S. Korea's top nuclear envoy meets EU foreign affairs chief over N. Korea

South Korea's chief nuclear negotiator has met the European Union's foreign affairs chief to discuss ways to achieve North Korea's denuclearization, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday.Lee Do-hoon, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, met Federica Mogherini, EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, at the EU headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday."The two sides shared the need for the international community to keep the momentum for dia

March 21, 2019

S. Korea to offer $500,000 in humanitarian aid to three African nations

South Korea said Thursday it will provide Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi with a total of $500,000 worth of humanitarian assistance after they suffered huge damage from a cyclone.The southern African countries were recently hit hard by Cyclone Idai, which has killed hundreds of people and left many others missing or displaced. (AFP-Yonhap)"The government plans to offer $300,000 to Mozambique as well as $100,000 each to Zimbabwe and Malawi in consideration of the scale of the damage and the inter

March 21, 2019

Sanctions relief possible after 'irreversible' point of N.K. denuclearization: Seoul official

A South Korean diplomat said Wednesday that the lifting of sanctions against North Korea can come after the communist regime passes an "irreversible point of denuclearization." (Yonhap)Rhee Dong-yeol, the director general of the foreign ministry's Korean Peninsula regime bureau, also said that Seoul is considering proposing high-level inter-Korean talks as part of efforts to facilitate dialogue between the United States and the North."If the denuclearization process passed an irreversible point,

March 20, 2019

S. Korea, US relieve sanctions for video reunion of separated Korean families

South Korea and the United States held a working group session Thursday to discuss about ways to resume denuclearization negotiations with North Korea, the Foreign Ministry said Friday. The two allies held a working group meeting in Washington, DC, the first after the summit between the US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Hanoi faltered without an agreement last month. According to the Foreign Ministry, the two sides discussed on pending issues regarding North Korea,

March 15, 2019

Leaders of S. Korea, Cambodia vow efforts to improve economic ties

The leaders of South Korea and Cambodia agreed Friday to expand the countries' economic cooperation while also vowing joint efforts to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.In their summit talks, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen also agreed to efforts to further improve South Korea's relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations."President Moon expressed his determination to further develop the close cooperative relations bet

March 15, 2019

S. Korean president set to meet Cambodian leaders

South Korean President Moon Jae-in was set to hold a summit with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday, following a meeting with King Norodom Sihamoni.The summit was widely expected to focus on ways to improve South Korea-Cambodia relations as Moon's visit marks the first of its kind by a South Korean leader in 10 years.Moon arrived here Thursday on a three-day state visit.(Yonhap)His trip was originally set to begin Friday in a welcome ceremony to be hosted by the Cambodian monarch, but he

March 15, 2019

S. Korean president vows increased cooperation with Cambodia

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Thursday vowed efforts to further improve his country's relationship with Cambodia and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations member countries, insisting that increased cooperation will also lead to more opportunities for South Korean businesses and people."When the cooperation and exchange between the two countries are strengthened, the door to more opportunities will open to our companies and residents here," the president said in a meeting with some

March 14, 2019

S. Korea, Japan still differ over wartime forced labor reparations

South Korea and Japan had another round of working-level consultations Thursday only to confirm their contradicting views on the issue of compensation for Tokyo's wartime wrongdoing.It heralds a drawn-out diplomatic stand-off between the neighbors amid Japan's talk of possible economic retaliation for punitive measures against its companies in connection with the two nations' shared history.Last year, South Korea's Supreme Court ordered some Japanese firms to compensate Korean victims of forced

March 14, 2019

S. Korea's Moon wraps up Brunei visit, heads to Malaysia

South Korean President Moon Jae-in headed for Malaysia on Tuesday, wrapping up his three-day state visit to Brunei, where he and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah discussed ways to boost their countries' cooperation and exchange.Moon is currently on a three-nation tour that will also take him to Cambodia. Both Malaysia and Cambodia, along with Brunei, are members of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations. (Yohnap)The South Korean president's tour is partly aimed at enhancing his country's bi

March 12, 2019

Leaders of S. Korea, Brunei agree to expand economic cooperation

The leaders of South Korea and Brunei agreed Monday to expand the countries' energy industry cooperation and expand the partnership to new technology sectors. In a bilateral summit held in the Bruneian capital, President Moon Jae-in and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah noted the countries have steadily developed their friendly relations in the infrastructure and energy sectors over the past 35 years since they established diplomatic ties, Moon's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said in a press release.

March 11, 2019

Moon kicks off tour of 3 Southeast Asian nations

President Moon Jae-in on Sunday departed for a tour of three Southeast Asian nations, continuing his push for the New Southern Policy. Ahead of departure, Moon emphasized the importance ties with Southeast Asian nations hold for Korea, and the potential the region holds. President Moon Jae-in and First Lady Kim Jung-sook wave before departing for a trip of three Southeast Asian nations on Sunday. Yonhap“On the occasion of this trip (I) will make the distance between Korea and the ASEAN even clos

March 10, 2019

S. Korea, US seal defense cost deal, saying it's 'foundation' of alliance

South Korea and the United States signed a formal agreement Friday, which calls for an 8.2 percent hike in Seoul's share of the cost of stationing American troops here.The two sides agreed that the signing of the Special Measures Agreement, a fruit of tough negotiations, reflects their robust alliance. (Yonhap)"This now becomes the foundation of -- one of the foundations of -- the alliance, and something that the alliance will build upon to become stronger and greater," Kang told Washington's to

March 8, 2019

Korean forced labor victims seek court seizure of Mitsubishi assets

Four Korean victims of wartime forced labor are seeking seizure of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.'s local assets as the company refuses to comply with the Supreme Court ruling that ordered the firm to compensate them. The plaintiffs, including 88-year-old Yang Geum-deuk, on Thursday filed the request with the Seoul Central District Court to seize several Mitsubishi trademarks and patents, according to a civic group that represents the victims. If approved by the court, the Japanese company wil

March 7, 2019

Moon orders special probe into alleged employment fraud in Indonesia

President Moon Jae-in on Thursday made a special order to launch investigations into the alleged flight of a South Korean company from Indonesia that reportedly did not pay its workers, his office Cheong Wa Dae said."In relation to the case involving a delay in the payment of wages, President Moon Jae-in instructed law enforcement to actively cooperate with the investigation by the Indonesian authorities under the extradition treaty," Cheong Wa Dae vice spokeswoman Ko Min-jung told a press brief

March 7, 2019

First lady highlights value of Korea-ASEAN relations

South Korea’s first lady Kim Jung-sook on Wednesday stressed the importance of the country’s relations with Brunei, Cambodia and Malaysia, at a meeting with students from the countries studying here. Cheong Wa Dae had invited 10 students each from Brunei and Malaysia and nine students from Cambodia to the presidential office.  First Lady Kim Jung-sook poses with students from Brunei, Cambodia and Malaysia at Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday. YonhapThe event was held ahead of President Moon Jae-in’s of

March 7, 2019

KOICA to build education center in Indonesian university

South Korea's overseas aid agency said Tuesday it has agreed with the University of Indonesia to work together to establish a multimedia education center at the school, as well as develop curriculum and train lecturers. The Korea International Cooperation Agency said it is part of its efforts to expand its development assistance program in the Southeast Asian country. It's also an element of KOICA's global outreach efforts under the slogan of three Ps -- peace, peace and prosperity.(Yonhap)"KOIC

March 5, 2019

Moon to visit Brunei, Malaysia, Cambodia next week

South Korean President Moon Jae-in will embark on a three-nation Asian tour next week that will take him to Brunei, Malaysia and Cambodia, his office Cheong Wa Dae said Monday.　The president will leave the country on Sunday for Brunei, where he will make a three-day visit for a summit with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.　Moon's trip comes amid his efforts to greatly improve his country’s relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members. South Korea`s President Moon Jae-in (Y

March 4, 2019

Korea, UAE to forge deeper economic ties in energy industries

South Korea's industry ministry said Wednesday that an agreement has been reached to forge deeper ties with the United Arab Emirates in the energy segment in line with the summit between the two countries.The Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with its UAE counterpart, which included plans to establish a business-friendly environment between the two countries, paving the way for South Korean firms to penetrate deeper into the important Middle

Feb. 27, 2019

[Diplomatic circuit] LECTURE ON KAESONG EXCAVATION

(CICI)Corea Image Communication Institute President Choi Jung-wha (third from right), Elisabeth Chabanol (fourth from right), head of the Seoul Center of the French School of Asian Studies, and New Zealand Ambassador Philip Turner (third row, third from left) are seen after a lecture on Goryeo remains excavations in Kaesong given by Chabanol. The event, organized by the Corea Image Communication Institute, was held at the New Zealand ambassador’s residence in Seoul on Feb. 19. CICI

Feb. 27, 2019

Bolton in Hanoi for N. Korea summit

U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton is in Hanoi for President Donald Trump's second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, his spokesman said Tuesday. (Yonhap)There had been speculation that the hawkish adviser had been left out of Trump's delegation, because his name was not on a list of officials distributed by the White House.Bolton's spokesman, Garrett Marquis, confirmed in an email that Bolton was already in the Vietnamese capital ahead of the president's scheduled 9:15 p.m. ar

Feb. 26, 2019