2022 Asia 100 years Forum

SUSTAINABLE ASIAN COMMUNITY The Uzbekistan Embassy's deputy chief of mission, Zokir Saidov (third from left) and the Bangladesh Embassy’s First Secretary Samuel Murmu (left) attend the 2022 Asia 100 Years Forum held in Gwangju on Friday. Co-hosted by the Northern Economic and Cultural Center and The Korea Herald, the forum explored ways to cooperate in regional politics, economy, society, culture and environment with a vision of establishing a sustainable Asian community. Philippine

Nov. 22, 2022

As world condemns NK missile launch, Pyongyang criticizes UN chief as ‘puppet’ of US

As the United Nations Security Council was to convene an open meeting on Monday to discuss countermeasures to North Korea’s latest launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, Pyongyang denounced the UN chief as “not impartial,” calling him a “puppet” of the United States. The Korean Central News Agency on Monday delivered a statement issued by North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, where she denounced UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for his condemnat

Nov. 21, 2022

S. Korea, US to continue consultations over Inflation Reduction Act

South Korea and the United States have agreed to continue close consultations to seek solutions regarding a new US law that excludes electric vehicles assembled outside of North America from tax incentives, Seoul's trade ministry said Monday. The consensus was reached during bilateral talks between Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai in Bangkok on Friday on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, according to the Ministry of Trade, In

Nov. 21, 2022

Kim Jong-un revealing daughter for first time shows his confidence, experts say

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un revealed his daughter to the world for the first time on Saturday, in photos of him holding a young girl’s hand as he inspected the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. Experts say the unexpected event manifests Kim’s confidence in his missile program, and that it could possibly signal the beginning of her training for leadership succession. The Korean Central News Agency, Pyongyang’s state media, said on Saturday Kim observed the

Nov. 20, 2022

N. Korean missile launches destabilize region: Pentagon

WASHINGTON -- North Korean missile launches continue to destabilize the region, a Pentagon spokesperson reiterated Thursday, soon after Pyongyang resumed its ballistic missile testing. North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile into the East Sea on Thursday in its latest military provocation that came after an eight-day hiatus. "It continues to be destabilizing that they launch these ballistic missiles and if they continue to do that, it just further destabilizes the region," de

Nov. 18, 2022

South Korea, Netherlands agree to expand chip cooperation

President Yoon Suk-yeol and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte agreed on Thursday to upgrade the bilateral relationship between the two nations to a strategic partnership and expand cooperation in advanced technologies, including chips, nuclear power plants and renewable energy. This is the second summit between the two leaders since they met on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Spain in June. They discussed diverse ways to cooperate in the chip sector. During the talks held in the afternoon, t

Nov. 17, 2022

North Korea stole $620m of crypto in March to fund missiles: NK special envoy

North Korea stole $620 million in cryptocurrency from hacking a game company in March, which was likely used to fund the launching of dozens of ballistic missiles it fired in the first half of this year, Seoul’s special envoy for North Korea said Thursday. Speaking at a symposium on North Korea’s cyber threats jointly held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US State Department for the first time, Kim Gunn, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs

Nov. 17, 2022

Yoon to meet with Saudi crown prince

President Yoon Suk-yeol will meet with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Seoul on Thursday, his office said. The two are scheduled to hold talks followed by lunch. Discussions are expected to focus on ways to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries, with South Korean businesses eager to win construction projects in Neom, a Saudi smart city project overseen by the crown prince. Yoon will also hold a summit with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte later in the day.

Nov. 17, 2022

China has vested interest in stopping N. Korean nuclear test: state dept.

WASHINGTON -- China has an obligation as well as an interest in preventing a potential nuclear test by North Korea, a state department spokesperson said Wednesday, amid speculation that Pyongyang may conduct a nuclear test at any time. Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesman for the department, also reiterated that the US remains willing to engage in direct conversation with North Korea. The remarks come after US President Joe Biden held his first face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi

Nov. 17, 2022

Korea, Japan agree to cooperate on forced labor issues

President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed on "positive and active cooperation" on the issue of forced labor, a key issue in improving bilateral relations, at the Korea-Japan summit, South Korea's presidential office said Wednesday. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior presidential official who attended the Korea-Japan summit, told reporters that Yoon and Kishida affirmed that discussions on the resolution of the forced labor issue were unde

Nov. 16, 2022

Yoon-Xi summit reveals gap in approach to North Korea

The first Seoul-Beijing summit in three years laid bare the differences in the two sides' approach to North Korea, experts say. President Yoon Suk-yeol and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a 25-minute talk in Indonesia during the G20 Summit on Tuesday. It has been three years since the last Korea-China summit was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, during the former Moon Jae-in government. The presidential office thought the possibility of the bilateral talks was low even un

Nov. 16, 2022

South Korea, US vow to strengthen cooperation to counter NK threats in cyberspace

South Korea and the United States vowed to strengthen cooperation to counter North Korean threats in cyberspace Wednesday, after news that the reclusive state reaped billions of dollars in cryptocurrency scams to fund its nuclear program. The two countries held a second working group meeting on North Korean cyber threats in Seoul, the Foreign Ministry said. Some 60 government officials and experts attended the meeting, with Director General for North Korean Nuclear Affairs Lee Tae-woo of Foreign

Nov. 16, 2022

S. Korea, France hold foreign ministerial talks in Bali on economic security

South Korea and France have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation on economic security during foreign ministerial talks held on the sidelines of an annual Group of 20 summit in Indonesia, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday. In the Bali meeting the previous day, Foreign Minister Park Jin and his French counterpart, Catherine Colonna, exchanged views on Seoul-Paris relations and major regional security issues, including Korean Peninsula affairs. They agreed to bolster partnerships o

Nov. 16, 2022

Yoon returns home from Southeast Asia trip

President Yoon Suk-yeol returned to Seoul on Wednesday following a tour of Cambodia and Indonesia that included his attendance at regional gatherings and his first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. In Phnom Penh, Yoon unveiled South Korea's new Indo-Pacific strategy focused on creating a free, peaceful and prosperous region, before attending summits involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and multiple bilateral summits, including one with US President Joe Biden and one

Nov. 16, 2022

Bulgarian Embassy holds ‘Hidden Letters’ exhibition on Cyrillic, Korean alphabets

The Bulgarian Embassy and Korea Foundation showcased an exhibition on Bulgarian and Korean alphabets at the Korea Foundation gallery in Seoul on Thursday. The embassy presented the "Hidden Letters" exhibition, centered on the Cyrillic alphabet and Hangeul through a vernissage for diplomats, international organizations, local and central authorities, businesspeople and media personalities. Delivering welcome remarks at the exhibition, Bulgarian Ambassador Petko Draganov highlighted the

Nov. 15, 2022

Biden-Xi summit shows desire for improved ties despite tension

US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first in-person bilateral summit on Monday, where they each showed a desire to improve US-China ties that have hit rock bottom in recent years. While they continue to stand at odds on key issues, including Taiwan, experts assess that Monday's summit will positively improve bilateral ties and reduce tensions. On the eve of the Group 20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, Biden and Xi met for about three hours, according to officials.

Nov. 15, 2022

Yoon, Xi share views for peace on Korean peninsula

President Yoon Suk-yeol expressed caution against protectionism and vowed Korea's support for the G-20's cooperation in the food and energy sectors as well as contributions to international solidarity in the health sector, at the G-20 Summit on Tuesday. On the sidelines of the summit, Yoon had a bilateral summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the evening to discuss China's role in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue at a time when its seventh nuclear test could take pla

Nov. 15, 2022

Yoon, China's Xi to hold first summit in Bali

BALI -- President Yoon Suk-yeol will hold his first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Bali on Tuesday, his office said. The summit is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. No other details were provided. The two leaders will be meeting on the sidelines of a Group of 20 summit. (Yonhap)

Nov. 15, 2022

Biden says US will have to take 'defensive' steps if N. Korea conducts nuclear test

WASHINGTON -- The United States will have to take certain actions that will be "more defensive" should North Korea conduct a nuclear test, President Joe Biden said Monday. The US leader said he has also called on Chinese President Xi Jinping to try and prevent North Korea from taking further escalatory steps, noting the US' defensive actions, if taken, will be "up in the face of China." "I made it clear to President Xi Jinping that I thought they had an obligation t

Nov. 15, 2022

South Korea aligns Indo-Pacific strategy with US, Japan: experts

South Korea’s first diplomatic strategy for the Indo-Pacific region appears to show the intention to align with the United States in the US-China rivalry, experts based in Seoul said Monday. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday unveiled the country's first Indo-Pacific strategy for freedom, peace and prosperity for the region, at the biannual Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Cambodia. There, Yoon highlighted the importance of maintaining peace and stability i

Nov. 14, 2022