Kishida to meet with chiefs of S. Korean business lobbies

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was set to meet with chiefs of major South Korean business associations Monday and discuss ways to expand bilateral cooperation in economic fields, such as global supply chains, according to industry sources. The closed-door session comes on the second day of Kishida's two-day working visit to South Korea, a highly symbolic trip that marks a start for the restoration of bilateral relations long frayed over issues rooted in Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of th

May 8, 2023

Kishida says his ‘heart aches’ but gives no apology for forced labor

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Sunday he felt heartbroken at the thought of the Korean laborers at Japanese companies during Japan’s 1910-45 rule of the Korean Peninsula, but did not directly apologize for their treatment or for forcing them into work. He was speaking following a summit with President Yoon in Seoul on Sunday at which Seoul had hoped for a potential apology from Tokyo that would directly address the colonial rights abuses. Japan has shied away from that by stick

May 7, 2023

Yoon, Kishida agree on Korean inspection of Fukushima wastewater

Leaders of South Korea and Japan agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a higher level at a summit held in Seoul Sunday, both touting that the restored "shuttle diplomacy" has brought yearslong strained relations back on track. At the summit, the second in less than two months, the two leaders agreed to allow a group of Korean experts to visit Japan to inspect the safety of contaminated water to be discharged from Fukushima nuclear reactors. “I hope that meaningful measures will be

May 7, 2023

Seoul, Tokyo restore 'shuttle diplomacy'

  The leaders of South Korea and Japan on Sunday began their second summit this year in Seoul to fully restore the two countries' "shuttle diplomacy," aiming to improve strained ties in the areas of regional security, economic partnership and cultural exchanges. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived in Seoul for a two-day working visit, less than two months after the March summit in Tokyo. He was the first Japanese leader to make a bilateral visit to Korea in 12 years afte

May 7, 2023

[Herald Interview] Tighter ties key to curbing NK, China: Japan ex-lawmaker

South Korea, the US and Japan -- countries sharing the same values, such as freedom and democracy -- have to make current three-way ties stronger if they are to counter military threats from North Korea and China. For that to take place, tighter Seoul-Tokyo ties are a priority, according to a former Japanese lawmaker. Pushing for a closer-knit coalition, Washington, the biggest ally of both Seoul and Tokyo, had called on the two neighbors to settle their disputes involving Japan’s 1910-45

May 7, 2023

Japan PM makes first bilateral visit to S. Korea in 12 years

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived in South Korea on Sunday for a summit with President Yoon Suk Yeol, marking the full-scale resumption of "shuttle diplomacy" between the two countries' leaders after 12 years. Kishida's visit comes as bilateral relations have warmed significantly following Seoul's decision in March to compensate Korean victims of Japanese wartime forced labor without contributions from Japanese firms. Yoon traveled to Tokyo 10 days after the

May 7, 2023

Japanese PM set to arrive in S. Korea for summit with Yoon

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to arrive in South Korea on Sunday for a summit with President Yoon Suk Yeol, marking the full-scale resumption of "shuttle diplomacy" between the two countries' leaders after 12 years. Kishida's visit comes as bilateral relations have warmed significantly following Seoul's decision in March to compensate Korean victims of Japanese wartime forced labor without contributions from Japanese firms. Yoon traveled to Tokyo 10 days a

May 7, 2023

Prime Minister Han meets with Britain's deputy prime minister in London

South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has met with Britain's new Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden during his visit to the country to attend King Charles III's coronation. During the 40-minute meeting at the British government's central office building in London on Friday, the two leaders discussed strengthening cooperation in the fields of economic security, nuclear power and renewable energy, and raised the need to start negotiations on a free trade agreement between the

May 6, 2023

Washington Declaration goes beyond 'nuclear-sharing': US official

The recent agreement reached by South Korea and the United States on enhancing US extended deterrence is a historic step that goes beyond "nuclear-sharing," a US administration official told Yonhap News Agency on Friday. The remark follows some ambiguity over whether the agreement, dubbed the Washington Declaration, is a nuclear-sharing agreement. "The declaration moves beyond what could be characterized as nuclear sharing ... to address the more fundamental goal of developing a j

May 6, 2023

S. Korean Embassy in China lodges complaint with newspapers over Yoon criticism

The South Korean Embassy in China said Friday it has lodged a complaint with Chinese state newspapers for their "unfounded" criticism of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, following his recent trip to the United States, taking particular umbrage at the use of inappropriate language in their op-ed pieces. The embassy said it sent letters to editors at Huanqiu Shibao, a newspaper under the auspices of the Chinese Communist Party's flagship paper, the People's Daily, and at t

May 6, 2023

PM Han arrives in London for King Charles III's coronation

LONDON -- Prime Minister Han Duck-soo arrived in London on Thursday to attend King Charles III's coronation as part of a weeklong trip to Europe that also includes stops in Sweden, Austria and Romania. Han is scheduled to attend the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey on Saturday and meet with leaders from various countries to ask for their support for Seoul's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in the southeastern port city of Busan, Han's office said. Han is also scheduled to a

May 5, 2023

Yoon's visit opens new chapter for S. Korea-US alliance: Amb. Cho

WASHINGTON -- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's recent visit to the United States has opened a new chapter for the 70-year-old alliance, Seoul's top envoy to the US said Thursday. South Korea's ambassador to the US Cho Hyun-dong also insisted that the countries have upgraded their mutual defense treaty signed in 1953. "I think the state visit by President Yoon, I'd say, opened a new chapter for the 70-year-old alliance toward a greater and brighter future of the all

May 5, 2023

British embassy celebrates King Charles III's coronation in Seoul

The British Ambassador to Korea Colin Crooks hosted a reception to celebrate the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between South Korea and Britain, as well as the coronation of Britain's King Charles III at the British Embassy in Seoul on Wednesday. During the event, Crooks expressed gratitude to the visiting guests and highlighted the long-standing ties of the two nations, expressing optimism for a bright future of cooperation. Crooks was particularly grateful for

May 4, 2023

PM Han to depart for Britain for King Charles III's coronation on 4-nation European trip

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was set to depart for Britain on Thursday for King Charles III's coronation as part of a weeklong trip to Europe that also includes stops in Sweden, Austria and Romania. Han will first stop in London, where he will attend the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, and meet with leaders from various countries to ask for their support for Seoul's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in the southeastern port city of Busan, Han's office said Han w

May 4, 2023

US working with S. Korea, Japan to address N. Korea's human rights violations

WASHINGTON -- The United States is working closely with South Korea and Japan to address human rights violations committed by North Korea, including the abduction of foreign nationals, a state department spokesperson said Wednesday. The remarks came as Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman was set to meet with a group of Japanese officials and representatives of the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea. "The entirety of this department, including Deputy Secretary Sh

May 4, 2023

Germany raids Russian's superyacht in sanctions probe

BERLIN (AP) — German authorities raided a luxury yacht belonging to a wealthy Russian businessman as part of a probe into possible breaches of Western sanctions imposed over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, officials said Wednesday. Specialists from the German navy and federal and state police took part in the search of the superyacht at an undisclosed shipyard in northern Germany, Frankfurt prosecutors said in a statement. The ship belongs to a 67-year-old Russian businessman, whose n

May 3, 2023

Yoon voices hope for deeper S. Korea-Japan friendship

President Yoon Suk Yeol voiced hope Wednesday for deeper friendship and cooperation between South Korea and Japan as he prepares to hold a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida this weekend, his office said. Yoon conveyed the wish during a meeting with Takeo Akiba, secretary general of Japan's National Security Secretariat, at his office, days before Kishida arrives in Seoul for a summit with Yoon on Sunday. "The president stressed that South Korea and Japan, as partners pu

May 3, 2023

[From the Scene] Uzbeks pin hopes for 'New Uzbekistan' on constitutional referendum

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan -- Nargiza Kamalova, 23, believes the constitutional referendum held Sunday will build a foundation for a "New Uzbekistan," a prosperous country with a stable economy and a better social safety net. "A referendum will help our country prosper," said Kamalova, who was on election duty on Sunday at polling station no. 747. "It will help Uzbekistan achieve a bright future." O'tkir, 42, said he was voting for the future of his child. "I am

May 3, 2023

S. Korea pushing to resume regular talks with Japan, China: official

The Yoon Suk Yeol administration is working to restart regular three-way talks involving Japan and China, preferably before the end of the year, according to a senior Foreign Ministry official in Seoul with direct knowledge of the matter on Wednesday. South Korea, this year’s host, is making preparations, the official said, adding however it is still too early to narrow down potential dates for the summit, which will bring together President Yoon and his Japanese and Chinese counterparts f

May 3, 2023

Seoul dismisses Tokyo's 'unfair' territorial claim over Dokdo after Japanese protest

South Korea's foreign ministry has dismissed a protest from Japan over a Seoul lawmaker's recent visit to the country's easternmost islets of Dokdo, a ministry official said Wednesday. According to Kyodo News on Tuesday, the Japanese foreign ministry lodged the protest to Seoul over the visit by Rep. Jeon Yong-gi of the main opposition Democratic Party to Dokdo on the same day. A senior Seoul foreign ministry official said the government "dismissed the unfair claim from Japan

May 3, 2023