First ladies of South Korea, Japan make Japanese sweets

First lady Kim Keon Hee made wagashi, Japanese sweets, with Japanese first lady Yuko Kishida as she visited the prime minister’s residence during President Yoon Suk Yeol's working trip to Tokyo. This was the first meeting between the two in four months since the G-20 summit held in November in Indonesia. Kim learned how to make Japanese sweets under the guidance of a Japanese artisan and drank matcha tea, according to the Korean presidential office in a written statement. The two firs

March 17, 2023

US-S. Korea military exercises deter N. Korean aggression: Pentagon

WASHINGTON-- Joint military exercises between the United States and its allies are working effectively to deter aggression despite continued provocations from North Korea, a US Department of Defense spokesperson said Thursday. Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder made the remarks hours after North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, marking its second ICBM launch this year. "I think what's important for people to understand is one, deterrence continues to work," the Pentagon spok

March 17, 2023

Yoon, Kishida have sukiyaki dinner together with first ladies

President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had a sukiyaki dinner together at a restaurant in Ginza, downtown Tokyo, following their summit meeting on Thursday. According to a written briefing by presidential spokesman Lee Do-woon, President Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee arrived at Yoshizawa, which is famous for its sukiyaki, at around 7:40 pm. Prime Minister Kishida and his wife Yuko Kishida had already arrived and came out to greet the South Korean president and his

March 16, 2023

[Photo News] Presidential couple in Tokyo

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee are greeted by Korean compatriots attending a luncheon with the presidential couple. The luncheon was held ahead of a summit with Yoon's Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida, in Tokyo on Thursday. Yoon thanked Koreans in Japan for buttressing the ties between the two countries. The president also called for an active role in developing Korea-Japan relations. "Both Korea and Japan are at a starting point for a better future

March 16, 2023

Yoon, Kishida say Japan firms won’t be asked to pay damages

The Japanese companies held liable for damages by a 2018 South Korean court ruling for forcing Koreans to provide labor during Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula will not be asked to reimburse Korean company funds used for such compensation. President Yoon Suk Yeol and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida both publicly denied speculation that Seoul would go after the Japanese firms to enforce the plan after compensating the Korean victims on its own, largely because Tokyo refuse

March 16, 2023

Yoon, Kishida vow new era of ties

President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to open up a new era of Korea-Japan ties during their summit in Tokyo on Thursday, stressing the need to bolster security and economic cooperation for future generations and to deter evolving threats from North Korea. Yoon said the summit, the first in 12 years, signified a fresh start of bilateral ties, calling Japan a partner with common values and goals. The two leaders also agreed to resume “shuttle diplomacy&rd

March 16, 2023

Yoon reaffirms partnership with Japan as he arrives Tokyo for summit

President Yoon Suk Yeol stressed the importance of solidarity and cooperation with Japan during his meeting with Korean compatriots in Tokyo, his first official event there prior to a summit with his Japanese counterpart on Thursday. “Japan is a partner who we cooperate with together in security, economy and the global agenda.” he said during the luncheon meeting with about 80 Koreans. “However, over the past few years, exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in all

March 16, 2023

Yoon calls Japan to action ahead of first summit in 12 years

President Yoon Suk Yeol said he expects Japan to roll out actions commensurate with its recently renewed commitment to a forward-looking South Korea-Japan relationship built on a past apology for its 1910-45 rule of the Korean Peninsula. Yoon flew to Japan on Thursday for a two-day summit. In a joint interview with major Japanese newspapers Thursday, Yoon said the March 6 decision to use Korean company funds to compensate Korean victims forced to work for Japanese companies during the colonial p

March 16, 2023

S. Korea joins US-led multinational anti-submarine exercise

South Korea's Navy is participating in a US-led multinational anti-submarine warfare exercise in waters off Guam, officials said Wednesday. The Navy sent two P-3 maritime surveillance aircraft and 40 sailors to Sea Dragon 23, which began Wednesday and will last through the end of this month. The annual exercise launched in 2014 is aimed at enhancing joint anti-submarine warfare capabilities. Five countries, including India, Canada and Japan, are participating this year. The exercise came right

March 15, 2023

[New Neighbors] S. Korea needs anti-discrimination law to be an open community for immigrants

This is the second installment of a series of features, analysis and interviews exploring the challenges faced by Koreans and foreigners in creating a more diverse society in South Korea rapidly shifting away from its homogenous past. – Ed. Immigrants are the only solution for South Korea’s looming demographic cliff, as the country faces an ultra-low birth rate and a rapidly aging population. But to turn this homogeneous society into an open community for immigrants, there must

March 15, 2023

Korean business tycoons to accompany Yoon on Japan trip

Leaders representing Korean businesses will accompany President Yoon Suk Yeol on his visit to Japan on Thursday, as they expect to restore frayed trade ties with Tokyo which Seoul sees as disadvantageous for its export-driven, high tech-focused economy. Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Chairman Chey Tae-won, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun and Lotte Chairman Shin Dong-bin are among the chiefs in the business delegation, according to Yoon's senior economic secretar

March 15, 2023

Seoul sees Yoon’s Tokyo visit as 'milestone' in improving relations

President Yoon Suk Yeol’s upcoming visit to Japan is a significant step in improving Korea-Japan relations, providing an opportunity to break the long-standing vicious cycle of stagnation and move toward normalization, the nation’s national security adviser said on Tuesday. At the invitation of the Japanese government, Yoon, accompanied by first lady Kim Keon Hee, will embark on a working trip to the neighboring country from March 16-17. This marks the first time in 12 years that a K

March 14, 2023

Democratic summit to raise Korea’s global profile: ministry

President Yoon Suk Yeol’s decision to lead one of the plenary sessions at the Summit for Democracy, a US-led meeting of democratic countries united against authoritarian rule, will raise South Korea’s international profile as a leading democracy committed to peace, the Foreign Ministry in Seoul said Tuesday. US President Joe Biden has invited Yoon to chair a session held on March 29 -- the first day of the two-day gathering where world leaders will virtually discuss advancing human r

March 14, 2023

Yoon congratulates China's Xi on reelection

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday sent a congratulatory message to Chinese President Xi Jinping for his election for a third term, an informed official said. In the message, Yoon said they had a productive discussion on the development of the relations between the two countries during their first summit at a Group of 20 meeting last year, according to the state-run China Central Television. Yoon also expressed his hope to maintain close communication with Xi, and further deepen exchanges and coo

March 13, 2023

'Buck stops here': Yoon reaffirms push to mend ties with Japan amid backlash

South Korea's presidential office on Sunday reaffirmed its push to ease strains over the wartime forced labor dispute with Japan amid further backlash following the Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister's refusal to acknowledge the victims as forced laborers. President Yoon Suk Yeol's office released Sunday clips of Yoon saying during the closed-door meetings with the Cabinet on Tuesday that his effort to mend ties with Japan "will deliver on his presidential election campaign promise" as

March 12, 2023

Biden invites Yoon to lead session at Democracy Summit

US President Joe Biden has invited Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to lead one of the plenary sessions at the upcoming second Summit for Democracy, the presidential office said Sunday. The invitation was sent to Yoon on Feb. 23, asking him to lead one of the five plenary sessions scheduled for March 29. The sessions will serve as the launch of the summit and provide a platform for "candid conversations about democracy's power and potential around the world.” Biden expressed gratit

March 12, 2023

S. Korea awaits Xi visit from China: official

South Korea is anticipating a potential visit this year by Chinese President Xi Jinping or at least big senior-level exchanges between the two countries, a senior Foreign Ministry official in Seoul said Friday. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to sensitivity of the topic, said outside factors like pandemic travel curbs had prevented senior Seoul-Beijing exchanges, dismissing speculation that the two countries are at odds over policy. In late February, China said it does not a

March 10, 2023

S. Korea looks to revive military pact with Japan upon thaw

The Yoon Suk Yeol administration will resume regular military intelligence sharing with Japan depending on how a recent thaw in ties unfolds, a senior official at Yoon’s office said Thursday, ahead of a two-day summit starting Thursday next week between Yoon and his Japanese counterpart. The South Korean leader is seeking to use the opportunity to make stronger three-way ties with Japan and the US to fend off North Korea’s nuclear threats. But the General Security of Military Informa

March 9, 2023

Yoon to visit Japan for summit next week

President Yoon Suk Yeol will hold a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida next week, as he is set to visit the neighboring country with first lady Kim Keon Hee, the presidential office said Thursday. This is the first visit by a Korean president to Japan in about four years since former President Moon Jae-in visited Osaka in June 2019 to attend the Group of 20 summit. It is also the first time in 11 years and 3 months that a Korean president participates in a bilateral summit in Ja

March 9, 2023

Jordan, The Korea Herald to bridge gap

Jordan's new ambassador to Korea, Asal Al-Tal, and The Korea Herald CEO Choi Jin-young agreed to seek ways to expand bilateral exchanges between South Korea and Jordan during her visit to the company in Seoul on Wednesday. Al-Tal expressed optimism on fostering a positive image of Jordan among Koreans and of Korea among Jordanians. She pointed to increasing economic cooperation and interpersonal exchanges between the two countries as reasons for hope. The operations of Korean companies such

March 9, 2023