US calls on China to implement UNSC resolutions on N. Korea to prevent further escalation

WASHINGTON-- All United Nations member countries, including China and Russia, must fully implement UN Security Council resolutions on North Korea to prevent Pyongyang from further escalating tension, a state department spokesperson reiterated Tuesday. State Department Press Secretary Ned Price also highlighted that the Security Council resolutions in place had been passed unanimously by council members, including both China and Russia. "There's only one reason why a UN Security Counc

Dec. 7, 2022

Envoys call for Seoul-Tokyo thaw to counter NK threats

South Korea and Japan need to step up efforts to advance their ties to better counter growing missile threats from North Korea, according to the top envoys from Seoul and Tokyo. The two Asian neighbors are still locked in longtime historical disputes, the latest of which involves compensating Koreans forced to work for Japanese companies during World War II. The unprecedented frequency of Pyongyang’s missile launches this year, however, are forcing Seoul and Tokyo to put their differences

Dec. 6, 2022

Vietnam's investment minister pledges to bolster business ties with South Korea

Vietnam’s Planning and Investment Minister Nguyen Chi Dung on Monday renewed the Southeast Asian country's commitment to bolstering business ties with South Korea in a range of areas from construction to medical care. “Despite the struggling global economy and dim outlook for next year, Vietnam is one of the best countries for investment, mostly driven by a stable political and economic environment, rapid growth rate and resilient workforce,” said the minister during a lunche

Dec. 6, 2022

Biz leaders of S. Korea, Vietnam discuss cooperation in green energy transition

Business leaders of South Korea and Vietnam on Tuesday discussed efforts to deepen bilateral economic cooperation in new areas such as a transition to green energy, in a step toward carbon neutrality and sustainable growth. The business forum, hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, took place a day after the summit between President Yoon Suk-yeol and Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, during which they agreed to elevate the relations to a "comprehensive, strategic partn

Dec. 6, 2022

S. Korea, Japan cooperation critical to dealing with N. Korea, economic challenges: envoys

WASHINGTON-- South Korea and Japan must work closely together bilaterally and also trilaterally with the United States to deal with the various challenges at hand such as North Korean provocations and supply chain resiliency, the countries' top envoys in the US said Monday. South Korean Ambassador to the US Cho Tae-yong said the Seoul government stands ready to strengthen its cooperation with the US and Japan. Cho highlighted the importance of trilateral cooperation between the US, Japan

Dec. 6, 2022

[Herald Interview] Vietnam wants S. Korea’s help to upgrade economy: top envoy

South Korea -- the biggest investor in the Vietnamese economy -- is well positioned to provide key support for Hanoi to be part of global supply chains, Vietnam’s foreign minister said Monday. “Vietnam welcomes and encourages Korean firms to make new investments or expand existing ventures in Vietnam … We look forward to receiving the Republic of Korea’s assistance to be part of the global value chains of Korean corporation,” the minister, Bui Thanh Son, told The K

Dec. 5, 2022

Korea envoy looks to the next chapter of Korea-Vietnam ties

HANOI, Vietnam -- When South Korea first forged diplomatic ties with Vietnam 30 years ago, not many expected the fledgling bond to become as strong as it is today. Now the Southeast Asian country is one of Korea’s closest partners, or a “diplomatic hotspot” as Korea’s Ambassador to Vietnam Oh Young-ju likes to put it. “When the Korean embassy was first established 30 years ago, there were only two government officials here – an ambassador and an attache. Now

Dec. 5, 2022

Yoon's chief of staff to pay official visit to UAE

Presidential chief of staff Kim Dae-ki will pay an official visit to the United Arab Emirates this month and convey President Yoon Suk-yeol's commitment to strengthening the special strategic partnership between the two countries, the presidential office said Monday. Kim will travel to the UAE in mid-December as a special presidential envoy to "reaffirm the special strategic partnership and convey President Yoon Suk-yeol's special commitment to strengthening it," the office s

Dec. 5, 2022

Freed S. Korean sailors arrive in Ivory Coast to fly home

Two South Korean sailors abducted by unidentified pirates near the Gulf of Guinea nine days ago arrived at Ivory Coast’s main port of Abidjan on early Saturday, all in good health, the Foreign Ministry said. All 19 crew members, including 17 Indonesians aboard a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker -- towed to port by a tugboat -- were freed a day after pirates took over the vessel on Nov. 24 in what authorities suspect to be crude theft, worth at least 3 billion won ($2.3 million), accordi

Dec. 4, 2022

S. Korea's trade chief to visit US for talks on Inflation Reduction Act

South Korea's Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun will visit the United States for talks on the US Inflation Reduction Act that excludes electric vehicles assembled outside North America from tax incentives, the ministry said Sunday. Ahn is set to hold meetings with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, John Podesta, the senior adviser to the US president for clean energy innovation and implementation, as well as US lawmakers during a five-day visit that begins Monday, according to the Ministry of

Dec. 4, 2022

South Korea seeks changes to US tax rules on EVs

The Foreign Ministry said Friday the South Korean government had asked the US government to ease its tax rules on electric vehicles so Korean automakers are not unfairly put at a disadvantage over EV incentives. The Inflation Reduction Act, effective since Aug. 16, leaves out Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia from federal tax credits since they do not make their electric vehicles in North America. Rules that go in effect on Jan. 1 next year also require at least 40 percent of the monetary valu

Dec. 2, 2022

‘Dr. Doom’ Roubini warns of China crisis amid ‘megathreats’

SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island -- Fighting off “megathreats” or an avalanche of disasters involving political, economic, financial, technological and environmental challenges will be the priority for the international community for the next 20 years, as an anti-America coalition led by China seeks out a world less dominated by the previously undisputed superpower, according to American economist Nouriel Roubini. The emeritus professor of economics at New York University -- who is better known

Dec. 2, 2022

[Photo News] Little Angels marks 60th year

Performers with the Little Angels staged a show titled "The Flight of Angels" at Sejong Center for Performing Arts in Seoul, Thursday. The show was directed to deliver a message for world peace as well as commemorate the troupe's 60th anniversary. (Im Se-jun/The Korea Herald)

Dec. 2, 2022

Woman in Kashgar invokes memory of Tiananmen Square's 'Tank Man'

Video footage of a woman standing against Chinese Public Security has been going viral on social media as “white paper protests” against China’s "Zero-COVID" policy spread across the country. The video reportedly taken in Kashgar, Xinjiang province in China on Tuesday shows a woman in a white hoodie and jeans standing across from a line of riot police, appearing to record the police officers on her phone as they advance toward her. She holds her ground as the officers

Dec. 1, 2022

S. Korea not to send condolence delegation to Jiang's funeral: official

South Korea has decided not to send an official condolence delegation to the funeral of former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, a ranking official at the presidential office said Thursday. "It has been known that the Chinese government won't accept foreign condolence delegations or representatives," the official told Yonhap News Agency by phone. Jiang died Wednesday at age 96, and Seoul's foreign ministry expressed condolences over his death, praising his contribution to the devel

Dec. 1, 2022

PM discusses resource cooperation with Mozambique president

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo met with Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi and discussed ways to expand energy and resource cooperation during his visit to the African country, Han's office said Thursday. During their meeting at the presidential office in the Mozambique capital of Maputo on Wednesday, Han explained Seoul's initiative to bolster cooperation with African countries and invite their leaders for a special summit in 2024, according to his office. He stressed how South Korean fir

Dec. 1, 2022

Presidential office refutes rumor on Korea giving up Expo on Saudi prince's visit

The presidential office on Wednesday denied rumors that South Korea offered to give up its bid to host the 2030 Expo in exchange for a contract for Saudi Arabia's $500 billion Neom city project, calling it "fake news produced by the opposition party." “Currently, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and the office of future strategy and planning in the presidential office are touring the world in a fierce bid for the 2030 Busan World Expo,” the presidential office said in a wri

Nov. 30, 2022

[Hwang’s China and the World] Europe's security dilemma: Can it pave its own 3rd path?

The EU has a strong image of an exemplary student in many ways. As the EU expanded to Eastern and Central Europe after the end of the Cold War system, its political and economic influence further stretched to the international community. The EU is strengthening cooperative relations with other regions through common foreign and security policies and has pursued peace and prosperity in Europe by simultaneously providing mutual cooperation and development support to the regions outside of Europe.

Nov. 30, 2022

US working to improve early warning system against N. Korean missile launches: US commander

WASHINGTON -- The United States is working to further improve its missile warning system, the commander of US Space Command said Tuesday, following a barrage of North Korean missile tests that included multiple intercontinental ballistic missile launches. "We are looking at how we integrate a sensor architecture that gives us as much warning as possible in terms of any type of missile activity out of North Korea," Gen. James Dickinson said in a webinar hosted by the Mitchell Institute

Nov. 30, 2022

Yoon, Biden to hold 2nd Democracy Summit in March

President Yoon Suk-yeol agreed to co-host the second Democracy Summit with the US President Biden on March 29-30, the presidential office said Tuesday. The US, which held the first Democracy Summit virtually in December 2021, decided to co-host the second summit with South Korea, the Netherlands, Zambia and Costa Rica. The Korean government will preside over the Indo-Pacific regional meeting of the summit -- which will again be held virtually -- with the topic of anti-corruption. “By co-

Nov. 30, 2022