U.S. not 'sandwiched' between Korea, Japan: Stephens

Kathleen Stephens, an iconic figure in recent South Korea-U.S. ties, emphasized Wednesday that Washington's alliances with Seoul and Tokyo are not a zero-sum game.Japan's gain does not have to be Korea's loss, or vice versa, she said.She dismissed a view that the U.S. is sandwiched between Japan, apparently seeking to expand the role of its self-defense forces, and South Korea, which remains wary of Japan's possible return to military imperialism."I think what has held true for a long time is st

July 11, 2012

Tokyo spearheads protests against monuments for Korean women: source

The Japanese government has ordered its diplomats in the U.S. to step up efforts to block the erection of monuments here for Korean women forced to serve as sex slaves for Japan's imperialist troops during World War II, a source said Tuesday.Japan's foreign ministry has "directed its Consul General in New York to actively protest monuments to comfort women being erected by Korean-American groups h

July 11, 2012

Stronger tourism ties between ASEAN, Korea

The ASEAN-Korea Centre and the Korea Tourism Organization agreed on July 2 to hold joint ventures in tourism between the two regions.The agreement is expected to strengthen tourism ties and cultural exchanges in the area.The two organizations have agreed to share information and contacts for tourism of the 10 nation ASEAN region, and collaborate on projects for development strategies between Korea and ASEAN.The agreement also outlined plans to engage with conferences and international organizati

July 8, 2012

UAE publication for investors

The United Arab Emirates has published a book to answer questions from investors planning to do business there. The new book from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade is available in Korean at the country’s embassy in Seoul. The book “WHY UAE” gives information on the country’s business-friendly, open and diversified economy as well as the advantages of the strategic geographical location of the country. It outlines what opportunities the UAE offers to potential foreign investors and businessmen, i

July 8, 2012

Indonesia looks to promote Korean investment

Investment in Indonesia is an opportunity that must be seized with its perfect storm of market, demographics, resources and stability, according to the head of the country’s Investment Coordinating Board on Wednesday.“This is a country that you cannot miss because the market is there, the growing middle class is there, the natural resources are there and the political stability is there,” said Chairman Muhammad Chatib Basri.Basri went on to explain, on the sidelines of the Indonesia Integrated I

July 8, 2012

U.S. to discuss Korea’s whaling plan: State Dept.

WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) ― The U.S. government expressed concern Thursday over South Korea’s move to resume whaling.“We plan to discuss this with the South Korean government,” State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said, adding Washington remains committed to the moratorium.South Korea has notified the International Whaling Commission (IWC) of its plan to restart research-purpose whaling, which it halted in 1986.Japan has continued whaling, citing scientific purposes.Australia and New Zeala

July 6, 2012

S. Korea delays submitting claim on East China Sea shelf to U.N.

South Korea has postponed the timing of submitting a claim to an extended portion of continental shelf in the East China Sea to a United Nations body to sometime "within this year," according to an official Friday. The foreign ministry had been finalizing details to submit the claim on seabed beyond its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the East China Sea to the U.N. Commission on the Limits of the

July 6, 2012

Authorities begin probe into handling of pact with Japan

The government launched an investigation into the processing of the canceled military information agreement with Japan on Wednesday. Speaking on local radio on Wednesday, Democratic United Party chairman Lee Hae-chan called on the president to apologize before the National Assembly’s plenary session on July 16. He said the General Security of Military Information Agreement was the “final version of the Lee Myung-bak government’s movement against the times.”“President Lee needs to apologize for p

July 4, 2012

Korea boosts Central Asia ties

Korea is seeking to scale up its partnership with Central Asia in efforts to shore up its charge into the region’s vast resources reserves and growing energy and infrastructure industries. The Foreign Ministry hosted a cooperation forum in Seoul on Wednesday with more than 100 policymakers, businesspeople and scholars from five Central Asian countries ― Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. They took part in sessions on issues such as renewable energy, medical care and

July 4, 2012

Pyongyang’s growing foreign trade

North Korea increased its shipment of natural resources to China as it suffered from international sanctions and isolation stemming from its weapons programs, South Korean data showed.The North’s external trade surged 51 percent last year to a 22-year high of $6.3 billion thanks to robust Chinese demand, according to the state-owned Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency. Pyongyang’s exports, chiefly consisting of natural resources, soared 84 percent to $2.79 billion. Imports rose 32.6 percent

July 4, 2012

Lee discusses economic cooperation with Laos prime minister

President Lee Myung-bak met with Laotian Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong on Wednesday and discussed ways to expand cooperation in energy and resources as well as development aid between the two countries, the presidential office said.Thongsing arrived in Seoul earlier Wednesday for a two-day visit that also includes talks with South Korean Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik and a business forum aime

July 4, 2012