Flurry of diplomatic moves take place ahead of US-NK summit

With two weeks left till the second US-North Korea summit in Hanoi on Feb. 27-28, the four governments involved -- Seoul, Pyongyang, Washington and Hanoi -- have started moving toward their own diplomatic goals.Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang tweeted on Monday: “At the invitation of HE. Mr. Ri Yong-ho, Foreign Minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh will pay an official visit to the DPRK from Feb. 1

Feb. 12, 2019

Top US military commanders for Korea to brief Congress

The top US military commanders for Korea will brief Congress this week ahead of a second nuclear summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.Adm. Philip Davidson, head of the US Indo-Pacific Command, and Gen. Robert Abrams, commander of US Forces Korea, will testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, according to its website.Adm. Philip Davidson (left) and Gen. Robert Abrams (AP)The hearing comes days after South Korea and the United States si

Feb. 12, 2019

S. Korean PM expects 2nd US-NK summit to deliver concrete results

South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon said Saturday that he expects the second summit between the United States and North Korea to deliver concrete results.Lee made the remarks at an international peace conference in Seoul hours after US President Donald Trump confirmed that his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will be held in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Feb. 27-28.  (Yonhap)“I expect the second US-N. Korea summit to produce more concrete results than the first summit,” Lee said. “The South

Feb. 9, 2019

US lawmakers urge Pompeo to seek longer-term defense deal with S. Korea

Two US lawmakers have urged Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to seek a longer-term cost-sharing agreement for the stationing of American troops in South Korea.In a letter dated Wednesday, Reps. Grace Meng and Norma Torres said a one-year deal does not sufficiently reflect the importance of the US alliance with South Korea. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (left) looks on as US President Donald J. Trump (right) launches the White House global women initiative by signing a national security memoran

Feb. 9, 2019

African Development Bank calls for cooperation with S. Korea in tech, agriculture, energy

The president of the African Development Bank expressed hope that South Korea and Africa can increase personnel exchanges and technology sharing in the fields of agriculture, energy and drones, the finance ministry said Friday.　Akinwumi Adesina made the comments in a meeting in Seoul with Hong Nam-ki, the minister of economy and finance, according to the ministry. (Yonhap)　Hong told Adesina that South Korea will continue to expand its cooperation with Africa.　Asia‘s fourth largest economy has ma

Feb. 8, 2019

US envoy back from North Korea after talks on Trump-Kim summit

SEOUL (AFP) - The special US envoy for North Korea returned to Seoul on Friday after talks with North Korean officials in Pyongyang to set up the agenda for the second summit between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un.　Stephen Biegun‘s three-day trip was expected to have explored a wide range of denuclearisation issues in preparation for the much-anticipated summit in Vietnam on Feb. 27 and 28.　Biegun landed at Osan US Air Base Friday evening, foreign ministry spokesman Noh Kyu-duk told AFP.

Feb. 8, 2019

South Korea, US to sign provisional defense cost-sharing pact Sunday

South Korea will ink a provisional agreement with the US for the cost of maintaining US troops here Sunday, wrapping up nearly yearlong negotiations, according to a source Friday. Under the deal, Seoul will pay about 1.03 trillion won ($916.3 million) for costs related to the stationing of 28,500 members of the US Armed Forces in Korea for 2019. The contract is valid only for this year per Washington’s request for annual renewal of the agreement. Chang Won-sam (Left), South Korea`s negotiator in

Feb. 8, 2019

US NGO launches campaign urging family reunions for Korean-Americans

A US nongovernmental organization has launched a campaign urging President Donald Trump to discuss possible reunions of Korean-Americans with their long-lost relatives in North Korea when he meets the North's leader Kim Jong-un later this month.The American Friends Service Committee said on its website that the summit, set for Feb. 27-28 in Vietnam, provides an opportunity to reunite Korean and Korean-American families that have been separated for almost 70 years since the 1950-53 Korean War. In

Feb. 8, 2019

Biegun due back in Seoul on Friday: sources

The US envoy for North Korea is expected to fly back to South Korea on Friday to share the outcome of his Pyongyang visit, diplomatic sources have said.Stephen Biegun has been in North Korea since Wednesday, following his arrival in the South at the weekend.His mission is apparently to work out agenda and logistical details of a second summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to take place in Vietnam from Feb. 27-28. (Yonhap)Biegun's new North Korean dialogue par

Feb. 7, 2019

[Newsmaker] After 2 years of rancor, Trump to appeal for unity in speech

After two years of bitter partisanship and personal attacks, President Donald Trump will call for unity and cross-party cooperation in Washington during Tuesday’s State of the Union address, a message likely to ring hollow with Democrats determined to block his push for a border wall.Trump’s prime-time address comes at a critical moment in his presidency. He pushed his party into a lengthy government shutdown over border security, only to cave to Democrats. With another shutdown deadline looming

Feb. 6, 2019

S. Korea, Iraq agree to expand substantive ties in infrastructure, energy

South Korea's special envoy met with top Iraqi leaders this week, reaching an agreement to expand substantive cooperation in infrastructure, plant construction, the defense industry and energy sectors, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday. (Yonhap)Han Byung-do, President Moon Jae-in's special adviser for Iraq, led a government delegation to Baghdad from Monday till Wednesday.It included officials from the foreign, finance and construction ministries, the Defense Acquisition Program Administra

Jan. 30, 2019

Leaders of S. Korea, Qatar hold summit over bilateral ties

President Moon Jae-in and Qatar’s emir held a summit Monday to discuss ways to expand economic ties and promote bilateral cooperation, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said.As part of his first summit diplomacy in the new year, Moon met with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who arrived in Seoul on Sunday for a two-day official visit. The monarch is Qatar’s head of state. President Moon Jae-in (right) shakes hands with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the emir of Qatar, ahead of their s

Jan. 28, 2019

Japan's minister repeats Dokdo sovereignty claim in parliamentary speech

Japan's top diplomat stated again Monday that Dokdo, a pair of rocky islets in the East Sea over which Seoul maintains effective control, belongs to his country, a remark Koreans regard as reckless.   "(The government) will stand firm in its response (to the issue), delivering Japan's claim over Takeshima, which is Japan's indigenous territory, with patience," Foreign Minister Taro Kono said in his new year's speech in the Japanese parliament, using the Japanese name for Dokdo.Dokdo (Yonhap)   J

Jan. 28, 2019

Abe vows 'decisive' approach toward N. Korea to normalize ties

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday made public his determination to have talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in a bid to normalize bilateral diplomatic relations.In a policy speech to the Diet, Abe said he will "act decisively without losing any opportunity" to settle the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by the communist nation decades ago and its nuclear and missile programs. (Yonhap)"(We) should break the shell of mutual mistrust in order to resolve the North Korean nuclear

Jan. 28, 2019

Foreign Ministry keeps travel ban in place for parts of Mindanao, Philippines

South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday that it will maintain its restrictions on travel to certain areas of the Philippines because of political instability, poor public security and terrorism. 　The ministry launched a subcommittee under the Passport Policy Deliberation Committee on Wednesday, which decided to maintain the travel ban on parts of Mindanao -- including the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Sulu Archipelago, which includes the island province of Basilan -- for si

Jan. 24, 2019

Korea, Britain to open hotline for Brexit consultations

South Korea and Britain have agreed to establish a diplomatic hotline to share information on London's preparations for an exit from the European Union, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday.The two sides had working-level consultations on issues related to Brexit, slated for March 29, in London on Wednesday (local time).The director general-level session came amid an increased uncertainty over Brexit as British lawmakers voted down Prime Minister Theresa May's divorce deal with the EU earlier

Jan. 24, 2019

Korea, Britain discuss Brexit emergency measures

South Korea's industry ministry said Thursday it has reached a consensus with Britain to promptly prepare follow-up measures as London moves to leave the European Union.The Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Energy said Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong met his counterpart Liam Fox, sharing opinions on their post-Brexit relationship, including possibly clinching a separate free trade agreement with London when the departure happens. Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Energy Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong

Jan. 24, 2019

South Korea-US military cost-sharing deadlock drags out as US demands $1 billion

South Korea’s struggle to reach an agreement with the US for the cost of maintaining US troops here intensified when the gap between the total amount of Seoul’s contributions demanded by the US and that which Seoul was able to accept, as well as differences over the contract period, widened in December as a result of instructions from the very top in Washington, sources said Wednesday. Through a diplomatic channel, the US demanded in late December that South Korea pay $1.2 billion for costs rela

Jan. 23, 2019

US ambassador puts pressure on Cheong Wa Dae over USFK costs: report

The Foreign Ministry confirmed Tuesday that the US ambassador to South Korea visited Cheong Wa Dae last month, but declined to comment on a news report that the top envoy’s visit was designed to pressure Seoul to pay more for the US troops stationed here. “Our government is making efforts to reach a reasonable agreement, mutually acceptable, as early as possible on the basis of mutual respect and understanding (with the US ally),” ministry spokesperson Noh Kyu-duk said at a regular press briefin

Jan. 22, 2019

S. Korea voices "deep regrets" over Japan's announcement on radar dispute

South Korea's defense ministry expressed "deep regrets" Monday over Japan's disclosure of new evidence related to a military radar dispute and its decision to halt bilateral consultations.Tokyo's defense ministry announced its final view on the monthlong spat, saying that bilateral working-level dialogue may not lead to "verification of the truth."Further escalating tensions, it presented two audio files as fresh evidence to back up its claim that a South Korean warship locked fire-control radar

Jan. 21, 2019