A South Korean official at a state-run trade agency was kidnapped in Libya by unidentified armed men, and his whereabouts remains unknown, the Foreign Ministry confirmed Monday. Han Seok-woo, head of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency’s Libya unit, was abducted by four gunmen while on his way home from his office in Tripoli at around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, ministry officials said. The assailants headed west, leaving behind Han’s car and Iraqi driver, who reported the incident to the Korea

Foreign Affairs Jan. 20, 2014

South Korea appears to be hardening its stance against North Korea as the Kim Jong-un regime steps up its peace offensive, which Seoul sees as an attempt to build rationale for a possible military provocation. The communist country’s propaganda machine has been churning out articles and editorials calling for efforts to improve inter-Korean relations in line with its leader’s New Year address. Last week it offered reconciliation through the cessation of slander and military drills with the U.S.

North Korea Jan. 20, 2014

South Korea on Friday brushed off the North’s offer of reconciliation through the cessation of slander and military drills with the U.S., calling for action toward denuclearization to prove its sincerity. Pyongyang’s powerful National Defense Commission made the “crucial proposals” late Thursday, which also included taking a “mutual practical measure to prevent a nuclear holocaust.” Such steps would help resolve inter-Korean issues such as reunions of separated families, it said. Seoul’s Unifica

Foreign Affairs Jan. 17, 2014

The new accord on sharing the costs of keeping U.S. troops in Korea faces a rough ride in the National Assembly, with opposition lawmakers churning out criticism over a sharp rise in Seoul’s burden and its failure to achieve further administrative improvement. After grueling six-month negotiations, the two countries reached a deal on Saturday to renew the Special Measures Agreement, under which South Korea will pay 920 billion won ($871 million) this year to support the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces

Politics Jan. 13, 2014

Seoul on Friday urged Pyongyang to accept its proposal for reunions of separated families, expressing its intention to discuss the restarting of lucrative tours to a North Korean mountain resort. The North rejected Seoul’s offer of talks on Thursday, citing as hurdles South Korea-U.S. military drills, the cold weather and lack of preparation time ahead of the gathering timed for Lunar New Year’s Day later this month.“We once again urge North Korea not to call for humanitarian projects using word

North Korea Jan. 10, 2014

North Korea on Thursday rejected the South’s offer for talks on reunions of separated families, crushing long-held wishes of aging Koreans and hopes for improved cross-border ties. While agreeing on the event’s need and humanitarian nature, Pyongyang cited as barriers Seoul’s military exercises, the cold weather and short preparation period for the gathering timed for Lunar New Year’s Day later this month. Seoul expressed regret, calling on the communist neighbor to demonstrate sincerity with ac

North Korea Jan. 9, 2014

The foreign ministers of South Korea and the U.S. on Wednesday agreed to intensify policy coordination to better cope with the growing uncertainty in North Korea in the aftermath of the execution of its leader’s uncle. During their talks in Washington, Yun Byung-se and John Kerry concurred on the need for more systematic and frequent discussions at various levels focusing on North Korea conditions, which would progress to involve China and other neighbors later on. “We decided to intensify our c

Foreign Affairs Jan. 8, 2014

South Korea plans to kick-start a long-delayed program to build fighter jets despite lingering skepticism over its feasibility and technological barriers, officials said Sunday. The ambitious project, called KFX or Boramae, is aimed at producing F-16-class fighter jets. The military aims to introduce the first model by 2023 and deploy 120 units over the following several years, officials said. “The Boramae project will kick into high gear this year to develop 120 Korean-made fighter planes,” a s

Defense Jan. 5, 2014