian counterpart, Denys Shmyhal, on Friday, his office said. In their first phone talks since the war began in February, the two sides discussed Seoul's humanitarian aid and Ukraine's post-war recovery plans, the prime minister's office said. Han said South Korea has so far provided $100 million worth of assistance and will remain in solid

Dec. 23, 2022

Chinese Embassy denies covert police station claim

The Chinese Embassy to Korea on Friday expressed regret over an allegation that China had operated an undercover police station in Seoul, labeling a local media report about the matter as "groundless." "I am paying attention to a report on Friday by a Korean media outlet, citing sources, that China had installed an 'overseas police station' in Seoul and a restaurant in Gangnam served as a 'location,' and I regret this media depiction," a spokesperson of th

Dec. 23, 2022

S. Korean, Romanian defense chiefs discuss security cooperation

The defense chiefs of South Korea and Romania held talks Friday over arms industry cooperation, regional security and other issues, Seoul's defense ministry said. Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup met his Romanian counterpart Angel Tilvar in Seoul as the latter arrived here earlier this week with a delegation at the invitation of National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo. During the meeting, Lee noted the two countries have developed friendly, cooperative ties since the establishment of a "str

Dec. 23, 2022

S. Korea plans to announce full details of Indo-Pacific strategy next week: ministry

South Korea plans to announce full details of the country's new Indo-Pacific strategy next week, according to Seoul's foreign ministry Thursday. According to a ministry official, the presidential office plans to release a final report on South Korea's Indo-Pacific strategy next Wednesday, followed by an official government briefing by the ministry later that day. The ministry reportedly plans to invite foreign diplomatic delegates to the briefing, which will comprise of two sess

Dec. 22, 2022

Chinese TV, streaming platforms open further to Korean dramas

A major Chinese TV network is expected to air Korean dramas next year, set to join other streaming platforms that have opened their doors to Korean entertainment content after a yearslong cultural freeze. Anhui Satellite TV said Tuesday on its official Weibo account that "Thai and Korean dramas will return after several years," asking its followers to leave posts about their most-wanted lists. The nationwide satellite TV based in China's Hefei and Anhui province was one of main br

Dec. 21, 2022

Seoul searches for China's 'secret police station’

The South Korean government is looking into alleged operations of China's undeclared "overseas police service center" here, following revelations by an international human rights group that Beijing has been operating more than 100 entities to suppress dissidents around the world. According to Yonhap News Agency, the military, police counterespionage organizations and related government ministries, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have all been mobilized to check whether

Dec. 20, 2022

[Herald Interview] Poland-Korea partnership crucial for Ukraine rebuild

Polish Finance Minister Magdalena Rzeczkowska said it is important to provide financial assistance to Ukraine by establishing platforms that bring international financial institutions, governments and private investors together, and South Korea could be part of such efforts. "Ukraine needs help for now," said Rzeczkowska in an interview with The Korea Herald, urging Polish and Korean companies to activate partnerships for rebuilding Ukraine and to utilize Poland’s investment clim

Dec. 20, 2022

Bangladesh honors EPS workers on Int'l Migrants Day in Korea

The Bangladesh Embassy in Seoul honored 26 Bangladeshi Employment Permit System (EPS) workers in six categories at an event held to celebrate the International Migrants Day 2022 last week. Korea introduced the work permit system in 2004 to systematically manage the foreign workforce in Korea and resolve labor shortages at local small and medium-sized companies. The workers were honored for being employed under same employer for the longest period of time; receiving awards from the Korean governm

Dec. 20, 2022

Qatar stresses elevated ties with Korea at national day celebration

  The Qatari Embassy vowed to boost economic and cultural cooperation with Korea during its national day celebrations here last week. Qatar’s national day, which falls on Dec. 18, commemorates the 1878 accession of Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani, who unified the Qatari peninsula, which borders Saudi Arabia and juts into the Persian Gulf. Citing the vision of Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatari Ambassador Khalid Ibrahim al-Hamar said Qatar’s approach focused on c

Dec. 20, 2022

Indian embassy celebrates 49th anniversary of bilateral ties

The Indian Embassy in Seoul hosted an event to mark the 49th anniversary of India-Korea diplomatic relations in Seoul Friday. The event was organized as part of a curtain raiser for yearlong celebrations of 50 years of bilateral ties in 2023. Delivering remarks at the event, Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar recalled major events and the history between the two countries, stressing India's role during the 1950-53 Korean War and the Special Strategic Partnership forged in 2015. Kumar sai

Dec. 20, 2022

[Photo News] Honorary Ambassador

Figure skater and Olympics gold medalist Yuna Kim (right) poses with Canadian Embassy Charge d' affaires Tamara Mawhinney after she was named honorary ambassador for the 60th anniversary of Canada-Korea diplomatic relations on Monday at the Canadian Embassy in Seoul. Kim who spent some years in Canada for her training will participate in various activities and events celebrating the 60th year of bilateral ties next year.

Dec. 20, 2022

S. Korea protests Japan's new security document laying claim to Dokdo

South Korea issued a "strong" protest Friday over Japan's revised national security strategy repeating its sovereignty claim to the South's easternmost islets of Dokdo, calling for its immediate deletion. Seoul's foreign and defense ministries called in a senior diplomat and a defense attache from the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, respectively, to lodge a formal protest over the claims to Dokdo. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's Cabinet approved the new strateg

Dec. 16, 2022

IAEA ready to help push for talks on N. Korea

The International Atomic Energy Agency can provide a platform to help bring North Korea back to nuclear talks because resuming dialogue is “indispensable,” UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said Friday, hours before finishing his three-day trip to Seoul. “I am also persuaded that the IAEA can play a constructive role in this regard. Of course, it’s in the hands of the Republic of Korea, and of course, naturally the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea as well

Dec. 16, 2022

S. Korea backs UN human rights resolution on Russian-occupied Crimea

South Korea has voted in favor of a United Nations resolution on the human rights situation in the Russian-occupied Crimea on Thursday in a shift of its position on the matter. The UN General Assembly adopted the resolution on the human rights situation in Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, in an 82-14 vote with 80 abstentions. Last month, South Korea abstained from voting at the Third Committee of the General Assembly, citing "political and military-related" elements.

Dec. 16, 2022

UN General Assembly passes N. Korean human rights resolution for 18th consecutive year

WASHINGTON -- The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution calling for international efforts to improve human rights conditions in the reclusive state. It marks the 18th consecutive year the world body adopted a resolution on North Korean human rights. The resolution, sponsored by the European Union, expresses concerns over dire human rights conditions in the impoverished North, while also expressing concerns over what it calls illegal detention, torture and execution of f

Dec. 16, 2022

IRA may lead to negative consequences for US in competition with China: US experts

WASHINGTON -- The US Inflation Reduction Act may lead to unintended but negative consequences for the United States in its increasingly intensifying competition with China unless modified, US experts argued Thursday. One expert here also insisted that the new US law may undermine rules-based global trade orders, which the US has worked so many years to build and defend. Citing her recent meeting with the head of a South Korean battery manufacturer, Tami Overby, former senior vice president of US

Dec. 16, 2022