The Korea Herald

Park appears in video message on sustainable development

President Park Geun-hye appeared in a video message released at a ceremony for the U.N. summit on sustainable development, Cheong Wa Dae said Friday.Park joined U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Stephen Hawking and nine other high-profile people in announcing 17 goals that world leaders have vowed to accomplish by 2030.The goals call for, among other things, the reduction of poverty and gender equality.Park is set to address the U.N. summit for sustainable development on Saturday, a day after

Sept. 26, 2015

Xi's warning signals China's thinking on N. Korea could change

Chinese President Xi Jinping's unusual warning to North Korea is seen as a sign that Beijing's strategic thinking on the problematic communist neighbor could change as its relations with South Korea grow stronger.After summit talks with U.S. President Barack Obama, Xi told a joint news conference that China is committed to realizing the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in peaceful way, a remark in line with China's long-running stance. Chinese President Xi Jinping

Sept. 26, 2015

Xi's warning signals China's thinking on N. Korea could change

Park meets with U.N. chief

South Korean President Park Geun-hye met with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Friday on the first day of her visit to New York for the U.N. General Assembly.Ban, a former South Korean foreign minister, later hosted a closed-door banquet in Park's honor at his official residence that included World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, a Korean-born American.No details of the meeting were immediately available. South Korean President Park Geun-hye arrives at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York on Frid

Sept. 26, 2015

Danish cultural treasure discovered at Korean ambassador’s residence

The Korean Embassy in Denmark marked the renovation of the ambassador’s residence in a traditional Danish “Rejsegilde” ceremony, uniting the two cultures in a rustic, picturesque setting. The renovation led to a startling discovery when a long wall inside the building was torn down to make way for a reception hall. As the wooden panels covering the wall were taken down, colorful rectangular openings resembling Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier’s characteristic windows appeared. The wall was de

Sept. 23, 2015

Danish cultural treasure discovered at Korean ambassador’s residence

North Korea, policy conundrum for China

China appears to be facing a tough strategic decision over how to handle North Korea, amid growing U.S. pressure to tame its wayward ally that has hinted at the possibilities of a long-range rocket launch and another nuclear test.In response to the continuing calls from Washington to play the role of a “responsible stakeholder” in regional security, Beijing has been agonizing over ways to curb Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions and provocative acts.But solutions to the issues remain elusive, as the N

Sept. 23, 2015

Ugandan interior minister dies suddenly after trip to Korea

Uganda’s interior minister died suddenly on his return trip from South Korea early this month, its government has said, prompting Seoul’s probe into the rare case. Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, who was 56, died in-flight on Saturday while heading to Dubai for a transfer following a visit to Seoul upon the invitation of the Korea Foundation. After a postmortem examination, the cause of death was found to be acute heart failure, a news report suggested. KF officials reportedly said that he complained of

Sept. 21, 2015

Mummenschanz dazzles crowd with pantomime

Swiss mask theatre troupe Mummenschanz performed at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul over the weekend. The group, founded in 1972 by performers Bernie Schurch, Andres Bossard and Floriana Frassetto, has had over 1,300 performances in 60 countries, captivating 300,000 audiences. It had a three-year run on Broadway from 1977 to 1980.The pantomime performance employs an interplay of “bizarre-looking” masks, movement, lighting and shadow in a whimsical choreography. Simple yet colorful objects

Sept. 20, 2015

Mummenschanz dazzles crowd with pantomime

Korean-Swiss artist fuses Orient, Occident

An artist and wife of a Swiss diplomat in Seoul held an exhibition over the weekend at the Swiss Embassy, showcasing watercolors that combined Oriental and Western influences. Ajean Mazzucchelli is the wife of Claudio Mazzucchelli, the head of Swiss Business Hub Korea. Ajean met her husband 30 years ago in Korea while working as a clerk at a U.S. Air Force Hospital, and they married in 1986. They have since lived in the former Soviet Union, U.S., Egypt, China, Switzerland and the U.K., during wh

Sept. 20, 2015

Korean-Swiss artist fuses Orient, Occident

Guatemala, Korea celebrate deepening economic ties

The Guatemalan Embassy held a reception on Monday to mark the 194th anniversary of independence from colonial Spain and growing economic ties with Korea. Guatemala held a “transparent and peaceful” general election on Sept. 6 to choose the next batch of leaders, following former President Otto Perez Molina’s resignation on Sept. 3 after he was charged with corruption.“With pride, Guatemalan citizens have made important contributions to our country’s stability by replacing the (former) president

Sept. 20, 2015

Guatemala, Korea celebrate deepening economic ties

TED Salon inspires at Canadian Embassy

TED Salon, a global conference platform dedicated to spreading ideas about “Technology, Entertainment, Design,” came to the Canadian Embassy on Thursday, drawing the wisdom of professionals.The speakers were radio announcer on EBS and TBSeFM Steve Hatherly, social food entrepreneur Han Young-mi, start-up entrepreneur David Lee and singer Cha Sang-gu. Radio announcer on EBS and TBSeFM Steve Hatherly speaks to audience at the Canadian embassy on Thursday. Joel Lee / The Korea HeraldWhile narratin

Sept. 20, 2015

‘Ukraine peace hangs on Minsk deal’

Ukraine’s efforts to create a united, democratic and European order will hinge on the successful implementation of the Minsk Agreement, as diplomats of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France are striving to end conflict in war-torn Donbass in eastern Ukraine, the country’s Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said Friday. Klimkin stressed that the real challenge is to establish and sustain a lasting structure based on universal values and economic rules, amid Ukraine’s struggle to break free from Russian

Sept. 20, 2015

Seoul wary of Japan’s security shift

Seoul reiterated its calls on Tokyo to uphold the pacifist principle and transparency in carrying out its defense policy after Japan’s parliament enacted legislation early Saturday that will allow its military to fight overseas in a contentious overturn of its strictly defensive postwar security law. Following a fiery political battle and late-night vote, the upper house approved 11 related bills, lifting constraints enshrined in Japan’s constitution on its military after World War II. The new r

Sept. 20, 2015

China joins calls on N. Korea to shun provocation

China has added to the pressure on North Korea to refrain from provocations after Pyongyang hinted at nuclear and missile threats ahead of the 70th anniversary of the founding of its ruling Workers’ Party next month. In recent weeks, Seoul has been ramping up diplomatic efforts to avert any test of a long-range missile or atomic device. Washington, Beijing and other countries have also warned of further sanctions should Pyongyang press ahead with a major provocation. Last week, the communist sta

Sept. 20, 2015

China joins calls on N. Korea to shun provocation

FM Yun calls for future-oriented ties with Japan based on history awareness

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said Sunday that South Korea and Japan should ramp up efforts to make this year a new era for their ties based on a correct understanding of their shared history.Yun made the remarks at an annual joint culture event with Japan in Seoul to mark the 50th anniversary of normalization of Seoul-Tokyo relations. Korea was under Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule."The relations between South Korea and Japan are still being affected by a bitter legacy stemming from modern histor

Sept. 20, 2015

S. Korean PM leaves for France

South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn left for Paris on Wednesday to mark the 130th anniversary of the country's diplomatic ties with France, which falls next year.The five-day trip is Hwang's first official overseas trip since taking office in June.Hwang will meet with his French counterpart, Manuel Valls, and attend the opening ceremony of the Museum of Decorative Arts upon arrival, according to the Prime Minister's Office.Hwang's itinerary also includes a meeting with French President Fra

Sept. 16, 2015

Japan to step up help for Vietnamese maritime security

TOKYO (AP) -- Japan has announced it will give Vietnam used boats and other equipment worth 200 million yen ($1.7 million) to improve its maritime security capabilities as China asserts its territorial claims in regional seas.Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced the grant Tuesday after holding talks with Vietnamese Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong in Tokyo. The two leaders said they share serious concerns over attempts by China to change the status quo in the South China Sea by ass

Sept. 15, 2015

Korea, EU agree to broaden cooperation

South Korean President Park Geun-hye and European Council President Donald Tusk held summit talks in Seoul on Tuesday and agreed to boost multifaceted cooperation on bilateral and global issues spanning fields of politics, security, economy and science.The two leaders praised progress made in their strategic partnership and discussed pending issues including the current situation on the Korean Peninsula. Park and Tusk also shared their views on North Korea’s nuclear ambition, condemning Pyongyan

Sept. 15, 2015

S. Korea, China, Japan likely to open summit on Oct. 31: source

South Korea, China and Japan are expected to open their first group summit talks in three years at the end of next month, a diplomatic source said Tuesday."Given a possible timeframe for now, the trilateral summit will likely be held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1," the source said, asking not to be named.The three countries are in the final stage of their consultations on the schedule, agenda items and other relevant issues, added the source.They plan to hold a meeting of deputy director general-level

Sept. 15, 2015

S. Korea-U.S. alliance basis for Seoul's ties with Beijing: top envoy

South Korea's alliance with the United States is the basis for the country's relations with China, Seoul's top diplomat in Washington said Monday.Amb. Ahn Ho-young made the remark during a parliamentary audit of his embassy as lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties voiced concern that Seoul's strengthening ties with Beijing may have negative effects on the alliance with Washington."Amid changes in international situations, the Korea-U.S. relations have steadily strengthened, and are in

Sept. 15, 2015

[Herald Interview] Web archive offers insight into path of Korea’s development

South Korea has blazed its way into economic prosperity over the past seven decades, and the Korea Development Institute School has been sharing the country’s experience in social and economic development by providing an online database and education projects for civil servants from other countries, the school’s dean said Monday.Headlining the school’s mission is “K-Developedia,” an online database launched by the Sejong-based institute in 2012 which carries resources related to Korea’s developm

Sept. 14, 2015

[Herald Interview] Web archive offers insight into path of Korea’s development