South Korea greatly expanded exchanges and cooperation with North Korea last year, buoyed by a diplomatic thaw following three inter-Korean summits, according to a new white paper published by the Ministry of Unification on Thursday. The number of South Koreans visiting the North and vice versa increased sharply to 7,498 in 2018 from 115 in 2017, the paper said.  (Yonhap)The surge was attributed to government initiatives to cooperate with the North on an inter-Korean railway connection project,

North Korea March 21, 2019

The state-run Korea International Cooperation Agency is considering whether to grant official development assistance to North Korea despite sanctions prohibiting cash transfers, according to an opposition lawmaker Wednesday.KOICA outsourced a study this month regarding grant aid to the North, with the aim of pursuing development cooperation in an effort to ease tensions between the two Koreas and to eliminate military threats, according to Rep. Lee Jong-myeong of the main opposition Liberty Kore

North Korea March 20, 2019

Humanitarian activities for millions of hungry and sick people in North Korea are at risk of being scaled back due to economic sanctions and donor fatigue amid nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang that struggle to make tangible progress.One of the world’s poorest countries, with over 43 percent of the population undernourished, the North’s food production touched its lowest point in 10 years last year. A North Korean paediatrician counsels mothers in Jongju City Hospital about care for

North Korea March 18, 2019

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday it expects tangible progress in North Korea’s complete denuclearization and the establishment of a permanent peace regime on the Korean Peninsula with follow-up efforts that will seek to overcome the setback in talks between Washington and Pyongyang in February. The announcement came as part of the ministry’s work plans for 2019, submitted to Cheong Wa Dae and the Office for the Government Policy Coordination late last month.  Foreign Minister Kang

Diplomatic Circuit March 13, 2019

To mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Sweden, the Swedish Embassy in Seoul hosted commemorative events this month. The embassy held a ceremony and reception, followed by a screening of the documentary film “The Swedes in the Korean War” at the Seoul Museum of History, Monday. Jakob Hallgren, Ambassadsor of Sweden to South KoreaFollowing the outbreak of Korean War on June 25 1950, the Scandinavian country offered medical assistance to Korea by establishing Swedish Red C

Diplomatic Circuit March 11, 2019

Officials from South Korea and Australia met in Seoul on March 7 to discuss ways to foster bilateral development cooperation and support the stable development of Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region. A key topic at the meeting, called the fifth high-level consultations on development cooperation, was potential collaboration on infrastructure facility projects in Southeast Asia. The discussion was a follow-up to an agreement reached at the bilateral summit in November on the occasion of th

Diplomatic Circuit March 11, 2019

Kim Yeon-chul, who was tapped as the new unification minister Friday, has more than 20 years of experience dealing with inter-Korean and unification issues as a policy adviser and scholar. Currently, Kim serves as the president of the Korea Institute for National Unification, a government-funded think tank, and teaches at the Department of Korea Unification of Inje University. The Korea Institute for National Unification President Kim Yeon-chul (Yonhap)Kim is one of seven new ministers nominated

Politics March 8, 2019

Speculation is running rampant as to the locations of the additional weapons-grade uranium-producing sites in North Korea that US President Donald Trump demanded be dismantled, met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s refusal, during their second summit in Vietnam last week. In Hanoi, Pyongyang offered to destroy its Yongbyon facilities that produce the two key materials used in making nuclear weapons -- plutonium and highly enriched uranium -- but Washington demanded an additional step beyond

North Korea March 5, 2019

South Korea’s Unification Ministry denied Monday news reports that the United Nations had granted a sanctions exemption to enable video reunions of families separated by the Korean War. “It is not true that the United Nations Security Council recently made a decision (to approve) a sanctions exemption regarding video reunions between South and North Korea,” Unification Ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun said at a regular press briefing.  (Yonhap)Earlier in the day, a number of Korean news outlets

North Korea March 4, 2019

South Korea’s overseas aid agency said Sunday it has donated two food-related facilities that will help upland farmers in the Philippines connect directly with consumers and contribute to the development of agricultural areas. The state-run Korea International Cooperation Agency established a regional local food terminal in San Miguel in Panay Island, which is expected to serve as a consolidation center for products from 11 municipalities of the island. KOICA President Lee Mi-kyung visits a boot

Diplomatic Circuit March 4, 2019

The French Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted the inaugural French Business Awards 2019 ceremony to recognize companies that contributed to bilateral economic relations. Targeting French business members of the Chamber of Commerce, the event was designed to evaluate companies’ performances and innovation, according to the business network in Seoul. Mounir Mahjoubi, French Minister for Digital Affairs poses for a photo with French Ambassador in Korea Fabien Penone, FKCCI Chairman Davi

Diplomatic Circuit March 4, 2019

The South Korean government needs to go back to basics to resolve the complex issue of North Korea’s denuclearization in the aftermath of the summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that ended without a deal last week, experts said. Following the breakdown of the talks, Seoul’s hopes that its push for economic engagement with Pyongyang would gain traction with substantial results from the summit were thwarted, as US-led sanctions will continue to remain, effe

North Korea March 3, 2019

President Moon Jae-in reaffirmed Friday his commitment to bringing the US and North Korea to the negotiating table again for nuclear talks, after the two countries ended their summit without a deal. During a ceremony marking the centennial anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement against Japanese colonial rule, Moon stressed the expanded diplomatic role of South Korea in bridging the gap between Washington and Pyongyang.  (Yonhap)“My administration will closely communicate and cooperate

Politics March 1, 2019

Free Joseon announced Friday that it has established a provisional government for North Korea in an effort to fight against the regime’s abuse of human rights. The group previously claimed it had protected the son of the late Kim Jong-nam, the half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, from possible assassination.  (Yonhap)Formerly known as Cheollima Civil Defense, the group said it will rise against the North Korean regime for committing crimes against humanity for decades. “We indict thi

North Korea March 1, 2019

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un left their Hanoi summit empty-handed as Washington demanded a bolder move from Pyongyang to give up its nuclear program.The US seems to have wanted a denuclearization deal that goes far beyond the dismantlement of the Yongbyon nuclear complex, while North Korea offered the shutdown of the main site in exchange for the complete lifting of US-led sanctions, according to Trump and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a press conferen

North Korea Feb. 28, 2019