Largest-ever World Forestry Congress calls for stronger cooperation

The 15th edition of the World Forestry Congress, the world’s largest gathering on forests, ended with delegates signing a joint declaration calling on enhanced cooperation across the world. The Korea Forest Service said the latest edition of the WFC, which was held at Coex in Seoul between May 3-6, both online and offline, invited a total of some 15,000 people from 164 different countries, becoming the largest in the history of the congress. Participants of the WFC this year adopted t

May 15, 2022

[Newsmaker] S. Korea co-sponsors UN Human Rights Council resolution on Ukraine

South Korea has co-sponsored a recently adopted UN Human Rights Council resolution on the deteriorating situation in Ukraine stemming from Russia's aggression, an official at Seoul's foreign ministry said Friday. During a special session in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday (local time), the council adopted the resolution calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities against Ukraine and requesting a team of investigators look into alleged abuses in parts of the war-torn country. "Our gov

May 13, 2022

US, other UNSC members condemn N. Korean missile launch but Russia, China

WASHINGTON -- The UN Security Council (UNSC) convened an emergency meeting Wednesday to discuss North Korea's recent missile provocations but failed to produce a tangible outcome due to opposition from China and Russia. The special session of the 15-member council came at the request of the US, which condemned North Korea's recent missile tests as "a blatant violation of multiple Security Council resolutions." "Let's be clear. The DPRK is not undertaking its activities defensively

May 12, 2022

US prepared for any kind of engagement with N. Korea: Campbell

WASHINGTON -- The United States stands prepared to engage in any kind of diplomacy or dialogue with North Korea, White House policy coordinator for Asia Kurt Campbell said Wednesday. He also said the new South Korean government of Yoon Suk-yeol is determined to work closely with the US. "I will also just note that we have a new partner, a new president in South Korea that is determined, working with the United States, to be very clearly engaged in deterring and sending a strong message of p

May 12, 2022

Only US intent is to completely denuclearize Korean Peninsula: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- The sole US intent toward North Korea is to see its complete denuclearization, a state department spokesperson said Wednesday, again dismissing Pyongyang's accusation of hostile US intent toward the impoverished country. Ned Price also reiterated that the US and its allies, including South Korea, only seek to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula through peaceful dialogue. "We have made very clear that we are willing to engage in good faith diplomacy with the DPRK. We do so, of co

May 12, 2022

South Korea should seek for balance between US, China: experts

South Korea should sort out its priorities and pursue a strategic partnership with China on an equal standing while maintaining a strong alliance with the US, amid apparent efforts by Beijing and Washington to bolster ties with Seoul, experts said on Wednesday. To celebrate the inauguration of South Korea’s new president, Yoon Suk-yeol, China sent Vice President Wang Qishan, a close aide of its president, Xi Jinping, and the highest-level official to visit the country for such an event.

May 11, 2022

[Hwang’s China and the World] What China learned from the Russia-Ukraine War

Right before the Russia-Ukraine War broke out, Russian President Vladimir Putin hurried to attend the Beijing Winter Olympics. Putin’s visit was a show of his consideration to China, and many have analyzed that the Russia-Ukraine War would have broken out faster if it was not for the Winter Olympics. As shown, China was a critical factor to consider. All of international society, including the United States and Europe, looked to see whether China supported Russia -- both physically and e

May 11, 2022

Yoon begins term in time of changing world order, rising tension from Pyongyang

South Korea’s new president, Yoon Suk-yeol, begins his term with more difficult challenges on the diplomacy and security fronts amid the fast-changing world order and increasing North Korean threats. As a conservative, Yoon has presented a foreign policy that would reorient the country toward closer ties with the United States, and take a hard-line approach in dealing with North Korea and its missile provocations -- shifting the course from the one that his liberal predecessor, Moon Jae-

May 10, 2022

Uzbekistan’s development strategy

In 2022, after a nationwide discussion, Uzbekistan adopted the Development Strategy for 2022-2026. To fully understand the essence of Development Strategy - Development Program, I consider it necessary to draw special attention to the following fundamental issues. Firstly, Uzbekistan’s presidential elections, held in 2021, created completely new conditions for domestic political development and the implementation of foreign policy tasks. The main result of the elections is high political

May 10, 2022

N. Korea will be at 'front and center' of Biden's trip to S. Korea, Japan: Psaki

WASHINGTON -- US President Joe Biden looks forward to having discussions on North Korea with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts when he travels to the region later this month, a White House spokesperson said Monday. Jen Psaki also said the North Korean issue will be at the "front and center" of his discussions. "I would note that when the President goes to South Korea, (and) Japan, North Korea, especially given the recent tests, will be front and center in the agenda and d

May 10, 2022

US calls for emergency meeting of UNSC to discuss N. Korean missile launch: report

WASHINGTON -- The United States on Monday called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC) this week to discuss North Korea's latest missile provocation, a news report said. The US requested the emergency meeting be held on Wednesday, the AFP reported, quoting unidentified diplomats. The move comes after North Korea fired an apparent submarine-launched ballistic missile on Saturday (Seoul time) in its 15th missile launch of the year. Ned Price, spokesperson for the US state depa

May 10, 2022

Biden's trip to S. Korea, Japan to highlight US focus on Indo-Pacific: Campbell

WASHINGTON -- US President Joe Biden's upcoming trip to Seoul and Tokyo seeks to send a clear message that the US continues to remain committed to addressing various challenges in the region, a White House official said Monday. Kurt Campbell, Indo-Pacific policy coordinator at the National Security Council, added the US also recognizes that larger and most pressing challenges for the country and the rest of the world lie in the Indo-Pacific region. "The overriding message that we are seekin

May 10, 2022

Will Korea, Japan be able to reset fraught ties?

A Japanese foreign minister arrived in South Korea for the first time in four years on Monday ahead of the presidential inauguration ceremony for Yoon Suk-yeol, raising hopes for possible improvements in relations with the incoming conservative administration. According to Yoon’s office, Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi is traveling to Seoul for two days from Monday, and will attend the inauguration ceremony on behalf of the Japanese government on Tuesday. On Monday, Ha

May 9, 2022

African activist Cecile Ndjebet wins 2022 Global Forest Championship Award

Cecile Ndjebet, an international women’s rights advocate from Cameroon, has won the 2022 Wangari Maathai Forest Champions Award, the Korea Forest Service said Sunday. The award ceremony was held on Thursday, as part of the 15th World Forestry Congress in Seoul. This year’s award was given to Ndjebet in recognition of her decadeslong efforts in promoting women’s participation in forest preservation, as well as their rights to land and forests, said Maria Helena Semedo, the Foo

May 8, 2022

Chinese President’s right-hand man to attend Yoon’s inauguration

China’s Vice President Wang Qishan, who is widely known as Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s right-hand man, will attend the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, Yoon’s inaugural committee said on Friday. Wang is the highest-level Chinese government official dispatched for a South Korean presidential inauguration, given that the country previously sent vice premier-level officials as special envoys. Then-Vice Premier Liu Yandong of the State Council and then-St

May 6, 2022

Biden will reaffirm ‘ironclad’ defense commitment to S.Korea, Japan against N.Korea on Asia trip

US President Joe Biden will reaffirm the US’ “ironclad” commitment to defend South Korea and Japan against North Korea’s “destabilizing actions” during his first trip to Asia, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said at a televised briefing on Thursday. President Biden is set to visit South Korea and Japan from May 20 to 24. He is scheduled for a summit with South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol on May 21 in Seoul, before heading to Tokyo for a meetin

May 6, 2022

Biden will reaffirm US commitment to defense of S. Korea, Japan through Asia tour: Psaki

WASHINGTON -- US President Joe Biden will reaffirm US commitment to the defense of South Korea and Japan when he visits Seoul and Tokyo later this month, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday. The spokesperson said Biden will also reaffirm his commitment to providing "extended deterrence" to the US allies. "While he's there in South Korea and Japan, the president will hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts -- newly elected president of the Republic of Korea an

May 6, 2022

US Senate unanimously approves Goldberg as new ambassador to S. Korea

WASHINGTON/SEOUL -- The US Senate on Thursday voted unanimously to approve the nomination of Philip Goldberg, a career diplomat, as new US ambassador to South Korea. The confirmation came as Seoul and Washington seek to reinforce their alliance for stronger deterrence against North Korea's evolving military threats -- an issue likely to figure prominently in the upcoming summit between President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol and President Joe Biden slated for May 21. Goldberg, who had served as ambassad

May 6, 2022

Secretary Austin reaffirms US extended deterrence to S. Korea

WASHINGTON -- US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday reaffirmed the US' commitment to help defend South Korea, using the "full range of US military capabilities" including extended deterrence. Austin made the remarks in a phone conversation with South Korea's Defense Minister Suh Wook, according to defense department spokesperson John Kirby. "Secretary Austin reaffirmed the ironclad US commitment to (the) defense of the ROK, leveraging the full range of US military capabili

May 6, 2022

US working with allies to pass new UNSC resolution on N. Korea: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- The United States is working closely with its allies and partners to have the UN Security Council (UNSC) send a strong signal to North Korea over its recent missile provocations with a new UNSC resolution, a state department spokesperson said Thursday. Ned Price also highlighted the importance of holding North Korea accountable for its missile launches, which the US has repeatedly condemned as serious violations of UNSC resolutions. "This is something that we are discussing wi

May 6, 2022