Trump weighs need for US troop presence in S. Korea

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that it is up for debate whether keeping American forces stationed in South Korea is in the US national security interest.Trump made the remark to reporters in London, where he is attending a meeting of North Atlantic Treaty Organization leaders, according to Reuters. The comment comes as the US has demanded South Korea contribute more to the upkeep of 28,500 American troops in the country, with negotiations over a new cost-sharing deal curren

Dec. 4, 2019

New Japanese ambassador pledges to play 'bridge-building' role in addressing Seoul-Tokyo row

Japan's new ambassador to South Korea, Koji Tomita, pledged Tuesday to play a “bridge-building” role to help address a row between Seoul and Tokyo over trade and wartime history. Tomita made the remarks upon arriving here and noted that he is aware of the “very difficult situation” between the two countries, which have long been plagued by historical and territorial feuds. The veteran diplomat, noted for his expertise in diplomacy with the United States, replace

Dec. 3, 2019

Ministry urges dialogue as Japan reneges on pledge to honor forced labor victims

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry called for dialogue with Japan on Tuesday after the latter reneged on its pledge to acknowledge Korean victims of forced labor at its UNESCO World Heritage sites. On Monday, the UN cultural agency’s World Heritage Center posted on its website Japan’s second report on the implementation of follow-up measures regarding the inscription of the sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution. In the report, Japan failed to state progress on the acti

Dec. 3, 2019

S. Korean negotiator stresses reason, fairness in defense cost-sharing talks

South Korea’s chief negotiator in defense cost-sharing talks with the United States said Monday that the two sides should share the burdens in a fair and reasonable manner within the current framework.“Ultimately, the most important principle is that the negotiations must contribute towards the Korea-US alliance and joint defense posture,” Jeong Eun-bo, the top envoy to the Special Measures Agreement negotiations, told reporters as he arrived at Washington’s Dulles Intern

Dec. 3, 2019

Top US diplomat cites allies' growing capabilities amid defense cost-sharing talks with S. Korea

WASHINGTON -- The top US diplomat for East Asia said Monday that he sees opportunities for further cooperation with South Korea and Japan as the two countries' capabilities have grown "exponentially" in recent decades.The comment by David Stilwell, US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, comes as Seoul and Washington have been negotiating the terms of a new deal on sharing the costs for the stationing of 28,500 American troops in South Korea.The fourth round

Dec. 3, 2019

S. Korean negotiator hopes for 'win-win' burden-sharing deal with US

WASHINGTON -- South Korea's top negotiator in defense cost-sharing talks with the United States said Monday that he believes the two sides will be able to strike a "win-win" deal based on their common understanding of the bilateral alliance.Jeong Eun-bo, the top envoy to the Special Measures Agreement negotiations, made the comment upon arriving at Washington's Dulles International Airport ahead of the fourth round of talks slated for Tuesday and Wednesday.The previous round of talks i

Dec. 3, 2019

Chief negotiator in defense cost-sharing talks with US departs for Washington

South Korea will strive to strike a "mutually acceptable" defense cost-sharing deal with the United States, though the allies might miss the end-of-year deadline, the top South Korean negotiator said Monday.Jeong Eun-bo, Seoul's chief negotiator for the Special Measures Agreement, made the remarks as he left for Washington to meet with his US counterpart, James DeHart of the State Department, for a fourth round of the negotiations slated for Tuesday through Wednesday (US time).The late

Dec. 2, 2019

Moon, new EU chief affirm joint efforts for Korea peace

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed in phone talks Sunday to work together to further develop ties between Seoul and the European Union and bring lasting peace to Korea, Cheong Wa Dae said.They "discussed the development of South Korea-EU relations and regional security conditions" during the phone session arranged at the request of "the European Union side," it said.The conversation came shortly after she was sworn

Dec. 1, 2019

S. Korea, US to resume defense cost-sharing talks next week after breakdown

South Korea and the United States will resume negotiations next week on sharing of the cost of stationing American troops here after their latest talks broke down due to differences over how much Seoul should pay for its share. Jeong Eun-bo, South Korea's chief negotiator for the defense cost-sharing talks, will meet with his US counterpart, James DeHart of the State Department, in Washington on Tuesday and Wednesday (US time), Seoul's foreign ministry said in a release.The previous negotiations

Nov. 29, 2019

NSC discusses strategy on defense cost talks with US

South Korea's National Security Council on Thursday discussed how to cope with pressure from the United States to sharply raise Seoul's financial burden for the presence of American troops here.In the weekly session of the NSC's standing committee, its members also reviewed the situation following South Korea's decision to suspend the efficacy of its Aug. 22 decision to terminate a pact with Japan on sharing military intelligence.They then "discussed ways to resolve pending issues between S

Nov. 28, 2019

Chinese FM to visit South Korea next week

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit South Korea next week for the first time in over five years, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday. He will visit Dec. 4-5 at the invitation of South Korean Foreign Affairs Minister Kang Kyung-wha. Kang and Wang are expected to arrange a summit between President Moon Jae-in and Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the occasion of Moon’s visit to China for a trilateral meeting with Japan and China, which will be held in Chengdu

Nov. 28, 2019

Korea, Malaysia to upgrade relations to strategic partnership

President Moon Jae-in and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad held a summit meeting in Seoul on Thursday, agreeing in principle to upgrade bilateral relations to that of strategic partners next year. At the summit, Moon praised Malaysia’s rapid economic growth and expanding South Korea-Malaysia relations, going on to express hopes for further cooperation. “Malaysia’s Look East Policy and Korea’s New Southern Policy have come together harmoniously (enabling

Nov. 28, 2019

Pentagon budget estimate suggests why Trump seeks $5b from S. Korea

WASHINGTON -- The US Defense Department has estimated it will cost nearly $4.5 billion to station troops in South Korea in fiscal year 2020, suggesting why President Donald Trump reportedly seeks $5 billion from Seoul next year.According to the Pentagon's budget estimate drawn up in March, the total payment toward military personnel, operations, maintenance and family housing in South Korea amounts to $4.46 billion in the fiscal year ending on Sept. 30, 2020.In fiscal year 2019, the number was $

Nov. 28, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea Summit] Korea, Vietnam pledge cooperation on ASEAN, global issues

President Moon Jae-in held a summit with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Seoul on Wednesday, and discussed ways to improve bilateral ties. After their meeting, three memorandums of understanding and a revised version of a treaty to prevent double taxation were signed by both sides. Moon welcomed the rapid development of South Korea-Vietnam relations and called for further strengthening cooperation. According to Seoul’s presidential office, Moon requested the Vietnam

Nov. 27, 2019

[ASEAN-Korea summit] Korea, Mekong nations seek closer ties

BUSAN -- South Korea and the five Mekong nations adopted the Mekong-Han River Declaration on Wednesday, pledging to increase cooperation. The Mekong-Han River Declaration for Establishing Partnership for People, Prosperity and Peace was adopted at the first Mekong-Korea Summit in Busan on Wednesday, following on the heels of the two-day ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit, which wrapped up Tuesday in Busan. The declaration outlines cooperation plans in seven areas -- culture and tourism, human resour

Nov. 27, 2019

Speaker Moon pushes for bill to resolve Japanese wartime forced labor issue

National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang has unveiled a new idea for resolving the issue of Japanese wartime forced labor as he pushes for a bill to create a foundation funded by companies, governments and citizens of South Korea and Japan.The move came amid expectations that Seoul and Tokyo will ramp up efforts to resolve the issue after the South decided last week to "conditionally" suspend the termination of its military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan.Parliamentary officials de

Nov. 27, 2019

UN committee adopts resolution designating clean air day

A UN committee has adopted by consensus a resolution designating a special day to promote clean air under a South Korea-led initiative for global efforts to improve air quality, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday.On Tuesday, the Second Committee of the General Assembly, which deals with economic growth and development issues, endorsed the resolution to set Sept. 7 as the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies to be observed starting next year.  South Korea launched a diplomatic

Nov. 27, 2019

Moon praises partnership with Mekong nations in summit banquet

President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook hosted a banquet dinner on Tuesday for leaders of the five Mekong River nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and their spouses on the eve of their inaugural summit. The banquet was held to mark the start of the 1st Mekong-Republic of Korea Summit slated for Wednesday in the southern port city of Busan, which follows the two-day special summit held between South Korea and the 10 ASEAN countries.  The five ASEAN leaders were

Nov. 26, 2019

Leaders of S. Korea, Myanmar hold talks on bilateral ties

The leaders of South Korea and Myanmar held bilateral talks on Tuesday and discussed ways to further boost ties in various areas including fisheries and the environment, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said.President Moon Jae-in and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi met after the closing of a special summit between South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the southern port city of Busan. The two-day event was held to mark the 30th anniversary of dialogue relations betw

Nov. 26, 2019

S. Korea, Vietnam vow to beef up trade, investment

South Korea and Vietnam agreed Tuesday to further promote bilateral trade and investment.South Korean Industry Minister Sung Yun-mo met his Vietnamese counterpart, Tran Tuan Anh, and exchanged various ideas on expanding trade of the two countries, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy.Vietnam is the third largest export partner of South Korea. The meeting came during the two-day special group summit between South Korea and the 10 member countries of ASEAN, which kicked off in

Nov. 26, 2019