The Korea Herald

Park, Obama to hold summit in U.S.

President Park Geun-hye is expected to visit Washington this year for a summit with her counterpart Barack Obama as the allies ramp up diplomatic efforts to better counter North Korea’s threats and coordinate related policies. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry held talks on the margins of a security conference in Munich on Saturday to discuss Park’s envisioned trip and review the situation around the peninsula, the region and the globe.Obama’s national security

Feb. 8, 2015

ASEAN, Korea anticipate eventful 2015

The ASEAN-Korea Center held its annual council meeting last week to take stock of last year’s progress and discuss this year’s budget and plans. The meeting, the seventh in running, was attended by 11 directors from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Korea that make up the highest decision-making body of the center. The council directors reviewed last year’s programs leading up to the ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit held in Busan last December. The summit celebrated 25 years of bila

Feb. 8, 2015

Philippines embassy awards Korean vice admiral

The Philippines embassy awarded Korea’s high-ranking naval officer for his contribution to disaster relief efforts in the central Philippines in late 2013. Vice Admiral Koo Ok-hyoe, superintendent of the Republic of Korea Naval Academy, received the Chief of Staff Commendation Medal and Ribbon ― the highest distinction awarded by the Philippines military ― at a ceremony at the embassy on Jan. 29. “A true friend is someone who helps a friend in need,” said Philippines Ambassador to Korea Raul S.

Feb. 8, 2015

Philippines embassy awards Korean vice admiral

‘China’s Dream’ to keep N.K. threats at bay

China’s quest to become a powerful nation will lever against North Korea’s military provocations and promote multilateral cooperation toward unification, an expert said in an interview with The Korea Herald last week. Professor Lee Hee-ok, who teaches Chinese politics and China-Korea relations at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, said that “China’s Dream” touted by President Xi Jinping will keep Pyongyang’s provocations in check as they directly challenge China’s regional security. “Xi has calle

Feb. 8, 2015

‘China’s Dream’ to keep N.K. threats at bay

[Weekender] Abe shamed by attempt to whitewash atrocities

International criticism is escalating over Tokyo’s apparent attempts to whitewash its wartime wrongdoings as a group of U.S. historians issued a strong protest against the moves, arguing no government has the right to “censor history.”In a joint statement, a group of 19 American scholars decried Tokyo’s recent request for a U.S. publisher to change the description of the issue of the “comfort women” ― a euphemistic term referring to Asians forced into sexual servitude by Japan during World War I

Feb. 6, 2015

[Weekender] Abe shamed by attempt to whitewash atrocities

Seoul, Beijing, Tokyo seek to hold FM meeting in late March

South Korea, China and Japan are seeking to hold a meeting of their foreign ministers in Seoul late March in a bid to revive momentum for trilateral cooperation, officials said Friday. The three countries have pushed to hold the ministerial talks to pave the way for the resumption of a high-level trilateral summit that has been on hold since mid-2012 amid rows over historical issues. Seoul's foreign ministry said the three nations have settled on holding a foreign ministers' meeting around lat

Feb. 6, 2015

S. Korea signals flexibility on N.K. sanctions

South Korea is prepared to roll back a set of sanctions on North Korea if conditions are met through dialogue, a top official here said Friday. Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae said he government has already completed a relevant "study." "Once talks are held between the South and the North, I believe it can serve as a chance for lifting the May 24th Measure," he said at a forum in Seoul. His remarks indicated the Park Geun-hye administration's flexibility on the sanctions imposed by the pre

Feb. 6, 2015

China warns S. Korea against deploying U.S. missile defense

China warned Thursday that the possible deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system in South Korea could undermine the "overall interest of bilateral relations" between Seoul and Beijing, underscoring a long-standing rift between the neighbors despite their growing warmth on bilateral ties. The warning by China's foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei came a day after China's defense minister Chang Wanquan held talks with South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo in Seoul on Wednesday, d

Feb. 5, 2015

Yun departs for Germany for foreign ministers' meetings

The South Korean foreign minister departed for Germany Thursday to meet with the German foreign minister on ways to step up cooperation over the North Korean nuclear issue and Seoul's push for unification. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier are scheduled to meet on Friday in Berlin before holding a joint press conference in the afternoon, the foreign ministry said. The ministers' plan to discuss how to strengthen their collaboration over the North

Feb. 5, 2015

Seoul, Washington FMs to hold talks in Germany this week

South Korea's foreign minister plans to hold talks with his U.S. counterpart in Germany this weekend to discuss North Korea's nuclear weapons program and other bilateral issues, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday.Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se will meet with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Saturday on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, which kicks off Friday for three days, the ministry said.Yun will fly to Germany on Thursday for a four-day stay, which includes a planned

Feb. 4, 2015

[Herald Interview] Partnerships key to fighting poverty, inequality: Oxfam

With a new office in Seoul, Oxfam is ready to forge partnerships with other relief groups, businesses and civil society here to fight poverty, inequality, climate change and other global challenges, a senior official at the organization said. Chris Ashworth, international market development manager at Oxfam Great BritainChris Ashworth, international market development manager at Oxfam Great Britain, played a key role in the office’s launch in October. While carrying out fund-raising campaigns,

Feb. 4, 2015

[Herald Interview] Partnerships key to fighting poverty, inequality: Oxfam

Third Ebola team to be dispatched to Ebola-hit Sierra Leone

South Korea plans to dispatch a third batch of medical staff to Sierra Leone this month for a four-week mission to join the global fight against the Ebola outbreak, the Foreign Ministry said Monday. The team, comprised of two army doctors and three nurses, will leave for the U.K. on Saturday for a weeklong training course before heading to the West African country later this month. They are scheduled to receive three days of related education at home until Wednesday. “With Freetown seeking to st

Feb. 2, 2015

S. Korean envoy to visit China for talks on N.K. nukes

South Korea‘s top nuclear envoy will leave for China this week to discuss ways to resume the long-stalled six-party talks on North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, Seoul‘s foreign ministry said Monday.Hwang Joon-kook is scheduled to visit Beijing on Wednesday and Thursday to hold a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wu Dawei, according to the foreign ministry.“The two sides plan to exchange views over the situation on the Korean Peninsula and have in-depth talks on ways to reopen the denuclear

Feb. 2, 2015

U.S. publisher rejects Japan’s demand to alter sex slavery descriptions

A U.S. textbook publisher said Friday it “unequivocally” stands by the description of Japan’s sexual enslavement of women during World War II in one of its books after Japan’s government asked for changes in it.Japan made the request to the publisher, McGraw-Hill, last month, claiming there are grave errors and descriptions in the book, “Tradition & Encounters: A Global Perspective on the Past,” which it said conflict with the country’s stance on the sexual slavery issue.The request was seen as

Feb. 1, 2015

Espoo, hotbed of innovation and entrepreneurship

A Finnish delegation led by the city of Espoo visited Korea in mid-January to enhance business collaboration with Korean companies and welcome their investment. The Tapiola Sinfonietta orchestra performed the same week in Seoul, representing the city’s vibrant cultural scene. “Our city is a seedbed of creating innovative new jobs as well as a cultural capital for the citizens, communities and companies,” said Tuula Antola, the municipal director of economic and business development. “The public

Feb. 1, 2015

Espoo, hotbed of innovation and entrepreneurship

[Herald Interview] Korea-U.S. alliance linchpin of regional peace: ambassador

The top U.S. envoy to Korea has reaffirmed America’s security commitment to its key regional ally, stressing that his country “stands steadfast” alongside South Korea in countering North Korean military threats.“The level of trust between our governments remains very high, as demonstrated in the operational control agreement, the special measures agreement and the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement,” the U.S. Ambassador to Korea Mark Lippert told The Korea Herald at the ambassador’s residence Habib

Feb. 1, 2015

[Herald Interview] Korea-U.S. alliance linchpin of regional peace: ambassador

Cultural pride key to attracting tourists

Korea should develop customer-oriented, high-quality tourism to attract Chinese tourists, industry insiders said at a reception in Seoul last week. The meeting, held at the Yido Dining restaurant and china gallery in Apgujeong-dong in Seoul, was part of year-round gatherings aimed at celebrating the 4 pleasures of seeing, eating, enjoying and talking through the 5 senses. “The direction of China’s government policy is moving from economy to culture,” Yido owner Yi Yoon-shin said. “To stand out a

Feb. 1, 2015

Cultural pride key to attracting tourists

Romanian Embassy features tourism documentary

The Romanian embassy hosted a reception last week to promote tourism and wine at the embassy building. A documentary ― “The Mountain” ― on Romania’s tourism attractions was shown at the event. It was produced by KBS2, the news and entertainment channel of Korean Broadcasting System, in collaboration with the embassy and aired on Dec. 7 last year. Some of the locations covered in the documentary included, The Bran Castle ― home of the titular character in Bram Stoker’s Dracula ― and the Bucegi Na

Feb. 1, 2015

Romanian Embassy features tourism documentary

U.S. textbook publisher rejects Japan's demand for changes in sex slavery descriptions

A U.S. textbook publisher said Friday it "unequivocally" stands by the description of Japan's sexual enslavement of women during World War II in one of its books after Japan's government asked for changes in it.Japan made the request to the publisher, McGraw-Hill, last month, claiming there are grave errors and descriptions in the book, "Tradition & Encounters: A Global Perspective on the Past," which it said conflict with the country's stance on the sexual slavery issue.The request was seen as

Jan. 31, 2015

U.S. prioritizes N. Korea denuclearization: envoy

The United States is making denuclearization the top priority on its North Korea policy, a ranking U.S. diplomat said Thursday, amid the long-stalled six-party talks on ending the communist country’s nuclear program.Wendy Sherman, U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs, also said that there is “no daylight” between Seoul and Washington in dealing with North Korea, stressing that Washington supports Seoul’s bid for inter-Korean dialogue. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se (right) poses wit

Jan. 29, 2015

U.S. prioritizes N. Korea denuclearization: envoy