Austria rings sounds of music, innovation, dynamism

Despite being far away from each other, Austrians and Koreans are kindred spirits sharing unusual passions for the arts, culture and nature, says Ambassador Elisabeth Bertagnoli. Although typically identified as Europe’s crown jewel of art, music and sightseeing, Austria is as much about cutting-edge technology and innovation as Amadeus Mozart or Gustav Klimt, the country’s top envoy to Korea wants people to know. Marking the 125th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations this year, the Ger

April 10, 2017

Japan envoy meets vice foreign minister amid girl statue controversy

Japan's top envoy here met with a senior foreign ministry official on Monday apparently to demand that Seoul fully implement a 2015 deal aimed at resolving a rift over Japan's sexual enslavement of Korean women during World War II, the foreign ministry said.Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam and Ambassador Yasumasa Nagamine had a closed-door meeting, according to the ministry.Nagamine returned to Seoul from Japan on Tuesday following an almost three-month absence.Ambassador Yasumasa Nagamine (Yo

April 10, 2017

Unification minister negative about pre-emptive US strike on NK

South Korea's unification minister on Monday expressed a negative view about the United States' possible pre-emptive strike against North Korea, citing its influence on South Koreans' safety and security.Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo made the remarks amid reports that the US is reviewing "a full range of options" to the nuclear and missile threats North Korea poses to Washington and its allies.The minister said that the government cannot help taking into account repercussions of Washington'

April 10, 2017

China's nuke envoy embarks on S. Korea trip to discuss N. Korea issue

China's top nuclear envoy arrived in Seoul on Monday to discuss the growing threats from North Korea's missile and nuclear capabilities. Wu Dawei landed at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, for a four- or five-day trip. Upon arrival, he didn't respond to reporters asking for comments, only saying, "Thank you." China’s top nuclear envoy Wu Dawei arrives at Incheon International Airport on Monday for a five-day visit to discuss North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. (Yonhap)He is

April 10, 2017

S. Korea plays down possibility of pre-emptive US attack on N. Korea

South Korea played down the possibility of a pre-emptive US attack on North Korea on Monday, saying it wants to settle North Korea's nuclear issue peacefully, and the US supports that position."There's no need to be worried much," Lee Duck-hang, spokesman at the Ministry of Unification, said on the prospect of any pre-emptive US attack on Pyongyang during a press briefing.  Unification Ministry spokesman Lee Duck-hang (Yonhap)"The US has said it supports South Korea's policy on North Korea, and

April 10, 2017

China's nuke envoy to visit Korea to discuss cooperation, meet presidential hopefuls

China's top nuclear envoy will visit South Korea this week to discuss North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and also meet with presidential candidates to get a glimpse into the policy direction going forward, diplomatic sources said Sunday. Wu Dawei will come to Seoul on Monday for a five-day stay during which he plans to meet his South Korean counterpart Kim Hong-kyun and discuss their cooperation against the North's repeated provocations including a possible nuclear test, according to the

April 9, 2017

Korea not accept top Japan envoy's request for meeting

South Korea said Thursday it has decided not to accept a request by Japan's top envoy to South Korea to meet with the country's acting leader and two ministers for now.Amb. Yasumasa Nagamine has asked for the meeting with Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn, Defense Minister Han Min-koo and Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo amid a diplomatic row over Japan's sexual slavery.South Korea's unification and defense ministries said that they have decided not to take Nagamine's request at the current stage

April 6, 2017

Unification ministry turns down Japan envoy's request for meeting

South Korea's unification ministry said Thursday it has turned down a request by Japan's top envoy to South Korea to meet with Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo, citing the minister's schedule.The ministry handling inter-Korean affairs said that the Japanese Embassy in Seoul on Wednesday delivered the request by Ambassador Yasumasa Nagamine to meet with Hong on short notice.South Korea's Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo. (Yonhap)"The ministry told the embassy Wednesday that the minister could

April 6, 2017

Allies' security chiefs condemn NK missile provocation

The security chiefs of South Korea and the United States on Thursday condemned North Korea's latest missile test and agreed to craft a strong response to its provocations, Seoul's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said.During a 20-minute phone call that began at 8 a.m. (Korea time), national security adviser Kim Kwan-jin and his US counterpart H.R. McMaster agreed to maintain close cooperation over the North's saber-rattling, Cheong Wa Dae said in a press release.South Korea's national security

April 6, 2017

S. Korea, US, Japan vow to closely cooperate against NK provocations

The top nuclear envoys of South Korea, the US and Japan agreed to closely cooperate in coping with North Korea's latest missile test and jointly brace for additional provocations, the foreign ministry here said Thursday.Kim Hong-kyun, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs at the South Korean foreign ministry, talked to his US and Japanese counterparts -- Joseph Yun and Kenji Kanasugi -- in separate telephone calls, according to the ministry. Kim Hong-kyun (L), So

April 6, 2017

Japan's envoy requests meetings with key officials on comfort women deal

Japan's top envoy to South Korea has requested meetings with top government officials apparently to demand Seoul's implementation of a bilateral agreement on the wartime sex slavery issue, a diplomatic source said Wednesday.Ambassador Yasumasa Nagamine asked for the meetings with officials including Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, Defense Minister Han Min-koo and Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo, according to the source.  (Yonhap)The request was made right after the ambassad

April 5, 2017

S. Korea warns NK's continued provocations will quicken 'self-destruction'

South Korea condemned North Korea for its continued missile provocations on Wednesday, warning it would lead to toughened sanctions and eventually accelerate the "self-destruction" of the regime.The North fired off a ballistic missile earlier in the day into the East Sea from a site in the vicinity of Sinpo, South Hamgyong Province. This marked its fourth missile test using ballistic technology this year. South Korean foreign ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck (Yonhap)"Our government strongly con

April 5, 2017

US senators urge Trump to use summit with Xi to end Beijing‘s retaliation against Korea over THAAD

A bipartisan group of US senators on Tuesday urged President Donald Trump to use his upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping to bring an end to "unwarranted and unfair" retaliatory measures Beijing has taken against South Korea for hosting the US THAAD missile defense system.A total of 26 senators, led by Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), made the appeal in a joint letter to Trump just two days before he is set to host China's Xi for high-stakes talks expected to cover al

April 5, 2017

S. Korea in close consultation with US on N. Korea ahead of Trump-Xi summit

South Korea is closely communicating with the United States on North Korea and other major issues ahead of the upcoming summit talks to be held between the US and China this week, the foreign ministry here said Tuesday.US President Donald Trump is to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in their first summit on Thursday and Friday (local time) in Florida. North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats are expected to be one of their major topics. (AP-Yonhap file photos)"We are having close

April 4, 2017

S. Korea rules out possible talks with NK on occasion of sports events

South Korea's unification ministry on Tuesday dismissed the possibility that it would hold dialogue with North Korea on the occasion of sports events being held on both sides of the border.On Thursday, women ice hockey players from the two Koreas will square off in Gangneung, some 230 kilometers east of Seoul. A day later, their women's football teams will compete in a qualifying match in Pyongyang for the Asian Football Confederation Women's Asian Cup.North Korean players celebrate their goal a

April 4, 2017

Acting president warns against 'reckless' NK nuclear ambitions

South Korea's Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Tuesday warned against North Korea's "reckless" nuclear ambitions, saying it could launch yet another nuclear test or strategic provocation in time for major political events this month.Hwang made the remarks during a Cabinet meeting amid reports that Pyongyang has been seen preparing for what could be its sixth nuclear test, which experts fear could bring it closer to its long-cherished goal of becoming a nuclear power. South Ko

April 4, 2017

Seoul, London form friendship city agreement

LONDON (Yonhap) -- The mayors of Seoul and London formed a friendship city agreement on Monday aimed at strengthening cooperation in nine sectors including economic democratization, improved response to climate change and digital renovation.Park Won-soon and Sadiq Khan signed the agreement at City Hall in London after they agreed in Paris Wednesday to implement a Global Car Scoring System under which the cities will collect data on car emissions and publish them online as part of efforts to figh

April 4, 2017

Denmark, Korea cooperate in sustainable agriculture

The leading food and agricultural institutes of Denmark and Korea signed a cooperation agreement in late March to pave the way for joint programs in education and training, innovation and entrepreneurship.According to the Danish Embassy in Seoul, the Korea Agency of Education, Promotion and Information Service in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery (EPIS) inked a memorandum of understanding with SEGES, a subgroup under the Danish Agricultural and Food Council.The two organizations will condu

April 3, 2017

ASEAN youths dream of future in Korea

Alfiana Raharjo dreams of teaching the Korean language to Southeast Asians vying for careers in Korea.As an Indonesian studying at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, she has acquired an acumen of Korea, which she believes will prove instrumental in bridging the two countries. Raharjo also wants to offer her perspectives on halal-oriented tourism here, as the country is belatedly beginning its charm offensive toward Muslim travelers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as part of its di

April 3, 2017

Peru pleads for flood relief

The Peruvian Embassy in Seoul has urged for solidarity and support in recovering from a natural disaster that has wrecked the country since mid-March. Massive floods and landslides caused by “El Nino Costero” have ravaged the South American country, destroying more than 100,000 homes, 200 bridges and countless roads. Over 90 people have died, 122,000 have lost their homes and 700,000 are adversely affected, according to the diplomatic mission. A woman and her baby stand on a flooded street in th

April 3, 2017