US trade chief to visit S. Korea for talks on supply chains, trade pact

US Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai was to visit South Korea on Thursday for talks on pending trade issues such as supply chains for key components and steel tariffs. Tai is scheduled to arrive here from Japan later in the day for a four-day stay, the USTR office said in a release. It will be the first time in 10 years that the top US trade official visits the country. The chief plans to meet with South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo on Friday for the joint committee meeting of the

Nov. 18, 2021

US satisfied with consultations on ways to denuclearize Korean Peninsula: Sherman

T he United States is very satisfied with its consultations with South Korea and Japan on the best way to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said Wednesday. The US diplomat, however, declined to offer any direct response when asked if the US supported declaring a formal end to the Korean War as proposed by South Korea. "The United States is very satisfied with the consultations we are having both with the Republic of Korea and with Japan and with

Nov. 18, 2021

S. Korea says discussed end-of-war declaration with US

Senior diplomats of South Korea and the US discussed how to restart stalled nuclear talks with North Korea, including Seoul’s proposal to formally end the Korean War, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday, amid concerns that the allies may be at odds over President Moon Jae-in’s proposal.  First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun is in Washington through Friday for talks on security issues including North Korea, economic cooperation and other matters. Choi met his American coun

Nov. 17, 2021

Senior S. Korean, US diplomats discuss N. Korea, end-of-war declaration: ministry

WASHINGTON -- South Korea's vice foreign minister held talks with his US counterpart and discussed ways to bring North Korea back to dialogue, including the possible declaration of a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday. During the 60-minute talks in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday (local time), South Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun and US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman also discussed the alliance and other issues of common intere

Nov. 17, 2021

N. Korea a major area of cooperation between US, China: NSA Sullivan

WASHINGTON -- North Korea is one of key areas where the United States and China can and should work together, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Tuesday. Sullivan also reiterated US commitment to dialogue with the reclusive North. "Of course, we have seen a series of tests by North Korea. The United States has indicate we are prepared to engage in good faith and diplomacy if North Korea is prepared to do the same," he said, referring to recent missile tests by the North

Nov. 17, 2021

UN rapporteur raps China over repatriation of N. Korean defectors: news report

A UN official on the human rights situation in North Korea has criticized China for sending back North Korean defectors, describing the practice as a serious challenge to international law, according to a news report Tuesday. "The issue is very serious and the government is challenging international law," Tomas Ojea Quintana, the special rapporteur on North Korea human rights, was quoted as saying by the Voice of America (VOA). He added, "I urge once again the People's Republic

Nov. 16, 2021

Cheong Wa Dae says trilateral summit with China, Japan still under discussion

Cheong Wa Dae on Monday said that discussions are still underway to hold a trilateral summit between South Korea, China and Japan this year, denying a recent Japanese news report that Seoul has asked to postpone the meeting again. The three neighboring countries have held a summit every year under a rotation system, but last year’s Seoul meeting was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. With less than two months left in the year, expectations are low that a meeting will take place

Nov. 15, 2021

Seoul official optimistic over deal to end Korean War, rules out rift with Washington

There will be “good results” in the Seoul-Washington discussions on declaring the end of the Korean War, First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun said Sunday in the US, ruling out a potential rift between the allies in regards to the matter. 　 Speaking in Washington, Choi said he expects to see a “good result soon,” in regards to the ongoing discussions with the US on Seoul’s proposal for an end-of-war declaration. 　 Choi is in Washington to hold series of talks

Nov. 15, 2021

S. Korea, US, Japan to discuss NK’s nuclear stalemate, supply chain

South Korea’s First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun on Sunday left for Washington for talks with his US and Japanese counterparts, with North Korea’s nuclear issue and the global supply chain disruption expected to top the agenda.  Choi will be in Washington through Friday, during which he is scheduled to hold a three-way meeting with US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Japan’s Vice Foreign Minister Mori Takeo on Wednesday. The three envoys last met for a

Nov. 14, 2021

Vice FM Choi to meet US, Japanese counterparts in Washington next week

South Korea's vice foreign minister will visit Washington next week for talks with his US and Japanese counterparts, the foreign ministry said Friday. First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun plans to meet US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on Tuesday (US time), according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two are expected to discuss ways to bring North Korea to nuclear negotiations that have been stalled since 2019, and Seoul's proposal to declare a formal end to the 1950-53 K

Nov. 12, 2021

Japan’s new FM hopes for better ties, says Korea should provide ‘solutions’

Japan’s newly appointed Foreign Minister on Thursday expressed willingness to step up dialogue with South Korea to improve their strained ties, but urged Seoul to take appropriate action to resolve the historical issues at the center of their feud.  Veteran lawmaker Yoshimasa Hayashi was named the country’s top diplomat the previous day, as Fumio Kishida was formally inaugurated as Japan’s new prime minister. Hayashi replaced Toshimitsu Motegi, who now occupies the rulin

Nov. 11, 2021

Foreign minister says S. Korea-US talks over end-of-war declaration in final stages

Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong said Thursday coordination between Seoul and Washington over a declaration to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War is in its final stages. Chung made the remarks during a parliamentary session, confirming there has been progress in the allies' talks over the declaration as stated this week by South Korean Ambassador to the US Lee Soo-hyuck. "We have recently had very close consultations with the US about the format and contents of an end-of-war declaration,&

Nov. 11, 2021

Japan's new FM stresses need to improve frayed ties with S. Korea

TOKYO -- Japan's new foreign minister on Thursday emphasized the need to repair soured ties with South Korea and step up cooperation for regional security but urged Seoul to offer acceptable solutions to resolve the prolonged historical disputes. Yoshimasa Hayashi, a veteran lawmaker with wide Cabinet-level experience, called South Korea Japan's "important neighbor" and said the frayed bilateral relations shouldn't be left as they are now. "After recovering South Korea-Japan ti

Nov. 11, 2021

S. Korea, US to launch minister-level talks on clean energy goals

South Korea and the United States have agreed to launch a ministerial-level dialogue on energy policy to strengthen cooperation on clean energy and climate challenges, Seoul's industry ministry said Thursday. The agreement for the launch of the Energy Policy Dialogue (EPD) was made during the meeting between South Korea's Industry Minister Moon Sung-wook and US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm in Washington on Wednesday (Washington time). The new platform aims to promote collaboration across

Nov. 11, 2021

S. Korea, US to launch new dialogue on semiconductor partnership next month: minister

WASHINGTON -- South Korea and the United States will launch new bilateral talks next month on enhancing their cooperation on the semiconductor supply chain, Industry Minister Moon Sung-wook said Wednesday. The inaugural meeting will be held Dec. 8, involving director-level officials from the two countries, as well as officials and representatives from businesses and other related organizations. Moon said he and his US counterpart, Gina Raimondo, have also agreed to consider upgrading the count

Nov. 11, 2021

No decision made on timing of OPCON transfer to S. Korea: Pentagon press secretary

WASHINGTON -- The United States and South Korea have yet to make any decision on the timing of wartime operational control (OPCON) transfer to Seoul, US Department of Defense Press Secretary John Kirby said Wednesday. The press secretary also said the countries continue to make progress toward the proposed OPCON transition, but that they still have more work to do. "The other thing important to remember is that the OPCON transition is going to be conditions-based in accordance with bilate

Nov. 11, 2021

South Korea, Colombia vow to expand ties in health care, climate change

South Korea and Colombia vowed to deepen ties and step up cooperation in the areas of health care, digital transformation and climate change, as the top envoys of the two countries met Wednesday. 　 Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong held talks with visiting Colombian Vice President and Foreign Minister Marta Lucia Ramirez in Seoul, discussing a wide range of bilateral and regional issues. Ramirez was in Seoul to attend the Korea-Pacific Alliance Green Economy Forum held earlier in the day, joined

Nov. 10, 2021

China to ship 18,700 tons of urea to South Korea

About 18,700 metric tons of urea that China was holding back will be shipped to South Korea soon, temporarily alleviating an acute shortage of an essential additive used to cut emissions from diesel vehicles. 　 China has confirmed that it will proceed with the export process for 18,700 tons of solid urea that was previously contracted to Korean firms, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. 　 Of the total, about 300 tons of urea has cleared customs and will be able to leave the Chinese port arou

Nov. 10, 2021

[Interactive] Can Korea cure its refugee unease?

 

Nov. 10, 2021

US top trade official says chip info sharing 'inevitable' under 'unprecedented' situation

US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has said that Washington's recent request on South Korean and major global chipmakers to submit trade data was an "inevitable" measure under "unprecedented" circumstances of a global supply shortage, according to South Korea's industry ministry Wednesday. Raimondo made the remarks during her meeting with Seoul's Industry Minister Moon Sung-wook held in Washington, a day after Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc. submitted their busine

Nov. 10, 2021