Nordics spearhead energy transition to clean future

Aided by long-sighted policies and smart technologies, the Nordic countries have grown their economies while cutting down on carbon emissions, effecting what’s dubbed the “decoupling.” As the world moves toward a carbon-free future powered by clean energy, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden are poised to spearhead sustainable development and reap its commercial benefits, experts pointed out at the Nordic Energy Research Conference on Thursday. Their technological and policy-related expertise wo

Dec. 11, 2017

‘ROK-US alliance ever stronger in times of peril’

The Korea America Friendship Society held its annual year-end reception on Dec. 5 that celebrated the two countries’ deepening alliance amid growing military threats from North Korea. Some 360 guests, including military officers and noncommissioned members, diplomats, members of the KAFS and their spouses, participated in the event at Millennium Seoul Hilton. Music performances were provided by Songpa-gu Boys and Girls Choir. “Despite the tumultuous international relations surrounding the Korean

Dec. 11, 2017

Visegrad Group airs musical harmony of Central Europe

The Central European Jazz Connection, a quartet comprised of musicians from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, plays at a concert at the JCC Art Center in Seoul on Wednesday. (Hungarian Embassy)In celebration of the rotational presidency of the Visegrad Group -- also known as the V4, an alliance of four Central European states the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia -- the Hungarian Embassy held the concert “European Quartet One Melody” at the JCC Art Center in Seoul on W

Dec. 11, 2017

Japan hopes to resume shuttle diplomacy with S. Korea as soon as possible: embassy official

A senior Japanese embassy official reaffirmed Thursday that Tokyo wants to resume top-level shuttle diplomacy with South Korea "as soon as possible," saying that it is a symbolic step that would help enhance mutual trust between the two neighbors.Koichi Mizushima, minister and deputy chief of Japan's Embassy in Seoul, hoped that a summit involving the leaders of South Korea, Japan and China will also be held to discuss pending regional and global issues."Shuttle diplomacy has an important and sy

Dec. 7, 2017

Korea asks for efforts to protect its people in Philippines

South Korea asked for continued efforts by the Philippines on Tuesday to protect its people in the Southeast Asian country from crime, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.Earlier, consular officials of the two met in Manila and discussed a variety of issues ranging from consular cooperation to protection of their people traveling or living in the other country. In response to the request, the Filipino side promised to provide necessary support to better protect Koreans there.  Korean President Moo

Dec. 5, 2017

Vietnam wants to leave dark past behind, move forward with Korea

HANOI -- Vietnam wants to leave behind the dark war-related history with South Korea and push to deepen their future-oriented relations for the prosperity of the people of the two countries, a ranking official of a state-run think tank on diplomatic policies has said. Dr. To Anh Tuan, deputy director general of the Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies, a think tank under the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, made the remarks during a meeting last week with a group of reporters visitin

Dec. 5, 2017

Ukraine remembers Holodomor genocide

The Ukrainian Embassy in Seoul observed last week the annual remembrance of the “Holodomor” famine, orchestrated by the Soviet Union to wipe out Ukrainians in the early 1930s.Holodomor -- meaning “death by hunger” in Ukrainian -- took place from 1932-33 across Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union, killing an estimated 7-10 million people. The man-made disaster was carried out under the order of Joseph Stalin, who saw a nationwide famine as instrumental in forestalling a Ukrainian independence

Dec. 4, 2017

‘Thailand to cultivate late king’s fraternity with Korea’

The Royal Thai Embassy on Friday marked Father’s Day, a national celebration of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s birthday. Thai citizens from all walks of life gather together to show their “profound respect” for the monarch who passed away over a year ago, said Thai Ambassador to Korea Sarun Charoensuwan. He added that Bhumibol (Dec. 5, 1927-Oct. 13, 2016) worked tirelessly to uplift Thai people’s lives, particularly those on the bottom rungs of society, after he ascended to the throne in 194

Dec. 4, 2017

ASEAN connectivity woos smart tech, infrastructure investments

The Master Plan for ASEAN Connectivity 2025 blueprints a “seamlessly and comprehensively connected and integrated Association of Southeast Asian Nations that will promote competition, inclusiveness and a greater sense of community.” Enhancing physical, institutional and social linkages across Southeast Asia is a priority of ASEAN governments, a goal shared and facilitated by Korea, which is pivoting toward the rising regional economic powerhouse. As ASEAN generally suffers from a shortage and di

Dec. 4, 2017

Humane Society urges end to dog meat trade ahead of PyeongChang Olympics

When British Ambassador Charles Hay’s two daughters saw a freshly rescued black puppy in March last year, the envoy couldn’t say no to adopting the dog later to be named “Caspian.”Caspian was among 55 canines salvaged from a dog meat farm in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, in January 2016 by the Humane Society International, an organization dedicated to animal well-being.“When we got him, he was a very, very, very tiny puppy,” Hay said at an exhibition in Seoul on Thursday featuring photographs of do

Dec. 4, 2017

Turkish PM to visit Korea this week

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim will arrive in South Korea this week for talks with Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, Lee's office said Monday.Yildirim will arrive in the country Tuesday for a two-day visit, leading a delegation of 60 people, including senior government officials, lawmakers and business leaders.While in Seoul, he will also meet with National Assembly Speaker Chung Se-kyun, attend a ceremony to open a new Turkish Embassy building and hold a meeting with business leaders, the off

Dec. 4, 2017

Korea, France to hold high-level talks to discuss NK issues

Senior diplomats of South Korea and France will meet in Seoul this week to discuss cooperation against North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats, the foreign ministry here said Monday.Lee Do-hoon, South Korea's special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, will meet with his French counterpart Nicolas de Riviere on Tuesday, according to the ministry. Lee Do-hoon, Special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs. (Yonhap)The high-level meeti

Dec. 4, 2017

Korea submits KORUS FTA plan to parliament

The South Korean government will establish a plan to renegotiate the free trade agreement with the United States and notify its course of action to the National Assembly, the trade ministry said Monday. Trade Minister Kim Hyun-chong held a meeting with officials from 20 ministries and government organizations to share issues related to the open trade pact, called the KORUS FTA, and come up with effective negotiating strategies.The meeting comes after the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on

Dec. 4, 2017

Tillerson urges China to curb oil supply to N. Korea

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged China Thursday to curb its oil supply to North Korea in the wake of its latest missile launch.North Korea faces tightened sanctions following its test-launch Tuesday of a new intercontinental ballistic missile. The regime has claimed it can now strike the entire U.S. mainland with a "super-large heavy warhead." US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson(Yonhap)U.S. President Donald Trump expressed disappointment in an early morning tweet that a Chinese envoy'

Dec. 1, 2017

‘Georgia set to expedite Europe-Asia trade via multimodal routes’

Georgian Ambassador Otar Berdzenishvili (Joel Lee/The Korea Herald)Charting a democratic and free economic path since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Georgia has adroitly exploited its strategic location in the South Caucasus to connect Europe and Asia.Georgia’s geostrategic value is set to multiply with the launch of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway on Oct. 30 and signing of the Lapis Lazuli Corridor Agreement with Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Turkey on Nov. 15, according

Nov. 27, 2017

Costa Rica honors ex-Korean envoy for superb diplomacy

The Costa Rican government honored former Korean Ambassador Shin Soon-chull with the National Order “Juan Mora Fernandez,” which is endowed upon ambassadors and other high-level foreign individuals that have exceptionally served the Central American nation.The award is named after Costa Rica’s first elected head of state Juan Mora Fernandez (1784-1854), who channeled his patriotism and modesty to look after his compatriots’ well-being, according to the Costa Rican Embassy in Seoul. Shin served a

Nov. 27, 2017

‘South African economy ripe for cutting-edge investments’

South Africa is Korea’s largest trade partner in Africa, but there is much room to grow two-way trade and investment by targeting innovative sectors, according to the country’s top envoy here. The South African economy is being transformed to produce value-added goods and services, presenting opportune conditions for Korean companies, Ambassador Nozuko Gloria Bam stressed at an investment seminar at the Federation of Korean Industries on Thursday.“The transformation of our economy through the pr

Nov. 27, 2017

[Herald Interview] What Britain’s liberal air taught Thae Yong-ho

After Thae Yong-ho, former deputy chief of the North Korean Embassy in London, defected to South Korea in the summer of 2016, UK Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific Mark Field had a chance to meet him in Seoul in late August during an official visit. Field grasped why Thae, acclimated to Britain’s liberal democratic society, risked the lives of himself and his family to flee to the South, forsaking their diplomatic privileges. “What the story shows is that Thae lived in London and saw his

Nov. 27, 2017

China's senior party official to visit Korea this week

A senior official at an advisory body to the Chinese government will visit South Korea this week to discuss ways to step up South Korea's relations with China, as well as Hong Kong, the foreign ministry here said Monday. Leung Chun-ying, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a political advisory body in China, is set to arrive in South Korea on Tuesday for a four-day visit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Leung previously served

Nov. 27, 2017