Tillerson's visit to S. Korea 'important, timely' for joint approach to NK: Seoul

The top US diplomat's visit to South Korea later this week is "important" and "timely" in that it will help the two allies draw up their detailed joint approach to North Korea and its growing nuclear and missile threats, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday.US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will come to South Korea on Friday as part of his first Asia tour since inauguration that will also take him to Japan and China. He is to have meetings with senior government officials, including talks wit

March 14, 2017

Korean security chief to visit US for talks on N. Korea

South Korea's presidential national security adviser will visit the United States this week for talks with his counterpart on North Korea, the presidential office here said Tuesday.During his two-day visit to Washington, Kim Kwan-jin, chief of the National Security Office, will meet with H.R. McMaster, the US national security adviser, to discuss joint efforts to counter Pyongyang's growing missile and nuclear threats, the office said.National Security Office chief Kim Kwan-jin attends a securit

March 14, 2017

US must ensure no daylight with S. Korea's next leader over N. Korea: US expert

The United States should work hard to make sure there is no daylight with South Korea over how to deal with the North as the Asian ally is expected to elect a liberal leader seeking a softer approach to Pyongyang, a US expert said Monday.Sue Mi Terry, a former senior US intelligence official with expertise on Korea issues, made the point during a Council on Foreign Relations discussion, noting that the top candidates for South Korea's president are liberal politicians, including former president

March 14, 2017

Tillerson's visit to Seoul to provide 'good' chance to share experiences on N. Korea

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's planned visit to South Korea this week will provide a "good" opportunity for Seoul to share its experiences on North Korea and its nuclear threats with the fledgling Donald Trump administration, a government official said Monday.Tillerson will come to South Korea on Friday as part of his first Asia tour since inauguration that will also take him to Japan and China. He is to have meetings with senior government officials during his two-day stay here including

March 14, 2017

Turkey, Korea mark 60 years of diplomacy with culture

Marking the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations this year, the Turkish Embassy in Seoul will organize various cultural events ranging from a photo exhibition to storytelling for children and gastronomy, according to its top envoy to Korea. The anniversary on March 8 marked an important milestone for both peoples, as Turkey also attaches significance to 60 years culturally, said Turkish Ambassador to Korea Arslan Hakan Okcal, in a briefing with reporters at the embassy. “Reaching 6

March 13, 2017

Bulgaria, Korea progress through comprehensive partnership

The Bulgarian Embassy in Seoul marked the country’s Liberation Day last week amid growing ties with Korea.The holiday commemorates the Eastern European nation’s independence in 1878 from the Ottoman Empire, which ruled Bulgaria for over 500 years. Bulgaria regained its sovereignty under the Treaty of San Stefano on March 3, 1878, following the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78.“Following his election last November, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev is committed to further enhancing our Comprehensive an

March 13, 2017

Poland advocate Kim Soon-hyung dies of cancer

Kim Soon-hyung (1969-2017), an assistant to the Polish ambassador who tirelessly promoted Poland in Korea, died Thursday from cancer. Working at the embassy from 2006 until before her death, Kim organized a multitude of assignments ranging from presidential and ministerial visits to cultural events. A master of Polish language, she grasped its subtle nuances through living in Poland for 13 years, according to the embassy. She was also an “energetic press officer, event coordinator and bridge-bui

March 13, 2017

[HERALD INTERVIEW] ‘France, Korea are sound partners in Internet of Things’

As an imaginative entrepreneur, David-Pierre Jalicon envisions our future homes embedded with Internet of Things technologies micromanaging every aspect of our lives. In the upcoming Fourth Industrial Revolution, he says, “things will be more integrated and interconnected” through industrial convergence. As all disciplines, economies and industries become fused and physical, digital and biological boundaries become blurred, “our key challenge is how to connect manufacturing and services industri

March 13, 2017

Foreign minister to travel to Vietnam, Sri Lanka this week

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se will travel to Vietnam and Sri Lanka this week to discuss economic cooperation and joint policies in dealing with a wayward North Korea, his ministry said Monday.Yun will fly to Sri Lanka on Tuesday for a three-day visit marking the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the countries. The foreign minister will then come back home to attend to US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's two-day Seoul visit slated from Friday, before heading to Vietnam on Sunday

March 13, 2017

VANK to launch youth public diplomacy team in Ukraine

A South Korean non-governmental organization said Monday that it will launch a youth team in Ukraine this week to step up promotion of South Korea and its policy and culture in the European region. The digital public diplomacy team will be comprised of 100 local and Korean students. Its launch ceremony will be held at a university in Kiev, Ukraine on Friday, according to the Voluntary Agency Network of Korea.The students will serve as public goodwill diplomats whose main job is to produce digita

March 13, 2017

Ex-US Amb. Hill: Next Korean govt. less likely to 'follow our lead'

South Korea is likely to see the emergence of a "left-of-center" government that is more accommodating to North Korea and less willing to follow the US lead, former US Ambassador to South Korea Christopher Hill said.South Korea is scheduled to elect a new president in May after former President Park Geun-hye was forced out of office in the wake of a massive corruption scandal involving a longtime friend accused of using her ties to Park to amass wealth and other personal gains.(Yonhap)"The betti

March 13, 2017

Former President Park leaves Cheong Wa Dae

Former President Park Geun-hye left the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae on Sunday evening, two days after the Constitutional Court upheld her impeachment.Ending a some four-year stay in the presidential mansion, Park headed back to her private residence in Samseong neighborhood, southern Seoul. Hundreds of supporters were waiting for her arrival, chanting "Park Geu-hye, the President!" and "Cancel the impeachment!" (Yonhap) The Constitutional Court upheld Park's impeachment over a corruptio

March 12, 2017

Tillerson to visit Korea this week

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is to visit South Korea later this week for meetings with senior government officials to discuss issues of mutual concern including the growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea, officials said Sunday.US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will stay in South Korea for two days from March 17 during which he will meet with Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and other senior government officials. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se (L) meets with US Secretary of Sta

March 12, 2017

Over 90 US congressmen sign THAAD resolution

More than 90 US congressmen have signed a latest congressional resolution calling for the swift deployment of an advanced anti-missile system in South Korea to counter North Koran threats since its proposal early last month, a US broadcaster reported Friday. As of Thursday, a total of 93 Democratic and Republican congressmen have signed the H. Res. 92 since it was proposed by Rep. Joe Wison on Dec. 7, Voice of America said. (Yonhap)In particular, 16 legislators left their signature on Monday alo

March 10, 2017

S. Korea, US to discuss N. Korean nuclear threat: spokesman

Top diplomats of South Korea and the United States will discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in dealing with North Korea and its nuclear program when they meet next week in Seoul, the foreign ministry here said Thursday. South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se (L) meets U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Germany on Feb. 16, 2017. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will stay in South Korea for two days starting from March 17 during which he will meet with

March 9, 2017

Chinese envoy urges Korea to suspend deployment of THAAD battery

Chinese Ambassador to Seoul Qiu Guohong on Thursday urged South Korea to suspend the deployment of an advanced US missile defense system in the country."The deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery must be scrapped immediately. If that is impossible, it should at least be suspended to leave room open for Seoul and Beijing to negotiate," the envoy was quoted as saying by Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun of the ruling Liberty Korea Party. (Yonhap)Yoon said he held a private meeting with th

March 9, 2017

Bolivia names street after Korea as symbol of friendship, cooperation

Bolivia has named one of its streets after South Korea in a show of respect and friendship for the country that helped build its new town in Santa Cruz, the Seoul government said Thursday.The 80-meter wide, 9.85-kilometer-long road bisecting the new town of Santa Cruz was named "Avenida Corea" or Korea Avenue in a ceremony held Wednesday (Bolivia time), according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The rendered image (on left), provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure

March 9, 2017

S. Korea, Mexico agree to work together to denuclearize N. Korea

Vice foreign ministers of South Korea and Mexico have agreed to continue their countries' collaboration to denuclearize North Korea and improve its human rights situation, Seoul officials said Wednesday.During their talks in Mexico on Tuesday, South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Ahn Chong-ghee and his counterpart Carlos Alberto de Icaza also discussed North Korea's recent assassination of its leader Kim Jong-un's half brother Kim Jong-nam in Malaysia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. South K

March 8, 2017

China's top diplomat renews strong objection to THAAD deployment

China's top diplomat on Wednesday voiced his strong objection to the deployment of an advanced US missile defense system in South Korea, calling it a mistake that threatens Seoul's security going forward. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the renewed opposition as Seoul and Washington recently started the process of deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system in South Korea.During his meeting with press on the sidelines of the annual session of China's parliament, Wang said that

March 8, 2017

S. Korea, US, Japan defense officials discuss response to NK missile threat

Senior defense officials from South Korea, the United States and Japan on Wednesday condemned North Korea's recent ballistic missile launches and agreed to coordinate on how to deal with its provocations, the defense ministry said. Wee Seung-ho, deputy minister for policy, held a video conference with David F. Helvey, US assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs, and Satoshi Maeda, director general for defense policy. (Yonhap)They strongly condemned the North's ballis

March 8, 2017