China on Monday raised pressure on South Korea to oppose the U.S.’ possible deployment of an advanced missile defense asset to Korea and be a founding member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, putting Seoul in a tricky diplomatic position.Visiting Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jianchao urged Seoul to respect Beijing’s “attention to and concerns” over Washington’s possible dispatch of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system here, which Beijing argues could threaten its s

March 16, 2015

South Korea's new point man on North Korea pledged Monday to make every effort to pave the way for a peaceful reunification by exerting flexibility if needed for dialogue. Minister of Hong Yong-pyo gives his inauguration speech in Seoul on Monday. (Yonhap)Being sworn in as the unification minister, Hong Yong-pyo said he will improve the Korean Peninsula Trust-Building Process despite Pyongyang's disapproval of the Park Geun-hye administration's trademark policy on the communist neighbor.  "Dialo

March 16, 2015

South Korea's deputy foreign minister met with his Chinese counterpart in Seoul on Monday to discuss North Korea's nuclear program and bilateral issues, the foreign ministry said.  The meeting between South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Lee Kyung-soo and Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Jianchao came amid a simmering Washington-Beijing row over an advanced U.S. missile-defense system and a China-led Asian development bank.   Liu, who arrived in Seoul on Su

March 16, 2015

New British Ambassador to Korea Charles Hay will combine a comprehensive approach to diplomacy with an earnest study of Korean culture, he told reporters during a press conference last week. Speaking to journalists at the embassy’s residence in Seoul, the United Kingdom’s top envoy to Korea expressed his full support for the evolving alliance between Britain and Korea. “Britain and Korea established diplomatic relations 132 years ago and it would be safe to say that our relations have never been

March 15, 2015

Germany’s leading health care companies participated in the 2015 Korea International Medical and Hospital Equipment Show earlier this month in Seoul, laying the groundwork for joint ventures and research innovation with Korean partners. Fifteen German firms producing specialized medical equipment took part in the 31st convention at Coex in southern Seoul from March 5-8 to showcase their products and services in consultations, clinical examinations, radiology, dentistry, surgery, physiotherapy, m

March 15, 2015

Building the blood-sealed relationship forged during the Korean War, Colombia and Korea marked a milestone of future defense cooperation with Colombia’s top military official visiting Korea last week. Colombian Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon visited for a three-day trip to meet Korean counterpart Han Min-koo and sign a memorandum of understanding geared at joint exercises, training exchange, intelligence sharing and humanitarian relief. With progress in the peace process launched in 2012 to

March 15, 2015

The Tunisian Embassy hosted an exhibition showing prints of the country’s traditional mosaic and handicraft masterpieces at the Korea Foundation Gallery in Seoul from March 4-12. Showcasing patterns of mosaics, ceramics, carpets and jewelry covering 1,800 years of history, the exhibition displayed the cultural mosaic of Tunisian life formed by Carthaginian, Byzantine, Roman, Arabic and Ottoman civilizations.“The idea was to combine and show Tunisia’s two main cultural heritages of mosaics and ha

March 15, 2015

U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert said Saturday he plans to return to work later next week after an attack by a South Korean extremist, expressing gratitude to people here for support. (Yonhap)The top envoy to Seoul has been recovering from wounds on his face and wrist after being slashed by the man during a breakfast forum in Seoul last week. The  assailant said he did so in opposition to the Seoul-Washington joint military exercises."Thanks for all of the friendship and support! Mean

March 14, 2015

Korea’s former ambassador to Indonesia Kim Young-sun will take the helm at the ASEAN-Korea Center on Friday, vowing support for the region’s political, economic and social integration. Kim Young-sunThe 60-year-old career diplomat succeeds Chung Hae-moon and will serve for three years as the agency’s third secretary-general. Kim called 2015 a “momentous year” as the 10-member coalition gears up to introduce the ASEAN Economic Community for greater security, economic and sociocultural integration.

March 13, 2015

The U.S. has carried out a site survey for a possible stationing of its advanced missile defense asset, the U.S. Forces Korea said Thursday, adding that no final decision had been made on the deployment. The monthslong study is believed to have taken place early last year at five sites including Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province; Wonju, Gangwon Province; and Busan. The statement was the U.S. military’s first official confirmation of the survey. The Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system would he

March 12, 2015

Korea stepped up pressure on Japan to resolve the issue of its sexual enslavement of Asian women during World War II at the U.N. on Monday, as bilateral negotiations continue to make little headway. At the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women, Gender Equality and Family Minister Kim Hee-jung tacitly urged Tokyo to face up to history and resolve the issue in line with its commitment to tackling violence against women. It was the first time for Seoul to raise the issue at the panel. “I am encour

March 10, 2015

President Park Geun-hye on Monday visited U.S Ambassador Mark Lippert, who was attacked by a radical activist last week, immediately upon her return from the Middle East tour and wished him a swift recovery while pledging a more robust alliance.Park’s visit topped throngs of calls made by Seoul’s high-level officials and politicians, as various religious and civic groups continued to hold rallies and events to send well-wishes to the ambassador who suffered deep cuts to his face and left hand.Du

March 9, 2015