S. Korean foreign minister to visit Malaysia for talks on bilateral ties

South Korea's top diplomat will visit Malaysia this week to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral ties between the countries celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Look East Policy, Seoul's foreign ministry said Monday. Foreign Minister Park Jin plans to leave for Malaysia later in the day for a two-day trip to meet his Malaysian counterpart, Zambry bin Abd Kadir, and discuss ways to boost cooperation in various areas including supply chain, defense and infrastructure. During his trip,

May 1, 2023

Yoon expresses thanks to Bidens for their 'truly warmest welcome'

President Yoon Suk Yeol has thanked US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden for their "truly warmest welcome" during his state visit to Washington last week, lauding relations between the two countries as "a blood alliance." "Don't know how to thank @POTUS and @FLOTUS enough for their truly warmest welcome," Yoon tweeted Sunday, referring to the Bidens, adding that South Korea and the United States "are a blood alliance forged by the sacrifice of

May 1, 2023

Top nuclear envoys of S. Korea, US discuss NK threat in Seoul

The top nuclear envoys of South Korea and the United States have met in Seoul to discuss ways to cooperate on countering North Korea's evolving nuclear and military threats, the foreign ministry said Sunday. US Special Representative for North Korea Sung Kim held a meeting with his South Korean counterpart, Kim Gunn, on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Asan Plenum 2023 conference, a security forum hosted by a local think tank. "The two sides shared their assessments of the current secur

April 30, 2023

Biden says US-Korea alliance born out of shared beliefs

US President Joe Biden tweeted that the alliance between the United States and South Korea is based on shared beliefs on "democracy, liberty, security, and above all -- freedom," as President Yoon Suk Yeol headed home after a state visit to the US "The United States and Republic of Korea alliance wasn't born out of shared borders, but shared beliefs: Democracy, liberty, security, and above all -- freedom," Biden wrote on Twitter, referring to South Korea's official name. Bide

April 30, 2023

Talks underway for Yoon-Kishida summit in Seoul in May

Seoul and Tokyo are in talks to arrange Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's visit to South Korea in the first half of May for summit talks with President Yoon Suk Yeol. Japanese media reported Saturday that the two countries are seeking to arrange Kishida's visit to Seoul and a summit with Yoon on May 7 and 8. South Korea's presidential office said Friday that no decision has been made yet on the reported plans of a summit between Yoon and Kishida in Seoul next month. "

April 29, 2023

Yoon says Washington Declaration is 'upgraded' version of Mutual Defense Treaty

BOSTON -- President Yoon Suk Yeol said Friday that South Korea's new nuclear deterrence agreement with the United States should be understood as an "upgraded" version of the allies' 1953 Mutual Defense Treaty. Yoon made the remark during a discussion held at Harvard Kennedy School, referring to the Washington Declaration he adopted with US President Joe Biden at their summit in Washington on Wednesday. Under the deal, the allies agreed to share information on nuclear and stra

April 29, 2023

S. Korea issues travel ban for conflict-stricken Sudan

South Korea on Friday banned its citizens from traveling to Sudan due to concerns over the escalating military conflict in the country. The foreign ministry issued a Level 4 travel alert, the highest in the four-tier system, effective midnight, under which South Koreans who violate the travel ban without prior approval can face criminal punishment. "We decided there is a need to prohibit travel or stay in Sudan, considering the persisting political and security instability in Sudan, as casu

April 28, 2023

Japan begins process to put S. Korea back on export 'white list'

Japan began domestic procedures Friday to return South Korea to its "white list" of trusted trading partners, in a move to improve bilateral economic relationship, Seoul's industry ministry said, Japan began canvassing public opinion on redesignating South Korea as a "Group A," or white list nation, that would give Seoul preferential export treatment, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said, citing a statement issued by the Japanese trade ministry. Tokyo downgrad

April 28, 2023

[From the Scene] Uzbekistan unveils policy vision for foreign investors

By Sanjay Kumar Korea Herald correspondent TASHKENT, Uzbekistan -- Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev shared visions, policies, and reforms supportive of foreign investors at the Tashkent International Investment Forum on Thursday. Started last year under the agenda of enhancing Central Asia’s role in the international investment market, the forum facilitated a solid package of firm contracts and investment agreements worth $7.8 billion. Participating parties reached agreements and implemen

April 28, 2023

Washington Declaration will help deter N. Korean threat but not a 'nuclear sharing' agreement: US official

WASHINGTON -- The agreement reached by the leaders of South Korea and the United States on strengthening US extended deterrence is not an agreement designed to enable sharing of nuclear weapons between the allies, a senior US official said Thursday. The official noted the agreement, dubbed the Washington Declaration, is designed to address North Korea's evolving threats and nuclear rhetoric, but is not "nuclear sharing." "So let me just be very direct. I don't think th

April 28, 2023

Yoon visits Pentagon to reaffirm US' ‘ironclad’ defense commitment

  WASHINGTON -- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III held a meeting at the Pentagon on Thursday to underscore their robust alliance and the unwavering commitment of the United States in supporting South Korea's defense against North Korea's provocative actions. On his final day in Washington D.C., President Yoon visited the Pentagon before heading to Boston. He is set to deliver a speech at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government on

April 28, 2023

Yoon says S. Korea will play role as 'compass for freedom' with US

WASHINGTON -- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed Thursday to work together with the United States to promote freedom around the world, saying the country will play a role as a "compass for freedom." Yoon made the pledge during an address to a joint meeting of the US Congress, as he recalled the birth of the bilateral alliance 70 years ago at the end of the Korean War and looked forward to a new chapter of closer cooperation. "Our alliance was forged 70 years ago to defen

April 28, 2023

Yoon strongly condemns Russia’s attack on Ukraine

WASHINGTON -- President Yoon Suk Yeol strongly condemned Russia’s attack against Ukraine and denounced North Korea’s persistent human rights violations and provocations during his address to a joint meeting of the US Congress in Washington. In a 45-minute address punctuated by frequent standing ovations -- the first to the US congress by a Korean president in 10 years -- Yoon called for solidarity among democratic nations. He received 56 ovations and 23 standing ovations from the l

April 28, 2023

President Yoon belts out 'American Pie' at state dinner

In the state dinner hosted by US President Joe Biden and the first lady Jill Biden on Wednesday evening, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol did not just sit back and enjoy the performance offered by Broadway stars. Yoon took the spotlight to sing "American Pie" -- one of his favorite songs -- in front of some 200 government officials, business leaders and sports, arts and entertainment stars who were invited to the White House. Three Broadway performers -- Norm Lewis of "Phantom

April 27, 2023

Yoon, Biden reaffirm ironclad alliance, warn NK attack is unacceptable

  WASHINGTON -- Presidents Yoon Suk Yeol and Joe Biden warned Kim Jong-un that a nuclear attack by North Korea against the US and South Korea will be responded to with a nuclear counterattack and that will result in the end of the reclusive regime. “A nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies or partisans -- partners -- is unacceptable and will result in the end of whatever regime were to take such an action," said Biden at a press conference held afte

April 27, 2023

Yoon, Biden did not discuss military aid to Ukraine: official

WASHINGTON -- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and US President Joe Biden did not discuss the issue of military aid to Ukraine during their summit Wednesday, a presidential official said. South Korea has maintained a policy of providing only non-lethal aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia, but speculation was widespread ahead of the summit that Biden could ask Yoon to step up assistance, especially in the form of weapons support. "The Ukraine issue was mentioned very briefly," a s

April 27, 2023

S. Korea, Serbia reach tentative deal on bilateral investment treaty

South Korea and Serbia have reached a tentative deal to sign a bilateral investment treaty aimed at promoting mutual investments between the two countries, according to Seoul's foreign ministry Thursday. The treaty is expected to provide a legal framework for the protection of South Korean investments in Serbia from non-commercial risks, and promote mutual investments and strengthen economic cooperation, the ministry said. The agreement, reached on Wednesday in the Serbian capital of Belgra

April 27, 2023

Full text of Washington Declaration

President Joseph R. Biden of the United States of America and President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea (ROK) met on this 26th day of April, 2023, to mark the 7oth anniversary of the US-ROK Alliance. The Alliance between our two nations has been forged in shared sacrifice, fortified by enduring security cooperation, and nourished by close kinship that has enabled both countries to leverage their diplomatic resources to peaceably achieve crucial, strategic outcomes. What began as a secur

April 27, 2023

Yoon says S. Korea-US alliance can help overcome global challenges

WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol said the South Korea-US alliance could play a key role in overcoming threats to world peace and prosperity as he held a summit with US President Joe Biden at the White House on Wednesday. The two leaders sat down for talks in the Oval Office after Biden welcomed Yoon to the White House in an official arrival ceremony. "The South Korea-US alliance, which is a value alliance, can play a key role in overcoming crises that threaten world peace an

April 27, 2023

Yoon visits White House, US nuclear sub heading to S. Korea

WASHINGTON (AFP) – South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived at the White House in Washington for a state visit Wednesday, at which Yoon and his US counterpart Joe Biden will announce a beefed-up US nuclear shield for Washington's vital ally in the face of an aggressive North Korea. A military honor guard and hundreds of guests massed outside the White House where Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, arrived for a day of pomp and ceremony -- and far-reaching geostrategic discussions. S

April 27, 2023