Unification minister calls for Japan's support in improving inter-Korean relations

Unification Minister Lee In-young called Tuesday for Japan's support in improving inter-Korean relations, saying it will be "very beneficial for Japan as well." Lee made the remark during his first meeting with Japanese Ambassador Koji Tomita after his inauguration in July, stressing the need for the two countries to maintain cooperation in the wake of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's recent decision to step down. "Prime Minister Abe has announced his decision to step dow

Sept. 1, 2020

Foreign, Unification ministries seek budget hikes for 2021

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry and its Unification Ministry on Tuesday announced budget hikes of 3.6 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively, for next year. 　 The Foreign Ministry said it is requesting 2.84 trillion won ($2.4 billion) for next year, an increase of 3.6 percent from 2.74 trillion won this year, with a focus on reinforcing virtual diplomacy amid the COVID-19 pandemic and bolstering cooperation with the US and China, as the rivalry between the two superpowers is expected to in

Sept. 1, 2020

Overseas Koreans can book appointment online for consular services

South Koreans living overseas will be able to schedule an appointment online before visiting their local embassy or consulate for consular services, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.  Due to concerns related to the outbreak of COVID-19 around the world, the ministry said it will start allowing Korean nationals to book an appointment at its website (http://consul.mofa.go.kr) before making an in-person visit at local missions for consular assistance.  Applicants have to sign up on th

Sept. 1, 2020

Kang reaffirms Seoul's commitment to peninsula peace, calls NK denuclearization 'integral'

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha on Monday reiterated South Korea's determination to forge ahead with its push for lasting peace on the divided peninsula, to which she calls Pyongyang's denuclearization "integral." Kang made the remarks amid stalled inter-Korean relations and a drawn-out deadlock in nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang, both of which have thrown into doubt Seoul's dogged pursuit of greater trust and economic cooperation with Pyongyang. "The Kor

Aug. 31, 2020

FM cautious about assessing Seoul-Tokyo relations after a post-Abe Japan

Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha on Monday expressed caution about projecting future relations with Tokyo, amid rising hope of significant improvement in the strained bilateral ties after the imminent departure of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. 　 “We have to take a cautious stance on casting a hopeful outlook, as the matter itself is difficult,” Kang told a plenary session of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee. She was answering a law

Aug. 31, 2020

Online forum on ‘Facets of Modern Day India’ to be held from Sept. 1-14

A fortnight-long lecture series “Facets of Modern India” will be held via video conference from Tuesday, aiming to provide a better understanding of the world’s largest democracy and one of the fastest growing economies. Hosted by the Embassy of India and the Indian Cultural Centre in Seoul, renowned experts from India will speak on themes such as India’s strategic thinking, foreign policy, economy, democracy, media and its approach to international security during the

Aug. 30, 2020

2 South Koreans kidnapped from fishing vessel off Ghana

Two South Korean nationals have been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in waters off Ghana, Seoul officials said Saturday. A Ghanaian-flagged fishing vessel was attacked in waters 200 kilometers southeast of the coastal city of Tema on Friday (local time), according to foreign ministry officials and Dryad Global, a London-based maritime security consultancy. A total of 50 crewmen, including two South Koreans, were aboard the vessel AP 703. The pirates took only the Koreans and headed toward N

Aug. 29, 2020

Cheong Wa Dae expresses regret at Abe's resignation, expresses hope for quick health recovery

South Korea's presidential office on Friday expressed its regret at the news of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's decision to resign and wished him a speedy health recovery. "We regret the sudden resignation announcement by Prime Minister Abe, who has long played many roles for the development of South Korea-Japan relations," Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok said in a statement. It noted that Abe has left "various meaningful accomplishments" as Japan's longest-ser

Aug. 28, 2020

Taiwan strengthens entry restrictions for visitors from S. Korea

Taiwan has strengthened entry restrictions for visitors from South Korea, citing the resurgence in the virus outbreak mostly in the greater Seoul area.  South Korea was taken off from Taiwan's list of foreign countries relatively less prone to coronavirus infection, and business travelers arriving in Taiwan from the South should be in self-isolation for 14 days without exception, according to the South Korean Mission in Taipei. Since late June, Taiwan had put South Korea in the low to me

Aug. 27, 2020

Trump says FDA authorizes emergency use of blood plasma for coronavirus patients

WASHINGTON -- The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Sunday authorized the emergency use of blood plasma to treat new coronavirus patients, US President Donald Trump said, calling it a very powerful therapy that he said will save many lives. "On the therapeutics front, this is what I have been looking to do for a long time. This is a great day. Today I'm pleased to make a truly historic announcement in our battle against the China virus that will save countless lives," he told

Aug. 24, 2020

Xi visit aimed at winning over Korea amid feud with US: experts

Chinese President Xi Jinping will seek to persuade South Korea to not heavily invest in anti-China initiatives led by the US if he visits here, experts said Sunday, although his trip is unlikely to happen this year due to coronavirus concerns. Cheong Wa Dae said Saturday that the two countries agreed the Chinese leader will travel to Korea “at an early date” once the COVID-19 situation stabilizes. Beijing confirmed Seoul is a “priority” for Xi to visit, it added. Earli

Aug. 23, 2020

Top S. Korean, Chinese officials have 'good' and 'enough' discussions, no announcement on Xi's visit

President Moon Jae-in's national security adviser Suh Hoon said Saturday he had "very good" and "enough" dialogue with Yang Jiechi, a top Chinese official, during their meeting in Busan. Following four hours of talks with Yang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China's (CPC) Central Committee, at a seaside hotel in the southern port city, Suh told reporters that, "I think (we) had a very good conversation, (spending) a lot of time talking about

Aug. 22, 2020

Top Chinese official in Busan for talks on Xi's visit plan, N. Korea issue

Yang Jiechi, a top Chinese official in charge of diplomatic affairs, arrived in Busan on Friday for talks with President Moon Jae-in's top security advisor on President Xi Jinping's plan to visit South Korea, North Korea and other pending issues.    Yang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, is scheduled to meet with Suh Hoon, director of national security at Cheong Wa Dae, in the southern port city on Saturday morning.   

Aug. 21, 2020

Biden reiterates commitment to alliances in nomination acceptance speech

WASHINGTON -- US Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said Thursday that his election would mean that the United States will no longer cozy up to dictators, reiterating his commitment to strengthening alliances as he accepted the nomination. "I'll be a president who stands with our allies and friends, and make it clear to our adversaries that days of cozying up to dictators is over," the former US vice president said in his nomination acceptance speech at the end of the Democrat

Aug. 21, 2020

Top Chinese official to arrive in S. Korea

A top Chinese official will arrive in South Korea on Friday to discuss a range of bilateral issues, including the matter of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned visit. Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee, is set to arrive in Busan at the invitation of Suh Hoon, the head of South Korea’s National Security Office. According to Cheong Wa Dae, Suh will meet with Yang on Saturday morning and the two will continue t

Aug. 21, 2020

S. Korea, India agree on closer cooperation on int'l security issues

South Korea and India agreed Thursday to strengthen cooperation on international affairs, including disarmament and nonproliferation, during a virtual meeting between senior diplomats, Seoul's foreign ministry said. In the session, Park Il, director of the disarmament and nonproliferation division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held talks with Indra Mani Pandey, India's additional secretary in charge of the matter. They had discussions on creating conditions for nuclear disarmament and t

Aug. 20, 2020

Seoul, Washington resume defense cost talks with little progress

South Korea has resumed defense cost-sharing talks with the new chief of the US negotiation team, but no meaningful progress has been reached yet.  Jeong Eun-bo, Seoul’s top negotiator for the talks, has been communicating with his new US counterpart Donna Welton via phone and email from early this month, according to the Foreign Ministry on Thursday.  But the two sides are said to have confirmed differences in their positions, while agreeing to continue communication to reso

Aug. 20, 2020

Top Chinese official to visit Busan this week

Yang Jiechi, a senior Chinese government official, will visit Busan this week to discuss issues, including Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to South Korea. According to Cheong Wa Dae, Yang -- a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China -- will visit Busan on a two-day trip from Friday on invitation from Suh Hoon, chief of the presidential national security office. This is Yang’s first visit to Korea since July 2018, and his first meeting with Suh after S

Aug. 19, 2020

Top Chinese official to visit Busan for talks with Cheong Wa Dae director of national security

Yang Jiechi, a senior Chinese government official, will visit Busan this week for talks with Suh Hoon, director of presidential national security, with President Xi Jinping's push for a trip here likely to be discussed, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday. Yang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, is scheduled to visit the southern port city from Friday through Saturday, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok. Yang, a former foreign mi

Aug. 19, 2020

New vice FM stresses foreign ministry's role in ensuring people's safety

Choi Jong-kun, the new first vice foreign minister, said in his inaugural address Tuesday that the foreign ministry should shoulder "unlimited" responsibility to ensure people's safety. Last week, President Moon Jae-in named Choi, former secretary for peace planning at the presidential national security office, to the post in charge of the country's bilateral ties with other nations. "When it comes to nationals' safety, the foreign ministry should shoulder unlimited responsibil

Aug. 18, 2020