S. Korean, Laotian FMs discuss ways to expand bilateral trade, investment

The top diplomats of South Korea and Laos have discussed ways to strengthen cooperation and expand investment during their talks in the Southeast Asian country earlier this week, the foreign ministry said Sunday. The talks between Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and his Laotian counterpart, Saleumxay Kommasith, came as Seoul strives to advance its New Southern Policy aimed at deepening diplomatic and economic cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). During their tal

Aug. 29, 2021

Seoul's nuclear envoy to visit Washington for talks on N. Korea

South Korea's top nuclear envoy is set to depart for the United States on Sunday for talks on efforts to resume dialogue with North Korea, the foreign ministry said. Noh Kyu-duk's four-day trip to Washington comes after his US counterpart Sung Kim's visit to Seoul last week, during which the two discussed humanitarian aid to the North amid heightened tensions over Pyongyang's protest against military exercises between the South and the US During his trip, Noh plans to meet officials from the S

Aug. 29, 2021

Latvia Embassy unveils exhibition showcasing 30th anniversary of Latvia-Korea relations

The Latvian Embassy in Seoul unveiled an exhibition Teusday to mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Latvia and Korea. The exhibition titled “Latvia: A New Beginning” was unveiled at the Geumjeong Cultural Center in Busan and will showcase diversity of Latvia’s culture until Oct. 9. One part of the exhibition, “Latvia. Architecture at Convergence,” reflects the rich culture of Latvia and has been created as a follow-up to a special issue of th

Aug. 27, 2021

Colombian president hopes to boost economic ties with Korea

  Colombian President Ivan Duque on Thursday expressed hopes of expanded economic ties with Korea, touting the brotherhood between the two nations forged during Colombia’s participation in the 1950-53 Korean War. “More than 5,000 Colombians came into this nation to defend liberty and democracy. More than 230 were killed. Four hundred were injured. And they gave the best of their lives to protect this nation. So, there is a brotherhood that has existed since then,” the p

Aug. 27, 2021

K-beauty, K-food should make most of free trade pact: Colombian minister

Colombia can help Korean businesses with their popular cosmetics and food products by supplying exotic ingredients, Colombia’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Rodolfo Enrique Zea, said in an interview with The Korea Herald on Thursday. He gave the example of copoazu, an Amazon fruit that can be used to make desserts and confectionery. The minister was visiting Seoul this week, accompanying President Ivan Duque’s three-day state visit. The president held summit talk

Aug. 27, 2021

Colombian veterans of Korean War receive state medals from S. Korea

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has awarded state medals to two Colombian veterans who fought for South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War in recognition of their sacrifice and devotion, officials said Thursday. Guillermo Rodriguez Guzman, 91, and Alvaro Lozano Charry, 87, were awarded the Ambassador for Peace Medal on Wednesday during their visit to Seoul on the occasion of Colombian President Ivan Duque's three-day state visit to South Korea that began Tuesday. A retired career soldier,

Aug. 26, 2021

Cheong Wa Dae vows continued support for political stability in Myanmar

Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday South Korea will continue efforts for democracy and recovery of peace and stability in Myanmar in close cooperation with the international community. It was responding to a public petition calling on Seoul to express formal support for a political group opposing Myanmar's junta, called the National Unity Government of Myanmar (NUG). In the online message, posted on Cheong Wa Dae's website and approved by more than 268,000 people, the petitioner requested South Korea

Aug. 26, 2021

US grateful for S. Korea's contribution in evacuating Afghan refugees: US general

The United States is thankful for South Korea's support in getting people out of warn-torn Afghanistan, a ranking US military official said Wednesday, as the US struggles to evacuate its citizens and Afghan refugees before its deadline expires next week. Maj. Gen. William Taylor, deputy director for regional operations of the Joint Staff at the US Department of Defense, made the remark after South Korea evacuated nearly 400 Afghans who will be airlifted to South Korea for possible settlement th

Aug. 26, 2021

New Zealand Tech Roadshow 2021 to foster partnerships between New Zealand and Korean technology companies

New Zealand’s chamber of commerce in Korea, or the Kiwi Chamber, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Invest Seoul Center jointly launched the two-day “New Zealand-Korea Tech Roadshow 2021” webinar Wednesday. The tech roadshow aims to emphasize New Zealand‘s role as a testbed of agricultural technologies and its status as a global leader in the field. Tech Roadshow 2021’s agenda is “People & Environment” focusing

Aug. 25, 2021

S. Korea expresses 'strong regret' over Japan's Fukushima water

  South Korea on Wednesday expressed strong regret over Japan's move to release contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant without consultations with neighbors, following new reports of an undersea tunnel construction plan to release radioactive water from the plant. The government convened a vice-ministerial interagency meeting in response to news reports that the Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc., the operator of the Fukushima plant, was planning to con

Aug. 25, 2021

3 military planes carrying out operations to bring Afghan evacuees to South Korea: foreign ministry

South Korean military aircraft are carrying out operations to bring to the country Afghan people who aided Seoul's efforts to help rebuild the war-torn nation, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. Three military planes were sent to Afghanistan and a neighboring country to "bring to South Korea Afghan workers, who supported our government's activities in Afghanistan, and their family members," the ministry said in a text message to reporters. The Afghan people worked at South Korea's e

Aug. 24, 2021

Russia reaffirms willingness for 'constructive role' in peninsula peace process

Russia's top nuclear envoy reaffirmed the country's willingness to play "a constructive role" in advancing the peace process on the Korean Peninsula during the talks with his South Korean counterpart Tuesday, Seoul's foreign ministry said. Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov, who doubles as Moscow's envoy for North Korean issues, made the point to Noh Kyu-duk, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, as they discussed ways to bring Pyongyang back to di

Aug. 24, 2021

Indian Embassy, Yonsei University host symposium on Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh

The Indian Embassy has teamed up with Yonsei University’s Institute of East and West Studies to co-host a two-day International Symposium entitled “Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh: Developmental Dynamics and Future Trajectories.” As part of celebrations for India’s Independence Day, the symposium was held Monday and Tuesday to analyze development strategies and map future trajectories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh region through growth models of India and Korea. Ra

Aug. 24, 2021

Danish tech ambassador sees room for more ESG cooperation

Denmark has a lot of room for increased cooperation in strengthening public-private partnerships as well as in the environmental, social and governance, or ESG, realm with Korea, Anne Marie Engtoft Larsen, Denmark’s tech ambassador said in an email interview with the Korea Herald. Saying that the Danish-Korean green growth alliance launched in 2011 shows Denmark and Korea are on track to strengthening public-private partnerships and ESG, Larsen said that Korea’s hosting of the Part

Aug. 24, 2021

Ro Jae-hun and Jang Si-ho receive Gold Cross of Merit on Hungary's National Day.

GOLD CROSS -- Ro Jae-hun, the founding president of the Korea-Hungary Friendship Association and son of former President Roh Tae-woo (left), and Jang Si-ho (right) pose with Hungarian Ambassador Mozes Csoma after receiving the Hungarian Gold Cross of Merit, the country’s second-highest civilian honor, on Friday. Roh received the medal for contributing to Hungary-Korea ties, while Jang was recognized for his contribution to economic relations between the two countries.

Aug. 24, 2021

Vice FM Choi discusses bilateral ties, maritime security with Nigerian FM

First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun has met with Nigeria's top diplomat during a visit to the African nation and agreed to work together to move forward economic and other ties between the two countries forward, the foreign ministry said Friday. In Thursday's meeting with Foreign Minister Zubairu Dada, Choi said that the relations between the two countries have steadily developed based on decadeslong economic cooperation and offered to further strengthen the ties to that end, the ministry

Aug. 20, 2021

Singapore Embassy celebrates 56th National Day

The Singapore Embassy in Seoul celebrated the country‘s 56th National Day Wednesday. 　 As part of the online program, a Singapore Airlines cabin crew performed a National Day song titled ‘Where I Belong’. A cultural performance titled ‘Friendship Promenade’ was also performed in collaboration with Singapore’s Ding Yi Music Company and Korean traditional musician Gamin Kang. Singapore’s ambassador to Korea Eric Teo thanked the participants, and expre

Aug. 20, 2021

Biden administration values alliances as 'profound source of strength': State Department

The Joe Biden administration prioritizes alliances with NATO, South Korea and others as a "profound source of strength" for the United States, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Thursday. The remarks came as Washington is trying to quell doubts about the US,' security commitments to its allies after the pullout of its troops from Afghanistan has led critics and even some allies, like Britain, to question the credibility of the US-led alliances. "It is safe to say that

Aug. 20, 2021

Ex-House Speaker Gingrich slams Biden over Afghan pullout's impact on US allies' trust

Former Speaker of the US House of Representatives Newt Gingrich has slammed President Joe Biden for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, saying the decision would leave South Korea and other allies wondering whether they can trust the United States. Gingrich made the comments in a contribution to Fox News on Wednesday, portraying the turmoil in Afghanistan in the wake of the US' troop withdrawal decision as a "clearly massive failure of leadership." "See how quickly Biden turns

Aug. 19, 2021

A friend in need is a friend indeed: Celebrating Indonesia’s Independence Day

August is a festive month for both Korean and Indonesian people, as both countries celebrate their independence in August. The Republic of Indonesia commemorates the Aug. 17, 1945 as its Independence Day, only two days after the Independence Day of the Republic of Korea. Both countries share similar historic backgrounds from the very beginning of nation-building. They are now deepening their ties not only as key economic partners but also as like-minded countries. I would like to convey my warm

Aug. 17, 2021