South Korea called on Japan Friday to scrap a controversial event stressing its claim to the easternmost South Korean islets of Dokdo, warning that Seoul will sternly respond if its demand is not met.Seoul’s demand came one week before Japan is scheduled to celebrate the so-called annual “Takeshima Day” on Feb. 22. The event was first launched by the Shimane prefecture in 2005 to support Japan’s attempts to lay claim to the South Korean islets, called Takeshima in Japan. Tokyo announced earlier

Feb. 14, 2014

 U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met Chinese President Xi Jinping Friday as part of President Barack Obama's efforts to prod Beijing to do more to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons.The U.S. is also encouraging China to peacefully settle its territorial rows with Japan and a number of Southeast Asian nations.Beginning the meeting with Xi at the Great Hall of the People, Kerry conveyed "good greetings" from President Barack Obama, according to an initial pool report for a smal

Feb. 14, 2014

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Asia on Thursday on a mission aimed largely at easing tensions between China and its smaller neighbors over territorial disputes and exploring ways to restart long-stalled talks on ridding North Korea of nuclear weapons.On his fifth trip to Asia as America's top diplomat, Kerry will be visiting South Korea, China and Indonesia, where officials traveling with him said he will be making the case for reducing regional acrimony over competing claims in t

Feb. 13, 2014

China said Thursday that it has maintained an "overall good momentum" of bilateral relations with the United States, a day after the White House announced a four-nation Asian visit by U.S. President Barack Obama.Obama will visit South Korea, Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines in April, with major security headaches ranging from North Korea to China's maritime disputes with Southeast Asian nations expected to top his agenda.When asked about Obama's planned visit to Asia, China's foreign ministry

Feb. 13, 2014

 U.S. President Barack Obama plans to visit South Korea in April for talks with President Park Geun-hye about the alliance between the two countries, North Korea's nuclear program and other issues, the White House said Wednesday.The visit is part of a four-nation trip that also includes stops in Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines, the White House said in a statement. With the full itinerary yet to be announced, he is expected to stay in South Korea for two days from April 23 following his trip

Feb. 13, 2014

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will seek to make sure that there is no disparity between Seoul and Washington on ways of dealing with North Korea, when he travels to Seoul this week, officials said Wednesday."The secretary's focus is on close coordination on North Korea, he will reaffirm our alliance commitments as well as our resolve to work closely together with the Republic of Korea to promote denuclearization and to maintain deterrence, " a senior U.S. government official told reporters

Feb. 13, 2014

Former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama said Wednesday he believes current Japanese leader Shinzo Abe will honor a 1995 apology that he issued while in office for the country's colonization of Korea in the early 20th century.The 89-year-old former Japanese leader made the remarks during a speech at the National Assembly amid concern that Abe could refuse to inherit the so-called Murayama statement and a similar apology issued in 1993 by then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono."Prime Min

Feb. 12, 2014

Germany's repentant attitude toward its World War II aggression serves as a good example to Northeast Asian countries faced with recurring diplomatic tensions over history-related issues, Seoul's foreign minister said.Yun Byung-se made the remarks during a phone conversation with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier late Tuesday, according to the foreign ministry."The exemplary case of how Germany deals with history issues can be a good example in solving regional issues in Northeast A

Feb. 12, 2014

The South Korean ambassador to China will make a two-day visit to a Chinese memorial hall this week to pay tribute to a revered Korean independence hero, an embassy official said Tuesday.The planned visit by Amb. Kwon Young-se to the memorial hall in the northern Chinese city of Harbin comes nearly one month after China opened the facility. The hall honors Ahn Jung-geun, a symbol of the Korean independence movement who assassinated a prominent Japanese colonial leader a century ago.Ahn shot to d

Feb. 11, 2014

South Korea should consider forging a pact with China on sharing military intelligence as part of efforts to boost mutual trust, Seoul's top diplomat said Monday."There is a need to review the necessity (for a South Korea-China military information sharing pact,)" Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se said during a parliamentary interpellation session.Yun made the remarks in response to ruling Saenuri Party lawmaker Song Young-keun's question of whether the two neighbors need a military pact for the pur

Feb. 10, 2014

Pakistani Charge d’Affairs to South Korea Shahbaz M. Malik and Friends of Kashmir Association, a Korean support group that counts a former South Korean ambassador and a retired general as members, marked Kashmir Solidarity Day with a seminar in Seoul on Wednesday. Pakistan’s Kashmir Solidarity Day has been observed annually since 1990 in Kashmir and around the world as a day of protest against Indian control over part of Kashmir.In South Korea, it is attended by some of the approximately 8,000 P

Feb. 9, 2014

Iranian Ambassador to South Korea Ahmad Masoumifar promoted his country’s profile here when he launched a photo exhibition at the Korea Foundation Cultural Center gallery in Seoul on Tuesday. He also celebrated his country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.“Iran has one of the richest art and cultural heritages in the world, and possesses many paintings and architecture and metal work,” said Masoumifar at the opening of the three-day exhibition before a throng of diplomatic VIPs, Iranian students and cu

Feb. 9, 2014

Norway has emphasized its commitment to working with South Korea on Arctic issues, including developing the region as a new transportation corridor connecting East Asia and Western Europe.With more than a thousand participants from 31 countries, this year’s Arctic Frontiers Conference held in the northern Norwegian city of Tromso from Jan. 18-23 became a stage on which Norway underscored its partnership with South Korea. The two countries have pledged to undertake regular official consultations

Feb. 9, 2014