S. Korea, China to toughen crackdown on illegal fishing in East Sea

South Korea and China have agreed to boost cooperation in curbing illegal fishing by Chinese boats in the East Sea, the oceans ministry said Wednesday. Under an agreement reached during a three-day working-level meeting last week, South Korea will swiftly inform China of suspected illegal fishing in the North Korean waters in the East Sea, and China must let South Korea know of the results of its investigation and follow-up measures, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. China has b

June 14, 2023

China envoy remarks inaccurate: ministry

The Chinese ambassador to South Korea “intentionally” criticized South Korea’s foreign policy using “inaccurate information,” the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said Tuesday, openly rebuking the top envoy over his remarks that heightened tension between Seoul and Beijing. “We are not faulting the ambassador for meeting with our opposition leader,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said at a briefing, referring to a meeting last week between Ambassador

June 13, 2023

Nuclear envoys vow to sever North Korea funds

South Korea’s chief nuclear envoy, Kim Gunn, and his US counterpart, Sung Kim, reaffirmed their commitment to respond sternly to North Korea’s aggression, including blocking illicit funds from bankrolling North Korea’s weapons programs. “We have agreed to step up our efforts to cut off funds to the North’s nuclear and missile programs,” Kim Gunn said of his meeting with the US special representative in Washington. The North is refusing to comply with internati

June 13, 2023

Growing bilateral cooperation highlighted on Sweden Day

The Swedish Embassy highlighted the growing bilateral cooperation between the European country with Korea as it celebrated Sweden Day 2023 on Friday. Sweden Day, a national holiday, is observed on June 6. This year marks a double jubilee celebration for Sweden. It commemorates 500 years of independence since the election of King Gustav Vasa in 1523 and the 50th year on the throne for Carl XVI Gustaf, Sweden’s current and longest-reigning monarch. Delivering remarks at the event, Swedish Am

June 13, 2023

Philippines celebrates 125th Independence Day

Philippines commemorated its 125th Independence Day in Seoul on Thursday. Under the theme of "Kalayaan. Kinabukasan. Kasaysayan," meaning freedom, future, and history, Philippines Ambassador Dizon-De Vega remembered the sacrifice of freedom fighters and highlighted her country’s journey of navigating the complexities of the present and future. Vega also expressed appreciation for Korea's Indo-Pacific strategy and the Korea-ASEAN strategic initiative, considering them as valu

June 13, 2023

[Herald Interview]Korea’s tech, Indonesia’s resources can propel EVs: ASEAN biz chief

Korea's manufacturing capabilities and Indonesia's natural resources can pave the way for a competitive supply chain for electric vehicles, ASEAN Business Advisory Council Chair Arsjad Rasjid, said in an interview with The Korea Herald on Thursday. "Korean companies will be able to help (ASEAN) for capacity building in EV ecosystems. Korea can give us policy suggestions, and ASEAN BAC can discuss (these) with ASEAN leaders," said Rasjid. Rasjid was in Seoul last week to attra

June 13, 2023

S. Korea has right to make any foreign policy decision it sees appropriate: White House

South Korea is a sovereign nation that has the right to make its own foreign policy decisions, a ranking White House official said Monday. John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, made the remark about the Chinese Ambassador to South Korea, Xing Haiming, who argued that it would be wrong to bet on China's loss in its competition with the US, apparently accusing South Korea of siding with the US. Kirby noted that the Chinese diplomat may have been seeki

June 13, 2023

22 S. Korean nationals wounded in bus accident near Hanoi

A tour bus fell off from a road near Hanoi in Vietnam on Sunday, leaving 22 South Korean nationals injured, the South Korean Embassy in Vietnam said. The bus carrying 30 passengers, including 22 Korean nationals, slipped from a road near Hanoi at around 11:30 a.m. while returning from a group tour to Xuan Son National Park, the embassy said. All of the Korean nationals suffered injuries, while three of them were seriously wounded, it noted. They were sent to a nearby hospital for treatment. Viet

June 12, 2023

S. Korea, US nuclear envoys to discuss NK

South Korea’s chief nuclear envoy, Kim Gunn, and his US counterpart, Sung Kim, will meet in Washington on Monday to review joint work on disarming North Korea, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said in a statement Friday, amid heightened inter-Korean tensions. Last week, Pyongyang failed to put into orbit what it claimed was a military reconnaissance satellite, a launch that some believe was actually meant to test a ballistic missile. United Nations Security Council resolutions ban the isolate

June 9, 2023

S. Korean, US special operations generals stage 'friendship' parachute jump

The top South Korean and American special operations commanders conducted a "friendship" parachute jump earlier this week, a U.S. military unit here said Thursday, as the two countries mark the 70th anniversary of their alliance. In a Facebook post, the US Special Operations Command-Korea said that South Korea's Special Warfare Command Commander Lieut. Gen. Son Sik and SOCKOR Commander Major Gen. Michael E. Martin staged a high altitude low opening (HALO) freefall on Monday. It

June 8, 2023

First Vice FM meets Russian counterpart in Moscow, discusses regional security

First Vice Foreign Minister Chang Ho-jin, a former ambassador to Russia, has met high-level officials in Moscow to bid his farewell and discuss bilateral ties, the foreign ministry here said Thursday. Chang, who served as ambassador until early April, is on a two-day trip to Moscow to bid a formal goodbye to Russian officials as he took over as vice minister while visiting Seoul for a conference of diplomatic mission chiefs following a sudden shake-up in the presidential office. On Wednesday, Ch

June 8, 2023

Seoul, Washington anticipated to hold first NCG meeting in summer

The first meeting of the Nuclear Consultative Group, aimed at enhancing Korea's influence in the US' strategy of extended deterrence, is expected to take place sometimes "in the summer," according to the presidential office on Wednesday, without providing an exact timeline. A high-ranking official from the presidential office told reporters that the two countries have reached an agreement to “launch the NCG within this year” and to pay intensive attention to &ld

June 7, 2023

Israeli foreign minister visits Korea for trade cooperation

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen visited Seoul to exchange views on furthering bilateral cooperations with his counterparts. It was the first time for the foreign minister to visit South Korea in 11 years, according to the Israeli Embassy in Korea on Wednesday. On the second day of the two-day visit, he met his South Korean counterpart Park Jin to discuss ways to expand cooperation in trade, science, technology, startups and culture, South Korean foreign ministry said. They also exchanged view

June 7, 2023

S. Korea eyes bigger initiative as it returns to UN Security Council

South Korea is stepping up efforts to lead global peace initiatives, emboldened by winning a two-year term on the United Nations Security Council at an election Tuesday, as it doubles down on fighting security challenges -- the biggest of which is North Korea. Beginning in January next year, Seoul will serve as one of the 10 nonpermanent members of the UN’s most powerful body, which also includes five permanent members with veto power: China, France, Russia, the UK and US. The annual elect

June 7, 2023

S. Korea seeks to win major energy, industry projects in Azerbaijan

South Korea asked for Azerbaijan's support Wednesday for its companies seeking to take part in major energy and other industry projects in the European nation, the industry ministry said. Deputy Trade Minister Jeong Dae-jin made the request during their joint economic commission meeting in Seoul on the day, as the two nations explored ways to enhance bilateral economic and industry cooperation, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. South Korean companies are pushing to pa

June 7, 2023

Netflix co-CEO to visit S. Korea this month: sources

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos plans to visit South Korea later this month to meet with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and other key officials, sources said Wednesday. Sarandos is expected to visit the country for two days from June 20, about two months after the US streaming service announced plans to invest $2.5 billion in South Korea following a meeting between the co-CEO and President Yoon Suk Yeol in Washington in April. The two are unlikely to meet again in Seoul due to scheduling issues. Sarand

June 7, 2023

S. Korea seeks to win UN Security Council seat

NEW YORK -- South Korean diplomats on Monday made their final pitch for Seoul's bid for a nonpermanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. South Korea, which last sat on the council in 2013-2014, aims to return to the council for 2024-2025, and the UN will vote on the bid on Tuesday. If elected, it will mark the third time for South Korea to serve as one of the 10 nonpermanent UNSC members. Previously, South Korea had served the seat during the 1996-1997 term. South Korea hopes to retur

June 6, 2023

Indian Embassy celebrates International Day of Yoga

The Indian Embassy in Seoul held an event Monday to promote the International Day of Yoga on June 21, highlighting the exercise's role in uniting the mind, body, thought and action. The International Day of Yoga was designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014, following a proposal by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. "Yoga is a way to discover a sense of oneness with yourself, the world, and nature," Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar said at the event.

June 5, 2023

Assembly speaker expresses condolences over rail disaster in India

National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo expressed his condolences over a deadly train accident in India in a letter to the country's speaker of the lower house, his office said Sunday. "I hope that the Indian parliament, government and people come together to swiftly deal with the accident, and that the people who have suffered and all Indian people recover from the shock and resume their peaceful daily life as soon as possible," Kim said in the message to Om Birla, speaker of India

June 4, 2023

S. Korea eyes UN seat as NK rebukes UN body

South Korea is preparing to play a bigger role on the international stage as it aims to secure a seat on the United Nations Security Council at an election Tuesday, an opportunity for Seoul to serve as a two-year term member on the UN’s most powerful body. Running unopposed, the South is expected to get approval from two-thirds of the General Assembly, ending the country’s 10-year hiatus from the 15-member body that includes five permanent members with veto power: the US, UK, France,

June 4, 2023