Top diplomats of S. Korea, US, Japan hold talks on N. Korea, other regional issues

The top diplomats of South Korea, Japan and the United States met in New York to discuss North Korea and other issues. The meeting between South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was held on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday (local time). "The secretary and ministers of the three countries will discuss the Korean Peninsula issue and other regional and global matters," a Seou

Sept. 23, 2021

Diplomats of S. Korea, Japan hold talks on peninsula security, history

Diplomats of South Korea and Japan held talks in Tokyo on Thursday to discuss the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and historical issues between the two countries, the foreign ministry said, after tensions flared anew with North Korea's recent missile launches. The talks between Lee Sang-ryol, the ministry's director general for Asian and Pacific affairs, and his Japanese counterpart, Takehiro Funakoshi, came after the North fired off two short-range ballistic missiles on Wednesday fo

Sept. 16, 2021

S. Korea, Vietnam vow to boost defense ties during vice-ministerial talks

South Korea and Vietnam agreed Thursday to strengthen cooperation in defense affairs and the arms industry during annual vice-ministerial talks, Seoul officials said. South Korean Vice Defense Minister Park Jae-min and his Vietnamese counterpart, Hoang Xuan Chien, held the Defense Strategy Dialogue in the Southeast Asian nation and discussed regional security issues and ways to strengthen their defense ties, according to Seoul's defense ministry. "The two sides agreed to boost cooperatio

Sept. 16, 2021

US opposed counter-coup military moves against Chun's rise to power: declassified documents

The United States opposed potential counter-coup moves within South Korea's military in early 1980 aimed at reversing then Army Gen. Chun Doo-hwan's seizing of power from an earlier coup, declassified documents showed Thursday. The documents, disclosed by the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum at Seoul's request, contain diplomatic cables the US Embassy in Seoul sent to Washington reporting on the political instability in the South in the wake of Chun's military coup. Chun took power i

Sept. 16, 2021

US launches new Indo-Pacific security partnership with Australia, Britain

The United States on Wednesday announced the launch of a new trilateral security partnership in the Indo-Pacific that President Joe Biden said marks a "historic step" in deepening his country's cooperation with Australia and Britain. Biden said the countries will also work to equip Australia with "conventionally armed" nuclear submarines under the new trilateral partnership, named AUKUS. "The United States, Australia, (the) United Kingdom have long been faithful and capa

Sept. 16, 2021

US ready to help address N. Korea humanitarian concerns regardless of denuclearization: envoy

The United States is prepared to work with North Korea to address its humanitarian concerns "regardless of progress on denuclearization," Washington's point man on Pyongyang said Tuesday. Ambassador Sung Kim made the remarks after holding three-way talks with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts, Noh Kyu-duk and Takehiro Funakoshi, respectively, in Tokyo to discuss humanitarian aid and other incentives to resume dialogue with the North. The talks came amid renewed security concer

Sept. 14, 2021

Mexico and Korea: a strong partnership looking to the future

This month, Mexico commemorates 200 years of independence. Heir to millenary civilizations, Mexico has risen to become one of the 20 most populous and largest countries on the planet, both in terms of area and economy, strategically located in the Americas, between the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans. At these difficult times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the resilient and optimistic nature of the Mexican people is once more affirmed. Mexico has been a strong advocate from the beginning -- alo

Sept. 14, 2021

US remains open to diplomacy with N. Korea after latest missile launch: White House

The United States remains open to diplomacy and dialogue with North Korea, a White House spokesperson said Monday, despite North Korea's missile launch that it said poses threat to US allies in the region. Karine Jean-Pierre, principal deputy spokeswoman for the White House, said the US offer to meet anywhere, anytime also remains unchanged. "So you know our position has not changed when it comes to North Korea," she said when asked aboard the Air Force One en route to Boise, Idaho whe

Sept. 14, 2021

S. Korean trade minister to visit US this week

  South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo will visit the United States this week to discuss cooperation on various economic topics, including chip supply chains and vaccines, his ministry said Sunday. Yeo will visit Washington from Monday to Friday to meet his US counterpart Katherine Tai and American lawmakers to bolster economic ties between the two countries, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Yeo spoke with Tai last month, but it was through a virtual meeting. In

Sept. 12, 2021

S. Korea's top nuke envoy heads for Tokyo for talks with US, Japan

  South Korea's top nuclear envoy departed for Japan on Sunday for bilateral and trilateral talks with his US and Japanese counterparts on North Korean issues. "I expect that the upcoming talks will be a productive step to accelerate the Korean Peninsula peace process," Noh Kyu-duk told reporters before his departure at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, west of Seoul. During his three-day trip, Noh will meet with his US and Japanese counterparts, Sung Kim and Takehiro Fun

Sept. 12, 2021

S. Korea to officially deliver intention to join DEPA

South Korea said Sunday it plans to officially deliver its intention to New Zealand to join a global pact on the digital sector that covers a wider array of issues beyond conventional free trade agreements. South Korea completed its domestic procedures to join the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) in August, and now plans to on Monday propose the official launch of negotiations with DEPA members, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Earlier this month, Trade Minist

Sept. 12, 2021

Vietnamese ambassador, Korea Herald CEO discuss bilateral ties

Vietnamese Ambassador to South Korea Nguyen Vu Tung met on Wednesday with Choi Jin-young, CEO of The Korea Herald, and they exchanged views on bilateral ties between the two countries and the struggles of small businesses coping with COVID-19. “Next year Vietnam and Korea will celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Many opportunities lie ahead,” the Vietnamese ambassador said. “It’s the right time to enhance bilateral cooperation.” Choi echoed

Sept. 10, 2021

Indonesian ambassador calls for global unity to fight climate change

Climate change is the biggest existential challenge for humankind and the world needs to make a collective effort to use the rapidly narrowing window of opportunity to tackle the issue, says Indonesian Ambassador to Korea Umar Hadi. “We shall think green and transform now,” Hadi said in an interview with The Korea Herald, underscoring a need for a new ideology on sustainable development and for industries to undergo a green transformation. “I think, right now, what humanity t

Sept. 7, 2021

Ban Ki-moon marks 2nd International Day of Clean Air for blue skies

‘Prioritize return of clean air and blue skies’ By Ban Ki-moon Sept. 7, 2021, marks the 2nd International Day of Clean Air for blue skies as designated by the United Nations General Assembly. This day reminds us of the need to act now to reduce air pollution and take a stand for the fundamental right to clean air for ourselves and for future generations. Last year, as the president of the assembly and the chair of the council of the Global Green Growth Institute, I had the pleas

Sept. 7, 2021

Kuwaiti ambassador makes a courtesy visit

FRIENDLY TIES -- Bader Al Awadi (right), ambassador of Kuwait to South Korea, fist-bumps with The Korea Herald CEO Choi Jin-young during a courtesy visit to the Herald Corp. headquarters in central Seoul on Tuesday.

Sept. 6, 2021

Court orders Tokyo to disclose assets in S. Korea by next March

A local court has ordered the Japanese government to disclose its assets in South Korea by next March to pay compensation to Korean victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery, judicial sources said Thursday. The Seoul Central District Court issued the order for Tokyo to submit a full list of its assets in South Korea as part of efforts to secure reparations for 12 "comfort women" who were forced into sexual slavery for Japanese troops during World War II, setting the deadline at 10 a.m

Sept. 2, 2021

S. Korea, Egypt agree to expand defense industry cooperation

South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook has met with Egypt's Military Production Minister Mohamed Ahmed Morsi during a visit to the country and agreed to expand defense industry cooperation between the two sides, his office said Tuesday. The meeting took place Monday after Suh arrived in Egypt for a two-day visit at the invitation of the country's defense chief Mohamed Ahmed Zaki Mohamed. He is South Korea's first defense minister to visit the Middle Eastern nation. During the talks, Suh said S

Aug. 31, 2021

Korea, Colombia can help each other on green transition: Colombian environment minister

Korea is leading the world in the green transition with its Green New Deal, Carlos Eduardo Correa, Colombia’s environment and sustainable development minister said in an interview with the Korea Herald. Recognizing that Colombia also had a significant role to play in environmental issues, he said the two countries could work more effectively to achieving their aims if thy worked together “Colombia and Korea have big responsibility of sustainable development in post-COVID-19, if w

Aug. 30, 2021

Korean companies should take part in Colombia energy road map: minister

Colombia welcomes Korean companies to bid for energy and mining projects, Diego Mesa, Colombia’s minister of energy and mining said on Aug. 25, during an interview with The Korea Herald in Seoul. According to Mesa, Colombia has two major auctions for renewable energy and oil and gas coming up in October and December.  “Colombia’s main policy has been energy transition and multiplication. Korean companies can take part in upcoming biddings either directly or through prov

Aug. 30, 2021