S. Korean envoy discusses upcoming Africa summit, climate change with Algerian officials

South Korea's envoy for climate met with top government officials in Algeria earlier this week and discussed an upcoming summit with African nations and other environmental issues, the foreign ministry said Thursday. Kim Hyo-eun, ambassador and deputy foreign minister on climate change, met with Lounes Magramane, the secretary general of Algeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad, on Wednesday. Kim invited Algeria to the South Korea-Africa summit, set for June

April 18, 2024

Senior trade officials from S. Korea, US discuss 3-way talks with Japan

Senior trade officials from South Korea and the United States discussed preparations for the upcoming three-way talks of industry chiefs with Japan, Seoul's industry ministry said Thursday. The discussion was made as Deputy Minister for Trade Yang Byeong-nae met with officials from the US Department of Commerce and the Office of the US Trade Representative during his three-day visit to Washington this week, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Seoul and Washington also d

April 18, 2024

President of Equatorial Guinea to attend 1st Korea-Africa summit

The President of Equatorial Guinea will attend the first-ever South Korea-Africa summit from June 4 to 5, acknowledging the commitment of the Yoon Suk Yeol government to strengthening cooperation with African countries, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul announced Wednesday. The announcement followed talks between South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and his Equatorial Guinean counterpart Simeon Oyono Esono Angue in Seoul on the same day. "Both sides engaged in discussions on matters of mut

April 17, 2024

Russia, China efforts won't halt new NK sanctions monitoring: US envoy

The United States and its allied countries will ultimately develop an alternative mechanism to replace the soon-to-be-dissolved UN panel of experts tasked with monitoring sanctions on North Korea, said the US ambassador to the United Nations on Wednesday in response to Russia's recent exercise of veto rights on the matter at the UN Security Council. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield highlighted that the initiative will proceed independently, regardless of the cooperation and agreement of C

April 17, 2024

[Bridge to Africa] Rwanda, financial gateway to Africa

Rwandan Ambassador to Korea Bakuramutsa Nkubito Manzi said the African country can serve as a swift and safe financial gateway for Korean companies to enter Africa. Noting similarities between Korea and his country's history, systems and culture, Manzi underscored Rwanda's transformation from a war-torn country to a potential economic powerhouse. “We've gone from chaos; it was the Korean War here in Korea, it was the genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda that leveled the cou

April 17, 2024

UAE highlights unity, tolerance in Seoul

United Arab Emirates Embassy in Seoul said it hosted an event under the theme of unity and tolerance on March 31. "In the United Arab Emirates, we celebrate not only the breaking of the fast but also the breaking down of barriers -- barriers of race, color and ethnicity," said UAE Ambassador to Korea Abdulla Saif Al Nuaimi. "Here, amidst our diverse cultures, languages and traditions, we embrace the essence of tolerance that defines our nation," Al Nuaimi added. According to

April 17, 2024

Bangladesh marks 53rd Independence Day

Bangladesh commemorated its 53rd Independence Day in Seoul on Monday. The day serves as a reminder of a nine-month-long liberation war, a period etched in the annals of Bangladesh's history. Paying homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladeshi Ambassador to South Korea Delwar Hossain thanked countries across the globe for their solidarity during the nation's liberation struggle. "I pay tribute to the brilliant freedom fighters and three million martyrs who made the supr

April 17, 2024

US 'incredibly concerned' about suspected NK-Iran military ties

The United States is "incredibly concerned" about long-suspected military cooperation between North Korea and Iran, a State Department spokesperson said Tuesday. Matthew Miller, the spokesperson, made the remarks in response to a question about whether America has concerns about Iran working with Pyongyang on nuclear and ballistic missile programs. "Certainly, that's something we've been incredibly concerned about," Miller told a press briefing. Having established diplomatic

April 17, 2024

Vice FM, ICAO chief share concerns over N. Korean missile launches

Second Vice Foreign Minister Kang In-sun held talks with the chief of a United Nations agency on international civil aviation to discuss ways to strengthen their partnership, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. Kang met with Juan Carlos Salazar, secretary-general of the International Civil Aviation Organization, to share concerns over North Korea's missile launches and explore ways to enhance cooperation. During the meeting, Kang said North Korea's missile and spy satellite launches pos

April 16, 2024

S. Korea, Australia hold vice-ministerial talks on Indo-Pacific strategy, bilateral ties

Senior diplomats of South Korea and Australia held talks in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss joint efforts to boost bilateral cooperation in their Indo-Pacific strategies and a wide range of issues, the foreign ministry said. Deputy Foreign Minister Chung Byung-won met with his Australian counterpart, Elly Lawson, deputy secretary of the Strategic Planning and Coordination Group at the Australian foreign ministry, Seoul's ministry said. The two sides shared the view that their bilateral ties a

April 16, 2024

US envoy to UN warns China, Russia not to hide NK's 'bad behavior'

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, on Tuesday delivered a concise yet stern message to China and Russia not to hide and reward North Korea's bad behavior. She also urged Pyongyang to "say yes" to Washington's repeated calls for dialogue without preconditions. "Hiding the truth does not change it. Rewarding bad behavior only encourages it," Thomas-Greenfield conveyed pointed admonition to China and Russia during her visit to

April 16, 2024

S. Korea ‘strongly’ protests Japan’s claim over Dokdo in diplomatic bluebook

South Korea's Foreign Ministry lodged a strong protest Tuesday against Japan's renewed assertion of its unjust sovereignty claim over Dokdo, the easternmost sovereign islets of South Korea, in its annual report on diplomatic policy. A Japanese diplomat was also summoned by the Foreign Ministry less than two hours after the ministry's spokesperson, Lim Soo-suk, issued a formal denunciation. "The government strongly protests against the Japanese government's repeated inclu

April 16, 2024

S. Korea to provide $12m to conflict-ridden Sudan

South Korea will provide $12 million in humanitarian assistance to Sudan and the neighboring countries struggling with a yearlong conflict between rival military factions, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. Choi Jai-chul, South Korean Ambassador to France, announced the plan Monday (local time) during an international humanitarian conference in Paris, as he voiced concerns over the worsening situation in Khartoum. "Our government will continue to join international efforts to assist countri

April 16, 2024

Kim Jae-shin appointed ASEAN-Korea Center secretary-general

Kim Jae-shin has been appointed as the sixth secretary-general of the ASEAN-Korea Center. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations and South Korea are preparing to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the ASEAN-Korea Center and 35 years of ASEAN-Korea dialogue this year. The year holds special significance for the relationship, as ASEAN-Korea relations are to be upgraded to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" at the ASEAN-ROK Summit to be held in the second half of this year, the

April 16, 2024

Yoon discusses Mideast tensions, NK issues with US envoy

President Yoon Suk Yeol held talks with the top US envoy to the United Nations on Monday to discuss issues ranging from tensions in the Middle East to UN sanctions against North Korea, his office said. Yoon's meeting with Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield took place at the presidential office as part of her four-day trip to South Korea that also involved talks with the foreign and defense ministers. The two called for joint efforts to help resolve the Mideast crisis and extend comprehensiv

April 15, 2024

US envoy, FM Cho discuss ways to build new mechanism for NK sanctions monitoring

The top US envoy to the United Nations and Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul discussed ways to build a new mechanism for monitoring the enforcement of UN sanctions on North Korea, Cho's office said Monday, after Russia vetoed a resolution meant to renew the monitoring mandate. The meeting between Cho and Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield came amid growing concerns that Moscow's rejection to extend the mandate for the UN Panel of Experts on North Korean sanctions could undermine internation

April 15, 2024

S. Korea issues special travel advisory for Iran amid Middle East tensions

South Korea's Foreign Ministry issued a special travel advisory for Iran, effective as of Monday, in response to the escalating tensions in the Middle East. The special travel advisory is equivalent to a travel alert level 3 within the 4-stage travel alert system, or a red alert, which advises nationals to leave the designated area unless it's an emergency and to postpone or cancel planned trips to the area. While the previous level 3 alert for specific regions of Iran remains unchange

April 15, 2024

US envoy to UN to meet S. Korea's defense chief in Seoul

The top US envoy to the United Nations will meet with South Korea's defense chief Monday as part of her trip to Seoul this week for talks to boost bilateral cooperation amid North Korean threats. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield arrived in the country Sunday for a four-day visit, with plans to meet senior South Korean officials, including Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, to discuss cooperation in the UN Security Council. The visit comes after Russia last month vetoed the UN's annual re

April 15, 2024

S. Korea 'strongly condemns' Iran's attack on Israel

The South Korean government issued a statement Sunday denouncing Iran's direct drone and missile attack on Israeli territory late Saturday, urging all involved parties to exercise restraint. "The government strongly condemns Iran's massive attack on Israel that took place on April 13 local time," read the statement issued under the name of a spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry in Seoul. "The government is closely monitoring the situation with grave concerns and urges al

April 14, 2024

US ambassador to UN set to arrive in S. Korea

The top US envoy to the United Nations will visit South Korea on Sunday for engagements to advance bilateral and trilateral cooperation on North Korean threats and other issues. During her four-day stay in South Korea, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield plans to meet senior Seoul officials to discuss ways to step up cooperation in the UN Security Council. The ambassador's visit comes after Russia last month vetoed the UN's annual renewal of an expert panel monitoring the North's c

April 14, 2024