US agrees with taking 'incremental steps' to denuclearize Korean Peninsula: State Dept.

The United States sees the need to take "incremental steps" with North Korea to completely denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, a state department spokesperson said Thursday, in apparent support of South Korea's offer to help the impoverished North when and if Pyongyang takes denuclearization steps. Department Press Secretary Ned Price also said "practical steps" may be taken to denuclearize the peninsula. "We believe that there are practical steps that can be taken t

Aug. 19, 2022

S. Korea conveys concerns to US over new EV tax credit law: official

South Korea has conveyed its concerns over a new US law that provides tax incentives for electric vehicles manufactured in North America only, a foreign ministry official said Thursday. "As revisions to the electric vehicle subsidies, included in the Inflation Reduction Act, are subject to violation of not only the South Korea-US Free Trade Agreement but also the World Trade Organization rules, we have reviewed (the issue) and expressed our concerns to the US through various channels,"

Aug. 18, 2022

Cheney defeat marks Trump's win over traditional conservatism

WASHINGTON -- Republican scion Liz Cheney's primary defeat to a hardline Trumpist rival underlines the dramatic shift the party has undergone under the former president as he pulls it away from mainstream conservatism towards the politics of personality. The congresswoman's loss to Harriet Hageman on Tuesday -- ending her hopes of seeking a fourth term in her safe Wyoming seat -- was a definitive rebuke for her opposition to Donald Trump. Cheney's voting record aligned with Trump's positions 93

Aug. 18, 2022

US will maintain sanctions until N. Korea changes behavior: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- The United States will continue to maintain strong sanctions against North Korea until the recalcitrant country changes its behavior and engages in dialogue, a state department spokesperson said Wednesday. Department Press Secretary Ned Price made the remarks after North Korea fired two cruise missiles, marking its 19th show of force this year and first since June. "We will continue to maintain those sanctions until and unless the underlying conduct, the underlying activity ch

Aug. 18, 2022

[Newsmaker] Afghanistan marks 1 year since Taliban seizure as woes mount

KABUL, Afghanistan -- The Taliban on Monday marked a year since they seized the Afghan capital in a rapid takeover that triggered a hasty escape of the nation's Western-backed leaders, sent the economy into a tailspin and fundamentally transformed the country. Bearded Taliban fighters, some hoisting rifles or the white banners of their movement, staged victory parades on foot, bicycles and motorcycles in the streets of Kabul. One group marched past the former US Embassy, chanting "Long

Aug. 16, 2022

US supports S. Korean initiative to engage N. Korea: State Dept.

The United States strongly supports South Korea's efforts to restart dialogue with North Korea and denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, a state department spokesperson said Monday. Department Press Secretary Ned Price also said the U.S. will continue to closely work with Seoul to that end. "We strongly support the ROK's aim to open a path for serious and sustained diplomacy with Pyongyang," Price said in a press briefing, referring to South Korea by its official name, the Repub

Aug. 16, 2022

Blinken highlights Korea-US alliance on S. Korea's Liberation Day

WASHINGTON -- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted the importance of the US-South Korea alliance on Monday, while congratulating the Asian ally on its national day. "On behalf of the United States of America, I send my kindest regards and congratulations to the Republic of Korea and the South Korean people as you celebrate your National Day," the top US diplomat said in a released statement. South Korea observes Aug. 15 as Liberation Day, marking its freedom from Japanese c

Aug. 16, 2022

Nearly nine out of every 10 S. Koreans hold 'favorable view' toward US: poll

WASHINGTON -- Nearly nine out of every 10 South Koreans hold a favorable view of the United States, the second highest rating among 17 countries surveyed, a poll showed Monday. It also showed more than 80 percent of South Koreans think the US is a reliable partner. In the poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, a Washington-based nonprofit think tank, 89 percent of South Koreans surveyed said they hold a favorable view toward the US, the second highest rating after Poland with 91 percent. The

Aug. 16, 2022

The Arab world’s amazing changes

By Ma Young-sam There is a region which has been overshadowed by great powers. Similar to a hospital’s emergency room, which people usually do not give attention to during normal daily life, but rush into in the case of health emergencies. This is the Arab region, a place where US President Joe Biden hurried to visit in the face of super economic inflation as an aftermath to the Ukraine crisis. The Arab world still holds immense influence over the world economy as a fundamental oil reso

Aug. 14, 2022

[Hwang’s China and the World] What makes China so committed to winning the international technical standards battle?

By Hwang Jae-ho The international economy and industrial world are entering a revolution. The competition between nations and between corporations is escalating over industrial and technological competitiveness, and technological hegemony has emerged as the determinant factor in reorganizing the international order and maintaining the world great power’s status. The United States is continuing its strong stance on China policy, even after the Biden administration took over, and China is

Aug. 13, 2022

President Yoon, UN chief discuss N. Korea, voice concern over growing nuclear threat

The South Korean President and the UN chief had a “candid” discussion on the North Korean nuclear issue and shared their view that the country’s development of missile and nuclear weapons posed a “major challenge” to regional and world peace. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had a luncheon meeting that lasted for 2 hours and 20 minutes on Friday in Seoul, the South Korean presidential office said. Both sides discusse

Aug. 12, 2022

British documents shed light on Korean liberation forces' fight against Japanese imperialist forces

South Korea's patriots ministry on Friday unveiled part of rare documents confirming a group of Korean independence activists fought alongside British troops in a joint military campaign against Japan's imperial forces during World War II. The documents from Britain's National Archives were revealed as the ministry is commemorating the sacrifices of those who fought against Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule, ahead of South Korea's Liberation Day that falls on Monday. The doc

Aug. 12, 2022

US concerned by N. Korea's 'strengthened rhetoric' around its nuclear program: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- The United States is preparing for all contingencies amid signs of a potential North Korean nuclear test but is concerned by Pyongyang's "strengthened rhetoric" around its nuclear program, a state department spokesperson said Thursday. Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the department, said Pyongyang is continuing to prepare for what will be its seventh nuclear test. "The U.S. assesses the DPRK is preparing its Punggye-ri (nuclear) test site for wha

Aug. 12, 2022

ASEAN-hosted security meeting backs complete denuclearization of Korean Peninsula

The foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and other major powers reaffirmed their commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and support for diplomacy toward the goal during a regional security forum, a statement showed Thursday. The chair's statement was released five days after the annual ASEAN Regional Forum held in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, with the attendance of top diplomats from the ASEAN member states, the two Koreas, the United Stat

Aug. 11, 2022

Seoul dismisses Beijing’s claim, says THAAD is Korea’s means of self-defense

Friction between Seoul and Beijing over a US anti-ballistic missile defense system continues, with the two sides issuing statements and rebuttals over Seoul’s position. On Thursday, Seoul flatly dismissed Beijing‘s claim that Seoul had adopted an official policy of not deploying an additional Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system in its territory, saying the US anti-missile defense system is a means of self-defense for Korea. The presidential office also said it expects to n

Aug. 11, 2022

Can South Korea, China become ‘strategic partners’?

The top diplomats of South Korea and China met this week, and agreed that bilateral relations should be reinvigorated into a more stable and mature one, for the two countries to become “strategic partners.” While the meeting between South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on Tuesday was conducted in an “amicable” mood, its outcome may only just be no more than a reiteration of differences on some of the fundamental problems that stan

Aug. 10, 2022

Nat'l Assembly speaker discusses nuclear exports, health cooperation with Romanian speaker

BUCHAREST/SEOUL -- National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo met with Romania's House speaker and discussed nuclear reactor exports and health cooperation between the two countries, his office said Wednesday. Kim held talks with Ion-Marcel Ciolacu, president of the Romanian House of Deputies, in Bucharest on Tuesday (local time). Romania is the second leg of a two-nation trip that has also taken him to Poland. Kim proposed that South Korea and the United States take part in an 11 trillion-won (

Aug. 10, 2022

Korea China foreign ministers discuss regional security, supply chain, NK provocation

South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin on Tuesday met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to discuss a series of thorny issues, including North Korea, regional security and economic exchanges. In their second bilateral meeting held in Qingdao, Shandong Province, on Tuesday afternoon, the two sides agreed to further enhance bilateral ties. While the meeting was conducted in an “amicable” mood, the top diplomats also exchanged messages of concern. “As a ‘global pivotal

Aug. 9, 2022

Justice ministry reviews candidates for presidential pardons

The Justice Ministry on Tuesday reviewed candidates for presidential pardons to be granted on the occasion of next week's Liberation Day amid attention as to whether Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong and former President Lee Myung-bak will be among the beneficiaries. The ministry's nine-member pardon review board held a meeting to evaluate candidates, including several high-profile business moguls and politicians, for special pardons to be granted in celebration of Liberation Day, which falls

Aug. 9, 2022

Assembly speaker steps up arms sale campaign in Romania

BUCHAREST/SEOUL -- National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo promoted South Korean arms and nuclear reactor exports to Romania in his meeting with the country's Senate leader, his office said Tuesday. Kim held talks with Alina-Stefania Gorghiu, acting speaker of Romania's Senate, in Bucharest on Monday. Romania is the second leg of a two-nation trip that has also taken him to Poland. "South Korea participating in Romania's arms modernization project is one way the two countries c

Aug. 9, 2022