OSAKA, Japan -- President Moon Jae-in on Friday stressed the importance of free trade, urging more cooperation among G-20 nations.Speaking at the first session of the G-20 summit dealing with trade and global economy, Moon raised concerns on the impact of trade protectionism.  Citing OECD and IMF listing trade conflicts and spread of protectionism as one of the reasons for lowering the world’s growth outlook, he urged G-20 nations to step up collective efforts.“This is the time

Foreign Affairs June 28, 2019

OSAKA, Japan -- South Korea and India will establish a new high-level dialogue body to seek ways to achieve synergies between Seoul’s New Southern Policy and India’s Look East Policy, Cheong Wa Dae said Friday. The agreement was made during President Moon Jae-in’s summit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Osaka. “The two leaders agreed to seek projects (for achieving synergies) by establishing a high-level consultatio

Foreign Affairs June 28, 2019

OSAKA, Japan -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s intentions regarding denuclearization and dialogue remain unchanged, and he is open to engaging with South Korea, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday. At the summit meeting with President Moon Jae-in held in Osaka, Japan, Xi relayed these and other plans Kim has, briefing his South Korean counterpart on his trip to Pyongyang. “(Kim’s) intentions on denuclearization are unchanged,” Xi was quoted as saying by Cheong W

North Korea June 27, 2019

OSAKA, Japan -- President Moon Jae-in on Thursday met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Osaka, Japan, to discuss bilateral and Korean Peninsula issues, including Xi’s recent visit to Pyongyang. The meeting with Xi, Moon’s first engagement in Japan, comes less than two weeks after the Chinese leader’s trip to Pyongyang amid hints from US President Donald Trump that denuclearization dialogue could resume.  According to Cheong Wa Dae, Mo

Foreign Affairs June 27, 2019

President Moon Jae-in and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia met in Seoul on Wednesday to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in a wide range of areas. The crown prince arrived in Seoul earlier in the day and was met by Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon before moving on to Cheong Wa Dae for a welcoming ceremony followed by a meeting with Moon and his top aides. At the meeting, Moon stressed the importance of Korea-Saudi relations, highlighting economic projects between the two cou

Foreign Affairs June 26, 2019

US President Donald Trump has no plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his trip to South Korea, a White House official confirmed Monday. In response to questions from the media about the possibility of Trump meeting Kim later this week, a senior White House official said “there are no plans for the meeting that you just mentioned,” adding that the purpose of the trip is for Trump to meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in.  The answer from the White House echoes t

North Korea June 25, 2019

For President Moon Jae-in, the G-20 Summit -- set to be held in Osaka, Japan, later this week -- will be an opportunity to further his agenda on dealing with North Korea and to strengthen and mend ties with G-20 countries.Moon has a number of bilateral summit talks scheduled on the sidelines of the event, including meetings with leaders of Canada, China, Indonesia and Russia.  The meetings with Chinese and Russian leaders come at a critical point, as Moon hopes to establish permanent peace

Foreign Affairs June 25, 2019

Controversy over a North Korean boat has spread to the political arena, with the main opposition turning up the heat on President Moon Jae-in. Controversy began earlier this month when it was revealed that the military had announced inaccurate information about four North Koreans who arrived in the South on June 15. In revealing the information, government agencies initially stated that the wooden boat carrying four North Koreans was detected near Samcheok port in Gangwon Province. The mili

Politics June 24, 2019

US President Donald Trump will visit South Korea on a two-day schedule from Saturday, Cheong Wa Dae announced Monday. The visit was arranged at the invitation of President Moon Jae-in, conveyed during the Moon-Trump summit in Washington in April, Cheong Wa Dae said.  “President Trump will arrive in the afternoon of June 29, and hold a summit at Cheong Wa Dae on the next day,” Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Ko Min-jung said. “(Moon and Trump) will hold in-depth discussions on w

Foreign Affairs June 24, 2019

President Moon Jae-in will hold summit meetings with leaders of Canada, China, Indonesia and Russia on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit next week, Cheong Wa Dae said Friday. According to Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Ko Min-jung, the four summit meetings have been confirmed and the presidential office will announce further meetings if they are arranged.  Moon is set to visit Japan on a three-day schedule from Thursday, a day ahead of the G-20 Summit. “President Moon will stress the need

Foreign Affairs June 21, 2019

Kim Sang-jo, chairman of the Fair Trade Commission, was on Friday named as the new chief of staff to the president for policy.He will replace Kim Soo-hyun, who has held the post since November last year. “(Kim Sang-jo) has made significant contributions to establishing a fair economy as the administration’s first FTC chairman,” Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Ko Min-jung said. Kim Sang-jo has served as FTA chairman since June 2017. He has built a career as an economics scholar

Politics June 21, 2019

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday began a two-day state visit to North Korea, fanning speculation about changes in the geopolitical dynamics on the Korean Peninsula, as well as denuclearization talks. Xi touched down in Pyongyang at about 11:40 a.m., beginning his first state visit to the North. He is also the first Chinese leader to make a state visit in 14 years. Although this is Xi’s first visit to Pyongyang as president, he has held four summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong

North Korea June 20, 2019

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday voiced support for North Korea and its approach to denuclearization, fanning speculation that Beijing will take a more direct hand in North Korean issues. In an op-ed piece published in North Korea’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, Wednesday -- a day before he begins a state visit to North Korea -- Xi highlighted China’s support for Pyongyang. “We will actively contribute to peace and security, development and prosperity of the

North Korea June 19, 2019

The prosecution on Tuesday assigned the complaint brought against President Moon Jae-in by Rep. Kwak Sang-do of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party to a criminal investigation department. In the complaint, filed June 13, Kwak alleges that Moon violated related regulations by calling for an investigation into former Vice Minister of Justice Kim Hak-eui, as well as other current and past cases.  On March 18, Moon called on the police and the prosecution to look into the Kim Hak-eui case a

Social Affairs June 18, 2019

Yoon Seok-youl, a well-known prosecutor who participated in major investigations linked to conservative administrations, was tapped for the post of prosecutor general Monday.If appointed, he will replace Moon Moo-il as the country’s top prosecutor. Yoon, currently serves as the head of Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, and came to public attention in 2012 when he headed the investigation into allegations that the National Intelligence Service interfered with the presidentia

Politics June 17, 2019