S. Korea, France hold foreign ministerial talks in Bali on economic security

South Korea and France have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation on economic security during foreign ministerial talks held on the sidelines of an annual Group of 20 summit in Indonesia, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday. In the Bali meeting the previous day, Foreign Minister Park Jin and his French counterpart, Catherine Colonna, exchanged views on Seoul-Paris relations and major regional security issues, including Korean Peninsula affairs. They agreed to bolster partnerships o

Nov. 16, 2022

Yoon returns home from Southeast Asia trip

President Yoon Suk-yeol returned to Seoul on Wednesday following a tour of Cambodia and Indonesia that included his attendance at regional gatherings and his first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. In Phnom Penh, Yoon unveiled South Korea's new Indo-Pacific strategy focused on creating a free, peaceful and prosperous region, before attending summits involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and multiple bilateral summits, including one with US President Joe Biden and one

Nov. 16, 2022

Bulgarian Embassy holds ‘Hidden Letters’ exhibition on Cyrillic, Korean alphabets

The Bulgarian Embassy and Korea Foundation showcased an exhibition on Bulgarian and Korean alphabets at the Korea Foundation gallery in Seoul on Thursday. The embassy presented the "Hidden Letters" exhibition, centered on the Cyrillic alphabet and Hangeul through a vernissage for diplomats, international organizations, local and central authorities, businesspeople and media personalities. Delivering welcome remarks at the exhibition, Bulgarian Ambassador Petko Draganov highlighted the

Nov. 15, 2022

Biden-Xi summit shows desire for improved ties despite tension

US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first in-person bilateral summit on Monday, where they each showed a desire to improve US-China ties that have hit rock bottom in recent years. While they continue to stand at odds on key issues, including Taiwan, experts assess that Monday's summit will positively improve bilateral ties and reduce tensions. On the eve of the Group 20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, Biden and Xi met for about three hours, according to officials.

Nov. 15, 2022

Yoon, Xi share views for peace on Korean peninsula

President Yoon Suk-yeol expressed caution against protectionism and vowed Korea's support for the G-20's cooperation in the food and energy sectors as well as contributions to international solidarity in the health sector, at the G-20 Summit on Tuesday. On the sidelines of the summit, Yoon had a bilateral summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the evening to discuss China's role in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue at a time when its seventh nuclear test could take pla

Nov. 15, 2022

Yoon, China's Xi to hold first summit in Bali

BALI -- President Yoon Suk-yeol will hold his first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Bali on Tuesday, his office said. The summit is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. No other details were provided. The two leaders will be meeting on the sidelines of a Group of 20 summit. (Yonhap)

Nov. 15, 2022

Biden says US will have to take 'defensive' steps if N. Korea conducts nuclear test

WASHINGTON -- The United States will have to take certain actions that will be "more defensive" should North Korea conduct a nuclear test, President Joe Biden said Monday. The US leader said he has also called on Chinese President Xi Jinping to try and prevent North Korea from taking further escalatory steps, noting the US' defensive actions, if taken, will be "up in the face of China." "I made it clear to President Xi Jinping that I thought they had an obligation t

Nov. 15, 2022

South Korea aligns Indo-Pacific strategy with US, Japan: experts

South Korea’s first diplomatic strategy for the Indo-Pacific region appears to show the intention to align with the United States in the US-China rivalry, experts based in Seoul said Monday. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday unveiled the country's first Indo-Pacific strategy for freedom, peace and prosperity for the region, at the biannual Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Cambodia. There, Yoon highlighted the importance of maintaining peace and stability i

Nov. 14, 2022

Yoon arrives in Indonesia for G-20 summit

BALI -- President Yoon Suk-yeol arrived in Bali, Indonesia, late on Sunday for a three-day visit that will include his attendance at a Group of 20 (G-20) summit and various business events. In Bali, Yoon will continue his two-nation tour that took him first to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, for summits involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and separate summits with the leaders of the United States, Japan, Cambodia, Thailand and the Philippines. On Monday, Yoon will take part in a South Ko

Nov. 14, 2022

Korea, US, Japan leaders agree to strengthen cooperation against NK threats

The leaders of South Korea, the US and Japan met on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia on Sunday afternoon, expressing concerns about North Korea’s continued provocations and agreeing to strengthen the trilateral cooperation against the threats. They released a joint statement promising to strengthen deterrence against the North and share real-time information on its missiles among the three countries. "North Korea is making more hostile and offensive provocations based on

Nov. 13, 2022

Yoon puts focus on economic, security ties at ASEAN summit

During his trip to the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, President Yoon Suk-yeol presented the nation’s new regional strategies to strengthen economic and security ties with the nations and met with US, Japanese and Chinese leaders on the sidelines to stress solidarity in countering North Korean threats. President Yoon landed in Cambodia on Friday and attended the Korea-ASEAN summit the same day. At the meeting he unveiled the nation’s In

Nov. 13, 2022

President Yoon Suk-yeol leaves for six-day trip for ASEAN, G-20 summits

President Yoon Suk-yeol left Friday for Cambodia, the first of the two destinations where the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the G-20 summits will be held. Upon his arrival in Phnom Penh, Yoon will attend the South Korea-ASEAN summit. On Saturday, Yoon is scheduled to join a ASEAN Plus Three summit, where leaders from South Korea, Japan, China as well as ten other nations will join. During the summit, President Yoon, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Keqi

Nov. 11, 2022

S. Korea stresses no plan for lethal weapon supply to Ukraine

South Korea's defense ministry on Friday reaffirmed its commitment not to provide Ukraine with lethal military support, responding to a news report that Seoul is working on a "confidential" arms deal with Washington on the exports of artillery shells for use by Ukraine in its war against Russia. According to the Wall Street Journal, which cited unnamed US officials, the US plans to buy 100,000 rounds of 155mm artillery from South Korea for delivery to Ukraine. South Korean Defense

Nov. 11, 2022

US supports helping North Korean people, but Pyongyang ultimately responsible: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- The United States supports and is taking steps to help the people of North Korea despite differences with the North Korean regime, a state department spokesperson said Thursday. Ned Price made the remark as he also called on Pyongyang to put its people before its own interests. "Even when we have profound differences with a particular regime, and that of course applies in the case of North Korea, we are always looking for ways that we can support the humanitarian needs of a pa

Nov. 11, 2022

US concern over possible North Korean nuclear test remains real: Sullivan

WASHINGTON -- The United States continues to remain concerned about a potential North Korean nuclear test, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Thursday, noting that Pyongyang may still decide to conduct a test. Sullivan also expressed concerns over additional North Korean missile tests. "We have been very transparent about out concern with North Korea that the DPRK would conduct its seventh nuclear test at some point in this broader timeframe, and by broader I mean we have been tal

Nov. 11, 2022

What will Korean version of Indo-Pacific strategy look like?

South Korea is set to reveal its long-awaited Indo-Pacific strategy this week, drawing attention to the course Seoul sees for itself as it navigates between the United States and China. At the biannual Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit slated for Friday, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is expected to present the country’s first diplomatic strategy for the Indo-Pacific. The presidential office said the strategy is the last piece of a puzzle to complete Yoon’s diplomat

Nov. 10, 2022

Yoon to discuss North Korea nuclear threat with US, Japan leaders

President Yoon Suk-yeol said that he will hold a trilateral summit with leaders of the US and Japan on the sidelines of a multilateral summit on Sunday. While explaining his itinerary in Southeast Asia to the press during his regular morning briefing on Thursday, Yoon said the Korea-US-Japan summit has been confirmed. The meeting will be held during Yoon's first trip to Southeast Asia to discuss the North Korean nuclear threat issue. The trilateral meeting will be held in Cambodia on Sunday

Nov. 10, 2022

South Korea to announce Indo-Pacific strategy at the ASEAN Summit

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol will present the country’s Indo-Pacific strategy at the biannual Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit slated for later this week, the presidential office said on Wednesday. In a press briefing, national security adviser Kim Sung-han said Yoon will participate in the summit with leaders of ASEAN countries on Friday in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. There, he will announce the country’s Indo-Pacific strategy and also the government’s new ASE

Nov. 9, 2022

In era of economic security, what can Korea’s counter strategy be?

From the perspective of international politics, the existing spectrum of national security, which mainly focuses on military security, is gradually expanding to new areas including economy, food security and environmental or social factors. The global supply chain that has been driving the growth of the global economy amid the expansion of globalization is becoming an unstable factor that can weaken and worsen national competitiveness through the weaponization of interdependence. In particular,

Nov. 9, 2022

US monitoring N. Korea's covert operation to supply artillery shells to Russia: Pentagon

WASHINGTON -- The United States is closely watching the suspected delivery of North Korean artillery shells to Russia, a Pentagon spokesman said Tuesday after Pyongyang dismissed US reports that it may be covertly supplying arms to Russia for use in Ukraine. Defense department spokesman, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, however, declined to comment when asked if the shipments have been received by Russia. "I am not going to have anything new to provide beyond what the NSC (has said), and as you highli

Nov. 9, 2022