Yoon says S. Korea has never provided lethal weapons to Ukraine

South Korea has never provided lethal weapons to Ukraine, President Yoon Suk-yeol said Friday, after Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of negative consequences for the two countries' relations if Seoul sent arms to Ukraine. "We've provided humanitarian and peaceful assistance to Ukraine but never lethal weapons," Yoon told reporters. "It's a matter of sovereignty, and we are trying to maintain peaceful relations with all countries around the world, including Russia." (Y

Oct. 28, 2022

Korea looks to corporate donations to resolve forced labor dispute with Japan: report

Seoul is reportedly seeking donations from Japanese firms as one of the solutions to the wartime forced labor issue. According to Asahi Shimbun on Wednesday, South Korea is solely reviewing the plan in which the Foundation for Victims of Forced Mobilization by Imperial Japan, a state-operated entity, collects donations from both Korean and Japanese companies to pay damages to Korean victims who were forced into labor during Japan's 1910-1945 occupation of the Korean Peninsula. “The

Oct. 27, 2022

[Hwang’s China and the World] Roles and cooperation of East Asia, for the transition of civilization

The 20th century was a terrifying era of war not only in the West, but also in East Asia. The East-West conflict during the Cold War that dominated decades of the late 20th century after World War I and II maintained a balance of power under the cloak of ideological confrontation, but there was a blatant armed conflict on one side of the Earth at the same time. East Asia, where Korea and Vietnam are located, is in fact the region where the Cold War was the ‘hottest.’ Even if the Cold

Oct. 27, 2022

N. Korean nuclear test would constitute a 'grave escalatory action': State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- A nuclear test by North Korea would constitute a "grave escalatory action" that will be met by serious consequences, a state department spokesperson said Wednesday. Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the department, insisted the US has a "number of tools" to hold North Korea accountable for any future provocations. "A seventh nuclear test, should it happen, would constitute a grave escalatory action and seriously threaten regional stability, in

Oct. 27, 2022

South Korea, US, Japan warn of 'unparalleled' scale of response in case of NK nuclear test

South Korea, the US and Japan will respond on an "unparalleled" scale to a nuclear weapons test by North Korea, the three nations warned Wednesday. As the three countries assess that North Korea is likely to carry out its seventh nuclear test soon, South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeo Mori held a trilateral consultation meeting in Tokyo to share their commitments for extended deterrence to handl

Oct. 26, 2022

[Herald Interview] Nigerian President hopes to boost trade and investments with Korea

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari expressed hopes for more trade and investment from Korea, stressing the Nigerian government’s recent policies to encourage foreign investment in an exclusive written interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul. "Our government has improved the ease of doing business in our country, and we have created a 'one stop shop' at the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission. We have also reinvigorated the commission with all the resources needed to attract FDI

Oct. 26, 2022

Seoul's trade chief in Europe for economic ties, Expo bid support

South Korea and Hungary have agreed to push for the signing of a new framework meant to promote bilateral trade and investment, Seoul's trade ministry said Wednesday. The agreement was reached during a meeting between South Korean Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun and Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on Monday. Ahn visited Budapest as the first stop of his weeklong three-nation trip to Europe as a special envoy of President Yoon Suk-yeol, according the Ministry of Trade, Industry and En

Oct. 26, 2022

S. Korea, US, Japan to hold high-level talks amid speculation on N.Korea nuke test

Senior diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan plan to hold consultations on Wednesday on regional and global security issues amid concerns over the possibility of a North Korean nuclear test. South Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong is scheduled to engage in the trilateral session with his American and Japanese counterparts -- Wendy Sherman and Takeo Mori -- in Tokyo to discuss ways to deal with North Korea's evolving threats highlighted by a series of bal

Oct. 26, 2022

[Hwang’s China and the World] Korean and Japanese leaders can only cease the vicious cycle

From the stance of Korean diplomacy, relations with Japan are the primary dilemma. Although there may be some differences in degree compared to the US according to political orientation, an alliance has immutable value. It has an absolute influence on daily life in Korea. At the same time, though we may have a different perspective from China, we cannot neglect China’s influence on Korea’s economy and policies toward North Korea. The US and China are like two strong wings flanking K

Oct. 25, 2022

NK, wartime forced labor on agenda in Japan

South Korea’s First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong traveled to Tokyo to discuss cooperative measures to handle rising North Korean threats with his US and Japanese counterparts on Tuesday. During his three-day trip, Cho is expected to hold bilateral talks with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Mori Takeo, separately, on Tuesday. A trilateral meeting of the three officials is slated for Wednesday. Speaking to reporters at airports in South

Oct. 25, 2022

Han Seung-soo elected as head of former UN General Assembly presidents' council

NEW YORK -- Former South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-soo has been elected as the chairperson of a council of past UN General Assembly presidents, according to Seoul's permanent mission to the UN on Monday. Han was elected to lead the Council of Presidents of General Assembly for a three-year term at the group's annual meeting held in New York last Thursday, along with Jan Kavan, former Czech foreign minister, as vice chairperson. Han served as the president of the 56th UN General A

Oct. 25, 2022

N. Korea likely to conduct nuclear test, but US prepared for all contingencies: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- North Korea is believed to be continuing preparations for a nuclear test while the US is set to face any threat posed by the recalcitrant country, a state department spokesperson said Monday. Department Press Secretary Ned Price said the US also remains open to engaging in dialogue with Pyongyang. "Our concern regarding the potential for another North Korean nuclear test, which would be its seventh, has been consistent for some time now. We assess that the DPRK is preparing it

Oct. 25, 2022

Golden opportunity to strengthen ties with Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria is visiting Korea to attend the "World Bio Summit," which is co-organized by the Korean government and WHO (World Health Organization). Due to geographical distance, Nigeria is not well-known to the Korean public. However, Nigeria has the biggest economy in Africa; with the world’s 6th largest population of 220 million; and abundant natural resources. Nigeria plays the leading role in West Africa and the African Union. It is also an active

Oct. 24, 2022

More options than 'foundation-led' compensation considered for Japan's wartime forced labor, Seoul says

Nothing has been decided on how to handle the dispute concerning Japan's wartime forced labor, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Monday, refuting Japanese news reports that the two countries are considering a foundation-led compensation plan as the sole option. Seoul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is “not discussing that one specific solution only,” and that “nothing has been decided yet.” The ministry said it has delivered the opinions o

Oct. 24, 2022

Trade chief to visit Hungary, 2 other European nations this week to discuss economic cooperation

South Korean Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun will visit Hungary, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic this week to discuss ways to enhance economic cooperation and to drum up support for the country's bid to host the 2030 World Expo, his office said Monday. During a six-day trip from Monday, Ahn will meet with the Hungarian foreign minister to discuss bilateral economic issues and ask for the European nation's support for Korean firms operating there amid high energy prices, according the Min

Oct. 24, 2022

S. Korea, Arab nations to hold new round of FTA talks next week

South Korea and a group of Arab countries will hold another round of negotiations for their free trade deal next week, Seoul's trade ministry here said Sunday. South Korea and the Gulf Cooperation Council will begin the sixth round of official talks for a bilateral free trade agreement in Seoul on Monday for a five-day run, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The GCC involves six countries -- the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. Vario

Oct. 23, 2022

S. Korean envoy raises issue of female NK defectors' human rights at UN meeting

NEW YORK -- South Korea's top envoy at the United Nations appealed Thursday to the international community to pay more attention to the dire human rights conditions that female North Korean defectors endure in the North before escape. Addressing a UN Security Council (UNSC) session, Ambassador Hwang Joon-kook said it is "heartbreaking" to see that many North Korean women arrive in South Korea only after suffering from years of human rights violations in the North. "I would li

Oct. 21, 2022

US remains committed to denuclearization of 'entire' Korean Peninsula: Pentagon spokesman

WASHINGTON -- The United States remains committed to the denuclearization of the "entire" Korean Peninsula, a defense department spokesperson said Thursday, indicating that the US is not considering deploying nuclear weapons to South Korea. Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder also reiterated that the US extended deterrence provided to South Korea would be sufficient to defend the Asian ally and deter any potential aggression from North Korea. "We are still committed to denuclearization of the en

Oct. 21, 2022

Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari to visit S. Korea next week

Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari will visit South Korea to attend the World Bio Summit 2022, being held in Seoul next Tuesday and Wednesday, the Embassy of Nigeria in Seoul said Thursday evening. According to a statement released by the embassy, Nigerian president Buhari will deliver a congratulatory message at the event’s opening ceremony. During his visit, Buhari will meet with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol. The Nigerian president is also scheduled to meet with former UN Sec

Oct. 20, 2022

South Korea joins discussion for drafting UN resolution on NK human rights

South Korea has begun consultation with the European Union on this year's EU-made draft resolution on North Korea's human rights abuses, breaking its hiatus to speak out against Pyongyang's violations. According to local sources, the European Union has drawn up a draft resolution addressing the human rights situation in North Korea, and is consulting with major countries for its review. The EU-drafted resolution will be submitted to the United Nations’ Third Committee before

Oct. 20, 2022