S. Korea, US hold first defense cost talks since US election

South Korea and the United States held defense cost talks for the first time since the US presidential election and reaffirmed their principle to seek a fair and mutually acceptable deal, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. During the video talks held Monday night (Korea time), South Korea's chief negotiator Jeong Eun-bo and his US counterpart Donna Welton agreed to "closely work together to swiftly reach an agreement that is fair and mutually acceptable," the ministry said. The nego

Dec. 1, 2020

S. Korea mulls postponing UN peacekeeping conference amid pandemic

South Korea is considering postponing the hosting of a UN ministerial conference on peacekeeping operations slated for next year amid the coronavirus pandemic, officials said Monday. Defense Minister Suh Wook, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and other senior officials held a preparatory meeting for the UN conference set for April and discussed adjusting the event schedule "in consideration of the COVID-19 situation and opinions from the UN and member states," the defense ministry said

Nov. 30, 2020

S. Korea to provide $700,000 aid to hurricane-hit Latin American nations

South Korea will provide $700,000 worth of humanitarian aid to Colombia, Honduras and Nicaragua to help them cope with damage from Hurricane Iota, the foreign ministry said Friday. The Latin American countries were devastated Monday by the category 5 hurricane, the biggest storm this year in the Atlantic Ocean. "Our government hopes that the aid will help the peoples of those countries facing hardship in recovery, due to the stronger hurricane than the previous Hurricane Eta," the mi

Nov. 27, 2020

Wang stresses two Koreas should determine peninsula’s fate

China’s top diplomat on Friday said the two Koreas should decide the fate of the Korean Peninsula themselves, while stressing his country will serve a “constructive role” to bring peace on the peninsula.  “South and North Korea are indeed the true masters of the Korean Peninsula. Therefore, the fate of the peninsula should be given to the two Koreas,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during his meeting with National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seung. &

Nov. 27, 2020

Ex-presidential secretary to Moon appointed ambassador to Spain

South Korea appointed Bahk Sahng-hoon, former protocol secretary to President Moon Jae-in, as ambassador to Spain in a regular reshuffle that included 15 other new ambassadors and consul generals.  Bahk, a career diplomat who previously served as ambassador to Panama, is known for his expertise in Latin America affairs and fluency in the Spanish language, the foreign ministry said Friday. Lee Kwang-ho, vice consul-general to the Chinese city of Wuhan who became known for spearheading an

Nov. 27, 2020

Over 70% of S. Koreans support Seoul's role as 'facilitator' in nuclear talks in Biden administration

A majority of South Koreans agree that Seoul should play the role of a "facilitator" to push the stalled nuclear negotiations forward between the United States and North Korea, a survey showed Friday. According to the Nov. 20-21 survey of 1,000 adults by the National Unification Advisory Council, 73.9 percent said South Korea should serve as a "facilitator" in nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang after US President-elect Joe Biden takes office. Among them, 35.3 pe

Nov. 27, 2020

Deputy FM Kim holds talks with senior Myanmarese officials to deepen bilateral ties

Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Gunn has held talks with senior Myanmarese officials in Naypyidaw to discuss bilateral cooperation on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, the foreign ministry said Friday. His four-day trip to Myanmar that ends Friday focused on laying the groundwork for stronger cooperation ahead of next year's launch of Myanmar's new administration and expanding practical exchanges despite COVID-19, the ministry sa

Nov. 27, 2020

Wang Yi says Xi visit requires 'complete control' of COVID-19

Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit South Korea “as soon as the conditions are ready,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Thursday, stressing that the two sides must focus on containing the COVID-19 pandemic. “I believe that (Xi’s) visit will be realized as soon as the conditions are ready,” Wang said after his meeting with South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha. When asked about the conditions for Xi’s visit, Wang said the pandemic

Nov. 26, 2020

Wang touts 'robustness' and 'vitality' of S. Korea-China ties

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday touted the "robustness" and "vitality" of his country's relations with South Korea, stressing his trip here, despite COVID-19, illustrates how much Beijing values the bilateral partnership. Wang made the remarks at the start of his talks with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, amid speculation that Beijing will use his trip to try to bring Seoul to its side as US President-elect Joe Biden envisions tightening America's alliance netw

Nov. 26, 2020

S. Korea, Ecuador discuss cooperation on pandemic, economy

The foreign ministers of South Korea and Ecuador on Wednesday discussed efforts to boost economic relations and coronavirus cooperation between the two countries, the foreign ministry said. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha held talks with her Ecuadorian counterpart Luis Gallegos, who is visiting Seoul this week to attend a forum hosted by South Korea to promote its cooperation with Latin American and Caribbean countries. Kang expressed hope that Korea‘s sharing of its experience in tack

Nov. 25, 2020

President Moon to meet Chinese foreign minister

President Moon Jae-in will receive visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Xi at Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday afternoon, the presidential office said Wednesday. Wang arrived here late Wednesday after stopping over in Japan. On Thursday, he is to have a luncheon with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and dinner with Lee Hae-chan, a key figure in Moon’s inner circle who served as special envoy to China and later headed the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. Wang is scheduled to leave Friday, aft

Nov. 25, 2020

S. Korea joins CEPI to support vaccine research, development

South Korea joined the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Initiative (CEPI) and pledged to donate $3 million this year to help develop vaccines for COVID-19 and other emerging epidemics, the foreign ministry said Wednesday. The CEPI is a global partnership joined by public, private and civil society organizations to fund research projects to develop vaccines for emerging diseases like the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and COVID-19. Sou

Nov. 25, 2020

FM Kang calls for Central Asia's cooperation for Korea's peace efforts

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha called Wednesday for Central Asian countries' steadfast support for South Korea's drive to foster lasting peace on the peninsula, stressing it would be part of efforts toward peace for all of Eurasia. Kang made the call during the 13th Korea-Central Asia Cooperation Forum, a dialogue platform launched in 2007 to strengthen cooperation in economic, cultural and educational and other areas. "Peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula is also a journey towa

Nov. 25, 2020

S. Korea, Czech Republic sign amended air services agreement

South Korea and the Czech Republic have signed a revised air services agreement allowing airlines run by European Union (EU) member states to fly between the two countries, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday. The agreement was signed in Prague on Tuesday (local time) by South Korean Ambassador to Prague Kim Tae-jin and Czech Transport Minister Karel Havlicek, the ministry said in a release. The agreement needs to be ratified by the Czech parliament. The amended agreement eases the requi

Nov. 25, 2020

Chinese FM Wang to arrive in S. Korea as Biden envisions stronger alliances

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to arrive in Seoul on Wednesday for talks with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and others, as US President-elect Joe Biden envisions solidifying America's democratic alliances to reassert its global leadership. After his two-day trip to Japan, Wang is scheduled to fly in amid expectations that he could use the trip to try to bring South Korea closer to its side as a strategic rivalry between Washington and Beijing is expected to continue under the Biden a

Nov. 25, 2020

Vice FM Lee voices hope S. Korea's New Deal initiative will help SDG implementation

Second Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho expressed hope Tuesday that South Korea's New Deal initiative to create jobs and stoke stable growth in the post-COVID-19 era will help the implementation of UN sustainable development goals (SDGs). Lee's remarks came amid concerns that the pursuit of SDGs could slow, as the world is struggling to curb the new coronavirus, with the economic fallout weakening its capacity to pursue the goals aimed at fighting poverty, inequality and injustice and tackling

Nov. 24, 2020

Maryland Gov. Hogan defends S. Korea-made COVID test kits as effective

WASHINGTON -- Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Monday dismissed news reports that South Korean-made new coronavirus test kits were defective, saying the kits have been and continue to be "the cornerstone" of the state's long-term testing strategy. "While the entire testing process has been a struggle at the federal and state levels, and there have been and continue to be challenges, these Korean test kits represent one of the greatest success stories of our battle against COVID-19,&q

Nov. 24, 2020

Biegun likely to visit S. Korea next month: sources

WASHINGTON -- US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun may visit South Korea next month as part of a multi-nation Asia tour, diplomatic sources here said Monday. The trip is expected to take place in early December, and Biegun is set to be accompanied by Alex Wong, deputy assistant secretary of state for North Korea, multiple sources told Yonhap News Agency, asking not to be identified. Biegun's trip to South Korea, if made, will mark the first of its kind since July. His trip, however, wi

Nov. 24, 2020

US space commander calls for deepening security ties with S. Korea in space field

The chief of the US Space Operations Command called Monday for closer defense cooperation with South Korea in the domain of space to better cope with emerging threats and boost mutual capacity. Gen. John Raymond made the remarks in his video message for the 2020 Defense Space Power Development Symposium organized by Seoul's defense ministry and held in the day in Seoul. "Today, space power is a growing source and conduit for national power, prosperity and prestige ... However, access to t

Nov. 23, 2020

Chinese FM Wang Yi to visit Seoul, Tokyo this week

Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang Yi is set to visit South Korea and Japan this week, in a move widely seen as an effort by Beijing to secure ties with its two East Asian neighbors ahead of the inception of the Joe Biden administration in the US. 　 Wang is set to arrive in Japan on Tuesday for a two-day trip, during which he is expected to meet Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. 　 He will then visit South Korea from Wednesday to Frid

Nov. 23, 2020