Expert calls for suspending THAAD deployment until Beijing stops retaliation

A national security expert on Thursday called on South Korea to consider putting on hold the ongoing deployment of a US missile defense system on its soil until China stops its stepped-up retaliation on Korean goods and businesses.South Korea and the US recently started the process of installing a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system to cope with the North's missile threats. Members from conservative civic organizations calls for China to stop retaliatory steps against South Korea's planne

March 16, 2017

Korea, Japan to discuss cooperation on nuclear power

South Korea and Japan will hold a meeting in Seoul to discuss cooperation for the safe use of nuclear power, the foreign ministry said Thursday.The meeting will be held later in the day between Ham Sang-wook, director-general for nonproliferation and nuclear affairs at Seoul's foreign ministry, and his Japanese counterpart Kazutoshi Aikawa, according to the ministry.They will discuss their own nuclear power-related policies and measures aimed at increasing cooperation in the global stage includi

March 16, 2017

S. Korean, Sri Lankan top diplomats agree to cooperation in pressuring N. Korea

The foreign ministers of South Korea and Sri Lanka have agreed to work together in pressuring North Korea into giving up its nuclear weapons program, the foreign ministry here said Thursday.South Korea's Yun Byung-se and Sri Lanka's Mangala Samaraweera also shared the understanding that North Korea's recent series of ballistic missile launches pose a serious threat to the peace and security of the Asia-Pacific as well as the entire international community during their talks in Colombo a day earl

March 16, 2017

Consent from China, Russia vital to deploying THAAD system: Democratic Party

The floor leader of the Democratic Party said Thursday South Korea should delay the deployment of an advanced US missile defense system in the country until it wins consent from Beijing and Moscow.Rep. Woo Sang-ho also said Seoul should let the new government decide on the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system and ensure that the issue does not damage South Korea's relationship with neighboring countries. Rep. Woo Sang-ho, the floor leader of the Democratic Party (Yonhap)"

March 16, 2017

Top S. Korean, US security officials agree to respond sternly to additional NK provocations

Top security officials of South Korea and the United States agreed Wednesday to respond sternly to any additional provocations by North Korea and work closely together with China to increase pressure on Pyongyang, officials said.South Korean National Security Adviser Kim Kwan-jin reached the agreement when he met with US National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster at the White House, sharing the view that additional North Korean provocations could come at any time, Kim's office said in a statement. 

March 16, 2017

Expert calls for inter-Korean summit after May election

South Korea should seek summit talks with the North under the next government in order to keep the North's nuclear threats in check through negotiations and dialogue, a North Korea expert here said Wednesday.South Korea will hold an election to choose its new president on May 9 following the country's top court ruling last week to unseat Park Geun-hye from office over a massive corruption scandal."In order to keep the North's nuclear and missile threats in check through negotiations and dialogue

March 15, 2017

S. Korea, Singapore blast N. Korea's missile launches

The top diplomats of South Korea and Singapore shared concerns over the use of a toxic chemical in the recent assassination of a half brother of North Korea's leader and denounced the North's ballistic missile launches this year, the foreign ministry here said Wednesday.South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se held talks with his Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan in the city state on Tuesday for discussions on Korean Peninsula and other global issues, said the ministry.South Korean F

March 15, 2017

US carrier leads vigil in East Sea as tension grows over N. Korea

Drizzle and strong winds greeted reporters as they stepped onto the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier Tuesday to cover the ongoing joint exercises by South Korea and the United States.Ninety minutes of flight aboard a C-2A Greyhound cargo plane brought them from Osan Air Base, a US installation near Seoul, to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, nearly 500 kilometers away in seas east of the Korean Peninsula. In this photo provided by Joint Press Corps of South Korea's Defense

March 15, 2017

Tillerson embarks on first trip to Asia amid tensions over N. Korea, THAAD

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson embarked on his first trip to Asia Tuesday, seeking to come up with better ways to deal with North Korea and defuse tensions with China over the ongoing deployment of the THAAD missile defense system in South Korea.Other key objectives of the trip to Japan, South Korea and China include bolstering alliances with Seoul and Tokyo in the face of North Korean threats, especially at a time when the South is gearing up to elect a new leader after former President Pa

March 15, 2017

Seoul, Washington step up diplomacy on THAAD row, NK

Seoul and Washington are ramping up diplomacy with a series of high-level talks amid North Korea’s evolving threats and China’s economic retaliation over a plan to install a US missile shield here. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is scheduled to arrive in Seoul on Thursday as part of his maiden Asia tour that includes stops in Tokyo and Beijing starting Wednesday. He is expected to visit acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn and hold talks with Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se. US Secretary of State R

March 14, 2017

Tillerson's visit to S. Korea 'important, timely' for joint approach to NK: Seoul

The top US diplomat's visit to South Korea later this week is "important" and "timely" in that it will help the two allies draw up their detailed joint approach to North Korea and its growing nuclear and missile threats, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday.US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will come to South Korea on Friday as part of his first Asia tour since inauguration that will also take him to Japan and China. He is to have meetings with senior government officials, including talks wit

March 14, 2017

Korean security chief to visit US for talks on N. Korea

South Korea's presidential national security adviser will visit the United States this week for talks with his counterpart on North Korea, the presidential office here said Tuesday.During his two-day visit to Washington, Kim Kwan-jin, chief of the National Security Office, will meet with H.R. McMaster, the US national security adviser, to discuss joint efforts to counter Pyongyang's growing missile and nuclear threats, the office said.National Security Office chief Kim Kwan-jin attends a securit

March 14, 2017

US must ensure no daylight with S. Korea's next leader over N. Korea: US expert

The United States should work hard to make sure there is no daylight with South Korea over how to deal with the North as the Asian ally is expected to elect a liberal leader seeking a softer approach to Pyongyang, a US expert said Monday.Sue Mi Terry, a former senior US intelligence official with expertise on Korea issues, made the point during a Council on Foreign Relations discussion, noting that the top candidates for South Korea's president are liberal politicians, including former president

March 14, 2017

Tillerson's visit to Seoul to provide 'good' chance to share experiences on N. Korea

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's planned visit to South Korea this week will provide a "good" opportunity for Seoul to share its experiences on North Korea and its nuclear threats with the fledgling Donald Trump administration, a government official said Monday.Tillerson will come to South Korea on Friday as part of his first Asia tour since inauguration that will also take him to Japan and China. He is to have meetings with senior government officials during his two-day stay here including

March 14, 2017

Turkey, Korea mark 60 years of diplomacy with culture

Marking the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations this year, the Turkish Embassy in Seoul will organize various cultural events ranging from a photo exhibition to storytelling for children and gastronomy, according to its top envoy to Korea. The anniversary on March 8 marked an important milestone for both peoples, as Turkey also attaches significance to 60 years culturally, said Turkish Ambassador to Korea Arslan Hakan Okcal, in a briefing with reporters at the embassy. “Reaching 6

March 13, 2017

Bulgaria, Korea progress through comprehensive partnership

The Bulgarian Embassy in Seoul marked the country’s Liberation Day last week amid growing ties with Korea.The holiday commemorates the Eastern European nation’s independence in 1878 from the Ottoman Empire, which ruled Bulgaria for over 500 years. Bulgaria regained its sovereignty under the Treaty of San Stefano on March 3, 1878, following the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78.“Following his election last November, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev is committed to further enhancing our Comprehensive an

March 13, 2017

Poland advocate Kim Soon-hyung dies of cancer

Kim Soon-hyung (1969-2017), an assistant to the Polish ambassador who tirelessly promoted Poland in Korea, died Thursday from cancer. Working at the embassy from 2006 until before her death, Kim organized a multitude of assignments ranging from presidential and ministerial visits to cultural events. A master of Polish language, she grasped its subtle nuances through living in Poland for 13 years, according to the embassy. She was also an “energetic press officer, event coordinator and bridge-bui

March 13, 2017

[HERALD INTERVIEW] ‘France, Korea are sound partners in Internet of Things’

As an imaginative entrepreneur, David-Pierre Jalicon envisions our future homes embedded with Internet of Things technologies micromanaging every aspect of our lives. In the upcoming Fourth Industrial Revolution, he says, “things will be more integrated and interconnected” through industrial convergence. As all disciplines, economies and industries become fused and physical, digital and biological boundaries become blurred, “our key challenge is how to connect manufacturing and services industri

March 13, 2017

Foreign minister to travel to Vietnam, Sri Lanka this week

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se will travel to Vietnam and Sri Lanka this week to discuss economic cooperation and joint policies in dealing with a wayward North Korea, his ministry said Monday.Yun will fly to Sri Lanka on Tuesday for a three-day visit marking the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the countries. The foreign minister will then come back home to attend to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's two-day Seoul visit slated from Friday, before heading to Vietnam on Sunday

March 13, 2017

Tillerson to visit Korea this week

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is to visit South Korea later this week for meetings with senior government officials to discuss issues of mutual concern including the growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea, officials said Sunday.US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will stay in South Korea for two days from March 17 during which he will meet with Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and other senior government officials. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se (L) meets with US Secretary of Sta

March 12, 2017