S. Korea, Japan to hold finance ministerial meeting this week in Tokyo

South Korea and Japan plan to hold a financial ministerial meeting this week to discuss bilateral economic ties, the finance ministry said Tuesday. Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho will meet with his Japanese counterpart, Shunichi Suzuki, in Tokyo on Thursday, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The upcoming meeting marks the first of its kind since 2016. The two had agreed to resume the long-stalled finance ministers' meeting on the sidelines of the 56th Annual Meeting of the B

June 27, 2023

S. Korea to 'participate actively' in building infrastructure for mineral resources in Mongolia: vice FM

South Korea and Mongolia have agreed to boost cooperation in global supply chains, especially in mineral resources, Seoul's foreign ministry said. On Monday, Vice Foreign Minister Lee Do-hoon met Mongolia's Chief Cabinet Secretary Dashzegve Amarbayasgalan at the seventh meeting of the South Korea-Mongolia Joint Committee, a regular high-level comprehensive consultative body, in the Mongolian capital. Stressing the importance of maintaining close partnership amid unstable supply chains

June 27, 2023

Assembly speaker expresses gratitude to Korean War veterans in New Zealand

South Korean National Assembly speaker Kim Jin-pyo met with New Zealand veterans of the Korean War during a visit to Auckland and expressed gratitude for their sacrifices, his office said Tuesday. During the meeting held at a hotel, Kim noted that more than 6,000 New Zealanders fought alongside South Korea during the 1950-53 war when New Zealand's population was less than 2 million and the two countries had no diplomatic relations. "South Korea will continue to strive for world peace a

June 27, 2023

First Lady says she hopes to be 'K-culture salesperson'

First Lady Kim Keon Hee has said she hopes to be a "K-culture salesperson" promoting Korean culture and art overseas, according to a recent interview with a US media outlet. In the written interview with Artnet News, an online art journal, published Monday, Kim also said she believes she can serve as a cultural bridge between South Korea and the United States, citing her experience organizing major exhibitions of artists, such as Mark Rothko, and discussions she had while accompanying

June 27, 2023

[Herald Interview] Wine popularity among Koreans, opportunity for Georgia: deputy minister

The growing popularity of wine among young Koreans is a promising opportunity for Georgia, Yuri Nozadze, Georgian deputy minister of environmental protection and agriculture, told The Korea Herald on Friday. Nozadze was in Seoul last week to attend the Seoul International Wines & Spirits Expo 2023, where 14 Georgian wine producers showcased their extensive range of wines. The expo engaged Korean consumers through wine tastings and establishing potential partnerships, Nozadze said expressing

June 26, 2023

'Majlis’ invite Seoulites to experience Arabic culture

An Arabian Days and Nights event in Seoul is inviting Seoulites to take a seat at their 'majlis' and relax with some Arabic culture. Co-hosted by the Korea-Arab Society, the Embassy of Qatar, and Hyundai Department Store's Trade Center Store, Arabian Days and Nights showcases highlights of Arabic culture. Translating roughly as "sitting room" majlis are areas for entertaining guests and are included on UNESCO's intangible world heritage list. Mosque lamps and carpet

June 26, 2023

Korea, Vietnam forge stronger economic ties during Yoon’s visit

President Yoon Suk Yeol concluded his state visit to Vietnam, solidifying economic cooperation between the two nations and ushering in a new era of forward-looking collaboration. Accompanied by a 205-member business delegation, President Yoon observed the signing of 111 memoranda of understanding between business leaders of the two countries as well as trade consultations made for some 100 companies. Calling it a significant development in bilateral trade, Yoon's visit has set the stage for

June 25, 2023

Yoon, Thuong pledge to strengthen bilateral ties at state dinner

President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is on a state visit to Vietnam, attended a state dinner hosted by Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong on Friday, expressing his hopes for stronger friendship and vowing to increase investment in the nation. "We must continue to increase investment and support for future generations of both countries for prosperity for the next 100 years,” Yoon said at the dinner held at the International Convention Center in Hanoi, on the second day of Yoon's three-day

June 24, 2023

US continues to urge China to act on N. Korea with broader, longer view: Kirby

The United States continues to urge China to use its influence over North Korea to stop the North's illegal weapons development programs, a White House official said Friday. John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, also suggested that the North's weapons programs would eventually hurt China's own interests down the road. "We know that Beijing has influence in Pyongyang and we continue to urge them to use that influence. We continue to ur

June 24, 2023

Blinken calls S. Korean foreign minister to explain his trip to China

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has spoken with his South Korean counterpart to explain the outcome of his recent trip to China, a state department spokesperson said Friday. Blinken also reaffirmed US commitment to the South Korea-US alliance in his call with South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin, according to department spokesperson Matthew Miller. "The secretary updated Foreign Minister Park on his discussions with PRC officials on a wide range of bilateral, regional, and global iss

June 24, 2023

Korea, Vietnam target $150b in trade volume by 2030

President Yoon Suk Yeol and his Vietnamese counterpart, Vo Van Thuong, agreed to strengthen economic and security ties Friday, with the two nations aiming to achieve a trade volume goal of $150 billion by 2030, during a bilateral summit in Hanoi. On his second day in Vietnam, Yoon met Thuong at the Presidential Palace of Hanoi, following his morning visit to the tomb of former President Ho Chi Minh. In his opening remarks during the summit, Yoon expressed his anticipation of forging a "br

June 23, 2023

Foreign Ministry warns of China spy law

A senior Foreign Ministry official in Seoul warned South Koreans about the potential fallout from China’s latest anti-espionage law, which is set to take effect in July. “Those traveling or staying there should now take more precautions,” the official told a media briefing Thursday, referring to the fact that the law could catch Koreans off guard as new changes written into the law have widened Chinese authorities’ discretion over what constitutes espionage. Previously, t

June 23, 2023

S. Korea, US launch joint body on cybersecurity

South Korea and the United States set up a working group on cybersecurity, a follow-up on what the two allies agreed at the April summit between President Yoon Suk Yeol and his US counterpart Joe Biden, Yoon’s office said in a statement Friday. At a three-day in-person meeting in Washington that ended Thursday, senior Korean and American officials responsible for cybersecurity established a senior steering group to start responding to threats in cyberspace, according to the statement. The

June 23, 2023

'Washington Declaration' a step in right direction for Korea-US alliance: Rep. Bera

The recently signed Washington Declaration on US extended deterrence is a step in the right direction to address the nuclear threat posed by North Korea, a US lawmaker said Thursday. Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) also insisted that the bilateral agreement between the allies is a step that will help enhance their joint deterrence while respecting the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. "Do I think the Washington Declaration aligns all concerns now, that do I think it is a step in the right direction? Ce

June 23, 2023

S. Korea vows $130m Ukraine aid this year

South Korea said Thursday it will provide an additional $130 million in aid to help Ukraine recover from Russia’s invasion, at a two-day annual conference that started a day ago in London for the second time. At the Ukraine Recovery Conference, which brought together officials from 61 countries and 33 international organizations and at least 400 companies, Bang Moon-kyu, minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, said Seoul pledged a $30 million increase in its budgetary su

June 22, 2023

UN aviation organization adopts resolution condemning N. Korea's missile launches

The International Civil Aviation Organization has unanimously adopted a resolution denouncing North Korea's missile provocations, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday. The UN agency's governing body also urgently called on Pyongyang to comply strictly with the provisions of the 1944 Chicago Convention, which outlines the key principles for global aviation, at a session in Montreal, Canada, earlier this week. During the meeting, the ICAO voiced its concerns over the North's

June 22, 2023

Presidential official highlights S. Korea's pursuit of role for Indo-Pacific security

South Korea intends to "actively" contribute to building deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, a presidential security official said Thursday, amid steady efforts by Seoul and Washington to broaden their security alliance beyond the Korean Peninsula. Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Kim Tae-hyo made the remark, expressing confidence that following the allies' adoption of the Washington Declaration, South Korea will have a credible US nuclear deterrence against growing North Ko

June 22, 2023

S. Korea, US stress China role in N. Korea disarmament

South Korea and the United States said Wednesday the two allies will continue openly calling on China to back their efforts to denuclearize North Korea, following Washington’s briefing in Seoul about its latest talks with Beijing. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed Monday to stabilize their relations to prevent further conflict, during Blinken’s two-day trip to Beijing that started a day earlier. Such a meeting last took place five years ago.

June 21, 2023

Yoon proposes UN body to set up digital norms

PARIS -- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday proposed to create an organization under the United Nations to establish norms for digital order, highlighting the paradox wherein new digital technologies enhance people's lives with convenience while simultaneously posing threats to human freedom. At the Paris Digital Vision Forum held at Sorbonne University, Yoon proposed the idea dubbed the "Paris Initiative," stressing the significant role of digital technologies --

June 21, 2023

US defense commitment to allies will not be shaken by N. Korean provocation: Pentagon

The United States' commitment to the defense and security of its allies remains strong and will not be shaken by military provocations staged by North Korea, a Pentagon spokesperson said Tuesday. Sabrina Singh, deputy spokesperson for the Department of Defense, also reiterated that North Korea's missile launches, as well as claimed satellite launches, are in clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions when asked about Pyongyang's recent failed attempt to launch

June 21, 2023