FM Chung: Korea-US alliance is steadfast, rejects comparison to Ukraine

South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong on Friday stressed that the alliance between Seoul and Washington is steadfast, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine renewed concerns here over the credibility of the US security commitment to its allies.  “The South Korea-US alliance, by nature, is steadfast and firm for the security of the Korean Peninsula, so there’s no need to compare with the situation in Ukraine,” Chung told lawmakers during an emergency meeting of the

Feb. 25, 2022

Moon will ‘take preemptive response’ over Ukraine crisis

As Russia has launched a full-scale military attack on Ukraine despite global condemnation, President Moon Jae-in urged officials to check the situation and take a preemptive response through the Ukraine emergency response task force, the presidential office said Friday. Moon delivered these instructions at the Cheong Wa Dae meeting in the morning, spokesperson Park Kyung-mi said in a written briefing on the day. His remarks are related to the safety of Korean residents in Ukraine and the ec

Feb. 25, 2022

S. Korean Embassy urges remaining nationals in Ukraine to be ‘fully prepared’

The South Korean Embassy in Ukraine on Friday urged its nationals still remaining in the country to be “fully prepared” for potential chaos as Russia began its invasion of Ukraine the previous day.  In a notice posted on its website, the embassy said it believes there is possibility of various chaotic situations breaking out in the capital Kiev and other major cities, such as disruption of electricity and related networks, arson and explosions, whose actors may be hard to

Feb. 25, 2022

S. Korean, US diplomats stress 'unified' response over Ukraine crisis in phone talks

Senior diplomats of South Korea and the United States highlighted their shared will for a "unified" response over Russia's invasion of Ukraine during their phone talks Friday, the foreign ministry here said. First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun and his US counterpart, Wendy Sherman, condemned Russia's attack on Ukraine and reaffirmed their "unwavering support" for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the ministry said in a press release. Choi said that Seoul,

Feb. 25, 2022

Cheong Wa Dae says Korea does not consider independent sanctions

Regarding the issue of sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis, Cheong Wa Dae said Friday that it would not consider independent sanctions considering relations with Russia as well as Korean residents and businesses in Russia. Park Soo-hyun, senior presidential secretary for public communication, said in a local radio interview, “This is not an era in which we can do things (sanctions) independently. If the US and European countries impose sanctions on Russia, we will naturally

Feb. 25, 2022

S. Korea's envoy in Geneva elected WTO's regional trade agreement committee chair

South Korea's top envoy in Geneva has been elected the head of the World Trade Organization's committee monitoring regional trade agreements, the foreign ministry said Friday. Ambassador Lee Tae-ho was elected by consensus to lead the Committee on Regional Trade Agreement for one year at the WTO's General Council session in Geneva on Thursday, according to the ministry. The committee is a key body promoting the transparent management of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements signed by count

Feb. 25, 2022

Jim Rogers still bullish on united Korea

PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province -- The renowned American investor Jim Rogers still bets on the Korean Peninsula as the most exciting place for investment in the next 20 years once the heavily fortified border opens up, despite no signs of Pyongyang abandoning nuclear weapons and returning to diplomacy with the outside world. 　 “Once we open the 38th parallel, this is going to be the most exciting country in the world,” Rogers said during an interview with The Korea Herald on the side

Feb. 24, 2022

Weighing Russia sanctions success tough in Ukraine conflict

WASHINGTON (AP) -- As the Biden administration prepares its response to Russia's attack on Ukraine, the Treasury Department is tasked with finding ways to choke off parts of Russia's economic development. One key question for the administration is how to measure the success. With inflation already at record highs, a global pandemic that keeps businesses struggling to reopen and an energy shortage throughout Europe, the mathematics on punishing one of the world's biggest economies can be complex

Feb. 24, 2022

Russia attacks Ukraine; conflict reverberates around globe

MOSCOW (AP) -- Russia launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, hitting cities and bases with airstrikes or shelling, as civilians piled into trains and cars to flee. Ukraine's government said Russian tanks and troops rolled across the border and accused Moscow of unleashing a "full-scale war" that could rewrite the geopolitical order and whose fallout already reverberated around the globe.    In announcing a major military operation, Russian President Vladimir

Feb. 24, 2022

South Korea to participate in sanctions against Russia: Moon

President Moon Jae-in on Thursday said that the country will cooperate with the international community, including measures such as sanctions against Russia, following Russian attack on Ukraine. Tensions between Moscow and Kyiv are at their highest in years after Russian troops launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine on the day. “The use of force that causes innocent casualties cannot be justified under any circumstances,” Moon said in the afternoon after receiving a repor

Feb. 24, 2022

US commitment to defense of S. Korea remains unchanged despite tension in Ukraine

WASHINGTON -- The United States' commitment to defend South Korea remains unchanged despite escalating tensions in Ukraine over a possible Russian invasion, a Pentagon spokesperson said Wednesday. John Kirby also hailed Seoul's support for Ukraine, saying it was noticed by the "whole international community." "Nothing's changed, obviously, about our commitment to our South Korean allies," he said when asked what impact a possible armed conflict in Ukraine may have on the Kore

Feb. 24, 2022

S. Korean FM expresses concerns over Japan's Sado mine bid in meeting with UNESCO chief

South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong expressed deep concerns over Japan's move to have a mine linked to the forced labor of Koreans listed as a world heritage site in a meeting with UNESCO chief in Paris on Tuesday (local time), the foreign ministry said. Chung held a 40-minute meeting with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay in Paris, where he is visiting for the Indo Pacific Ministerial Forum 2022. Tokyo announced its bid to have the Sado mine listed as a UNESCO world heritage site

Feb. 23, 2022

S. Korea remains wary of negative economic fallout of Ukraine crisis

South Korea said Wednesday the Ukraine crisis has had limited impacts on the domestic economy, but it will remain vigilant against the possibility that a deterioration of the situation could disrupt energy supplies and increase market volatility. Tensions over Ukraine have been escalating as Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered the deployment of troops to two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine. US and European leaders announced sanctions against Russian banks and officials, viewi

Feb. 23, 2022

PyeongChang Peace Forum opens to discuss peace, inter-Korean relations, Olympics

An annual international peace forum kicked off in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, on Tuesday for a three-day run to discuss peace, inter-Korean relations and ways that the upcoming Winter Youth Olympics in 2024 could serve as an opportunity for peace on the divided Korean Peninsula. 　 Under the slogan of “Peace, Here and Now!,” the PyeongChang Peace Forum brings together global leaders, scholars and experts in the city of PyeongChang, which hosted the Winter Olympics in 2018. The ev

Feb. 22, 2022

S. Korean, Indian FMs discuss ways to deepen ties in France meeting

The top diplomats of South Korea and India have met in France to discuss regional issues and ways to expand cooperation and exchanges in various areas, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday. Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong sat down with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Paris on Monday (local time) on the eve of the Indo Pacific Ministerial Forum 2022. They were invited to the France-hosted forum, along with over 50 foreign ministers from the European Union and the Indo-Pacific r

Feb. 22, 2022

S. Korea-New Zealand social security accord to take effect next month

A social security agreement between South Korea and New Zealand will go into effect next month, allowing their nationals to use their employment and residences in both countries to qualify for pension benefits, Seoul's foreign ministry said Monday. The two sides signed the accord in October 2019 for those who are not eligible for the pension plan in each nation due to their shorter-than-required periods of coverage. Koreans have to make payments to the national pension scheme for at least 10 yea

Feb. 21, 2022

[Newsmaker] Historical revisionism, political motive behind Japan’s Sado mine push as world heritage

Japan’s decision to recommend a disused gold and silver mine as a UNESCO World Heritage site has drawn backlash in South Korea, with observers accusing Tokyo of trying to distort history by nominating the mine, which was the site of forced labor in the early 20th century. 　 Located on Sado Island in Niigata prefecture, the mine highlights outstanding mining technology development before and after the industrialization, becoming one of the world’s largest sources of gold in the 17th

Feb. 21, 2022

S. Korea, Armenia mark 30th year since forging diplomatic ties

The top diplomats of South Korea and Armenia exchanged congratulatory messages on Monday to mark the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations, Seoul's foreign ministry said. Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan exchanged the letters and welcomed the development of bilateral relations in political, cultural and economic fields over the past three decades, according to the ministry. They also expressed hope that the two sides will continue to wo

Feb. 21, 2022

S. Korean FM to visit France for Indo-Pacific forum

South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong will head to France later Monday to participate in a forum designed to promote cooperation among countries from the Indo-Pacific region. The Indo Pacific Ministerial Forum 2022 will be hosted by France, the current chair of the Council of the European Union. It has invited ministers and other senior representatives from 56 nations for the forum slated for Tuesday (local time) to address challenges in security, economy, health and climate change in the

Feb. 21, 2022

S. Korea contemplating sharing LNG with Europe amid Ukraine crisis

South Korea is thinking seriously about sharing its liquefied natural gas (LNG) inventories with Europe amid looming supply disruptions sparked by the Ukraine crisis, officials said Sunday. "The government is seriously contemplating supporting Europe should the situation aggravate in Ukraine and create difficulties in the supply of natural gas," a foreign ministry official said on condition of anonymity. Observers have been expressing concerns over a possible disruption in the supply o

Feb. 20, 2022