Seoul on Tuesday protested Tokyo’s intensified claim to the Korean islets of Dokdo in an annual diplomatic paper, which added to territorial and historical tension between the two countries. Japan’s Foreign Ministry reported to the cabinet its latest diplomatic bluebook, which argues Dokdo is the country’s “inherent territory” based on historical facts and international law, and calls last year’s visits to the islets by some Korean lawmakers “adamantly unacceptable.” Seoul’s Foreign Ministry ins

Foreign Affairs April 25, 2017

A day before North Korea marks a major holiday, the US Trump administration sought to increase pressure on Pyongyang, holding presidential phone calls with China and Japan before a supercarrier heads toward the peninsula. In just 11 days, Trump had another phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday to discuss the security situation surrounding the Koreas. The US leader also spoke to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The calls came amid speculation North Korea may be prepari

North Korea April 24, 2017

Conservative presidential candidate Hong Joon-pyo apologized during Sunday's TV debate over controversy about his suspected involvement in a potential sex crime about four decades ago.Hong of the Liberty Korea Party initially wrote about his role in the incident that took place while he was in university in an autobiographical essay published in 2005. The scandal has drawn fresh attention in the run-up to the May 9 presidential election. Conservative presidential candidate Hong Joon-pyo (Yonhap)

Politics April 23, 2017

TOKYO -- An American aircraft carrier heading toward the Korean Peninsula began joint exercises Sunday with Japanese naval ships in the Philippine Sea. Two Japanese destroyers joined the USS Carl Vinson and two other US warships as they continued their journey north in the western Pacific Ocean, the US Navy said in a statement. The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (US Navy)The Vinson had canceled a scheduled visit to Australia to divert toward North Korea in a show of force, though it still cond

North Korea April 23, 2017

ATHENS -- China's foreign minister called Sunday for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula amid rising tension over North Korea's missile and nuclear programmes."China is firmly supporting the denuclearization of the area in the name of stability and peace", Wang Yi told reporters in Athens after meeting Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias. "China may not have the key to this solution ... but we are happy that more sides are accepting our point of view," he added. Chinese Foreign Min

North Korea April 23, 2017

Centrist presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo declared Sunday he would become a president of all people, not of any ideological camp.In a stump speech at the heart of Seoul, the nominee of the center-left People's Party said he would open a new future free of political divisions and vested rights if elected on May 9. Ahn Cheol-soo, presidential nominee of the People's Party, gives a stump speech outside the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul on April 23, 2017. (Yonhap)"I, Ahn Cheol-s

Politics April 23, 2017

Presidential front-runner Moon Jae-in's campaign unveiled former presidential aides' memos Sunday to counter claims that Seoul abstained from a UN vote against North Korea after consulting Pyongyang in 2007 when he served as a top presidential aide.The documents indicated Seoul had decided not to join the vote on the UN resolution on North Korea's human rights violations in consideration of improving inter-Korean ties, and later notify Pyongyang of the decision.  Rep. Kim Kyung-soo (R), spokesma

Politics April 23, 2017

Seoul is pushing for the official identification of the waters between Korea and Japan as the East Sea at an international conference in Monaco this week in the face of robust resistance from Tokyo, officials said Sunday. The International Hydrographic Organization will kick off its triennial assembly in Monaco on Monday for a five-day run, during which its 87 member states are expected to discuss the amendment of the Limits of Oceans and Seas, its guideline for world maps and charts. For the me

Foreign Affairs April 23, 2017

Amid unabated concerns over North Korea’s fresh nuclear test in time for another major anniversary, South Korea and the US are poised to be on heightened alert this week with cutting-edge military assets ready. With the communist state marking the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean People’s Army on Tuesday, Seoul and Washington have been intensifying their warnings against any additional provocation.  (Yonhap)Tension has been spiraling in recent weeks amid widespread speculation th

North Korea April 23, 2017

Following the second round of televised debates, South Korea’s presidential race is heating up over the all-too-familiar issue: Is North Korea the “main enemy?”During the late Wednesday session, Yoo Seong-min of the conservative splinter Bareun Party launched an offensive against front-runner Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea, asking whether he considers the communist neighbor to be South Korea’s “main enemy.”Moon sought to evade in answering, saying, “Such labeling is not the job for

Politics April 20, 2017

To many, for the past 10 days the Korean Peninsula appeared to have been edging toward the brink of war. Soon after bombarding Syria and Afghanistan with missiles and a gigantic bomb, the US said it had ordered its flagship aircraft carrier strike group, which was already here last month for a joint drill with the South Korean military, to head back toward the peninsula. The announcement triggered a frenzied chain reaction throughout the region. As President Donald Trump and other top Washington

Foreign Affairs April 19, 2017

Shortly after the US’ stringent warning, North Korea responded with shrill rhetoric, with its envoys at home and at the UN relaying fresh threats of far more frequent weapons tests, a pre-emptive strike and even nuclear war. US Vice President Mike Pence on Monday in Seoul warned Pyongyang “not to test” the US, singling out its recent strike in Syria and Afghanistan that showed the “strength and resolve” of President Donald Trump and the US military forces. Several hours later, North Korea’s depu

North Korea April 18, 2017

US Vice President Mike Pence said Tuesday the Donald Trump administration is to “review and reform” the free trade pact with South Korea, citing growing trade deficits and “too many barriers” for American firms. At a meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce in Seoul, Pence said since the two countries’ trade agreement took effect five years ago, the US’ deficit has more than doubled, calling it the “most concerning fact.”US Vice President Mike Pence (Yonhap)“We have to be honest about where o

Foreign Affairs April 18, 2017

US Vice President Mike Pence on Monday warned North Korea against “testing” the US’ military power and resolve to denuclearize the peninsula, saying “all options are on the table.”At a joint news conference with acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn, Pence declared the end of the “strategic patience” policy, under which Washington has for more than 20 years been making overtures, only to be met with Pyongyang’s “willful deceptions, broken promises and nuclear and missile tests.”US Vice President Mike P

North Korea April 17, 2017

The US dropping its largest non-nuclear bomb in Afghanistan is being interpreted as the latest warning sign, as Washington has been ratcheting up pressure over Pyongyang’s nuclear threats, especially since the US’ recent summit with China.  The US Air Force released the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, armed with 11 tons of explosives, in the eastern part of Afghanistan on Thursday on a cave complex that housed fighters of the Islamic State extremist group. An undated handout photo made

North Korea April 14, 2017