Full text of joint declaration commemorating 60-year alliance between Korea and US

Joint Declaration in Commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the Alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States of AmericaFor six decades, the U.S.-ROK Alliance has served as an anchor for stability, security, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, in the Asia-Pacific region, and increasingly around the world.  President Barack Obama of the United States of America and President Park Geun-hye of the Republic of Korea, meeting in Washington, D.C. on May 7, 2013, present this Joint

May 8, 2013

U.N. chief expresses support for Park's 'trustpolitik'

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed support Monday for South Korean President Park Geun-hye's vision for confidence-building with North Korea and promised to play whatever roles possible for peace on the Korean Peninsula, an official said.The South Korean-born U.N. chief made the remarks when he met with Park at U.N. headquarters. Park arrived in New York on Sunday on the first leg of a five-day visit to the United States that will take her to Washington later Monday for a summit with P

May 7, 2013

Park arrives in New York en route to summit with Obama

South Korean President Park Geun-hye arrived in New York on Sunday on the first stop of a visit to the United States that will culminate in a summit with President Barack Obama expected focus on how to deal with North Korea.The White House summit, scheduled for Tuesday, could also take up contentious bilateral issues as well, such as Seoul's demand for the right to reprocess spent nuclear fuel, and set the tone for how the alliance between the two countries will fare for years to come.Park first

May 6, 2013

Seoul mulls body to boost cooperation with Africa

South Korea is considering establishing an organization to be tasked with sharing its development experience with Africa and further promote cooperation with the region, an official said Sunday.The body, tentatively named the Korea-Africa Center, will be headquartered in Seoul and the government is weighing plans to set up four chapters in Africa ― Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt, he said.“Modeled after the ASEAN-Korea Center, the government is reviewing the need for establishing a cooper

May 5, 2013

ASEAN-Korea Center hosts ambassadorial lecture series

The ASEAN-Korea Center is organizing a special lecture series with former ambassadors to East Asian countries on the topic of “Rising ASEAN and Korea” in cooperation with the chambers of commerce and industry in Busan, Daejeon and Gwangju. The first of the lecture series’ three sessions saw former Korean Ambassador to China Shin Jung-seung speak at the Daejeon Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Shin is currently the research director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the Korea National Diploma

May 5, 2013

Famous Italian novelist promotes women’s literature

Despite progress in leveling the playing field in publishing, women still face discrimination, award-winning Italian poet and novelist Dacia Maraini said in a lecture organized by the Italian Embassy in Korea at Ewha Womans University on Thursday.“The market might be open to women writers but, when the lists are made of great must-read writers, there are few women writers represented,” Maraini said during her talk with an audience of female students at Ewha’s Asia Center for Women Studies.“We su

May 5, 2013

Iraq oil minister visits to boost energy ties

Iraqi exports of oil to Korea are on track at 200,000 barrels per day under term contracts, but Korea should reopen direct flights and lift its travel ban to further strengthen ties, the Middle East country’s oil minister said during his visit here last week.“Relations between Korea and Iraq are very strong and are developing very fast,” said Iraqi Oil Minister Abdul Kareem Al-Luaibi in Seoul on Tuesday.Al-Luaibi said further strengthening of ties could be achieved by reopening direct flights an

May 5, 2013

Allies to start USFK cost talks

South Korea and the United States are expected to begin senior-level negotiations this month to renew a cost-sharing agreement for American troops stationed in the South, diplomatic sources here said Thursday. Some 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea under a mutual defense treaty aimed at deterring potential aggression from North Korea. The agreement, last revised in 2008, will expire at the end of this year. “South Korea and the U.S. may launch their first talks soon, as the both si

May 2, 2013

Australia smashes Korean spy ring: newspaper

SYDNEY (AFP) ― A South Korean spy ring has been uncovered in Australia trying to cultivate public servants to obtain trade secrets, a report said Thursday, but officials insisted relations with Seoul remained robust.The Sydney Morning Herald said previously suppressed information revealed that South Korea’s National Intelligence Service had sought “to obtain sensitive information” on trade negotiations between Canberra and Seoul.It reported that the Australian Security Intelligence Organization

May 2, 2013

Japanese envoy counters criticism of Tokyo's history view

A top Japanese envoy sought Wednesday to calm negative sentiment in the U.S. against the Shinzo Abe government's controversial take on history.In an op-ed piece in the Washington Post, Ambassador to Washington Kenichiro Sasae said his country has already expressed its "feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology" for wartime atrocities."The (Japanese) government believes that it is always important to face history head-on and with humility," he said. "It is also desirable that efforts to do s

May 2, 2013

‘Budget woes may create hitches in Korea-U.S. alliance’

WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) ― Overall relations between South Korea and the United States are expected to remain healthy in the coming years but budget constraints on both sides may strain the alliance, a recent U.S. congressional report said.A new approach toward North Korea by South Korea’s Park Geun-hye administration is also a potential source of friction, according to the Congressional Research Service.“Considered by most analysts to be a strong supporter of the alliance, Park is expected to c

May 1, 2013

Budget woes may create hitches in Seoul-Washington alliance: CRS

Overall relations between South Korea and the United States are expected to remain healthy in the coming years but budget constraints on both sides may strain the alliance, a recent U.S. congressional report said.A new approach toward North Korea by South Korea's Park Geun-hye administration is also a potential source of friction, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS)."Considered by most analysts to be a strong supporter of the alliance, Park is expected to continue close defense

May 1, 2013