Deputy FM to visit Iran for policy talks

South Korea's deputy foreign minister will visit Iran this week for policy talks with his counterpart amid renewed interest in business opportunities there following a landmark nuclear deal, a government official said Monday.Kim Hong-kyun plans to visit Tehran for two days starting Friday and meet with Ibrahim Rahimpour, deputy minister for Asia and Pacific affairs, for their countries' annual high-level policy talks.The trip comes two months after Iran and the so-called P5+1 -- Britain, France,

Sept. 7, 2015

U.S. says not concerned about S. Korea's strengthening ties with China

The United States said Thursday it is not concerned about South Korea's strengthening relations with China, saying greater cooperation and dialogue between Seoul and Beijing is good for the region.  South Korean President Park Geun-hye's attendance at China's military parade this week, which was shunned by Western leaders, has led to some U.S. experts and observers raising concerns that Seoul is tilting too much toward Beijing.  Asked if Washington has such concerns, State Department deputy spok

Sept. 4, 2015

S. Korea still cautious about bilateral summit with Japan

President Park Geun-hye attended a massive military parade in Beijing on Thursday as China commemorated the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.  Park, wearing a yellow jacket and sunglasses, stood alongside her Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping; Russian President Vladimir Putin; and other dignitaries on the balcony of the Gate of Heavenly Peace as a 70-gun salute was fired at Tiananmen Square in central Beijing.  Tens of thousands of Chinese soldiers goose-stepped through the square while

Sept. 3, 2015

Park stands at left-hand side of Xi's wife at photo session ahead of military parade

President Park Geun-hye stood on the left-hand side of the wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping at a photo session on Thursday ahead of a military parade marking the end of World War II.   Russian President Vladimir Putin stood on the right-hand side of Xi, who stood with his wife, Peng Liyuan, according to TV footage aired by China's state-run media.   About 30 heads of state attended the military parade and the arrangement at the photo session was seen as China's special hospitality toward Par

Sept. 3, 2015

China sets up special reception team for Park

China has set up a special reception team for President Park Geun-hye, a South Korean official said Thursday, in the latest sign the country is taking extra care of the dignitary.  Chinese President Xi Jinping has repeatedly instructed officials to take special care of Park, calling her one of the most important guests, presidential spokesman Min Kyung-wook said.  China also has provided an exclusive waiting room for Park ahead of a luncheon reception to be hosted by Xi after a military parade,

Sept. 3, 2015

Obama marks Japan's surrender anniversary with commitment to deepen ties with Tokyo

U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday marked the 70th anniversary of Japan's formal surrender that ended World War II with a tribute to those who sacrificed their lives during the war and a commitment to deepen the partnership with the former foe."We remember those who endured unimaginable suffering as prisoners of war, and we honor the ultimate sacrifice of more than 100,000 U.S. service members who laid down their lives in the Pacific theater to defend our nation and advance the cause of fr

Sept. 3, 2015

Developing countries pick education as favored Korean policy

Civil servants and scholars from developing countries around the world picked education as South Korea’s most appealing development policy, a survey by KDI School of Public Policy and Management found.Officials from the KDI School conducted the survey on 400 people from 83 developing countries in Asia-Pacific, Africa, Europe, Middle East and the Americas from May to June. “The survey was conducted to find out which aspect of Korea’s experience on development was most appealing to people from dev

Sept. 2, 2015

Park expresses gratitude for China's role in defusing tensions

President Park Geun-hye expressed gratitude Wednesday to her Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, for the constructive role Beijing has played in defusing heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula.  Park made the comments at the start of her meeting with Xi, though she did not elaborate.  Cheong Wa Dae, South Korea's presidential office, did not provide any further details of the summit talks.  China is believed to have significant leverage over North Korea, which has long been dependent on Chines

Sept. 2, 2015

S. Korea urges Japan to take action over sex slave issue

South Korea urged Japan on Sunday to take concrete steps to resolve the issue of Korean women who were forced into sexual slavery for Japanese soldiers during World War II.  Foreign Ministry spokesman Noh Kwang-il made the call in a statement marking four years since the Constitutional Court deemed the government's lack of action over the dispute unconstitutional.  "As we stressed in the Aug. 15 Liberation Day address, the Japanese government must show a more enthusiastic attitude to swiftly res

Aug. 30, 2015

Former exec of Goldman Sachs arrested over alleged stock price manipulation

A former executive director of Goldman Sachs and three others have been arrested for allegedly manipulating stock prices, prosecutors said Thursday. The 49-year-old Korean-American, surnamed Kim, is suspected of helping brokers, including a 54-year-old surnamed Choi, find institutional investors to buy manipulated stocks in 2011, the prosecutors at the Southern District Prosecutors' Office said.Choi and his accomplices allegedly received 600 million won ($500,000) to find investors. Prosecutors

Aug. 27, 2015

S. Korean students urge Abe to apologize for sexual slavery

Two South Korean college students, who crossed the U.S. by bicycle to promote awareness of Japan's wartime sexual slavery, held a rally in front of Japan's Embassy in Washington Wednesday to demand Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe apologize and compensate victims.The two students, Shim Yong-seok and Baek Deok-yeol, both 22, arrived in Washington earlier this week after traveling all the way by bicycle from Los Angeles since June 27. The 4,800-kilometer journey was aimed at calling for Japan to

Aug. 27, 2015

U.S. says respects S. Korea's decision to attend Chinese military parade

The United States said Wednesday it respects South Korean President Park Geun-Hye's decision to attend a massive military parade China plans to hold to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II."Participation in these events is the sovereign decision of each country. We respect the Republic of Korea's decision," a State Department spokesperson said on background in response to a Yonhap News Agency's request for comment.The Chinese parade, set for Sept. 3, is seen as a show of force am

Aug. 27, 2015

U.S. national security advisor to visit China

U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice will visit China later this week for discussions on a range of issues ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Washington next month, the White House said Tuesday.Rice will be in Beijing on Aug. 28-29 for meetings with senior Chinese officials, including State Councilor Yang Jiechi, to consult on a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues, the White House's National Security Council spokesman, Ned Price, said in a statement."She will

Aug. 26, 2015

China says foreign leaders will attend Sept. 3 military parade

All foreign leaders who will visit Beijing next month will attend a huge military parade marking the end of World War II, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Ming said Tuesday. South Korean President Park Geun-hye will be in Beijing on Sept. 3, but it remains undecided whether she will attend the military parade. (Yonhap)

Aug. 25, 2015

China says military parade will involve 12,000 troops, 200 aircraft

Chinese organizers of a huge military parade marking China's victory over Japan in World War II said Friday that the Sept. 3 parade will involve about 12,000 troops and 200 aircraft, adding it will represent "new development" of the Chinese armed forces.   "The number of troops participating in the parade is about 12,000," said Qu Rui, deputy director of the parade steering group, told reporters during a press conference.   "At the same time, more than 500 pieces of 40-odd types of equipment, an

Aug. 21, 2015

Park‘s visit to China sends message on history to Japan: Chinese media

President Park Geun-hye's presence at celebrations marking China's victory over Japan in World War II would send the message to Japan that Seoul and Beijing have a common stance on historical issues, a state-run Chinese newspaper said Friday.  Park will be in China from Sept. 2-4 to attend events marking the 70th anniversary of the victory, though it remains undecided on whether she will attend a huge military parade that is expected to highlight the rivalry between China and Japan.   China's Co

Aug. 21, 2015