Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Qiu Guohong on Tuesday warned of a possible “destruction” of bilateral relations, reiterating the country’s opposition to the projected introduction of advanced U.S. missile assets on the peninsula. At a meeting with Kim Chong-in, interim chairman of the main opposition The Minjoo Party, the envoy stressed that a stationing of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system will dent Beijing’s security interests and in turn take a toll on the relationship. “Much

Foreign Affairs Feb. 23, 2016

A South Korean sailor was released Tuesday nearly two weeks after a United Arab Emirates-registered oil tanker was hijacked off the coast of Cote d’Ivoire that led to a dramatic nighttime rescue mission by the Nigerian military, said Seoul’s Foreign Ministry. The unidentified seaman was taken hostage on Feb. 11 along with 17 other crew members from China, India, Pakistan, Sudan and Ghana, the ministry said. The Panama-flagged Maximus, owned by a UAE company and on lease to a South Korean shippin

Foreign Affairs Feb. 23, 2016

 Just ahead of its fourth nuclear test last month, North Korea had offered bilateral talks on sealing a peace treaty, but the proposal failed to materialize as the U.S. stood by its denuclearization priority, Seoul and Washington officials confirmed Monday. The overture was reportedly made “days before” the Jan. 6 detonation through the New York channel based in Pyongyang’s permanent mission to the U.N. But their exchanges fell through after the North brushed off the U.S. counterproposal that de

North Korea Feb. 22, 2016

The United States on Thursday put in place a package of its strongest, most comprehensive standalone sanctions yet against North Korea in punishment for its fresh nuclear and long-range missile tests, also targeting cybercrimes, human rights violations and other illicit activities. President Barack Obama signed the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act into law, the White House said. The House of Representatives initially voted nearly unanimously to pass the bill about a week after th

North Korea Feb. 19, 2016

Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo came under fire Monday after reversing his claim that the government possesses documents to corroborate North Korea’s suspected rerouting of income from a joint industrial park for military uses. The diversion allegation served as the primary grounds for Seoul’s decision to pull out from the Gaeseong factory complex last Wednesday. Since the district’s establishment in 2004, South Korean cash totaling 616 billion won ($511.4 million) has been transferred mainly

North Korea Feb. 15, 2016

Controversy is snowballing after Seoul claimed the majority of its investment in a joint factory park has been funneled into North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, which critics say virtually marks a confession to its years-long self-contradictory breach of international resolutions. Announcing a pullout from the Gaeseong industrial park last Wednesday, Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo singled out Pyongyang’s siphoning of its proceeds as the main rationale behind its decision. Since the c

North Korea Feb. 14, 2016

Controversy is snowballing after Seoul claimed that the majority of its investment in a joint factory park has been funneled into North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, which critics say virtually marks a confession to its years-long self-contradictory breach of international resolutions. Announcing a pullout from the Gaeseong industrial complex last Wednesday, Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo singled out Pyongyang’s siphoning off of its proceeds as the main rationale behind its decision.

North Korea Feb. 14, 2016

Seoul and Washington on Sunday declared formal talks on a stationing of advanced U.S. missile defense assets on the peninsula, reflecting North Korea’s evolving nuclear threats attested once again by its ostensibly successful fresh long-range missile test earlier in the day. “South Korea and the U.S. assess that the North’s latest nuclear test and long-range ballistic missile launch demonstrate its grave threats of atomic bombs, weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles to the peace and

North Korea Feb. 7, 2016

Defense Minister Han Min-koo on Friday pledged to take an “active” response to North Korea’s looming missile test, raising the possibility of a surprise launch and calling for airtight military readiness and effective utility of reconnaissance assets. Han convened a meeting with senior officials at the ministry and Joint Chiefs of Staff to assess the current security situation and review its military readiness after Pyongyang unveiled plans to fire a long-range rocket between Feb. 8 and 25. The

North Korea Feb. 5, 2016

Speculation soared Thursday that North Korea may be counting down to a fresh test of a long-range missiles, prompting Seoul and its partners to tighten monitoring activities and warning of a surprise provocation in light of the recent fourth nuclear test. Quoting a Japanese government official, Kyodo News reported early in the day that the liftoff could take place in the North’s northwest town of Dongchang as soon as in a week, given satellite imagery analyzed over the “past several days.”The So

North Korea Jan. 28, 2016

 In the aftermath of Pyongyang’s fourth nuclear test, Seoul is expected to toughen its cross-border policy this year, focusing on sanctions diplomacy and mounting across-the-board pressure on the communist state. The foreign, defense and unification ministries set “solid diplomacy and security” and “steady unification preparation” as the theme of their joint annual New Year policy briefing for President Park Geun-hye on Friday, with the resolution of North Korea’s nuclear issue being the No.1 pr

North Korea Jan. 22, 2016

The vice ministers of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan plan to meet in Tokyo on Saturday as the three countries are seeking to bring about a fresh bout of stifling sanctions in response to North Korea’s fourth nuclear test. Seoul’s Vice Minister Lim Sung-nam will join U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken and Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Akitaka Saiki. The trip would mark the three nations’ second vice-ministerial talks following the first round in Washington last April and Lim’s first pa

North Korea Jan. 12, 2016

South Korea and the U.S. are spurring global efforts to slap a fresh batch of crippling sanctions on North Korea following the communist nation’s fourth atomic experiment, ratcheting up pressure to extract China’s endorsement while crafting separate punishments at home and with close partners.  Vehicles wait to cross the border to enter the Gaeseong industrial park in North Korea on Monday. (Yonhap)Seoul and Washington pledged to have Pyongyang face “consequences” for breaching international ban

North Korea Jan. 11, 2016