S. Korea to provide $100,000 worth of humanitarian aid to volcano-hit St. Vincent

South Korea will provide $100,000 worth of humanitarian assistance to the Caribbean nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines hit by multiple volcano explosions, the foreign ministry said Wednesday. Big explosions from the volcano on the eastern island of St. Vincent since last Friday have destroyed communities, forcing nearly 20,000 people to evacuate from their homes, while water and other food supplies are becoming short, according to news reports. The government hopes the assistance will

April 14, 2021

Moon hints at legal fight against Fukushima wastewater disposal

President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday ordered his aides to review possible legal actions that can be taken against Japan’s decision to release wastewater from its Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean, including bringing the issue to an international court. “The president ordered to proactively consider taking the issue to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, including provisional measures,” presidential spokesperson Kang Min-seok told a press briefing. T

April 14, 2021

S. Korea voices concerns to US over Japan's decision to release tainted Fukushima plant water

South Korea has expressed concerns to the United States over Japan's decision to discharge contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean, the foreign ministry said Wednesday. The move came as the US State Department said Japan "appears to have adopted an approach in accordance with globally accepted nuclear safety standards" in apparent support of its decision to release the radioactive water despite opposition from South Korea and other neighboring

April 14, 2021

S. Korea adopts slogan, key symbols for P4G Seoul Summit

South Korea adopted a slogan and key symbols for next month's virtual summit on green growth and sustainable development, the foreign ministry said Wednesday, stepping up publicity efforts for the successful hosting of the event. The Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals (P4G) summit is scheduled to take place on May 30-31, as Seoul seeks to highlight its commitment to the global fight against climate change. Its preparatory committee adopted "Green We Go, Change We Make"

April 14, 2021

Victim urges Seoul to bring wartime sex slavery issue to ICJ

A former wartime sexual slavery victim pleaded with the South Korean government again on Wednesday for it to bring the issue of forced sexual slavery by Japan to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), two months after she made the first such request. "My wish is that President Moon Jae-in convinces Japan's prime minister to take the issue to the ICJ to reveal the truth," Lee Yong-soo, one of the 15 registered surviving South Korean victims of sexual slavery by Japan during World Wa

April 14, 2021

US climate envoy Kerry to visit China, South Korea

WASHINGTON -- US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry will visit China and South Korea this week, the State Department said, ahead of a US-hosted climate summit of world leaders, including South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Kerry plans to travel to Shanghai and Seoul from Wednesday through Saturday on a mission aimed at "raising global climate ambition" ahead of the virtual Leaders Summit on Climate slated to take place on April 22 and 23, the department said. The depar

April 14, 2021

FM Chung discusses bilateral, regional cooperation with Singaporean counterpart

Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong spoke by phone with his Singaporean counterpart on Tuesday and discussed joint efforts to enhance bilateral and regional cooperation, his office said. In the conversation, Chung and Vivian Balakrishnan noted that the two countries have maintained substantive cooperation in such areas as infrastructure and the digital economy, the ministry said in a release. In that vein, the ministers held out hopes that the suspended expedited entry system agreed upon between

April 13, 2021

S. Korea to ramp up safety measures amid looming Fukushima water release

South Korea plans to beef up its inspections of radiation levels of local and imported Japanese seafood products, as Japan decided to release massive amounts of radioactive water into the sea, the ocean ministry said Tuesday. Earlier in the day, the Japanese government said it will release into the sea the radioactive water, which has been stored in tanks at the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant, in two years, despite South Korea's repeated protest. An estimated 1.25 million tons of such water a

April 13, 2021

Korea condemns Japan’s decision to release water from Fukushima

South Korea on Tuesday strongly condemned Japan's decision to release more than 1 million tons of contaminated water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant, saying the radioactive water threatens the safety of neighboring countries and their marine environments. The government expressed strong regret over the Japanese government's "unilateral" choice to release the radioactive water, saying the decision was made without discussions or negotiations with Korea. "This dec

April 13, 2021

S. Korea expresses 'strong regret' over Japan's decision to release water from Fukushima

South Korea on Tuesday expressed strong regret over Japan's decision to release contaminated water into the sea from its wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant. Tokyo announced earlier in the day that it plans to start releasing massive amounts of radioactive water, which has been stored in tanks at the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant, in two years. Koo Yoon-cheol, head of South Korea's Office for Government Policy Coordination, gathered an emergency vice-ministerial meeting at 10 a.m. at the S

April 13, 2021

S. Korea convenes emergency meeting on Japan's decision to release water from Fukushima

South Korea on Tuesday convened a high-level government meeting to discuss measures against Japan's decision to release contaminated water from its wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea. Tokyo announced earlier in the day that it plans to start releasing massive amounts of radioactive water, which has been stored in tanks at the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant, in two years. Koo Yoon-cheol, head of South Korea's Office for Government Policy Coordination, gathered an emergency vice

April 13, 2021

Outgoing US Indo-Pacific commander awarded top medal from S. Korea

South Korea on Tuesday awarded Adm. Phil Davidson, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, one of the country's highest medals for his contribution to the alliance and peace on the Korean Peninsula, the defense ministry said. Defense Minister Suh Wook presented the Tongil Medal of the Order of National Security Merit to the outgoing commander on behalf of the government during a ceremony held at the ministry building in Seoul, according to the ministry. Davidson arrived in South Korea on Mon

April 13, 2021

US position on Iran sanctions remains unchanged: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- The United States' position on Iran sanctions remains unchanged, a State Department spokesperson said Monday, amid Iran's continued demand for the release of its money blocked in South Korean banks. "The United States' position on Iran sanctions has not changed," the department spokesperson told Yonhap News Agency in an email, asking not to be identified. The remarks come after South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun noted the money belongs to Iran. "I have sai

April 13, 2021

Blinken names new chief officer to tackle discrimination at State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday named a new official in charge of diversity and inclusion at the State Department, while commending the US embassy in Seoul for setting a good example. Blinken named Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley to fill the newly created post of chief diversity and inclusion officer (CDIO), who "will be empowered to develop a "robust framework for fostering diversity and inclusion in our workforce." "From Me Too, to Black Lives Mat

April 13, 2021

White House says battery dispute settlement by LG, SK makes them more reliable suppliers

WASHINGTON -- The settlement of an electric vehicle battery dispute between two South Korean manufacturers will help build US confidence in their reliability, a White House official said Monday. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the conclusion of the dispute also marked great news for American workers. "The settlement we announced over the weekend...by SK Innovation and LG (Energy Solution) is a positive step that builds confidence in their reliability and responsibility as suppliers

April 13, 2021

Biden pledges more investment in meeting over semiconductor shortage

WASHINGTON -- US President Joe Biden said on Monday that his country will increase its investment in infrastructure to protect its supply chains, including the supply chain of semiconductors. His remarks came in a meeting with the top executive officers of 19 global firms, including South Korea's tech giant Samsung Electronics, to discuss ways to address the ongoing shortage of semiconductors. "Chips, like the one I have here, these chips, these wafers, our batteries, broadband, it's all

April 13, 2021

S. Korea, US agree to cooperate in promoting green energy, tackling climate change

South Korea and the United States on Monday agreed to make joint efforts to fight climate change and harness more sustainable energy. South Korea's Industry Minister Sung Yun-mo met his US counterpart, Jennifer Granholm, virtually, and shared visions on fostering low-carbon and eco-friendly industries, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The two countries also agreed to expand ties for the Leaders Summit on Climate, which will be hosted by the US later this month, in which

April 12, 2021

South Korea's PM: Iran's frozen funds should be quickly returned

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Monday South Korea should "quickly" return $7 billion in frozen funds to Iran in the latest diplomatic gesture to resolve the impasse between the two sides. The prime minister made the remark during a visit to Tehran, where he met Iranian officials amid tension over the funds locked up in South Korea under United States sanctions. "I have said before that this money is Iran's money and should be returned to its owner," Chung told reporters

April 12, 2021

S. Korea voices 'grave concerns' over Japan's expected decision to release Fukushima water into sea

South Korea's foreign ministry voiced "grave concerns" Monday over Japan's decision, expected this week, to release contaminated water from its wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea.  Tokyo appears set to formally announce the final decision in a meeting of related ministers on Tuesday, according to media reports, despite strong opposition from the Japanese fishery industry and concerns from neighboring countries.  Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said in

April 12, 2021

S. Korea willing to help Iran advance dialogue for restoring nuclear deal: PM

TEHRAN -- South Korea's prime minister said Monday his country is willing to provide "sideline" support for Iran to advance "productive" dialogue with partners in restoring the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Chung Sye-kyun made the remarks during a joint press conference Sunday (local time) with Iran's First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri in Tehran following their 90-minute talks. Chung was visiting Iran for a three-day itinerary till Tuesday to discuss bilateral ties amid lingeri

April 12, 2021